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Review of Statutory Minimum Wage rate

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/13/P2018041300310.htm

13.4.2018

The following is issued on behalf of the Minimum Wage Commission: The Minimum Wage Commission (MWC) will submit to the Chief Executive (CE) in Council its recommendation report on the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate by the end of October 2018 at the latest. In accordance with the Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO) (Cap. 608), the CE has required the MWC to submit its recommendation report on the SMW rate on or before October 31, 2018. Pursuant to the MWO, in performing its functions, the MWC must have regard to the need to maintain an appropriate balance between the objectives of forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs, and the need to sustain Hong Kong's economic growth and competitiveness. The MWC adopts an evidence-based approach in reviewing the SMW rate. Apart from research and analysis of relevant statistical data, the MWC is conducting public consultation and the community is welcome to provide their views on the review of the SMW rate by May 20, 2018. Ends/Friday, April 13, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:00 NNNN

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Internet Economy Summit opens

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/12/P2018041200392.htm

12.4.2018

Running for the third year, the Internet Economy Summit opened today (April 12) has again attracted entrepreneurs and top-level executives from various business sectors to explore the global business opportunities brought about by innovation and the digital economy. Themed "New Impetus for the New Economy", this year's Summit is focusing on how technological advancement in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and cloud computing will further power innovation and business growth. A youth programme is also in place to open young people's eyes to innovation. The two-day Summit features four forums, namely the Visionary Forum, Chambers Forum: Business Breakthrough, the Entrepreneurship Forum and the Technovation Forum, with some 50 renowned experts from around the world speaking. Around 2 400 participants have registered to join the Summit. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, delivered the opening remarks at the opening ceremony of the Summit. Also officiating were the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Allen Yeung; the President of the China Internet Development Foundation, Ms Ma Li; the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Dr Shamshad Akhtar; Member of the Standing Committee of the Guizhou CPC Provincial Committee and Head of Publicity Department of Guizhou Province Mr Mu Degui; and the Director General of the Bureau of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Cyberspace Administration of China, Ms Qi Xiaoxia. As their names suggest, the Visionary Forum and Chambers Forum: Business Breakthrough held today aimed to take the business of participants to a higher level through adoption of innovation and technology. The Chairman of International Technologies, Mr Yossi Vardi, with 40-plus years' experience in high-tech entrepreneurship and investment, shared his insights on the critical role of a supporting ecosystem for enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship and how to build one. Both the President of Google Greater China, Mr Scott Beaumont, and the Director of Worldwide Cognitive City Solutions, IBM IoT, Mr Stephen Russo, recognised the booster effect of technological advancements and explored with the audience how these advancements are going to enable economic growth and power a smarter Hong Kong. Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Illumio Mr Andrew Rubin elaborated on the vital importance of cyber security in building trust in business and daily lives while the Chief Executive of Ping An Technology, Mr Ericson Chan, shared his thoughts on how AI is supercharging Fintech, healthtech and smart cities. Other keynote speakers included the President of International, JD.com, Mr Winston Cheng; the Chief Operating Officer of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Mr Zhong Xiangqun; the Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Meituan-Dianping, Mr Mu Rongjun; Mr Mu; the General Manager of Ecosystem Partners, AWS Greater China Region, Mr David Yeh; and the Executive Director and General Manager, Television Broadcasts Ltd, Mr S K Cheong. Two panel sessions were also held today in which speakers discussed e-commerce and the online-to-offline model as well as how traditional enterprises could leverage on innovation, design thinking and industry 4.0 to transform their operation. The Summit will continue tomorrow (April 13) with the Entrepreneurship Forum and the Technovation Forum. Keynote speakers will include the Head of Taiwan and Hong Kong, Facebook, Ms Fei Yu; the General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Hong Kong, Macau and Korea, Mr Leo Liu; the Chief Technology Officer of Didi Chuxing, Mr Bob Zhang; the Head of North Asia of Google Cloud, Ms Kathy Lee; the Chief Technology Officer, Enterprise Data Center Solutions of Huawei Technologies, Mr Ronald Raffensperger; the Senior Outreach Director of Microsoft Research Asia, Dr Tim Pan; and the Head of Solutions Architecture for Amazon Web Services Hong Kong and Taiwan, Mr Dean Samuels. In addition to world-renowned speakers, the Entrepreneurship Forum will also feature winners' sharing by the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TNG (Asia) Limited, Mr Alex Kong, and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WeLab, Mr Simon Loong. Both of them are winners of the InnoStars Award organised by the Our Hong Kong Foundation. Tomorrow's Summit will also be a practical learning opportunity for those who are in, or are about to start, their early-stage business. Veteran investors will speak with participants on how start-ups can attract overseas investment and the winning formula for fund-raising while successful founders of "unicorn" start-ups in Hong Kong will talk about the challenges they have overcome in the start-up landscape, the competitive edge of Hong Kong start-ups and the winning strategies to expand to the global market. A networking session and business matching have also been arranged for participants during the Summit. Cultivating local young talents is one of the key areas in developing innovation and technology. Further to the Youth Forum held last year, a youth programme has been arranged as part of the Summit this year. Over 500 secondary and university students will join guided tours to the International ICT Expo where they can meet face-to-face with local and overseas industry representatives and have hands-on experience with the latest technologies. They will then join a sharing session by new winners of the Hong Kong ICT Awards to gain insights on how innovations grew from sketches and winners' persistence in striving for innovation. The Internet Economy Summit was co-organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited with the China Internet Development Foundation as the supporting organisation. Ends/Thursday, April 12, 2018 Issued at HKT 17:50 NNNN

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CE attends Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/10/P2018041000908.htm

10.4.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (April 10) attended the Opening Ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 in Hainan, and met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Secretary of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee. Mrs Lam, together with the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended in the morning the Opening Ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018, the theme of which is "An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity". At the Opening Ceremony, Mrs Lam and the other officials listened to the keynote speech delivered by President Xi Jinping. Noting the President said in his speech that the nation will continue to further its opening up, Mrs Lam considered it very good news to Hong Kong as the nation's most open centre for finance and trade. She said that Hong Kong has benefited from the reform and opening up of the nation in the past 40 years and it will continue to give full play to its strengths to contribute to the country. She said she believed that further opening up of the country is set to bring about new opportunities and impetus to the economic development of Hong Kong, Asia and the world. Mrs Lam and the other officials met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in the afternoon. Noting that there is a large Pakistani community in Hong Kong and many of its members were born, raised and educated in the city, Mrs Lam said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to providing them as well as other ethnic minorities with equal opportunities and facilitating their integration into Hong Kong through policy initiatives. As Pakistan is an important country along the Belt and Road and with the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce set up in Hong Kong in 2013, she expressed the hope that co-operation between the two governments will be strengthened. Given Hong Kong's experiences and advantages in infrastructure financing, risk management, project supervision and construction, she said Hong Kong is keen to participate in the development of Pakistan. She also said more Pakistani students are welcome to study in Hong Kong to promote exchanges between people from the two places. Mrs Lam and the other officials then met with the Secretary of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, Mr Ren Xuefeng. Mrs Lam noted that she had found during her attendance at the Forum that many people are very interested in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. With the forthcoming promulgation of the relevant development plan, it is important to enhance understanding of the Bay Area among the people in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, she said. Thanking Mr Ren for his concern about the development of Hong Kong young people all along, she expressed the hope that more opportunities will be made available to people from Guangzhou and Hong Kong, especially the young people, with the development of the Bay Area in the future. Mrs Lam returned to Hong Kong this afternoon. Ends/Tuesday, April 10, 2018 Issued at HKT 22:01 NNNN

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CE attends Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/09/P2018040900896.htm

9.4.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (April 9) attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 in Hainan and met with the leaders of Hebei and Hainan Provinces. Accompanied by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Mrs Lam met with the Governor of Hebei Province, Mr Xu Qin, in the morning. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to meet Mr Xu for the first time in his new capacity as the Governor of Hebei Province and thanked him for his efforts in promoting co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen during his tenure as the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. Noting that both the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Cooperative Development and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area are national development strategies which will provide new impetus for the future economic development of the country as well as Asia and the world, she expressed the hope that she and Mr Xu will continue to work hard together in their respective positions. Mrs Lam said that there is still considerable room for increasing Hong Kong’s investment in Hebei, with innovation and technology, advanced manufacturing and agriculture being some of the potential areas. She added that Hong Kong has rich experience in city management and rapid growth in arts and culture and that she looks forward to enhancing exchanges with Hebei in these aspects. Mrs Lam later attended the CEO Roundtable of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 and listened to success stories and experience sharing on the Belt and Road Initiative by political and business leaders from various countries. She also discussed a range of topics with the participants, including how financial institutions can play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative while guarding against excessive risks, how enterprises should cope with inadequate market information in countries along the Belt and Road, and how to encourage private capital to participate actively in the Belt and Road Initiative. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam joined the discussion session on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and delivered a speech. Mrs Lam said the success of the Bay Area would hinge on whether its innovation could provide new impetus for the quality development of the Bay Area, and whether it could serve as an important link between China and other parts of Asia as well as the rest of the world. No matter whether it is in innovation or connectivity, Hong Kong is able make vital contributions to the Bay Area. She added that following the forthcoming promulgation of the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will hold forums and jointly organise overseas promotional events to enhance understanding of the Bay Area among the people in the three places and overseas enterprises. After the session, Mrs Lam and the other officials met with the Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, Mr Liu Cigui, and the Governor of Hainan Province, Mr Shen Xiaoming. Mrs Lam congratulated Hainan Province and the Hainan Special Economic Zone on their 30th anniversary of establishment and the successful hosting of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018. She said Hong Kong has enjoyed close relations with Hainan Province and the Hong Kong Hainan Commercial Association has a history of over 100 years, and added that in the future the two places may enhance co-operation in various areas including promoting multi-destination itineraries together. She also encouraged Hainan enterprises to make use of Hong Kong's mature financial platform and quality professional services to "go global", exploring the international market together. In the evening, Mrs Lam joined a dinner event featuring a dialogue between the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde, and the Chairman of Alibaba Group, Mr Jack Ma. She then met with the Hong Kong student volunteers at the annual conference. She will attend the opening ceremony of the annual conference tomorrow (April 10). Ends/Monday, April 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 21:26 NNNN

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Acting CE meets with Dutch Prime Minister

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/09/P2018040900453.htm

9.4.2018

The Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (April 9) met with the visiting Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Mark Rutte, at Government House. Mr Cheung and Mr Rutte jointly officiated earlier today at the opening ceremony of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Central Plaza, Wan Chai. Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Cheung extended a warm welcome to Mr Rutte, the first Dutch Prime Minister ever to visit Hong Kong, and pointed out that Hong Kong is well placed to play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development. He stressed that Hong Kong stands ready to partner with Dutch businesses to seize the enormous opportunities brought about by both major initiatives. Mr Cheung and Mr Rutte also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Hong Kong and the Netherlands concerning the Working Holiday Arrangement by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, and the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, Ms Annemieke Ruigrok. The agreement marks the establishment of a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme for young people of Hong Kong and the Netherlands. The Scheme will commence on January 1, 2019 and provides an annual quota of 100. Welcoming the establishment of the Scheme with the Netherlands, Mr Cheung said, "The Scheme will open doors further for our young people to foster broader, deeper and more frequent cultural, academic and talent exchanges." Mr Cheung also hosted a luncheon for Mr Rutte at Government House following a bilateral meeting to explore further collaboration between both places. Ends/Monday, April 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 14:04 NNNN

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Hong Kong signs Memorandum of Understanding on Working Holiday Scheme with the Netherlands

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/09/P2018040900389.htm

9.4.2018

Hong Kong and the Netherlands today (April 9) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mark the establishment of a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme for young people of the two places. The agreement was signed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, and the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, Ms Annemieke Ruigrok, at Government House in the presence of the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Mark Rutte. Welcoming the establishment of the scheme with the Netherlands, Dr Law said, "Apart from broadening their horizons, this scheme provides an opportunity for young people in Hong Kong and the Netherlands to gain living and working experience in a foreign culture. It will also further reinforce bilateral ties between Hong Kong and the Netherlands." Ms Ruigrok hailed the MoU as a sign of the excellent shape of bilateral relations between the Netherlands and Hong Kong. She encouraged young people to make full use of the opportunities provided by the scheme. "This will lead to a deeper understanding of each other's cultures, which will further strengthen our relations, today and in the future," she said. The scheme with the Netherlands is Hong Kong's 13th bilateral working holiday scheme. Since 2001, Hong Kong has established working holiday schemes with New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Canada, Korea, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Hungary and Sweden. So far, more than 85 000 Hong Kong youths have benefited from these schemes. The Working Holiday Scheme between Hong Kong and the Netherlands will commence operation on January 1, 2019. Under the scheme, youths from each side will be able to apply for a visa, which will allow them to stay in the Netherlands or Hong Kong for up to 12 months. During the period, they may work to finance their stay or study short-term courses. There will be an annual quota of 100 from each side. Details of visa application procedures for applicants from Hong Kong will be available on the website of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong at www.netherlandsandyou.nl/your-country-and-the-netherlands/hongkong in due course. Applicants from the Netherlands may contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department by telephone on 2824 6111 or obtain the necessary information from the department's website www.immd.gov.hk . Ends/Monday, April 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:50 NNNN

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Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to visit HK

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/06/P2018040600627.htm

6.4.2018

Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Mark Rutte, will arrive in Hong Kong on April 8 for a two-day official visit. The Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung, will meet with the Prime Minister on April 9 at the Government House. Ends/Friday, April 6, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:59 NNNN

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CE to attend Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/04/P2018040400679.htm

4.4.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will visit Hainan from April 8 to 10 to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018. The theme of this year's conference is "An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity". The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will join the visit. Mrs Lam will speak at a discussion session on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and meet Hong Kong student volunteers at the annual conference on April 9. She will attend the opening ceremony of the annual conference on April 10. While in Hainan, Mrs Lam will also attend other sessions of the annual conference and meet with the leaders of various provinces and cities. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on April 10. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Issued at HKT 18:32 NNNN

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Local ICT achievements commended at Hong Kong ICT Awards 2018

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/04/P2018040400633.htm

4.4.2018

The presentation ceremony for the Hong Kong ICT Awards (HKICTA) 2018, which aim to promote innovation in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, was held today (April 4). Defeating seven other Grand Award category winners with its winning entry BelunTM Ring, Belun Technology Company Limited received the Award of the Year from the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, this evening. Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Lam praised the winners for their innovative leadership and for the products, applications and business solutions they had brought to creative life. She said, "The Government is determined to create a flourishing innovation and technology environment here in Hong Kong. But we cannot do it alone, which is why I am so encouraged by the winners of this year's ICT Awards. More than building businesses, you serve as role models, inspiring our youth, showing them the way to a future that will surely reward us all." She also mentioned the enhancements to quality of life through the application of innovation and technology. "I am naturally delighted to see that the new award categories respond so well to our Smart City Blueprint," she said. This year, a total of eight award categories were open for competition. To tie in with the Government's vision to make Hong Kong a world-leading smart city, three new awards, namely the Smart Living Award, the Smart People Award and the Smart Mobility Award were introduced to encourage development of smart products, services and mobile applications related to healthcare, households, tourism and healthy aging. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and big data analytics were employed by the competing entries to offer innovative and convenient solutions for daily living. The HKICTA attracted over 1 160 entries, with the largest number competing for the Student Innovation Award. This reflects the rising interest in research and development (R&D) among the young generation, where an atmosphere favourable to innovation and technology (I&T) development has gradually built up in the past few years. It also proves that organising R&D competitions and activities for youth is conducive to cultivating Hong Kong's I&T culture and nurturing local R&D talents. The HKICTA has become a breeding ground for outstanding I&T enterprises in Hong Kong, with past winners triumphing in various regional and international competitions. Many of them have achieved success in business and even expanded their presence to overseas markets. During the past year, a total of 11 winning entries from the last HKICTA have won at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards, the Global ICT Excellence Awards and the Asia Smart App Awards. Their excellence has not only reinforced the HKICTA's status as an international professional award, but also shows Hong Kong's strength in I&T. To commend winners' stamina and achievement in pursuing innovations, the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, presented awards to the Grand Award winners of various categories this evening. The Grand Award winners are: Award category (Leading Organiser) Grand Award winner (winning entry) Digital Entertainment Grand Award (Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association) Hehaaa Production Ltd (Passing Rain) FinTech Grand Award (Hong Kong Institute of Bankers) The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (PayMe) ICT Startup Grand Award (Hong Kong Business Angel Network) Belun Technology Company Limited (BelunTM Ring) Smart Business Grand Award (Hong Kong Computer Society) Fano Labs Ltd. (Multilingual Artificial Intelligence Customer Service System) Smart Living Grand Award (Hong Kong Information Technology Federation) Belun Technology Company Limited (BelunTM Ring) Smart Mobility Grand Award (GS1 Hong Kong) BPS Global Holdings Ltd (DKSH Hong Kong Smart Automated Warehouse Solution) Smart People Grand Award (Hong Kong Council of Social Service) Caritas Information Technology Advancement Centre / Caritas Hong Kong – Services for the Elderly (eCare® - Wireless Elderly Care Management System) Student Innovation Grand Award (Hong Kong New Emerging Technology Education Association) Au Chun Ming/Lai Chi Kin Benjamin, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (UMix Music App) The 12th HKICTA was steered by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Details of winners are available at www.hkictawards.hk/index_e.php . The Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Allen Yeung, expressed gratitude to the eight leading organisers, members of the Steering Committee and the Standards Assurance Sub-Committee, the Grand Judging Panel, judges and supporting organisations for their contributions, which led to the success of the HKICTA. Ends/Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Issued at HKT 19:53 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Art Basel Hong Kong opening ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/27/P2018032700575.htm

27.3.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Art Basel Hong Kong opening ceremony today (March 27): Elisabeth (President of the Government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, Ms Elisabeth Ackermann), Marc (Global Director of Art Basel, Mr Marc Spiegler), distinguished guests, media, ladies and gentlemen, It really gives me great pleasure to come to Art Basel 2018. I'm no stranger to Art Basel. It is four years ago at the second edition of Art Basel I was standing here to witness the opening of this world's premier contemporary art fair in my then capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration. I still remember, on that particular occasion four years ago, I said that Art Basel will certainly become a very significant event in Hong Kong's cultural landscape, and it turns out to be even better than I could have imagined. In the last four or five years, Art Basel has really helped us to build Hong Kong into a cultural hub, bringing a lot of world-class arts exhibitions and galleries, and what is most exciting is audience building. Last year, I saw queues of people, members of the community, queuing up to come into Art Basel to have this feeling of the arts appreciation. So thank you very much, Marc, for bringing us this Art Basel. I was actually in Basel two months ago and had this wonderful meeting with Elisabeth and Marc at the beautiful City Hall of Basel. So this closer relationship between Hong Kong and Basel is something that I find very gratifying. These days, whenever I go out to promote Hong Kong, I usually end my speech with a tagline, and that is "The best of Hong Kong is yet to come". It certainly is true for the arts and culture scene in Hong Kong, because we are now seeing our West Kowloon Cultural District starting to have its physical presence and in due course Hong Kong will bring in two wonderful museums. One is the contemporary art M+, 66,000 square metres. The other is a latecomer - it's the 30,000-square-metre Hong Kong Palace Museum. And we're also expanding the Hong Kong arts museum by almost 40 per cent in a couple of years' time. So the future looks extremely promising for arts and cultural development in Hong Kong, and I welcome more of the arts people to come to enjoy and share our excitement. Thank you very much. Ends/Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:46 NNNN

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Speech by CE at HK Asian-Pop Music Festival 2018

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/23/P2018032300956.htm

23.3.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival 2018 this evening (March 23): First of all, a big welcome to those of you who have come from afar. Hong Kong is Asia's world city, and we are proud of our diversified and vibrant culture. Hong Kong is therefore an ideal place for an event like the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival. This Festival is a signature music event that has been held in Hong Kong since 2011. With Vietnam coming on board this year, the Festival now has nine participating Asian countries and regions. The 16 top singers or groups joining the performance tonight will no doubt bring us a wonderful evening of music extravaganza. So, my congratulations to the organiser, IFPI (Hong Kong Group), on yet another very successful edition of Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival this year. I wish you all a wonderful evening. Thank you very much. Ends/Friday, March 23, 2018 Issued at HKT 21:16 NNNN

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Speech by CE at GREAT Festival of Innovation reception

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/21/P2018032100947.htm

21.3.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the GREAT Festival of Innovation reception today (March 21): The Right Honourable Liam Fox (Secretary of State for International Trade of the United Kingdom), Andrew (British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Andrew Heyn), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. I understand that many of you have already sampled a rich day at the GREAT Festival of Innovation in this wonderful venue – a great transformation of the Former Explosives Magazine Compound. I am delighted to join you at this reception to express my sincere thanks to Liam for bringing this remarkably ambitious and decidedly innovative happening to Hong Kong, and to share with you my Government's commitment to innovation and how this has provided ample opportunities for greater collaboration between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom (UK). The GREAT Festival of Innovation is the third of its kind after the success of the GREAT Festivals of Creativity in Istanbul in 2014 and Shanghai in 2015. Taking place over four days from today, the Festival showcases the latest in innovative and creative excellence from the UK and Asia, with the aim of fostering new and deeper partnerships between governments and businesses in the UK, Asia, Hong Kong and Mainland China. I am extremely pleased that the UK Government has chosen Hong Kong as the place for building closer ties between the UK and Asia. After all, we are Asia's world city, the best gateway to Mainland China, and more recently, through a Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN signed last November, thus positioning ourselves for enhanced links with the Southeast Asian countries. Indeed, my colleague Edward Yau, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, has sent his apology as he is right now leading a business delegation to Cambodia and Vietnam to promote trade and investment links. Hong Kong and the UK have long enjoyed multifaceted relations. Ours is a singular bond, one I am determined to sustain and build on. It was therefore no accident that my first overseas trip out of Asia as Chief Executive was to London, and this took place in my third month in office. During my visit, Liam and I talked about boosting trade ties in a post-Brexit Britain. Indeed, our two economies that month initiated a Strategic Dialogue on Trade Partnership, jointly examining sectors and industries ripe for boosting our ties and bilateral trade. Our dialogue continued when we met on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos in January this year. In the meantime, let me congratulate the Secretary of State for his staunch support and advocacy of free trade, especially amidst the growing threat of protectionism, as demonstrated in his extensive travels and engagement of trade partners and the work of the Department for International Trade which he leads. Tasked to deliver a new trade policy for the UK, I am sure the Department for International Trade will embrace innovation, partnership and inclusiveness in its endeavours. These qualities are aptly embedded in the central statement of this GREAT Festival of Innovation, and I quote, "Now, more than ever, we must look to the future and work with partners who share our creative spirit. Collaboration will unlock new ideas, technologies, markets and opportunities." Unlocking new ideas and applying technologies is one of the main themes in my inaugural Policy Address delivered in October last year. I spoke at some length about the promise of innovation and technology for Hong Kong, its potential in helping to diversify our economy, improve livelihood and create quality jobs for young people, as well as committed to a clear strategy for innovation and technology development in Hong Kong. Three weeks ago, our Financial Secretary delivered his annual Budget Speech and allocated more than HK$50 billion – that is about 4.5 billion pounds – to accelerate innovation and technology development in Hong Kong. Among the measures is the establishment of two research clusters on healthcare technologies and artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, to attract the world’s top scientific research institutions and technology enterprises to Hong Kong for conducting more midstream and downstream research and development projects in collaboration with local universities and scientific research institutions. A bill to introduce tax incentives for corporations to increase spending on research and development will shortly be introduced. The many top institutions and enterprises in the UK, some of which I interacted with during my last visit to London, are clearly our targets. We are also in the midst of remaking Hong Kong into one of the world's smart cities, transforming the way we live and work. In December last year, we unveiled the Hong Kong Smart City Blueprint. It sets out our vision for building a smart Hong Kong powered by a thriving economy and a high quality of living. A good deal of that is already well established. Our telecommunications network, for example, is world class, with fixed and mobile broadband speeds and penetration rates among the highest anywhere. At the same time, there is a lot of potential in applying innovation and technology in many industries. For example, Hong Kong has long been renowned for its high-rise infrastructure, as well as the construction, design and management industries that support it. We are looking to innovation and technology to drive its future. My Government will help lead the way, as beginning this year, we will adopt Building Information Modelling technology in the design and construction of major government capital works projects. And we are setting up a HK$1 billion Construction Innovation and Technology Fund to encourage industry to adopt innovative technology. We see the advantage, too, of expanding the reach of innovation and technology in government. Plans include heightened training in innovation and the application of technology for our civil servants. In addition, a big-data analytics centre will be in place by 2020, introducing real-time data transmission and sharing among government departments. In the coming year, we will also adopt public cloud services for government departments. Soon after, we will revamp the government's cloud infrastructure, enabling digital services delivery among government departments, service providers and others. A soon to be established Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office will be tasked to review existing legislation and regulations with a view to removing outdated provisions that impede the development of innovation and technology. We are also examining government procurement to make sure that innovative solutions will not be overlooked. In the end, of course, our resources, funding and support are focused overwhelmingly on creating an enabling environment for business and business innovation. In this regard, we are applying innovation and technology to retool our pillar industries and to spark entirely new industries, creating careers and wealth that reward us all. We are focused, in short, on building a new model of development. This Festival surely underlines the creative and entrepreneurial spirit that drives the collaboration between Hong Kong and the UK. It was also the catalyst for a joint statement on "Closer Collaboration between the UK and Hong Kong on Trade and Economic Matters", which was announced earlier today. That statement naturally embraces free trade. Hong Kong and the UK enjoy close trade ties, and our bilateral trade increased 4.4 per cent last year. The UK was Hong Kong’s 13th largest global trading partner in 2017. In services, the UK was our third largest partner in 2015. And the UK, at the end of 2016, was Hong Kong's eighth-largest source of inward direct investment. Not surprising, with more than 670 UK companies doing business in Hong Kong, and using Hong Kong as the gateway to markets in Mainland China and throughout the Asia region. The joint statement also singles out creative industries and the promise they hold for our two economies. In 2016, Hong Kong's creative industries employed about 135 000 professionals in areas ranging from design and the arts to communications, animation and film. Hong Kong has long been a global centre for filmmaking and film talent. Over the past two years, some 30 UK production companies have turned to Hong Kong for location shooting. And Hong Kong looked to the UK for some HK$3.8 billion worth of creative goods in 2016, from jewellery to books, particularly, I’m told, children’s books. The joint statement also spotlights the priority our two economies place on innovation, research and development, underlining the opportunities that innovation and technology offer Hong Kong and the UK – at the governmental, business and institutional levels. A good start is the signing of the Hong Kong-UK Fintech Bridge Agreement, which I witnessed while in London. It opens wide the door to expanded fintech co-operation between us. All in all, we look forward to working with our good friends and GREAT partners from the UK – today, tomorrow and long down the innovation road. Here, my thanks go to the British Consulate for organising the GREAT Festival of Innovation. Spread over four days and nights, the GREAT Festival features more than 120 high-profile speakers, spotlighting everything from smart cities to the future of free trade and the Belt and Road Initiative. Fashion, food, travel, storytelling and a GREAT deal more too. I am sure everyone will enjoy it, and many collaboration opportunities between Hong Kong and the UK will be identified. On that note, I wish you all a memorable festival and a GREAT year ahead! Thank you. Ends/Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:28 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital Grand Opening Ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/21/P2018032100791.htm

21.3.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the grand opening ceremony of Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital today (March 21): Dato' Mohammed Azlan (Chairman of IHH Healthcare Berhad, Dato' Mohammed Azlan bin Hashim), YP (Executive Director and CEO of NWS Holdings Limited, Mr Tsang Yam-pui), Arthur (Council Chairman of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Professor Arthur Li) , Paul (Acting President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, Professor Paul Tam), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure to be here today, to be celebrating with you the grand opening of Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital. This may be the formal opening ceremony, but I know that the doors of Gleneagles have been open wide and welcoming for a full year now. In that time, the hospital has become a valued addition to Hong Kong and to our dual-track healthcare system. While Hong Kong prides itself on a free market economy and a vibrant private sector, when it comes to hospital services the public sector, namely through the 42 hospitals and institutions of the Hospital Authority, remains a major provider, taking care of some 90 per cent of all in-patient treatment in terms of in-patient bed days. Knowing how much Hong Kong people treasure this safe, quality, accessible and affordable system, as the Chief Executive, I have no intention to make fundamental changes, except to strengthen its management and relieve its work pressure. Hence, this term of the Government has significantly increased its annual subvention to the Hospital Authority and has committed to an extra HK$300 billion capital works programme to support the second 10-year hospital development plan, improve the clinic facilities of the Department of Health, and upgrade and increase healthcare training facilities. This is, I should add, on top of the HK$200 billion committed through the first 10-year plan. But that does not mean we should not promote public-private partnership in order to make better use of our resources and to provide more comprehensive and choice care for our people. Indeed, the mix of public and private sectors in our healthcare services has served Hong Kong well for decades. With world-class additions such as Gleneagles, that system will no doubt become stronger, more efficient and better equipped to respond to the varying needs of the people of Hong Kong. The opening of Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital also underlines my Government's commitment to promoting private sector services where appropriate, and facilitating the adoption of standards to meet public aspirations. This Hospital provides 500 beds, day procedure services and a variety of specialist out-patient services. And it is the second private hospital in Hong Kong offering 24-hour accident and emergency services. In the land tendering process, and through the Service Deed entered into between the Government and the Hospital, local residents are guaranteed at least 70 per cent of in-patient bed days, and that more than half of in-patient services to local residents will be provided through package plans. Gleneagles’ transparent fee-charging system ensures cost certainty and transparency, which will go some way towards addressing patients’ main concern in using private hospital service. I hope this will have a demonstrating and benchmarking effect and our other private hospitals will soon follow suit. The Government announced earlier this month details of the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme, which seeks to enhance the protection offered to individuals under hospital insurance. By regulating products under the scheme, the Government hopes to offer the public a new choice of insurance products with comprehensive coverage. The scheme, together with the proposed tax deduction for the premium, should encourage more people to use private healthcare services through hospital insurance, thereby relieving the pressure on the public healthcare system in the long run. We are, let me add, strengthening our regulatory regime for private healthcare facilities. A bill to that effect is now with the Legislative Council and will cover a wide range of facilities, including private hospitals. Under the Bill, licensed facilities will have to comply with corporate governance, complaint management, price transparency, infection control and other requirements. The Bill will help protect patient rights and safety, while encouraging the good growth of our private healthcare sector. Our population is ageing rapidly, and the rising demand for healthcare services is a challenge we all have to face. The Government will pool all efforts to rise to this challenge by investing in research and development, promoting innovation and technology and driving greater cross-sector, cross-profession collaboration. In short, we are committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of all Hong Kong citizens. Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital, with the University of Hong Kong's Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine as its clinical partner, will surely make a substantial difference to the private healthcare sector. So, my congratulations again to Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital, and everyone behind it. I am pleased to welcome you to our Hong Kong community. My best wishes to you all on this very special day. Thank you very much. Ends/Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Issued at HKT 18:28 NNNN

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Speech by Acting CE at launch ceremony of Race for Opportunity: Diversity List 2018

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/20/P2018032000437.htm

20.3.2018

Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the launch ceremony of Race for Opportunity: Diversity List 2018 today (March 20): Shalini (Co-founder and Chair of the Zubin Foundation Ms Shalini Mahtani), Alice (Board Director of Spencer Stuart Ms Alice Au), Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. It is my great pleasure to join you all here today to launch the Race for Opportunity: Diversity List 2018. Hong Kong is home to some 250 000 ethnic minority residents, accounting for 3.8 per cent of the whole population. According to the 2016 Population By-census, the ethnic minority population expanded rapidly in the five years between 2011 and 2016 at an average annual rate of 5.8 per cent, which is much faster than the territory-wide growth rate of 0.5 per cent. The Government is committed to providing equal opportunities for the ethnic minorities and facilitating their integration into our community. To ensure that Government policies can cater for various social groups, the Chief Executive has pledged in her election manifesto that more ethnic minorities will be appointed to different Government statutory bodies and committees so that Government policies can cater for various social groups. While many ethnic minorities have settled in Hong Kong for generations, others are new arrivals to start a new life here. Owing to language barriers and cultural differences, some of them do encounter different degree of difficulties in their everyday life. To support non-Chinese speaking students in learning the Chinese language systematically and to assist their integration into the community, the Education Bureau has implemented the Chinese Language Curriculum Second Language Learning Framework, Learning Framework in short, in primary and secondary schools since the 2014/15 school year. We are closely monitoring the implementation of the Learning Framework in schools to collect first-hand information regarding curriculum planning, learning, teaching, and assessment for discussion with experts, academics and teachers so as to gauge its effectiveness. Views of ethnic minorities parents and relevant organisations will also be taken into consideration. To this end, the Zubin Foundation has been our staunch supporter and partner and launched the first Diversity List two years ago. So far, the Foundation has identified a number of non-Chinese individuals who are elites of their professions and are devoted to contribute to Hong Kong by serving on Government advisory and statutory bodies. I am grateful to note that eight of them have been invited to join ten advisory committees. We will continue to invite more ethnic minorities from different sectors of the community to share with us their views and suggestions. To provide more opportunities for more diversified participation in policy discussion, we have launched the Pilot Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth to invite young people to nominate themselves to specified Government committees. The response to the Pilot Scheme was overwhelming and a number of applications were submitted by young people from different ethnic backgrounds. I have met some applicants in person and was deeply impressed and touched by their commitment and determination in serving society. While the first phase of self-recommendation has ended, I encourage our young people who are interested in serving the community to put forward your resume to the Home Affairs Bureau for inclusion into the Central Personality Index for consideration by other Government committees when they consider appointing new members. It is our aim to double the overall ratio of youth members to 15% within the current-term Government. To enhance collaboration on support for ethnic minorities, we have responded to the earlier advice of some of the community leaders named on the Diversity Lists who are also members of the Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony whom I met in August last year and will set up a high-level steering committee to be chaired by me to coordinate, review and monitor work in this respect. I am happy today to say that the Financial Secretary has kindly acceded to my suggestion and earmarked in the Budget announced last month $500 million to strengthen Government's support for ethnic minorities. We need to get our act together to enhance the well-being of our ethnic minorities citizens, promotes their upward social mobility and foster their integration and inclusion into our social fabric. All ethnic minorities are part and parcel of Hong Kong. We cannot and should not leave anyone behind. On legislation, the Race Discrimination Ordinance, which is enforced by the Equal Opportunities Commission, was fully implemented in 2009. In 2016, the Equal Opportunities Commission submitted its proposals on the Discrimination Law Review to the Government. Among others, nine recommendations were accorded priority of which seven related to the Race Discrimination Ordinance. These recommendations would provide protection against racial harassment to persons in a common workplace as well as harassment by service providers and service users. We aim to table the legislative proposal of the priority recommendations at the Legislative Council this year. No less important, legislation must go hand in hand with public education to raise public awareness of social inclusion. The Equal Opportunities Commission has spared no effort to promote racial inclusion and equal opportunities through various publicity and educational programmes, including the annual flagship event to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on tomorrow (March 21). The Government is committed to promoting equal opportunity. We have just completed a review of the Chinese proficiency entry requirements for all the grades of the civil service. The number of civil service grades that have lowered the requirement of Chinese language proficiency has increased by 22 to 53. Apart from this, some departments have employed non-ethnic Chinese to meet specific operational needs, including the Police Community Liaison Assistants, the Race Relation Units of the Home Affairs Department, Employment Assistants of the Labour Department. Nevertheless, Government's effort alone is not enough. We need to work in concert. We need the support from all quarters of the community to develop Hong Kong into a harmonious and inclusive city. My special thanks go to the Zubin Foundation and Spencer Stuart for their sterling and unstinting support in promoting social inclusion and building a truly caring, cohesive and fair Hong Kong. On this note, I wish all of you an enjoyable afternoon, and your families a healthy, happy, harmonious and prosperous year ahead. Thank you. Ends/Tuesday, March 20, 2018 Issued at HKT 13:25 NNNN

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Speech by CE at WEEE·PARK opening ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/19/P2018031900583.htm

19.3.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening ceremony for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Treatment and Recycling Facility, WEEE·PARK, today (March 19): I would now like to say a few words in English. It is my great pleasure to join you all today at the grand opening ceremony of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Treatment and Recycling Facility, or the WEEE·PARK, here at the EcoPark. Last year, in my election manifesto and the first Policy Address of the current-term Government, I set out my vision for Hong Kong to become a more liveable city, with a sustainable environment being an indispensable building block. Today, we are one step closer towards achieving that vision. The commissioning of WEEE·PARK will provide us with the necessary processing capacity to properly recycle and treat the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generated locally, turning them into useful resources by employing state-of-the-art technology. It will also underpin the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment that the Government will be implementing in full later this year. Apart from dismantling waste equipment, WEEE·PARK will also refurbish suitable equipment for reuse by those in need. The WEEE·PARK is the newest member of the advanced waste management infrastructure that is being established as set out in the Government's Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources. It follows the commissioning of the T·PARK, another state-of-the-art facility nearby that transforms sludge into energy. Meanwhile, our first organic resource recovery centre, O·PARK, will also commence operation later this year while the food waste pre-treatment facility at Tai Po Wastewater Treatment Plant is expected to be commissioned next year for pilot co-digestion of food waste and sludge in Hong Kong. We have also awarded the contract for constructing the Integrated Waste Management Facility recently. Before I close, I would like to express my gratitude for the support and participation by the Legislative Council, the Tuen Mun District Council, the electrical and electronic equipment industry, and the project teams, leading to the successful completion of the WEEE·PARK. To the contractor, ALBA, congratulations and I look forward to your continued contributions towards the recycling and recovery of WEEE in Hong Kong. Thank you very much. Ends/Monday, March 19, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:34 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Women's Commission International Women's Day 2018 reception

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/08/P2018030800787.htm

8.3.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Women's Commission International Women's Day 2018 reception today (March 8): As Hong Kong's first ever female Chief Executive, it is a great pleasure for me to join you all for this year's International Women's Day reception. Hong Kong has indeed made great strides in promoting women's development, and I am a firm believer that education plays a big role in this area. We are proud that Hong Kong has achieved gender equality in education. Despite having slightly more males than females in the 15-to-24 age group, females outnumber their male counterparts in higher education. In the last academic year, about 54 per cent of students who enrolled in programmes funded by the University Grants Committee were female. In terms of professional degree programmes such as medicine, which have been dominated by male students in the past, these days females have an edge in terms of enrolment numbers. For instance, in the last academic year, women accounted for about 51 per cent of medical students in Hong Kong. That said, statistics reveal that there is room for improvement, especially when it comes to supporting women at work. In 2016, 51 per cent of women participated in our labour force, which is significantly lower than the 69 per cent of men. Also in 2016, just one in three manager and administrator positions were filled by women. It is also noteworthy that the number of women in the workforce drops after the age of 30. This is understandable as this suggests that some women, including professionals, might not return to the job market after starting a family. My Government is committed to removing barriers for women to enter or remain in employment through various support measures. These include enhancing child care and elderly services, so as to create favourable conditions for women who wish to pursue their careers, and enable them to achieve a better work-life balance. I know that the Women's Commission has put a lot of effort into facilitating women's employment. In addition to commissioning surveys and researches on women's development and employment, it has since 2014-15 provided funding to help various groups organise programmes and projects under the Funding Scheme for Women's Development. To date, 206 projects have been approved for funding. I look forward to the Commission's valuable advice on how we can further support women in the workplace and address other issues of concern for women in the community. We will continue to work closely with the Commission to promote the well-being of all women in Hong Kong. On this International Women's Day, let me wish you all an enjoyable evening and a very happy and healthy year ahead. Thank you very much. Ends/Thursday, March 8, 2018 Issued at HKT 19:05 NNNN

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Speech by Acting CE at Celebration of International Women's Day 2018

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/06/P2018030600887.htm

6.3.2018

Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the Celebration of the International Women's Day 2018 in support of the HeForShe campaign this evening (March 6): CK (Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mr Chow Chung-kong), Rebecca (President of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong, Ms Rebecca Silli), Stephen (Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Mr Stephen Ng), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. I am very pleased and honoured to join you all here tonight at this second edition of HeForShe campaign in celebration of the International Women's Day. As the theme "HeForShe" goes, I am standing right here to advocate the idea to speak up for women; to engage and to get the support of men to achieve equality. As a matter of fact, I am standing in on this very occasion for Mrs Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive, who is away in Beijing on duty. So to all intents and purposes, it is a living manifestation of "HeForShe". Gender equality is vital to Hong Kong's continued success as the premier business hub in the Asia-Pacific region and I need not impress upon you the significance and benefits of a gender inclusive and family-friendly working environment to developing, attracting and retaining the best of talents, both males and females. I would add that gender equality also means taking into consideration the interests, needs and priorities of both sexes while, at the same time, recognising their diversity. As such, gender equality is not and should never only be a women's issue, but should concern and engage both genders. I fully support the United Nations Women's HeForShe campaign which is a very timely one and I can assure you that our commitment in promoting women's development and advancement in all fields will only strengthen in the years to come. Challenges faced by women's development evolve over time. Women today often find themselves multi-tasking, juggling different roles at the same time, and balancing family and work life all the time. It is true that while some women choose to "lean in" - which many have achieved incredible success in every field - we will recognise that some may face barriers to genuine equal opportunity as roles and responsibilities in family sometimes make it difficult for them to fully realise their potentials. To this end, the Government accords high priority to creating a more enabling environment for women to make an informed choice if they would like to join or remain in the workforce. By strengthening the support for families on various fronts, including child care services, community and home care support services for elderly, establishing breastfeeding-friendly workplace and implementing family-friendly employment practices, we aim to remove barriers that prevent women from entering or remaining in the workforce. As announced by the Chief Executive in her inaugural Policy Address last October, the Government will commence a study on the enhancement of maternity leave. Currently it is only ten weeks. Our aim is to increase it to 14 weeks. We have also secured in-principle agreement of the Labour Advisory Board to increase statutory paternity leave from three to five days. I am confident that this five-day paternity leave will come into being in July this year. Apart from these measures, we understand that child care services are fundamental to supporting parents to combine family obligations with work responsibilities. We will provide a total of about 300 additional places in aided stand-alone child care centres in North District, Kwun Tong, Kwai Tsing and Sha Tin starting from 2018-19. To review the long-term development of child care services, we have commissioned the University of Hong Kong to conduct a consultancy study and to make recommendations on the long-term service planning of child care services in Hong Kong. The study is expected to be completed this year. Meanwhile, to further alleviate the pressure on working women in looking after their children, we relaxed the income limit for low-income families under the Fee-waiving Subsidy Scheme for After School Care Programme through the Community Care Fund and provided 2,000 additional fee-waiving and fee-reduction places in early October last year. Looking ahead, we will inject $400 million into the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged in the next financial year. Of this amount, $200 million will be devoted to implementing after-school learning and support programmes and about 130,000 grassroots children are expected to benefit. We believe that all these efforts will be conducive to unleashing women's working potential. In fact, the labour force participation rate for women in Hong Kong has increased from about 45 per cent back in 1996 to about 51 per cent in 2016. There is certainly room for improvement, considering that about 54 per cent of the university students enrolled in undergraduate programmes funded by the University Grants Committee were females in 2016. What is more fascinating is that close to 60 per cent of the students majoring in business and management in universities were females, not to mention that 48 per cent of Hong Kong's solicitors and 50 per cent of our public accountants are females. It is also encouraging that women's share of managerial positions in Hong Kong has also gone up from about 20 to 33 per cent. In the public sector, we have more than one-third of our civil servants at directorate grade level being women, compared to just over 15 per cent 20 years ago. If you look at the Police Force, even more interesting, the percentage of female officers in inspector ranks has increased from 13 per cent in 1990 to 30.2 per cent in 2017, while the percentage in superintendent ranks has increased from 2.8 per cent to 22.3 per cent for the same period. Last year, Ms Winnie Chiu Wai-yin has become the first female Deputy Commissioner of Police in Hong Kong and also the highest ranked female police officer ever since the establishment of the Police Force in 1844, showing that women are just as capable as men. We have also set a gender benchmark target of 35 per cent for appointing women to Government advisory and statutory bodies. As at last year, the overall percentage of women's participation in our advisory boards with Government-appointed non-official members stood at 31.8 per cent. We will definitely strive to achieve a more balanced mix within our advisory and statutory bodies. Notwithstanding our promising progress in various areas, I am fully aware that there is still "glass ceiling" at the top management level in our corporate boards. At present, only around 14 per cent of the board directors of Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index companies are women. Even though it compares favorably with a few East Asian counterparts, say Singapore at under 10 per cent, Japan only at 3.4 per cent and South Korea at just over 4 per cent, it is of paramount importance to realise how far we still have to go to achieve genuine equal opportunities for all women at all levels. In this regard, I call upon you for greater support as champions for change towards a more gender-balanced corporate environment in Hong Kong. I would also welcome proactive measures to be taken to enhance the percentage of women on boards among Hong Kong listed companies. Perhaps some insights on this could be drawn at the Panel meetings later on. To further raise the awareness of gender mainstreaming in the business community, we have set up the Gender Focal Point network among listed companies at the end of 2016 with the support of Hong Kong Exchanges. The Gender Focal Points, comprising representatives at director level or equivalent of the listed companies, help raise awareness and understanding of gender-related issues and promote gender sensitivity concept in the daily work of their staff. We are delighted that over 160 listed companies have joined our network. We will continue to explore ways to further leverage this valuable network to remove any barriers preventing women from unleashing their potential. In this respect, I must pay warm tribute to CK for setting a shining example for "HeForShe" as you have been rendering full support in setting up this Gender Focal Point network. The Hong Kong Exchanges has also in the past spearheaded reforms to promote board diversity. I hope that all of you will keep up the good work in furthering gender equality in the business community. On this note, I wish the HeForShe event another great success and all participants a most stimulating and fruitful exchange and a successful and prosperous Year of the Dog. Thank you very much. Ends/Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Issued at HKT 22:01 NNNN

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CE visits Zhuhai

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/30/P2018033000839.htm

30.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, continued her visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area in Zhuhai today (March 30). Mrs Lam and the other officials visited the Hengqin New Area Exhibition Hall in Zhuhai in the morning to learn about the latest development of Hengqin. The Exhibition Hall showcases the Hengqin’s vision, overall planning and achievements in the past few years. She said she is pleased to note that the Hengqin New Area attaches importance to a liveable environment and includes design elements in the construction of waterways and bridges. Mrs Lam also visited Novotown in Hengqin which is invested and developed by a Hong Kong enterprise. Novotown is an integrated project featuring tourism, entertainment, education as well as cultural and creative attractions. The first phase of the project is expected to commence operation early next year. Mrs Lam noted that internship opportunities would be made available to Hong Kong young people during the development phase of the project. Mrs Lam and the other officials then went to the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HZMB) by car, went all the way to the linking point with Hong Kong via the Main Bridge formed by the bridge section and the subsea tunnel section, inspecting the two artificial islands on the East and West along the way to learn about the latest situation of the Zhuhai section of the HZMB. Amazed by the magnificence of the bridge, Mrs Lam expressed gratitude to the personnel who manage and construct the project for their untiring efforts. She said that the commissioning of the HZMB is set to enhance the flow of people and goods in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and bring about numerous development opportunities for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in various aspects including tourism, finance, business and logistics. At noon, Mrs Lam and the other officials met with the Secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee, Mr Guo Yonghang, and attended a lunch hosted by him. She said that her visit to Hengqin and the Zhuhai section of the HZMB today is an important part of her visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area this time. Congratulating the Zhuhai Municipal Government for its remarkable achievements since her last visit only five years ago, she said Hengqin has set an excellent example for full and comprehensive co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. She said that while each of the cities in the Bay Area has their unique advantages, there are various areas in which Hong Kong and Zhuhai can collaborate, including innovation and technology, cultural tourism, the creative industries, education and medical services. With the commissioning of the HZMB which will draw people in Hong Kong and Zhuhai closer together, she said that Hong Kong people, in particular its young people will find tremendous opportunities for development in Zhuhai and that she hopes the government of the two places can strengthen connection to explore more projects with mutual benefits. Mrs Lam returned to Hong Kong this afternoon. Ends/Friday, March 30, 2018 Issued at HKT 21:32 NNNN

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CE visits Shenzhen and Zhongshan

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/29/P2018032901071.htm

29.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, commenced her two-day trip to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area in Shenzhen and Zhongshan today (March 29). Accompanied by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Mrs Lam arrived in Shenzhen this morning to officiate at the Establishment Ceremony of Harmonia College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK Shenzhen). They also toured the campus and were briefed on the development of the university. Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Lam said that with the forthcoming promulgation and implementation of the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong is set to enter a new stage. Mrs Lam said she hopes that more industries which enjoy clear advantages in Hong Kong, including education, will extend their presence in the Bay Area. Noting that CUHK Shenzhen, which was set up in 2014, has already attracted top talent and established a number of world-class innovative research platforms in just a few years, she said the institution's success is a testament to the boundless scope for co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong. Mrs Lam and the other officials then met with the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mr Wang Weizhong, and attended a lunch hosted by him. Mrs Lam said that both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang stated their expectations of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area during the recent annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, expressing hope that it would be developed as a world-class Bay Area open to the world. She added that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up of the country, coupled with the forthcoming promulgation and implementation of the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, the co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong should carry on with past successes while creating new achievements in the future. Hong Kong and Shenzhen are close neighbours, have been collaborating well and should complement each other for mutual benefits down the road, she added. In particular, as Shenzhen is home to many advanced manufacturing and leading innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises, I&T will be an area that is highly complementary to both cities. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam, Mr Yang, Mr Nip, Mr Chan and the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, headed for Zhongshan to view the Zhongshan National Health Technology Park. Housing more than 200 companies, including renowned overseas high-tech enterprises, the Park provides pharmaceutical industries with an excellent environment for innovation and entrepreneurship with the integration of research and development, inspection and testing, transformation of achievements, financing and incubation. The delegation also visited a convenience store operated with artificial intelligence in the Park to experience the self-service sales model. The project was jointly developed by Hong Kong and Mainland teams, which fully demonstrates the advantage of the model of “designed by Hong Kong and manufactured by Zhongshan”. Mrs Lam and the other officials then headed for Tsui Hang New District to inspect the construction of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link. Expected to be opened in 2024, the link will greatly shorten the travelling time from Hong Kong to the west bank of the Pearl River via Shenzhen. They then visited the Zhongshan Tsui Hang New District Planning Exhibition Centre to learn about the planning of the new district and the infrastructure of Zhongshan. In the evening, Mrs Lam and the other officials met with the Secretary of the CPC Zhongshan Municipal Committee, Mr Chen Xudong, and attended a dinner hosted by him. Mrs Lam said Zhongshan can play an important role in the Hong Kong-Guangdong co-operation. Noting that Hong Kong’s edge is in research and development while Zhongshan is an excellent base for transformation of achievements, she said the two cities can join hands to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area as a world-class I&T centre. In addition, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link which is under construction can complement with other infrastructure projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area that falls within a reachable one-hour living circle, facilitating the flow of people and goods in the area. With the economic development in the cities in the Bay Area including Zhongshan, there is an increasing need for quality services. While Hong Kong hopes to develop industries which enjoy clear advantages such as medical services and education in the Bay Area, Zhongshan’s vibrant development in the healthcare industry presents an opportunity for co-operation between the two places to attract more overseas talent to develop in the Bay Area. Mrs Lam headed for Zhuhai in the evening and will continue her visit tomorrow (March 30). Ends/Thursday, March 29, 2018 Issued at HKT 23:53 NNNN

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Appointment of Town Planning Board members

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/29/P2018032900416.htm

29.3.2018

The Chief Executive has appointed six official and 32 non-official members to the Town Planning Board (TPB) for a new two-year term from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2020. The membership was published in the Gazette today (March 29). The Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands) and Professor Wong Sze-chun are re-appointed as Chairman and Vice-chairman of the TPB respectively. A spokesman for the Development Bureau said that the non-official members of the TPB come from various sectors, including architecture, surveying, urban design, business, engineering, environment and sustainable development, legal, social and medical services, housing affairs, transport and media sectors. The TPB members have multi-disciplinary expertise, experiences with planning and related matters and wide exposure, and will contribute to its work in discharging statutory functions. The members are also appointed to serve on the TPB's two planning committees, namely the Metro Planning Committee and the Rural and New Town Planning Committee. The TPB is a statutory body established under section 2 of the Town Planning Ordinance with a view to promoting the health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the community through the systematic preparation and approval of plans for the layout of areas of Hong Kong. Following is the TPB's full membership for the new term: Chairman ---------- Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands) Vice-chairman ---------------- Professor Wong Sze-chun Official Members: ------------------- Director of Planning Deputy Secretary (Transport)1, Transport and Housing Bureau, or alternate representative Director of Home Affairs, or alternate representative Director of Environmental Protection, or alternate representative Director of Lands, or alternate representative Non-official Members: ------------------------ The re-appointed members are: Mr Lincoln Huang Ling-hang Mr Cheung Hau-wai Dr Chan Fuk-cheung Mr Cheung Kwok-kit Mr Ivan Fu Chin-shing Mr Wilson Fung Ying-wai Dr Hau Chi-hang Mr Sunny Ho Lap-kee Mr Thomas Ho On-sing Mr Philip Kan Siu-lun Mr Alex Lai Ting-hong Dr Lawrence Li Kwok-chang Mr Stephen Liu Ling-hong Professor Liu Tik-sang Mr David Lui Yin-tat Miss Winnie Ng Wing-mui Dr Lawrence Poon Wing-cheung Ms Sandy Wong Hang-yee Mr Stephen Yau How-boa Dr Frankie Yeung Mr Franklin Yu Mr Peter Yuen Ka-tat The new appointees are: Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing Mr Kwok Lit-tung Mr Daniel Lau King-shing Ms Lilian Law Suk-kwan Mr Leung Ka-wing Professor John Ng Cheuk-yee Dr Jeanne Ng Chi-yun Professor Jonathan Wong Woon-chung Mr Ricky Yu Wai-yip Ends/Thursday, March 29, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:28 NNNN

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Appointments to Board of Governors of Hong Kong Arts Centre

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/29/P2018032900305.htm

29.3.2018

The Chief Executive has appointed Mrs Dominica Yang as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Arts Centre. The Chief Executive has also appointed Mr Peter Lau Man-pong and Ms Maggie Tsui Yeuk-ting as members of the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Arts Centre. The appointments, to be published in the Government Gazette on April 6, are for a period of three years from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2021. The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah said, "Mr Nelson Leong has served on the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Arts Centre in his capacity as the Board Chairman over the past six years. He has demonstrated excellent leadership qualities and actively promoted the work of the Centre during this period. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr Leong for his valuable contributions to the promotion of the cultural and arts development of Hong Kong." Ends/Thursday, March 29, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN

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Appointment of HA members for 2018/19

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/29/P2018032800547.htm

29.3.2018

The Chief Executive has re-appointed four serving members and appointed four new members to the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), the Government announced today (March 29). A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, "We are grateful to the four new members for accepting the appointment and the existing members for agreeing to continue their service with the HA for another term." The re-appointed members are: From April 1 for two years Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung Mr Chua Hoi-wai Ms So Ching From August 13 for two years Mr Stanley Wong Yuen-fai The new members (appointed from April 1 for two years) are: Dr Johnnie Casire Chan Chi-kau Mr Raymond Chan Yuk-ming Ms Cleresa Wong Pie-yue Ms Cissy Chan Ching-sze Seven serving members will retire from the HA. "We wish to thank the retiring members for their sterling contribution over the past years," the spokesman said. The retiring members are: Retiring on April 1 Professor Edwin Chan Hon-wan Mr Lee Ping-kuen Mr Winfield Wong Wing-cheung Miss Anita Fung Yuen-mei Mr Barrie Ho Chow-lai Professor Bernard Vincent Lim Wan-fung Retiring on August 13 Dr Lau Kwok-yu The membership list of the Housing Authority for 2018/19 is below: Secretary for Transport and Housing (Chairman) Director of Housing (Vice-chairman) Non-official Members (25): Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung Dr Lau Kwok-yu (up to August 12, 2018) Mr Stanley Wong Yuen-fai Ms Serena Lau Sze-wan Mr Wan Man-yee Mr Chua Hoi-wai Ms So Ching Mr Cheung Tat-tong Dr Lo Wai-kwok Mr Alan Lui Siu-lun Mr Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan Mr Kwok Wai-keung Mr Dennis Kwok Wing-hang Professor Joseph Lee Kok-long Mr Wilson Or Chong-shing Professor Chan Ka-lok Ms Melissa Kaye Pang Miss Vena Cheng Wei-yan Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah Mr Shiu Ka-fai Mr Andrew Wan Siu-kin Dr Johnnie Casire Chan Chi-kau Mr Raymond Chan Yuk-ming Ms Cleresa Wong Pie-yue Ms Cissy Chan Ching-sze Official Members: Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) Director of Lands Ends/Thursday, March 29, 2018 Issued at HKT 14:30 NNNN

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CE meets Governor of Guangdong Province

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/28/P2018032800905.htm

28.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, hosted a breakfast meeting with the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui, at Government House this morning (March 28) to exchange views on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong. Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Ma's visit to Hong Kong with his delegation. She said that Hong Kong and Guangdong have all along had close ties and co-operation and that this is the fifth time she has met Mr Ma to discuss ways to deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong since she assumed office on July 1 last year. Noting that ties between the two places will be more convenient with the forthcoming promulgation and implementation of the development plan for the Bay Area and the commissioning of three cross-boundary infrastructure projects in the coming 12 months, she expressed the hope that Hong Kong and Guangdong will continue to explore further exchanges and collaboration in various aspects including city management, healthcare, education and innovation and technology. Thanking the Guangdong Provincial Government for making arrangements for her upcoming visit to Shenzhen, Zhongshan and Zhuhai, and the visit by Legislative Council members to five cities in the Bay Area next month, she said she believes that these visits will deepen the understanding of the Bay Area’s latest situation and future development by various sectors in Hong Kong. Mrs Lam said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will actively promote the opportunities brought about by the Bay Area’s development to the business community, professionals and members of the public in Hong Kong, and added that the HKSAR Government will also invite the Guangdong Provincial Government to jointly organise promotional activities overseas to publicise the combined advantages and tremendous business opportunities of the Bay Area to attract foreign investment and talent. Ends/Wednesday, March 28, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:11 NNNN

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Appointments to Youth Development Commission

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/28/P2018032800401.htm

28.3.2018

The Government announced today (March 28) the establishment of the Youth Development Commission (YDC), chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, as well as the appointments of Mr Lau Ming-wai as the Vice-Chairman and 34 non-official and eight ex-officio members of the YDC for a term of two years, from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2020. In her 2017 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the establishment of the YDC to enhance policy co-ordination within the Government. This will enable holistic and more effective examination of, and discussion on, issues of concern to young people. The YDC will give specific attention to issues on youth education, career pursuit and home ownership as well as the participation of young people in politics and their engagement in public policy discussion and debate. The existing Commission on Youth (CoY) under the Home Affairs Bureau will also be incorporated into the new, high-level YDC. The YDC will commence operation next month. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "Youth development is one of the priority policy areas of the current-term Government. Non-official members of the YDC are highly representative and include community leaders as well as experts and stakeholders involved in youth development work. More than half of them are young members aged 35 or below. The average age of non-official members is 35. I am confident that the YDC would provide valuable advice to the Government on different issues of concern to young people and reflect their views in full." The YDC is the first Government committee with young members appointed through the Pilot Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (the Self-recommendation Scheme). "I am pleased to appoint three young members to the YDC through the Self-recommendation Scheme. These three members went through a very rigorous selection exercise and stood out from 503 qualified applicants. They have demonstrated strong commitment to and abiding passion for serving on the YDC. I look forward to working closely with all YDC members to jointly promote youth development in Hong Kong," Mr Cheung said. Expressing his gratitude to members of the CoY for their remarkable contribution in the past, Mr Cheung emphasised that the Commission had since its establishment provided valuable and pragmatic advice to the Government on youth-related matters, laying a solid foundation for future youth development work. Under the outstanding chairmanship of Mr Lau in recent years, the CoY had effectively assisted the Government in raising public awareness of youth development in Hong Kong through successful implementation of a series of initiatives in this regard. Mr Cheung said he has every confidence that CoY members will continue to support youth development work in different capacities. The terms of reference of the YDC are: (1) to oversee the review, formulation and implementation of youth-related policies, strategies and initiatives; (2) to steer and strengthen collaboration amongst relevant bureaux/departments and other stakeholders on implementation of youth-related policies, strategies and initiatives; (3) to promote cross-sector collaboration in youth work and engage other advisory and statutory bodies on youth development; (4) to engage youths and gauge their views on youth-related policies, strategies and initiatives, including the organisation of the Chief Executive's Youth Summits; and (5) to set up task forces, ad hoc working groups, and other forms of sub-committees to undertake related work as appropriate. Three Task Forces will be set up under the YDC to undertake specific areas of work. The three Task Forces are: (1) Task Force on Youth Exchange and Internship; (2) Task Force on Youth Development Fund and Programmes; and (3) Task Force on Youth Outreach and Engagement. The first meeting of the YDC will be held next month. The membership of the YDC is as follows: Chairman -------- Chief Secretary for Administration Vice-Chairman ------------ Mr Lau Ming-wai Non-official Members --------------------- Mr Mac Chan Ho-ting Dr Chan Po-ling (appointed through the Self-recommendation Scheme) Mr Jonathan Chan Pok-chi Ms Chan Yuen-ting Mr Cheng Chung-man Mr Cheng Hong-wun (appointed through the Self-recommendation Scheme) Mr Alex Fan Hoi-kit Mr Kenneth Fok Kai-kong Mr Leo Ho Cheuk-yin Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi Dr Ho Yuk-fan Mr Andy Kwok Wing-leung Ms Louise Kwong Lai-ling Ms Nixie Lam Lam Ms Serena Lau Sze-wan Professor Gabriel Matthew Leung Mr Clarence Leung Wang-ching Mr Kenneth Leung Yuk-wai Dr Kristen Li Mr Duncan Ma Tak-yan Mr Ng Sum-chun (appointed through the Self-recommendation Scheme) Ms Senia Ng Sze-nok Ms Julia Poon Tsui-ying Mr Hendrick Sin Mr Kyrus Siu King-wai Ms Elizabeth Thong Lee-peng Mr Alex Tou Yat-lung Ms Ashley Tse Hiu-hung Mr James Tsui Siu-lung Dr Rizwan Ullah Dr Isaac Yip Pui-lam Mr Yiu Kwok-wai Mr Jeremy Young Chit-on Ms Mary Yu Wah Ex-officio Members --------------------- Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Secretary for Education Secretary for Food and Health Secretary for Home Affairs Secretary for Innovation and Technology Secretary for Labour and Welfare Secretary for Security Secretary for Transport and Housing Biographical notes on the non-official members are in the annex. Ends/Wednesday, March 28, 2018 Issued at HKT 14:00 NNNN

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First meeting of Chief Executive's Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development held

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/27/P2018032700573.htm

27.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, and her Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development had a useful exchange of views on the future development direction of Hong Kong at the Council's first meeting today (March 27). The meeting was held after a welcome lunch hosted by the Chief Executive at Government House for members of the Council. Mrs Lam shared with members her vision on the future of Hong Kong, and how, by leveraging on its unique strengths and adopting new roles of the Government as a facilitator and promoter, Hong Kong could be better integrated into the overall development of the country. "The Government must be forward-looking and maintain a strategic perspective in its governance. In addition to strengthening the competitiveness of Hong Kong's traditional industries, we need to foster the development of the new economy by embracing innovation and technology. With our strong fiscal position, it is clear that we should invest more vigorously for the future," she said. At the meeting, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, gave a presentation on the 2018-19 Budget. Members were briefed on the economic forecast for Hong Kong in the medium term, the current fiscal position and the economic challenges facing Hong Kong. Members also deliberated on how Hong Kong could seize the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development, and provided advice on the factors essential to sustaining Hong Kong's economic development in the medium term. The Council decided that further study should be conducted to explore opportunities for Hong Kong arising from the Bay Area development, in particular on proposed measures to facilitate the flow of people, goods, capital and information between Hong Kong and other cities in the Bay Area. The Council is a high-level body to advise the Chief Executive on Hong Kong's future development and strategies for driving innovation. It will give advice on Hong Kong's strategic positioning in the global and regional contexts and directions of economic development with an aim of enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness and growth potential, provide guidance on evidence-based research and studies on related issues with a view to enhancing policy formulation to meet changing development needs, and advise on stakeholder engagement and public participation in the policy formulation and consensus building process. Ends/Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Issued at HKT 18:31 NNNN

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Non-in-situ land exchange for No. 23 Coombe Road approved by Executive Council

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/27/P2018032700512.htm

27.3.2018

The Chief Executive in Council today (March 27) approved a non-in-situ land exchange with the private owner of No. 23 Coombe Road in order to preserve the historic building for revitalisation and adaptive re-use. The historic building at No. 23 Coombe Road was accorded Grade 1 status by the Antiquities Advisory Board in 2011. Grade 1 historic buildings are "buildings of outstanding merit, which every effort should be made to preserve if possible". Under the approved land exchange, the owner will surrender the building at No. 23 Coombe Road and the entire site to the Government for preservation and revitalisation, while the Government will grant simultaneously a nearby lot of the same size to the owner for private residential development. A spokesperson for the Development Bureau said that under the heritage conservation policy promulgated in 2007, the Government recognises the need for economic incentives to encourage and assist private owners to preserve historic buildings in their ownership. In implementing this policy, the aim is to strike a proper balance between preservation of historic buildings and respect for private property rights. As far as the offer of land exchange is concerned, under the prevailing policy, it is applicable to both monuments and Grade 1 historic buildings. The new lot to be granted to the owner is a piece of government land opposite the existing lot across Coombe Road to the south. It is about 1 100 square metres in size, which is the same as the existing lot. The new lot is also subject to similar development parameters as those previously applicable to the existing lot. "We had considered various economic incentives, including in-situ land exchange and transfer of unused development rights, but these options were found infeasible. Eventually, following the principle for non-in-situ land exchange stipulated by the Government, the owner considered several replacement sites, and both parties reached consensus to adopt the present non-in-situ land exchange arrangement. "Under the arrangement, besides paying full market value premium for the land exchange in accordance with the established policy, the owner is required to surrender to the Government the building at No. 23 Coombe Road in a condition satisfactory to the Antiquities and Monuments Office," the spokesperson said. At its meeting today, the Executive Council also approved amendments to the Peak Area Outline Zoning Plan, which include rezoning the new lot proposed to be granted to the owner from "Green Belt" to "Residential (Group C)6" to facilitate the implementation of the preservation option. The rezoning has gone through the proper town planning process under the Town Planning Ordinance. Built in 1887, the building at No. 23 Coombe Road is a private residence with its first owner being John Joseph Francis, who was prominent in civic affairs in a number of respects, in particular his efforts in investigating the issue of mui-tsai and in drawing up the rules for enacting the formation of the Po Leung Kuk Incorporation Ordinance to offer protection for women and girls. Moreover, the building is one of the oldest surviving European houses on the Peak. It was built using coolies' labour, as the Peak Tramway was not yet opened at that time. After No. 23 Coombe Road is surrendered to the Government, the Government plans to revitalise it and put it to adaptive re-use for the public. Ends/Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:45 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/27/P2018032700380.htm

27.3.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (March 27): Reporter: How confident are you that the employers will also accept this rumoured plan? Chief Executive: Well, we will try our very best to convince the employer groups and the business chambers that this off-setting feature is actually undermining the very purpose of setting up a Mandatory Provident Fund, which is to preserve the benefits for the retirement protection of employees in Hong Kong. Now that the Government has demonstrated the needed political resolve to address this issue and to put in extra funding, I hope that we will be able to convince the employers. But as I said, we'll try our best. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:59 NNNN

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CE to visit Shenzhen, Zhongshan and Zhuhai

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/27/P2018032700288.htm

27.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will visit three cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, namely Shenzhen, Zhongshan and Zhuhai, on March 29 and 30. During the visit, Mrs Lam will officiate at the inauguration ceremony of Harmonia College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and visit places including the Zhongshan National Health Technology Park and Tsui Hang New District in Zhongshan, as well as Hengqin New Area in Zhuhai. She will also meet with leaders of the Shenzhen, Zhongshan and Zhuhai Municipal Governments separately. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will accompany Mrs Lam on the visit. The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; and the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, will join parts of the visit. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on March 30. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Issued at HKT 10:20 NNNN

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CE meets Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/25/P2018032500698.htm

25.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the visiting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Taro Kono, at Government House this afternoon (March 25). Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Kono's visit to Hong Kong, who is the first Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan to visit Hong Kong since Hong Kong's return to the motherland. Noting that Hong Kong is Asia's world city, she said that since she assumed office last July, she has been striving to strengthen the ties between Hong Kong and other economies and hopes that exchanges with Japan in various areas will be enhanced, including trade, business, tourism, culture, the creative industries, Gerontech and people-to-people bonds. In particular on tourism, arrivals from Hong Kong in Japan amounted to 2.2 million last year and an increase of more than ten per cent in visits by Japanese to Hong Kong were recorded last year. She expressed the hope that both sides would continue to work together to advance the development in tourism. Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong is committed to promoting regional trade and economic co-operation and signed a Free Trade Agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations last November. She said the city is also interested in participating in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership which is under negotiation. Given Hong Kong, an international centre for finance, trade and business, has all along been supportive of free trade, she said she believed that Japan will support Hong Kong's participation in the Partnership to benefit all participating parties. Noting that she has been monitoring the situation on food imports from Japan to Hong Kong, including the arrangement of the import ban on some of the food from five prefectures in Japan, she emphasised that it is incumbent upon the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to safeguard public health and hence effective measures must be in place to ensure food safety and to maintain public confidence. Under this premise, the Food and Health Bureau will maintain communication with the Japanese authorities to review the latest situation and adopt appropriate measures in relation to the import ban. Mrs Lam said Hong Kong is actively taking part in the national Belt and Road Initiative and is encouraging state-owned enterprises to make use of Hong Kong's professional services in finance, insurance, construction and legal services to explore the markets along the Belt and Road. She encouraged Japanese enterprises to leverage on the professional services provided by Hong Kong to seize together the tremendous business opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative. Mrs Lam also reiterated to Mr Kono that Hong Kong has all along been strictly implementing the sanction measures decided by the United Nations Security Council on North Korea, and that Hong Kong will stay highly vigilant about activities and suspected cases that may violate the sanctions. The law enforcement agencies will also follow up on suspected violations seriously. Ends/Sunday, March 25, 2018 Issued at HKT 18:50 NNNN

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CE chairs Commission on Poverty Summit 2018

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/24/P2018032400536.htm

24.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, chaired the Commission on Poverty Summit 2018 (Summit) today (March 24). The theme for the Summit this year was "Social housing as an innovative means to alleviate poverty". Representatives from social welfare organisations, a social enterprise and a charity participating in social housing development were invited to share their views and experience at a panel discussion. Over 400 guests attended the Summit. In addition to members of the Commission on Poverty (CoP) and its four Task Forces, representatives from political, business and academic sectors, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and concern groups were present. Relevant principal officials, under secretaries and heads of departments also took part. In her opening remarks, Mrs Lam said that resolving the housing problem was an important part in poverty alleviation, and increasing land supply was the prerequisite to resolving the housing problem in the long run. She encouraged people who care about poverty alleviation and support for the disadvantaged to participate actively in the upcoming public engagement on land supply to express views on the need for Hong Kong to increase land and housing supply. While striving to increase the provision of public rental housing (PRH), the Government would take up the role of a "facilitator" in the meantime, with a view to increasing the supply of transitional housing to help families on the PRH waiting list and the inadequately housed. At the ensuing panel discussion moderated by the Deputy Executive Director and Head of Public Policy Institute of Our Hong Kong Foundation, Mr Stephen Wong, representatives of the organisations running social housing projects (namely Chief Executive Officer of Light Be, Mr Ricky Yu; Chief Executive of The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon, Ms Alice Lau; and Community Organiser of the Society for Community Organization, Ms Jennie Chui) and the Executive Committee Deputy Chairman of The Community Chest of Hong Kong, Mr Billy Kong, together with the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, exchanged views and experience on the development of social housing in Hong Kong. Three families benefited and a supporting landlord also shared their feelings. The discussion provided an opportunity for participants of the Summit to learn more about social housing projects from various perspectives, demonstrating how these projects, through collaboration amongst the community, the business sector and the Government, had provided underprivileged families with temporary homes and facilitated their self-reliance by provision of support services. Later on, the Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairperson of the CoP, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, together with the Chairpersons of the four Task Forces under the CoP (namely Chairperson of the Community Care Fund Task Force, Dr Law Chi-kwong; Chairperson of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund Task Force, Professor Stephen Cheung; Chairperson of the Special Needs Groups Task Force, Mr Chua Hoi-wai; and Chairperson of the Youth Education, Employment and Training Task Force, Dr Clement Chen), gave an account of the achievements of the CoP and the Task Forces in the past year which benefited different disadvantaged groups. These include advising on the enhancement measures for the Low-income Working Family Allowance (to be renamed as "Working Family Allowance" on April 1) and the Old Age Living Allowance, bringing about the provision of $500 million as proposed in the Budget and the establishment of a steering committee to be chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration to strengthen support for ethnic minorities, filling the gaps of existing assistance programmes through the Community Care Fund and promoting social innovation through the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund. In the second half of the Summit, Mrs Lam and Mr Cheung, together with the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; and the Chairpersons of the Task Forces under the CoP, exchanged views with the participants on the policies, measures and directions of poverty alleviation. Participants from various sectors had an enthusiastic discussion on the CoP's work and the way forward on combating poverty in Hong Kong. The "Commission on Poverty Progress Report 2018", and the publications on the "Future Stars" Programme, the "Life Buddies" Mentoring Scheme, the Community Care Fund and the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund have been uploaded to the CoP's website ( www.povertyrelief.gov.hk ). Ends/Saturday, March 24, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:05 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/23/P2018032300904.htm

23.3.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session today (March 23) after attending the Main Works Completion Ceremony for the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link project: Reporter: Mrs Lam, why did the Government bow to public pressure to give a cash handout when the Government had already decided that would not happen? Chief Executive: First of all, I wouldn’t say that we are bowing to pressure, and secondly we have not said we will not do something, which we described as a share and care programme. If you remember, when the Financial Secretary announced his Budget on February 28, apart from announcing relief measures in terms of tax rebates as well as rates relief, and also giving extra amounts of subsidies to social security recipients, he was fully aware that there are still certain sections in the community who may not benefit from all these measures, because these measures were built on our existing systems – one is a tax system, the other is a rates system and the third is a social security system. So, he did say very explicitly in his Budget speech that he would invite the Community Care Fund to devise a scheme to share with the other sections in society the economic benefits and the very strong public finances that Hong Kong now has. But I would say that in the course of the last two or three weeks, we have listened to the community and engaged extensively with the Legislative Council members and other community groups and hear that they want this care and share scheme to be designed in a very comprehensive way with a view to meet the wishes of hopefully everyone in society, but short of doing a free give-out to everybody in Hong Kong. So, I understand that the Financial Secretary has just announced this new share and care programme, and I’m pretty confident that this programme will now meet the wishes of the Hong Kong people. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Friday, March 23, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:07 NNNN

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Appointments to Resolvability Review Tribunal and Resolution Compensation Tribunal

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/23/P2018032200817.htm

23.3.2018

The Chief Executive has appointed Mr Anson Wong Man-kit, SC, as the chairperson of the Resolvability Review Tribunal (RRT) and the Resolution Compensation Tribunal (RCT) for a term of three years, and panel members to the RRT and the RCT for a term of two years. The appointments will take effect from April 1, 2018. The RRT and the RCT are statutory tribunals established under the Financial Institutions (Resolution) Ordinance (Cap. 628) to hear appeals from persons aggrieved by the specified decisions of the resolution authorities and independent valuer made under the Ordinance. Announcing the appointments today (March 23), a Government spokesman said, "The establishment of the RRT and the RCT strengthens the appellate mechanism under the resolution regime. It will be an effective safeguard to ensure that the relevant decisions made by the resolution authorities and the independent valuer are reasonable and fair." The spokesman added, "Mr Wong, with rich experience in handling appeal cases in other tribunals and a broad range of civil and commercial practice, would contribute to the effective operation of the RRT and the RCT. Members of the RRT and the RCT come from different lines of business within the financial services sector. With diverse backgrounds, they will provide wise counsel on the work of the RRT and the RCT." The Ordinance commenced operation on July 7, 2017. Under the Ordinance, the Monetary Authority, the Insurance Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission are the resolution authorities vested with a range of necessary powers to effect orderly resolution of non-viable systematically important financial institutions in Hong Kong such that risks posed by the non-viability of these financial institutions to the stability and effective operation of the Hong Kong financial system, including the continuity of critical financial services, can be mitigated. This is also to minimise risks posed to public funds as losses are imposed on the institution's shareholders and creditors. Following are the lists of members of the RRT and RCT panels: RRT ----- Mr Vincent Chan Chun-hung Mr Chan Kam-hon Ms Florence Chan Yuen-shan Ms Winnie Cheung Chi-woon Mr Louis Chow Ka-leung Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen Mr Eugène Goyne Mr Edward Ho Man-tat Dr Hu Zhanghong Dr Angela Ng Lai-ping Mr Jeremy Robert Porter Ms Sabita Prakash Ms Winnie Wong Chi-shun Mr Patrick Wu Yung-wei Dr Yuen Wai-kee Dr Paul Yung Pui-yip RCT ----- Mr David John Alexander Ms Annie Chan Wai-hing Mr Anthony Chiu Ling-cheong Dr Abril Choy Fung-peng Mr Michael Fung Lik-yeung Ms Samantha Ho Shuk-yee Mr David John Kidd Mr Peter Kung Ms Josephine Kwan Wai-tuen Mr Henry Stephen Lai Hin-wing Ms Angela Leung Wai-tuen Dr Gladie Lui Man-ching Mr John Martin Maguire Dr Kelvin Mak Po-lung Mr Timothy Keith Pogson Mr Rupert James Purser Mr Roy Tsang Chi-wai Mr Costa Tzatzakis Ms Maura Wong Hung-hung Ms Yang Qiumei Ends/Friday, March 23, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:30 NNNN

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CE meets Secretary of CPC Huizhou Municipal Committee and Chairman of Standing Committee of Huizhou Municipal People's Congress

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/22/P2018032200908.htm

22.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Secretary of the CPC Huizhou Municipal Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Huizhou Municipal People's Congress, Mr Chen Yiwei, at the Chief Executive's Office this morning (March 22). Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Chen's visit to Hong Kong. Noting that Hong Kong and Huizhou have all along had close trade and economic co-operation, she said that the ties between Hong Kong and Huizhou will be closer and travel between the two places will be more convenient with the completion of a number of cross-boundary infrastructure projects, in particular the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point. She said that the nine cities and two Special Administrative Regions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area each have their own distinctive advantages which enable them to complement each other. She expressed the hope that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area could be developed into a world-class bay area with the concerted efforts of all sides. Hong Kong and Huizhou may explore ways to strengthen co-operation in various aspects including innovation and technology, higher education, youth entrepreneurship and cultural tourism, she said. Ends/Thursday, March 22, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:03 NNNN

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CE deeply saddened by passing of police officer

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/22/P2018032200383.htm

22.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (March 22) was deeply saddened by the death of Senior Police Constable of Traffic Branch Mr Lum Hoi-wan while carrying out duty. "Being professional and brave, Hong Kong police officers always serve people with commitment and zeal despite the danger involved in their duties. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Lum while carrying out duty this morning and offer my deepest condolences to his family. The Civil Service Bureau and the Police will make every effort to support the family," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Thursday, March 22, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:42 NNNN

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Senior judicial appointment: non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions of the Court of Final Appeal

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/21/P2018032000728.htm

21.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, has accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission (JORC) on the appointments of the Right Honourable the Baroness Brenda Hale of Richmond and the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, PC, as non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions of the Court of Final Appeal. Subject to the endorsement of the Legislative Council, the Chief Executive will make the appointments under Article 88 of the Basic Law. Mrs Lam said, "I am pleased to accept the JORC's recommendation on the appointments of the Right Honourable the Baroness Brenda Hale of Richmond and the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, PC, as non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions of the Court of Final Appeal. Baroness Hale was appointed as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in September 2017. Ms McLachlin was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from January 7, 2000, until she retired from the office on December 15, 2017. They are judges of eminent standing and reputation. "As the first female Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I am thrilled that if appointed, Baroness Hale and Ms McLachlin will be the first female judges to the Court of Final Appeal. Their appointment is a historic moment in Hong Kong." In addition, upon the appointment of Ms McLachlin, she will be the first non-permanent judge from Canada, a common law jurisdiction with which Hong Kong shares many common legal approaches. "With the appointment of the two eminent judges, the panel of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions will consist of 14 eminent judges from the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. The presence of these non-permanent judges manifests the judicial independence of Hong Kong," Mrs Lam said. The Court of Final Appeal is constituted by five judges when hearing and determining appeals. Since July 1, 1997, apart from very few exceptions, there is always a judge drawn from the list of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions to hear a substantive appeal in the Court of Final Appeal. Article 90 of the Basic Law provides that the Chief Executive shall obtain the endorsement of the Legislative Council on the appointment of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal. The Government will seek the endorsement of the Legislative Council of the recommended appointments in due course. The curricula vitae of Baroness Hale and Ms McLachlin are at the Annex. Ends/Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:30 NNNN

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Senior judicial appointment: non-permanent Hong Kong judge of the Court of Final Appeal

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/21/P2018032000708.htm

21.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, has accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission (JORC) on the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Robert Tang Ching, permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal, as a non-permanent Hong Kong judge of the Court of Final Appeal for a term of three years with effect from October 25, 2018, upon the expiry of his current (final) extended term of office as permanent judge on October 24, 2018. Subject to the endorsement of the Legislative Council, the Chief Executive will make the appointment under Article 88 of the Basic Law. Mrs Lam said, "I am pleased to accept the JORC's recommendation on the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Robert Tang Ching (Mr Justice Tang) as a non-permanent Hong Kong judge of the Court of Final Appeal, upon his retirement from the office of permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal. "Mr Justice Tang is a judge of the highest quality and utmost integrity. He is versatile with experience in handling appeals in both civil and criminal matters. He is highly respected by judges, the legal profession and the community. He will be an invaluable addition to the list of non-permanent Hong Kong judges, having regard to his long established judicial experience in the Court of Final Appeal, and will continue to make valuable contribution to the Court of Final Appeal." Article 90 of the Basic Law provides that the Chief Executive shall obtain the endorsement of the Legislative Council on the appointment of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal. The Government will seek the endorsement of the Legislative Council of the recommended appointment in due course. The curriculum vitae of Mr Justice Tang is at the Annex. Ends/Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:30 NNNN

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Senior judicial appointment: permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/21/P2018032000689.htm

21.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, has accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission (JORC) on the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, Chief Judge of the High Court, as a permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal with effect from October 25, 2018. Subject to the endorsement of the Legislative Council, the Chief Executive will make the appointment under Article 88 of the Basic Law. Mrs Lam said, "I am pleased to accept the JORC's recommendation on the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung as a permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal. Mr Justice Cheung is an outstanding lawyer who has dealt with many high profile cases in the Court of Appeal, particularly in the area of administrative and constitutional law. He is a judge of eminent standing and reputation. He will be a great asset to the Court of Final Appeal." Article 90 of the Basic Law provides that the Chief Executive shall obtain the endorsement of the Legislative Council on the appointment of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal. The Government will seek the endorsement of the Legislative Council of the recommended appointment in due course. The curriculum vitae of Mr Justice Cheung is at the Annex. Ends/Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:30 NNNN

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Appointments to Chief Executive's Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/21/P2018032000644.htm

21.3.2018

The Government announced today (March 21) the establishment of the Chief Executive's Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development and appointment of 36 non-official members and four ex-officio members to the Council. The Council is a high-level body to advise the Chief Executive on Hong Kong's future development and strategies for driving innovation. It will give advice on Hong Kong's strategic positioning in the global and regional contexts and directions of economic development with an aim of enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness and growth potential, provide guidance on evidence-based research and studies on related issues with a view to enhancing policy formulation to meet changing development needs, and advise on stakeholder engagement and public participation in the policy formulation and consensus building process. The Council will replace the existing Economic Development Commission and the now defunct Commission on Strategic Development, both of which used to be chaired by the Chief Executive. The Economic Development Commission established in the previous term of the Government has been disbanded. Welcoming the advisers on board, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said, "I am most grateful that so many community leaders, who have busy schedules of their own, have agreed to serve on the Council. This commitment reflects their passion for and confidence in Hong Kong. I look forward to working closely with them in shaping the future of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Economic Development Commission for their efforts and contributions in the past." The first term of the Council will take effect immediately and end on June 30, 2020. A Government spokesman said, "In the face of keen global competition, the Government must be forward-looking and maintain a strategic perspective in our drive to maintain and enhance Hong Kong's competitive edge. The setting up of a high-level council of advisers was announced by the Chief Executive in her inaugural Policy Address delivered on October 11, 2017." The Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office to be formally established on April 1 will provide secretariat services and research support to the work of the Council. The membership of the Council is as follows: Chairman ----------- Chief Executive Non-official Members ------------------------ Professor John Chai Yat-chiu Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan Professor Daniel Cheng Man-chung Mr Edward Cheng Wai-sun Dr Jonathan Choi Koon-shum Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling Dr Fu Yuning Dr Victor Fung Kwok-king Mr Stuart Thomson Gulliver Mr Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng Mr Jimmy Lai Chi-ming Mr Lau Ming-wai Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung Mr Brian David Li Man-bun Mr Victor Li Tzar-kuoi Professor Frederick Ma Si-hang Professor Mak Tak-wah Mr Joseph Luc Ngai Mr Anthony John Liddell Nightingale Mr Neil Shen Nanpeng Dr Harry Shum Mr John Robert Slosar Mr Jack So Chak-kwong Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi, SC Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen Mr Joseph Tsai Professor Tsui Lap-chee Mr Andrew Tung Lieh-cheung Mr Wong Siu-kong Dr Wong Yau-kar Mr Peter Woo Kwong-ching Professor Anthony Wu Ting-yuk Ms Marjorie Yang Mun-tak Professor Eric Yim Chi-ming Dr Allan Zeman Mr John Zhao Ex-officio Members --------------------- Chief Secretary for Administration Financial Secretary Secretary for Justice Director, Chief Executive's Office Biographical notes on the non-official members are in the annex. Ends/Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Issued at HKT 10:30 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by Acting CE at media session

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/20/P2018032000600.htm

20.3.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session after attending a function this afternoon (March 20): Reporter: Secretary, does that mean that if it's really just…it can be write-off these allowances and these wages…Is it of the Government's stance that "oh maybe these sums don't really matter anymore". And second question, on "one-party rule". Does that mean that lawmakers, if they have ever mentioned the end of "one-party rule", then they should not be considered lawmakers anymore? Acting Chief Executive: On the first question, in fact, on the question of so-called write-off, we've just replied to an earlier enquiry from the Legislative Council Commission on how best to deal with these questions in case they cannot recoup all or part of the expenses paid to the four disqualified members concerned. We've replied already and explained the situation particularly the responsibilities of the LegCo Secretary General himself under the Public Finance Ordinance, and also point out in case after the best endeavour, if the LegCo Secretariat cannot recoup all or part of the expenses paid, then what are the options available in terms of writing off? So we've explained the situation to them and it is up to the relevant committee in LegCo to decide how to do it and how to get back to the Administration. Reporter: Secretary, so this child's case, this case, this child just happens to fall through the loophole, existing loophole. How are you going to plug that? Acting Chief Executive: We will certainly critically review the system. We have already put in place a pretty comprehensive support service, particularly for pre-school children now in kindergartens and childcare centres, providing on-site training and support services with disciplinary team, psychologists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and also social workers going into the kindergartens and centres to provide support, not only to the kids concerned and also for the parents and teachers concerned. So it's really on all-front tackling it. But it's confined at the moment to pre-school children up to age six. This particular child, unfortunately just entered primary one. So, there might be a little, so-called a pretty odd case here. Having said that, we will certainly leave no stone unturned. We will come up with a better and more strengthened support particularly for families facing this sort of problems. And I urge all parents concerned, if they do run into problems, contact the Social Welfare Department hotline. We will certainly come to your assistance. Okay. Thank you. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, March 20, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:35 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/19/P2018031900667.htm

19.3.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session today (March 19) after attending the opening ceremony for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Treatment and Recycling Facility, WEEE·PARK: Reporter: Mrs Lam, would you clarify, given the amendments in the Chinese Constitution, does it mean that, you know, people will get disqualified for participating in elections for having said that they want to, you know, ban one-party rule? Chief Executive: I don't understand why that association has to be drawn. I have said time and again in the last few months that the qualification of individuals for contesting in the Hong Kong Legislative Council has to be considered in accordance with the local legislation and the evidence put in front of the Returning Officer. Of course, the interpretation of Basic Law Article 104 has made it very clear that any advocacy for independence or self-determination is not in line with what is required in the Basic Law. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Monday, March 19, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:39 NNNN

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Government establishes high-level Human Resources Planning Commission

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/19/P2018031900590.htm

19.3.2018

The Government today (March 19) appointed 20 non-official members and 13 ex-officio members to the newly established Human Resources Planning Commission for a term of two years, from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2020. The establishment of the high-level Commission was a new initiative announced in the Chief Executive’s 2017 Policy Address. It aims at formulating co-ordinated human resources strategies for developing Hong Kong further into a high value-added and more diversified economy. The Commission, under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will consolidate resources and efforts of the Government and various sectors to examine, review, and co-ordinate policies and measures on human resources in a holistic manner. The functions of the existing Steering Committee on Population Policy and the Manpower Development Committee will be subsumed under the Commission, which will commence operation next month (in April). Mr Cheung said, “The Government attaches great importance to enhancing and optimising our human capital to cater for the evolving development needs of Hong Kong and maintain Hong Kong’s overall economic competitiveness. The Commission comprises 20 non-official members drawn from a diverse mix of experts and stakeholders from different fields and sectors. This enables us to tap diverse expertise, experience and professional views in the deliberation of various issues relating to human resources planning.” Ex-officio members of the Commission comprise eight policy bureau directors, the Government Economist, the Commissioner for Census and Statistics and the Chairmen of three major training and qualifications-related bodies. The terms of reference of the Commission are: (1) to explore, devise and coordinate strategies and measures to enhance the quality, quantity and competencies of our workforce at various levels as a matter of priority to support and drive Hong Kong’s diversified economic developments and meet rapidly changing social needs; (2) to monitor, review and examine the regimes of training and employment support and services to fully unleash the potential of the local workforce, admission of talents and manpower from outside Hong Kong and identify issues requiring action; (3) to follow up and refine the Government’s overall population policy; and (4) to engage stakeholders and experts from outside the Government in furthering the work of the Commission. The membership of the Commission is as follows: Chairman --------- Chief Secretary for Administration Non-official Members --------------------- Professor Edward Chen Kwan-yiu Mr Chow Chung-kong Ms Cordelia Chung Ms Sylvia Chung Wai-man Dr Theresa Cunanan Mr Gao Yingxin Mr Ho Wing-cheong Mr Jack Hsu Chi-kao Mr Law Wai-hung Mr David Li Chi-ming Professor Lui Yu-hon Mr Ng Chau-pei Ms Malina Ngai Man-lin Mr Siu King-wai Mr Carlson Tong Ms Winnie Wong Chi-shun Mrs Bonnie Woo Chan Tak-chi Dr Yang Yusi Mrs Betty Yuen So Siu-mai Dr Allan Zeman Ex-officio Members ------------------- Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Secretary for Education Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary for Food and Health Secretary for Innovation and Technology Secretary for Labour and Welfare Secretary for Security Commissioner for Census and Statistics Government Economist Chairman, Employees Retraining Board Chairman, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Chairman, Vocational Training Council Ends/Monday, March 19, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN

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WEEE·PARK opens to treat and recycle waste electrical and electronic equipment

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/19/P2018031900355.htm

19.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (March 19) officiated at the opening ceremony of the Government's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Treatment and Recycling Facility, WEEE·PARK. In her remarks, she noted the rapid advancement in Hong Kong's waste-related infrastructure in recent years and said the commissioning of WEEE·PARK marked a key milestone in the development of waste-to-resources facilities in Hong Kong, showing the Government's determination for achieving resources recovery. Located at the EcoPark in Tuen Mun, WEEE·PARK has adopted advanced technologies and equipment for treating waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and turning the waste into reusable materials such as plastics and metals through a series of detoxification, dismantling and recycling processes. WEEE·PARK has a wide range of green building features, and is to be accredited in accordance with the BEAM Plus standard. Hong Kong has made several landmark achievements in the development of waste management infrastructure in recent years, with a number of major waste-to-energy facilities being constructed and completed. These include the first sludge treatment facility, T∙PARK, located at Tsang Tsui in Tuen Mun and commissioned in 2016; the first organic resources recovery centre, O∙PARK, located at Siu Ho Wan in Lantau Island and to be commissioned later this year; the first food waste pre-treatment facilities at Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works, scheduled to be commissioned next year; and the first Integrated Waste Management Facilities located at Shek Kwu Chau, for which the "design, build and operate" contract has just commenced. Officially opened today, WEEE·PARK is an important piece of large-scale waste-to-resources infrastructure. These developments clearly underline the Government's commitment to enhancing waste management, keeping Hong Kong as a liveable city and promoting the sustainable development of the city. Also officiating at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing said, "WEEE∙PARK provides the required capacity for the proper recycling and treatment for WEEE generated locally in Hong Kong, and underpins the producer responsibility scheme on WEEE (WPRS) that will be fully implemented later this year." From August 1, all sellers who sell air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, computers, printers, scanners and monitors, collectively referred to as regulated electrical equipment (REE), should arrange for consumers a free removal service to collect the same type of equipment abandoned by a consumer by a specified collector for proper treatment by a licensed recycler. Through the removal service, the consumer can request the seller to remove the old piece of equipment for free on a "one-piece-to-one-piece" basis. The control over disposal, import and export of abandoned REE will commence on December 31 this year. Members of the public can also call the recycling hotline 2676 8888 to request collection service for abandoned REE by the WEEE∙PARK operator. The Government, through open tender, commissioned ALBA Integrated Waste Solutions (Hong Kong) Limited to design, build and operate WEEE·PARK to provide the required capacity for the proper recycling and treatment of locally generated WEEE to meet the increasing demand upon the implementation of the WPRS. Besides turning WEEE into valuable reusable materials through a series of advanced and safe processes of detoxification, dismantling and recycling, WEEE·PARK also refurbishes some serviceable electrical appliances for further donation to people in need for reuse. In addition, there is an exhibition corridor at WEEE·PARK. Guided tours will be arranged for members of the public to get a better understanding of the treatment process for WEEE and the importance of turning waste into resources. Starting April 3, interested groups may call 2290 9500 for reservation of guided tours and enquiries. Other officiating guests at today's ceremony were the Permanent Secretary for the Environment/Director of Environmental Protection, Mr Donald Tong; the Chairman of the Public Works Subcommittee of the Legislative Council, Dr Lo Wai-kwok; the Deputy Chairman of the Panel on Environmental Affairs of the Legislative Council, Dr Junius Ho; the German Consul General to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Macau SAR, Mr Dieter Lamlé; the Chief Executive Officer of ALBA Group plc & Co KG, Dr Axel Schweitzer; the Chairman of Integrated Waste Solutions Group Holdings Limited, Mr Brian Cheng; and the Permanent Distinguished Chairman and Principal Vice President of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Electrical Appliances Merchants Association, Dr Peter Chu. Ends/Monday, March 19, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:06 NNNN

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CE to attend NPC session closing ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/16/P2018031600905.htm

16.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will depart for Beijing on March 19 to attend the closing ceremony of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress on March 20. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on March 20. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Friday, March 16, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:04 NNNN

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Hong Kong Flower Show opens

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/16/P2018031500782.htm

16.3.2018

The annual spectacular Hong Kong Flower Show opened at Victoria Park today (March 16) with some 400 000 flowers on display, including about 40 000 dahlias as the theme flower. Officiating at the opening ceremony were the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Jack Chan; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; the Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Anthony Chow; and Miss Hong Kong 2017, Miss Juliette Louie. A colourful tapestry of flowers flows from the Sugar Street entrance all the way to the showground stage to welcome visitors. The design layout of the floral display skilfully merges elements such as sea waves and a harbour, complete with a pier, sailing boats and a lighthouse. There is also an arch simulating waves. With lighting effects at night, it is a dynamic representation of the theme of the flower show, "Joy in Bloom". The entrance at Hing Fat Street is equally attractive, greeting visitors with undulating rainbow bands made of blossoms. Along the floral path are arches covered with vegetation and green features which have been designed to evoke leisure moments and happiness. The student drawing competition held today attracted participation by 2 400 students, who enjoyed drawing pictures of the scenes and displays. Members of the public were also delighted in taking photos of spectacular exhibits, a colourful three-dimensional floral wall, seas of tulips and dahlia displays. This year's flower show has enhanced environmental protection measures and encourages participating organisations, contractors, volunteers and the public to make concerted efforts to build a "green flower show". At the showground, there are recycling bins and recyclables collection points to collect cartoon boxes, plastic flower pots, wilted flowers and more, with green ambassadors on hand to guide the public. To help protect the environment, visitors are encouraged to carry their own bottles and bags. For the first time, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Environmental Protection Department will hold a Green Recycling Day after the completion of the flower show. Students, green ambassadors and green volunteers will assist in the recovery of flower display materials. In addition, flowers and plants suitable for replanting will also be distributed to schools, environmental groups and non-governmental organisations. The flower show will be held until March 25 from 9am to 9pm daily. Admission tickets are available for sale through "Tap & Go" and are also being sold at the entrances to the Victoria Park showground throughout the show period. Octopus can also be used to pay for admission. Tickets are also available for sale at the LCSD's District Leisure Services Offices until March 23. For enquiries, please call 2601 8260 or visit the flower show webpage www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2018/index.html . The flower show is organised by the LCSD. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the sixth consecutive year and has been the Major Sponsor of the flower show since 2014. Ends/Friday, March 16, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:25 NNNN

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Appointment to Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/14/P2018031400329.htm

14.3.2018

The Government announced today (March 14) that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Mr Peter Sit Kien-ping as a member of the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service (the Directorate Committee), for a term of two years with effect from April 1, 2018. The Directorate Committee advises the Chief Executive on matters relating to the structure, pay and conditions of service of the directorate ranks in the civil service. It is chaired by Dr Pang Yiu-kai. Other serving members are Dr Clement Chen Cheng-jen, Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi, Mr Ivan Sze Wing-hang and Mrs Betty Yuen So Siu-mai. Ends/Wednesday, March 14, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN

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Grant of new franchise to Star Ferry

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/13/P2018031300707.htm

13.3.2018

The Chief Executive in Council has decided to grant a new franchise to The "Star" Ferry Company, Limited (Star Ferry) for continued operation of the two franchised ferry routes, "Central - Tsim Sha Tsui" and "Wan Chai - Tsim Sha Tsui", for a period of 15 years from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2033. "Star Ferry has undertaken to provide ferry services plying across Victoria Harbour at economical fares for citizens and tourists. It will also continue to provide ferry fare concessions for elderly, children and disabled persons according to the existing mechanism," a spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said. The key factor that the Government takes into account in considering the award of a ferry franchise to an operator is its capability of providing a proper and efficient ferry service. Since the grant of the current franchise, Star Ferry has been providing proper and efficient ferry services to the public. During the discussion of the new franchise, the Government has requested Star Ferry to proactively follow up on the concerns raised by the public, as well as on various cross-bureaux and cross-departmental policy objectives. Star Ferry has launched new measures in response to the Government's requests, including improving service quality, further enhancing the environmental performance of the fleet, consolidating pier management and enhancing the harbourfront. For service quality improvement, Star Ferry will provide a free wi-fi service in the passenger waiting areas at the piers starting from April this year and has agreed to open up information including the fare tables and ferry schedule to the Government and public through an application programming interface, which will facilitate third-party development of other mobile applications. Besides, Star Ferry has undertaken to strengthen staff training starting from early 2018, including further improving service attitudes and proficiency in English and Putonghua, as well as continuing to explore how its services can be further diversified to attract more inbound tourists. For enhancing the environmental performance of its fleet, Star Ferry plans to retrofit the diesel engines of two ferries using a green diesel-electric propulsion system this year and to retrofit one ferry per year thereafter. Star Ferry has also expressed willingness in exploring the opportunity of introducing electric ferries in the future. For harbourfront enhancement, the management of various Star Ferry piers will be consolidated under the new franchise. Star Ferry will take up overall management responsibilities for Central Pier No. 7 and the Central Terminal Building, Wan Chai Ferry Pier and Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier. Star Ferry has also undertaken to enhance the harbourfront by bringing in vibrancy. Star Ferry is working out concrete proposals for further deliberation with the Government and will solicit views from stakeholders (including the Harbourfront Commission) in a timely manner, as well as seeking necessary approval from the relevant authorities. Any additional non-fare box revenue generated from the enhancement proposals will be used to cross-subsidise the franchised ferry operations as per the established practice. Ends/Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Issued at HKT 19:16 NNNN

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Government sets up independent committee to review Hong Kong's franchised bus service

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/13/P2018031300406.htm

13.3.2018

The Chief Executive announced today (March 13) that an Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong's Franchised Bus Service has been set up, and appointed the Honourable Mr Justice Michael Victor Lunn as the Chairman of the Committee and Mr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen and Professor Lo Hong-kam as Members of the Committee. The Committee will formally commence its work in late March 2018, and will submit a report to the Chief Executive in around nine months' time. The Government attaches great importance to recent serious incidents involving franchised buses. Upon the occurrence of the fatal incident on Tai Po Road on February 10, the Chief Executive announced on the same day that an independent committee chaired by a judge would be set up to comprehensively review the operation and monitoring of franchised buses so as to ensure that public bus services of Hong Kong are safe and reliable. The Terms of Reference of the Committee are as follows: From the point of view of safety, in the light of the fatal accident on February 10 and other recent serious incidents involving franchised buses in Hong Kong: (a) to examine the operation and management of bus franchises under the current legislative, franchise and other contractual requirements; (b) to examine the present regulatory and monitoring system for franchised buses; and (c) in relation to the above, to make recommendations to the Chief Executive on safety-related measures with a view to sustaining a safe and reliable franchised bus service in Hong Kong. The Committee may invite submissions from interested parties and from the public on the above matters and should use its best endeavours to submit its report within nine months. Issues relating to the causes and liability of persons involved in the fatal accident on February 10 will be investigated by the Police and fall outside the Committee's terms of reference. Brief biographies of the Chairperson and Members of the Committee are as follows: Chairperson ------------- The Honourable Mr Justice Michael Victor Lunn is Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court. He served as a Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. From October 2012 to April 2013, he was Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the circumstances leading to the collision of two vessels near Lamma Island on October 1, 2012. Members ---------- Mr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen is the Chairman of the Council of Lingnan University. He was the Chairman of the Principal Financial Group - Asia. He was also a member of the Investment-linked Assurance and Pooled Retirement Funds Committee of the Securities and Futures Commission. Professor Lo Hong-kam is the Chair Professor and Department Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, as well as the Convenor of the Railway Objections Hearing Panel. He was also a member of the Transport Advisory Committee. Ends/Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:50 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/13/P2018031300379.htm

13.3.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (March 13): Reporter: Mrs Lam, will the enquiry look into bus drivers' working conditions and ultimately what would you like to achieve through the enquiry? And also a question about the By-election – how will the results change the Government's relationship with the legislature? Chief Executive: As far as the Independent Review Committee is concerned, I have said it on the first occasion that the purpose and objective of this Independent Review Committee is to ensure the safety and reliability of Hong Kong's franchised bus service because Hong Kong's franchised bus service plays a very important role in Hong Kong's public transport service, responsible for 4 million passenger trips everyday. So, as you can see from the terms of reference, it will broadly cover the issues relating to the operation of the bus services, so I suppose the issues that you have mentioned will certainly be looked at by the Review Committee. In addition, the Review Committee will also look at the regulatory side, so in other words the Government's role in regulating the franchised bus operators to ensure safe and reliable service will also be fully examined by the Review Committee. As far as the Legislative Council elections conducted two days ago, our main role and statutory responsibility is to ensure that the elections are conducted in a fair, open and transparent manner, and I think by and large that objective has been met. In my pledge in the Policy Address and also back in my Election Manifesto, I promised that I will make every effort to work with members of the Legislative Council and to enhance the relationship between the Legislative Council and the administration, and that will continue to be the guiding principle of myself as the Chief Executive and my administration. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:57 NNNN

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CE meets Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/12/P2018031200879.htm

12.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, Mr Simon Coveney, at the Chief Executive's Office this morning (March 12). Welcoming Mr Coveney's first visit to Hong Kong, Mrs Lam said she visited Dublin, Ireland, in 2015 in the capacity of the Chief Secretary for Administration and left with a deep impression of the city. Noting that Hong Kong and Ireland have had close relations over the years, she said that with the introduction of direct flights between Dublin and Hong Kong in June this year, the ties of businesses and people in the two places are set to be enhanced. Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong is presented with tremendous opportunities by participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. She encouraged Irish companies and talent to leverage on Hong Kong's unique role to explore business development opportunities in the city and the Mainland. Noting that Ireland is home to the headquarters of many leading multinational corporations in information technology and has vibrant creative industries, she said that Hong Kong is also keen to develop those industries. With the development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop and the launch of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Design Innovation Hub in Qianhai, she said she looks forward to more collaboration between the two places. She added that small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups are particularly welcome to set up businesses in Hong Kong, which has rich experience and excellent facilities to help their growth. Ends/Monday, March 12, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:36 NNNN

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Government announces appointment of chairperson of Communications Authority

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/12/P2018031200547.htm

12.3.2018

The Government announced today (March 12) that the Chief Executive has appointed Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi as the chairperson of the Communications Authority (CA). The appointment is effective from today up to March 31, 2019, i.e. the expiry of the original period of appointment of the former chairperson, as per section 8(7) of the Communications Authority Ordinance. The Chief Executive has also appointed two new members to the CA, Ms Karen Chan Ka-yin and Professor Ray Yep Kin-man, and re-appointed two incumbent members, Mr Hubert Ng Ching-wah and Dr Anthony William Seeto Yiu-wai, all for a term of two years from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said, "I am pleased that Ms Tam has been appointed as the chairperson of the CA. With her experience in public service and her professional background, I am confident that she will be able to lead the CA to rise up to the challenges ahead." Mr Yau welcomed the two new members to the CA, who come from the business and academic sectors respectively. He noted that both have vast experience in community services, which will be will be valuable for the CA's work. He also thanked outgoing members, Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man and Mr Alan Lui Siu-lun, for their contributions over the years. Brief profiles of the newly-appointed chairperson and non-official members are as follows: Ms Winnie Tam ----------------- Ms Winnie Tam is a Senior Counsel in private practice as a barrister and international arbitrator. She is currently a member of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Advisory Committee on Corruption of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. She served previously as the chairperson of Appeal Tribunal Panel (Buildings) and as a member of the Telecommunications (Competition Provisions) Appeal Board. Ms Karen Chan ----------------- Ms Karen Chan is the Executive Director of German Pool Group Company Limited and the Vice President of German Pool (Hong Kong) Limited. She is currently a member of the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee, the Insurance Appeals Tribunal and the Statistics Advisory Board. She served previously as a member of the Trade and Industry Advisory Board and the Vocational Training Council. Professor Ray Yep -------------------- Professor Ray Yep is the Associate Head of Department of Public Policy of the City University of Hong Kong and a Research Director of SynergyNet, a local policy think tank. He was previously a member of the Advisory Council for Environment and its Environmental Impact Assessment Subcommittee, and an associate member of the Central Policy Unit. Membership of the CA from April 1, 2018 will be as follows: Chairperson ------------- Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi Vice-chairperson ------------------ Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Creative Industries) Non-official members ------------------------ Ms Karen Chan Ka-yin Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun Mrs Yvonne Law Shing Mo-han Mr Thomas Lo Sui-sing Mr Hubert Ng Ching-wah Dr Anthony William Seeto Yiu-wai Mr Benjamin Tang Kwok-bun Professor Ray Yep Kin-man Professor Xu Yan Official member ------------------ Director-General of Communications Ends/Monday, March 12, 2018 Issued at HKT 17:00 NNNN

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Government House open to the public on March 18

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/11/P2018030900786.htm

11.3.2018

Government House will be open to the public on March 18 (Sunday) from 10am to 5pm. Visitors will be able to view the flowers and trees, in particular the blossoming azaleas, in the garden and the landscaped area, and see the places where the Chief Executive holds official functions and receives dignitaries in Government House. There will also be guided tours for visitors to learn more about the history and architectural features of the distinguished building. "Visitors will enjoy music performances by the Hong Kong Police Band and student ensembles while strolling in the garden," a government spokesman said. "Display boards and two-dimensional barcodes will also be set up to share the history, architecture and important moments of Government House. Visitors with mobile phones and related 2D barcode software may browse information about Government House and the flowers." A large number of visitors are anticipated on the day. To ensure that those already in the queue can be admitted in time, queuing outside Government House may be stopped before 5pm. Visitors will enter the garden through the east gate on Upper Albert Road and leave through the main gate. The visitors' routing is one-way only. They are encouraged to arrive by public transport. Visitors may visit the website of Government House ( www.ceo.gov.hk/gh/eng ) for details of the open day. Government House is a declared monument under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance. Ends/Sunday, March 11, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:00 NNNN

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CE saddened by passing of Mr Tang Hsiang-chien

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/10/P2018031000943.htm

10.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (March 10) was saddened to learn of the passing of member of the former Preparatory Committee and Selection Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Tang Hsiang-chien. "Mr Tang was actively involved in the work for Hong Kong's return to the Motherland, contributing a lot to the preparation for the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As a successful businessman, he contributed to the development of the motherland and supported the reform and opening up of the country. He also served as member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. I am saddened by his passing and extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Saturday, March 10, 2018 Issued at HKT 22:12 NNNN

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Appointments to Board of Ocean Park Corporation announced

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/09/P2018030900259.htm

9.3.2018

The Government announced today (March 9) that the Chief Executive has appointed Mr Stephen Wong See-yuen and re-appointed Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen to the Board of the Ocean Park Corporation (OPC) for a period of two years from March 10, 2018 to March 9, 2020. "We are grateful to all OPC board members for their hard work in pursuing the development of Ocean Park. We welcome Mr Wong joining the Board, on which he will serve with his insight and experience. With the board members' devotion and wide ranging expertise, Ocean Park will continue to grow as a world-class leading marine-themed attraction," a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said. "We would also like to express our gratitude to the outgoing member, Mr Samuel Choy Chung-leung, for his invaluable contribution to the Board in the past years." The OPC is a statutory body established under the Ocean Park Corporation Ordinance to manage Ocean Park as a public recreational and educational park. Ends/Friday, March 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN

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Women's Commission celebrates International Women's Day 2018

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/08/P2018030800403.htm

8.3.2018

The following is issued on behalf of the Women's Commission: The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, officiated at a reception organised by the Women's Commission (WoC) to celebrate International Women's Day 2018 today (March 8). The reception was attended by representatives from local women's groups, non-governmental organisations, the business sector and the WoC's Gender Focal Point Network. The Government established the WoC in 2001 as a high-level central forum to make recommendations to the Government on policies and issues that are of concern to women. The WoC has been sparing no efforts to enable Hong Kong women to fully realise their due status, rights and opportunities in all aspects of life. Also officiating at the reception were the Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Xie Feng; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Ms Qiu Hong; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong; and the Vice-Chairperson of the WoC and Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms Chang King-yiu. Prior to the reception, a prize presentation ceremony was held for the "Her Voice" Video Competition co-organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the WoC to promote the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of the United Nations among secondary school students. Over 100 entries were received, showing students' creative productions on the advancement and challenges of women's development. It was also announced on the occasion that public consultation on the draft outline of the HKSAR's fourth report under the CEDAW ( www.lwb.gov.hk/CEDAW ) had started and will continue until April 30. Members of the public are invited to express their views. Ends/Thursday, March 8, 2018 Issued at HKT 18:55 NNNN

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CE continues visit to Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/06/P2018030600863.htm

6.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to Beijing today (March 6). Accompanied by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, she called on the Executive Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Governance, Mr Ma Jiantang, and visited the Hong Kong and Macao Training Center of the Academy in the morning. She said it was a pleasure to visit the Academy again and expressed her gratitude for its long-standing support for Hong Kong by providing training to civil servants of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government of various ranks. More than 1,000 people have received training in the Academy over the years. She said that Hong Kong is planning to establish a civil service college and that the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, have visited the Academy to learn more about its operation. Noting that the Central Government supports the integration of Hong Kong into the development of the country, she said it is of paramount importance to enhance the understanding of the nation's latest developments among civil servants. She added that the HKSAR Government will continue to arrange for civil servants to train in the Academy and said she hopes to invite the Academy's experts to Hong Kong to give lectures to benefit more civil servants. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam and the other officials met with the Party Secretary of Tsinghua University, Professor Chen Xu. She thanked the University for providing courses on state affairs for senior civil servants of the HKSAR Government over the past two decades with the participation of nearly 2,800 people to date. Noting that Tsinghua University, a world-renowned institution, has already established close co-operation with the universities in Hong Kong, she expressed the hope that tertiary institutions in both places could explore more collaboration in the fields of innovation and technology (I&T) and scientific research. Mrs Lam and the other officials then visited the Tsinghua University Science Park (TusPark) to see its excellent environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, and were briefed on TusPark's latest operation and developments by the Deputy Party Secretary of Tsinghua University, Dr Li Yibing and the Chairman of Tsinghua Holdings Company Limited, Mr Xu Jinghong. Established in 1994, TusPark is now home to more than 1,500 high-tech enterprises, multinational research and development institutions, financial investment institutions and intermediary service agencies, and has achieved fruitful results in areas including regional innovation, provision of a co-operation platform for the industry, academia and research sector, transformation of scientific and technological achievements and incubation of start-ups. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to note that a co-operation agreement on the development of I&T enterprises was signed between the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and TusPark a few years back to promote exchanges between young entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and the Mainland in innovation and entrepreneurship. Noting that the HKSAR Government is advancing the development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop and is determined to develop an international centre for I&T in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, she said she believes that co-operation between the two places is set to become closer. Mrs Lam and Mr Nip attended a dinner hosted by the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong in the evening. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (March 7). Ends/Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:36 NNNN

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CE attends NPC session opening ceremony in Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/05/P2018030500940.htm

5.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (March 5) attended the opening ceremony of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) and conducted other activities in Beijing. The first session of the 13th NPC commenced in Beijing this morning. Premier Li Keqiang delivered the government work report in the meeting, which Mrs Lam attended as the Chief Executive. Mrs Lam said she was honoured to attend the meeting in her capacity as the Chief Executive for the first time. She thanked Premier Li for the support for Hong Kong in the government work report, in particular the support for the integration of Hong Kong into the development of the country, including the Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area to be promulgated and implemented. Mrs Lam said the development of the Bay Area would significantly foster the flow of people, goods, capital and information among the cities in the area, raising regional co-operation to new heights. During her meeting with the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Li Xi, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui, shortly after she arrived in Beijing yesterday (March 4), Mrs Lam said to them that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will collaborate fully in the development of the Bay Area and organise promotional activities in Hong Kong after the promulgation of the Development Plan. In the afternoon today, accompanied by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Mrs Lam paid a visit to WF Central, a commercial project developed by Hongkong Land, and learnt that its design connects with the history and environment of the Wangfujing area. Mrs Lam and the other officials later attended a seminar organised by the Committee of Youth Activities in Hong Kong to learn more about the experience of Hong Kong young people in studying and developing careers in the Mainland. She noted at the seminar that the Central Government supports the integration of Hong Kong into the development of the country, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. She expressed the view that better integration of Hong Kong into the development of the country will bring more development opportunities to the young people in Hong Kong. She said that the HKSAR Government will take up the roles of a "facilitator" and a "promoter" to help young people develop in the Mainland, including through the provision of more internships in units and enterprises in the Mainland. In addition, measures are being rolled out by various Central Authorities to enable Hong Kong people to live, work and study in the Mainland. In the evening, Mrs Lam attended a banquet held by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. She will continue her visit to Beijing tomorrow (March 6). Ends/Monday, March 5, 2018 Issued at HKT 23:57 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/04/P2018030400549.htm

4.3.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session today (March 4) before she departs for Beijing: Reporter: My first question is, like FS considered to relax the criteria to cover those who may not be benefitted from the Budget. So does that mean in this year's Budget, some part of the community is forgotten? And my second question is that, the sources said there will be a merge between the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. It is something that could be triggered because of the Hong Kong independence in recent years. Thank you. Chief Executive: Well, the answer to the second question is simple. I am not aware of any plan, so I cannot comment on it. As far as your first question, I would say that it is not a deliberate omission of some of the groups in society when we said we want to share, we are very caring and so on. But if you look at the existing mechanisms, we have a tax system, we have a social security system. So, the Financial Secretary has built on these systems to provide the caring relief. But he did acknowledge that there will be some gaps and that is why in his Budget speech, he said that he would use the Community Care Fund mechanism to devise a scheme to expand the coverage, so that those who we feel legitimately to share in the economic prosperity of Hong Kong should be given that opportunity. So the question now before us is really to listen more and to devise a scheme which we feel will be as comprehensive as possible in caring for the people whom we feel should deserve a share in Hong Kong's prosperity. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Sunday, March 4, 2018 Issued at HKT 13:58 NNNN

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CE to attend NPC session opening ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/01/P2018030100741.htm

1.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will visit Beijing from March 4 to 7 and attend the opening ceremony of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing on March 5. During the stay in Beijing, Mrs Lam will meet with Mainland officials and conduct visits. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will join the visit. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong on March 7. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Thursday, March 1, 2018 Issued at HKT 18:18 NNNN

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CE visits patient with spinal muscular atrophy

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201803/01/P2018030100613.htm

1.3.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Gabriel Leung, visited spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patient Miss Josy Chow at a student residence at the University of Hong Kong this morning (March 1) and told her about the latest developments of introducing a new drug for treating SMA in Hong Kong. Mrs Lam commended Miss Chow, who can only move two fingers but managed to enter the University of Hong Kong to pursue her dream as an author through strong determination and tremendous efforts, for her courage in the face of serious illness. Miss Chow learned earlier that international pharmaceutical company Biogen had developed a new drug, Spinraza, for treating SMA. For the benefit of all SMA patients in Hong Kong, she spent four months writing a proposal for introducing the drug into Hong Kong. Mrs Lam received the proposal from Miss Chow in person outside the Chief Executive's Office on a Sunday in October last year and pledged to follow up proactively. "I was greatly touched by Josy's struggle and her extraordinary will. In addition to instructing the Food and Health Bureau (FHB) to follow up, I also penned a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the pharmaceutical company, emphasising that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government cares for these patients and urging the company to consider introducing the drug in Hong Kong. I am very glad that, with the efforts of the FHB and the Hospital Authority (HA) in the past few months, a consensus with the pharmaceutical company has been reached for the drug to be introduced in Hong Kong. I visited Josy this morning to break the good news and thanked her for her long-time efforts in helping SMA patients," Mrs Lam said. To enable suitable patients to receive treatment as soon as possible, the pharmaceutical company will provide the drug for free to Type I (the most severe condition) SMA patients under an Expanded Access Programme before the registration procedure of the drug in Hong Kong has been completed. The experts in the HA will carry out the preparatory work at full speed, with a view to allowing the Programme to be implemented within two or three months. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Pharmacy and Poisons Board will expedite the processing of the registration application of the drug. After the registration has been completed, suitable SMA patients (including the patients who received free medication under the Expanded Access Programme in the early stage) may apply for access to the drug under an assistance programme to provide eligible patients with subsidies for the purchase of ultra-expensive drugs under the Community Care Fund. In the Budget delivered by the Financial Secretary yesterday, an extra $500 million has been earmarked for this purpose. "Although the number of patients suffering from SMA and other rare diseases is small, the current-term Government will strive to be people-oriented and use public resources to provide the needed relief," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Thursday, March 1, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:06 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Chinese General Chamber of Commerce spring cocktail reception

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/22/P2018022200413.htm

22.2.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a spring cocktail reception hosted by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce today (February 22): I would now like to say a few words in English. It is my great pleasure to join you all here to celebrate the Chinese New Year. I wish all of you good health, happiness and prosperity in the Year of the Dog. The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce has been a very close partner of the Hong Kong SAR Government in promoting the development of trade and industries in Hong Kong. In particular, the Chamber has been supporting Hong Kong's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development. These two national initiatives, together with the Free Trade Agreement signed between Hong Kong and the ASEAN last year, are set to be the engines of our economic growth. I would like to thank the Chamber for its efforts in the past year, and look forward to working closely with the Chamber to enable our business sector to grasp the opportunities ahead of us. Thank you very much and 恭喜發財 (Kung Hei Fat Choy)! Ends/Thursday, February 22, 2018 Issued at HKT 14:31 NNNN

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Speech by CE at opening of forum "Breaking Boundaries, Building Bridges - The Role of Education"

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/10/P2018021000574.htm

10.2.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening of forum "Breaking Boundaries, Building Bridges - The Role of Education" organised by Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong today (February 10): Mr Tong (Chairman, Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, Mr Anthony Tong), Alice (Executive Director, Asia Society Hong Kong Center, Ms Alice Mong), Mr Edwards (Principal, Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, Mr Arnett Edwards), principals, students, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be here for today's Education Symposium: "Breaking Boundaries, Building Bridges – the Role of Education". I am particularly pleased to note that today's event is part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong. Since opening here in Hong Kong in 1992, the College of Hong Kong has followed the mission of its parent college, admitting students from all over the world and using the power of education to unite people, nations and cultures for a harmonious and sustainable future. I am glad to learn that, over the past 25 years, there have been students from 147 different countries studying in the College, creating an exceptional community. Thanks to the power of technology and the global economy, we live in an increasingly interconnected and inter-dependent world. Our young graduates must be equipped with the necessary skills, the essential confidence and connections, if they are to find their place – and maintain Hong Kong's standing – in the global economy. In this, the College is certainly exceeding expectations. Through such initiatives as the Education Outside the Classroom programme, overseas trips, China Week, cultural evenings, the College has been making remarkable efforts to deepen students' understanding of international connectedness and enhance their whole-person development. Beyond breaking boundaries, the College also continues to build bridges. We are all well aware by now of the Belt and Road Initiative, which is now supported by more than 100 economies and international organisations. All of them are keen to build bridges – the literal, as well as the metaphorical. I am pleased to note that the College is determined to be part of that multilateral future and to create its own connections to the nations, the cultures and the peoples of the Belt and Road. In fact, over the past 25 years, more than 560 students from Belt and Road countries have been admitted to the College. And now the College is moving to expand its Belt and Road links. I understand that plans are in place to set up a Belt and Road Resource Centre at the College, which will welcome secondary school students from all over Hong Kong, helping them better understand the economies, the cultures and the opportunities that the Belt and Road can offer. In addition, some of the College's service projects will take place in Belt and Road countries, and the College is working to establish a scholarship programme to welcome more students from these countries. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what I call planning for the future. My Government is also busy building bridges for the Belt and Road and for our young people in general. The Education Bureau will enhance the content of Mainland exchange programmes to enable more teachers and students to understand the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and other national development strategies and to widen their horizon through visiting the relevant provinces and cities in the Mainland. In the 2016/17 school year, about 60 000 students benefited from the exchange. This school year, we have expanded the quota to more than 100 000 places to give every primary and secondary student the invaluable opportunity to participate in at least one Mainland programme. More generally, we are eager to help our youth realise their potential, whatever their goals may be. And I believe we can do that best through innovative, future-focused education. It is the reason why, shortly after taking office, my Government increased the recurrent expenditure on education by HK$3.6 billion a year. The additional resources cover the entire spectrum, from kindergartens and primary and secondary schools, to integrated and special education, as well as post-secondary education. At our public sector primary and secondary schools, we have raised the teacher-to-class ratio, providing more than 2 000 additional regular teaching posts. We are also offering an extra recurrent cash grant of $25,000 a month to boost innovation and technology (I&T) staffing support for e-learning and other I&T-related educational initiatives. We are, as well, bolstering our STEM education. We have updated the curriculum of the STEM Education Key Learning Area to nurture the creativity, collaboration and problem-solving abilities of our youth, thereby promoting an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. We have also launched STEM training programmes for the heads and middle managers of our public primary and secondary schools. Additional training and teaching support are available at the STEM Education Centre, up and running since last October. At the post-secondary level, we are creating policies and programmes designed to boost our I&T talent. A recent McKinsey Global Institute study, "Jobs Lost, Jobs Gained: Workforce Transitions in a Time of Automation," notes that – and I quote – "between 400 million and 800 million individuals could be displaced by automation and need to find new jobs by 2030, around the world." So we must ensure that today's students have the knowledge, expertise and innovative smarts they need to build their future. With that in mind, some HK$10 billion has been earmarked for university research programme. And with an injection of $3 billion into the Research Endowment Fund, the Education Bureau is providing scholarships for local students admitted to Hong Kong-funded research postgraduate programmes. And I can tell you, there is a great deal more funding on the way for I&T education and research in our policy agenda. Money, of course, is only a means to realising our vision for education. With our healthy fiscal reserves, my Government is prepared to invest for our future, and there is no investment more meaningful than education. We are therefore prepared to consider any proposal to improve the quality of education, even if it means that we have to go beyond the $5 billion additional funding that I pledged last year. In my Policy Address delivered last October, I have identified eight areas of education which the Government needs to carry out in-depth reviews, including professional development of teachers, curriculum arrangement, assessment system, vocational and professional education and training, self-financing post-secondary education, school-base management, parent education and University Grants Committee's funding on research and student hostels. I am glad to report that the Education Bureau has set up task forces with the participation of educational experts and related professionals to carry out the reviews, and studies have been commissioned step by step. Ladies and gentlemen, our vision certainly embraces today's symposium theme: "Breaking Boundaries, Building Bridges." Thanks to Hong Kong's longstanding embrace of free trade and free economy, we have pushed far beyond our boundaries, connecting with economies and peoples from all over the world. It is the reason why Hong Kong flourishes today, and will continue to drive our long-term success. My thanks to the Asia Society for hosting today's Education Symposium. And my congratulations, again, to Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong on your 25th anniversary. With the Chinese New Year approaching, may it bring you health, happiness and the enduring joy of learning. I hope you will have a wonderful afternoon. Thank you very much. Ends/Saturday, February 10, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:23 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Smart City Blueprint Luncheon

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/07/P2018020700569.htm

7.2.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Smart City Blueprint Luncheon organised by the Smart City Consortium today (February 7): Elizabeth (Founder and Honorary President of the Smart City Consortium, Dr Elizabeth Quat), Winnie (Founder and Honorary President of the Smart City Consortium, Dr Winnie Tang), Eric (President of the Smart City Consortium, Mr Eric Yeung), Deputy Director Chen Dong (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Chen Dong), ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. I'm pleased to join you for today's Smart City Blueprint Luncheon. My thanks to the Smart City Consortium for organising this afternoon's event. My thanks, as well, for your valuable input into the Hong Kong Smart City Blueprint, which was unveiled by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology in the middle of December. My Government's smart city vision is as clear and compelling as the benefits it promises. We have embraced the smart city, and the innovation and technology (I&T) that will power it, to ensure that our economy remains strong and diverse, deep into this 21st century. No less important, we see the smart city as a critical means to providing the people of Hong Kong with a high quality of life. That said, we have no time to waste - not if we want to turn Hong Kong into one of the world's smart cities. Which is why, in my October Policy Address, I announced that we would advance the timetable for the publication of the Smart City Blueprint, and invest initially $700 million to push ahead with key infrastructure projects for smart city development. This is also why I personally chair the Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology, with membership comprising the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary and 10 bureau secretaries, to oversee the implementation of the initiatives. I am glad to tell you that we are making some progress, with the Smart City Blueprint published in December last year. The Blueprint is only a start. Delivering the smart city is a multifaceted task, and we will need to work particularly smart in a number of strategic areas, if we are to realise its full benefits. They include opening up data for free use by start-ups and the public. As you know, open data can only promote social innovation. Opening health-related data, for example, will help us better monitor infectious disease trends, promote research and development (R&D), and drive innovation in health-related products and applications. In this respect, I am happy to note that the Hospital Authority is developing big data analytics to encourage the sharing of anonymous patient data. Within government, we have recently revamped data.gov.hk to provide geospatial data, which in turn will promote the development of innovative applications and solutions. More geo-tagged data sets will be made available for public use. Looking ahead, we will expand the opening up of free government data, focusing on transport, health, education and sensor data. In these areas, we trail our competitors. Of course, much data are controlled by the private sector. Our public transport operators, for example, are private companies. And they are generally reluctant to share, at no cost, data generated from their operations. That includes the real-time location of their fleet and passenger volume. We will continue our efforts to convince them of the benefits that everyone gains in a system where the data is freely available. I am sure the Smart City Consortium will help us to give this a real push. Using the data of other operators can only help enhance the business models of all operators. Building essential technology infrastructure is another critically important strategic area. In this regard, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority is developing a Faster Payment System. It will allow residents to use their mobile phones for payment - anytime, anywhere. We are also gearing up for the 2020 commercial launch of 5G mobile services and applications. We will, as well, provide a universal eID - a single digital identity and authentication allowing the people of Hong Kong to access government and commercial online services. Within government, we are building a new big-data analytics system to support cloud services. It will also enhance efficiency and cyber security through resource sharing and artificial intelligence. Next year, we expect that the first smart lampposts will take to the streets of Hong Kong. They will collect a wide variety of city data, from weather and air quality to traffic. And that can only help us enhance the good management of Hong Kong. The Highways Department and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer will roll out a pilot scheme in four districts. These smart lampposts will offer Wi-Fi, 5G networks and district information for road users. Still on infrastructure, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park may well be our most anticipated I&T infrastructure project. Occupying a site of 87 hectares and a gross floor area of 1.2 million square metres, it will be the largest I&T development in Hong Kong upon completion. I can tell you we are working at full speed to implement it. The statutory planning procedure has been completed just last week and the infrastructural work will start immediately once funding has been approved by the Legislative Council. Hong Kong is also home to high-tier data centres. Last June, Amazon Web Services announced it would establish a data centre hub in Hong Kong while Google will open a Google Cloud Platform in Hong Kong later this year. These, and other developments, underline the confidence global I&T leaders have in the future of Hong Kong as a data hub and smart city. Talent is essential to that future. Simply put, we need all the smart, tech-savvy people we can get if we are to create a smart city for the world. At last count, we had about 50,000 students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies. That number has to grow. To that end, we will provide scholarships worth HK$3 billion to encourage local students to take part in research postgraduate programmes. And we will continue to promote STEM education at the primary and secondary school levels, as well as the community at large. We are also looking for talent beyond Hong Kong. We will soon launch a pilot fast-track scheme to admit technology talents from overseas and the Mainland of China. In the coming months, we will launch a HK$500 million Technology Talent Scheme, which will include a Postdoctoral Hub. The Hub initiative provides funding support for companies looking to recruit postdoctoral talent for scientific research and product development. In addition, we will continue to invite acclaimed universities, R&D institutes and technology enterprises to set up here, to collaborate with local partners and to develop research projects with social benefits for Hong Kong. Then there's a question of legislation. In my Policy Address, I pledged to review existing legislation and regulations, and to remove any outdated provisions that may impede our I&T development. The Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Unit will soon be set up, again subject to the approval of the Legislative Council, working directly under me to spearhead that effort. Beyond government policies and plans, I'm pleased to note that venture capitalists are already sold on Hong Kong. In the first nine months of 2017, venture capital in Hong Kong reached US$770 million. That, ladies and gentlemen, is nine times more than was invested in Hong Kong in 2012. As for start-ups, there were just over 1,000 in Hong Kong in 2014. Last year, that number more than doubled, to over 2,200. At last count, at least two of our made-in-Hong Kong start-ups have hit that starriest of capital heights: unicorn status. In short, we're on our way. It's an evolving journey and support from the private sector is essential. When I said support, that doesn't mean that you should tell us what we are doing well. I want you to tell us what we are not doing well enough so that we could improve and respond to the industry's needs. As I said, the Smart City Blueprint is just the beginning. It's a living document driving a multifaceted policy agenda. We will continue to update and upgrade them for the benefit of the people of Hong Kong. I wish you all an enjoyable lunch, and like Elizabeth, I wish you a very prosperous Chinese New Year ahead. Thank you very much. Ends/Wednesday, February 7, 2018 Issued at HKT 14:21 NNNN

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CE's statement on 2018-19 Budget

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/28/P2018022800450.htm

28.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 28) issued the following statement on the 2018-19 Budget: The Financial Secretary today delivered the first Budget of the current-term Government, providing financial resources to implement all the initiatives announced in my inaugural Policy Address last October, introducing additional policy initiatives with long-term effects, offering one-off relief measures and earmarking another $388 billion for further investing in the future and enhancing public services. In so doing, the Financial Secretary has fully embraced the new style of governance, the new roles of the Government and the new fiscal philosophy that I have set for this term of government. Specifically, I am grateful to the Financial Secretary for earmarking an extra $2 billion per year for education, thereby bringing the commitment in my Election Manifesto on "new education resources" from $5 billion, of which about $3.6 billion has been deployed, to a total of $7 billion. This will provide greater capacity for us to accommodate recommendations from the various task forces set up to examine different aspects of quality education. We will continue to uphold the "Led by Professionals" principle and engage stakeholders in the education sector to prioritise the use of these additional resources. I should add that the $2 billion in recurrent expenditure earmarked is in addition to a range of education-related measures contained in the Budget - from school social work services at primary schools and kindergartens, gifted education, continuing education and matching grants for publicly funded universities to the two relief measures to provide a one-off support grant for needy students and a one-off payment to meet students' examination fees for the 2019 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination. These Budget initiatives echo my belief that government expenditure on education is the most significant investment for our future. While ensuring the health of our public finance, the Financial Secretary has adopted forward-looking and strategic financial management principles in optimising the use of surplus to invest for Hong Kong and relieve our people's burdens. In respect of healthcare services that are of grave concern to many in the community, the 2018-19 Budget has increased recurrent funding to the Hospital Authority. In addition, the Financial Secretary has set aside a sum of $300 billion to support the second 10-year hospital development plan, improve the clinic facilities of the Department of Health, and upgrade and increase healthcare teaching facilities. This, together with the $200 billion earmarked earlier for hospital development, will bring the total capital commitment to $500 billion. I have every confidence that the 2018-19 Budget will inject new impetus into Hong Kong's economy. It also reflects a conscientious effort to address the needs of the people. I appeal to Members of the Legislative Council and the society at large to support these proposals with a view to facilitating their early implementation. Ends/Wednesday, February 28, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:58 NNNN

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CE meets Secretary of CPC Zhongshan Municipal Committee

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/26/P2018022600801.htm

26.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Secretary of the CPC Zhongshan Municipal Committee, Mr Chen Xudong, at the Chief Executive's Office this morning (February 26). Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Chen's first visit to Hong Kong after his assumption of office as the Secretary of the CPC Zhongshan Municipal Committee. Noting that Hong Kong and Zhongshan enjoy close geographical and cultural ties and share a common language, she said that the two places have enjoyed frequent co-operation and exchanges in areas including economic affairs and trade, investment and culture over the years. Along with the completion of infrastructure projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express ​​Rail Link, the commuting time between Hong Kong and Zhongshan will be substantially shortened, further enhancing the connectivity between the two places. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is working closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and the National Development and Reform Commission to draw up the Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area (Bay Area). Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong and Zhongshan, both of which are cities in the Bay Area, are looking forward to the new opportunities to be brought about by the development of the Bay Area. She said she believes that the development of the Bay Area is set to foster the increased flow of people, goods, capital and information among the cities in the area, which will deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Zhongshan in various areas, enabling them to complement each other for mutual benefits. Ends/Monday, February 26, 2018 Issued at HKT 19:52 NNNN

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CE celebrates Chinese New Year with families of Light Housing project in Sham Tseng

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/25/P2018022500497.htm

25.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended a New Year Feast this afternoon (February 25) with dozens of residents of the Light Housing project in Sham Tseng to extend her Chinese New Year greetings to them. She was accompanied by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong; the Chairman of Light Be, Mr Laurence Li; the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Light Be, Mr Ricky Yu; and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Social Ventures Hong Kong, Mr Francis Ngai. The Sham Tseng Light Housing project, which involves a previously vacant factory staff quarters building belonging to the Government, is the first collaboration between the Government and the social enterprise Light Be. With the support of donations from the business sector, Light Be renovated the building to provide more than 40 units of rental housing with affordable rent below the market level to families in need for a maximum of three years. Aside from providing a secure place to stay for the resident families, Light Be also offers a wide range of support and counselling services to encourage the residents to help one another as well as their own self and develop self-reliance upon expiry of the lease. The concept is similar to the measure promulgated by the Chief Executive in her maiden Policy Address to develop transitional housing to alleviate the hardship faced by families on the public rental housing waiting list and the inadequately housed. In fact, the Sham Tseng Light Housing project was made possible with active involvement of Mrs Lam while she was the Chief Secretary for Administration. Noting that she had visited the Light Housing in Sham Tseng several times, she said she is pleased to know that circumstances of some families had improved during their stay at the Light Housing. Coupled with the provision of professional guidance and support, they were able to start again to fend for themselves and look after their children down the road. She said she appreciates Light Be for its ongoing efforts. Since the launch of the first Light Home in September 2012, Light Be has, including the Light Housing in Sham Tseng, provided over 100 flats, benefitting about 200 families with over 600 members. Expressing her gratitude to the community and the business sector as well for their active participation in helping the disadvantaged, she said that the Government will continue to facilitate the implementation of various short-term community initiatives to increase the supply of transitional housing and pool the efforts and resources from all sectors in society to alleviate the housing problem faced by the grassroots. Mrs Lam enjoyed a hot pot meal with the residents on the rooftop where they hold gatherings frequently. She also harvested lettuces which were grown by the residents on the rooftop farm for a "lo hei" ceremony, wishing all the residents a smooth, vibrant and prosperous year ahead. Ends/Sunday, February 25, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:55 NNNN

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CE holds engagement sessions with HK deputies to NPC and HK members of CPPCC

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/22/P2018022200722.htm

22.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by a number of Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux, held engagement sessions at Government House yesterday and today (February 21 and 22) to exchange views with Hong Kong deputies to the 12th and 13th National People's Congress (NPC) and the 12th and 13th Hong Kong members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on matters of mutual concern, in particular Hong Kong’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. Addressing more than 20 Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and over 60 Hong Kong members of the CPPCC, Mrs Lam said all of them, as leaders from various sectors with profound knowledge on Mainland and Hong Kong affairs, are tasked with the vital responsibility of taking part in national affairs. As the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attached great importance to their views, she extended yet another round of invitations to all of the Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and Hong Kong members of the CPPCC for a meeting following the Policy Address consultation sessions last July. Given the integration of Hong Kong into the development of the country, Mrs Lam said the city will take a more active role in participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. She expressed the hope that the Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and Hong Kong members of the CPPCC would give their full support to the HKSAR Government to promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages including those in its professional services to encourage Mainland enterprises to make use of Hong Kong as the platform to “go global”. Noting that the HKSAR Government is working closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and the National Development and Reform Commission to draw up the Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, including the development of an international innovation and technology centre in the Bay Area, she appealed to the Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and Hong Kong members of the CPPCC to further introduce to the others the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, and to support the efforts of the HKSAR Government to advance the flow of people, goods, capital and information within the Bay Area. They were also encouraged to help seek from the Central Government further concrete measures to make it more convenient for the people of Hong Kong to study, work and live in the Bay Area and the rest of the Mainland. Ends/Thursday, February 22, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:57 NNNN

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CE saddened by passing of Mr Zhang Junsheng

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/19/P2018021900841.htm

19.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 19) was saddened to learn of the passing of former deputy director of the Hong Kong branch of Xinhua News Agency, Mr Zhang Junsheng. "Mr Zhang had worked in Hong Kong for a long period of time and was actively involved in the work for Hong Kong's return to the Motherland, contributing a lot to the preparation for the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. With deep attachment to Hong Kong, he had been concerned about the affairs of the city even after he had left Hong Kong. I am saddened by his passing and extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Monday, February 19, 2018 Issued at HKT 22:53 NNNN

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CE inspects clean-up work at Lunar New Year Fair site and visits elderly of residential care home

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/16/P2018021600437.htm

16.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Miss Vivian Lau, visited staff members of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on duty at the site of the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair this morning (February 16). Expressing her gratitude to the staff members for their dedication to duties during the festival, she said their efforts in cleaning up the site after the closure of the fair to restore it to the original state would enable the public to use the venue as soon as possible. She also said she appreciated the volunteer teams made up of FEHD staff for delivering pots of flowers and plants donated by the vendors in the fair to the homes for elderly and hospitals, showing support for environmental protection and expressing care for the residents. Mrs Lam then visited elderly residents in a contract home of the Social Welfare Department to share with them the festive joy. Accompanied by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, and Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Services), Mr Lam Ka-tai, she extended her New Year greetings to some 40 elderly people (including a centenarian aged 117), their families and the nursing home staff. She presented mandarin oranges to them, wishing them a sweet and auspicious year ahead. She expressed her appreciation to the operator of the residential care home for their service that meets the needs of the elderly. She also visited the 97-year-old Uncle Fook, who moved into the nursing home last year. She was presented spring couplets prepared by him and had a walk with him in the garden. Mrs Lam met Uncle Fook during her tenure as the Director of Social Welfare more than 10 years ago and has been visiting him from time to time since then. Ends/Friday, February 16, 2018 Issued at HKT 13:17 NNNN

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CE delivers Lunar New Year message

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/15/P2018021500324.htm

15.2.2018

Following is the translation of the Lunar New Year message delivered by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 15): "The Lunar New Year is the most important festival for Chinese people. Though busy, as we all are, I always make time to do shopping and decorate my home for the New Year to get myself in the festive spirit. "This year is the Year of the Dog. Faithful and gentle, dogs have always been our best friends. More than that, police dogs are police officers' wonderful workmates and provide loyal service to the Force. They help the police maintain law and order, making Hong Kong a safe place to live and work. "I am honoured to extend my New Year greetings to you for the first time in my capacity as the Chief Executive. I wish Hong Kong prosperity, stability, progress and success in the year ahead. "We wish you all a healthy and happy Year of the Dog." The message is available on the Chief Executive's website ( www.ceo.gov.hk/lny_message18/eng/ ). Ends/Thursday, February 15, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:00 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/13/P2018021300430.htm

13.2.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (February 13): Reporter: Mrs Lam, what do you make of this comparison between the situation of Teresa Cheng and Mr Wong (Kwai-huen) then? And about the car crash, wouldn't it be more appropriate if we also cancel the New Year Parade? And did President Xi ask you to handle the problem promptly? Chief Executive: Well, there are three questions. First is, as far as President Xi Jinping's concern about this very tragic incident, on the night when this incident happened, the Central Authorities have already, of course, through the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office relayed their concern and asked about what they could help. So they have always been very concerned about major incidents happening in Hong Kong. Yesterday, through the Central People's Government's Liaison Office, Director Wang Zhimin, the President's concern and condolences and sympathies to the affected families were directly conveyed to me, and of course, I will find an opportunity to convey them to the affected families - and that sympathy and condolences were also sent to us from the Premier, Mr Li Keqiang, and Chairman Mr Zhang Dejiang of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. There have not been any specific instructions on how the Government or myself should handle this issue because it's really an internal affair happening in Hong Kong which I think we have demonstrated the needed capacity and decision-making ability to tackle this issue. And I noticed that President Xi has sort of affirmed the necessary actions that we have taken so far. As far as other major events to celebrate the Chinese New Year, apart from the cancellation of the Lunar New Year fireworks, I feel that we have to strike the right balance. The only other event that I have heard, but not a very strong request like the fireworks display, is this parade on the first day of the Chinese New Year. I noticed that the Hong Kong Tourism Board has already notified that they would continue to host this event because it's an international event targeting mainly tourists as well as performers coming from abroad - there will be more than 10 such performing groups coming from the Mainland and other countries to take part. So I feel the balance is a right one to continue to host this parade. But in line with what I have said, the Principal Officials will be as low key as possible in attending some of these events. I have told the Hong Kong Tourism Board that I will not attend and speak at the parade, which originally was a plan. And the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will represent the Hong Kong SAR Government to welcome tourists on that particular occasion. About the decision of resignation made by the former Communications Authority Chairman, Mr Huen Wong, I received his resignation last Friday and understood circumstances and respected his decision, but I think the case is not entirely the same as the case with the Secretary for Justice and I hope the people will understand. Thank you very much. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:40 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/12/P2018021200959.htm

12.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the media with the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, and the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at the ground floor lobby of the Office of the Chief Executive today (February 12). Following is the transcript of remarks: Reporter: Mrs Lam, could you explain your considerations behind your decision, in reaching the decision, in calling off the fireworks, Chinese New Year Fireworks, a long-time annual tradition? And also you mentioned that the Government started forming the special committee, the independent committee, and you've already started to draft the responsibilities and powers. So what sort of powers and responsibilities are you planning to give this committee? Chief Executive: This bus incident is an extremely tragic one, and in the last two days we have heard from various quarters, including Legislative Council members across the political spectrum, suggesting that in order to pay respect to the deceased and the victims, and also for the community to express their grief, it was not very appropriate to continue with the Chinese New Year fireworks on the second day of the Lunar New Year. I have taken into account their suggestion, their views and the general sentiments in the community and come to the decision that we would cancel this year's Chinese New Year fireworks. We have already notified the sponsoring organisation and they have graciously agreed and also will support this decision to the extent that they said that if they have any money left as a result of this cancellation, they are willing to donate the funds for supporting the families. So, I'm extremely grateful to that corporation. The second point about this independent review committee, I have already explained why I want to set up this independent review committee. It is not just to investigate into the causes or the circumstances of this particular incident, because in any case the police will be investigating the incident. More importantly is to take an independent and comprehensive view on Hong Kong's franchised bus services to ensure safety and reliability of this very important form of public transport service, which provides over 4 million passenger trips every day. But at the moment, we are still drafting the terms of reference of this review committee, but I am more than willing to take into account the views and suggestions made by various organisations as well as political parties in finalising the terms of reference of this independent review committee. Reporter: Mrs Lam, would you consider expanding the committee's scope of reference so that it includes other types of our public transport sector, such as minibuses? Chief Executive: No. At the moment the focus of this independent review committee is on Hong Kong's franchised bus services. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Monday, February 12, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:40 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/11/P2018021100773.htm

11.2.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session in relation to the traffic accident on Tai Po Road this afternoon (February 11): Reporter: Mrs Lam, with a number of fatal bus accidents in recent years, you won’t comment on this particular case before the inquiry is done but do you see a need to change the way how bus companies train their staff and train their drivers? How bus companies arrange their drivers’ schedule and things like that, so that we are going to have safer…prevent that such an accident? And also would you be able to tell us like when will we see the inquiry, the independent inquiry committee set up? Chief Executive: Thank you for that question. The concerns that you have expressed are exactly the reasons why I have decided last night to set up an independent committee to look at not only this particular tragic incident, but to look at the various aspects of Hong Kong's franchised bus service. As you all would agree, Hong Kong has a very good public transport service that takes care of 90 per cent of the passenger trips. As far as the franchised buses are concerned, I understand that they are taking care of about 4 million passenger trips every day, so if we want to have a safe city, we need to have a very safe and reliable public transport service including the franchised bus service. So I am sort of initiating this comprehensive review to be undertaken independently to advise the Government on what sort of measures we need to put in place in order to ensure the safety of Hong Kong’s franchised bus service. Because you are right, I don’t know whether you are in possession of the figures, but in the last 12 months, we have indeed seen quite a number of very fatal and tragic bus incidents involving deaths as well as a large number of passengers being injured. So, that is the basis of why I have made this decision. As far as the timing, of course, I would like to see this independent review to be conducted and completed as soon as possible, so that if need be, the improvement measures could be put in place as early as possible. But at this point in time, I am afraid I could not give you a very definite timetable because we need to identify this judge, and perhaps with or without another expert or person to assist the judge in doing this review. But based on other previous examples, it would at least require a few months before we could have a report from the independent review committee. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Sunday, February 11, 2018 Issued at HKT 17:57 NNNN

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CE meets families in community housing and visits creative landmark

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/09/P2018020901063.htm

9.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 9) visited families living in units under the Community Housing Movement in Mong Kok to learn about their new living environment and daily lives. She then went to Lai Chi Kok to tour a modern landmark for creative design comprising two buildings converted under the Government's Scheme on Revitalisation of Industrial Buildings. Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, and the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), Mr Bernard Chan, visited families which moved into the community housing units at Soy Street in Mong Kok in recent months. Made available under the Community Housing Movement of the HKCSS as transitional housing to single-parent families who were inadequately housed, the 14 units in the building provided by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), mainly sponsored by the Community Chest and operated by St James' Settlement can accommodate 28 households. Under the promotion of the Government, the Community Housing Movement provides accommodation and support services for people in need with the joint efforts of welfare agencies, property owners, professionals and various sectors in the community. About 420 units, including more than 70 units from the URA, have been received by the HKCSS so far. They will be allocated to appropriate families after the completion of a series of procedures including inspection, identification of operators and renovation. "As stated in my Policy Address delivered in October last year, the current-term Government will think out of the box to facilitate the implementation of various short-term community initiatives to increase the supply of transitional housing, with a view to alleviating the hardship faced by families on the public rental housing waiting list and the inadequately housed. My thanks to organisations including the HKCSS, the URA, the Community Chest and St James' Settlement for rolling out the Community Housing Movement and the project in Soy Street in a short time. I am pleased to learn that the two single-parent families which have moved into the community housing units in Soy Street have not only solved their earlier problems of poor living conditions, but also gained an improved learning environment for the children," Mrs Lam said. Accompanied by the Head of Create Hong Kong, Mr Victor Tsang, Mrs Lam then visited D2 Place One and Two in Lai Chi Kok, including concept stores by non-profit-making organisation Fashion Farm Foundation to promote local fashion brands, creative markets with assorted handmade accessories, and time-limited shops opened by entrepreneurs of local brands or start-ups. She also met with some 30 local designers to learn about their creative experience and career development needs. In addition, she was briefed by representatives of Lawsgroup on the D2 Place project, including the progress of its participation in the Space Sharing Scheme for Youth under which the Government and the community collaborate to support start-ups and young entrepreneurs to rent co-working space or studios at a concessionary rate. D2 Place was transformed from industrial buildings to retail and commercial uses through the Scheme on Revitalisation of Industrial Buildings which had been implemented for about six years from 2010. "This term of Government is keen to promote creative industries, particularly in the further development of the design sector. We will strive to provide more space through the Space Sharing Scheme for Youth and financial assistance to the trade to help local designers develop their career and potential," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Friday, February 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:55 NNNN

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CE expresses sorrow at passing of Professor Jao Tsung-i

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/06/P2018020600679.htm

6.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 6) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of world-renowned sinologist Professor Jao Tsung-i. "I was grieved to learn of the passing of Professor Jao Tsung-i," Mrs Lam said. "I am so privileged to have known Professor Jao personally for years and participated directly in the establishment of the Jao Tsung-I Academy under the Government's Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme during my tenure as the Secretary for Development. I had a fond relationship with Professor Jao and his family and benefited greatly from his teaching. On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I would like to extend deepest condolences to Professor Jao's family. "Professor Jao was very learned in matters of the ancient and modern worlds and strong in both the academic field and fine arts. His significant academic and artistic achievements over the past eight decades contributed tremendously to the promotion of Chinese traditional culture. Professor Jao's research, spanning decades, covered areas including history, literature, language and religious studies as well as philosophy, arts and Chinese and Western cultures. He is world-renowned for his outstanding achievements and his scholarship deserves our deep respect. Being assiduous and diligent, Professor Jao came up with his own philosophy before the age of 30 and has been a prolific writer in the past 80 years. He inspired the world with great wisdom and produced many great works. "Professor Jao, you have been the treasure in the academic and arts sectors of Hong Kong and the world. You will be sorely missed, always." Ends/Tuesday, February 6, 2018 Issued at HKT 17:04 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/06/P2018020600381.htm

6.2.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (February 6): Reporter: Mrs Lam, a question about the disqualification of candidates because some pro-establishment figures, such as Professor Lau Siu-kai and Jasper Tsang, said that the current rules on disqualifying candidates are not clear. For example, Professor Lau says he doesn't even know in the future if a candidate opposes the need to legislate Article 23 would be regarded as not upholding the Basic Law. Would the Government consider reviewing the current legislation so that it can reflect the rules more clearly? Chief Executive: Up to this moment, the law is very clear, and we will act in accordance with the law in so far as deciding, by the Returning Officer, whether a candidate is eligible to become a qualified candidate in an election. But as far as the future situation is concerned, as I have said in the Legislative Council last week, if there is a need to clarify the rules and the criteria by amending local legislation, of course the Government will seriously consider that proposition. And by the way, there is also a judicial review case in the court which has yet to be decided and announced, so we will also take into account any court ruling and decision to address the question you ask - whether there is a need to amend local legislation. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, February 6, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:27 NNNN

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CE meets Director of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/04/P2018020400895.htm

4.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO) of the State Council, Ms Qiu Yuanping, at Government House this afternoon (February 4), and then attended the "Cultures of China, Festival of Spring" Spring Festival Gala jointly organised by the OCAO and the Hong Kong Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations (HKFOCA) in the evening. Noting that that this is the eighth consecutive year for the OCAO and the HKFOCA to hold the Spring Festival Gala, Mrs Lam said the annual premier event brings performances highlighting the rich and varied Chinese culture by top arts groups to Hong Kong. The gala has attracted a total attendance of more than 120 000 over the years. The groups that performed at the gala also travel overseas to promote Chinese culture. Mrs Lam noted that Hong Kong, with the freedom and environment conducive to diverse artistic creation, has a host of arts groups that can collaborate with Mainland counterparts. She expressed the hope that such co-operation could be enhanced to unite Chinese people overseas and promote cultural exchanges and co-operation, including strengthening people-to-people bonds through cultural and traditional performances to complement the Belt and Road Initiative. Ends/Sunday, February 4, 2018 Issued at HKT 22:47 NNNN

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Seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's Advantages, Meeting the Country's Needs held in Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/03/P2018020300783.htm

3.2.2018

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held a seminar entitled "Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's Advantages", Meeting the Country's Needs in conjunction with the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce today (February 3) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The seminar aimed to promote to the relevant Mainland ministries and state-owned enterprises (SoEs) ways to make use of Hong Kong's highly internationalised platform and distinctive edge in the areas of finance and investment, professional services, commerce and trade, and forming strategic partnerships to jointly pursue the opportunities being brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. With this, Hong Kong can contribute to the implementation of the national policy of the Belt and Road Initiative by leveraging the city's advantages in meeting the country's needs. The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Mr Zhang Dejiang; State Councillors Mr Yang Jiechi and Mr Wang Yong; and the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr Chen Yuan, attended the seminar. Mr Zhang and Mr Chen delivered keynote speeches at the opening ceremony and the luncheon respectively. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, also delivered the keynote speech and closing remarks for the seminar. Mrs Lam said, "Hong Kong's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative is based on and guided by the principles of 'one country, two systems', and integrates with the national development strategies, focusing on development. We will leverage our advantages to meet the country's needs to contribute to its as well as our future greater development. Today's seminar centred around how Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises, in particular SoEs, can join hands to strategically pursue the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. This will form a useful basis for further co-operation." The full-day seminar was attended by around 120 representatives from the business and professional services sector in Hong Kong, and more than 380 chief executives and members of senior management from over 170 SoEs. It enabled both sides to establish direct contact and facilitated the forging of strategic partnerships in taking forward Belt and Road-related work. There were also in-depth discussions on how to capitalise on the distinct advantages of Hong Kong's business and professional services sectors so as to jointly promote the Initiative. The first thematic session, with a theme of "Riding on Hong Kong's capital market when taking forward the Belt and Road developments", was moderated by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau. The President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Mr Jin Liqun; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mr Chow Chung-kong; the Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China, Mr Fan Yifei; the Chairman of Bank of China, Mr Chen Siqing; the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Norman Chan; and the President of China Cinda Asset Management Co Ltd, Mr Chen Xiaozhou, were the panel speakers. They shed light on the latest developments of Hong Kong's capital market, financing channels and regulatory regimes; Hong Kong's advantages as the Belt and Road financing platform; and the present situation of SoEs' making use of this platform. The second thematic session on "Complementary co-operation with Hong Kong's professional services" was moderated by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip. Speakers included the Head of the National Institute of Financial Research of Tsinghua University, Mr Zhu Min; Senior Counsel Mr Rimsky Yuen; the Chairman of China Communications Construction Company Ltd, Mr Liu Qitao; the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Mr Marvin Chen; and the Chairman for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Asia Pacific and Greater China, Mr Raymund Chao. They discussed the role played by Hong Kong's architectural sector and related professions in Mainland and overseas infrastructure projects; Hong Kong's professional legal and dispute resolution (arbitration and mediation) services, which are of international standard; and the city's international professional accounting and analytic services in areas such as risk management, taxation and finance. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, was the moderator of the last thematic session on "The integration of creative and information technology industries with pillar industries under the Belt and Road Initiative". The Chairman of the MTR Corporation, Mr Frederick Ma; the Chairman of China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited, Mr Wan Min; the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Mr Thomas So; member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Mr Wang Chen; former Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association Ms Winnie Tam; and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Mr He Jie were the keynote speakers. They spoke on topics including ways to assist enterprises on expanding the Belt and Road market with the use of innovation and technology, how Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises can create synergy, the role of Hong Kong's cultural and tourism industries in propelling the Belt and Road Initiative, and Hong Kong's role and positioning as a two-way platform for "going global" and attracting foreign investment. On the margins of the seminar, Mr Yau led Hong Kong delegates from the finance and investment sectors to meet with the Executive Vice Mayor of the Beijing Municipal Government, Mr Zhang Gong, and representatives of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform. A business matching session with over 10 large-scale Beijing enterprises was held. Mr Yau said that Hong Kong, as the key connecting point between the Mainland and international markets and with a sound legal system and key software and hardware, is the ideal base for Mainland enterprises to "go global". The business matching session served as a platform for Beijing and Hong Kong enterprises to exchange views and explore more business opportunities. The HKSAR Government will hold a number of business and trade seminars this year to assist Hong Kong enterprises and professional sectors in participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. Today's seminar was the launch event of the series. The third Belt and Road Summit and the tourism forum on the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area will be held in Hong Kong on June 28 and in December respectively. Ends/Saturday, February 3, 2018 Issued at HKT 18:50 NNNN

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CE continues her visit to Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/02/P2018020201052.htm

2.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to Beijing today (February 2). In the morning, Mrs Lam called on the Minister of Commerce, Mr Zhong Shan, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to meet with Mr Zhong again following their meeting last August. She thanked the Ministry of Commerce for its continued support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, including the participation of the Vice Minister of Commerce, Ms Gao Yan in the Belt and Road Summit held in Hong Kong last September, and the seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's Advantages, Meeting the Country's Needs (the Belt and Road Seminar) to be held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing tomorrow. She also expressed her gratitude for the Ministry's support on Hong Kong's signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Noting that Hong Kong will continue to promote regional economic co-operation, she said Hong Kong will enter into more FTAs and actively arrange for various parties to participate in the first China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November, and hoped that the Ministry would continue its support for Hong Kong. Mrs Lam, together with Mr Lau, Mr Nip and Mr Chan, then visited the headquarters of China Central Television (CCTV) and was briefed by the Vice President of CCTV, Mr Wei Dichun, on CCTV's development strategies and production flow. Noting that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Mainland's reform and opening-up, Mrs Lam said she hopes to co-operate with CCTV to promote the nation's achievements as well as Hong Kong's past and future contributions, to which Mr Wei responded positively. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam had a working meeting with the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming, at which she summed up the results of her visits to various central ministries during this trip. She also thanked the HKMAO for its support and assistance to the HKSAR Government in organising the Belt and Road Seminar to be held tomorrow. In the evening, Mrs Lam met with relevant personnel to prepare for the Belt and Road Seminar tomorrow. Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce, the Seminar aims to promote Hong Kong's competitive edges to the relevant Mainland ministries and state-owned enterprises with a view to jointly pursuing the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. Ends/Friday, February 2, 2018 Issued at HKT 21:51 NNNN

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CE starts her visit to Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/01/P2018020101086.htm

1.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, started her visit programme in Beijing today (February 1). Accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Mrs Lam met with the Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Minister of Science and Technology of the Central People's Government, Professor Wan Gang in the morning. She said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to the development of innovation and technology (I&T) and a lot of work has been done since her meeting with Professor Wan in September last year, including the promotion of I&T in eight major areas covering funding, talent, infrastructure and government actions as announced in her Policy Address delivered in October last year. In particular, the Government is pressing ahead with the development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop for which the statutory planning procedure has been completed lately and the infrastructural work will start immediately once funding has been approved. Expressing her gratitude to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for its staunch support and encouragement to the HKSAR Government on the work in I&T, Mrs Lam said she hopes the HKSAR Government and the MOST, which have been collaborating closely, will continue to maintain close ties to further enhance the cooperation in science and technology with a view to advancing the development of I&T in both places. Mrs Lam and other officials met with the Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, Mr Xiao Yaqing in the afternoon. She thanked the Commission for its strong support for the seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's Advantages, Meeting the Country's Needs to be held by the HKSAR Government in conjunction with the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce at the Great Hall of the People this Saturday. She said that the seminar will serve as a platform for the HKSAR Government to introduce to the participating state-owned enterprises and central enterprises the unique advantages of the HKSAR in respect of professional services, encouraging them to explore with Hong Kong business opportunities along the Belt and Road. Noting that there are abundant investment opportunities arising from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area in which Hong Kong is participating actively, she welcomed the state-owned enterprises and central enterprises to identify suitable investment projects to expand their businesses. In the evening, Mrs Lam and other officials met with the Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Mr Cai Qi, and attended a dinner hosted by him. Noting at the meeting that Hong Kong is an international financial, trading and shipping hub whereas Beijing is the centre for politics, culture, international exchanges and technological innovation, she said she believes that the two cities can strengthen co-operation to complement each other. In particular, she said Beijing and Hong Kong can enhance exchanges in such areas as culture and art, youth development and education, and city management, which include increasing reciprocal visits by arts bodies in the two places, expediting the establishment of the Beijing-Hong Kong University Alliance and arranging exchange visits of relevant personnel to the railroad and aviation academies in Hong Kong. Looking forward to the conduct of the 4th Hong Kong/Beijing Co-operation Conference in Beijing in the 4th quarter this year to discuss plans for the enhancement of collaboration, she said she also welcomes the participation by people from the Beijing Municipal Government in the annual international conferences in Hong Kong which include the Asia Financial Forum and the Belt and Road Summit. Mrs Lam will continue her visit tomorrow (February 2). Ends/Thursday, February 1, 2018 Issued at HKT 23:59 NNNN

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Speech by Acting CE at Education Colloquium: Vision 2047

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/26/P2018012600322.htm

26.1.2018

Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at Education Colloquium: Vision 2047 organised by the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools today (January 26): Suet-ying (Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools, Ms Lee Suet-ying), Purvee (Programme Manager of the Nalanda Project, Ms Purvee Chauhan), Stephen (Founding Director of the Sydney Centre for Innovation in Learning, Mr Stephen Harris), Anthony (CEO of the Centre for Strategic Education, Melbourne, Mr Anthony Mackay), Anna (Chairperson of the Competition Commission, Ms Anna Wu), Jasper (former President of the Legislative Council Mr Jasper Tsang), Edward (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Edward Chen), Kevin (Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. I am honoured to join you all here at the Education Colloquium organised by the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools. The theme of the Colloquium is "Vision 2047". According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 65 per cent of children today will, in the future, be doing jobs that have not even been invented now. Indeed, many jobs that exist today were never heard of 30 years ago. One good example is the rapidly developing and proliferating social media that is giving rise to new professions such as YouTubers, bloggers and e-sports players so vastly attractive to the youth. What will the world be like for our future generations who will be going to school or joining the workforce in 30 years' time? How should we prepare them for the fast and disruptive changes in the new era? Talent is the most important ingredient in Hong Kong's continued development, and education is the key to nurturing talent. Every dollar spent on education is therefore an investment for our future. Education has long been the lion's share of government spending, accounting for 21.5 per cent of public recurrent expenditure. Through learning, young people can explore their potential, cultivate their interests and enhance their strengths so that they are well equipped for the future and able to contribute to the community. As stated in the Chief Executive's inaugural Policy Address, our education policy aims to nurture the future generations into quality citizens who are socially responsible and equipped with a sense of national identity, an affection for Hong Kong and an international outlook. To this end, we need to create a stable, caring, inspiring and satisfying teaching and learning environment for our students, teachers, parents and school heads. Commitment to Quality Education As soon as the current-term Government took office in July last year, we immediately increased the annual recurrent provision to education by $3.6 billion with effect from the 2017/18 school year to roll out a package of priority measures covering the whole spectrum of the education system from kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, integrated education and special education to post-secondary education. For kindergartens, we have implemented the Free Quality Kindergarten Education Policy from the same school year to provide good quality and highly affordable kindergarten education and enhance the accessibility of students to different modes of services that suit their specific needs. As for primary and secondary education, the teacher-to-class ratio in public sector primary and secondary schools has also been raised by 0.1 across the board from the current school year, providing over 2 000 additional regular teaching posts. Besides, an extra recurrent cash grant of $25,000 per month will be allocated to all these schools, including special schools, to strengthen the IT staffing support for e-learning and other IT-related education initiatives. Each school will also have an extra teaching post to take up the role of Special Educational Needs Coordinator. To support secondary school teachers' continuing professional development, we are rolling out a pilot scheme for them to take paid leave for non-local study programmes of about one to three months. The first three programmes, to be held in Finland, Australia and the UK, have recently been introduced in 2017/18 school year. Our higher education institutions carry the mission of grooming high-calibre talent for Hong Kong. We therefore consider it necessary to provide further support to students to invest in our future. Hence, the current-term Government has introduced a non-means-tested annual subsidy of $30,000 for eligible students pursuing self-financing undergraduate programmes offered by relevant institutions in Hong Kong. We also provide a non-means-tested annual subsidy of $5,000 for eligible students pursuing eligible undergraduate programmes on the Mainland. To help us groom a top cadre of talent with global vision, an international network and world-class education to spearhead our city's long-term economic and social progress, we will regularise the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme from the 2019/20 academic year to support outstanding local students to pursue studies in world-renowned universities outside Hong Kong. In a bid to promote multi-faceted excellence, we have injected $200 million into the Multi-faceted Excellence Scholarship to support local students who excel in areas other than academic performance such as sports, art or community services to pursue undergraduate studies. We will also regularise the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors from the 2018/19 academic year onwards and increase the number of subsidised places to about 3 000 per cohort to provide a wider pool of talent with diverse skills. It is expected that about 13 000 students will benefit from the scheme each year, involving an expenditure of about $850 million per year. Promotion of Lifelong learning In view of the dynamic development of the world, we must respond swiftly to the needs of the changing environment. It is imperative for us to enable our people to do so in career as well as personal development through lifelong learning. The Government will inject an additional $1.5 billion into the Continuing Education Fund and improve its operation by expanding the range of the courses covered, stepping up quality assurance for the registered courses and enhancing protection for applicants. We estimate that an additional 150 000 or more citizens will be able to receive the subsidy and the Fund's operation will be extended to 2024. We will also inject $1.2 billion into the Qualifications Framework Fund to bolster its functions so as to enhance recognition of qualifications for different industries and provide youngsters with quality-assured pathways for continuous studies and further career development. To sustain our education quality in the long-run, we will carry out in-depth reviews on eight key areas of education, including professional development of teachers, curriculum arrangement, assessment system, vocational and professional education and training, self-financing post-secondary education, school-based management, parent education, the policy and funding on research and student hostels. Broadening Horizons I believe that most of you have heard about the Belt and Road Initiative pioneered by our motherland as the next growth engine to the global economy. Covering 4.4 billion people of over 60 countries and accounting for over 30 per cent of global economic value, this national development strategy will certainly create enormous opportunities for Hong Kong in the next few decades. At the same time, brilliant prospects are also presented by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development. It is a mega regional co-operation plan among the 11 cities of 66 million population in south China with a combined gross domestic product of over $10 trillion (about the size of Australia or Korea), and with Hong Kong as one of the key players. To prepare our students for these geo-economic ventures of a mammoth scale in the years ahead, we will include relevant knowledge into the school curriculum. For example, in Liberal Studies, Geography, Economics and Life and Society, we may introduce the vision and action plans of the Belt and Road Initiative, its importance to the future development of Hong Kong, the opportunities created, current international political structure and financial and economic development. In the subjects of Chinese History, History, Arts and Religious Studies, we may bring in the history, religion and culture of countries along the Belt and Road. Students are also encouraged to strengthen their language skills to facilitate their people-to-people link, such as learning languages of other Euro-Asian countries in addition to Chinese and English. We will continue to allocate more resources to help our young people understand the work culture and career prospects in different places, allow them to establish interpersonal networks, broaden their horizons and assist their future career planning. In particular, more internship opportunities on the Mainland including the Bay Area, as well as in Belt and Road countries and other parts of the world, will be provided for our young people. Take the Mainland exchange programmes as an example. In the 2016/17 school year, about 60 000 students joined and benefitted from the exchange. We have increased the quota to over 100 000 places this year to ensure that every primary and secondary student can join at least one such programme to the Mainland. We have also allocated an additional $100 million in 2017-18 to expand the International Youth Exchange Programme to encourage young people to increase their global exposure. To provide more opportunities for our young people to appreciate different cultures and the development of other countries, we will proactively sign more Working Holiday Scheme agreements with suitable partners, including countries along the Belt and Road. This would enable Hong Kong young people to learn more about the indigenous customs and culture as well as the social development of these places through an extended stay in the host economy. Nurturing Innovation Breakthroughs in innovation and technology have brought about paradigm shifts in different economic and social spheres, changing our daily lives and business modalities. We need to have a pool of innovative and IT-savvy talent to open up new markets and seize new opportunities to sustain the competitiveness of Hong Kong in the long term. That is why we have set for our education policy the objective of promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in schools. We have updated the curricula of the STEM Education Key Learning Area. Apart from cultivating students' interest in the relevant subjects and developing among them a solid knowledge base, we aim to strengthen their ability to integrate and apply knowledge and skills across different STEM disciplines, to nurture their creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills, as well as to foster their innovation and entrepreneurial spirit as a prerequisite for success in the 21st century. Intensive training programmes for heads and middle managers of all public sector primary and secondary schools have also been launched since this school year to strengthen their capacity in planning and implementing school-based STEM-related activities. Other training and teaching support for teachers are also available from the STEM Education Centre, which has been in operation under the Arts and Technology Education Centre in Lok Fu since last October. As students will also want more opportunities to apply and share what they have learnt, we will collaborate with tertiary institutions and other relevant organisations to arrange more large-scale quality activities for students, such as education fairs related to science and technology. To train and gather more technology talent and to encourage them to pursue a career in innovation and scientific research, we are going to launch a $500 million Technology Talent Scheme in the current year. One of the initiatives is to establish a Postdoctoral Hub to provide funding support for enterprises to recruit postdoctoral talent for scientific research and product development. Besides, to incentivise more research work by local students, we have injected $3 billion into the Research Endowment Fund to provide studentships for local students enrolled in research postgraduate programmes funded by the University Grants Committee. We have also set aside no less than $10 billion as funding for university research, which will be disbursed upon the completion of the review on research funding by a task force led by Professor Tsui Lap-chee. To create a pool of top talent from around the world in Hong Kong and raise the standard of our technology talent, the Government strives to attract top overseas scientific research institutions to Hong Kong. Some successful cases include the innovation node set up in Hong Kong by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the local research centre set up by the Karolinska Institutet from Sweden. These illustrious institutions have all shown their confidence in Hong Kong as a fertile ground for innovation and technology. At the policymaking level, it is important to chart a holistic plan for nurturing talent in Hong Kong in a sustainable manner. In this connection, I will chair the children commission, the Youth Development Commission and the Commission for the Planning of Human Resources to be established within this year. These high-level committees will co-ordinate resources and efforts of the Government and relevant sectors to ensure that people of different age groups are prepared to meet the short-, medium- and long-term development needs of Hong Kong and keep up with our country's latest developments as well as the evolving trends in the global market. On this forward-looking note, I would like to express again my heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools for organising this Colloquium. It offers a valuable platform for the education sector to exchange views on the vision of better education to propel our next generations forward all the way through 2047. I wish all participants a fruitful experience, our overseas guests a very enjoyable stay in Hong Kong, and everyone a healthy and prosperous new year. Thank you. Ends/Friday, January 26, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:19 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Lingnan University's 50th Anniversary in Hong Kong Celebration Banquet

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/20/P2018012000871.htm

20.1.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at Lingnan University’s 50th Anniversary in Hong Kong Celebration Banquet this evening (January 20): Rex (Council Chairman of Lingnan University, Mr Rex Auyeung), C Y (former Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung), Carlson (Chairman of the University Grants Committee, Mr Carlson Tong), Leonard (President of Lingnan University, Professor Leonard Cheng), ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. It is a great pleasure to be here with you to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lingnan University’s re-establishment in Hong Kong. The story of Lingnan University is distinctively associated with the special relationship between Hong Kong and our motherland. Founded in March 1888 as Christian College in Guangzhou, it moved on numerous occasions within Guangdong. It moved to Hong Kong in 1938 and spent a few years here, before moving back to Guangdong. In 1967, the institution was re-established in Hong Kong as Lingnan College (嶺南書院), aiming to provide quality education to the public when tertiary education and university places were scarce at the time. Attended by only 100 students at the beginning, it has thrived over the years. In 1999, the institution was awarded the university title and renamed as Lingnan University. Since then, it has taken its place as a leading Asian liberal arts university, combining the best of Chinese and Western traditions and 21st century drive and innovation. Indeed, as Rex has just mentioned, Forbes in 2015 recognised Lingnan University as one of the continent’s top 10 liberal arts colleges. In 2016, the university was commended by the audit report of the Quality Assurance Council under the University Grants Committee, citing its excellence in liberal arts education and quality whole-person development for students. And, in its 2018 Asia University Rankings, QS named Lingnan University among the top 100 Asian universities. With its foundation of a very close teacher-student relationships, Lingnan strives for excellent teaching and student development by its student-oriented faculty and small class teaching. It is the first local university to achieve full, four-year residency for all undergraduates. All-embracing residential life ensures that Lingnan students are as blessed in social and ethical education as they are in intellectual edification. Connecting with young people occupies a very important place in my Election Manifesto and maiden Policy Address delivered last October. My belief is to nurture the younger generation and develop in them a positive outlook on life, a passion to serve the community, a commitment to society, a sense of national identity, a love for Hong Kong and an international perspective. I am therefore enthusiastic and thankful about Lingnan’s global outreach work. In building connections with international and Mainland universities, broadening its network of student and faculty exchanges, Lingnan expands the horizons and opportunities of its students, nurturing confident, independent young adults for Hong Kong and for the world. To date, the university has more than 190 exchange partners in about 40 countries. A remarkable 90 per cent of the university’s undergraduates participated in exchange programmes over the past academic year. The university’s strategic collaborations are no less impressive. It was Lingnan University that took the lead in establishing the Alliance of Asian Liberal Arts Universities to boost the development of liberal arts education throughout the region. My congratulations for the very successful Launch Conference held by the Alliance in November last year, which brought together universities and scholars with rich experience and expertise in liberal arts education from all over the world, especially Asia, to share insights and experiences and explore collaboration opportunities. I am heartened as well by Lingnan’s “Education for Service” motto and the contributions that have long been made by its students, both through research and in community service. Such efforts have increased significantly in recent years and would help lay the solid foundation for a better Hong Kong. Ladies and gentlemen, history has endowed Lingnan with a singularly indomitable spirit and a clear and compelling passion for education. For the past 50 years, Hong Kong has been its welcome beneficiary. For that, I am grateful to the university, its leadership and faculty, its students and alumni. Let me say as well that I am counting on Lingnan’s inspiring spirit to shine its light on Hong Kong over the next 50 years. I know you will enjoy tonight’s banquet and all that follows in the coming months in the continuing anniversary celebration of Lingnan University. Thank you. Ends/Saturday, January 20, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:15 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Asian Financial Forum

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/15/P2018011500317.htm

15.1.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening ceremony of the Asian Financial Forum today (January 15). Vincent (Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Vincent Lo), distinguished guests, government colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all, to this year's Asian Financial Forum, for the first time in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region. I would like to first express my heartfelt gratitude to our distinguished speakers, in particular ministers, heads of regulators as well as leaders of multilateral organisations, for gracing this event with their presence. Eleven years ago, when the Asian Financial Forum was first conceived and put into action, we were driven by the vision to leverage on Hong Kong's unique position and advantages to build a lasting platform where policymakers, leaders, investors, regulators and entrepreneurs could share ideas, articulate visions, and focus attention on areas of priority in the world of finance. We have remained true to this vision since then. The Asian Financial Forum is now widely acclaimed as one of the most popular and important international financial forums. I am proud of our achievement, thanks to the joint efforts of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and my finance colleagues, and I also would like to thank you all for your support and participation. "Growth" and "innovation" are the two key words underlying the theme of this year's Forum. It is opportune that growth is finally taking a firmer foothold on a global basis, in particular in this region of the world. Global economic growth picked up visibly in 2017, with improvement in most major economies. Amid the improving global economic environment, Asia is taking centre stage in terms of growth and potential. Asian economic growth has persistently outpaced other regions over the past two decades, signifying sound fundamentals and promising growth potential. Asia's mammoth population, reaching four and a half billion by now, coupled with an expanding middle-class marked by rapidly rising purchasing power, is driving the world forward, with huge economic potential to be tapped. Building on economic success, Asia's businesses have also been thriving. Of the top 500 global companies ranked by Fortune in 2017, 194 were based in Asia, up around 56 per cent from a decade ago. Zooming in further within Asia, the impact, scale and importance of China for the continent and the whole world speaks for itself. The rapid development of the Mainland economy is instrumental in steering global economic growth. Since the reform and opening-up in 1978, the Mainland economy has seen an impressive pace of growth, averaging 9.6 per cent per annum. Hong Kong is both a contributor and beneficiary of the Mainland's reform and opening-up. As this year is the 40th anniversary of this national strategy, my Government is planning a series of activities to reflect on our past successes and to look forward to the future. As a US$12 trillion economy, the second largest in the world, the Mainland is still growing at a pace significantly higher than most major economies, achieving a remarkable growth at 6.9 per cent in the first three quarters of 2017. In addition, in his report to the 19th Party Congress, Secretary General Xi Jinping has laid out a clear vision for future economic growth, with emphasis on quality, inclusiveness and shared benefits. As China has embedded and integrated itself into the world economy, creating a symbiotic relationship of a scale and complexity unseen in history, the roles of Hong Kong and the functions we could uniquely offer as an international financial centre, underpinned by "One Country, Two Systems", have taken on increased relevance and importance as never before. Let me just highlight it with a few key facts and figures: ​First, Hong Kong is the world's largest offshore RMB (Renminbi) business hub, with a leading position in RMB settlement, financing and asset management. Around 70 per cent of the world's offshore RMB payment transactions are processed via Hong Kong. We are best positioned and have a full suite of tools and talents in meeting the increasing demands for offshore Renminbi settlement, financing, capital management and risk management. Following the issuance of the first offshore RMB bond in 2007, the RMB bond market of Hong Kong has developed steadily with significant growth in size. The outstanding bonds amounted to RMB209 billion at end-November last year; Secondly, Hong Kong is also a preferred listing platform for initial public offerings (IPOs). The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong has been among the top five global IPO listing markets for the past decade. The market capitalisation of Hong Kong's stock market has nearly doubled over the same period, thanks to our attractiveness as a premier listing destination for Mainland companies. Half of our listed companies, and more than 60 per cent in terms of market capitalisation, are from the Mainland. The market capitalisation of our stock market is about 10 times our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a testimony to the depth and scale of our financial market; and Thirdly, Hong Kong is a premier centre for asset management and risk management. The combined fund management business of Hong Kong has tripled over the past decade. Funds sourced from overseas investors accounted for 66 per cent of the total in 2016, signifying our attractiveness as an international asset management centre. Ladies and gentlemen, in an era of growth, a rising tide lifts all boats, but we cannot afford to be complacent. We must set our vision far and wide, guided by strong leadership and a coherent strategy for consolidating our strengths and opening up new horizons. It is for this reason that I decided to set up a Financial Leaders Forum in Hong Kong at the beginning of my term. Chaired by the Financial Secretary, the forum comprises the most senior and important leaders in the realm of financial services in town. Since its inception in August last year, it has provided strategic guidance over a number of issues, including key changes to make Hong Kong the preferred listing platform for new economy enterprises. In addition to the Financial Leaders Forum, we have also benefited from the advice of the Financial Services Development Council. Since its establishment five years ago, it has served us well with commendable efforts in rallying the industry and producing high-quality reports, pointing out areas for improvement and feasible options for making us better and stronger. In pursuing growth, we will never lose sight of the need for robust and transparent regulation that is of the right touch and in alignment with international best practices. Sustainable development must be underpinned by regulatory oversight to ensure market order and, where necessary, clamp down on illegal activities. Our key regulators – the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Insurance Authority (IA) – will remain vigilant while facilitating growth and development. There is a delicate balance to be struck between development and regulation, and I believe our regulators have charted forward along the right direction. As a city with no natural resources, innovation is deeply ingrained in the DNA of Hong Kong. We have a cherished tradition of innovating into prosperity out of physical constraints by taking full advantage of circumstances - ever-changing as they may be - favourable to our economic development. "Innovation", the second key word of this year's theme, must be seized upon to unlock the full potential of the gains from growth and ensure that Hong Kong stays ahead and remains competitive in the wealth creation process of China's growth. Knowing that connectivity with the Mainland capital markets is crucial to the further development of Hong Kong as an international financial centre, we, with the support of the Central People's Government, have built up mechanisms one after another for deepening connectivity. Starting from the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect in 2014, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Connect in 2016 to the Bond Connect in 2017, coupled with mutual recognition of funds, Hong Kong has showcased our unique role under "One Country, Two Systems". Since their inceptions, the cumulative transactions through the Stock Connect conduits in the Mainland totalled more than RMB4.6 trillion, while those in Hong Kong amounted to HK$3.9 trillion. In this process of wealth creation, Hong Kong not only strengthens our status as the prime gateway for overseas investors to enter the Mainland financial markets, but also brings forth immense mutual benefits for both the Mainland and the rest of the world. What's more exciting and of a grander scale is the concept of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, covering Hong Kong, Macao and nine of the fastest growing cities of Guangdong Province including Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai. With a population of 66 million, roughly the size of the United Kingdom, and collective GDP at US$1.36 trillion, akin to that of South Korea, the economic potential that could be unleashed from increased connectivity and integration within this region is beyond imagination. Hong Kong has the expertise and experience in financial, professional and business services to assist Bay Area companies in their pursuit of international expansion. At the same time, our unparalleled knowledge of the Chinese market, and our deep economic connections with both the Mainland and the rest of the world, best equip us to work with our partners to tap the opportunities in the Mainland's vast market and in particular the Bay Area. Added to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area are the opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative will provide a new window of opportunities for us to further deepen our role in connecting the Mainland with other economies along the way. As Asia's international financial centre, Hong Kong has the experience, expertise, international connections and deep liquidity to serve as the fundraising and financial management hub for different kinds of mega projects. Hong Kong offers a great variety of financing avenues, from IPOs and loan syndication to bond issuance. No discussion of innovation would be complete without touching on technology. Indeed, innovation and technologies applied in the financial sector are particularly exciting and powerful, raising operational efficiency, generating new business opportunities and enhancing consumer experience. In Hong Kong, we encourage financial institutions to innovate and apply technology to enhance their operation and offer novel products and services to enhance customer experience. To expedite the process, our regulators, the HKMA, SFC and IA have all launched their regulatory sandboxes to enable pilot trials of financial innovation to be conducted under a confined regulatory environment. This facilitates financial institutions to roll out Fintech initiatives earlier and at a lower cost upon full product launch. This is also an example of how we strike a balance between meeting market demands for innovative financial products and services and ensuring adequate consumer protection. One important aspect of Fintech is that it lowers physical barriers and limitations for serving clients beyond borders. For instance, cross-border payment and money transfer using Fintech could ensure speedy and secured transactions. Some stored value facility operators in Hong Kong are already offering instant global money transfer services, allowing clients to send money to a number of countries, including some along the Belt and Road, with a few taps and swipes on a smartphone. Apart from cross border payment and money transfer, blockchain technology could also potentially come into play in the Belt and Road Initiative. We are working on it and making good progress. Seven banks in Hong Kong have decided to develop a trade finance system named the Hong Kong Trade Finance Platform (HKTFP) to digitise and share trade documents and automate processes. Simply put, it means faster and more efficient processes with lower cost, as well as reduced risks and frauds. The HKMA is already in discussion with the Monetary Authority of Singapore on building a cross-border infrastructure to connect HKTFP with a similar trade platform in Singapore. On the front of supporting start-ups, Hong Kong Cyberport has launched a dedicated Fintech co-working space, Smart-Space FinTech. Cyberport's incubation programme also provides designated support for 150 Fintech start-ups by year 2020. In addition, we have launched the HK$2 billion Innovation and Technology Venture Fund and are inviting private venture capital companies to join hands with the Government to invest in technology start-ups. Ladies and gentlemen, in the face of accelerating and revolutionary technological changes, it becomes all the more important for stimulating and thought-provoking discourse through a platform such as the Asian Financial Forum. This Forum will give you a full plate of ideas to chew over. But, to me, the fact that we would be challenged to re-think the unthinkable and reflect on our accepted ways of thinking is equally important. As the great economist John Maynard Keynes so aptly said, "The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones." With these remarks, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to you all again, and wish the Forum a resounding success. To our guests from overseas, I also wish you a most enjoyable stay in Hong Kong. Thank you. Ends/Monday, January 15, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:20 NNNN

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Speech by CE at ICE Bicentenary Hong Kong Innovation Summit

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/12/P2018011200364.htm

12.1.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Bicentenary Hong Kong Innovation Summit today (January 12): Lord Mair (President of the ICE, Professor Lord Robert Mair), C K (Vice President of the ICE Professor Mak Chai-kwong), Professor Ho (Chairman of the ICE Hong Kong Association, Professor Ken Ho), colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. I am very pleased to be here today, in my capacity as both Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Honorary Fellow of ICE, at the ICE Bicentenary Hong Kong Innovation Summit, to congratulate the ICE on its 200th anniversary. Founded by three young engineers in a London coffee shop, ICE has evolved into a global organisation and today it counts some 91 000 members in more than 150 countries. It is indeed a remarkable achievement. A measure of the importance of ICE, and the civil engineers who make it shine, can be found at a glance of your Summit programme brochure. It offers a profusion of welcome messages coming from the extraordinary range of industry interests that depend on the support of civil engineers. The brochure features laudatory messages from a wide range of government bureaux and departments, as well as the Construction Industry Council, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, the Mass Transit Railway, Occupational Safety and Health Council, the Productivity Council, the Urban Renewal Authority and more. These, and so many other players, count on you, civil engineers, to help shape our economy, our society and the prosperity we are all working for. I am not an engineer by training or profession, but I have had ample opportunity to work closely with many civil engineers in my previous capacity as Secretary for Development. And I am grateful to them for their knowledge, skills and experience, which continue to "transform and protect lives", as today's summit theme so aptly highlights. In Hong Kong, civil engineers have been instrumental in building our renowned infrastructure, in providing solutions to many of our social challenges despite the numerous natural constraints they must work with, and in keeping our city safe. The primary challenge is a shortage of developable land. Topographically, Hong Kong is mountainous with scanty flat land. Reclamation has long been one means of increasing land supply for community and economic development, with the earliest reclamation projects going back to the early 1850s, forming the land that became the Queen's Road Central and the Bonham Strand today. While these engineering challenges still remain, today's engineers have to be equipped with the skills and temperament in conducting public engagement to secure community support for some of the land supply solutions. Providing public utilities is another challenge. In the past, the people of Hong Kong got their water from wells and streams. Our first reservoir, in Pok Fu Lam, on Hong Kong Island, was built in 1863, to meet the surging demand for potable water. While a stable supply of water is secured through purchasing water from Guangdong, engineers now are preoccupied with stepping up leakage control, promoting the use of reclaimed water and venturing in seawater desalination. Transportation was a challenge from the very beginning, given the rugged uplands and steep slopes that characterise so much of Hong Kong. The construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway in 1910 was one of Hong Kong's earliest large-scale transport successes. Our Mass Transit Railway system now reaches into all of Hong Kong's 18 districts, and forms the backbone of a comprehensive and efficient public transportation network. Connecting regionally and globally was another challenge, one we met with our Airport Core Programme (ACP) in the 1990s, and some of the distinguished engineers associated with ACP, like James Blake and Douglas Oakervee, are with us today. It covered the construction of a new airport, as well as the road and rail links to the airport. Today, the Hong Kong International Airport is the world's busiest cargo gateway and among the world's busiest passenger airports. It has helped secure Hong Kong's position as a regional transshipment centre, a passenger hub and a gateway to Mainland China and the rest of Asia. And we are working to maintain our regional and global competitiveness by building a three-runway system, involving the reclamation of some 650 hectares of land. Speaking on connectivity, you would no doubt be aware that the 26-kilometre Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, due to open in the third quarter this year, will take passengers from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, non-stop, in 48 minutes. The massive 41.6-kilometre Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which is reaching readiness for commissioning, will shorten travelling time between the Airport and Zhuhai from four hours to 45 minutes. To provide more convenience to the hundreds of thousands of daily commuters between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, a new control point, the seventh land crossing, will also be completed this year. These major cross-boundary infrastructure projects will enhance Hong Kong's connectivity with Mainland China, providing us with access to the latter's people, capital, land, market and other opportunities. A tribute to civil engineers in Hong Kong will not be complete without highlighting the silent heroes in doing projects which are less eye-catching. By this, I am referring to my many engineering colleagues working on drainage and sewerage projects, reducing significantly the number of flood-prone spots in Hong Kong, and protecting our environment. Likewise, our geotechnical engineers, committed to extensive slope safety works over several decades, are heroes of our city. The above-mentioned projects were or will be completed by numerous engineers over the span of our development history. Diversified they may seem, they all serve the same purpose of protecting and transforming lives. Our civil engineers' contribution to making Hong Kong a global city as it is today is out there for all to see. My Government is committed to ensuring that Hong Kong will continue to be a thriving, sustainable and liveable global city. To achieve that in the era of innovation and technology (I&T), we have to build Hong Kong into a world-class smart city. In this regard, we published the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong in December last year. The Blueprint maps out development plans in the next five years, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of city management and improve people's quality of living as well as Hong Kong's attractiveness and sustainability by making use of innovation and technology. It lists out various strategies and initiatives in six major areas, namely "Smart Mobility", "Smart Living", "Smart Environment", "Smart People", "Smart Government" and "Smart Economy". Some of the initiatives will help address the social challenges that I mentioned just now. Take transportation as an example. Given our development density, there is little scope for us to widen our existing roads or build new roads. Instead, we will work towards an intelligent transport and traffic management system. We plan to complete the installation of about 1 200 traffic detectors in all strategic roads to provide real-time traffic information, and develop the installation of "in-vehicle units" for allowing motorists to receive such information. We will install new on-street parking meters with provision of parking vacancy information, and examine practicable measures to enable public car parks to also provide such information so as to facilitate drivers to find parking space without unnecessarily circulating on roads. We are going to engage the public to develop a detailed Electronic Road Pricing Pilot Scheme in Central and its adjacent areas. We will introduce pilot intelligent traffic signal systems at road junctions. We will also adopt an automatic tolling system for the new Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel. All these will help people plan their journeys and move around more efficiently, thereby increasing the capacity of our road network and alleviating traffic congestion. To support smart city development, we will invest heavily in digital infrastructure. We will push ahead with the eID initiative, allowing everyone to use a single digital identity and authentication to conduct government and commercial transactions online. We will implement the multi-functional smart lampposts pilot scheme starting from 2019 to facilitate collection of real-time city data to enhance city management and other public services, as well as complement the future infrastructure development for 5G mobile communications services in Hong Kong. We will also encourage open data in public and private sectors. Among others, we will build a new big data analytics platform by 2020 which will enable real-time data transmission and sharing among government departments. I am personally chairing a high-level, inter-departmental Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology to steer development of I&T and smart city projects, ensuring that they will be taken forward in an expeditious and efficient manner. However, government efforts alone would not be sufficient. Smart city calls for close collaboration among the Government, industry, academia and citizens over the whole cycle of implementation: from identification of city challenges, formulation of policy and strategy, research and development, conceptualisation of potential projects, feasibility assessment and proof of concept through pilot projects to city-wide implementation. Taking into account the experience in other jurisdictions, we will consider appropriate implementation models, including public-private partnership, for smart city projects. A dedicated Smart City Office will be set up in the Innovation and Technology Bureau to co-ordinate smart city projects across different government departments and agencies in the public and private sectors and monitor project progress and effectiveness. I know that smart city as well as innovation and intelligent infrastructure will be among the topics to be covered in today's Summit. I am sure that you will all benefit from the insight of the distinguished speakers. Such knowledge and experience sharing will no doubt help engineers continue their meaningful work to transform and protect lives. On that note, I congratulate ICE once again on its 200th anniversary. I wish you all a very rewarding Summit and the best of business in this brand-new year. Thank you very much. Ends/Friday, January 12, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:39 NNNN

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Speech by CE at SCMP China Conference

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/11/P2018011100347.htm

11.1.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the South China Morning Post (SCMP) China Conference today (January 11): Joe (Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba Group, Mr Joe Tsai), Gary (Chief Executive Officer of SCMP, Mr Gary Liu), Tammy (Editor-in-Chief of SCMP, Ms Tammy Tam), ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you at today's China Conference organised by the South China Morning Post, the third edition of what has become a welcome annual thought leadership forum. Let me first take this opportunity to wish you all good health and happiness in the new year and hope that the world in 2018 will be a peaceful and fulfilling one. This year's conference theme - "Globalisation: the China Perspective and the US Factor" - underscores the eventful year we experienced in 2017. It articulates as well this year's - and, quite likely, this century's - two main protagonists in the global economic theatre. I must congratulate the SCMP for bringing together a list of distinguished speakers and panellists to share their insights including, in particular, Mr Daniel Russel, the former US Government Assistant Secretary of State in charge of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, whom I met when he was in office, and to have invited the Honourable C H Tung, who is the most highly regarded leader in town to talk about Sino-US relationship, to deliver closing remarks later today. It is hardly a secret that one of the two great economic powers has been dismissive of globalisation lately. Instead, under the flag of localisation, it has been aggressively promoting the politics of protectionism. Such an approach would undermine global efforts in promoting free trade, something which has served the world economy so well in the past decades. Thankfully, the majority of the world's economies continue to champion multilateral co-operation in trade. And Hong Kong, ranked as the world's freest economy, is clearly among them. Just two months ago, we signed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, together with an associated Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, with the 10 member states of ASEAN. That is a clear and compelling vote of confidence in the power of free and open trade. We may also count Mainland China among the globalists as well. As General Secretary Xi Jinping said in his report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October last year, and I quote, "We should ... promote trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, and make economic globalisation more open, inclusive and balanced, so that its benefits are shared by all." In a speech entitled "Seizing the Opportunities of a Global Economy in Transition and Accelerating Development of the Asia Pacific" delivered at last November's APEC CEO Summit held in Da Nang, Vietnam, which I attended for the first time as Chief Executive, President Xi said, and I quote, "The evolving global economic environment demands more from the system of global economic governance. We should uphold multilateralism, pursue shared growth through consultation and collaboration, forge closer partnerships, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. This, I believe, is what we should do in conducting global economic governance in a new era." More than mere words on paper, President Xi's embrace of economic globalisation, of connectivity and inclusivity, lies at the fast-beating heart of his visionary Belt and Road Initiative. Indeed, the Belt and Road is now supported by more than 100 economies and international organisations. Since its inception over four years ago, we know very well by now that the Belt and Road Initiative responds to the Silk Road spirit of "peace and co-operation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win results". That vision offers a much needed response to the woes of today's international system. It believes that global prosperity lies in sharing growth and benefits, in putting the interests and the well-being of people at the heart of economic policies and plans. The Belt and Road Initiative promises improved connectivity in policies, infrastructure, finances, as well as enhanced ability to do business, to trade and to promote people-to-people exchanges. It offers expanded capital inflow and unleashed economic potential for all nations and regions along the Belt and Road. Hong Kong, traditionally an open and externally oriented economy, and enjoying unique advantages under "One country, Two systems", fits in perfectly with that vision and is well placed to contribute what we are good at to what the nation needs. The rule of law and our independent judiciary have long sustained Hong Kong's international success. Indeed, the annual survey of 2017 showed that 8 225 foreign and Mainland companies have set up offices in Hong Kong, among which 1 413 are regional headquarters and American companies account for a major part of that, representing a 2.5 per cent increase compared to the figure of 2016. That underlines our strengths as a development base, helping companies go global while attracting foreign investment. And we will serve as a professional services centre for the Belt and Road. While our financial services sector can help Belt and Road projects meet financial needs, our professionals can help carry them through. The infrastructure development being spearheaded under the Belt and Road Initiative is of historic proportion and generates demand for professional services in all sorts, bringing tremendous opportunities to financiers, bankers, lawyers, arbitrators, accountants, architects, engineers, planners, project managers, insurers, etc. In the process of "going global" under the Belt and Road Initiative, Mainland enterprises can make use of Hong Kong's one-stop and internationally recognised professional services to gear up their projects, while enjoying the high standards of our high-end professional services to reduce risks. Similarly, overseas enterprises can take advantage of Hong Kong's professional services in making investment in Hong Kong and the Mainland. Just last month, I signed on behalf of the Hong Kong SAR Government an Arrangement with the National Development and Reform Commission on Hong Kong's participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative. The Arrangement puts forward specific measures focusing on six key areas, namely finance and investment; infrastructure and maritime services; economic and trade facilitation; people-to-people bonds; taking forward the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development; and enhancing collaboration in project interfacing and dispute resolution services. Implementation of this Arrangement will allow Hong Kong to give full play to its unique advantages under "One country, Two systems" to continue contributing to the country, while at the same time seize those opportunities brought by the Initiative. As President Xi rightly pointed out, "Openness brings progress, while self-seclusion leaves one behind." I am confident that by joining hands together, the most can be achieved from the Belt and Road Initiative, and new drivers of shared economic growth will be created to counter backlash against open and free economy. On that note, I wish you all a very rewarding conference. Thank you very much. Ends/Thursday, January 11, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:37 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Launch Ceremony of Sustainable Development Solutions Network Hong Kong

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/08/P2018010800688.htm

8.1.2018

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at Launch Ceremony of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Hong Kong today (January 8): Professor Tuan (Vice-Chancellor and President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Rocky Tuan), Anthony (Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Anthony Chow), Professor Sachs (Director of the United Nation Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Professor Jeffrey Sachs), ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. I am delighted to be here today for the launch of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Hong Kong. It gives me great pleasure to witness the beginning of a vital partnership between the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, together with member institutions of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network around the world. Since this is my first CUHK function after Professor Rocky Tuan has assumed his position as the Vice-Chancellor and President of this distinguished university, may I wish him best of luck in taking the university to new heights. This partnership responds to a global initiative. The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network has been operating since 2012. It mobilises global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement. It took more than three years of intergovernmental negotiations before world leaders adopt the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and they represent a cohesive and integrated package of global aspirations the world commits to achieving by 2030. They address the most pressing global challenges of our time, calling upon collaborative partnerships across and between countries. While they cover many aspects, especially they aim to balance the three dimensions of sustainable development - economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. I want to say that my Government is fully committed to sustainable development, and striking a balance amongst the above-mentioned three dimensions has been the underlying rationale for many of my policy initiatives. It is no easy task, but thankfully in recent months our economy has been performing very well and the economic growth for 2017 as a whole is now forecast at no less than 3.7 per cent. Barring abrupt negative shocks, the economic outlook for 2018 remains positive. Coupled with our record-high fiscal reserves, and the many opportunities available to Hong Kong under the two major national initiatives, that is, the Belt and Road and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development, we have less to worry about our economy at the moment. We have now an opportunity and the necessary resources to do more in terms of promoting social inclusion and environmental protection, so as to achieve a better balance of the above-mentioned three dimensions. This is exactly what my Government will do in order to forestall rising sentiments of social discontent, widening income disparity and a growing sense of disconnect, especially between the government and the people, particularly young people. Inclusive growth is highly relevant in the age of globalisation. Economies everywhere must redouble their efforts to advance economic, financial and social inclusion, with a vision to build an inclusive, accessible, sustainable, healthy and resilient community. As a government, we must advance progress towards achieving full, productive and quality employment; and progressively achieve and sustain income growth for all members of society, especially women and youths, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, and enable them to seize global opportunities. Building an inclusive community is, and will continue to be, my Government's priority. In this respect, it is relevant to note that some 60 per cent of our recurrent budget is spent on education, social welfare and medical services. Spending on social welfare and poverty alleviation has surged by 71 per cent in the past five years, with a range of initiatives pioneered by the Commission on Poverty which I chaired in my former capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration. We will enhance the standard of living for all members of the community, so that they can feel the benefits brought by economic growth. We will continue to inject the needed resources in areas ranging from education and training to social security and medical services, and will lower the profits tax rate for small and medium enterprises. These measures will enable society to better adapt to the changing economic development. And as a responsible global citizen, Hong Kong will play its part in protecting our environment. Among the challenges we face, perhaps none is greater than climate change. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events assault us on an increasingly frequent basis. Taking place everywhere, their impacts are seemingly inescapable. That reality was brought home last summer when Hong Kong was repeatedly struck by severe tropical cyclones. The storm surge induced by Typhoon Hato injured at least 129 people, felled some 5 300 trees and caused serious tidal back-flow in some low-lying areas. And, no doubt, climate change will lead to an increasing and continuing rise in sea levels. The Paris Agreement, which came into force 13 months ago, applies to Hong Kong as well. And we have accorded top priority to meeting the commitments formalised under the Agreement. Indeed, we established a high-level Steering Committee on Climate Change in 2016. I chaired the Committee in my then capacity as Chief Secretary for Administration, and membership of the Committee comprises the secretaries of each and every one of our 13 policy and resource bureaux. That, ladies and gentlemen, testifies to the importance we accord to addressing climate change. Today, the Committee continues to co-ordinate the actions of our various bureaux and departments in combating climate change. The Committee has set an ambitious target - a 65 to 70 per cent reduction of our carbon intensity by 2030, using 2005 as the base. This is equivalent to an absolute reduction of 26 to 36 per cent of Hong Kong's carbon emissions, and will result in a per capita emission reduction from about 6 tonnes to 3.3 to 3.8 tonnes. To achieve this ambitious target, we are adopting a multi-pronged approach. We will, for example, gradually replace most of our coal-fired generation units with cleaner energy sources. We will also encourage the development of renewable energy and implement an energy-saving plan to promote energy efficiency and green building advances throughout Hong Kong. Furthermore, we will improve public transport and promote walking. We will strengthen the climate readiness of the city as a whole. That includes cooling the city through such measures as landscaping and wind-environment design. The promotion of a "use less, waste less" culture is also crucial to achieving low-carbon living. To that end, we will enhance public education on sustainable consumption and waste reduction, implementing a municipal solid-waste charging scheme to encourage behavioural changes. All this, and much more, are set out in the "Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+" published last year. I am proud of the actions Hong Kong has taken, the plans in place, but clearly we cannot do it alone. We live today in a global village, inter-connected in trade transactions, financial services and, of course, the Internet; inextricably linked, as well, by threats from climate change, dwindling resources, environmental degradation and much more. These growing concerns are beyond the resources or the ability of any one country or economy to confront and conquer alone. Just as these challenges respect no borders, so, too, must our solutions embrace greater co-operation across political, economic and social boundaries. All of us - governments, businesses, academia, research institutions and civil society in general - have a shared responsibility towards the well-being of our planet and everyone in it. Indeed, one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals calls for actions to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development. I am therefore very pleased with the alliance between the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in launching the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Hong Kong. It will connect our academics, scientists and stakeholders with a global network for the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge, for joint research and for the development of innovative ideas and practical solutions for sustainable development. Such connection is set to benefit Hong Kong, other members of the Network, and the sustainable development of the world. I wish the Network and the newly launched Hong Kong chapter every success in their future endeavours. Before I close, I would like to welcome Professor Jeffrey Sachs to Hong Kong to officiate at this ceremony. I look forward to his keynote speech which I am sure will provide much insight for sustainable development. I also wish you a pleasant stay in Hong Kong. And for the other distinguished guests, I wish you all a fruitful afternoon, and a very prosperous 2018. Thank you very much. Ends/Monday, January 8, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:33 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/30/P2018013000366.htm

30.1.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (January 30): Reporter: Mrs Lam, although you said the decision is made by the electoral officer, but many people think the officer is pressured by the Secretary for Justice, which is in turn pressured by you or Beijing. How would you respond to that? And on the Hospital Authority, despite the additional funding, there are some systemic problems, like there are not enough hospital beds. How can the Authority tackle these problems? Chief Executive: Well, on the first question, there is absolutely no ground for that sort of accusation or allegation of pressure. The Returning Officers in Hong Kong are acting in accordance with the law to determine the eligibility of each case based on provisions in the law, as well as the evidence put in front of the Returning Officer. Of course, in the course of discharging his or her statutory duty, the Returning Officer may need to approach the Department of Justice for some legal advice, and that is how the actual situation works. As far as the situation of the Hospital Authority, I have to say that I understand and recognise that while on the one hand we have a very sound, very reliable public hospital system, which we are all very proud of, but you are right, at the same time the Hospital Authority, being such a huge organisation now, does have some systemic issues that we need to tackle. I have every determination to tackle those systemic issues together with the Secretary for Food and Health. But in the short term, we need to address the heavy workload at some of the public hospitals, so I have just announced that in order to provide the Hospital Authority management with every assurance in terms of resource support to implement short-term or immediate measures to relieve the workload, I will allocate an additional $500 million to the Hospital Authority so that they could speedily put in place some of the additional measures. In addition, I want to have a measure introduced which will help to boost staff morale and also better retain staff in the Hospital Authority, and that is to remove a practice which has been put in place for the last 15 years that any new recruit into the Hospital Authority, or any such new recruit upon promotion, they would not have a salary increment, or what we call a pay point increment, in the first two years. I feel that removing this particular practice will be, in my view, a sort of recognition to the very dedicated staff that we now have in the Hospital Authority. But in the longer term, there are many issues that we need to tackle and which I believe the Secretary for Food and Health would put in extra efforts and priority to look at those issues. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, January 30, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:29 NNNN

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CE meets with General Manager of China Railway and witnesses signing of MoU on arrangements for preparation of key operational issues for XRL Hong Kong Section

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/29/P2018012900570.htm

29.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met with the General Manager of China Railway Corporation (CR), Mr Lu Dongfu, at Government House this morning (January 29). Mrs Lam welcomed the delegation led by Mr Lu and expressed gratitude for the staunch support rendered by CR in the preparation for the operation of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). Mrs Lam pointed out that after she met with Mr Lu in Beijing in August last year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and CR immediately established a High-level Liaison Mechanism. She said she was pleased to note the progress of discussions made under the Mechanism in the past few months. The two parties agreed to maintain close liaison and co-operation under the Mechanism and expedite the preparatory work for the operation of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL. After the meeting, Mrs Lam and Mr Lu witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Arrangements for Preparation of Key Operational Issues for the Hong Kong Section of the XRL by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, and the Director of the General Office of CR, Mr Han Jiangping. Mrs Lam said, "I am glad that the HKSAR Government and CR signed the Memorandum today. It marks the reaching of consensus in principle on financial and operational matters by both parties, and lays a sound foundation for the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL in the third quarter this year and its smooth operation subsequently. "The achievements of CR in co-ordinating the development and operation of the national high-speed rail network are remarkable. The HKSAR Government thanks CR for its active support for the preparatory work of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL. CR not only shares experience, but also provides assistance to ensure the connection of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL with the national high-speed rail network. Upon commissioning, the Hong Kong Section of the XRL will be connected to the expanding national high-speed rail network. The mutual access will foster exchanges among Hong Kong and Mainland cities and facilitate complementary development." Mr Lu said he was grateful for the warm reception by the HKSAR Government and the importance and care attached by Mrs Lam to the commissioning and operation of the XRL. He said, "With the support of the Central Government and the general public, CR has been making good use of its professional strength to promote the development of an efficient and quality high-speed rail network. With a total length of more than 25 000 kilometres, which accounts for over 66 per cent of the high-speed railway around the world, our high-speed rail reinvents travel experience and increases people's sense of gain." Mr Lu pointed out that the XRL is an important part of the national high-speed rail network. The connection of the XRL to the high-speed rail network of the Mainland is underpinned by the Central Government's support for Hong Kong's prosperity and development. He said he would be glad to see Hong Kong residents share the benefits generated by the high-speed rail development all over the country. The Liaison Mechanism for enhanced rail co-operation established after the meeting of the two parties in Beijing in August last year has made significant progress in taking forward the preparation for the commissioning of the XRL. Mr Lu said, "The signing of the Memorandum marks a new chapter in the preparation for the operation of the XRL. CR will follow through with the requirements of the Central Government and, with its technical and professional expertise in the railway industry, give its greatest support to the HKSAR Government and the MTR Corporation Limited in facilitating preparatory work. We will work together towards the safe and quality commissioning of the XRL in the third quarter of 2018 to bring a joyful travel experience to the general public of Hong Kong and the Mainland." According to the Memorandum, both parties plan to operate 127 train pairs daily, comprising 114 pairs of short-haul trains and 13 pairs of long-haul trains at the early stage of commissioning. The short-haul trains will run between West Kowloon Station and the Futian, Shenzhen North, Humen and Guangzhou South stations. There will be direct long-haul trains to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Guilin, Guiyang, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Hangzhou, Nanchang, Fuzhou, Xiamen and Shantou. Both parties also agreed that the train schedule could be adjusted subject to the actual operational needs. The full text of the Memorandum and a glossary of the technical terms used in the Memorandum are in Annex I and Annex II (both in Chinese only). Ends/Monday, January 29, 2018 Issued at HKT 17:05 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by Acting CE at media session

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/27/P2018012700399.htm

27.1.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session after attending a function this morning (January 27): The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has already issued a press release this morning to respond to media enquiries about the Returning Officer's decision that, in accordance with the law, the nomination of an individual candidate of 2018 Legislative Council (LegCo) By-election is invalid. In accordance with the Legislative Council Ordinance and Electoral Affairs Commission Regulations, the Returning Officer is required to decide whether a candidate of a LegCo By-election is validly nominated. The Government supports the Returning Officer to exercise their statutory power to discharge their duties under the law, so as to decide whether a nomination is valid. All public officers responsible for electoral affairs, including the Returning Officer, have all along strictly adhered to the Basic Law, relevant legislation and legal advice, as well as the principles of political neutrality and impartiality, in the due execution of their public duties. They will adopt the same principles in handling matters relating to the LegCo by-election, in order to ensure that the election will be conducted in an open, fair and honest manner in strict accordance with the law. When informing a candidate that his or her nomination is invalid, the Returning Officer has already provided reasons for the decision. In accordance with the requirement under the law, the Returning Officer has also endorsed the decision on the nomination form. Copy of the nomination form is available for public inspection. So there is absolutely transparency here. As stated in the press release this morning, the Returning Officer decided that the nomination of the candidate concerned was invalid since the candidate did not comply with the Legislative Council Ordinance. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government agrees to and supports the decision of the Returning Officer. Let me stress that "self-determination" or changing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region system by referendum which includes the choice of independence is totally inconsistent with the constitutional and legal status of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as stipulated clearly in the Basic Law, as well as the established basic policies of the People's Republic of China regarding Hong Kong. Upholding the Basic Law is a basic legal duty of a legislator. If a person advocates or promotes self-determination or independence by any means, he or she cannot possibly uphold the Basic Law or fulfil his or her duties as a LegCo member. I also stress here that Hong Kong has a well-established judicial system. In fact, the existing electoral law does provide for the mechanism of election petitions to handle possible disputes arising from public elections. Candidates may seek judicial redress in case they disagree with the decision of the Returning Officer. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Saturday, January 27, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:46 NNNN

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CE attends World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/27/P2018012700128.htm

27.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (WEF) in Davos today (January 26, Davos time), which was the last day of her visit to Switzerland. Addressing the WEF session on "Asia Works: The Fourth Industrial Revolution" this morning, Mrs Lam said Hong Kong is also embarking on the journey of its own fourth industrial revolution to diversify the economy and to boost further development in various areas through the application of innovation and technology, including Fintech, Biotech, Edutech, smart city and Gerontech. She said with the young people's enthusiasm in innovation and technology, the demand for quality service of the growing middle class population and, most important of all, its interconnectivity, she is very optimistic about the development of Asia in the fourth industrial revolution. Noting that Hong Kong has entered into a Free Trade Agreement and an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which firmly connect the city with the ten ASEAN nations, she said she believed the Belt and Road Initiative will further link up Asia and all other countries along the Belt and Road and enable them to complement each other to boost growth and exchanges. In a meeting with the Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board of Bertelsmann Foundation, Ms Liz Mohn, that followed, Mrs Lam welcomed the Foundation to set up businesses in Hong Kong and carry out other activities such as promotion of education. Expressing her appreciation for the efforts of the Foundation to advance exchanges in art and culture globally, she said the development of Hong Kong's art and culture is set to rise to a new level with the opening of the West Kowloon Cultural District. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam participated in another WEF session on "Global Economic Outlook". Other speakers of the session included the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde; the Governor of the Bank of England, Mr Mark Carney; the Governor of the Bank of Japan, Mr Haruhiko Kuroda; the Chief Executive Officer, Asset and Wealth Management of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Mrs Mary Callahan Erdoes; and the Associate Director and Chief Economics Commentator of The Financial Times, Mr Martin Wolf. Noting that Hong Kong, a small and externally-oriented economy, is among the freest and most competitive economies in the world, she said in the session that the city has benefited from the world's economic recovery and will strengthen its economic foundation to seize the many opportunities arising from China's and Asia's economic development. She said that China's economic development has a big impact globally. President Xi Jinping said in his Report to the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China last year that the Central Government supports Hong Kong in integrating its own development into the overall development of the country. President Xi delivered two very important speeches internationally last year, including one in the WEF in Davos last year in which he said leaders in various economies should shoulder joint responsibility to propel the economic growth globally, and the other one was at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit last November in which he appealed the economies to seize the opportunity of a global economy in transition to accelerate the growth of the Asia Pacific. She believed that China will continue to uphold free trade and economic globalisation, deliver the benefits of economic growth to all. As the world is seeing some driving forces for growth, she said the opportunity should be taken to improve governance, focus on trade rules, strengthen regulatory collaboration and put in place sound social policies to address poverty, income disparity and the lack of opportunities for the young people. She said her government would embrace those values to put in place necessary social policies, making timely investment in education, enhancing connectivity with the rest of the world, in particular, with ASEAN, to boost social development in various areas. Mrs Lam also gave interviews to a Swiss media organisation and an international media organisation during the day. She left Davos after her activities in the afternoon and will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon today (January 27). Ends/Saturday, January 27, 2018 Issued at HKT 6:21 NNNN

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Seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's Advantages, Meeting the Country's Needs to be held in Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/26/P2018012600312.htm

26.1.2018

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will hold a seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's Advantages, Meeting the Country's Needs in Beijing on February 3 in conjunction with the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce. The seminar will promote to the relevant Mainland ministries and state-owned enterprises ways to make use of Hong Kong's highly internationalised platform and distinctive edge in the areas of finance, professional services, commerce and trade and forming strategic partnership to jointly pursue the opportunities being brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. With this, Hong Kong will contribute to the implementation of the national policy of the Belt and Road Initiative by leveraging the city's advantages in meeting the country's needs. The full-day seminar to be held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing will comprise three thematic sessions, with respective focuses on finance and investment; professional services; and commerce and trade, industries development and technology application. There will be in-depth discussions and sharing with senior management and executives of large-scale state-owned enterprises (SoEs) (including central enterprises) about riding on Hong Kong's capital market when taking forward the Belt and Road developments; complementary co-operation with Hong Kong's professional services; and the integration of creative and information technology industries with pillar industries under the Initiative. A Hong Kong delegation comprising representatives from the professional services and business sectors in Hong Kong will participate in the seminar. They will take the opportunity to establish direct contact with SoEs with a view to seizing opportunities together in the process of "going global". The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will attend the seminar. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will be the moderators of the three thematic sessions. Before attending the seminar, Mr Yau, Mr Lau and Mr Nip will join the Chief Executive's visit programme in Beijing to call on relevant ministries. They will leave Hong Kong on January 31 and return on February 4. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury; and the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs during the absence of the three Secretaries. Ends/Friday, January 26, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:15 NNNN

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CE to visit Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/26/P2018012600269.htm

26.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will visit Beijing from January 31 to February 4. She will attend the Seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's advantages, Meeting the Country's needs, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce, on February 3. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will also join the visit. During her stay in Beijing, Mrs Lam will visit central ministries and other organisations. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong on February 4. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Friday, January 26, 2018 Issued at HKT 10:00 NNNN

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CE continues to attend World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/26/P2018012600159.htm

26.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, yesterday (January 25, Davos time) continued to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, she also met with the leadership of various economies and international organisations. In the morning, Mrs Lam attended a breakfast meeting hosted by the Women Political Leaders Global Forum (WPL), the second time she attended a WPL activity since one in Da Nang, Vietnam, last year. Mrs Lam shared with the women leaders details of her governing experience and the work in promoting women’s development and equal employment opportunities in Hong Kong. Mrs Lam and Mr Yau then held a bilateral meeting with the Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland, Mr Johann Schneider-Ammann. Mrs Lam noted that Hong Kong and Switzerland, which are among the freest and the most competitive economies in the world, are close trading partners, and that both economies are seeking to maintain their competitive advantages through measures such as vocational and professional education. She encouraged Swiss enterprises to take full advantage of Hong Kong's low taxes, efficient business environment, robust legal regime and advanced infrastructure to access markets across China and Asia. Recalling her visits to various Swiss institutions related to financial technologies (Fintech), innovation and technology (I&T), medicine and education earlier in the trip, Mrs Lam said there is plenty of room for collaboration between the two places and that she looks forward to more co-operation in various areas. During the day, Mrs Lam attended two Informal Gatherings of World Economic Leaders on "The Future of the Financial and Monetary Systems" and "Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World". In the afternoon Mrs Lam, together with Mr Yau and Mr Lau, met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom (UK), Mr Philip Hammond. She said she was pleased to meet Mr Hammond again following her visit to London last September, adding that both governments are now working closely to take forward new collaboration initiatives in trade, Fintech and I&T. On the successful conclusion of the Ninth UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue held in Beijing last year, at which areas for collaboration related to the Belt and Road Initiative were announced, Mrs Lam emphasised that many of these co-operation areas are where Hong Kong’s strengths lie, and there is much scope for collaboration between Hong Kong and the UK. Noting that Hong Kong will host the next Belt and Road Summit in June, she welcomed UK businesses to make use of the occasion to meet potential Belt and Road partners. Mrs Lam, accompanied by Mr Yau, subsequently met with the Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF, Professor Klaus Schwab. Mrs Lam said that she was pleased to attend WEF Annual Meeting for the first time as the Chief Executive. She said that the meeting provided an excellent platform for her to inform others of the latest developments and the opportunities ahead of Hong Kong, and she would encourage more Hong Kong enterprises to take part in future meetings. Mrs Lam and Mr Yau then met with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Mr Roberto Azevêdo. Mrs Lam noted that Hong Kong, being a founding member of the WTO, has been a staunch supporter of free trade and firmly believes that a strong, rule-based multilateral trading system is a cornerstone of the global economy that provides stability for international trade and drives economic growth. Mrs Lam and Mr Lau also met with the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, Mr Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih, and the Minister of Finance, Mr Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest following Mrs Lam’s visit to Saudi Arabia last December. Accompanied by Mr Lau and Mr Yau respectively, Mrs Lam also had meetings with the Chairman of Standard Chartered Group, Mr José Viñals, and the Chief Executive Officer of Merck Healthcare, Ms Belén Garijo. She had discussions with Mr Viñals on areas including global economic situation and the development of financial services industry in Hong Kong, and exchanged views with Ms Garijo on biomedical research and the development of the pharmaceutical industry. In the evening, Mrs Lam hosted a cocktail reception for Hong Kong participants at the WEF to thank them for promoting Hong Kong in the international arena. The reception was held at an event venue of the Crossroads Foundation. In her speech, Mrs Lam especially thanked the Crossroads Foundation for its work in Davos over the years. Mrs Lam will continue her visit to Switzerland today (January 26). Ends/Friday, January 26, 2018 Issued at HKT 8:05 NNNN

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CE continues visit to Switzerland in Davos

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/25/P2018012500139.htm

25.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, continued her visit to Switzerland in Davos today (January 24, Davos time). On arrival in Davos around noon, Mrs Lam, accompanied by Mr Yau, held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies of Singapore, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong and Singapore have all along had close trade and economic ties, and pointed out that following the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in November last year, collaboration between Hong Kong and Singapore as well as ASEAN is set to rise to a higher level. Noting that Hong Kong and Singapore are both competitors and partners, she said that she has visited Singapore on many occasions and established sincere friendship with government officials of Singapore. Mrs Lam and Mr Yau then met with the Head of Future of Economic Progress and Member of the Executive Committee of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Ms Margareta Drzeniek-Hanouz. Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong highly values the WEF's Global Competitiveness Report (GCR), which helps the city know its strengths and challenges and formulate appropriate policies. She said she was delighted that Hong Kong's performance in the GCR has been generally improving in the past decade with both the latest score and the overall ranking at record highs. Noting that she has elaborated on the vision and initiatives of the Government for different policy areas in her maiden Policy Address delivered in October last year and emphasising that the Government's roles would keep abreast of the times to seize the opportunities for steady social and economic development, Mrs Lam said she is confident that Hong Kong will keep making progress in a world of keen competition. Mrs Lam and Mr Yau subsequently met with the Secretary of State for International Trade of the United Kingdom (UK), Dr Liam Fox. Mrs Lam said she was glad to learn that Hong Kong and the UK have continued to strengthen collaboration in different aspects including trade and innovation and technology since they last met in September last year. Noting that Hong Kong and the UK have strong and long-standing partnership in trade and business, and that Hong Kong is enhancing its connectivity with Mainland China, she welcomed UK enterprises to make use of the services sector of Hong Kong and together seize the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. In a meeting with the President of the New York Stock Exchange, Mr Thomas Farley, that followed, Mrs Lam and Mr Lau exchanged views with Mr Farley on the latest developments in the securities industry and explored room for co-operation. Mrs Lam said that both Hong Kong and New York are premier international financial centres that can learn from each other in many aspects. Noting that New York is a world leader in a number of areas in finance and Hong Kong is enhancing its competitiveness recently by, among others, introducing changes to the Listing Rules to meet the needs of new economy companies, she expressed the hope that the two places would enhance collaboration and exchanges in policies and regulatory expertise. In the evening, Mrs Lam, Mr Yau and Mr Lau attended a reception held by a finance group based in Hong Kong. Briefing the participants about Hong Kong's strengths as an international financial centre and its latest developments in Fintech and other areas, Mrs Lam encouraged businesses from around the world to leverage on Hong Kong's quality professional services. Before ending today's programme, they also attended a dinner hosted by the WEF for Chinese participants. Mrs Lam will continue her visit to Switzerland tomorrow (January 25). Ends/Thursday, January 25, 2018 Issued at HKT 6:59 NNNN

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CE continues Switzerland visit

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/24/P2018012400047.htm

24.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to Switzerland in Bern and Basel today (January 23, Bern time). Accompanied by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Mr Norman Chan, Mrs Lam departed Zurich for Bern this morning to meet with the Vice-President of the Swiss Federal Council and Finance Minister, Mr Ueli Maurer, and attended a working lunch hosted by him. Mrs Lam said she was glad to see the good progress achieved in financial collaboration between Hong Kong and Switzerland, and exchanged views with Mr Maurer on various financial issues including the future development of the two financial centres, the opening up of the financial markets in Mainland China, financial technologies (Fintech) and international tax co-operation. Mrs Lam and Mr Maurer witnessed the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding on strengthening collaboration in financial markets, Fintech and promotion of private wealth management between the HKMA and the Swiss authorities, as well as between the trade representatives of both places. Mrs Lam and Mr Lau then headed to Basel and met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Roche Group, Dr Severin Schwan. Mrs Lam said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been in close communication with the pharmaceutical industry to achieve the common objective of protecting public health. Noting that the Government is concerned about suitable treatment for patients, especially those who suffer from uncommon diseases, she encouraged world-renowned pharmaceutical companies like Roche to develop and supply new drugs to help these patients. With regard to clinical research, she added that the Government is working towards enhancing the efficiency for approval of clinical trial certificates by the Department of Health, and she encouraged Roche to conduct more clinical trials in Hong Kong. Mrs Lam and Mr Lau also visited Technologiepark Basel to learn about its progress in nurturing innovation and technology (I&T) start-ups. Noting that the current-term Government is keen to develop I&T, she said the Hong Kong Science Park has an important role to play in providing a quality environment and new business and employment opportunities for the I&T sector. With the joint development by the HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park at the Lok Ma Chau Loop as a key base for scientific research, relevant higher education, cultural and creative industries and other complementary facilities, she said she believed that there would be plenty of room for collaboration between Technologiepark Basel, the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park. In the evening, Mrs Lam met the President of the Government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, Ms Elisabeth Ackermann, at the City Hall. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to see that Art Basel Hong Kong has been very successful in its past five annual fairs, and added that it has firmly established itself as a premier annual event that promotes the development of Hong Kong's arts and culture. Remarking that the HKSAR Government has all along been working to create an enabling environment for the art market in Hong Kong to flourish, she said Hong Kong’s strategic location at the heart of Asia and as a gateway to Mainland China, the simple and low tax system and the world-class logistics networks have encouraged art businesses to choose Hong Kong to access the buoyant Asian market. Mrs Lam headed for Lucerne this evening and will go to Davos tomorrow morning (January 24). Ends/Wednesday, January 24, 2018 Issued at HKT 1:54 NNNN

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Switzerland and Hong Kong strengthen co-operation in financial markets

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/23/P2018012300609.htm

23.1.2018

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: Swiss Federal Councillor Mr Ueli Maurer, and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mrs Carrie Lam, met in Bern, Switzerland, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of financial markets and to exchange views on international financial and tax matters today (January 23, Bern time). Authorities and private sector representatives from Hong Kong and Switzerland signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) during the meeting. During their meeting, Mr Maurer and Mrs Lam discussed topics including the further development of the two financial centres, the opportunities arising from the opening-up of the financial markets in Mainland of the People's Republic of China, developments in the financial technologies (fintech) sector and international tax issues. They also reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance bilateral collaboration to promote the healthy development of the financial services industry in and between Switzerland and Hong Kong. Hong Kong and Switzerland held an official financial dialogue for the first time in September 2017, during which the two places agreed to further formalise bilateral financial collaboration. Three MoUs were signed today. The first MoU, signed by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Mr Norman Chan, and the Head of the Swiss State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF), Mr Jörg Gasser, serves as the basis for regular financial dialogue and sets out the parties' willingness to strengthen financial markets cooperation, including in the area of RMB internationalisation, wealth management, infrastructure financing and international financial matters. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) also signed an MoU with the HKMA to enhance fintech collaboration with a view to facilitating financial innovation in the two places. A third MoU was signed by the Hong Kong Private Wealth Management Association and the Swiss Bankers Association to further collaborate to promote the development of private wealth management in Switzerland and Hong Kong. On the same day, HKMA and SIF, pursuant to the MoU and together with FINMA and the Swiss National Bank, will jointly host the second financial dialogue to exchange views on current policy issues of mutual interest. Ends/Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:13 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by Acting CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/23/P2018012300420.htm

23.1.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (January 23): Reporter: The meetings that she will be attending in LegCo aren't really targeting at the scandal that she is in right now. When is she going to the LegCo to answer specifically to this question? And also, how can the public tolerate this any further on the excuse that she is simply too busy? How can this not affect the Government's reputation or image? Acting Chief Executive: I think Ms Cheng (Secretary for Justice) has already made a media statement last Sunday evening. And she has also publicly apologised for the inconvenience and concern caused to the community and she stands ready to go back to LegCo. In fact, she will be appearing in LegCo tomorrow for an oral question and also, of course, she has undertaken to attend the LegCo Administration of Justice and Legal Services Panel meeting on the 26th of February. And also she pledged if her consultation with stakeholders can be completed earlier, she stands ready to attend the meeting earlier. So, I think she is pretty keen to establish a rapport with LegCo members. Reporter: How does it affect the Government's image at this point do you think? Acting Chief Executive: I think we mustn't link the two together at the present stage. Ms Cheng has already made it clear that she was not sensitive enough in handling the matter. And she is certainly doing her best to rectify all the problems, particularly the illegal structures concerned. OK? (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:24 NNNN

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CE starts her visit to Switzerland

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/23/P2018012300072.htm

23.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, started her visit programme in Switzerland after arriving in Zurich today (January 22, Zurich time). Accompanied by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, Mrs Lam started the day by calling on the Mayor of Zurich, Ms Corine Mauch. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to meet Ms Mauch again after her visit to Hong Kong in October last year. Noting that both Hong Kong and Zurich are financial centres and faced with comparable opportunities and challenges, she expressed the hope that both places would enhance exchanges to learn from each other. During the meeting, they exchanged views on topics including urban planning and establishment of a smart city. In particular, Mrs Lam briefed Ms Mauch on Hong Kong’s latest comprehensive development strategy and planning, as well as the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong released last month which provides concrete development proposals in various aspects, mapping out smart city development plans for Hong Kong in the next five years and beyond. Mrs Lam then attended a business luncheon co-hosted by the Swiss-Hong Kong Business Association, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin and delivered a speech. Mrs Lam briefed over 250 guests on the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" since Hong Kong's return to the motherland 20 years ago and Hong Kong's unique advantages. She said the Government she leads will be proactive and, through measures including boosting connectivity, strengthening traditional industries, developing new industries, improving the business environment and enhancing the standard of living, promote the economic development of Hong Kong to grasp the huge opportunities brought about by the national Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. She invited Swiss enterprises to make use of Hong Kong as a platform to access the Mainland market and to satisfy their needs for financing and asset management. After the luncheon, Mrs Lam and other officials paid a visit to the UBS Wealth Management Micro Ecosystem and Digital Factory to know more about the application and development of financial technologies (Fintech). Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong, as an international financial centre with highly developed information and communications technology and a vibrant Fintech ecosystem, is an ideal platform for expanding Fintech business. She welcomed greater participation by UBS in Hong Kong’s financial innovation. Mrs Lam and other officials then visited Impact Hub Zurich, a collaborative global community that encourages innovative ideas and assists start-ups by offering members various resources, inspiration and co-operation opportunities and strengthening their social impact. The first Impact Hub opened in London in 2005. At present, there are about 100 Impact Hubs around the world including Hong Kong with over 16 000 members in total. Mrs Lam said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government provides full support for start-ups including tax concessions, capital, information and co-working spaces to assist young entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and encourage start-ups from other places to launch their business in the city. Mrs Lam and the other officials also visited Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), the largest arts school in Switzerland. Mrs Lam said she was glad to know that ZHdK established a learning centre in Hong Kong in 2014 and has been co-operating with Hong Kong arts organisations by participating in and co-organising different cultural exchange projects and events. Mrs Lam said she looked forward to seeing more cultural collaboration between Hong Kong and Switzerland. Mrs Lam will continue her visit to Switzerland tomorrow (January 23). Ends/Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Issued at HKT 2:12 NNNN

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CE to visit Switzerland

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/17/P2018011700684.htm

17.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will depart for an official visit to Switzerland in the early hours on January 22, and will attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos from January 24 to 26. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, will join part of the visit. Mrs Lam will visit Zurich, Bern and Basel to meet with senior government officials, members of the business sector and professionals to update them on the latest developments of Hong Kong. She will address a business luncheon to be hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Swiss-Hong Kong Business Association, and also visit various institutions related to technology, finance, medicine and the arts. During her attendance at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Mrs Lam will address different sessions. She will also meet with leaders of various economies, as well as the leadership of the World Economic Forum and other international organisations. Mrs Lam will leave Davos on January 26 (Switzerland time) and arrive in Hong Kong on January 27. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Wednesday, January 17, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:45 NNNN

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CE meets guest speakers of AFF

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/16/P2018011600881.htm

16.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met a number of guest speakers of the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) separately yesterday and today (January 15 and 16) at the Chief Executive's Office to exchange views on global and regional economic, trade and financial development. All of them are experts from Mainland and overseas governments, regulatory authorities or finance sectors, including the 76th United States Secretary of the Treasury, Mr Jacob J Lew; the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Mr David Lipton; the President and Chairman of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Mr Jin Liqun; the Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Dr Jiang Yang; the Vice Chairman and President of the China Investment Corporation, Mr Tu Guangshao; and the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vista Equity Partners, Mr Robert Smith. Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to them for accepting the invitation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to speak at the two-day 11th Asian Financial Forum, themed on "Steering Growth and Pioneering Innovation: Asia and Beyond", which concluded today. They spoke on a wide range of topics at the Forum including the economic outlook of China, Asia and the world; how to leverage innovation to maintain growth and drive the global economy; emerging innovations in financial technologies (Fintech) for Asia; and how the internationalisation of the Renminbi and the Belt and Road Initiative would impact global economic and market developments. More than 2,900 attendees from around the world benefited from their insights. Mrs Lam pointed out that "growth" and "innovation" are the two keywords underlying the theme of this year's Forum, and are very much in line with Hong Kong's development. Hong Kong is in the Asian region where growth and potential are boundless, and China is the engine of global economic growth. Hong Kong, which has been innovating into prosperity, needs to seize upon innovation to stay ahead and remain competitive, she said. In particular, the current-term Government is committed to developing Fintech to raise operational efficiency, generate new business opportunities and enhance customer experience, propelling further economic growth. Ends/Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:06 NNNN

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CE meets Executive Committee members of Hong Kong Housing Society

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/16/P2018011600857.htm

16.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met with the Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), Mr Marco Wu, and members of its Executive Committee at Government House today (January 16) to exchange views on various housing policy issues, and hosted a lunch for them. Mrs Lam said the HKHS has all along been a close partner of the Government in implementing housing policy. She expressed her gratitude for the efforts made by the HKHS in providing public rental units and subsidised sale flats, and in assuming the unique role of "housing laboratory", addressing the housing needs of different groups in the community. She reiterated the housing policies set out in her maiden Policy Address delivered last year, pointing out that the Government would build a housing ladder with a focus on home ownership, step up efforts in increasing the supply of housing units based on the Long Term Housing Strategy, and optimise the existing housing resources. She said she was pleased to learn that the HKHS had recently launched the pre-sale of 620 subsidised sale flats in Tuen Mun and Tseung Kwan O, and thanked the HKHS for proactively exploring the initiative to allow the owners of its subsidised sale flats to rent out their flats with premium unpaid to needy families on a pilot basis. She said she hoped that the HKHS would continue to support the various housing initiatives of the Government. Ends/Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Issued at HKT 19:47 NNNN

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