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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/16/P2018011600427.htm

16.1.2018

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 16): Reporter: … sure that Beijing is not meddling with Hong Kong affairs when their Director and the Liaison Office is walking closely with officials and secondly, when you mention the Hong Kong Watch’s report, why you feel worried about that they report on eroding Hong Kong’s autonomy? What would you comment on this? Chief Executive: First of all, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government is an organ of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, with very clear duties and responsibilities as authorised by the State Council. If you look at each and every of the five duties and responsibilities, they are all there to help us to enhance liaison with the relevant ministries and organisations in the Mainland to promote the interests of Hong Kong, to reflect the interests of Hong Kong people and to liaise with the state enterprises in Hong Kong. So they are all working towards the objective of ensuring the success of “One Country, Two Systems”, and they will fully abide by the Basic Law. In this term of the Government, I take a slightly more pragmatic approach in my working relationship with the Central People’s Government Liaison Office, because if we are to fully or better integrate with national development as laid down by President Xi Jinping in his report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, this is all for Hong Kong’s better prospects. So, in order to better integrate into the national development, we do need a lot more liaison, a lot more understanding, of the national strategies and this is where the role of the Liaison Office, or for that matter, the OCMFA, that is Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comes in. So, when I said I’d take a more pragmatic business approach towards the relationship with the CPG Liaison Office, it’s that I would invite CPG officials to discuss with me whenever there is a Mainland angle. I have to stress this time again. It is not the involving the CPG Liaison Office in internal affairs of Hong Kong where we practise a high degree of autonomy. It is in the issue which has a very strong Mainland angle and perspective, and this sort of liaison will help Hong Kong. So, I hope to clear any misunderstanding about this working relationship between the HKSAR government and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government once and for all. As far as the Hong Kong Watch’s comments and so-called report on Hong Kong’s latest situation arising from a very brief visit of one of its members, and perhaps only talking, speaking exclusively to some politicians and legal experts in Hong Kong, I take great exception to the comments and conclusions in that report. Those comments are totally unfounded and unfair. To attack the rule of law in Hong Kong and to allege that China, and this is a word they use, that China continues to “erode Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms, thereby breaching an international treaty”, is totally unfounded. We have seen no evidence of that. Quite on the contrary, the Central People’s Government has been fully backing Hong Kong and supporting Hong Kong in our economic and social development, and I have time and again stressed that the core values of Hong Kong include the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, and as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I will do my utmost to safeguard those core values. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:18 NNNN

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Asian Financial Forum explores innovation as economic growth accelerator

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/15/P2018011500824.htm

15.1.2018

The 11th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) opened today (January 15), providing a high-level platform for global policymakers as well as financial and business leaders to exchange views on how to embrace innovation and technology to steer economic growth in Asia and beyond. The two-day forum, with a theme of "Steering Growth and Pioneering Innovation: Asia and Beyond", has brought together more than 2,900 attendees from around the world including government officials, representatives from central banks and regulatory authorities, and finance and business leaders. The AFF is co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Addressing the opening session of the AFF this morning, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, highlighted Hong Kong's role as a premier international financial centre. She said, "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." While noting that Hong Kong is the world's largest offshore Renminbi business hub, a preferred listing platform for initial public offerings and a premier centre for asset management and risk management, Mrs Lam emphasised that Hong Kong must set its vision far and wide, guided by strong leadership and a coherent strategy for consolidating its strengths and opening up new horizons. Citing the Financial Leaders Forum set up in August 2017 as an example, she said the forum has provided strategic guidance over a number of financial issues, including key changes to make Hong Kong the preferred listing platform for new economy enterprises. On economic connections, Mrs Lam pointed out that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative would further deepen Hong Kong's role in connecting the Mainland with other economies. She added that the Government attaches great importance to financial technologies (Fintech) with a view to enhancing the city's competitiveness to tap opportunities amid the wealth creation process of China's growth. At the cocktail reception held in the evening, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, spoke on Hong Kong's strength in various financial areas, highlighting its unique position where the global advantage and the China advantage converge. He added that with the development of Fintech and Hong Kong's regulatory regime keeping pace with the times, he is confident that Hong Kong is ready for capturing the ample opportunities ahead. Earlier today, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, chaired two plenary sessions on "Steering Growth and Pioneering Innovation: Asia and Beyond" and "Steering Growth and Pioneering Innovation: Regulatory Responses to Emerging Technologies and Innovations" in the morning and afternoon respectively. Mr Lau exchanged insights with finance ministers, regulators and leading figures of international financial institutions on how Asia can leverage innovation to maintain growth and drive the global economy. Speakers joining Mr Lau in these two sessions were the Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Dr Jiang Yang; the President of the Asian Development Bank, Mr Takehiko Nakao; the Minister of Finance of Luxembourg, Mr Pierre Gramegna; the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services of Australia, Ms Kelly O'Dwyer; the Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic, Mr Peter Kažimír; the Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong and Chairman of the Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions, Mr Ashley Alder; the Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority, Mr Steven Maijoor; the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Russia, Mr Sergey Shvetsov; and the Senior Adviser on Legal Affairs to the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Mr Robert San Pé. Also among the highlights of the first-day programme was the luncheon keynote speech delivered by the 76th United States Secretary of the Treasury, Mr Jacob J Lew, during which he shared his insights on the economic outlook of the United States and the global market. In the opening session, the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Mr David Lipton, delivered a keynote address on Asia's economic outlook. Before the luncheon, a policy dialogue chaired by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Norman Chan, was held. Speakers were Member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank Dr Andreas Dombret; the HSBC Group Chief Executive, Mr Stuart Gulliver; the Chairman of the China Development Bank, Mr Hu Huaibang; the President and Chairman of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Mr Jin Liqun; and Mr Lipton. They looked into how the Mainland's policies such as the internationalisation of the Renminbi and the Belt and Road Initiative would impact global economic and market developments. The programme also comprised two panel discussions focusing on the global economy as well as the trade and investment opportunities in China. The 11th AFF will continue tomorrow (January 16), featuring a variety of subjects in relation to Fintech, innovations in banking and big data. A number of influential technology experts have been invited to participate in a series of InnoTalks, providing insights to financial practitioners to tap the opportunities arising from rapid developments in technology. The second-day programme will also include a breakfast panel; a deal flow matchmaking session; and the newly launched InnoVenture Salon, providing a platform to connect start-ups with potential investors and partners. Echoing the theme of innovation, the keynote luncheon of the second day will feature the Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor Daniela Rus, as guest speaker to talk about the latest developments in artificial intelligence and robotics. Ends/Monday, January 15, 2018 Issued at HKT 19:20 NNNN

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CE meets University Grants Committee members

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/12/P2018011200990.htm

12.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met members of the University Grants Committee (UGC) at Government House today (January 12) to exchange views on issues including UGC’s efforts in recent years in grooming high-calibre talent, promoting research work and strengthening governance in the funded institutions, and hosted a lunch for them after the meeting. She expressed her gratitude to some 20 local and overseas experts on the UGC for their valuable advice to the Government on allocation of funding to the funded institutions and the strategic development of higher education in Hong Kong under the leadership of the Chairman, Mr Carlson Tong. Noting that the universities in Hong Kong have made remarkable achievements in the academic domain and are highly reputable around the world, they have all along carried the mission of grooming talent, supporting research work and advancing social development in Hong Kong. Remarking that she stated in her maiden Policy Address delivered last year that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government would invest heavily in education and actively promote scientific research and the development of innovation and technology (I&T), she thanked the UGC for accepting the Government’s invitation to set up a task force to review the existing research support strategy, the level of research funding and the funding allocation mechanism for the higher education sector. She said she is confident that the recommendations would help Hong Kong enhance the level in scientific research and transfers in I&T fields, advancing the I&T development in the city. She expressed the hope that the UGC would continue to work closely with the Government and the funded institutions to pursue excellence in teaching and learning in the tertiary institutions to strengthen Hong Kong's position as a regional education hub. Ends/Friday, January 12, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:11 NNNN

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Opening remarks by CE at Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/11/P2018011100422.htm

11.1.2018

Following are the opening remarks (English translation) by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session in LegCo today (January 11): Mr President and Honourable Members, Today is my first attendance at a Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting in 2018. May I first take this opportunity to wish you all success and good health in this new year. In response to Members’ request, I will from this year onwards attend LegCo meetings more frequently to answer Members’ questions. I am scheduled to attend the LegCo session next on 31 January for half an hour, and on that occasion I will not make any opening remarks and take Members’ questions right away. I am also ready to communicate and interact with Members from different political parties outside the LegCo setting, so as to listen to your views with a view to ensuring smooth implementation of government policies. It is exactly three months today since I delivered my maiden Policy Address on October 11, 2017. I am very grateful to this Council for passing the Motion of Thanks for the Policy Address on November 10, 2017. While some may think that this Motion of Thanks proposed by Members is just a council tradition that carries little practical significance, I still see it as an encouragement to me and my team. We will spare no effort in implementing the more than 200 initiatives set out in the Policy Address. In fact, over the past three months, relevant bureaux have been industriously taking forward their work, including consultation with various LegCo panels. On the development of innovation and technology, the high-level inter-departmental steering committee chaired by me has held its first meeting, and the Secretary for Innovation and Technology has published the first Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong. We have started drawing up a package of proposals to provide various support and ancillary facilities with a view to attracting local, Mainland and overseas universities as well as research and development (R&D) institutes to set up biotechnology R&D laboratories in Hong Kong. We have also invited the Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong to make concrete proposals on how to pool together our competitive biotechnology research teams in Hong Kong. Regarding the financial sector, the Financial Leaders Forum chaired by the Financial Secretary has already held two meetings to set out the directions for a series of issues, which include amending the Listing Rules to respond to the needs of enterprises of the new economy. Also, the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency has launched the Green Finance Certification Scheme, and the Government will issue green bonds within this year. On taxation, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury tabled a bill at the LegCo yesterday for implementing the two-tier profits tax rate regime to reduce the tax burden on enterprises. As for creative industries, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development announced two days ago the Government’s plan to launch a design and fashion project in Sham Shui Po. On strategic development, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government entered into a Free Trade Agreement with the ten member states of ASEAN in November last year, and signed the Arrangement with the National Development and Reform Commission for Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative last December. The Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area will also be promulgated later this year. On people’s livelihood, we expect to launch the substantially enhanced and relaxed Working Family Allowance in April this year, and introduce the Higher Old Age Living Allowance in the middle of the year. In response to suggestions from Members and the public, the non-means tested Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme to relieve public transport fare burden of commuters will be expanded to cover four more public transport services. Our aim is to launch the scheme within one year after obtaining funding approval from the LegCo Finance Committee. On improving labour rights, the Government obtained the support of the Labour Advisory Board in November last year on its proposal to increase the statutory paternity leave from three days to five days. We will soon submit the bill to the LegCo. On abolishing the “offsetting” arrangement under the Mandatory Provident Fund System, the Government’s stance has not changed. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare has redoubled efforts to come up with an improved proposal soon with a view to reaching consensus with both employers and employees. On education, following the implementation of the measures under the $3.6 billion new education resources, further studies on the eight key areas of education have also been commissioned step by step. Other key tasks such as increasing land supply, strengthening primary healthcare, and setting up the Commission on Children which require study, preparation and extensive public engagement are also progressing well, with concrete plans for action to be made public as soon as possible. As many of the tasks mentioned above involve legislative amendments or manpower and funding requirements, their success hinges on the support and endorsement of this Council. Currently, the Council is scrutinising 17 bills. In the coming few months, together with the two taxation bills tabled for first reading yesterday, the Government will introduce a total of about 16 bills into the Council, including one on the inevitably controversial co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Terminus and the other concerning the implementation of the National Anthem Law in Hong Kong. In addition, in the remainder of the current legislative session, the Government will table not less than 30 proposals for the Finance Committee and the Establishment Subcommittee respectively. We will also submit more than 80 funding applications to the Public Works Subcommittee, with total expenditure amounting to more than $130 billion, and 44 000 jobs expected to be created by the public works projects involved. For the well-being of our community, I sincerely appeal to Members to handle the tremendous amount of work mentioned above in an inclusive, pragmatic and vigilant manner. My colleagues and I will continue to listen to Members’ views seriously and work closely with you all. Lastly, I would like to state that the Government’s work extends beyond its annual Policy Address. As a caring government that upholds justice, it is always our responsibility to "relieve our people's burdens". On the recent remuneration issue concerning the staff of government outsourced contracts, I have asked the Secretary for Labour and Welfare to chair an inter-departmental working group to examine ways of improving the existing mechanism of outsourcing in various government departments. As regards the tragic death of a child due to physical abuse, the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Education Bureau will take immediate action to look for ways to improve the existing mechanism to protect children from harm. Mr President, Honourable Members, having been the Chief Executive for half a year has given me increased optimism and confidence about Hong Kong’s future, yet I also realise that challenges still abound ahead of us. My team and I will as always avoid no difficult task, make good use of our strengths and public resources to invest in Hong Kong’s future and relieve our people’s burdens. Thank you, Mr President. Ends/Thursday, January 11, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:02 NNNN

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CE visits ICAC

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/09/P2018010900856.htm

9.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) headquarters today (January 9) to keep abreast of its work. Accompanied by the ICAC Commissioner, Mr Simon Peh, and Acting Head of Operations, Mr Ricky Yau, Mrs Lam started the visit by touring the facilities of the Operations Department, including the report centre, which operates 24 hours a day handling complaints and enquiries from the public, and the video interview room. She was briefed on the complaints handling procedures, the proactive investigation strategies and the computer forensic services provided to front-line investigators. Mrs Lam then visited the Community Relations Department and the Corruption Prevention Department to learn about their anti-corruption efforts and promotion of anti-corruption messages through various channels. She said she was pleased to note that in addition to conducting local work, the ICAC, in support of the country's Belt and Road Initiative, also shares its rich experience in fighting corruption in Hong Kong with regions and countries along the Belt and Road to enhance their integrity. Mrs Lam also met with ICAC investigators, new recruits and staff representatives separately to understand their work and listen to their aspirations. "A corruption-free environment is of paramount importance to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. I am grateful to ICAC colleagues for their tireless efforts, distinguished professionalism and team spirit in their all-out fight against corruption by embracing the approach of law enforcement, prevention and community education, making Hong Kong a city internationally renowned for its clean governance. In the face of new challenges as the community progresses, I am confident that the ICAC will move with the times and stay vigilant to safeguard the integrity of Hong Kong in a fair and impartial manner," she said. Ends/Tuesday, January 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:24 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/09/P2018010900389.htm

9.1.2018

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 9): Reporter: Mrs Lam, in regards to Teresa Cheng's case, do you think this shows a problem with our, like, vetting mechanism with Principal Officials? And also, what do you make of calls for her to resign? Is this an integrity and maybe capability problem? And also, regards to the co-location plan's legality, should we look at the Basic Law in the perspective of the common law or the Mainland constitution? Chief Executive: Well, as far as the co-location issue, I have already explained at length about the very solid legal basis to support the implementation of co-location in the West Kowloon Station in order to enable us to effectively commission this very important rail line in the third quarter of this year. And by the way, I just want to stress that when people challenge me for not reflecting fully the views of the Hong Kong people on this Hong Kong section of the Express Rail Link, I want to say that it's not just on the legality of this co-location, which we have worked very hard to provide. It is also about the public's aspirations that they want this railway to be commissioned as soon as possible, they want the fares to be more reasonable, and all these are issues that I have been reflecting continuously to the Central Authorities in my six months as the Chief Executive for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As far as the further deeper constitutional issues, I think that those could only be addressed in a sit-down forum where we have a lot of time. About the alleged unauthorised building works in the property of my new Secretary for Justice, Teresa Cheng, I have said that she reported this incident to me on the first occasion, that is in the afternoon on the fifth of January once she had been alerted to by the Buildings Department’s (BD) actions and also upon media enquiry, and she has taken every step to explain for this situation and promised to rectify once the situation has been ascertained. And this morning I think the BD team will go into the property to look at the structures and to ascertain exactly which are the unauthorised building works. Based on the information that I have now, I do not feel this is an integrity issue, and that's why it will not compromise Teresa's position as the Secretary for Justice. I will just want to say this to the members of the public: It is now very difficult to really attract talented people to come into the administration because of the political situation, and that's why people describe this situation as being a very hot kitchen. For a very successful lawyer with international reputation like Teresa to make up her mind to join my team is a very difficult and tough decision which could only be made with one purpose in mind, and that is to serve the people of Hong Kong and to serve the country. So I hope that people will give her some allowance, give her some time and room, to sort this out, and I'm sure that she will be able to handle her future duties as the Secretary for Justice with my full confidence. Thank you very much. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, January 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:19 NNNN

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Chief Executive's Office's response to media enquiries

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/06/P2018010600461.htm

6.1.2018

In response to media enquiries on alleged unauthorised building works in a property owned by the Secretary for Justice, a spokesman of the Chief Executive's Office said: On the alleged unauthorised building works in her property, the Secretary for Justice reported to the Chief Executive yesterday afternoon (January 5). The Secretary for Justice has undertaken to fully assist in the Buildings Department's investigation and, if the allegation is true, make rectifications as soon as possible. The Chief Executive has advised the Secretary for Justice to give an open account as soon as possible to allay public concern. Ends/Saturday, January 6, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:50 NNNN

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Secretary for Justice sworn in

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/06/P2018010600408.htm

6.1.2018

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC (left), is sworn in by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam today (January 6). The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC (left), signs the oaths after her swearing-in today (January 6). Ends/Saturday, January 6, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:12 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks at media session on appointment and removal of Secretary for Justice

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/05/P2018010500407.htm

5.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; and the Secretary for Justice (designate), Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, met the media this morning (January 5). Following is the transcript of remarks of the question-and-answer session: Reporter: Mrs Lam, how difficult was it for you to find the successor, and do you think Ms Cheng is tough enough to handle controversial issues like the legislation of Article 23? And a question for Mr Yuen, if you were to name one thing you've done during your term as SJ that you regret most, what would it be? Thank you. Chief Executive: Well, I would not comment or disclose on the process of approaching potential candidates in forming my team. I have said this half a year ago and I am saying this again. I have every confidence that Teresa, with her long service in both the legal sector and the non-legal sector, will be able to fully discharge the duties of the Secretary for Justice. I cannot answer the latter question on behalf of him. Secretary for Justice: Thank you for your questions. I think in the course of the past five and a half years or so, of course I have made various decisions and done various aspects of work. There are bound to be differences of opinion in relation to all those matters. But I think in all those cases, hand on heart, I can tell you that on each and every occasion, the ultimate decision was made in accordance with the law. We understand that people would have perhaps very divergent views. In my post, my belief has all along been that we have to stick to legal principles even though we know that some people may not like our decisions, because otherwise there would be situations where one would be acting contrary to the rule of law if one were not acting strictly according to legal principles. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Friday, January 5, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:56 NNNN

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Opening remarks by CE at media session on appointment and removal of Secretary for Justice

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/05/P2018010500377.htm

5.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; and the Secretary for Justice (designate), Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, met the media this morning (January 5). Following are the opening remarks by Mrs Lam: The Central People's Government, on my recommendation and nomination, approved the appointment of Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, SC, as the Secretary for Justice, and the removal of Mr Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, SC, from the post of Secretary for Justice with effect from January 6, 2018. I wish to take this opportunity to thank Mr Yuen for his sterling contributions to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in his five-and-a-half years as Secretary for Justice. He has been a pillar of strength in upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong. His commitment to the Country and to Hong Kong is in full display and he is passionate about his work. He commands the full respect and admiration of all the Politically Appointed Officials as well as civil servants within and outside the Department of Justice. To me, Rimsky is a great working partner, but I respect his decision to leave the service for personal reasons. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours. I am sure he will continue to serve the public in other capacities. I am very grateful to Ms Teresa Cheng for accepting my invitation and nomination to succeed as Secretary for Justice. Ms Cheng is a seasoned Senior Counsel with rich experience in international arbitration and mediation. She is a high achiever in the legal profession. Although she was in private practice over the years, she has been very active in public service. Through her chairmanship and membership of a range of important committees of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, she is well versed in government. I have every confidence that she will make a very competent Secretary for Justice. Ends/Friday, January 5, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:30 NNNN

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CE meets Financial Services Development Council members

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/05/P2018010500354.htm

5.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met with the Chairman of the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), Mrs Laura M Cha, and council members today (January 5) to exchange views on the development of Hong Kong's financial services industry. The meeting was followed by a lunch hosted by the Chief Executive at Government House for members of the FSDC and its five committees. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established the FSDC in 2013 as a high-level, cross-sectoral advisory body to engage the industry in formulating proposals to promote the further development of Hong Kong's financial services industry and to map out the strategic direction for development. Members of the FSDC are appointed by the Chief Executive. Mrs Lam said she highly appreciated the efforts made by the FSDC in the past five years, including their in-depth research, practical recommendations and proactive promotion work for the various sectors of the Hong Kong financial services industry. She said that financial services is a very important pillar of Hong Kong's economy that fits in perfectly with "what our country needs is what Hong Kong can provide" and will stand to benefit considerably from the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. To seize those opportunities, the Financial Leaders Forum chaired by the Financial Secretary has started its work and will set the policy directions. The Government will also allocate more resources to the FSDC to further enhance its role in promoting market development. She said she looked forward to the FSDC's continued contribution in providing valuable advice to the Government for strengthening Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre. Ends/Friday, January 5, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:53 NNNN

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Government announces appointment and removal of Secretary for Justice

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/05/P2018010500237.htm

5.1.2018

The Central People's Government, on the recommendation and nomination of the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, approved the appointment of Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, SC as the Secretary for Justice (SJ) and the removal of Mr Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, SC from the post of SJ with effect from January 6. Mrs Lam paid tribute to Mr Yuen for his outstanding performance during the past five-and-a-half years as SJ. He has been a pillar of strength in upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong. His commitment to the Country and Hong Kong is in full display and he is passionate about his work. "Mr Yuen has profound legal knowledge and excellent analytical power. In the face of the heavy workload and many arduous tasks during his tenure of some five years, he has taken it all in his stride and served the community selflessly with all his heart. He has also spared no effort in promoting Hong Kong as a regional centre for legal services and dispute resolution. With his distinguished leadership and strong team spirit, he commands the respect and admiration of all the Secretaries of Department and Directors of Bureau, as well as civil servants. On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, I convey my deep appreciation to Mr Yuen for his contribution to the HKSAR," Mrs Lam said. On the appointment of Ms Cheng, Mrs Lam said "Ms Cheng is a seasoned Senior Counsel in private practice, with rich experience in international arbitration and mediation. She is a high achiever in the legal profession and communicates well with all. Over the years, she has been very active in public service. Through her chairmanship and membership of a range of important committees of the HKSAR Government, she is well versed in government affairs and has earned the respect of civil servants. I have every confidence that she will make a very competent SJ." Following are the biographical notes on Mr Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, SC and Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, SC: Mr Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, SC ------------------------------------- Aged 53. Mr Yuen has been Secretary for Justice since July 2012. He was a Senior Counsel in private practice before joining the Government, specialising in commercial disputes. He also served as an arbitrator in international arbitration and a mediator in commercial disputes.Mr Yuen was appointed Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in 2006. Mr Yuen has also served in various public duties, including as member of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, non-official member of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Advisory Committee on Corruption, Chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee, Non-executive Director of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority and Council Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, SC ----------------------------------- Aged 59. Before joining the Government, Ms Cheng was a Senior Counsel in private practice. She is also a chartered engineer, chartered arbitrator and accredited mediator. She has been frequently engaged as arbitrator or counsel in complex international commercial or investment disputes. Ms Cheng was one of the founders and Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law. She is a Past Vice President of the International Council of Commercial Arbitration, Past Vice President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and Past Chairperson of Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. In 2008, she became the first Asian woman elected through a global election as President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She served as Deputy Judge / Recorder in the Court of First Instance of the High Court of Hong Kong from 2011 to 2017. She is a member of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes Panel of Arbitrators, and was a member of the World Bank's Sanctions Board. Ms Cheng is a Fellow of King's College in London, and was the Course Director of the International Arbitration and Dispute Settlement Course at the Law School of Tsinghua University in Beijing. Ends/Friday, January 5, 2018 Issued at HKT 10:09 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Hong Kong Awards for Industries Awards Presentation Ceremony-cum-Gala Dinner

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/18/P2017121800902.htm

18.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Hong Kong Awards for Industries Awards Presentation Ceremony -cum-Gala Dinner this evening (December 18): Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I'm very pleased to join you for tonight's awards presentation ceremony of the 2017 Hong Kong Awards for Industries. My congratulations to the winning companies and organisations, as well as the entrepreneurs and visionaries who drive them. Their pursuit of excellence in products and in services helps power Hong Kong's economy and continuing success. As many of you know, I am no stranger to this event. I attended the ceremony in 2013, as Acting Chief Executive. And I'm pleased to be back as Chief Executive, back with a clear policy agenda for the future of Hong Kong. In my maiden Policy Address delivered in October, I emphasised the critical importance of innovation and technology to every aspect of our economy. And in visiting the Grand Award winners' booths just a few minutes ago, I was delighted to see the application of Innovation and Technology realised not only by the winners of the Innovation and Creativity and Technological Achievement Categories, but also by winners in other categories as well. Design and creativity are also among my policy priorities, as I emphasised just 10 days ago at the opening of Business of Design Week. I believe in design and the creative industries in general – in their boundless ability to boost our economy, to add value to our products and services and the Hong Kong brand they burnish. Many of the winning entries tonight demonstrated creative excellence in their businesses, either in the products they've brought to bright life or in the services they've smartly packaged. The winners of the Awards this year reinforce my belief that Hong Kong has a lot of potential to excel in Innovation and Technology and in creativity industries. My Government will ensure that resources and measures are in place to help Hong Kong realise its potential. I am personally leading a Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology and it has already commenced work earlier this month. The Steering Committee will oversee the Government's work in the eight areas I outlined in the Policy Address. Among others, we will encourage the private sector to invest more in R&D with the help of a tax incentive. Specifically, the first HK$2 million in eligible R&D expenditure will enjoy a 300 per cent tax deduction, with the remainder at 200 per cent. The Innovation and Technology Bureau is consulting stakeholders, many of you here included, on the details and its target is to introduce the Bill into LegCo in April 2018. Moreover, we will fund local companies to help them train their staff in advanced manufacturing. We have also rolled out a HK$2 billion Innovation and Technology Venture Fund Scheme. It's designed to invest, on a matching basis, with venture capital funds in local technology start-ups. It is now open for application until mid-January 2018. We're also working on a HK$500 million "Technology Talent Scheme" and we hope to consult the relevant Panel of the Legislative Council in March next year. In parallel, we plan to seek funding from the Legislative Council early next year in order to inject HK$3 billion into the Research Endowment Fund to aid local students admitted to research postgraduate programmes funded by the University Grants Committee. As regards the support for the creative industries, we will inject HK$1 billion into our CreateSmart Initiative, and the Hong Kong Design Centre will be given additional resources to reinforce Hong Kong's status as a city of design excellence in Asia. We will also work to boost ties between Hong Kong's design industry and Shenzhen and other design centres in the Mainland and overseas. I'm confident that will open up new markets for Hong Kong. Talking about new markets, Hong Kong products and services have long been renowned for their quality and market adaptability. I'm confident they can find success in new markets, especially those along the Belt and Road. I am pleased to tell you that, during my duty visit to Beijing last week, I have signed on behalf of the HKSAR Government an arrangement with the National Development and Reform Commission on Hong Kong's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. The Arrangement covers a lot of areas and will allow Hong Kong to give full play to its unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems" to contribute to the country, while at the same time seize those opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative to provide new impetus for economic growth. We look forward to working with all of you here to maximise the benefits to be brought by the Arrangement. My congratulations once again to the winners of the 2017 Hong Kong Awards for Industries. My thanks to the Organising Committee, the seven organisers and the judging panels for their support in making the Awards a rousing success. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and rewarding New Year. Thank you. Ends/Monday, December 18, 2017 Issued at HKT 20:04 NNNN

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Speech by CE at "130 Years of Medicine in Hong Kong" Homecoming Dinner in celebration of 130th Anniversary of Medical Faculty of HKU

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/17/P2017121700988.htm

17.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the "130 Years of Medicine in Hong Kong" Homecoming Dinner in celebration of the 130th Anniversary of the Medical Faculty of The University of Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (December 17). David (Pro-Chancellor of University of Hong Kong (HKU), Professor David Li), Arthur (Council Chairman of HKU, Professor Arthur Li), Peter (President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, Professor Peter Mathieson), Gabriel (Dean of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of HKU, Professor Gabriel Leung), faculty members (past and present), ladies and gentlemen, good evening. It is an honour to join you at tonight's Homecoming Dinner, the grand finale in a year-long celebration of the University of Hong Kong's Medical Faculty on its 130th anniversary. This is indeed my third Hong Kong University faculty function in less than a month's time preceded by the 35th anniversary celebration of the Faculty of Dentistry and the 50th anniversary of my own faculty, the Social Sciences Faculty. This is what I see as a role of the Chancellor of the University - I am here to support the University. Hong Kong's first institution of higher learning, the Medical Faculty is the unshakable foundation on which Hong Kong's progressive medical and public healthcare system has been built. After 130 years of evolution, today it continues to grow and excel, and continues to safeguard the health and well-being of this community, connecting with medical and healthcare institutions here in Hong Kong and around the world – for the greater good of us all. In short, the Faculty and its many distinguished alumni, continue to make us proud. To the University of Hong Kong's Medical Faculty, I congratulate you on this momentous occasion. I am no stranger to speaking to a predominantly medical audience, having had the honour to do so several times as the Chief Secretary for Administration at events of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, the HKU Medical Faculty's graduation, the Digby Memorial Lecture Dinner, the Professor Arthur Li Lecture of the Chinese University's surgeons and as the CE-elect, at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital Li Shu Fan Oration. I hope on those occasions, I was speaking consistently with passion about our medical services and medical professionals but at the same time, appealing for a more open approach in working with other disciplines as well as in admitting overseas trained doctors to augment our staffing situation and promote helpful exchanges. These candid remarks will continue to be delivered tonight, despite my new capacity as the Chief Executive and Chancellor of this University, because they reflect experiences and observations from my years of public service career which were closely related to Hong Kong's healthcare services. To briefly recap, I started my career as a young Administrative Officer in what was then the Medical and Health Services Department, responsible for hospital planning. In 1991, I became a Principal Assistant Secretary in the then Health and Welfare Branch, serving as secretary to the Medical Development Advisory Committee, chaired by the very distinguished Dr C H Leong, and secretary to a high-level committee reviewing Hong Kong's primary health care, chaired by another distinguished doctor, of course both are alumni of this university, Professor Rosie Young. I know that both of them are with us tonight at this venue. In 1993, I became the Department of Health's Assistant Director. Between 1997 and 2000, I sat on the Hospital Authority (HA) Board, representing the Financial Secretary. I also served, voluntarily, as a member of the Board's Patients' Complaints Committee. I then worked closely with my medical counterparts in elderly and rehabilitation services as the Director of Social Welfare. In those and other working relationships and encounters, I came to know many devoted healthcare professionals. Their commitment, dedication and striving for excellence is something we should all be thankful for. What I appreciated in those years, and what I continue to be grateful for today, is that Hong Kong is very blessed with a high-quality, cost-effective medical and healthcare system. Over these next five years, I am determined to preserve and enhance it for the people of Hong Kong. There are no shortage of issues we must face and solve if we are to maintain our standards and our international recognition. Our population is ageing, healthcare costs are rising, our public hospitals are overloaded and our healthcare staff woefully stretched. I saw the situation myself when I visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital during this July's summer flu, just two weeks after my taking office. Prior to that, I also heard first-hand the grievances of our front-line public doctors who are members of the Election Committee. Two months ago, I presented my first Policy Address as Chief Executive. In it, I shared my governance philosophy and addressed the policies and priorities to be tackled over the next five years. In healthcare, my Government will allocate resources to actively promote primary healthcare, enhance public health regulation and promote advancements in medical technology. I don't think there is enough time for me to go through all the measures but just let me stress that they are conceived in accordance with my belief in the provision of social services: that we should promote cross-sector and cross-profession collaboration as well as public-private partnership to make better use of our resources and provide more comprehensive care for the needy in society. I also pointed out that as public resources are not without limits, the policies and measures for improving people's livelihood are not merely a matter of supply and demand, but they also involve the issue of resource allocation which the community must not shy away from. Putting this belief in the healthcare sector, the Government is determined to step up efforts to promote individual and community involvement, enhance co-ordination among various medical and social sectors, and strengthen primary healthcare services particularly at the district-level. Through these measures, we aim to encourage the public to take precautionary measures against diseases, enhance their capability in self-care and home care, and reduce the demand for hospitalisation. A steering committee on primary healthcare development chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health was established last month to oversee our work in this area. Pending a major shift to primary healthcare, and significant advancement in cross-sector collaboration and public-private partnership, we could not afford to turn a blind eye to the overloaded situation in our public hospitals. The Government will devote more resources to enhance the infrastructure and manpower to improve the public sector supply. In particular, we will introduce a new arrangement by undertaking to increase the recurrent funding for the Hospital Authority progressively on a triennium basis, having regard to population growth rates and demographic changes. On manpower, the HA will fulfil my pledge to employ all qualified medical graduates and provide them with relevant specialist training. The HA will make every effort to retain existing and rehire retired healthcare professionals as appropriate. It will also proactively recruit qualified non-locally trained doctors through limited registration to provide clinical services in the public healthcare system. On the regulatory and manpower fronts, one of the foreseeable enhancements will be in the form of the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2017. After some intensive efforts made by the new administration, I am pleased to say that we have reached broad consensus with stakeholders in October this year on the composition of the Medical Council. Now that the controversies in the past months over amendments to the Legislative Council (LegCo) Rules of Procedure to mitigate filibustering have been settled, I hope that LegCo, through the Bills Committee chaired by the Honourable Tommy Cheung, will complete its scrutiny of the Bill as soon as possible. In recent months, I have been talking a lot about innovation and technology as a priority area for my Government. Indeed, application of innovation and technology to grow the economy and address social issues has no boundary and healthcare has been identified as one of our target areas. We believe there is great potential for Hong Kong in furthering the development of biomedicine technology. The convergence of biotechnology, information technology, engineering and nanotechnology offers more effective means for preventing, diagnosing, treating and monitoring diseases. My Government is thus committed to developing innovative biomedical technology. We'll do it by turning Hong Kong into a centre of innovation and technology . And we've made a good start at that, laying down a solid foundation. The Hong Kong Science Park is home to about 100 international and local biomedical technology companies. That's nearly double the number in 2015. From overseas, the Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, the first offshore research facility of Sweden's renowned Karolinska Institutet, is now into its second year in the Science Park. Karolinska is focused on research in stem-cell biology, biomedical engineering, biotechnology and regenerative medicine. From the Mainland of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health has set up the Guangzhou-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre at Science Park. And among the 16 Partner State Key Laboratories established in Hong Kong universities, nearly two-thirds specialise in biomedical technology and related areas. Human trials conducted at our two teaching hospitals – Queen Mary and Prince of Wales – and the Hong Kong Eye Hospital can be used to support new drug applications to the China Food and Drug Administration. That, ladies and gentlemen, gives Hong Kong a singular advantage in the research and development of biomedical technology. I am glad to note that, at the end of July, 430 applied R&D projects, with total funding of about HK$832 million, were approved by our Innovation and Technology Fund. They will support research ranging from molecular diagnostics and drug discovery and development, to medical devices, the modernisation of traditional Chinese medicine and bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing. In short, we're fully engaged, because I believe this is our moment – Hong Kong's time to tap into the vast promise of biomedical technology. If we succeed, it will not only help raise the healthcare standard in Hong Kong. It will also help us develop related industries and contribute to the human kind. There will be a lot of opportunities in front of us, especially in the context of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development – the most affluent region in the Mainland today where a growing middle-class population will have huge demands for quality medical services. I look forward to joining hands with our medical institutions and professionals in grasping these opportunities. With the above remarks, I wish the University of Hong Kong's Medical Faculty continuing success. For everyone here, I wish you all an enjoyable and memorable evening, all happy holidays and a year rife with rewarding discovery. Thank you very much. Ends/Sunday, December 17, 2017 Issued at HKT 23:07 NNNN

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Speech by Acting CE at Groundbreaking Ceremony of Open University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/15/P2017121500751.htm

15.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare today (December 15): Dr Charles Lee (Pro-Chancellor of OUHK), Mr Michael Wong (Chairman of the Council of OUHK), Mr Silas Yang (Deputy Chairman of the Council of OUHK), Mr Anthony Chow (Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club), Professor Wong Yuk-shan (President of OUHK), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. I am delighted to join you today for the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Open University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare. The Open University's roles and responsibilities, not to mention its size and ambitions, have grown remarkably since its establishment in 1989, as the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong - the first university that offered open and distance education in Hong Kong. In less than a decade, it enjoyed full university status and was retitled in 1997 as the Open University of Hong Kong. Today, the University provides about 220 programmes to over 9 500 full-time students and 9 500 part-time students in an impressive range of offerings, from sub-degree to postgraduate. Among others, healthcare has been among the University's signature programmes since its Division of Nursing and Health Studies was established in 1994. The Division offers 12 programmes for more than 3 200 full-time and part-time students. It has proudly groomed more than 7 000 nurses, serving in more than 50 hospitals and other healthcare organisations across Hong Kong and around the world. Today's groundbreaking ceremony makes it abundantly clear that we can expect a great deal more from the Open University and its Division of Nursing and Health Studies. Thanks to the generous donation of $281 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare which is scheduled to open in 2020 will rise as another major milestone for the Open University and Hong Kong. About 1 200 students will benefit from the 13-storey complex that will feature state-of-the-art healthcare training facilities and purpose-built laboratories for students of different disciplines including nursing psychology and physiotherapy. The new Institute will be the new home for various healthcare programmes including five proposed new ones under planning, covering early childhood education, mental health and psychology, physiotherapy, dietetics and occupational therapy. Given the rapidly ageing population and the long-term demand for healthcare services in Hong Kong, we definitely need to nurture more expertly trained professionals to respond to public expectation arising from these demographic changes. I know that we all much look forward to the opening of the new Institute. Indeed, the self-financing post-secondary education sector has been a very close partner of the Government in realising our vision of providing diverse and quality education options to young people. In particular, the Open University has long responded to our calls for programmes that address the significant manpower needs of specific industries and areas. In return, the Government has spared no effort in making those programmes a reality in various ways, including the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors. It provides an annual subsidy of up to $70,000 for students to pursue select, self-financing undergraduate programmes to boost talent in designated fields. This year, more than 300 new students are benefiting from the Scheme in four Open University programmes, including general healthcare, mental healthcare, animation and visual effects as well as testing and certification. In the 2018/19 academic year, we will provide subsidies to students in 12 Open University programmes and two of which are nursing programmes that will provide 340 subsidised places. The construction of this new complex is therefore timely to complement the University's efforts in strengthening education and training in the healthcare sector. The Government's commitment in supporting the self-financing, post-secondary education sector is further illustrated by the fact that, despite the current state of play in the Legislative Council, we are seeking approval from its Finance Committee for OUHK's application for a $400 million interest-free loan from the Government's Start-up Loan Scheme for developing the Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare. Another prominent example is that we have implemented the non-means-tested subsidy scheme for students pursing self-financing undergraduate degree programmes in Hong Kong to enhance support for students of self-financing institutions. The task force led by Professor Anthony Cheung is now reviewing how the Government can better support the sector to ensure its healthy and sustainable development. On this encouraging note, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as well as those who have contributed to this project for your unfailing support for healthcare education in Hong Kong. I look forward to witnessing with you in some three years' time the grand opening of the Open University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare. For now, I wish you all happy holidays ahead of us and a merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy and harmonious 2018 - in and out of the classroom. Thank you. Ends/Friday, December 15, 2017 Issued at HKT 18:26 NNNN

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Speech by Acting CE at CIC Construction Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony and BIM Conference 2017

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/15/P2017121500492.htm

15.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the CIC Construction Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony and BIM Conference 2017 today (December 15): K K (Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), Mr Chan Ka-kui), Michael (Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. I am delighted to be here at the second CIC Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony and to have this welcome opportunity to speak to the industry that drives Hong Kong forward and to the people who quietly, professionally and proudly build for Hong Kong's future. Allow me, first, to acknowledge this year's 124 award entries - for your creative commitment to the Hong Kong construction industry. And my warmest congratulations to this year's prize winners for your industry innovations and the many hours of dedication and hard work that brought them to life. Your ingenuity will, no doubt, inspire more ideas, insight and solutions to the many challenges facing the construction industry. In the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2017-18, which came out in September this year, Hong Kong was ranked the world's sixth-most competitive economy, up from ninth place the year before. And, more good news, we topped the world in physical infrastructure. A major reason for our improved standing was a leap in the innovation pillar. We are now ranked 26th in innovation worldwide, and given the current-term Government's strong emphasis on innovation, technology and creative industry, I am confident that we are on track to boosting our competitiveness in every sector and industry, including construction. In her inaugural Policy Address in October, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, made it abundantly clear that innovation and technology would drive Hong Kong's future - not as a single industry but as "a new model of development". To tie in with this thinking, the Chief Executive will chair the new high-level Chief Executive's Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development, as well as the internal Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology to contribute ideas on future innovation and our strategic positioning in the future global economy. There is an old saying that we cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them. It speaks eloquently of the critical value of innovation in tackling challenges, large and small. In the construction industry, three challenges come immediately to mind: surging costs, environmental impact and construction-site accidents. I am hardly alone in such thinking, as the theme of this year's Innovation Award - "productivity, sustainability and safety" - has made it clear. In fact, there will be a press conference this afternoon on smart city to be led by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas Yang. This is a very important step forward - smart city, liveable city. For the next few minutes, I would like to share my thoughts on how innovation can make a difference in these three critical and important areas. Innovate for Productivity In response to skyrocketing costs, we are looking at automation to replace labour-intensive tasks, a wider adoption of digital technology in construction, as well as robotics and prefabrication to enhance productivity and cost control. Without doubt, design is central to the efficient, cost-effective delivery of a project. New tools are emerging that can generate innovative design at a snap of your fingers. Building Information Modelling, or BIM, is one such tool. BIM enables visualisation of design in a virtual environment. This can avoid conflict during the construction process, reduce risks and bring clarity to project costs. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is determined to take the lead in adopting BIM in major capital works projects. Starting from 2018, more than 30 projects in the pipeline will adopt BIM in their design and construction stages. I am delighted to note that following the award ceremony and luncheon today, the CIC will organise the BIM conference this afternoon which makes a welcome statement about the CIC's commitment to BIM's industry-wide adoption. I believe that it will also signal to the private sector that the time to transform and apply new technology has come. New Engineering Contract, or NEC, is another innovative approach to boosting construction productivity. Public work projects adopting NEC have enjoyed some success arising from the collaborative partnership between government works departments and their contractors that shared the common goal of completing the projects effectively. To date, more than 80 works contracts have adopted the NEC approach, including the Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme. Piloting the open-book target cost option under NEC, it has enabled such cost-saving innovations as alternative foundations with subsoil drainage systems. The Storage Scheme was completed in March, one year ahead of schedule, and with savings of some HK$60 million. I would say that makes a compelling statement. On top of the Government's pioneering efforts, the grand opening of the Construction Innovation and Technology Application Centre last month marks a milestone in the construction industry's efforts to promote interdisciplinary research and application, especially among small and medium enterprises. With the CIC's leadership, and the support of industry stakeholders, I am confident that the construction industry will take up the challenge of improving productivity through innovation. Innovate for Sustainability Climate change is another issue - a growing challenge for every economy and every industry in the world. Buildings, as you well know, account for 60 per cent of Hong Kong's carbon emissions. Curbing those emissions demands innovative technology in building design and management together with energy-efficient equipment. More buildings in Hong Kong are now being built with such innovative features as green walls and sun-shading fins. But how green are they? The BEAM Plus certification scheme can offer a comprehensive report on the environmental performance of such buildings. It can appraise site and material aspects, energy and water use, indoor environmental quality and more. The steady increase in the number of BEAM Plus projects in recent years is encouraging. The BEAM Plus system continues to evolve with updates reflecting the needs of our society and technology advancements. In updating assessment criteria, the BEAM Plus system serves as a driver to encourage the adoption of innovation and technology. The Government is considering requiring new development projects to reach a certain level of environmental performance as a condition for granting gross floor area concessions for amenity features. Let me add that our embrace of green buildings does not end with construction. We are determined to minimise our carbon footprint at the maintenance stage. That represents about 90 per cent of a building's life cycle. In this regard, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the HKSAR Government has developed a Building Energy Management System to boost energy performance through the interface and integration of control systems and legacy meters to allow efficient data analysis for greener operation and benchmarking of energy usage. Innovate for Safety Safety, too, impels us to adopt innovative construction methods. Hong Kong's infrastructure continues to enjoy recognition as world-class because of our strong workforce behind the scenes. That said, I am concerned about the fatal construction accidents that have occurred this year, despite continuous improvements in Hong Kong's overall occupational safety and health. Construction processes are sophisticated and complicated, and they can vary greatly from one project to the next. While the industry is working diligently to build a safety culture, the Government has a role to play in ensuring the safety of construction workers. That is why this year's Construction Safety Week carried the theme of "Workers' Behaviour". Apart from nurturing a safety culture in workers, we are looking into adopting prefabrication as well as automation and robotics that can provide a safer environment for construction workers. The Development Bureau is also studying the adoption of Modular Integrated Construction for the construction industry. Under this construction method, the conventional labour-intensive and cluttered on-site operations would be completed in off-site prefabrication yards like industrial manufacturing. By adopting "factory assembly followed by on-site installation", Modular Integrated Construction would boost productivity and quality. No less important, it would enhance construction safety through a better working environment and reduced working at height. The Government will, of course, remain open to all innovative ideas that can help realise construction safety. Ladies and gentlemen, you may have heard the phrase, "You can invent alone, but you cannot innovate alone." Innovation indeed is a collective process which requires contribution from all of us. This year's Construction Innovation Award entries and winners have greatly impressed me with their innovative technology for the construction industry. I look forward to seeing the products, technology and applications of today's winners on tomorrow's construction sites and throughout the industry. On this note, ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all a rewarding conference this afternoon, and a prosperous and safe new year ahead. Thank you. Ends/Friday, December 15, 2017 Issued at HKT 14:27 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Slope Safety Summit 2017

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/11/P2017121100426.htm

11.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Slope Safety Summit 2017 today (December 11): Colleagues, distinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. The year 2017 is a memorable year for us as we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As festivities and celebration events are coming to a close, I am pleased to join you at this Slope Safety Summit today which marks the 40th anniversary of the Hong Kong slope safety system, notably with the setting up of the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) 40 years ago. I wish to commend the Civil Engineering and Development Department for its initiative in hosting this summit together with the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers for us to reflect on our past successes and to prepare for the future. I wish in particular to welcome many distinguished experts who have contributed so much to our slope safety system over the years, including Professor Norbert Morgenstern, Professor John Burland, Dr Suzanne Lacasse and Professor Dave Petley. Each one of them has played critical roles in our GEO - both in terms of its establishment and its continuing evolution. Their geotechnical expertise and experience, their extraordinary commitment to slope safety, helped build the global city that Hong Kong has surely become over the past few decades. To be sure, it has been a long uphill - or should I say, downhill - struggle. Let's turn the clock back to some 50 years ago. Hong Kong's population soared from some 3 million in 1960 to more than 5 million in 1979. That population surge placed tremendous pressures on Hong Kong, particularly on our social welfare and housing systems. A number of tragic landslides, culminating in the Sau Mau Ping disaster of 1976, led to the establishment of an Independent Review Panel on Fill Slopes. Professor Morgenstern was a member of that trailblazing Review Panel. In a foreword to the Review Panel Report's later republication, he paints a poignant picture of that heart-rending time. Allow me to quote him here: "It is hard to recapture the sense of urgency that surrounded the preparation of this Report. At the time of the Sau Mau Ping disaster in 1976, Hong Kong was in the midst of an enormous public housing undertaking. The Sau Mau Ping landslide raised questions regarding public safety associated with this housing programme, and I still vividly remember Sir Murray MacLehose, then Governor of Hong Kong, asking, 'Do I have to evacuate several thousand people each time it rains?'" The answer was no, because that report prompted the birth, in 1977, of the Geotechnical Engineering Office - or the Geotechnical Control Office as it was initially called. For more than a decade, Professor Morgenstern also led the Slope Safety Technical Review Board. The Board was established in 1995 in the wake of the Kwun Lung Lau landslide of 1994 to advise Government on technical aspects of slope safety. In doing so, he helped bring to life the celebrated slope safety system we recognise with pride today. As for Dr Suzanne Lacasse and Professor Dave Petley, they are current members of the Technical Review Board, offering Hong Kong expert advice and valued international insight. I know that first-hand. As Secretary for Development from 2007 to 2012, I met with Suzanne every year, getting her invaluable advice on slope safety management. Indeed, as Secretary for Development, I supported the launching, in 2010, of the long-term Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme by the GEO. The Programme systematically tackles landslide risks linked to both man-made slopes and natural hillsides - both of which we have in perilous abundance. I still vividly remember that in the first couple of months of my taking up the position of the Secretary for Development, the then head of the GEO, Raymond Chan, came to see me presenting graphs after graphs to illustrate that while Hong Kong has done a lot in stabilising our man-made slopes, we must not lose sight of natural slopes, which are everywhere with our topography. Without asking any further questions, I gave policy support and secured the new resources for this programme which was rolled out in remarkable expediency. It is gratifying to note that this is an area where there is no room for complacency; the Government is still spending HK$1 billion every year on slope upgrading and mitigation works under the programme. This morning, in my new capacity as Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I'm here to applaud the extraordinary work you've all done over the years, and to reaffirm Government's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of slope safety in Hong Kong to protect people's life and property. There is much to applaud. Evolving in response to experience, continual improvement initiatives and technological advancement, we now have in place one of the best slope engineering and landslide risk-management systems in the world. Indeed, the risk of landslides from Hong Kong's man-made slopes today is down some 75 per cent from the 1977 level. But landslide risks will never drop to zero given that the majority of Hong Kong's land area is hilly terrain. Today, we must also contend with the acute challenges of population growth, slope degradation and, most notably, climate change. Climate change is already affecting us. And there is the very real likelihood that climate change will result in more frequent, more extreme rainfall, triggering deadly landslides from our mountainous landscape. Typhoon Hato, in August, highlights the impact of extreme weather. Hato, Hong Kong's first No. 10 typhoon signal since 2012, injured at least 129 people here. It felled some 5,300 trees and resulted in flooding and coastal-area damage. It was indeed a powerful reminder that we must be prepared to deal with extreme weather; that we must maintain the highest landslide vigilance. The Government has in place a Contingency Plan for Natural Disasters, created to ensure that we respond to emergency situations quickly and effectively across the whole of Hong Kong. In this, the GEO plays a vital part. It maintains a 24-hour, year-round landslide emergency service, advising government departments on action to be taken in case of landslide danger. I understand that, in recent years, they have been using sensors to detect landslides by monitoring changes in conditions of landslide-resisting barriers. This is a good example of how we embrace technology to achieve greater efficiencies in city operations, which is a key part in our ongoing quest to transform Hong Kong into a smart city. The GEO has also stepped up public awareness measures, producing a variety of publicity messages and educational activities promoting slope safety. This public awareness programme reaches into every sector of our community including schools. The exhibition outside this hall, organised under a "public education on slope safety" theme, makes a clear and compelling statement of our community-wide resolve. Ladies and gentlemen, today is a special occasion as we have here all the ex-leaders of the Geotechnical Engineering Office. You and your colleagues worked tirelessly in enhancing slope safety in Hong Kong. May I, at this point, invite all our heads, past and current, to rise for us to give them a big round of applause. You have been so successful that some of our younger generations who were born after the tragic landslides in the 1970s may now have taken slope safety for granted. But I will not. I know it is your vision and hard work which protect Hong Kong from landslides. You are truly the unsung heroes of Hong Kong. On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I express my gratitude to you all. Before I close, I must say how pleased I am to see guests here from all over the world, including the Mainland, Thailand, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. Such information exchange echoes the central role of connectivity in the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong is most willing to share the wealth of knowledge and expertise that we have accumulated in combating landslides and in slope-safety management over the past decades with countries along the Belt and Road. Indeed, slope safety is a prerequisite to the infrastructure development that will drive the Belt and Road's future. My thanks, and gratitude, to the Geotechnical Engineering Office of our Civil Engineering and Development Department, along with the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, for organising this most welcome event, this local and global gathering which brings together past and present, united in a future built on a smart, sustainable and safe Hong Kong. I wish you all a memorable Summit and a new year blessed with health, happiness and continuing success. Thank you very much. Ends/Monday, December 11, 2017 Issued at HKT 16:02 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Yidan Prize Inaugural Award Presentation Ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/10/P2017121000813.htm

10.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Yidan Prize Inaugural Award Presentation Ceremony this evening (December 10): Dr Charles Chen (Founder of the Yidan Prize, Dr Charles Chen), distinguished Chairman and members of the Advisory Board and Judging Panel, laureates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you tonight for the Inaugural Yidan Prize Presentation Ceremony. Originated in Hong Kong, the Yidan Prize is the largest recognition of achievement in the field of education in the world, thanks to Dr Charles Chen's extraordinary commitment and laudable vision to create a better world through education. I'm particularly proud for Hong Kong as this is already the third prestigious international accolade based in Hong Kong, preceded by the Shaw Prize recognising distinguished individuals in the fields of astronomy, life science and medicine and mathematical sciences and the Lui Che Woo Prize awarded to individuals or organisations that have made remarkable contributions to the welfare of mankind. I have the honour of presiding over the annual awards of those two prizes in my new capacity as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the past two months, and tonight, I am much delighted to witness the inaugural presentation of another prestigious award, dedicated to an area which is very close to my heart. Talent is the most important element in Hong Kong's continued development, and education is the key to nurturing talent. I said therefore in my Election Manifesto that government expenditure on education is the most significant investment for our future. And I practice what I preach: in the first month of my taking office from July 1 this year, I obtained approval from the Legislative Council to allocate an additional HK$3.6 billion to our recurrent budget on education , to put in place various improvement measures in kindergarten, primary, secondary, university as well as special education. The goal of our education policy is to nurture future generations to become citizens who are socially responsible and equipped with a sense of national identity, a love for Hong Kong and an international perspective. But I believe education should be led by experts and professionals, certainly not bureaucrats; the role of the Government should be one of creating a stable, caring, inspiring and satisfying teaching and learning environment for students, teachers, principals and parents. The success in education, however, requires the collaborative efforts of all who care about our next generation. The founder of Yidan Prize, Dr Charles Chen, is definitely one of those who cares about our future generations. As a co-founder of Tencent, Charles took what many would regard as early retirement to focus his attention on charity. He founded the Chen Yidan Charity Foundation in 2013 and launched the Yidan Prize in 2016 with a HK$2.5 billion donation. Tonight we will congratulate the two inaugural laureates for the Yidan Prize, Professor Carol Dweck and Ms Vicky Colbert, and have the opportunity to listen from them their respective vision for quality education. While my Government will continue to invest in education, we must at the same time prepare our young people for the many challenges in a rapidly changing world that will be very different from the one we faced when we were young. We must ensure that education is inclusive and accessible to children regardless of race, nationality, gender, religious belief or means. This is where one of our inaugural laureate Ms Vicky Colbert from the Fundación Escuela Nueva has pioneered through innovative education models. Pioneering research is of course the hallmark of our other inaugural laureate Professor Carol Dweck. Her work on "growth mindset" has instilled among many people - students as well as businessmen - the motivation to succeed. I just hope, Carol, we could learn how to apply this within the Government with a view to fostering greater success in my efforts to better our society. The Yidan Prize gives us much to look forward to in education excellence. And for this, I am grateful to Dr Chen, the Yidan Prize Foundation and the international judging committee for their commitment to global education and educators, and for their contribution to the sustainable development of the world we live in. My congratulations again to this year's laureates, Professor Dweck and Ms Colbert, for their distinguished achievements. Working together, I know we can create a better world through education. Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy this memorable evening. Thank you very much. Ends/Sunday, December 10, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:09 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Hong Kong Belt-Road City-to-City Cultural Exchange Conference 2017 opening ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/09/P2017120900531.htm

9.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Hong Kong Belt-Road City-to-City Cultural Exchange Conference 2017 opening ceremony this morning (December 9): Danny (Curator of the Hong Kong Belt-Road City-to-City Cultural Exchange Conference 2017 and Co-Artistic Director of Zuni Icosahedron, Mr Danny Yung), Mathias (Curator of the Hong Kong Belt-Road City-to-City Cultural Exchange Conference 2017 and Co-Artistic Director cum Executive Director of Zuni Icosahedron, Mr Mathias Woo), ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. I'm delighted to join you today for the opening ceremony of the "Hong Kong Belt-Road City-to-City Cultural Exchange Conference." For a few years now, much has been talked about the Belt and Road Initiative and many conferences have been held in Hong Kong harping on this important theme. But placing "culture" as the theme of a Belt and Road conference is quite pioneering and commendable. It is definitely something to be welcome by my Government for a few reasons. First, as I have mentioned in my speech at the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum 2017 Gala Dinner held last week, culture has been given increasing prominence by government leaders, including our Chinese leaders. I quoted from General Secretary Xi Jinping's 19th Congress Report delivered on October 18 this year that culture is a country and a nation's soul and the country of China will thrive only if the Chinese culture thrives, and our Nation will be strong only if our culture is strong. It is therefore acknowledged in his report that we must provide our people with rich intellectual nourishment to meet the people's new aspirations. Secondly, the Belt and Road Initiative is not only about trade and business. One of the five main areas of connectivity which this Initiative sets to boost is people-to-people bond. In this area, as mentioned by the Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Mr Zhang Dejiang at the inaugural Belt and Road Summit held in Hong Kong in May last year, Hong Kong has been an important window for cultural exchanges between the East and the West given our open and inclusive cultural atmosphere. Thirdly, culture occupies an important place in my vision for Hong Kong as portrayed in my maiden Policy Address delivered on October 11 this year. My Government will continue to provide the policy and resources for transforming Hong Kong into Asia’s cultural hub and taking advantages of our cultural foundation to promote people-to-people interactions along the Belt and Road. Indeed, as the senior civil servant responsible for cultural policy a decade ago for four and half years, I can promise you that culture will be very close to my heart as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). I must therefore express my most sincere gratitude to Zuni and her Artistic Directors, Danny Yung and Mathias Woo for bringing to us this international cultural gathering. Indeed, this is not the first time that Zuni brought us such important global or regional connections. Zuni initiated a Greater China cultural conference in 1998, a year after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. That conference's focus, then as now, is on the artists and cultural professionals of four Greater China cities: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Taipei and Hong Kong. That is the reason why it is commonly referred to as the 4-City Conference. As Danny has said of Hong Kong’s return to our motherland China, it "would be a cultural opportunity to initiate an important discourse on Chinese culture, Chinese and foreign cultures, as well as Eastern and Western cultures." The City-to-City Conference has brought that "opportunity" to creative life. And we are all the better for it. Each year, critical developments in arts and culture are discussed, together with broader issues such as creativity, arts education and cultural challenges. The mission is laudable: to champion and promote the sustainable development of arts and culture in the participating Chinese cities. And, no less important from my Government's perspective, to showcase the role of Hong Kong as a regional cultural capital. This year, given the widespread interest in the Belt and Road initiative, Zuni has expanded its ambitions by running back-to-back cultural events, beginning with the 4-City Conference, which ended yesterday, and continuing these two days with the first "Hong Kong Belt-Road City-to-City Cultural Exchange Conference." That decision has been well received, with more than 70 arts and cultural practitioners, cultural policymakers and scholars from all over the world here in Hong Kong to share their vision and their experience under the theme of "Cultural Exchange and City Branding". This welcome occasion presents an excellent opportunity for cities along the Belt and Road to build connections, and for their cultural leaders to create opportunities. It offers as well the promise of greater co-operation between the cultures and creative industries of East and West. This is indeed that an essential aspect of the Belt and Road Initiative: the building of connectivity, not only in infrastructure and commerce, but in culture and the arts, thereby creating ties and enriching people-to-people bonds. Mathias has just mentioned his aspiration for this city conference to become a sustainable platform. I want to assure you, Danny and Mathias, that the HKSAR Government will certainly give you that support in many years to come. On that note, I wish you all a rewarding conference and a New Year overflowing with creative and cultural promises. Thank you very much. Ends/Saturday, December 9, 2017 Issued at HKT 14:23 NNNN

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Speech by Acting CE at Vocational Training Council 35th Anniversary Dinner

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/08/P2017120801003.htm

8.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at Vocational Training Council 35th Anniversary Dinner today (December 8): Dr Chen (The Chairman of VTC, Dr Clement Chen), Dr Yau (The Executive Director of VTC, Dr Carrie Yau), ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. I am most honoured to join you all tonight to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Vocational Training Council (VTC). For 35 years, the VTC has been devoted to providing flexible and diversified study choices for secondary school leavers and working adults as well as nurturing the requisite human capital in support of the development of Hong Kong. Those choices can be life-changing. They offer knowledge, values and skills and thereby enhancing employability and offering the prospect of lifelong learning. The VTC’s mission began in 1982 when the Government established it as a statutory body dedicated to vocational education. Today, the VTC provides training courses to more than 250,000 students a year through its 13 member institutions, playing a pivotal role in ensuring skill-based training for our workforce. That, ladies and gentlemen, is an achievement worthy of our applause and our gratitude. The theme of tonight’s 35th anniversary celebration, “Creating Value, Perfecting Skills,” highlights the ongoing mission of the VTC. It underscores, as well, the key to Hong Kong’s longstanding success. And that, of course, is a quality workforce. The people of Hong Kong will always make the difference. The VTC creates value for its students and our society, aligning vocational and professional education and training services to the ever-changing needs of industry. It enhances apprenticeship training and, through its “Earn and Learn Pilot Scheme”, attracts young people to industries with a keen demand for labour, while providing apprentices with first-hand experience in the workplace. The VTC also creates opportunities for our young people to participate in international skills competitions, widening their horizons and boosting their confidence. At the 44th WorldSkills Competition held in Abu Dhabi in October this year, the 22-member Hong Kong team took home one bronze medal and seven medallions of excellence, tying for the 25th place with New Zealand and Sweden and beating larger countries like the US and Spain. Also, the 30-member IVE SOPHIE Team was the 4th team to cross the finish line in the challenging Cruiser Class at the World Solar Challenge 2017 held in Australia in October, outperforming strong contenders from the US, Australia and Singapore. I would like to commend the Hong Kong team, VTC Council members, management and teaching staff for a job well done! The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to vocational and professional education and training. We have put forth a number of policy measures in this respect, including regularising the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions and Sectors from the 2018/19 academic year onwards with an increase in the number of subsidised places to about 3 000 per cohort and continuing the industrial attachment projects to improve students’ employability. We also fully support the VTC to further enhance its infrastructure, as demonstrated by our support for it to develop a modern and multi-disciplinary campus in East Kowloon and develop the Aircraft and Marine Engineering Centre within the IVE Tsing Yi campus. To diversify our talent pool to sustain Hong Kong's long-term competitiveness, as pledged by the Chief Executive in her inaugural Policy Address announced just two months ago, the Government will carry out in-depth reviews on eight key areas of education, including a review on how vocational and professional education and training can be better promoted to cater for students’ diverse abilities and interests and to foster closer business-school collaboration to meet the manpower needs of Hong Kong. On this initiative, we welcome the views and suggestions from VTC and its partners. To ensure that VTC’s programmes remain relevant and responsive to market needs, Government’s effort alone is not enough. The achievements that VTC has made in the past 35 years would not have been possible without the staunch support from its partners including alumni, industrial partners and the community. Apart from course planning and curriculum design, partners of the VTC also provide valuable learning opportunities to our next generations with scholarship sponsorships, industry attachment and job placements that have enabled VTC students to fully unleash their potential and pursue their aspirations. On this note, I would like to pay warm tribute to the VTC Chairman, Dr Clement Chen, for your outstanding leadership at the helm, to all Council members, industrial partners, teachers, staff, alumni and students for your support to vocational and professional education and training of Hong Kong. I wish the Vocational Training Council all the best in the many years ahead and all of you an enjoyable and memorable evening. Happy 35th Birthday VTC! And “V” stands for vision – vision for equipping our younger generation, “T” stands for tenacity – tenacity in promoting quality professional and vocational education and training, “C” stands for commitment – commitment in nurturing our young people and building for Hong Kong’s future. Thank you very much. Please allow me now to say a few words in Chinese. 各位嘉賓晚安！今晚十分高興和大家共聚一起，共同慶祝職業訓練局（職訓局）成立三十五周年。 自一九八二年成立以來，職訓局一直致力為香港培育優秀的人才。經過多年來的努力，職訓局每年為約25萬名學生提供全面的職前和在職訓練，為香港提供優秀的人才，促進了各行各業的發展。 隨着全球的商業模式不斷改變，面對將來我們仍有不少挑戰。職專教育能培養學員的專門知識、實用技能及培養正確觀念，讓他們為日後就業作好準備。多年以來，職訓局一直積極配合政府教育政策，促進行業人力發展。我們會繼續支持職訓局推廣職專教育，完善教學設施，以培育更多具備專業技能的人才。 我衷心感謝職訓局在過去的三十五年對香港社會的貢獻。我祝願職訓局繼往開來，繼續為香港培育一代又一代追求卓越技能的人才。多謝各位！ Ends/Friday, December 8, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:30 NNNN

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Speech by CE at PolyU 80th Anniversary Celebration Dinner

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/07/P2017120700919.htm

7.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Polytechnic University (PolyU) 80th Anniversary Celebration Dinner today (December 7): Mr Chan (Chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Council, Mr Chan Tsz-ching), Timothy (President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Timothy Tong), Carlson (Chairman of the University Grants Committee, Mr Carlson Tong), ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. It's a great pleasure to be here, to be celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University with you tonight. Without sounding cliché, time really flies. It is more than one year ago that I officiated at the launching ceremony of the University's 80th anniversary celebrations on the university campus in my then capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration. PolyU's journey started eighty years ago in a modest, two-storey building on Wood Road in Wan Chai. It was Government Trade School back then, the first publicly funded, post-secondary technical institution in Hong Kong offering courses in mechanical engineering, marine wireless operating and building construction. With the remarkable efforts of its management, staff and students, that trade school has become the PolyU that we all know and admire, an internationally renowned university – innovative, ambitious and endlessly evolving. PolyU excels in professional education, in applied research and community partnership, all for the benefit and the progress of Hong Kong. Its pursuit of excellence has been applauded internationally. In this year's QS World University Rankings, eight PolyU disciplines were ranked among the world's top 50. The university also climbed to 17th place in Asia this year under the Times Higher Education University Rankings. These cheering results reflect PolyU's longstanding promise: "Opening Minds, Shaping the Future." They also underscore the remarkable development of Hong Kong's higher education sector over the years. Indeed, in this year's QS World University Rankings, five Hong Kong universities placed in the top 100 globally. In recent years, PolyU and other post-secondary institutions are busily and profitably tapping into the opportunities presented by Mainland China, by Asia in general, and by the world at large. There will be plenty of such opportunities in the future, as the visionary Belt and Road Initiative turns into reality. The Belt and Road Initiative links more than 60 nations on three continents through infrastructure development and in a wealth of other areas, from expanded trade and political ties to culture, education and people-to-people bonds. Our universities will have a big part to play if we are to take full advantage of the Belt and Road's boundless promise. In this regard, I am very pleased to note that PolyU has very strong regional and global connections, and is committed to weaving an effective global network which further facilitates educational and research development, as well as enhancing academic and cultural exchanges. PolyU was one of the first universities to co-found the University Alliance of the Silk Road in 2015. The Alliance now comprises 124 universities from 32 countries or regions, and has been actively organising a range of activities to broaden students' horizons and enrich their understanding about the Belt and Road regions. More recently, PolyU established the Belt and Road Centre in September 2017. This think tank will pool the interdisciplinary research strengths of the university to work with the public and private sectors, professional bodies and other universities on Belt and Road-related initiatives, as well as integrating them into university curriculum. It is encouraging to see PolyU progressing and contributing so remarkably in these aspects. But it is nearer home, in the Gaungdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area that Hong Kong universities including PolyU will play a pivotal role in our ambition to develop in the Bay Area an international Innovation & Technology Centre, and in fulfilling my blueprint for I&T development with a view to help diversifying Hong Kong's economy and creating more quality jobs for our next generation. I know such an ambition has to be supported by additional resources in research and development (R&D). Thus, in my maiden Policy Address delivered on October 11, I announced that Government will set aside no less than HK$10 billion as extra funding for university research. I also propose a tax incentive to encourage enterprises to spend more on R&D. Given PolyU's achievements in applied research, I am confident that it will make excellent use of these additional resources. I take heart as well in PolyU's emphasis on service-learning, knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship. PolyU is the first university in Hong Kong to include service learning as a compulsory component for all students under the four-year curriculum. I am delighted to learn that PolyU students have contributed some 400 000 hours of services to the Hong Kong community through service-learning programmes. PolyU is also among our first higher-education institutions to offer funding and support to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students, academics and alumni. With the establishment of the PolyU InnoHub earlier this year, I am confident our young innovators and entrepreneurs will expand their cooperation and exchanges with their counterparts in the nearby regions. Ladies and gentlemen, while we celebrate PolyU's 80th anniversary today, the university is focused firmly on the future. I thank PolyU, particularly President Timothy Tong who has announced his decision to step down in December next year, and everyone involved for what you have done and what you will do for PolyU and Hong Kong. I wish PolyU every success in its future endeavours and wish you all an enjoyable evening. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.) Ends/Thursday, December 7, 2017 Issued at HKT 22:07 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Business of IP Asia Forum

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/07/P2017120700368.htm

7.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Business of IP Asia Forum this morning (December 7): Margaret (Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Margaret Fong), Mr He (Deputy Commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office Mr He Hua), Ms Wang (Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization Ms Wang Binying), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. Welcome to the seventh Business of Intellectual Property Asia Forum. The theme of this year's Forum is "IP and Innovation - Propelling Change, Growth and Connectivity". The stress on innovation is timely for each and every one of us here as government leaders, company owners and managers, academics and researchers, NGOs and service providers, intellectual property owners and users, buyers and sellers. In a fast-changing world, we are all, and have to be, innovators in order to meet the challenges ahead of us. This Forum is equally timely for Hong Kong and for my new Government. We believe in innovation and technology (I&T), and we are determined that it will drive our future success. Which is why, in my first Policy Address delivered in October this year, I highlighted eight areas of our I&T agenda over the next five years, ranging from increasing research and development expenditure to nurturing talents. Work has already started in many of the areas, and I will personally chair an internal Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology to ensure that the various I&T initiatives will be taken forward expeditiously. This Committee will meet for the first time tomorrow. We are also committed to strengthening our creative industries, particularly design, to diversify our economy and meet our growing social needs. Indeed, I came here straight from the opening of this year's Business of Design Week, which has become Asia's major annual event for design, innovation and brands over the years and features design leaders and innovators from all over the region and around the world. But let's be clear on this: I&T, and the creative industries, won't go far in Hong Kong, or anywhere else, without a strong IP protection regime. In this regard, Hong Kong enjoys a significant edge, as our IP protection regime is recognised and well regarded internationally. In the latest World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report published in September, Hong Kong ranked ninth in IP protection among the 137 economies covered by the Report. Couple that solid IP protection with our sound legal and financial systems, our business-friendly environment and world-class business and professional services, and you would know why Hong Kong is fast emerging as the region's IP trading hub. It helps, too, that our economy is increasingly connected with that of Mainland China. The Mainland is now a major IP powerhouse. I'm sure you'll hear more about the Mainland's IP rise over the next two days. Suffice to say that, in the year 2015, the Mainland of China became the first economy to receive more than a million patent applications in one year, as many as Japan, the Republic of Korea and the US combined. No doubt, the Mainland will continue to be a leading player in the global IP arena given the strategic position accorded to IP and innovation in the 13th Five-Year Plan on National Economic and Social Development. It should also be noted that the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development, two visionary national strategies, will offer unprecedented opportunities, IP trading included. Under both strategies, Hong Kong will serve both as a sophisticated intermediary and a hub for fund-raising and professional services of all kinds. Last month, Hong Kong signed an agreement on intellectual property co-operation with the nine IP offices of the pan-Pearl River Delta region. The agreement will promote the continuous deepening of regional IP co-operation and facilitate economic and cultural exchanges with countries and regions along the Belt and Road, thereby fostering joint economic development in the region. Also in the last month, we signed a Free Trade Agreement and related Investment Agreement with the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The agreements will generate new opportunities for business with ASEAN, already our second largest trading partner. They will also strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international trade, commerce and financial centre, creating fresh impetus for IP trading throughout the region. IP is gaining unprecedented momentum around the world, spurring innovation and creativity, transforming commerce and reinventing the way we live, work and interact with one another. Consider the example of 3-D printing technology. As noted by the World Intellectual Property Organization, 3-D printing is streamlining design and manufacturing, affording greater design freedom and complete product customisation, reducing costs and material wastage and forging greater designer-client ties. But let's not forget that a full 3-D printing system would not have been possible without IP rights. They include patent rights in 3-D printing components, processes and raw printing material, copyright in controlling software programmes and trademarks of 3-D printer products. In short, the commercialisation of IP rights encourages both co-operation and ground-breaking innovation. Indeed, IP is the very engine powering innovation. It is the principal means of establishing and protecting creations of the mind and providing a legal foundation for innovation and the advances it enables. As IP becomes more and more important to us all, so too do the standards and the regulations that govern its creation and commercialisation. In Hong Kong, we are enhancing our IP regime to meet the needs of society and the global economy. We are, for example, developing an original grant patent system to support Hong Kong's rise as a regional I&T hub. We are working to implement the international trademark registration system, under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning International Registration of Marks. This will save companies time and money in obtaining and managing their international trademark registrations. My Government, taking on the role as a facilitator and a promoter, will also take forward various measures to strengthen Hong Kong's position as the IP trading nexus in Asia. We hope that these efforts would build a more solid ground for Hong Kong to drive the development of innovation and technology. The Business of IP Asia Forum, launched in 2011, is a major component of our efforts, and we take pride to see that the Forum has risen to become a flagship event for IP in the region. We treasure the presence of over 80 renowned speakers worldwide who would share their insights and experiences on a myriad of current IP issues. They include senior officials from the State Intellectual Property Office, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the ASEAN Working Group on IP Cooperation, the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters at the Cabinet Office of Japan, and the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to them for their support to the event. And my thanks also go to all the participants in the Forum. Ladies and gentlemen, innovation is the talk of the day, but is not something easy to achieve. With Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages, our can-do attitude and enterprising spirits, I have every confidence that we could brave our way down the innovation path for a better future. At the same time, Hong Kong fully recognises the role and value of the IP system at the centre of economic growth driven by I&T. We will harness its powers. Tapping the opportunities arising from IP trading will benefit Hong Kong and, surely, all of us. I wish you all the best of business at this Forum, a memorable stay in Hong Kong and a happy, healthy and innovative new year ahead. Thank you very much. Ends/Thursday, December 7, 2017 Issued at HKT 12:30 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Business of Design Week opening ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/07/P2017120700346.htm

7.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening ceremony of Business of Design Week (BODW) 2017 today (December 7): Eric (Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre, Professor Eric Yim), Victor (Chairman of the BODW Steering Committee of the Hong Kong Design Centre, Mr Victor Lo), Antonello (Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Antonello De Riu), ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. It is a great pleasure to join you today at the opening ceremony of Business of Design Week 2017. May I first offer a warm welcome to our dear friends from Italy, this year's BODW partner country, for a second time since our last partnership in 2007. I am particularly pleased to share the happiness of this 10th anniversary of Hong Kong and Italy co-operation because of the small part I played in it - back in May 2015, during my official trip to Rome in my then capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration, I made this proposal to the Vice Minister for Economic Development of Italy, Mr Carlo Calenda, whose diplomatic adviser was our former Italian Consul General Alessandra Schiavo, who naturally put in all the good words about Hong Kong's design sector. What a happy coincidence! Many people today associate the word "design" with the products of our everyday life: sneakers and T-shirts, kitchen appliances, mobile phones and other electronic gadgets brought to stylish life. That's true, of course, but only as far as it goes. Steve Jobs took a smart step further, when he said, "Design is how it works." In short, for Steve Jobs and for the design industry in general, design is about creating things that work, turning ideas into efficient, practical and pleasing products and offerings for us as the end users. This is the business of design, which is what this week-long global gathering of design professionals is all about. In its 16th edition, BODW has become the largest design event in Asia, attracting over these years some 120 000 design professionals and aficionados, including all of you here. You are here to be informed and inspired by more than 70 high-profile speakers from 16 countries and regions, together with a creative windfall of forums, seminars and plenary sessions. There will also be designer displays, product showcases and collective spotlights - from design-driven cities, companies and institutions to this year's partner country and its "Italy Makes a Difference" exhibition. Italy always makes a difference when it comes to design - to the function, form and endless delights of design. As partner country at BODW 2007, Italy presented a master class on design, style and craftsmanship. This year, Italian creativity and innovation, together with its resplendent cultural heritage, returns along with 24 BODW speakers who are all design and brand leaders. We are indeed most grateful for Italy's support. Hong Kong also has what it takes to excel in design. Not only in organising one of the world's great design gatherings, but in serving as a creative hub. Hong Kong, at the heart of Asia, where East meets West, has always embraced diversity, welcoming the best things in life and the beauty, sophistication and style that underlies them. My Government believes in design and the creative industries in general - in their power to boost our economy and to add value, to make Hong Kong a destination city. Design is among the fastest-growing of our creative industries and my Government will expand our support of those industries, particularly design. We are doing that not only for their economic value, but also because they open up massive opportunities for our young people. In my maiden Policy Address delivered in October this year, I offered a wide range of support measures for our creative industries. Among others, we will inject an additional HK$1 billion into a fund known as the CreateSmart Initiative, to fast-track the development of our creative industries. We will also expand our promotion of creativity and design thinking throughout Hong Kong - in our schools as well as in government and industry. And Hong Kong Design Centre, which is our long-term partner as well as BODW's organiser, will be actively involved in helping to nurture Hong Kong's design talent. My thanks to Eric and the Design Centre for their professionalism and enthusiasm in organising BODW. While BODW has already become the largest design event in Asia, I know that the Design Centre has the ambition to elevate BODW into a global design and tourism event in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board. I invite you to return, next year and beyond, to witness and to take part in this wonderful transformation. Finally, allow me to thank all our collaborators and sponsors for their dedication and for making BODW a global success these past 16 years. I wish you all a rewarding Business of Design Week and a new year resounding with the art, the craft, the sheer splendour, of design. Thank you very much. Ends/Thursday, December 7, 2017 Issued at HKT 11:56 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Opening Ceremony of 2017 FIA Formula E Hong Kong E-Prix

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/02/P2017120200524.htm

2.12.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 FIA Formula E Hong Kong E-Prix in Central today (December 2): Ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. What a beautiful day! It gives me great pleasure to join you today to kick-start the Hong Kong E-Prix, the opening event of the 2017-18 FIA Formula E season, and I'm delighted to be doing so on this purpose-built racetrack here at Central Harbourfront – the fast-beating heart of Hong Kong, Asia's world city. Thanks to the overwhelming success of last year's inaugural Hong Kong E-Prix, the Government and people of Hong Kong embrace this event. Today's season-opening race has attracted major media attention. I'm told there are more than 500 media organisations on hand. And the live broadcasts will showcase our dazzling skyline and vibrant harbour for all the world to see. My thanks to Formula Electric Racing (Hong Kong) Limited, the organiser of this event, as well as the FIA Formula E Championship, the Hong Kong Automobile Association and all the sponsors and partners responsible for bringing this electric weekend to thrilling life. My thanks, as well, to our Tourism Commission and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, as well as colleagues in many other government departments, for their essential commitment and expert support. I wish you all a memorable weekend at the race track, and on the streets, of Hong Kong. Thank you. Ends/Saturday, December 2, 2017 Issued at HKT 14:36 NNNN

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Appointment of Chairman of Council of City University of Hong Kong

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/29/P2017122900243.htm

29.12.2017

The Government today (December 29) announced that the Chief Executive had appointed Mr Lester Garson Huang as Chairman of the Council of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) for a term of three years with effect from January 1, 2018. The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, welcomed Mr Huang's appointment as the CityU Council Chairman. "Mr Huang has been devoted to public service particularly in the field of education. He is currently the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research and a member of the Education Commission. He has previously served on the Councils of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the University of Hong Kong as members. With his wealth of experience in the higher education sector in Hong Kong, I am confident that Mr Huang will be able to lead CityU to scale new heights in the years to come," Mr Yeung said. Mr Yeung also paid tribute to Mr Herman Hu Shao-ming, the outgoing CityU Council Chairman, for his contribution to the development of CityU during his chairmanship. Ends/Friday, December 29, 2017 Issued at HKT 8:53 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks at press conference on Co-location Arrangement of Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/27/P2017122701036.htm

27.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; and the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Sonny Au, held a press conference this afternoon (December 27) on the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on approving the Co-operation Arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Establishment of the Port at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link for Implementing Co-location Arrangement. Following is the transcript of remarks at the press conference: Reporter: Mrs Lam, well seven years ago, we heard from the Government that there will be a backup plan, well, that is having separate check points in both Mainland and Hong Kong. But then, today, only one proposal got passed by the NPC (National People's Congress) Standing Committee. Do you see this as the SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government's incapability to grant Hong Kong as more alternative plans and options? And Mr Yuen, before you leave the SAR (Government), it's glad to have you in this, probably one of the last PCs (press conferences) with us. Well, it's indeed the case that we are now calling the West Kowloon Station a Mainland Port Area, but we all know, how do you convince Hong Kong people that it is suddenly becoming a Mainland Port Area and it's no longer under SAR's territory and therefore, well, the Government is now proposing that Article 18 is no longer applicable in this site? How is the Government not moving the goalposts and not changing the game rules in the middle of the game? Thank you. Chief Executive: Let me address the first question. Well, it is true that the Express Rail Link (XRL) Hong Kong Section, as a project, was conceived some 10 years ago. And as you have heard from Mr Li Fei and Mr Huang Liuquan, discussions between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Mainland authorities have been going on for a very long time, more than five or six years. So in the process, various options have been looked at, deliberated and even debated between the two sides. But it is very clear, as I have said in my opening remarks and this clarity is not just a view of the Government but a view of the majority of people in Hong Kong, that in order for this 26-kilometre Hong Kong Section of the XRL to achieve its highest benefits in terms of the economy, in terms of social interactions and travelling convenience, one has to go for co-location, that is passengers on this high-speed rail have to go through both the Mainland and the Hong Kong clearance in one go at one place, and that is the West Kowloon Station. So especially over the last five months, society has deliberated and debated very extensively and we have also heard views from the public and looked at results of opinion surveys that people generally have accepted that co-location is the best arrangement. So what we are now sitting here to share with you is the legal basis to enable us to move forward to achieve co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Station. So of course, having gone through this process and with the support of the people of Hong Kong and the non-binding motion passed by the Legislative Council, the NPCSC (National People's Congress Standing Committee) is giving us this legal basis to support the co-location arrangement. So there is really no question of going for various legal options because this is the best option that we have come up with. Secretary for Justice: On my part, thank you for your kind introduction but I am not going to comment whether this is my last press conference. On the questions raised by you, I think it would be pertinent to look at the preamble to the Decision. It actually makes the point very clearly that the establishment of the Mainland Port Area at the West Kowloon Station will not change, first of all, the administrative boundary of the HKSAR. I think this is important. It stresses that it will not change the administrative boundary of the HKSAR. In other words, it will not change the territorial boundary of Hong Kong. Secondly, it would not affect the rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong residents. Thirdly, it also very pertinently pointed out that the setting up of the port at the West Kowloon Station would not affect the high autonomy enjoyed by Hong Kong. Therefore, there is no question of moving the goalpost. In fact, if one looks at the past precedence of the model adopted by the Shenzhen Bay area, it is a very similar situation. In that case, there is also no change of the territorial or administrative boundary of Hong Kong. We are also using the same deeming provision that we are using or proposing now for the West Kowloon Station. Therefore, again, if I may stress, there is absolutely no question of moving the goalposts. Thank you. Reporter: Mr Yuen, can you explain to the Hong Kong people that, since there is no provision in the Basic Law to accommodate the co-location arrangement, is the legal basis of the arrangement based solely on the decision made by NPCSC this afternoon? Also, in the co-location co-operation arrangement that was published today by the Hong Kong Government, there is no mention of the details of the land lease, or the rental and the period of land lease. Can you give more details on that matter? Thank you. Secretary for Justice: On the legal basis, I think one should appreciate that in fact right from the start, we stressed that this is the "Three-step Process" which provides the entire legal basis. And this is the reason why we emphasised from day one that the importance of each of the three steps in question. And I would repeat what I said just now in explaining the importance of the Co-operation Arrangement, the importance of the Decision made by the NPCSC today and the local legislation to be introduced at the third stage. And what the NPCSC Decision does, in terms of providing legal backing, is the approval of the Co-operation Arrangement entered into between Hong Kong and the Guangdong Province. And it also confirms in no uncertain term that the Co-operation Arrangement and therefore the co-location arrangement to be implemented at the West Kowloon Station pursuant to the Co-operation Arrangement, is consistent with, first of all, the Constitution of the PRC (People's Republic of China), and also secondly, consistent to the Basic Law of the HKSAR. Chief Executive: As far as the second question is concerned, the Co-operation Arrangement signed on November 18 between the HKSAR and Guangdong on behalf of the Mainland authorities, basically is to set out the co-location arrangement. There are a lot of follow-up work to do in order to commission the high-speed rail in the third quarter of next year, including the aspects that you mentioned, that is how are the Mainland authorities going to use the Mainland Port Area, the duration of the use of that area, the charges that they are going to pay for the use of that area. These will be followed up between the two authorities separately. On our part, it will be led by the Transport and Housing Bureau. Actually I may just add that other follow-up work will include also discussions between the HKSAR Government and the China Railway Corporation on the destinations of the high-speed rail from the West Kowloon Station, on the fares to be charged and also on co-operation between the two railway operating bodies, that is the Mass Transit Railway Corporation on our side, and the China Railway Corporation on the other side. So, there are still many issues that we need to address while we will press ahead with the local legislative process. Reporter: I have a few questions. I want to ask you, do you think the public concerns won't be able to be addressed if the decision is simply based on the approval from the NPCSC, rather than any specific clauses from the Basic Law? And I also noticed that Mr Yuen, you also particularly mentioned the Basic Law Article 20, I would like to ask initially why Article 20 was used as one of the proposals when discussing the arrangement? And also, following up on the rental arrangement, we know that currently Hong Kong has to pay around like $7 million in the Shenzhen Bay Area in renting the port. So, for Mainland, how much does the Mainland Government has to pay for the (Mainland) Port Area in the West Kowloon terminus? Thank you. Chief Executive: Well, as far as the rental issue, as I have just replied to the other question earlier on, this is a matter to be discussed between the HKSAR Government and the Mainland authorities, so right now I cannot give you a straight answer. But of course whatever the sum of money, it has to be reasonable and appropriate, given the circumstances of this situation. As far as your first question about public concerns, I have to say that in the last five months or so, since we have announced adopting a "Three-step Process" to provide a strong legal basis for implementing co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Station, surveys after surveys indicated that people are in support of this arrangement. So, I think one would appreciate that for the community at large, they want to see this Hong Kong Section of XRL bringing the highest level of convenience to the passengers travelling on the XRL. They want to be assured that doing the co-location arrangement is legal, is constitutional, and I think we have met all these expectations through the first step of signing the Co-operation Arrangement, and now the second step with the decision made by the highest legal authority in China, that is the National People's Congress Standing Committee. But we will still go back to the Legislative Council for the local legislation. So, these three steps should provide all the necessary assurance to address any public concern. The more that I have heard from the people of Hong Kong now is they are concerned whether we are able to commission the railway on time in the third quarter of next year, and this is a target that we will work very hard at in order to achieve. The second question about BL (Basic Law) (Article) 20 again. Secretary for Justice: In addition to the second question, I think in a way, I have already answered your question in my previous answer to other questions. We have studied many different options in the past few years when we considered which way is the way to implement the co-location (arrangement). Lawyers being lawyers, our professional habit is we would leave no stone unturned. This is one of the reasons. The other reason is, of course, when we look at Shenzhen Bay, there is also the question of authorisation. Therefore, it is not unnatural for the study to include, among other options, the option of Article 20 of the Basic Law. And the rest, as I answered earlier, is after repeated studies and listening to the views of different sectors of people in Hong Kong, the final decision today made by the NPCSC is that the way they proposed is believed to be the more appropriate approach. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Issued at HKT 22:46 NNNN

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Opening remarks by CE at press conference on Co-location Arrangement of Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/27/P2017122700967.htm

27.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; and the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Sonny Au, held a press conference this afternoon (December 27) on the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on approving the Co-operation Arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Establishment of the Port at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link for Implementing Co-location Arrangement. Following are the opening remarks by Mrs Lam: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) welcomes the decision (Decision) made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) today, approving the Co-operation Arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Establishment of the Port at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link for Implementing Co-location Arrangement (Co-operation Arrangement) signed between the HKSAR Government and the Mainland on November 18, 2017. This signifies the accomplishment of the second step in the "Three-step Process" to provide a firm legal basis for the implementation of co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Station (WKS). I wish to take this opportunity to thank the State Council and the NPCSC for their support and the relevant Mainland authorities, in particular the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council for their thorough deliberations on the matter over a period of time. Construction works of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) which started in 2010 are now roughly 98 per cent completed. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited is confident to commission this very important piece of railway project in the third quarter of 2018. Through some intensive publicity and public discussion over the past five months, i.e. since this term of the Government announced the proposed "Three-step Process" on July 25 this year, I hope, by now, there is no more doubt that co-location arrangement at the WKS to enable passengers travelling on the XRL to complete clearance procedures of both Hong Kong and the Mainland at the WKS in one go is the best way to optimise the transport, economic and social benefits of the XRL. Moreover, this arrangement has also received majority support in the community. Further, the NPCSC's Decision made today has not only removed any concern over the legal basis for the co-location arrangement, but has also provided strong constitutional and legal basis for its implementation. While I will in a moment invite the Secretary for Justice to explain the legal position, let me first reiterate a few fundamental points: co-location arrangement for the XRL at the WKS in order to fully unleash the high-speed rail's advantages represents new circumstances in the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" and involves complex issues of applicability of Mainland and Hong Kong laws as well as jurisdiction matters, which could not have been foreseen in the drafting of the Basic Law. It is therefore understandable that there is no specific provision in the Basic Law that could directly respond to or accommodate such new circumstances. The Mainland and HKSAR authorities have therefore thoroughly deliberated and debated on the matter over a period of time with a view to finding the most suitable arrangement; in so doing, the two sides have always worked from the common and unequivocal understanding that any arrangement must be consistent with the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and must not contravene the Basic Law. In exercise of its powers and duties, the NPCSC made the Decision today which approves the Co-operation Arrangement and clearly confirms that it is consistent with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China (the Constitution) and the Basic Law. Such an act provides strong legal backing to the co-location arrangement, including the enforcement of Mainland laws by relevant law enforcement agencies within the Mainland Port Area at the WKS; contrary to allegations that co-location arrangement undermines the HKSAR's high degree of autonomy, the Decision affirms that the conduct of consultations by the HKSAR Government with the relevant parties of the Mainland for making an appropriate arrangement on issues relating to the establishment of a port at the WKS and the implementation of co-location arrangement thereat is a clear demonstration of the exercise of a high degree of autonomy by the HKSAR in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law; the NPCSC's Decision expressly states that the establishment of the Mainland Port Area at the WKS does not alter the administrative division of the HKSAR and does not undermine the rights and freedoms enjoyed by the residents of the HKSAR in accordance with law. Allegations that co-location arrangement involves a "cession of territory" or a breach of human rights are clearly unfounded; and furthermore, the NPCSC's Decision specifies that the Mainland authorities stationed at the Mainland Port Area and their personnel can only perform duties and functions strictly within the confines of the Mainland Port Area, and they shall not enforce the law in any area outside the Mainland Port Area. With the announcement of the NPCSC's Decision today, two steps of the "Three-step Process" have been completed, and the only remaining step is the local legislative process. We will not under-estimate the challenge in making this final step. The HKSAR Government will strive to introduce the Bill to implement co-location arrangement at the WKS pursuant to the NPCSC's Decision and the approved Co-operation Arrangement into LegCo no later than early February 2018. We must secure its passage before LegCo's summer recess next year, so as to meet the target of commissioning the Hong Kong Section of the XRL in the third quarter of 2018. I sincerely hope that LegCo Members will scrutinise the Bill in a pragmatic and rational manner. Ends/Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:09 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at completion ceremony of The Murray

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/20/P2017122000936.htm

20.12.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the completion ceremony of The Murray today (December 20): Peter (Chairman of Wheelock Holdings PTE Limited, Mr Peter Woo), Bessie (wife of Mr Peter Woo, Ms Bessie Pao), Douglas (Chairman of Wheelock and Company Limited, Mr Douglas Woo), distinguished friends, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I'm really thrilled to be back to the Murray Building. Like many of my colleagues in the audience, I worked in the Murray Building twice in my public service career, first in the late 1980s, and then almost a decade ago. Somehow I always got this feeling that the beauty and the potential of this wonderful building has not been fully exploited. So, I am very pleased to be back, with this wonderful project completed today. Peter has told you the story after they had won the tender. Let me just tell you the story before that tender was awarded. As I said I always felt that this building still has huge potential, and I believe Central is a place where it still has huge potential, so in 2009 I – of course through hard work of my colleagues and the support of the then Chief Executive – implemented "Conserving Central"(保育中環). If I may I'd just read you something from the preamble to this little leaflet on "Conserving Central". It said that over 150 years, Central, then called the Victoria City, has witnessed and contributed to the transformation of Hong Kong from a fishing village to a trading port and then to a services hub. It now houses Hong Kong's – or China's – international financial centre. It's also a rendezvous point for people from all walks of life. So, in 2009, together with my colleagues, we sat down and tried to rethink about Central. How could we take Central to the next grandeur and newer heights? As a result of that deep thinking, we conceived "Conserving Central". By the way, when I chose a colour for this "Conserving Central" brochure, I didn’t realise it so matches this colour, because Central deserves that sense of taste, class, elegance – and this is slightly like your bronze colour. The eight projects in "Conserving Central" are intended to showcase this new Central district to the people of Hong Kong, and to a lot of visitors coming to Hong Kong to work, to play, to enjoy. If I may recap these eight projects – a little bit of advertising as well. These eight projects comprise the Central Harbourfront, which is now a wonderful place for people to get together, to enjoy the summer festival, the arts festival, the Clockenflap music festival and so on. Two projects have already completed. One is the PMQ, from the Former Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters. It's now a design hub for Hong Kong’s young designers. Since its opening it has already attracted 3 million visitors. The second project that has been completed, and is connected to this building, is the CGO, the Central Government Offices, which have now been renamed as the Justice Place to showcase the rule of law in Hong Kong, and occupied by the Secretary for Justice and his team. But don’t ask me who is going to be the next Secretary for Justice - today it's still Mr Rimsky Yuen. And then this is the third project to be completed, now called The Murray, which is a luxury hotel of 336 rooms. Two other equally wonderful projects are under construction. One is the Tai Kwun, which is Central Police Station Compound, with a cluster of 17 historic buildings. I look forward to opening that Tai Kwun sometime next year, now working very hard by the team at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The other project under construction is the Former French Missionary Building, a beautiful monument along Battery Path, together with the West Wing of the CGO, and once completed that will enhance Justice Place to turn this whole precinct into a legal hub for Hong Kong. Two projects have yet to go underway, in which I'm a bit disappointed. One is the Sheng Kung Hui compound, but I don't blame the Sheng Kung Hui people because it's a hugely complex project that requires a lot of government approvals. But the final project should actually have been completed a long time ago, which is the rejuvenation of the Central Market, and by the way that is the most difficult decision in "Conserving Central", because that's a multi-billion dollar piece of site in Central that could be turned into a Grade A office tower. I did manage to save Central Market, not only because of the building's history, but also in order to preserve a hangout area for white-collar people working in Central. Somehow it has taken much longer to deliver, but never mind, I'm sure all these other projects will come into place in time to come. Now today, speaking as a new Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, I feel Hong Kong is also – like eight years ago when I conceived this project – at the crossroads. We have just celebrated the 20th anniversary of "One Country, Two Systems" and the reunification with China. But at the same time we are facing a lot of competition. Ahead of us there are a lot of opportunities but also a lot of challenges, so I hope that all of you will work with me and my term of Government to re-invigorate the legend of Hong Kong, to bring Hong Kong to even greater and grander heights. And that's why these days, whenever I go out to promote Hong Kong, I said the best of Hong Kong has yet to come. Now, coming back to this Murray, this is a unique project amongst the eight projects in "Conserving Central", because of a number of reasons. First, it is the only commercial project because somehow, the Government is now quite worried of working with private sector partners. But for this one, it has to be a commercial project because I don't think this Government is good at running luxury hotels. So this is the only commercial project in "Conserving Central", whereas the others are either government project, or non-profit making projects. So I'm extremely pleased that this project, this commercial project, is not driven by profit. I can sense the passion put into this project by Peter, by Douglas, by the team. Just make sure you don't make the room rates too high, so that we as local residents also have a chance to come in to enjoy our former government office rooms. And also this is a unique project. The idea of conserving it into a hotel actually did not come from me. Like Peter, I was inspired by two incidents: one is a trip to Singapore. "Conserving Central" was announced in October 2009. I visited Singapore in the early part of 2009 to look at their conservation efforts and one of the projects they brought me to see was the Asia Insurance Building. It was built ten years earlier than The Murray, in 1955. It was slightly not as tall as Murray. It was a 20-storey building. Then, in the 1950s-1960s, was the tallest building in Singapore, now at Raffles Place. As a lot of high-rise buildings came into existence, this Asia Insurance Building is somehow dwarfed. It was sold off, and then rediscovered itself as a luxury residence building. It’s a service apartment so it’s very much like a hotel. And I was very impressed by that project. The second inspiration came from a man, I hope he is here, Mr Douglas Young of G.O.D. Douglas is over there. I'm sure you are all aware of the innovation of Douglas and G.O.D. Around that same time, when I was conceiving projects, on one day, there was a sort of newspaper publicity that came to my desk. It was not sent to me. Douglas knows very well where to send these innovative ideas. It was sent to my boss. But as usual, my boss always delegated things to me so it was landed on my desk with this wonderful idea of turning the Murray Building into a hotel. So thank you very much, Douglas. And the third uniqueness about Murray is the developer is required not only to preserve the building, but also to preserve the connectivity that this building is so strategically located: connecting to CGO through a subway; connecting to the now Champion Tower through a pedestrian bridge; and connecting to the Hong Kong Park and also to the Peak Tram Station. The third thing they need to conserve, with a bit of difficulty, is the tree - this Pink and White Shower. It's over 100 years old. In Chinese it's called 節果決明. As Peter has told you, this tree was almost certified dead by my colleagues in the LCSD. I said, I will not give up on this tree because I worked in this building and I love this tree. So I brought in a whole team of tree experts with the support of Chi Lin Nunnery. I'm sure for those of you who have visited Chi Lin, they are so good at horticultural preservation. Pro bono, they sent me a team to work on this tree for over a month in order to preserve it. I'm very pleased now this tree should be in very good condition and will become the landmark of the new Murray. This event to me is very much anticipated because in the last four, five years, I passed through this building every day, when I was heading back to Victoria House, or now heading back to Government House, so in a way, I've been monitoring the progress of the transformation of the Murray Building into The Murray. I want to take this opportunity to commend and thank Wheelock Holdings and the teams for a job very well done. I'm sure we'll be very proud of this project. Thank you very much. Ends/Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Issued at HKT 20:56 NNNN

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Inter-departmental exercise to test Government's response capabilities on Daya Bay Contingency Plan

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/20/P2017122000775.htm

20.12.2017

A two-day inter-departmental exercise based on the Daya Bay Contingency Plan (DBCP) and codenamed "Checkerboard II" commenced today (December 20) to test the response capabilities of the Government in dealing with serious nuclear incidents. The Chief Executive, the Chief Secretary for Administration and a number of Principal Officials, together with representatives from some 30 bureaux, departments and organisations, participated in today's exercise. They took actions and interacted in response to a simulated nuclear accident, demonstrating judgement, efficiency and knowledge in responding to an emergency. The starting scenario of the exercise on the first day simulated a chain of equipment fault events at the Guangdong Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station (GNPS), leading to a potential off-site emergency situation involving a release of radioactive materials. The subsequent simulated plots and government’s response actions are as follows: Upon notification of the incident in the exercise this morning, the Government soon activated the DBCP and the Emergency and Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) under the Security Bureau, and informed the public of the emergency situation through the media. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), Department of Health and relevant government departments immediately conducted environmental radiation monitoring and assessment and provided timely updates on the situation. In a simulated response to the incident, the Chief Executive's Steering Group convened a meeting and deliberated on recommendations made by the Implementation Task Force led by the Secretary for Security. Among the recommendations were precautionary evacuation of the area of Hong Kong within 20 kilometers of the GNPS, stepped-up radiation monitoring, and enhanced monitoring of imported food from the Mainland and locally produced food as well as fresh water and sea water. In the exercise, the Chief Executive and the Chief Secretary for Administration, accompanied by the Secretary for Security, inspected the operation of the EMSC in co-ordinating with relevant bureaux and departments to handle the nuclear emergency, and learned more about the latest situation. Also, the capability of adopting appropriate precautionary measures was tested. About 100 villagers and visitors in Tung Ping Chau were evacuated by the Police. The Government Flying Service also deployed a helicopter to convey police reinforcements to sweep the island. Two police launches swiftly transported the evacuees to Ma Liu Shui Ferry Pier for radiation monitoring to ensure they were not contaminated. The exercise continued in the afternoon. Ends/Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Issued at HKT 18:33 NNNN

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Appointments to Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/20/P2017122000348.htm

20.12.2017

The Government today (December 20) announced that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Professor Albert Yu Cheung-hoi as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019. The Chief Executive has also appointed six new Council members, namely Mr Kenneth Lam Kar-kin, Ms Stephanie Lam Yuen-shan, Dr Li Hung-wing, Ms Karen Tang Mui-fun, Ms Pearl Tse Pui-pui and Mr Basil Wai Siu-bong, and re-appointed 10 Council members for the same period. The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, said, "Professor Yu and other Council members have contributed greatly to facilitating the development of the testing and certification industry in the past two years. We believe that under the chairmanship of Professor Yu, the Council will continue to explore more business opportunities, thereby supporting the long-term growth of the industry." Mr Yang also thanked the five members whose terms will expire on December 31 this year for their valuable contributions to the Council's work. They are Dr Priscilla Choy Wai-fun, Dr Aaron Shum Wan-lung, Mr John Tong Shing-jing, Professor Vivian Yam Wing-wah and Mr Mickey Yu Kwok-wai. ​The membership of the Council for the period of January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019, is as follows: Professor Albert Yu Cheung-hoi (Chairman) Mr Raymond Chan Kin-sek Mr Felix Chan King-wa Mr Raymond Chan Wai-fung Mr Ho Chi-shing Professor Ho Kin-chung Mr Marvin Hsu Tsun-fai Mr Andy Ko Kwok-on Mr Kenneth Lam Kar-kin* Ms Stephanie Lam Yuen-shan* Dr Li Hung-wing* Ms Agnes Nardi Kar-wai Ms Karen Tang Mui-fun* Ms Pearl Tse Pui-pui* Mr Basil Wai Siu-bong* Mr Harry Yeung Chi-wah Dr Raymond Yung Wai-hung Executive Director of the Hong Kong Productivity Council or representative Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council or representative Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council or representative Government Chemist or representative Commissioner for Innovation and Technology or representative *Newly appointed Council Members The HKCTC was established in September 2009 to advise the Government on the overall development strategy of the testing and certification industry. Ends/Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Issued at HKT 14:30 NNNN

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Judicial appointments

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/20/P2017122000339.htm

20.12.2017

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary: The Judiciary today (December 20) announced the appointment of Mr Dick Ho Chin-pang and Mr So Wai-tak as Principal Magistrates. The appointments will take effect from December 21, 2017. The appointments are made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission. The biographical notes of the appointees are as follows: Mr Dick Ho Chin-pang Mr Ho was born in Hong Kong in 1962. He obtained LL.B. from the University of London in 1994 and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1995. He was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 1997. He was in private practice before joining the Department of Justice as Government Counsel in 1998. He was appointed as a Permanent Magistrate in 2009. Mr So Wai-tak Mr So was born in Hong Kong in 1972. He obtained LL.B. and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1996 and 1997 respectively. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1997. He was in private practice between 1998 and 2009. He was appointed as a Permanent Magistrate in 2009. Ends/Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN

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Appointment of Hong Kong, China's representatives to ABAC

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/20/P2017122000324.htm

20.12.2017

The Government today (December 20) announced that the Chief Executive has appointed Ms Marjorie Yang as Hong Kong, China (HKC)'s representative, and Mr Nicholas Ho as alternate representative, to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC), until the end of 2019. Ms Marjorie Yang is the Chairman of Esquel Group, and Mr Nicholas Ho is the Deputy Managing Director of hpa (Ho & Partners Architects Engineers & Development Consultants Limited). Meanwhile, Mr Anthony Nightingale and Dr Adrian Cheng will be retiring from ABAC as HKC's representative and alternate representative respectively. "I am grateful to Ms Yang and Mr Ho for agreeing to represent Hong Kong, China in ABAC. I am sure they will inject further impetus into the work of ABAC with their enthusiasm and wealth of business experience. "I would like to express our deep appreciation to Mr Nightingale for his wise counsel and significant contributions throughout his tenure at ABAC. I am also thankful for the support of Dr Cheng during his tenure," the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said. ABAC was established in 1996 as a permanent business advisory body to provide advice to APEC on business sector priorities. Hong Kong, China has appointed three representatives and two alternate representatives to ABAC. Currently, the Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group, Dr Allan Zeman, and the Chairman of Sunwah Group, Dr Jonathan Choi, are the other two representatives. The Chairman and Managing Director of Wheelock and Company Limited, Mr Douglas Woo, is the other alternate representative. Ends/Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Issued at HKT 17:00 NNNN

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Appointments to Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service and Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/20/P2017122000268.htm

20.12.2017

The Government announced today (December 20) that the Chief Executive has made appointments and re-appointments to the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service (SCCS) and the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service (SCDS). The Chief Executive has re-appointed Mr Ignatius Chan Tze-ching, Mr Lee Luen-fai and Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen as members of the SCCS for a term of two years from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019, and Mr Wilfred Wong Kam-pui as a member of the SCCS for a term of one year from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. The Chief Executive has also appointed Mrs Edith Chan Ngan Man-ling as a member of the SCCS for a term of two years from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. As for the SCDS, the Chief Executive has re-appointed Dr Chui Hong-sheung and Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung, and appointed Professor Chong Tai-leung as members of the SCDS for a term of two years from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. Dr Chui is also re-appointed as Chairman of the General Disciplined Services Sub-Committee of the SCDS for the same period. The Chief Executive has also appointed Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching, an incumbent member of the SCDS, as Chairman of the Police Sub-Committee of the SCDS for a term of one year from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. The Government expresses gratitude and appreciation to retiring SCCS member Professor Suen Wing-chuen and former SCDS member Dr Raymond So Wai-man for their invaluable contributions to the work of the SCCS and the SCDS. The SCCS tenders advice to the Chief Executive on matters concerning pay and conditions of service of non-directorate civilian civil servants. It is currently chaired by Dr Wilfred Wong Ying-wai. Other serving members are Mr Dick Lee Ming-kwai, Ms Angela Lee Wai-yin, Mr Joseph Lo Kin-ching, Ms Elaine Lo Yuen-man and Dr Carrie Willis Yau Sheung-mui. The SCDS advises the Chief Executive on issues relating to salaries and conditions of service of the disciplined services and is currently chaired by Ms Teresa Ko Yuk-yin. Other serving members are Ms Ivy Cheung Wing-han, Ms Quince Chong Wai-yan, Mr Victor Lam Hoi-cheung, Ms Melissa Kaye Pang, Mr Philip Tsai Wing-chung and Mr Thomas Jefferson Wu. The secretariat support for both the SCCS and the SCDS is provided by the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service. Ends/Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Issued at HKT 15:30 NNNN

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CE to proceed on leave

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/18/P2017121800679.htm

18.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will be away from Hong Kong on vacation from December 22 to 26. During Mrs Lam's absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Monday, December 18, 2017 Issued at HKT 16:55 NNNN

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67 companies honoured at Hong Kong Awards for Industries

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/18/P2017121800356.htm

18.12.2017

Sixty-seven companies were honoured today (December 18) at the 2017 Hong Kong Awards for Industries (HKAI) presentation ceremony, at which the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, officiated. The Grand Award winners were i.Tech Dynamic Global Distribution Limited (consumer product design), Dunwell Engineering Company Limited (equipment and machinery design), DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (customer service), Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited (innovation and creativity), ABUS Hardware (Hong Kong) Limited (productivity and quality), ASM Pacific Technology Limited (technological achievement) and Luen Fung Commercial Holdings Limited (upgrading and transformation). A total of 233 entries were received in the 2017 HKAI. The winners were decided by the final judging panels chaired by Professor Joseph Sung. The HKAI was launched in 2005 by merging the former Hong Kong Awards for Industry and the former Hong Kong Awards for Services, established in 1989 and 1997 respectively. The HKAI aims to recognise the outstanding achievements of Hong Kong enterprises in pursuit of high technology and high value-added activities, and to commend excellence in various aspects of their performance. The 2017 HKAI covered seven categories, namely the consumer product design category organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the equipment and machinery design category organised by the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the customer service category organised by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, the innovation and creativity category organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the productivity and quality category organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the technological achievement category organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and the upgrading and transformation category organised by the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council. Ends/Monday, December 18, 2017 Issued at HKT 19:40 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session in Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/15/P2017121501113.htm

15.12.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session in Beijing to conclude her duty visit this evening (December 15): Reporter: Mrs Lam, can you tell us what specific issues have you discussed with the two state leaders during the meetings, and did you discuss any issues about the Article 23 legislation? Chief Executive: During my report of duty to the state leaders, we would normally just touch on very broad issues. Of course, all the issues relating to enhancing the implementation of the Basic Law in terms of the system, the policies and the practices, are constitutional responsibilities of the Chief Executive and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. My stance on the enactment of local legislation relating to Basic Law Article 23 is very clear. It has been made clear in my Election Manifesto and in my Policy Address, and the state leaders are fully aware of that position. As far as the issues that I have brought to the leaders' attention, especially those that I want more Central Authorities’ support, they will, broadly speaking, be related to the two major national initiatives that Hong Kong wants to play an active part, one is the Belt and Road Initiative, and the other is the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. In each of these initiatives, we would like the Central Authorities to give us the necessary policy and support for us to make our contribution. Reporter: What's the Government's position on passing the amendments in LegCo Rules? And do you think that, are you worried that, you know, these changes might be unconstitutional? Chief Executive: I think the LegCo President, in ruling the discussion on these amendments to the Rules of Procedure, has taken full account of the legal and constitutional position in the Basic Law, with the benefit of advice from the LegCo Secretariat’s legal advisors and also some outside legal advice. But of course, Hong Kong is a place where we are very proud of the rule of law, and we have an independent judiciary, so if anybody is unhappy about this decision or this outcome, then of course they could resort to seeking a judicial ruling. It is not for me to say that this particular amendment to the Rules of Procedure is unconstitutional because so far it is still being taken care of within the Legislative Council. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Friday, December 15, 2017 Issued at HKT 23:51 NNNN

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Re-appointment to Airport Authority Hong Kong

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/15/P2017121500269.htm

15.12.2017

The Government announced today (December 15) the re-appointment of Mr Steven Ho Chun-yin as a member of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) for the period from January 1, 2018, to May 31, 2020. Under the Airport Authority Ordinance, the Chairman and members of the AA are appointed by the Chief Executive. The re-appointment is published in the Government Gazette today. The following is the full membership of the AA with effect from January 1, 2018: Chairman: ------------ Mr Jack So Chak-kwong Members: ------------ Mr Andrew Fung Hau-chung Ms Anita Fung Yuen-mei Mr Steven Ho Chun-yin Mr Franklin Lam Fan-keung Mr Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung Mr Lee Shing-see Mr Lin Jingzhen Mr Peter To Mr Carlson Tong Mr Billy Wong Wing-hoo Mr Frankie Yick Chi-ming Dr Allan Zeman Secretary for Transport and Housing Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Director-General of Civil Aviation Chief Executive Officer, Airport Authority (ex officio) Ends/Friday, December 15, 2017 Issued at HKT 12:00 NNNN

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CE meets Minister of Public Security in Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/14/P2017121400790.htm

14.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Minister of Public Security, Mr Zhao Kezhi, in Beijing this afternoon (December 14). Photo shows Mrs Lam (right) shaking hands with Mr Zhao (left) before the meeting. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam (fifth left), meets the Minister of Public Security, Mr Zhao Kezhi (sixth right), in Beijing this afternoon (December 14). Also joining the meeting are the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee (fourth left); the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip (third left); the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki (first left); and the Commissioner of Police, Mr Lo Wai-chung (second left). Ends/Thursday, December 14, 2017 Issued at HKT 18:38 NNNN

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Arrangement between NDRC and HKSAR Government on advancing Hong Kong's full participation in and contribution to Belt and Road Initiative signed

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/14/P2017121400551.htm

14.12.2017

During his visit to Hong Kong in July this year, President Xi affirmed the support of the Central Authorities for Hong Kong to make full use of its role and strengths in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. At the request of the Chief Executive, the Central Authorities have agreed in principle that an arrangement on advancing Hong Kong's full participation in the Belt and Road Initiative between the HKSAR Government and the Central Authorities be made. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, signed the Arrangement between the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative (the Arrangement) with the Chairman of the NDRC, Mr He Lifeng, in Beijing today (December 14). The Arrangement serves as a blueprint for Hong Kong's further participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. The Arrangement will put 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 the Arrangement will allow Hong Kong to give full play to its unique advantages under "one country, two systems" to contribute to the country on the one hand, while at the same time seize those opportunities brought by the Initiative to provide new impetus for its economic growth. "Grounded on Hong Kong's strengths in finance, infrastructure, economic and trade, professional services and more, the Arrangement seeks to enhance communication and co-operation with the Mainland in the 'five areas of connectivity', i.e. policy co-ordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bond. The relevant measures help reinforce and elevate Hong Kong's position as international financial, transportation and trade centres, promote partnership between the Mainland and Hong Kong enterprises, spawn the demand for Hong Kong's professional services, and present our talent with opportune prospects," Mrs Lam said. She pointed out that the Arrangement covers a wide range of areas, which include facilitating co-operation of all key stakeholders through the platform of Hong Kong to provide for the Belt and Road Initiative the funds required as well as a diversity of financing channels; fully leveraging Hong Kong's status as the global offshore Renminbi business hub to facilitate cross-border investment; developing green finance; supporting Hong Kong in providing diversified professional services for Belt and Road infrastructure projects; supporting Hong Kong's maritime development and providing international legal and dispute resolution services for the Belt and Road Initiative; encouraging enterprises in the Mainland and in related countries and regions to establish their regional headquarters in Hong Kong; enhancing academic, cultural and arts exchanges between Hong Kong and related countries and regions; and encouraging Hong Kong to develop tourism products and stage conferences and exhibitions on the Belt and Road Initiative. In addition, a Joint Conference mechanism will be set up between the HKSAR Government, and the NDRC, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and other relevant Mainland authorities for regular and direct communication. The Joint Conference will discuss matters relating to Hong Kong's participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative and consider specific work priorities. "I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Central Authorities for their support and to the NDRC for its valuable efforts made in preparing the Arrangement in the past few months. After the signing of the Arrangement, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau will follow up with the NDRC on the establishment of the Joint Conference mechanism. We intend to convene the meeting at the earliest opportunity next year to take forward the various areas of work in the Arrangement," Mrs Lam said. Mrs Lam had a brief meeting with the Chairman of NDRC, Mr He Lifeng, before the signing ceremony, at which he was apprised of the positive responses from the various sectors of the community regarding Hong Kong's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. Mrs Lam expressed the hope that the Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, which is being jointly drawn up by the three governments and the NDRC, can be completed as soon as practicable to enable the HKSAR Government to take forward the development projects concerned. Ends/Thursday, December 14, 2017 Issued at HKT 15:35 NNNN

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HKSAR and Mainland sign new arrangements on notification mechanism

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/14/P2017121400516.htm

14.12.2017

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Mainland reached consensus on and signed the new arrangements on the notification mechanism today (December 14). The new arrangements on the notification mechanism will take effect on February 1 next year to replace the existing arrangements. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Minister of Public Security, Mr Zhao Kezhi, witnessed the signing of the "Arrangements on the Reciprocal Notification Mechanism between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Relating to Situations Including the Imposition of Criminal Compulsory Measures or the Institution of Criminal Prosecution" (the New Arrangements on the Notification Mechanism) by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, and the Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Mr Sun Lijun, in Beijing today. Other HKSAR Government officials in attendance included the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; the Commissioner of Police, Mr Lo Wai-chung; the Director of Immigration, Mr Tsang Kwok-wai; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Hermes Tang; the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; and the Assistant Director of the Operations Department of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Mr Ken Ho. The notification mechanism prescribes that the governments of the two sides should notify each other of the criminal compulsory measures imposed on or the criminal prosecution instituted against residents of the other side, as well as the unnatural deaths of residents of the other side within their own territory. "The notification mechanism is an administrative arrangement to be implemented on the basis of mutual respect for the relevant laws of both parties. It will under no circumstances affect the legal rights enjoyed by and the legal obligations of the person against whom a criminal compulsory measure is imposed or criminal prosecution is instituted or those of his or her family," a government spokesman said. The following measures under the New Arrangements on the Notification Mechanism will improve the time frame and transparency of notifications: (1) Notification time frame: For the first time, a notification time frame will be set under the new arrangements. Notification should be made within seven working days following the date of imposing criminal compulsory measures, instituting criminal prosecution or confirmation of the person's identity in unnatural deaths; not later than 14 working days for serious and complicated criminal cases; and not later than 30 working days for cases involving terrorist activities or suspected offences endangering national security. Both sides also agree that either party shall be free to make an enquiry if there is any item which has not been notified or if there is any doubt. The requested party should reply within 30 working days after the date of receipt of such an enquiry; (2) Contents of notification: The contents of notification of the two sides will be standardised to include such details as the suspected offence committed by the person concerned and the relevant legal basis, the place where the criminal compulsory measure is imposed or detention is taking place, and the officer-in-charge of the case; (3) Scope of notification: The new arrangements expressly require all agencies which are authorised to impose criminal compulsory measures on Hong Kong residents according to the laws of the Mainland, namely the public security authorities, the state security authorities, the customs and anti-smuggling departments and the prosecution authorities, to make notifications. As regards the scope of making notifications by Hong Kong to the Mainland, in addition to the existing law enforcement agencies including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the Immigration Department, the Independent Commission Against Corruption is newly added; and (4) Notification channels: The Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the MPS will be the Mainland notification unit while the Liaison Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force will be the Hong Kong notification unit. However, notifications from the prosecution authorities will be made directly to the Hong Kong notification unit via the Office of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Supreme People's Procuratorate. In addition, the Anti-smuggling Bureau of the General Administration of Customs, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security and the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department are authorised by the MPS to make direct notifications to the Hong Kong notification unit, thereby enhancing the efficiency of notification. The government spokesman said, "The HKSAR Government attaches importance to rendering assistance to Hong Kong people in distress outside Hong Kong. Since January 1, 2001, a notification mechanism has been established between the HKSAR and the Mainland with a view to enabling the HKSAR Government to inform the family members of Hong Kong residents subject to criminal compulsory measures imposed in the Mainland, and to provide appropriate assistance as soon as possible. As at November 30, 2017, since the implementation of the mechanism a total of 15 179 notifications had been made to Hong Kong by the Mainland. "In June last year, with a view to improving the notification time frame and its transparency, and to better safeguard the legal rights of residents of both sides, the HKSAR and the Mainland commenced discussion to review the arrangements under the notification mechanism. Under the guiding principle of 'one country, two systems', abiding by the Constitution, the Basic Law and the related laws of both sides, and based on the principles of 'steadfastly acting in accordance with the law, protecting human rights, identifying common and mutually beneficial grounds, and maintaining mutual support', the HKSAR and the Mainland agreed to revise and perfect various arrangements under the notification mechanism, including its time frame, content, scope and channel." Ends/Thursday, December 14, 2017 Issued at HKT 15:00 NNNN

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Appointments to Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/14/P2017121400280.htm

14.12.2017

A Government spokesman announced today (December 14) that the Chief Executive has appointed Mr Jat Sew-tong as a member of the Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service (Judicial Committee). The Chief Executive has also re-appointed Mr Alfred Chan Wing-kin and Mr Dieter Yih as members of the Judicial Committee. The three appointees will serve for a period of two years with effect from January 1, 2018. Mr Benjamin Yu, an existing member of the Judicial Committee, will retire on December 31 this year. "We would like to thank Mr Yu for his invaluable contributions to the Judicial Committee over the years," the spokesman said. The Judicial Committee is tasked to advise and make recommendations to the Chief Executive on matters concerning the salary and conditions of service of judges and judicial officers. Other members of the Judicial Committee are Professor Wong Yuk-shan (Chairman), Mr T C Chan, Ms May Tan Siew-boi and Ms Melissa Wu. Ends/Thursday, December 14, 2017 Issued at HKT 14:00 NNNN

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Ceremony on Nanjing Massacre National Memorial Day held today

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/13/P2017121300330.htm

13.12.2017

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has held an official ceremony in commemoration of the victims who died in the Nanjing Massacre and those who were killed during the Japanese invasion. The ceremony was held at the Redoubt Courtyard of the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence this morning (December 13). The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the ceremony and laid a wreath. Also present at this morning's ceremony were Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr Tung Chee Hwa, representatives of Central People's Government organisations in Hong Kong, a representative from the Judiciary, senior government officials, members of the Legislative Council, members of the Executive Council, former members of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, war veterans' groups, community dignitaries and student groups. Ends/Wednesday, December 13, 2017 Issued at HKT 11:30 NNNN

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CE meets President of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/12/P2017121200926.htm

12.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Mr Wang Weiguang, at Government House this afternoon (December 12). Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Wang's visit to Hong Kong to attend the International Forum on China's Economy and Policy organised by the Central Policy Unit and the National Academy of Economic Strategy of the CASS today. The forum, attracting more than 300 participants, provided an opportunity for participants from the Mainland, overseas and Hong Kong to analyse the Mainland economy and future policy direction, as well as the roles of Hong Kong and opportunities available to the city. Mrs Lam said that the CASS, a premier academic organisation and comprehensive research centre in the fields of philosophy and social sciences in the Mainland, has established close ties with a number of universities and institutions in Hong Kong. She added that she was pleased to see the CASS set up the Chinese Institute of Hong Kong as its branch in the city in June this year and expressed the hope that the Institute can pool together academic and social resources in Hong Kong and the Mainland to initiate various research and exchange activities in humanities and social sciences to enhance communication and co-operation in academia in both places. Noting that the CASS also performs the function of a think tank in policy formulation of the Central Government, she said she hopes that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, in the course of formulating public policies in an evidence-based approach as she has advocated, can strengthen interactions and exchanges with the CASS in the future. Ends/Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:21 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/12/P2017121200628.htm

12.12.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (December 12): Reporter: Mrs Lam, about the rule changes, can the Government be a mediator between the two factions so they won't argue any more in a sense, and would LegCo really return to normal afterwards? Another question about transport subsidy, what are the requirements they have to satisfy before they can be included in the scheme, and would you think that this would be welcomed by lawmakers in general? Chief Executive: I'll respond to the last question first. As far as this non-means tested Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme, we introduced it in my Policy Address on the 11th of October, and thereafter we consulted the Legislative Council and listened very attentively to views expressed in the community, including by those operators who were outside of the scope of the Scheme. And as I have emphasised time and again, my Government is characterised by really being very attentive to the needs of the people and we adopt a listening mode to things that we are doing, so I find it a reasonable proposition to expand the Scheme to include four other forms of public transport modes so that more people could benefit and more operators could participate in the Scheme. The prerequisites for these other operators to participate in the Scheme are rather straightforward. So I don't think they will have any difficulty in complying with these operational requirements, but I would suggest you wait until Transport and Housing Bureau issues a detailed paper to set out the operational requirements. And with these additional changes to the Scheme, I hope that we will get the full support of the Legislative Council, because the actual implementation of the Scheme, that is the provision of subsidy to the 2.2 million Hong Kong people, can only take place after the Scheme's financial commitment has been approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. So the earlier the LegCo Finance Committee approves the Scheme, the earlier the people of Hong Kong will be able to benefit. As far as the changes to the Rules of Procedures, this is entirely a matter within the power of the Legislative Council under the Basic Law. I always want to be a mediator in order to bring peace, not only to Legislative Council but to society at large, but unfortunately on this matter it seems that the positions of the two groups of Legislative Council members are extremely different or even polarised. An attempt had been made – there was a cross-party meeting some time ago, but unfortunately it has not yielded any positive outcome, so I really don't think I have that ability or capacity to mediate in the matter. And I always remember some of the Legislative Council members, especially from the non-pro-establishment camp, that they do not want the Chief Executive to get involved or to interfere into matters of the Legislative Council, so I'd rather abide by that principle. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Issued at HKT 16:05 NNNN

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International Conference on the Equine Disease Free Zone further strengthens co-operation between Mainland and Hong Kong

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/12/P2017121200340.htm

12.12.2017

To promote cross-boundary movement of horses and the Equine Disease Free Zone (EDFZ) concept, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) jointly held the International Conference on the EDFZ today (December 12) at the HKJC Sha Tin Clubhouse. More than 140 government officials from the Mainland, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Korea, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States and Hong Kong, and veterinary and academic counterparts from various institutions and professional bodies, attended the Conference. The Conference was one of the celebration activities for the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. An EDFZ is a zone free of specified multiple equine diseases, and is a concept supported by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). In light of worldwide expansion of horse competition and the benefits that can accrue from such activities, introduction of the EDFZ concept can ensure that safe and successful international horse competitions are held in a number of countries. The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) signed two collaboration agreements on veterinary co-operation and equine inspection and quarantine associated with the use of equestrian venues after the Guangzhou Asian Games with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) earlier respectively, which enable Hong Kong racehorses to receive training at the Horse Training Centre in Conghua, Guangzhou. The Conghua EDFZ shall implement biosecurity measures, adopt close population management at the Conghua Horse Training Centre and comply with relevant quarantine requirements. There is also strict regulation and monitoring for equine transportation. Under the arrangement, horses would not require quarantine isolation and could go direct to races or exercise upon arriving in Hong Kong from Conghua. Officiating at the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said the animal import and export control system in Hong Kong has earned international confidence, and the OIE considers Hong Kong to be free from the vast majority of serious infectious equine diseases. Hong Kong will further strengthen its testing services for equine diseases, with a view to developing Hong Kong into a testing centre and transportation hub for horses participating in international competitions. As Conghua is located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, she said she believes the Conghua EDFZ and Training Centre will constitute an excellent example for the development plan of the Bay Area. The Chief Executive also witnessed the Signing Ceremony of four Co-operation Agreements between Mainland authorities and Hong Kong. The Co-operation Agreements were signed between the AQSIQ and the FHB, the Veterinary Bureau of the MOA and the FHB, the Guangdong Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau and the AFCD, and the Department of Agriculture of Guangdong Province and the AFCD. They cover measures to facilitate the operation of the Conghua EDFZ, including the establishment of an expert group comprising officials from the Mainland and Hong Kong to handle biosecurity matters and arrangements on quarantine, surveillance and control of disease. The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Mrs Cherry Tse; the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi; and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Dr Leung Siu-fai, also attended the event. A series of talks and forums were held during the Conference. Participants will visit the state-of-the-art training, stabling and horse care facility in Conghua tomorrow (December 13). For details of the conference, please visit www.edfz2017.com . Ends/Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Issued at HKT 17:51 NNNN

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Slope Safety Summit discusses ways to enhance Hong Kong Slope Safety System

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/11/P2017121100435.htm

11.12.2017

More than 260 leading experts and stakeholders in the field of slope engineering and landslide risk management discussed the challenges and opportunities in further enhancing the Hong Kong Slope Safety System at the Slope Safety Summit today (December 11), jointly held by the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. Established in the 1970s, the Hong Kong Slope Safety System is a comprehensive and effective slope management system developed by the GEO to protect members of the public from landslide hazards. The system comprises several key components including improving slope safety standards, rectifying substandard Government slopes, implementing landslide risk mitigation measures to natural hillsides, maintaining Government man-made slopes and promoting public awareness of slope safety. Despite its achievements in the past four decades, climate change and slope degradation pose new challenges to the system. The summit today provided a platform for experts and stakeholders to share their valuable experiences and insights which could benefit the enhancement of the city's Slope Safety System. Officiating at the summit's opening ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, applauded all the parties involved for their efforts in putting in place in Hong Kong one of the best slope engineering and landslide risk management systems in the world, which has evolved over the past decades in response to experience, continual improvement initiatives and technological advancement. She also reaffirmed the Government's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of slope safety in Hong Kong to protect people's life and property. Also officiating at the summit opening ceremony were the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong; the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Lam Sai-hung; and the Head of the GEO, Mr Pun Wai-keung. The summit comprises four discussion sessions on landslide risk management, innovations and technological advances, climate change and public efforts in combating landslide risks. Four distinguished speakers were invited to participate in these discussion sessions, namely Professor Norbert Morgenstern of the University of Alberta of Canada; Professor John Burland of the Imperial College London; Dr Suzanne Lacasse of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute; and Professor Dave Petley of the University of Sheffield of the United Kingdom. Dr Lacasse and Professor Petley are serving members of the Slope Safety Technical Review Board of the GEO. Ends/Monday, December 11, 2017 Issued at HKT 17:00 NNNN

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CE on duty visit to Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/09/P2017120900391.htm

9.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will pay a duty visit to Beijing from December 13 to 15. 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. During the stay in Beijing, she will meet with state leaders and brief them on the latest economic, social and political situation in Hong Kong. She will also sign, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, an arrangement with the National Development and Reform Commission on advancing Hong Kong's full participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative. During Mrs Lam's absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Saturday, December 9, 2017 Issued at HKT 14:00 NNNN

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CE visits Dongguan

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/08/P2017120800989.htm

8.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, 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, visited Dongguan today (December 8). Upon their arrival in Dongguan in the afternoon, Mrs Lam and the other officials visited the exhibition at the 2017 China (Dongguan) International Science & Technology Cooperation Week organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the People's Government of Guangdong Province. The exhibition showcases many of Hong Kong’s latest scientific accomplishments, including achievements in science and technology resulting from the co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong. Mrs Lam said exchanges and co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong can promote transformation of scientific and technological achievements, enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of the industries in the two places. Mrs Lam and the other officials then met with students of the Vocational Training Council on an exchange programme in Dongguan and Hong Kong students studying in Guangdong to learn about their exchange experience and everyday life. In the meeting with the Secretary of the CPC Dongguan Municipal Committee, Mr Lu Yesheng, and the Mayor of the Dongguan Municipal Government, Mr Liang Weidong, that followed, Mrs Lam thanked the Dongguan Municipal Government for its continued support for Hong Kong business people by providing a favourable environment for them to do business. Noting that Hong Kong and Dongguan have frequent exchanges and co-operation in areas including economic affairs and trade, investment and culture, she said that with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, the co-operation between Dongguan and Hong Kong is set to be enhanced. Mrs Lam and the officials then attended the 16th HK-PRD Industrial and Commercial Circle Goodwill Gathering 2017 organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the PRD Council, and witnessed the signing of two memorandums of co-operation between Hong Kong trades and the relevant Mainland units to promote co-operation and exchanges between the industrial enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong and contribute to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development. Noting in her address at the gathering that development of the city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area will bring unprecedented opportunities to the three places, Mrs Lam said that 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, Guangdong and Macau will be substantially shortened, enhancing connectivity among the three places. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will act as a facilitator and proactively explore ways to foster the flow of people, goods, capital and information within the Bay Area to assist Hong Kong business people to access the markets in the Bay Area. Mrs Lam and the other officials returned to Hong Kong in the evening. Ends/Friday, December 8, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:01 NNNN

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CE attends Hong Kong Economic Summit 2018

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/08/P2017120800595.htm

8.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, speaks at the Hong Kong Economic Summit 2018 today (December 8). The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Hong Kong Economic Summit 2018 today (December 8). Photo shows (from left) Executive Director of Henderson Land Development Company Limited Mr Augusteen Wong; the Editor-in-Chief of Hong Kong Economic Journal Company Limited, Ms Alice Kwok; the Managing Director of Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited, Mr Sung Man-hei; Mrs Lam; the Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Mr Peter Wong; and the Chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mr Chow Chung-kong, at the summit. Ends/Friday, December 8, 2017 Issued at HKT 15:32 NNNN

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CE meets Prince of Sweden

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/07/P2017120700892.htm

7.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met HRH Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, at Government House this morning (December 7). Mrs Lam welcomed Prince Carl Philip's visit to Hong Kong to launch the first edition of #SwedenTalks_HK which promotes co-operation and exchanges in areas including innovation, creativity, design, culture and social values between Hong Kong and Sweden. She said that the activity focuses on the promotion of Sweden's creative design, and education and learning technology, which coincide with the areas of innovation and technology and creative industries she is keen to develop as announced in her maiden Policy Address delivered in October. On design in particular, she expressed her gratitude to Sweden for participating in the Business of Design Week 2017 which is being held in town, including the setting up of a pavilion in DesignInspire to showcase the Swedish design and products. She also thanked the Swedish government and the trade for their support over the years to the Business of Design Week which has become a flagship design event in Asia. Given Sweden's leading position in the world in various aspects including innovation and technology, Mrs Lam expressed the hope to strengthen exchanges between the two places so that Hong Kong may learn from the experience of Sweden. She also encouraged more Swedish companies, including start-ups, to do business and invest in Hong Kong to leverage on the advantage of the city as the gateway to the vast market of Mainland China and to explore together more business opportunities. Ends/Thursday, December 7, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:02 NNNN

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CE to visit Dongguan

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/07/P2017120700415.htm

7.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will depart for Dongguan tomorrow afternoon (December 8) to attend "The 16th HK-PRD Industrial and Commercial Circle Goodwill Gathering 2017" organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the PRD Council. 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. During her stay in Dongguan, Mrs Lam will meet leaders of the Dongguan Municipal Government and visit the China (Dongguan) International Science & Technology Cooperation Week exhibition. She will also meet students of the Vocational Training Council on exchange programme in Dongguan and Hong Kong students studying in Guangdong. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the evening on the same day. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Thursday, December 7, 2017 Issued at HKT 13:16 NNNN

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CE: The best is yet to come for Hong Kong

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/06/P2017120601111.htm

6.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said at the luncheon of the 18th Hong Kong Forum today (December 6) that the Government will be more proactive and play the role of a "facilitator" and "promoter" in the development of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Forum, co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide (the Federation), attracted more than 350 business leaders from 29 countries and regions this year. Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong has a strong base, including the unique advantage of "One Country, Two Systems" and being one of the leaders in international rankings in a number of areas. Noting that Hong Kong was doing very well economically in the first three quarters of this year with an increase in the number of Mainland and overseas companies in Hong Kong and a favourable external environment, she said, however, the city will not rest on its laurels. 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 and make it a more livable city. Thanking the Federation for its contribution to Hong Kong's economic development over the years, Mrs Lam said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to listen to the views of various sectors and take concrete actions for Hong Kong, for which the best is yet to come. Ends/Wednesday, December 6, 2017 Issued at HKT 22:30 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/05/P2017120500399.htm

5.12.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (December 5): Reporter: Mrs Lam, but the Government has stopped submitting new bills to LegCo in the past few weeks. Is this a tactic to make way for LegCo to debate on LegCo rules changes? Chief Executive: Well, there is no particular tactics or strategy. We will submit the bills and resolutions when they are ready for LegCo to discuss and debate. But of course, as we can all see, the Legislative Council has already had eight meetings in this session, and out of the eight meetings and in many hours of deliberations they only managed to achieve basically two things. One is of course to pass the motion of thanks regarding my Policy Address, to which I'm extremely grateful. The other is to pass a non-binding motion on the co-location arrangements to be implemented in the West Kowloon Terminus of the high-speed train. But for other matters which normally do not take up a lot of time in the Legislative Council, like subsidiary legislation, like the introduction of bills for first and second reading, in this particular session they have also taken up a lot of time so maybe this phenomenon is very unusual and we hope that things in the Legislative Council will be brought back to normal as soon as possible. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, December 5, 2017 Issued at HKT 12:05 NNNN

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CE meets Saudi Arabia Crown Prince

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/04/P2017120400061.htm

4.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia in the evening before concluding her visit to Saudi Arabia today (December 3, Riyadh time). Pleased to note at the meeting that Saudi Arabia hoped to strengthen co-operation with Hong Kong in various areas, Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong, an international financial and business centre, is home to more than 8 200 offices set up by overseas and Mainland companies, as much as 45 per cent of which serve as regional headquarters or regional offices. Hong Kong entered into a Free Trade Agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations last month and signed the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Agreement with the Mainland, coupled with its robust regime and quality professional services, Hong Kong is the best platform for overseas enterprises to access the Mainland and Asian markets. Believing that services provided by Hong Kong would help Saudi Arabia take forward its "Vision 2030", she encouraged more enterprises in Saudi Arabia to set up businesses in Hong Kong to explore together more business opportunities. Ends/Monday, December 4, 2017 Issued at HKT 2:38 NNNN

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CE visits Saudi Arabia

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/04/P2017120400043.htm

3.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), Mr Chow Chung-kong; and the Chief Executive of HKEX, Mr Charles Li, visited Riyadh, Saudi Arabia today (December 3, Riyadh time). Upon arrival in Riyadh in the morning, Mrs Lam and the officials started the visit by calling on HM King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and that she is the first woman to be the Chief Executive, Mrs Lam said she is pleased to visit Saudi Arabia and thanked for the King's hospitality. She said that as the current-term Government is keen to develop its external affairs, she looked forward to strengthening ties in economic and trade with Saudi Arabia in the future. In the meeting with the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia cum Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Mr Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih and the Minister of Finance, Mr Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan that followed, Mrs Lam and the officials pointed out that with the dual advantages of "One Country" and "Two Systems" and its prime geographical location, Hong Kong has become a top-notch offshore Renminbi business centre which maintains the world's largest offshore Renminbi liquidity pool and offers a wide variety of Renminbi products and services. With the convergence of capital and talent from overseas and the Mainland, Hong Kong has been able to attract a lot of overseas and Mainland enterprises to list in the city to raise capital. Hong Kong has an active equity market and it ranked the world's first last year in terms of Initial Public Offerings for two consecutive years. In addition, the launch of Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Bond Connect has enhanced the mutual capital market access between Mainland China and Hong Kong, strengthening remarkably Hong Kong’s appeal as an international financial centre. Noting that the national Belt and Road Initiative will bring enormous opportunities for economic development for Hong Kong, Mrs Lam and the officials said Hong Kong has the relevant experience, professional knowledge and connection networks to be the financing and asset management hub for the Initiative. Pleased to note the presentation of "Vision 2030" for Saudi Arabia last year to boost the country's development, she said she looks forward to enhancing co-operation with Saudi Arabia and encouraged enterprises from Saudi Arabia to make use of Hong Kong as a financing platform to seize together the opportunities down the road. Mrs Lam and the officials then attended a lunch hosted by the Managing Director of Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, Mr Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan, at which they were briefed on the future developments of the Fund under "Vision 2030" and discussed the economic and social situation in both places. In the afternoon, Mr James Lau met the Chairman of the Capital Market Authority of Saudi Arabia, Mr Mohammad El-Kuwaiz to exchange views on regulation and development of the markets in the two places. Mrs Lam will depart Riyadh in the evening and arrive in Hong Kong in the afternoon of December 4. Ends/Monday, December 4, 2017 Issued at HKT 1:38 NNNN

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CE meets Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/01/P2017120101125.htm

1.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Mr Alan Peter Cayetano at the Chief Executive's Office this afternoon (December 1). Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Cayetano's visit to Hong Kong and congratulated the Philippines on the successful hosting of the 31th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit earlier. She also thanked the Philippines' support on the signing of the Hong Kong-ASEAN Free Trade agreement (FTA) and a related Investment Agreement during the ASEAN Summit last month, which she believed would take co-operation between Hong Kong and ASEAN to new heights. In particular, the current-term Government is committed to promoting two-way investments whereby Hong Kong enterprises will be encouraged to seek investment opportunities in the Philippines and other ASEAN countries, boosting not only the local economy but also the development of professional services in Hong Kong. With around two hundred thousand foreign domestic helpers from the Philippines in Hong Kong making substantial contribution to Hong Kong's families and economy, Mrs Lam said the Government is keen to protect the rights and benefits of the domestic helpers in Hong Kong so that they will enjoy working and living in the city. Noting that she is very concerned about the Philippine Government's suspension of the issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates to all overseas workers, Mrs Lam said that she is delighted to know from Mr Cayetano that the processing of the applications will resume normal next week and that she hopes the relevant authorities in the Philippines would expedite the processing of the previously suspended cases. Ends/Friday, December 1, 2017 Issued at HKT 23:40 NNNN

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CE meets Vice President of European Commission

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/01/P2017120101015.htm

1.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the visiting Vice-President of the European Commission for the Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, Mr Valdis Dombrovskis, at the Chief Executive's Office this afternoon (December 1). Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Dombrovskis' visit to Hong Kong and briefed him on the city's latest situation and development direction at the meeting. She said that with the dual advantages of "One Country" and "Two Systems", Hong Kong is authorised by the Central People's Government to conduct relevant external affairs on its own in accordance with the Basic Law. Through conducting more government-to-government dialogues and establishing more bilateral and multilateral ties with the Mainland and overseas countries, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will promote its advantages to attract more Mainland and international enterprises, investors and talent to Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government will also continue to actively seek to enter into free trade agreements, investment promotion and protection agreements and comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreements with other economies to further strengthen Hong Kong's ties with other places. She said that Hong Kong, as a global financial centre, offshore Renminbi business hub and international asset management centre, will capitalise on the opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development and give full play to the city's advantages to promote diversified development of Hong Kong's financial market, including the development of financial technologies and green bonds. Noting that Hong Kong and the European Union have established strong bilateral ties with close economic and trade relationships, she encouraged European enterprises to choose Hong Kong as the platform to expand their businesses to the Mainland and Asia. Ends/Friday, December 1, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:31 NNNN

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CE to visit Saudi Arabia

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201712/01/P2017120100319.htm

1.12.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will depart for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the early hours on December 3. During her stay in Riyadh, Mrs Lam will meet with HM King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, and HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to explore business opportunities between the two places, with particular reference to what Hong Kong can offer in terms of financial services. The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), Mr Chow Chung-kong; and the Chief Executive of HKEX, Mr Charles Li, will join the visit. They will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on December 4. During Mrs Lam's absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Friday, December 1, 2017 Issued at HKT 10:51 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum 2017 Gala Dinner

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/28/P2017112800931.htm

28.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum 2017 Gala Dinner this evening (November 28): Minister Luo (Minister of Culture, Mr Luo Shugang), Honourable ministers, heads of delegations, consuls-general, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. I'm honoured to welcome you to the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum. This singular gathering brings together cultural ministers and senior officials from all over the region, here in Hong Kong to exchange ideas and experience that support the critical development of arts and culture throughout Asia. I am extremely grateful to Minister Luo Shugang and Asia's cultural ministers for your continuing support of this Forum. My thanks, as well, to our many distinguished consulates-general and key figures from Hong Kong’s cultural sector. Your presence tonight not only reflects your passion for arts and culture but also an appreciation of the role that arts and culture could play in inter-connected development in Asia, and beyond. Indeed, this year, alongside participants from Hong Kong and the Mainland, we welcome high-profile officials from nine Asian countries. This is a remarkable line-up that speaks well of our shared and unshakable commitment to cultural development in Asia. I first attended this Forum in 2006 in my then capacity as the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs. I took part in this Forum as the Chief Secretary for Administration. I am glad to be back as the Chief Executive, particularly given that this year is the 10th anniversary of the Forum – and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong is a multi-faceted city and the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, naturally, has many challenges. But I can assure you that having been responsible for Hong Kong's cultural policy in Home Affairs Bureau and the chairperson of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board, arts and culture is very close to my heart, and will occupy an important place in my policy portfolio. Why should culture be given increasing prominence by government leaders? In his work report to the 19th Congress last month, President Xi Jinping said that culture is a country and nation's soul. Our country will thrive only if our culture thrives, and our nation will be strong only if our culture is strong. Without full confidence in our culture, without a rich and prosperous culture, the Chinese nation will not be able to rejuvenate itself. That's why President Xi, in his work report, acknowledges that to meet the people's new aspirations for a better life, we must provide them with rich intellectual nourishment, and hence the promotion of the development of cultural programmes and industries. For the next few moments, just allow me to share Hong Kong's vision for cultural development. The theme of this year's Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum, namely "Cultural Sustainability in a Dynamic World: Connecting Diversity", reflects the traditional Chinese virtue of harmony, in which cultures co-exist peacefully, all the while maintaining their singular sensibilities. Not surprisingly, it echoes our own vision: to develop Hong Kong into an international cultural capital with a distinct identity – one rooted in Chinese tradition uniquely enriched by a blessed bounty of other cultures. In short, Hong Kong is a proud confluence of East and West. And this historically grounded gift – our cultural diversity – has created an enabling environment, allowing a great continuum of cultural businesses and ventures to flourish. Thanks to our strategic location at the heart of Asia and our long-established role as the gateway to the Mainland, Hong Kong offers rewarding access to opportunities throughout the region. In recent years, international art fairs and renowned galleries have chosen Hong Kong as their Asian base, injecting creative and commercial vitality into our local art scene. In Hong Kong today, auction houses fetch record-breaking prices for art and antiques, making Hong Kong amongst the largest art markets in the world. At the same time, they have opened the world to the beauty and brilliance of Asia’s many cultures. This has set in motion buoyant art markets that have helped in the rise of Asian art and artists to global prominence. Hong Kong also embodies a heritage rich in tradition. And this diversity has provided renewed inspiration to the cultural and creative industries. Just as the cheongsam, or qípáo, has claimed the world's fashion runways, so, too, will Chinese opera find its rightful place, thanks to the spotlight our fast-emerging West Kowloon Cultural District will give it. West Kowloon's Xiqu Centre, expressly designed to showcase Chinese opera, scheduled to open next year, is proudly the District’s first major performing arts venue. Cantonese opera, which is on the local, national and UNESCO lists of intangible cultural heritage, is gaining popularity amongst our youth. Indeed, two of our gifted child artists performed Cantonese opera during President Xi Jinping's visit to Hong Kong in July, right on the site where the West Kowloon Cultural District is going to be. The much talked about Belt and Road Initiative will re-invent tradition on a much grander scale. The ancient Silk Road was opened up by the imperial envoy Zhang Qian back in the Han Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, Admiral Zheng He shaped the Maritime Silk Road. Today, the Belt and Road Initiative is connecting people, places and ideas. It will engender a profusion of cultural and people-to-people bonds. This reality gave me much pleasure this afternoon in officiating at the opening of the exhibition "Miles upon Miles: World Heritage along the Silk Road." Ladies and gentlemen, a globalised, urbanised, tech-savvy world is not necessarily at odds with tradition. Rather, it can present us with opportunities to rediscover and revitalise our time-bound cultures. Together, we can realise a renaissance of traditional cultures, creating new values in the meeting of yesterday and today. This is what we envision as cultural sustainability in a dynamic world. I wish you all a very enjoyable evening, a rewarding stay in Hong Kong and a wealth of cultural experience in the New Year. Thank you very much. Ends/Tuesday, November 28, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:03 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Asia House Signature Conference

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/27/P2017112700259.htm

27.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Asia House Signature Conference this morning (November 27): Lord Green (Chairman of Asia House, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint), Consul-General (British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Andrew Heyn), Michael (Chief Executive of Asia House, Mr Michael Lawrence), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. Let me first thank Asia House for holding its signature conference in Hong Kong this year. I am delighted to join you especially when it was my idea to Michael during my London visit in September last year that Asia House should consider hosting an event in Hong Kong in 2017, when we are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. And I thought it was extremely befitting for Asia House, with a mission to drive economic and political engagement between Europe and Asia to discuss about Asia from this vantage point of Hong Kong, especially with a Hong Kong – ASEAN Free Trade Agreement then in sight. I am pleased to say that Hong Kong signed this milestone FTA with the ten member nations of ASEAN in the Philippines on November 12, 2017, that is only two weeks ago, just in time for this important conference. Of course, what I could not have expected then was my coming here to speak to you in my capacity as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. I hope this little unplanned coincidence of my involvement will make this Asia House event in Hong Kong a more memorable one. This is an auspicious year for Hong Kong as we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Over the past 20 years, we have seen increasing economic integration with the Mainland of China. This has brought, and will continue to bring, heightened opportunities to us. This is also a special year for Hong Kong and the ASEAN, especially in the context of a more progressive strategy to strengthen Hong Kong's relationship with Southeast Asia. Apart from signing the Hong Kong-ASEAN FTA, we opened our second Economic and Trade Office in ASEAN situated in Jakarta, Indonesia earlier this year (hitherto, our first and only representation in the entire ASEAN region used to be just Singapore) and in my maiden Policy Address delivered last month, I announced the setting up of a third office in Bangkok, Thailand. Since taking office on July 1, I have already visited four ASEAN nations – Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam, to call on leaders, to renew ties and to explore further co-operation. Two important events have also taken place earlier this year which put Asia on the spotlight. China hosted the first heavy weight Belt and Road Summit in Beijing in May while the APEC Economic Leaders gathered in Da Nang, Vietnam in November to discuss issues of mutual concern. Indeed, the Asian perspectives are becoming increasingly important for practical reasons. For the past 25 years or so, Asia's economy has grown by around 6 per cent a year and several countries therein have become economic powerhouses. As a result, the world economy, at least in terms of GDP, is shifting east and south at an extraordinary speed, and many Asian enterprises have emerged not only responding to their domestic populous markets, but also entering the competitive global stage. It is widely expected that Asia will continue to be the engine of global economic growth for the foreseeable future. In this respect, I must congratulate Asia House for its insight in putting together a publication entitled Asia 2025 last year to, in the words of Sir John Boyd, the former Asia House Chairman, "offer helpful clues as to how this region will look to powerfully shape the world in the next decade". I am much honoured to be one of the 25 contributors to that publication, offering my perspective on the role of Hong Kong and our aspiration to become Asia’s hyper-connected world city. Connectivity has long been Hong Kong's recipe for success. As a global trade, business and tourism centre, Hong Kong's extensive networks of business and professional links would not be possible without the physical infrastructure to make it happen. Our international airport lies at the heart of Asia and serves as a hub that puts half of the world's population within a five-hour flight. Our port serves some 500 destinations worldwide. We are well connected by road and rail to Guangdong Province and the Pearl River Delta, which are powerhouses in manufacturing and high-tech industries. These land links will be significantly enhanced as within the next 12 to 18 months, we will commission three major pieces of cross-boundary infrastructure which will significantly transform our links with the Mainland and beyond, accelerating the flow of goods, people, capital and information between Hong Kong and the Mainland. In doing so, they will underscore our status as the region's trade, business and logistics hub, boosting opportunities for Hong Kong and for the companies that partner with Hong Kong. First is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world's longest combined sub-sea tunnel and bridge, which will cut journey time between the Hong Kong International Airport and Zhuhai or Macao from four hours to about 45 minutes, accelerating our economic integration with the western Pearl River Delta region. Indeed, most of the Pearl River Delta's major cities will be reachable within a three-hour drive. Second is the 26-kilometre Hong Kong section of the Express Rail Link which will slash journey time between Guangzhou and Hong Kong, on a non-stop basis, to just 48 minutes. No less important, it will connect Hong Kong to our country's national rail network and its 22,000 kilometres of high-speed track. Third is a new border crossing, our seventh land boundary control point, which will greatly enhance the connection between Hong Kong and the eastern part of Shenzhen, Huizhou and all the way to the Fujian Province. Increased connections will mean new development opportunities for Hong Kong. Our enhanced connectivity will be particularly valuable to Hong Kong as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development gain traction. The Bay Area, which counts nine Guangdong cities, along with Macao and Hong Kong, is China's most affluent region. The Bay Area will allow us to draw on the combined strengths of the participating cities and their 66 million inhabitants, bringing immense prospects to Hong Kong and our trading partners. The twin corridors of the Belt and Road are home to more than 60 economies in the three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa. As President Xi Jinping said at the APEC CEO Summit earlier this month, the Belt and Road initiative is from China, but it belongs to the world; it is rooted in history, but oriented towards the future. It will enhance not only connectivity in trade, but also interconnected development in infrastructure, policies, financial services and people-to-people bond. Before I go on, let me first express my gratitude to Lord Green for his most optimistic remark in a recent article that "of all Asia’s trading hubs, none is more favourably placed than Hong Kong to capitalise on belt and road in particular, and Asia's rise more broadly." Amidst such exciting opportunities in a globalised economy, how should that Asia trade be conducted, which is the theme of this Asia House Conference. Let me share a few thoughts from a Hong Kong perspective. As a founding member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Hong Kong is a staunch supporter of free trade. For 23 years in a row, we have been ranked as the world's freest economy by the Heritage Foundation. Free and open economy, well connected to the outside world, underpins Hong Kong's prosperity. We have benefitted immensely from free trade which is instrumental in developing Hong Kong into an international trade and business centre as it is today. We shall continue to enhance connectivity and achieve interconnected development. However, despite all the benefits free trade and connected development can bring, we do see recently some worrying signs of rising protectionism. Why would this happen? One reason could be that the gains brought by economic globalisation have not been enjoyed by all, giving rise to social discontent, income disparity and a growing sense of disconnect, especially between the government and the people, particularly young people. It is tempting to blame free trade for such social problems, and protectionism may easily gain popularity, but the fundamental solution lies in making economic development more inclusive and delivering benefits to our people. Inclusive growth is highly relevant in the age of globalisation. Economies in Asia 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 youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, and enable them to seize global opportunities. Building an inclusive community is, and continue will 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 continue to enhance the standard of living of all members of the community, so that they can feel the benefits brought by free trade and economic growth. A greater concern for the natural environment and a commitment to sustainable growth should, in my view, be another important dimension of Asia trade. As responsible global citizens, we must actively tackle climate change, improve air and water quality and reduce waste. Hong Kong is able to benefit from connected, inclusive and sustainable growth in the past 20 years under "One Country, Two Systems". We enjoy unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems". We are an international financial centre and are universally acknowledged as among the best cities in the world for doing business. Our fibre network, capable of carrying high-speed broadband, covers the entire city. Our legal and professional services are highly regarded. And it's all underpinned by the rule of law, an independent judiciary and rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Basic Law. Ladies and Gentlemen, Hong Kong's longstanding prowess in trade, coupled with our financial, legal and administrative expertise, and experience, can play a pivotal role in Asia Trade in the new global order. Indeed, in the latest WTO survey, Hong Kong is the world's sixth-largest exporter of merchandise trade and 15th largest commercial services exporter. We are world-class importers as well, ranking seventh in goods and 17th in services. We trade with more than 200 countries and regions, creating opportunities for millions upon millions of people. But there is no room for complacency. In taking Hong Kong's economy forward, I said in my Policy Address that we will continue to respect the rules governing the economy and market operations, and promote free trade. At the same time, we will leverage our unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems". We will inject new and continuous impetus to Hong Kong’s economy through playing new roles of facilitation and promotion and making timely investments. We will conduct more government-to-government dialogues with the Mainland and overseas countries. I am sure Asia House, with its expertise on Asia and as the leading pan-Asian organization in the United Kingdom, will continue to provide that forum for decision-makers, business leaders and opinion formers to engage in high-level discussions that direct business and political strategies. My thanks, once again, to Asia House for bringing this prestigious event to Hong Kong. I wish you all stimulating discussions today and, for guests coming from other places, a wonderful stay in Hong Kong. Thank you. Ends/Monday, November 27, 2017 Issued at HKT 10:36 NNNN

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Speech by CE at opening ceremony of Lumieres Hong Kong

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/23/P2017112300788.htm

23.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening ceremony of Lumieres Hong Kong today (November 23): Mr Galliano (Vice President of Lyon Metropole, Mr Alain Galliano), Andrew (Chairman of the Board of Lumieres Hong Kong, Dr Andrew Yuen), Simon (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Simon Ip), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you at the opening ceremony of Lumieres Hong Kong. I still recall that in my previous capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration, I officiated at the launching ceremony of Lumieres Hong Kong in July last year at Victoria House, the official residence of the Chief Secretary for Administration. Since then, I, and many others, have been eagerly looking forward to this debut in Hong Kong of Lyon's spectacular festival of lights. So I am sure we are all delighted that the long wait is over, and Lumieres Hong Kong starts today, in time to help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. And for that, there is a great constellation of individuals and organisations to thank. But let me begin with France, a long-time cultural exchange partner of Hong Kong. Thanks to the dedication of the people from both places, the ties between Hong Kong and France are strengthening over the years in all aspects, including trade and investment, engineering and aviation, design and wine, etc. But let me focus on arts and culture on this particular occasion. Le French May, which was inaugurated back in 1993, has become one of the most successful cultural festivals in Hong Kong. Under the auspices of the festival, we have watched, listened to and tasted the best of the French culture. Today, the team behind this festival, led by Andrew, is bringing us Lumieres Hong Kong. Lumieres Hong Kong is inspired by the world-renowned Fête des Lumières in the French city of Lyon, which began in the 19th century and takes place every December. I am delighted that the Lyon festival not only provides us with the inspiration, but is also partnering with Lumieres Hong Kong. With Lumieres Hong Kong, the organisers including our own Leisure and Cultural Services Department have selected local and international artists to shed their creative light - their video projections, installations and street art - on 16 Hong Kong landmarks: the Cultural Centre's Clock Tower, City Hall, Statue Square, PMQ, Man Mo Temple, the Lan Kwai Fong Amphitheatre and more. While our very own Symphony of Lights spectacular showcases Victoria Harbour, Lumieres Hong Kong embraces Central, SoHo and Tsim Sha Tsui, lighting the way for locals and visitors into the heart of Hong Kong, and into the heart of Hong Kong culture and entertainment as well. It highlights our heritage buildings and the light installations give an extra perspective for us to appreciate their beauty. In addition, music, dance, circus shows, family fun and a world of dining all fall under the spell of the festival's enchanting light. With the objectives to benefit the widest audience possible, and to involve the different communities of Hong Kong, I am glad to learn that Lumieres Hong Kong will host education and outreach programmes dedicated to the young, students and special needs groups. In particular, there will be docent tours for the disadvantaged, in order to promote community engagement and make art accessible to all. Just as important, Lumieres Hong Kong brings overseas and local artists to light. We always seek to raise the profile of our artists through increasing the exposure of their works, as well as their exposure to other people's works. Lumieres Hong Kong expands the frontier of public arts; having urban landmarks as the backdrop of artworks is surely a special experience for our artists. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, especially to the Chairman, Simon, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the many others who have contributed their expertise and enthusiasm and money to bring Lumieres Hong Kong to fruition. Thank you for lighting up our city, and providing a wonderful prelude to a joyful Christmas. May I wish the festival a great success and all of you a pleasant evening. Thank you very much. Ends/Thursday, November 23, 2017 Issued at HKT 18:45 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/23/P2017112300406.htm

23.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (November 23): Margaret (Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Margaret Fong), Minister Arkhom (Minister of Transport of Thailand, Mr Arkhom Termpittayapaisith), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here for the opening of the Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference 2017. This is the Conference's seventh edition. It is also the third year in a row I have had this welcome opportunity to address you here, and of course this time, for the first time as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. I am glad that the Conference has grown in scale over time, and now it has become the biggest of its kind in Asia. The Conference this year is particularly special as it is one of the celebration events of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We are honoured that Minister Arkhom from Thailand is this year's keynote speaker. His presence here signifies a new era of closer ties between Hong Kong and Thailand, ushered in through the signing of the Hong Kong-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement earlier this month and the recent announcement in my maiden Policy Address that Hong Kong will set up a new Economic and Trade Office in Thailand. Indeed, since taking office, I have met Prime Minister Prayut twice, during my official trip to Bangkok in August and at the APEC meeting held in Da Nang, Vietnam earlier this month. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, we reflect on our past achievements under "one country, two systems" and aim to map out a new vision for Hong Kong. Speaking of achievements, the trading and logistics industry is one of the four top pillar industries of Hong Kong, contributing about 22 per cent of our gross domestic product and 20 per cent of our employment. These did not happen by coincidence, but for the reason that Hong Kong values and embraces free trade. This conviction has helped nurture our trading industry over the years. Logistics, being the sector that underpins trading, has also benefitted and grown. And it is logistics - the power of linking economies and industries, people, products and services - that will help us realise the connections we need to function and flourish in this era of connectivity. We have what it takes to do well in the logistics sector. Strategically located at the heart of Asia, Hong Kong is connected to the world and Mainland China by a world-class international airport, a container terminal renowned for its efficiency, and extensive land crossings. With our well-developed multi-modal transport network, the logistics industry is highly flexible in moving goods from one corner of the world to another. Hong Kong International Airport hosts some 100 airlines operating more than 1 100 flights a day, with regular and direct services to about 220 destinations, including more than 50 in the Mainland of China. Last year, our airport managed over 70 million passengers and 4.5 million tonnes of cargo. In the first 10 months of this year, cargo was up 9.9 per cent year on year. It did not come as a surprise, as our airport has been the world's busiest for international air cargo since 1996. We have no plans to relinquish our global leadership. Instead, we seek to consolidate our position by moving ahead with a three-runway system for the airport. The project includes reclamation of some 650 hectares of land, construction of a third runway, a new concourse, and state-of-the-art people-moving and baggage-handling systems. Upon project completion, the airport will have the capacity to handle about 100 million passengers and 9 million tonnes of cargo a year. The booming growth of e-commerce has generated an ever-increasing demand for cross-border logistics and delivery services, in particular air mail and transshipment services. To cope with this growth, Hongkong Post is holding discussions with the Airport Authority and other postal authorities on the expansion of the Air Mail Centre at the airport in order to enhance its capacity and operation efficiency. DHL has just announced its plan to inject HK$3 billion to expand its Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong in partnership with the Airport Authority. The expansion will not only bolster the company's operational capacity in Asia Pacific, but also facilitate the rapidly growing international trade demands in the region and around the world. As for maritime transport, Hong Kong is home to one of the world's largest shipping communities, with 9.6 per cent of the world's merchant fleet and a dynamic maritime cluster offering wide-ranging shipping services. Indeed, later this evening, the Hong Kong Shipowners Association will be hosting its 60th anniversary celebration reception. Hong Kong Port is already one of the busiest container ports in the world, and it enables about 330 container vessel services a week to some 470 destinations worldwide. As mentioned in my Policy Address, to entrench Hong Kong's position as a diversified international maritime centre, the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board established by the Government is actively working with the industry to formulate a comprehensive strategy to bolster and promote the development of Hong Kong's maritime industry and high value-added maritime services, and encourage overseas maritime enterprises to set up a presence in Hong Kong. The Government is also actively implementing port enhancement measures to maintain the competitiveness of Hong Kong Port, including provision of additional terminal yard space and barge berths in phases to increase the container handling capacity of the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals and the better use of back-up land of the terminals. Despite the improvement in air and maritime transport, I would say that the most exciting developments are on the ground. When I said "exciting", this is no exaggeration, as in the next 12 to 18 months Hong Kong will commission three major pieces of cross-border infrastructure that will significantly transform our links with the Mainland and beyond, accelerating the flow of goods, people, capital and information between Hong Kong and the Mainland. In doing so, they will underscore our status as the region's business and logistical hub, boosting opportunities for Hong Kong and for the companies that partner with Hong Kong. First is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world's longest combined sub-sea tunnel and bridge, which will cut journey time between Hong Kong International Airport and Zhuhai or Macao from four hours to about 45 minutes, accelerating our economic integration with the western Pearl River Delta region. Indeed, most of the Pearl River Delta's major cities will be reachable within a three-hour drive. Second is the 26-kilometre Hong Kong section of the Express Rail Link which will slash journey time between Guangzhou and Hong Kong, on a non-stop basis, to just 48 minutes. No less important, it will connect Hong Kong to our country's national rail network and its 22 000 kilometres of high-speed track. Third is a new border crossing, our seventh land boundary control point, which will greatly enhance the connection between Hong Kong and the eastern part of Shenzhen, Huizhou and all the way to the Fujian Province. Increased connections will mean new development opportunities for Hong Kong. Our enhanced connectivity will be particularly valuable to Hong Kong as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development gain traction. The Bay Area, which counts nine Guangdong cities, along with Macao and Hong Kong, is China's most affluent region. The signing of a co-operation framework agreement by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao on July 1 this year presents outsized opportunities for logistics in the Bay Area. The Bay Area will allow us to draw on the combined strengths of the participating cities and their 66 million inhabitants, bringing immense prospects to Hong Kong and our logistics sector. The twin corridors of the Belt and Road are home to more than 60 economies. Hong Kong Port has marine cargo movement with about 45 of these economies. And we have signed air services agreements or international air transit agreements with 42 of them. These established ties give Hong Kong a decided edge in meeting the increasing need for a logistics sector and services in the Belt and Road regions, particularly in emerging economies where quality logistics services are in great demand. The Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative will be important drivers for Hong Kong's economic growth in the coming years. My Government is determined to capitalise on Hong Kong's traditional strengths to seize those opportunities through proactive policies, facilitating measures, timely investment and stepped-up promotions. As the logistics sector is a globalised industry, we are committed to working with you all to create more opportunities for our respective businesses and people, especially the younger generation. I am sure this two-day conference will provide further insights into how we should do it together. I wish you a fruitful discussion at the various sessions. Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong has long been the region's pre-eminent logistics hub and an international maritime centre. With the concerted efforts of the Government and all concerned, I am confident this great sector will continue to grow, continue to reward us all. This prestigious two-day conference, which counts over 2 000 high-profile logistics professionals and government officials, is certainly showcasing Hong Kong's commitment to logistics. So is Hong Kong Maritime Week, which includes this conference, together with some 50 other events. Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you the best of business at the Conference, and a very memorable stay in Hong Kong. Thank you very much. Ends/Thursday, November 23, 2017 Issued at HKT 12:34 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Asia-Global Dialogue 2017

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/22/P2017112200395.htm

22.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Asia-Global Dialogue 2017 today (November 22): Victor (Co-chair of the Advisory Board of the Asia Global Institute, Dr Victor Fung), Peter (President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Peter Mathieson), distinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. I'm very pleased to join this year's Asia-Global Dialogue. First launched in 2012, this event offers an excellent platform for thought leaders, both local and from overseas, to discuss global issues from the Asian perspectives. It is my honour to be part of this year's dialogue, and to speak to such a distinguished audience. There is much to look forward to today, thanks to a timely theme - "Asian Perspectives in a New Global Economy". Indeed, the Asian perspectives are becoming increasingly important. For the past 25 years or so, Asia's economy has grown by around 6 per cent a year and several countries therein have become economic powerhouses. As a result, the world economy, at least in terms of GDP, is shifting east and south at an extraordinary speed, and many Asian enterprises have emerged not only responding to their domestic populous markets, but also entering the competitive global stage. It is widely expected that Asia will continue to be the engine of global economic growth for the foreseeable future. Asia has attracted worldwide attention earlier this month as world leaders gathered in Da Nang, Vietnam, for the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting 2017. I represented Hong Kong, China at the meeting, and had a fruitful discussion with the leaders under the theme of "Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future". The APEC meeting was followed by the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Summit held in the Philippines, and the many formal dialogue and informal exchanges between state leaders had for a while dominated the news domain. APEC members have a diverse profile as it is not an easy task to find consensus among all, but we managed to do it in Vietnam in the form of the Da Nang Declaration of 11 November. In the Declaration, the leaders expressed the determination to promote sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth, deepen regional economic integration, realise the full potential of the business sector, and enhance food security and sustainable agriculture. The Da Nang Declaration has provided much insight into how we should respond to a new global economy. But it is in the keynote address delivered by President Xi Jinping at the APEC CEO Summit that I find that Asian perspective clear and loud. In a speech entitled "Seizing the Opportunity of a Global Economy in Transition and Accelerating Development of the Asia-Pacific", President Xi said that economic globalisation has contributed to global growth and has become an irreversible trend; we should make it more open and inclusive, more balanced, more equitable and beneficial to all. This is what I intend to share from a Hong Kong perspective - that we should embrace connectivity, inclusiveness and sustainability in the new global economy. As a founder member of the World Trade Organization, Hong Kong is a staunch supporter of free trade. For 23 years in a row, we have been ranked as the world's freest economy by the Heritage Foundation. Free and open economy, well connected to the outside world, is Hong Kong's recipe of success. We have benefited immensely from free trade which is instrumental in developing Hong Kong into an international trade and business centre as it is today. We should continue to enhance connectivity and achieve interconnected development. The two major national initiatives now in front of us - the Belt and Road and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development - present us with numerous opportunities for economic growth. Indeed, as President Xi said, the Belt and Road Initiative is from China, but it belongs to the world. It is rooted in history, but is oriented towards the future. Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages in each of the five areas of connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative - from financial services and trade practices to infrastructure and people-to-people bonds. However, despite all the benefits free trade and connected development can bring, we do see recently some worrying signs of rising protectionism. Why would this happen? One reason could be that the gains brought by economic globalisation have not been enjoyed by all, giving rise to social discontent, income disparity and a growing sense of disconnect, especially between the government and the people, and particularly young people. It is tempting to blame free trade for such social problems, and protectionism may easily gain popularity, but the fundamental solution lies in making economic development more inclusive and delivering benefits to our people. Inclusive growth is highly relevant in the age of globalisation. APEC leaders have therefore agreed to redouble the efforts to advance economic, financial and social inclusion, with a vision to build an inclusive, accessible, sustainable, healthy and resilient APEC community. An Action Agenda has been endorsed to, among others, advance progress towards achieving full, productive and quality employment, and progressively achieve and sustain income growth for all members of society, especially women, and youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, and enable them to seize global opportunities. Building an inclusive community is exactly what my Government will do. In this respect, it is relevant to note that almost 60 per cent of the government recurrent budget is spent on education, social welfare and medical services; spending on social welfare and alleviation of poverty has increased 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 capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration. In this term of Government, we will continue to enhance the standard of living of all members of the community, so that they can feel the benefits brought by economic growth. In particular, 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 environment. A concern for the natural environment and a commitment to sustainable growth should, in my view, be another important dimension of that Asian perspective. As a responsible global citizen, Hong Kong will actively tackle climate change pursuant to the Paris Summit. We have pledged to reduce carbon emissions, improve water quality and reduce waste. Hong Kong is able to benefit from connected, inclusive and sustainable growth in the past 20 years under "one country, two systems". We enjoy unique advantages under "one country, two systems". We are an international financial centre and are universally acknowledged as among the best cities in the world for doing business. We have world-class logistics and communications infrastructure and a highly regarded services sector. And it's all underpinned by the rule of law and an independent judiciary. It means that Hong Kong is the best platform for governments and companies along the Belt and Road, and their infrastructure projects, to seek capital. Our bankers, lawyers, arbitrators, accountants, architects, engineers, planners, project managers, insurers and marketing and communications experts are also capable of providing all the services these companies need in their projects. We are further enhancing Hong Kong's attractiveness by establishing more bilateral and multilateral ties with the Mainland and overseas countries. One shining achievement is the Free Trade Agreement signed earlier this month between Hong Kong and the 10 member nations of ASEAN, a key region in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. Enhanced bilateral trade and investment relations with ASEAN can only mean more prospects for Hong Kong. That certainly includes helping ASEAN countries, and companies, find opportunities along the Belt and Road. Ladies and gentlemen, there is a pertinent saying that "opportunities are reserved for those who have made preparation". In a globalised and highly competitive economy, I would venture to say that it is those who have made preparation who will be able to access these opportunities. Despite her past success, Hong Kong will not rest on her laurels. In my maiden Policy Address delivered last month, I have outlined how my Government will play proactive roles, introduce policy measures, make timely investments and promote our strengths in order to seize the many opportunities arising from a new global economy. With that, I am confident that we will be able to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, delivering benefits to all people in Hong Kong. Before I close, my thanks to the organiser, the University of Hong Kong's Asia Global Institute, for giving me this welcome opportunity to talk to you today, and also, earlier on, giving me the opportunity to meet a group of very distinguished Asia Global Institute fellows. I am sure our prominent speakers will have much wisdom and insight to offer during the dialogue. So I wish you all a very rewarding day. Thank you very much. Ends/Wednesday, November 22, 2017 Issued at HKT 12:00 NNNN

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Speech by CE at debut and christening of cruise ship World Dream

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/17/P2017111700966.htm

17.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the debut and christening of the cruise ship World Dream today (November 17): Tan Sri Lim (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genting Hong Kong, Mr Lim Kok Thay), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join all of you this evening in welcoming the arrival of World Dream, the new 335-metre, 18-deck mega-cruise ship, to Hong Kong. May I extend my best wishes to all passengers on World Dream's maiden voyage, which begins this very evening. Before World Dream sets sail, however, we get to do the next best thing. And that's take part in one of sailing's most captivating rituals: the ship christening ceremony. World Dream represents a major milestone in Hong Kong's rise as a cruise ship hub. It will be the first mega-cruise ship to be christened here. It will also be the biggest cruise ship to call Hong Kong its year-round home. That, ladies and gentlemen, speaks of the importance that Genting Hong Kong attaches to the Hong Kong market and the ability of Hong Kong to appeal to regional and global cruise ship lovers. Let me add here that, whenever World Dream is in port here, it will become part of our revamped "Symphony of Lights" show – making a major international showcase that much more attractive. The new light-and-sound show begins in December this year. World Dream's year-round presence here also speaks of the state-of-the-art facilities at this Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. Cruise tourism in Hong Kong has been expanding rapidly in the four and a half years since the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal opened. The number of ship calls in Hong Kong this year will reach an all-time high of about 250, with passenger throughput hitting a record-breaking 850 000. That welcome news would not be possible without the support of Genting Hong Kong and other cruise lines, along with our travel trade partners and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. My Government is determined to build on that strong foundation and inject further impetus into the development of cruise tourism. In my first Policy Address delivered last month, I have clearly laid down the development strategies of the tourism industry in Hong Kong. The Tourism Commission has also produced a comprehensive Tourism Development Blueprint, and a number of its initiatives relate to cruise tourism, to enhancing the experience of cruise passengers in Hong Kong and to driving the development of this very important sector. In addition, the Financial Secretary last month convened a high-level committee to co-ordinate the Government's tourism efforts. And we are pleased to see a number of breakthroughs, from improvements to infrastructure and connectivity, to streamlining immigration and logistic arrangements for cruise tourism. I am confident that we will continue to provide the best environment for cruise lines to sustain a healthy business growth here. And, down the sea road, as Mr Lim pointed out, the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development plan will offer more promise for our cruise industry. I am sure that I can count on the support from every one of you here in our efforts to grasp the opportunities in front of us. Lastly, my congratulations to Genting Hong Kong on its latest cruise launch and to Dream Cruises on its newly expanded fleet. I would also like to thank them for choosing Hong Kong for this important event. I wish World Dream, and Genting Hong Kong, smooth sailing into the South China Sea and the future. Their success will surely be Hong Kong's good fortune. On that promising note, I wish you all a very pleasant evening. Thank you very much. Ends/Friday, November 17, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:05 NNNN

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Speech by CE at 9th World Chinese Economic Summit 2017 opening ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/13/P2017111300475.htm

13.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening ceremony of the 9th World Chinese Economic Summit 2017 today (November 13): Tan Sri Dr Michael Yeoh (Chairman of the World Chinese Economic Summit (WCES) and Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute), Vincent (Co-chairman of WCES and Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Vincent Lo), Jonathan (Co-chairman of WCES and Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Dr Jonathan Choi), the Honourable C Y Leung (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah (Chairman of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. It is my pleasure to join you today at the opening of the 9th World Chinese Economic Summit. A warm welcome to all of you, especially those travelling all the way to Hong Kong for the Summit. My gratitude to the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute for organising this year's Summit in Hong Kong, an auspicious year as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. I am pleased that the HKSAR Government is one of the supporting organisations. The World Chinese Economic Summit is a flagship event created by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute with a view to enhancing connectivity and business linkages between China and Southeast Asia, as well as China and Europe. It is most timely for this Summit to take place in Hong Kong as just yesterday, Hong Kong signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and related Investment Agreement with the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is an important milestone in the bilateral trade and investment relations between Hong Kong, China and ASEAN, which today is our second largest merchandise trading partner and the fourth largest in services trade. The Agreements are significant and comprehensive and will bring about new business opportunities and boost our trade and investment ties through legal certainty, better market access, and co-operation in capacity building and technical assistance. I notice that this year, the Summit's theme is "Managing Global Uncertainty: Exploring New Opportunities". Deeper and broader economic integration as well as renewed commitment for free and open trade are, in my view, a pertinent response and approach that economies should take in managing global uncertainty and exploring new opportunities. The global economy, as we speak, is full of uncertainties. We see an increasing trend in protectionism or nationalism - with the United States withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and Britons voting to exit the European Union - all these have an impact on the global picture. Nevertheless, in the midst of all these uncertainties, I am pleased to say that at the 25th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in Da Nang, Vietnam, two days ago, leaders of APEC have recommitted to the common purpose, that is, to foster a shared future of a peaceful, sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and reaffirmed the aspirations towards balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth in the APEC region. Clearly, the world economy is in dire need of a new and strong driving force. I believe the Belt and Road Initiative, which a couple of speakers have touched upon, spanning across Asia, Europe and Africa, covering around three-quarters of the world's land mass and almost 60 per cent of the world population, can be that much-needed force, through encouraging closer economic, infrastructural and cultural connectivity to achieve common prosperity. As President Xi Jinping said in his keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit in Da Nang last week, the Belt and Road Initiative is from China, but it belongs to the world; it is rooted in history, but oriented towards the future. The Belt and Road Initiative is essentially about building connections, in terms of enhancing policy co-ordination, strengthening infrastructural facilities connectivity, facilitating trade and investment, deepening financial integration and building people-to-people bond. With our distinctive advantage under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is the right place to bring together all those who would like to contribute to, and benefit from this Initiative. Indeed, Hong Kong is adept at building connections. Our economy has been consistently recognised as the freest and most competitive by the Heritage Foundation and the International Institute for Management Development. The Hong Kong community is also among the most receptive of different cultures and values, and our boundaries are open for people from all over the world to come in and out for work, study or leisure. Our long history of openness has connected us to various places in the world, and as a gateway to China. These unique strengths and core competencies aside, the HKSAR Government must advance with the trend of times, live up to our responsibility and connect with various parties in order to seize those many opportunities coming our way. Therefore, both in my Election Manifesto and my maiden Policy Address delivered a month ago, I pledge that the Government will play the additional roles of a "facilitator" and a "promoter", display determination and boldness, and make timely investments. As a significant action in driving the Belt and Road Initiative, we hosted the second Belt and Road Summit in September this year together with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, under the theme "From Vision to Action". It attracted over 3 000 participants, including senior government officials and top business executives from economies along and beyond the Belt and Road to explore opportunities being brought by this Initiative. The business matching sessions of the Summit highlighted investment opportunities in transport and logistics infrastructure, energy, natural resources and public utilities, and urban development. Over 170 investment projects were featured through project presentations and networking sessions with more than 600 participants. In addition, one-to-one business matching meetings were arranged for more than 200 project owners, investors and service providers. As transpired from the discussions at the Belt and Road Summit, as well as our engagement with various economies and stakeholders, it is clear that there are four key areas which Hong Kong can offer to the Belt and Road Initiative. First of all, behind the investment in the Belt and Road, a variety of professional services are required to turn plans into reality. The Belt and Road Initiative generates immense need for professional services ranging from investment and risk assessment, research, insurance, accounting, legal services to arbitration services. Hong Kong's professionals are highly regarded not only for their expertise and competence, but also for their professional ethics and global connection. Therefore, Hong Kong's professionals are excellent guiding partners for anyone whose business is to venture into the Belt and Road. Indeed, these professional services sectors now represent new economic drivers for Hong Kong and are essential to the Belt and Road vision. Secondly, as an international business and financial hub, Hong Kong is well positioned to finance the massive infrastructure projects along the Belt and Road. We top global ranking in fundraising in initial public offerings, and offer syndicated loans, private equity funds, bonds, sukuk, etc. We are also Asia's centre of asset and risk management, insurance and re-insurance, and corporate treasury services. Hong Kong is well placed to meet the rising demand for fundraising and financial management services for the Belt and Road projects. Thirdly, we can promote co-operation among Belt and Road countries through our global connections. Hong Kong is a vibrant civil society embracing people from different cultures and backgrounds, who have strong bonds with their overseas root. It is common to find businesses, chambers of commerce, professional bodies, youth and other social groups as well as individuals having extensive and amicable networks overseas. Such networks are our invaluable social capital. On a government-to-government level, we regularly visit different countries, including those along the Belt and Road, to reinforce links and explore new grounds for co-operation. In fact, since taking office in July this year, I have already visited five countries, and our role to contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative is always the key message that I emphasise. We will continue our efforts in connecting and deepening our external relationship. We will also make good use of our connections to cultivate more exchanges among countries along the Belt and Road, be they cultural, academic or other exchanges, so as to foster people-to-people bond. Last but not least, Hong Kong serves as a vital trading hub connecting Mainland China to other Belt and Road countries. We are the world's sixth largest exporter of merchandise trade, the 15th largest exporter of commercial services, and the seventh largest trading entity in the world. We believe that deeper economic integration and stronger ties among the Belt and Road countries will not only facilitate economic growth and job creation, but also promote innovation through healthy competition, which will in turn be beneficial to the development of all parties involved. To give the business community a better grasp of the Belt and Road Initiative, we are in discussion with the Central Authorities with the aim of entering into an agreement of Hong Kong's full participation in this Initiative with the National Development and Reform Commission by the end of this year. The agreement will cover various areas such as finance, infrastructure, economic and trade facilitation, people-to-people bonds, project interfacing, dispute resolution as well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development. In case there is anyone here who is not familiar with the Bay Area development I just mentioned, it is a strategic development plan covering Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong Province including Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Guangzhou. With a total population of more than 66 million and an aggregate gross domestic product of over US$1.3 trillion, the Bay Area compares favourably with Australia or the Republic of Korea. With the development plan in place, the Bay Area will provide a blueprint for building a world-class city cluster through complementary co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. We will actively participate in the Bay Area development, so as to create favourable conditions for diversifying our industries, in particular for promoting innovation and technology. Amidst new strategies and new actions, I reiterated at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting that Hong Kong is a staunch supporter of free trade, and we will continue to uphold the multilateral trading system which we believe helps create a globalised economy, whereby flow of goods, services, capital, people, knowledge and technology across borders are expedited. Hong Kong has been actively taking steps to strengthen Hong Kong's trade and economic relationships with our partners through the negotiation of the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements, as well as Comprehensive Double Taxation Agreements. The Hong Kong-ASEAN FTA is a significant milestone. My Government will spare no efforts in fostering an open economy that benefits all. We are thankful for key players in ASEAN, including the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute, for their support and contributions to bringing these negotiations to fruition. The emergence of ASEAN, located as a strategic and key intersection of the Belt and Road, is a future driver of the regional and global economy. We will therefore step up our engagement with ASEAN. We will expand our network of Economic and Trade Offices there, by opening a new office in Thailand, which will be our third office in ASEAN, after Singapore and Indonesia. We have also been actively advancing trade and investment related initiatives in APEC. One of our priorities include the eventual realisation of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). It is expected that the FTAAP would liberalise trade in goods and services, build on current and developing regional collaborations, and address new trade and investment issues of interest to member economies. As a supporter of free and open economy, we believe the FTAAP would enhance overall competitiveness, integration and prosperity within the APEC region. We will work closely with APEC member economies and participate actively in the relevant work plans of APEC so as to facilitate the early realisation of this initiative. Alongside APEC, an APEC Business Advisory Council, comprising members from the private sector, is formed to give advice to APEC officials on issues of interest and concern to the business sector. Such advice has been most useful to APEC's implementation of its goal towards free and open trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region. I am thankful to members of the APEC Business Advisory Council, including Dr Jonathan Choi, who is a Co-chairman of today's Summit, for their contributions. Ladies and gentlemen, in the coming few years, the Belt and Road Initiative and the Bay Area development will bring enormous opportunities for Hong Kong, for Mainland China and for the rest of the world. To capitalise on the opportunities, it is important that we learn and understand the political and cultural environments, business landscapes and potential areas of collaboration with different markets, especially the many emerging markets along the Belt and Road which we currently are relatively less familiar with. I am confident that events like today's Summit, which engages the collective wisdom of different sectors, can help foster a deeper understanding of these economies, and will facilitate the drawing up of strategies in seizing the opportunities ahead of us. Before I close, I wish this World Chinese Economic Summit a huge success. For those of you joining the event from overseas, I wish you an enjoyable and fruitful stay here in Hong Kong. Thank you very much. Ends/Monday, November 13, 2017 Issued at HKT 13:28 NNNN

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Speech by Acting Chief Executive at 70th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Employers' Federation of Hong Kong

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/10/P2017111001067.htm

10.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at 70th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Employers’ Federation of Hong Kong today (November 10): YK (The Chairman of the General Committee, Mr Y K Pang), Federation members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. It is my honour to join you all to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Employers’ Federation of Hong Kong. First of all, my warmest congratulations to the Federation and its members, past and present, on your remarkable achievements and sterling contribution to Hong Kong over the past seven decades. Although I am officiating at this momentous event in my capacity as Acting Chief Executive as Mrs Carrie Lam is away in Vietnam for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, I am in fact a long-time friend of the Employers’ Federation. My association with the Employers’ Federation dated back to 1996 when I first involved myself in labour and manpower policies as Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower. My involvement went deeper after I later became Commissioner for Labour, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour and ex-officio chairman of the Labour Advisory Board. I then served as Secretary for Labour and Welfare for nearly 10 years until this January. Let me therefore add my personal and most sincere appreciation to the Employers’ Federation for your instrumental role in maintaining harmonious labour relations in Hong Kong. I owe you all a huge debt of gratitude. The Employers’ Federation was founded in 1947, shortly after the end of the Second World War and at the dawn of Hong Kong’s transformation into the modern metropolis that we see today. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. These doubly auspicious and historic occasions provide an opportunity not just to look back but also to look to the future – and I know that Hong Kong’s employers are particularly good at identifying future business trends! Shaping Hong Kong’s future was also a dominant theme of Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam’s inaugural Policy Address last month. She also gave some valuable insights into her vision for the city under the current-term Government. Among others, the Government will be more proactive and play the role of a “facilitator” and “promoter” in strengthening our traditional advantages while developing new areas for economic growth. The proposed lowering of profits tax to 8.25 per cent on the first $2 million of profits of companies demonstrates that this Administration means business and is bold enough to go for tax cuts! We also aim to further diversify the economy by boosting the development of emerging industries as well as that of our traditional pillar industries. Hong Kong holds a competitive edge in areas such as innovation and technology and creative industries, which can drive economic growth and create quality employment opportunities for our young people. Turning to people, brain power has always been Hong Kong’s most valuable natural resource. To sharpen our competitiveness and maintain a highly skilled and versatile labour force, a high-level Human Resources Planning Commission, which I will chair as Chief Secretary for Administration, will soon be set up. The Commission will identify ways to enhance training for different industries and formulate effective policy initiatives to attract talent from outside Hong Kong. Our unemployment rate remains low in recent years and we are well aware of labour supply concerns in some sectors, notably elderly care services and construction, which have persistently suffered from a shortage of labour and recruitment challenges. While giving employment priority to local workers, we will stay vigilant and explore with stakeholders the pros and cons of increasing imported labour on an appropriate and limited scale to support our development as a high value-added and diversified economy. We need to move in concert and act together to ensure that Hong Kong possesses the right quality, quantity, skills and competencies of manpower at all levels so that this vibrant world city can forge ahead and stay competitive in the many years ahead. Promoting the employment of local workers and protecting the rights and benefits of employees top the agenda for the Government. Regarding the “offsetting” arrangement under the Mandatory Provident Fund System, the Government is working very hard on a proposal that takes into account the interests of both the labour sector and the business sector. This would be a fine balancing act with the Government playing a proactive role. I hope that you will lend us your support once the proposal sees the light of day. Also, the Labour Department will very soon report the outcome of the review on statutory paternity leave to the Labour Advisory Board and the Legislative Council Panel on Manpower. We will seek their views on the proposal to increase the statutory three-day paid paternity leave to five days. For working mothers, we will commence a study on ways to improve maternity leave without placing too much of a financial burden on employers. We believe these advancements in employees’ benefits will altogether help working parents better balance their job and family demands. The business sector will also benefit by having a more stable and dedicated workforce in an employee-friendly environment. Ladies and gentlemen, we can take pride in Hong Kong’s remarkable achievements over the years. All along, the Employers’ Federation has made sterling and substantial contribution to our city’s development, advising the Government on major labour and manpower issues and promoting good employment practices. I know that we can count on the Federation for its continuing support, wise counsel and understanding as we strive to make Hong Kong an even better place to live and work. Once again, my warmest congratulations to the Employers’ Federation on its 70th anniversary and I wish all of you an enjoyable and memorable evening. Thank you. Ends/Friday, November 10, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:22 NNNN

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Speech by CE at 2017 CASH Annual Dinner cum Golden Sail Music Awards Presentation

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/07/P2017110700889.htm

7.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the 2017 CASH (Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong) Annual Dinner cum Golden Sail Music Awards Presentation this evening (November 7): Congratulations to CASH on its 40th anniversary. CASH has emerged from an organisation with just 22 founding members 40 years ago to over 4 000 local and overseas members today. This not only reflects the growth of our local music sector, but is also a testimony to our effective intellectual property (IP) regime. Indeed, every musical work is the brain-child of its song writer and lyricist, and intellectual creation will flourish only if it is protected by a comprehensive and effective IP regime. As I have said in this year's Policy Address, the Government will continue to strengthen the IP regime, promote the development of Hong Kong as a regional IP trading hub and encourage commercialisation of IP so as to promote the development of our creative industries. We will also continue our efforts in nurturing local talents. We hope to see more and more music composers, artists and performers budding and flourishing in Hong Kong in the future. Before I close, I wish to extend my heartiest congratulations to Dr Yip Wai-hong for being awarded this year's CASH Hall of Fame Award. With nearly 45 years of dedication in music education, Dr Yip well deserves the commendation. Thank you very much, and wish you all a wonderful evening. Ends/Tuesday, November 7, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:22 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Social Enterprise Summit 2017 opening ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/07/P2017110700644.htm

7.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening ceremony of the Social Enterprise Summit 2017 this afternoon (November 7): Rebecca (Chair of the Social Enterprise Summit Organising Committee, Mrs Rebecca Yung), Geoff (Chief Executive of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts of the United Kingdom, Mr Geoff Mulgan), distinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen, Thank you for inviting me to this year's Social Enterprise Summit. I am no stranger here, for I attended this Summit in my previous capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration in 2012 and 2013. I am naturally pleased to be able to join you again as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Summit, and I am honoured to address you in my new capacity as the Chief Executive. That the Summit has reached this anniversary milestone is due largely to the enduring passion of the organisers behind this global gathering. Ten organisers were behind the first Summit. This year, 16 organisations are involved in bringing you together. While only 300 attended the first summit in 2008, some 4,000 social enterprise professionals, entrepreneurs and others committed to the power of "business for good" are expected to take part in this event this year. It shows that this Summit has grown significantly in scale, and has become an annual flagship event in the social enterprise sector. I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to the organisers for their tireless efforts and remarkable achievements. The "business for good" culture in social enterprise operation always keeps a close tab on the pulse of the community. The sustainable growth of the social enterprise sector can help promote social innovation and address the needs of socially disadvantaged groups. As the theme of this year's Summit, "Unleashing Systemic Change", reminds us, our social enterprises have always strived to provide solutions and pioneered to implement innovative projects to alleviate social problems through cross-sector collaboration. A prominent example in recent months is that some social enterprises have launched housing schemes in collaboration with property owners and non-profit organisations to provide flats at affordable rents for needy families living in meagre accommodation. These projects give an encouraging demonstration effect for cross-sector collaboration, in which different sectors work towards advancing social good through their joint efforts. From the beginning, Hong Kong's social enterprise sector has been community-driven, with the Government playing the supporting role. I have been around long enough to see the significant beginnings of government involvement in social enterprise. One of the first government programmes which provide funding support to social enterprise was implemented in 2001, when I was the Director of Social Welfare. The programme, which is still running up to this day, is called Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project, "創業展才能計劃", or in short, 3E Project. It subsidises non-governmental organisations to set up small businesses, including social enterprises, that directly create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This year, the Government injects an additional funding of HK$100 million for the continued operation and expansion of the programme, and increases the maximum funding for each social enterprise from HK$2 million to HK$3 million. In 2006, as Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, I helped initiate seed grants to non-governmental organisations setting up social enterprises through the Enhancing Self-Reliance through District Partnership Programme, or the ESR Programme. The Programme works to strengthen district-based poverty alleviation and assist socially disadvantaged groups in integrating into the community. Since its inception, the Programme has granted HK$260 million towards the establishment of 205 social enterprises, creating about 5,000 jobs. We would keep track of the operation of the enterprises for a few years after the end of the funding period, and what I find encouraging is that some 80 per cent of the social enterprises are still in operation after the funding period, showing that as long as we give them a little push at the beginning, many social enterprises can indeed be sustainable. My Government believes in the power of connectivity. We encourage people from all walks of life, especially the commercial sector, to strengthen co-operation with social enterprises and non-governmental organisations, and to support projects with social value. In this connection, we have already relaxed the eligibility criteria of the ESR Programme since last year to more broadly benefit social enterprises, while encouraging greater participation of the business sector in social enterprise development. Today there are about 600 social enterprises in Hong Kong. While that is more than double the total in 2008, it remains a modest presence in a city of over 7 million people. For a mature economy and an affluent society like Hong Kong, we should and we will set a much higher target for social development. To that end, we will take a multi-pronged approach. That includes funding the establishment and expansion of social enterprises and social innovation projects. We will continue to engage intermediaries to provide support to social entrepreneurs, engage partners in formulating and implementing collective impact initiatives, and promote the "creating shared value" concept in the business sector. In addition, the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund will implement new measures, which include providing support to start-up social entrepreneurs and ventures through partnership with industry players offering co-working space, and exploring new funding modes by making use of various financial vehicles, such as equity investment or loan guarantee, to meet different funding requirements of social entrepreneurs. We will also encourage public support for social enterprises through publicity and the promotion of cross-sectoral collaboration as well as social innovation. The tax measure I have announced in my Policy Address last month, namely to reduce profits tax on the first HK$2 million of profits from 16.5 per cent to 8.25 per cent will naturally also facilitate the growth of social enterprises. Speaking of innovation, I would like to thank Geoff for his address just now on public sector innovation, which has given me a lot of encouragement and food for thought. I have pledged to inject a new style of governance in my term, an important element of which is to be innovative in serving the public. For that purpose, I have announced in the Policy Address that I will revamp the Central Policy Unit as the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office. This new Office will directly report to me and will help tackle the difficulties that may be encountered in introducing new ways of thinking into the government system and in our search for breakthroughs to the status quo. As you may be aware, we are in the process of recruiting 20 to 30 young people aspiring to pursue a career in policy research and policy and project co-ordination to join this new Office. It will be mutually beneficial. The young people will have opportunities to interact and exchange views with me and other principal officials to gain a deeper understanding and practical experience in public policy. At the same time, they will bring us fresh ideas and suggestions, sort of thinking out of the box, which are essential for innovation. I have high hopes for this Office and am looking forward to working with these young people. As the positions are still open for application, if you know anyone who fits the bill and aspires to serve the public, please do encourage them to apply. Before I close, I thank the organisers once again for hosting this Summit, and I wish it every success. I look forward to working with you all in creating a better Hong Kong in the coming years. Thank you very much. Ends/Tuesday, November 7, 2017 Issued at HKT 17:02 NNNN

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Article by CE on Driving Innovation and Promoting Co-ordination

pdf/20171103_op-ed_cpu.pdf

3.11.2017

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Speech by CE at Belt & Road Innovation and Development Forum

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/03/P2017110300578.htm

3.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Belt & Road Innovation and Development Forum this morning (November 3): Mr Alimov (Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Mr Rashid Alimov), distinguished ambassadors, Mrs Regina Ip (Co-Chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society), ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to be here, to be addressing such a prestigious international gathering on Eurasia and the Belt and Road Initiative, a subject which promises to be an engine of growth for Hong Kong's economy. Some 2 000 years ago, China's Han dynasty pioneered the ancient Silk Road for trade, linking China and Central Asia all the way to the Mediterranean Sea and Europe. In the 1400s, the Ming dynasty's Admiral Zheng He reshaped the Maritime Silk Road, leading seven expeditions from China to Southeast Asia, India and on to Africa. Today, the Silk Road has once again been reborn in the form of the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative embarks upon a new vision, connecting countries and people from the East through the Central and Middle East to the West. This Initiative has become a highly inclusive and a non-static growing platform, as more and more countries are interested in joining. Central Asia has long been the ancient Silk Road's East-West bridge for goods and cultural exchange. Take for example Samarkand of Uzbekistan. It is one of the major Silk Road cities that have been at the crossroads of world cultures, and having a history of more than two and a half millennia. Its historical monuments are listed UNESCO heritage sites, underlining the significant role played by Eurasia countries in the furtherance of economic and cultural linkages. Similarly, Hong Kong has for centuries served as a converging point of East-West trade routes, an entrepôt for Mainland China, and a melting pot of cultures. Today, Hong Kong continues to be a central East-West link. And under the Belt and Road Initiative, that role is now expanding, creating new horizons for Hong Kong. We are actively seeking out closer ties with Eurasian countries. Last year, we signed an Air Services Agreement with Kazakhstan and, earlier this year, we entered into Comprehensive Double Taxation Agreements with Russia and Belarus. Hong Kong's trade with the region is also expanding. In the first six months of this year, year-on-year increases have soared - from 37 per cent with Russia to 97 per cent with Kazakhstan. Designed for promoting connectivity, including trade and investment flows as well as infrastructure connectivity, countless collaboration opportunities have emerged under the Belt and Road Initiative. It is up to all of us to capitalise on them. In this regard, Hong Kong has many strengths to offer. We are among the world's leading financial capitals, as well as a major regional asset-management centre. For the past two years, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has led the world in funds raised through initial public offerings. We handle some 70 per cent of global Renminbi transactions, providing a wide range of Renminbi services and products - from dim sum bonds to insurance. Our financial talent pool is deep, multilingual and as connected with the money markets of the Mainland as with the world at large. Hong Kong is, in short, ideally positioned to serve as the Belt and Road's fund-raising and risk-management capital. We are built on a much broader base than finance alone can provide. Under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is both part of China and blessed with our own economic, social and legal systems. We are a global city with an open market, happily married to the free flow of capital, goods and information. Our free enterprise system benefits from the rule of law and our independent judiciary. We are simply the world's freest economy. A city that has long attracted business from the Mainland and throughout the world creates confidence, and confidence is what business wants. Indeed, we are home today to over 8 200 foreign and Mainland companies, more than 1 400 of which serve as regional headquarters. Eurasian companies are most welcome to join us here in Hong Kong, where the playing field for business is always level, always open to companies wherever they come from. It helps that our taxes are as low and uncomplicated as you'll find anywhere. And, I'm pleased to say, they're about to go even lower. In my maiden Policy Address delivered last month, I announced new tax measures geared to benefit small and medium-sized companies. Specifically, our profits tax rate on the first HK$2 million - that is just under US$260,000 - of a company's profits will soon be cut in half, to 8.25 per cent. In addition, we will give companies a 300 per cent tax deduction on the first HK$2 million of their research and development expenditure, with the remainder set at a 200 per cent deduction. It is in such a dynamic business environment that the fast-emerging opportunities presented by the Belt and Road will rise and multiply. Among others, infrastructure development is the driving force of the Belt and Road Initiative. In this respect, Hong Kong has much to offer in professional service areas such as consultation, planning, design, construction, project development, operation management and capacity building, etc. We have abundant seasoned professionals in such different sectors, and more importantly, our professionals have proven experience in working on such large-scale, international projects. As well, here you can find a wide range of world-class professional services including insurance, accounting, business and legal services, all of which combined creates a comprehensive and modern services platform that should be useful for Belt and Road pursuits. Ladies and gentlemen, the Belt and Road Initiative is the new driving force of the global economy over the next few decades, with strong emphasis on international co-operation. It will attract more international interactive trading systems and investment flows. Now is the time for us to awaken to the Belt and Road chimes. I believe with us jointly acting together, the Initiative will materialise into reality. Before I close, my thanks to the organisers for giving me this welcome opportunity to speak to you today. I wish the Forum every success, and I look forward to working with you all in connecting the continents, and the economies, of Europe and Asia through the outsized vision of the Belt and Road Initiative. Thank you very much. Ends/Friday, November 3, 2017 Issued at HKT 14:31 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Hong Kong Mental Health Conference 2017 Opening Ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/03/P2017110300375.htm

3.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Hong Kong Mental Health Conference 2017 Opening Ceremony today (November 3): Professor Chen (President of the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists, Professor Eric Chen), Dr Lord (Founder of the Patient Care Foundation, Dr Lucy Lord), Anthony (Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Anthony Chow), distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. I’m pleased to join you today for the opening ceremony of "Mental Health Matters: the Hong Kong Mental Health Conference". It certainly matters here in Hong Kong, as this three-day international conference makes clear. Over the first two days, multi-disciplinary experts will offer their insights on a great many mental health issues. The final day, open to the general public, will feature a wealth of resources on mental health and wellness. Such resources will help our community better understand and ultimately overcome the stigma of mental illness. Mental health is clearly not just a clinical or policy matter for practitioners and the government. It is emerging as a key social issue that affects a growing number of individuals and their families. But public awareness has to be raised in order to make clinical policy solutions effective. In April this year, the Government completed a comprehensive review of mental health, with a view to mapping out future directions for the development of mental health services in Hong Kong. The resulting Mental Health Review Report put forward 40 recommendations covering mental health needs, support for families and carers and the mental well-being of the general public. The recommendations reflect the objectives of the World Health Organization’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020, those objectives being: (a) to strengthen effective leadership and governance for mental health; (b) to provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social-care services in community settings; (c) to implement strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health; and (d) to strengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health. We are now implementing many of the Review Report’s recommendations, and an Advisory Committee on Mental Health will be set up shortly to provide continuous steer to measures to be put in place. The Committee includes all relevant stakeholders: the healthcare, social service and educational sectors, former service users, and patient and carer advocacy groups, as well as lay persons with a particular interest in mental health. The Committee will advise the Government on mental health services and assist us in following up on other recommendations of the Review Report. It will also work to ensure that our mental health services meet the needs of the community. That includes responding to the challenges of our rapidly aging population. My Government is committed to inclusivity, to ensuring that everyone, young and old alike, gets the support they need. My vision is for us to embrace hope and share happiness. In my first Policy Address delivered last month, I devoted a chapter to Improving People’s Livelihood. In it, I address a wide range of social issues with targeted policies and plans. They include working towards a new Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan, which covers 10 disabilities, including mental illness. Early next year, a major public engagement exercise will be launched for stakeholders to hold systematic and thorough discussions on the rehabilitation service needs of persons with disabilities. In the meantime, we will continue to expand and improve our rehabilitation services offerings. That includes boosting mental-health support services in the community. In particular, professional support for ex-mentally ill persons and persons suspected to suffer from mental health problems will be strengthened through the provision of individual or group psychological treatment and enhanced clinical supervision of frontline staff. Prevention is better than cure. Promoting mental health should be accorded greater priority within and outside of Government, in schools, families and the workplace. Among others, we have launched a Joyful@School Campaign to enhance students’ resilience, identify and support vulnerable junior secondary students at an early stage, and boost parent and teacher awareness of students’ mental health. We have also launched a dedicated website which contains useful information and tips for students facing stress or other problems in their everyday life. We need all the support we can gather in the promotion of mental health. Therefore, my thanks to the Patient Care Foundation for organising this vitally important conference, and the Jockey Club for its generous support and sponsorship. I wish you all a rewarding conference. I hope, as well, that your discussions help advance the opportunities, and the lives, of all those who have been affected by the stigma of mental illness – here in Hong Kong and all over the world. Thank you. Ends/Friday, November 3, 2017 Issued at HKT 11:20 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Hong Kong Aircraft Leasing and Aviation Finance Association inaugural ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/01/P2017110100919.htm

1.11.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Hong Kong Aircraft Leasing and Aviation Finance Association inaugural ceremony this evening (November 1): Mr Chen (the Chairman of the Association, Mr Chen Shuang), Stanley (the President of the Association, Mr Stanley Hui), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening. I am most pleased to attend the inaugural ceremony of the Hong Kong Aircraft Leasing and Aviation Finance Association, a major milestone which signifies the development of a new vibrant business in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has been consistently ranked as the world's freest economy by the Heritage Foundation. We have also been named as the world's most competitive economy by the International Institute for Management Development. Such recognition does not come easily. You all know that I am a staunch believer in Hong Kong's unique advantages, with conviction to the rule of law and commitment to provide a level playing field. All these provide an ideal breeding ground for entrepreneurship. With a new, proactive style of governance and a new fiscal philosophy to manage our finances wisely, the HKSAR Government is committed to injecting new and continuous impetus to Hong Kong's economy. We are determined to actively enhance the Government's role in boosting our economic vibrancy. While we spare no effort to step up policy co-ordination, and consider various ways to enhance our business friendliness and tax competitiveness, we have also been preparing ourselves for accommodating new businesses in order to diversify our economy. To this end, promoting high-value-added aviation services including aircraft leasing is one of the key areas that we are pressing ahead. Civil aviation is a long-term growth business. According to the latest Market Outlook published by Boeing, global aviation passengers are expected to increase at about 5 per cent per annum while passengers in the Asia-Pacific region at about 6 per cent per annum over the next two decades. The number of new aircraft delivered worldwide and in the Asia-Pacific are estimated at over 41 000 and 16 000 respectively. As a global financial centre and international aviation hub, Hong Kong already possesses favourable conditions necessary to thrive as an aviation financing hub in Asia: free economy, the rule of law, sophisticated legal services, robust financial services infrastructure, a mature banking system with effective and transparent regulations, excellent aviation infrastructure and a strong pool of talents in both the financial services and aviation sectors. Under the "one country two systems", Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China enjoys excellent access to the vast Mainland market. Our strong business ties and experience built up in the past three decades constitute our added advantage. Thanks to the support we received from the Central Authorities, the withholding tax rate between Hong Kong and Mainland China has been lowered since December 2015 to 5 per cent, which as far as I know, is the lowest among all existing aircraft leasing hubs in the world. To take forward the initiative of developing aircraft leasing business in Hong Kong, we have amended the relevant legislation to provide a dedicated tax regime. Profits tax concessions are given to qualifying aircraft lessors and qualifying aircraft leasing managers. Policy and tax incentives aside, the Government cannot act alone to build up our aircraft leasing and financing sector. This is why I am very pleased to witness the inauguration of the Hong Kong Aircraft Leasing and Aviation Finance Association tonight, which helps put Hong Kong in the global market of aircraft leasing and its related business. I know that international players including the world's top lessors and leasing managers are here with us in Hong Kong for the world's most prominent business conference on aircraft leasing and aviation finance. We are glad that the market players are sharing the same excitement and anticipation for the business potentials of aircraft leasing in Hong Kong and hope to see some fruitful discussions taking place here. On behalf of the HKSAR Government, may I once again congratulate the inception of the Hong Kong Aircraft Leasing and Aviation Finance Association. We look forward to having you as our important partner in promoting the business opportunities lying ahead. Thank you very much. Ends/Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Issued at HKT 19:38 NNNN

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CE meets Governor of Hainan Province

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/30/P2017113000958.htm

30.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Governor of Hainan Province, Mr Shen Xiaoming, at the Chief Executive's Office this afternoon (November 30). Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Shen’s first visit to Hong Kong after his assumption of office to officiate at the opening ceremony of the 15th World Congress of the International Federation of Hainan Associations Hong Kong cum Hainan (Hong Kong) Promotion Seminar for Economics, Trade and Tourism to be held tomorrow (December 1). Noting that the relations between Hong Kong and Hainan Province have always been close with frequent flows of people, goods and capital between both places, she said the centennial celebration of the Hong Kong Hainan Commercial Association she attended last month shows the long history of business operation by Hainan entrepreneurs in Hong Kong. In addition, quite a number of Hong Kong enterprises operate businesses in Hainan and Hong Kong is the largest source of external investment in the province. Mrs Lam remarked that Hainan Province is a long-term partner of Hong Kong and both places should position themselves globally and complement each other. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomes Hainan enterprises to continue to “go global” by leveraging on Hong Kong's strengths including finance, commerce and trade, logistics, management and professional services and expand operation to tap together the international market through the platform in Hong Kong. She expressed the hope that the two places will strengthen exchanges and expand the scope of co-operation to complement the Belt and Road Initiative. Noting that while Hainan Province is pressing ahead with its development as an international tourism island and Hong Kong is highly competitive with a well-developed services sector for tourism and the hotel industry, she said that Hong Kong and Hainan Province can strengthen co-operation in this area, including opening up markets along the Belt and Road together to attract more high-yield visitors to visit both places on multi-destination itineraries. Ends/Thursday, November 30, 2017 Issued at HKT 20:53 NNNN

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CE meets President of Chinese Academy of Sciences

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/30/P2017113000773.htm

30.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Professor Bai Chunli, at Government House this afternoon (November 30). Mrs Lam welcomed Professor Bai's visit to Hong Kong and said she is pleased to officiate with him at the opening ceremony of the Forum on Technology and Innovation for One Belt One Road and Greater Bay Area Development co-organised by the CAS and the Hong Kong Science Park today. Expressing her gratitude to the CAS for its support over the years for the development of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong, she said she is delighted that 25 Hong Kong scientists have been elected as members of the CAS so far. With close ties and co-operation, the CAS and universities and relevant organisations in Hong Kong have been joining hands to take forward research projects on areas such as stem cells and regenerative medicine to seize the opportunities in the research field. Noting that I&T is one of the priorities of the current-term Government, she said that she hopes I&T will promote sustained and diversified economic and social development, boost the upgrading and transformation of the overall economic structure and enhance the quality of life of the people. In addition to the announcement of a series of policy initiatives to support the development of I&T in her maiden Policy Address, she said she attaches great importance to deepening co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland in this area to bring about mutual benefits. Under the National 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong can attract outstanding research institutions and talent worldwide to promote exchanges and collaboration in I&T among Hong Kong, Mainland and overseas institutions, and help innovation enterprises in the Mainland to "go global" to access the overseas markets. Noting that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area city cluster development plan will promote closer collaboration in I&T in the Bay Area, she expressed the hope that Hong Kong's research institutions can make full use of the resources and advantages in the Bay Area to enhance transfers in I&T fields. Ends/Thursday, November 30, 2017 Issued at HKT 18:08 NNNN

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Executive Director of Urban Renewal Authority re-appointed

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/30/P2017113000268.htm

30.11.2017

The Government announced today (November 30) that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Mr Pius Cheng Kai-wah as Executive Director of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) for another term of one year with effect from January 1, 2018. The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, said, "Mr Cheng possesses a great wealth of professional expertise and experience, and is well versed with the whole range of the URA's operation. He also plays a key role in devising the framework and implementation details of the authority's policies, especially in the area of building rehabilitation. We look forward to continuing to work closely with him to advance the important cause of urban renewal." Mr Cheng joined the URA in 2002 as General Counsel, assisting to lay a solid foundation for the URA when it was set up. He became Director for Legal Services in 2007 and Director for Corporate and Legal Services in 2012. Mr Cheng was appointed Executive Director of URA in January 2014, and took up the present position as Executive Director (Operations) in July 2016. He supports the URA Managing Director in formulating and implementing policies and initiatives on building rehabilitation, acquisition and clearance, works and contract, and legal matters. Ends/Thursday, November 30, 2017 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN

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Government appoints URA Board non-executive directors

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/30/P2017113000262.htm

30.11.2017

The Government today (November 30) announced that the Chief Executive has, pursuant to section 4 of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance, appointed Mr Evan Au Yang Chi-chun and re-appointed Dr Gregg Li Ka-lok and Dr Lawrence Poon Wing-cheung as non-official non-executive directors of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Board for a term of three years from December 1, 2017, to November 30, 2020. The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, welcomed the appointments. "I am delighted that two incumbent non-official non-executive directors have accepted re-appointment, which will provide the necessary continuity and support to the URA Board in its work. I also extend a warm welcome to Mr Au Yang. I am sure that, with their experience and expertise in their respective fields, they will provide valuable input to the work of the URA. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the URA Board in furthering the important mission of urban renewal in Hong Kong," Mr Wong said. Mr Wong expressed gratitude to the outgoing member, Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi, who has served on the URA Board for six years, for his invaluable contribution to the work of the URA. The URA Board comprises 20 non-official non-executive directors (including the Chairman), four official non-executive directors and three executive directors. All the non-official non-executive directors are appointed in their personal capacity. The membership of the URA Board is set out below: Chairman ----------- Mr Victor So Hing-woh Non-Executive Directors (Non-official) ------------------------------------------ Mr Evan Au Yang Chi-chun Ms Judy Chan Ka-pui Dr Ann Chiang Lai-wan Mr Edward Chow Kwong-fai Mr Laurence Ho Hoi-ming Professor Eddie Hui Chi-man Mr Nelson Lam Chi-yuen Professor Joseph Lee Kok-long Dr Gregg Li Ka-lok Mr Laurence Li Lu-jen Mr Roger Luk Koon-hoo Mr Timothy Ma Kam-wah Ms Alice Mak Mei-kuen Dr Lawrence Poon Wing-cheung Mr David Tang Chi-fai Mrs Cecilia Wong Ng Kit-wah Mr Michael Wong Yick-kam Mr Stanley Wong Yuen-fai Mr Wu Chi-wai Non-Executive Directors (Official) ------------------------------------- Director of Buildings Director of Lands Director of Planning Deputy Director of Home Affairs (2) Executive Directors --------------------- Managing Director/Deputy Chairman Two Executive Directors Ends/Thursday, November 30, 2017 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/28/P2017112800360.htm

28.11.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (November 28): Reporter: … incident and has Rimsky Yuen resigned yet? Chief Executive: First of all, this question is entirely a matter for the Legislative Council Commission. I heard that the President of the Legislative Council told the public that he has sought legal advice. In Hong Kong, we have to operate according to the rule of law and have to go through a due process. So, this is a matter for the Legislative Council to resolve. I cannot comment on the position of my Principal Officials. I can only say that at this moment, Mr Rimsky Yuen is the incumbent Secretary for Justice. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, November 28, 2017 Issued at HKT 11:44 NNNN

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CE meets acting Mayor of Beijing

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/27/P2017112700561.htm

27.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the acting Mayor of Beijing, Mr Chen Jining, at Government House this afternoon (November 27). Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Chen's first visit to Hong Kong with his delegation in his new capacity and said she looked forward to officiating at the opening ceremony of the 21st Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium with him tomorrow (November 28). She said that Hong Kong and Beijing have long enjoyed strong ties with close collaboration between the governments, enterprises, education sectors and non-government organisations over the years. She also expressed gratitude to the Beijing Municipal Government for its staunch support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to hold successfully the Exhibition in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong to the Motherland at the National Museum of China and a series of other celebration events in the past months. Noting that Hong Kong is an international financial, trading and shipping hub and has the edge in professional services, innovation and technology and creative industries, while Beijing is the centre for politics, culture, international exchanges and innovation and technology, Mrs Lam said she believed that both places could give full play to their own strengths to complement each other for mutual benefits. She expressed the hope that Hong Kong and Beijing would enhance exchanges and co-operation in areas ranging from innovation and technology to creative industries, city management, youth development and education, and that the Beijing Municipal Government would continue to support the implementation of various measures rolled out by relevant authorities of the Central Government to assist Hong Kong people to study, work and live in the Mainland. She also took the opportunity to congratulate Beijing on becoming the first city to host both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics and wished the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing a great success. Ends/Monday, November 27, 2017 Issued at HKT 16:22 NNNN

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CE praises the Force for maintaining HK's rule of law, integrity and law and order

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/25/P2017112500612.htm

25.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (November 25) attended the passing-out parade of the Hong Kong Police College and praised the Police for maintaining Hong Kong’s rule of law, integrity and law and order. She said the Force has contributed greatly to the economic development of the city which every member of the law enforcement agency should take pride. Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Lam said the number of crimes per 100 000 population in 2016 stood at 825 cases in Hong Kong, representing a new low in the past 44 years. It was the concerted efforts of every Force member. She was glad to know that while the crime rate was on a downward trend, there has been an increasing number of applications for joining the Force. In 2016-17, the number of applications exceeded 21 000. Mrs Lam was of the view that an outstanding police force has to keep abreast of time and strive for excellence. She commended the Police for being innovative and striving for excellence in the past years. On technology-related crimes, Police set up a dedicated team to handle online crimes after noting with foresight that technology-related crime would burgeon and become popular. In view of the heightened global terrorism situation, the Force set up a team within a short period of time to ensure that Hong Kong remains one of the safest cities in the world. The Chief Executive also took heed of the efforts made by the Force in other areas including the use of social media to disseminate messages of the Force and law and order to Hong Kong people so as to enhance communication with the community. She noted that the Force cared for the community and launched initiatives such as “Project Himalaya” and “Project Gemstone” to assist ethnic minorities to integrate into the society. Some of the ethnic minority participants were attracted by the police work and joined the Force afterwards. On youth engagement, the Junior Police Call (JPC) grew along with Hong Kong people. The JPC Permanent Activity Centre and Integrated Youth Training Camp in Pat Heung was commissioned in August this year, benefiting more young people. Mrs Lam encouraged graduates to work with full commitment and passion, and to serve the society and members of the public with empathy. She hoped every graduate could live up to the principle of “We Care, We Listen, We Act”. Meanwhile, she hoped that every Force member could work together and continue to maintain its professionalism. A total of 40 probationary inspectors and 176 recruit constables passed out today. Ends/Saturday, November 25, 2017 Issued at HKT 15:28 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/21/P2017112100439.htm

21.11.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (November 21): Reporter: Mrs Lam, in regards to the 19th Communist Party Congress, why do Hong Kong officials need to learn about the Communist Party and the report? And also, in regards to the former minister, another former minister is arrested. Does that harm Hong Kong's administrative image? Chief Executive: I can't comment on your latter question because I don't know anything about the case. As far as the organisation of the seminar for Principal Officials and senior civil servants to understand more about the 19th Congress, I want to give you a bit of background. The background is in the last few years, in order to enhance the understanding of senior public servants about developments in the nation, the Hong Kong SAR Government has been organising a series of national affairs seminars. So whenever there are important things in the Mainland, we will request the Central Government to nominate the most relevant official to come to Hong Kong to host a seminar to talk about that particular subject. And subjects that have been the content of these seminars include a wide range of issues like the Belt and Road Initiative, the 13th Five-Year Plan and also the Premier's Work Report, and about science and technology or even cultural development. This particular Communist Party 19th Congress report is of utmost importance for our country's development, so it is only proper and legitimate for public servants to learn more about this subject, and that's why we have asked, as in previous practice, the Central Authorities to nominate the relevant official to come to Hong Kong to do a seminar for us. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, November 21, 2017 Issued at HKT 12:39 NNNN

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Government House open to the public on November 26

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/20/P2017112000721.htm

20.11.2017

Government House will be open to the public on November 26 (Sunday) from 10am to 5pm. Visitors will be able to view the flowers and trees 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/Monday, November 20, 2017 Issued at HKT 17:30 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks at press conference on Co-operation Arrangement and Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/18/P2017111801023.htm

18.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, today (November 18) held a press conference on the Co-operation Arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Establishment of the Port at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link for Implementing Co-location Arrangement as well as the 20th Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference. Below is the transcript of remarks at the press conference. Reporter: Mrs Lam, I just want to follow up on the part about the Government not being able to provide the detailed provisions of the agreement that you signed today. In that sense, I understand that you said that you have to respect the Mainland system, but then what if critics or other legal experts here have concerns or, like, is there any room for them to suggest changes to those provisions after the National People's Congress Standing Committee approved the plan? And, also for Mr Frank Chan, Secretary Chan, you mentioned that actually the Government's on a tight schedule, now that you have to iron out the details on the operation of the terminus. Does the Government actually already have a preliminary plan on how are you going to conduct safety checks, how are you going to maintain, like, the sharing of revenue and things like that, especially on maintenance and safety checks? Chief Executive: Well, first of all, let me correct what you have said. You said that we have not provided the detailed provisions of the Co-operation Arrangement. That is not true. I said on several occasions what we have provided through the government press release issued earlier today has actually contained very detailed provisions as set out in the Co-operation Arrangement. What we have not done, because we need to respect the legal procedures in the Mainland, is we have not actually released the document, but the content, the detailed provisions in that document called Co-operation Arrangement, have been disclosed via the government press release. I have mentioned that in this "Three-step Process", after the National People's Congress Standing Committee has made a decision to approve and endorse the Co-operation Arrangement, the subject will come back to Hong Kong for local legislation. Until and unless there is local legislation enacted, we will not be able to implement the co-location arrangement. So I hope that answers your question. The room to change is, if we don't enact the local legislation, the National People's Congress Standing Committee’s decision will not be able to be put into effect in the Hong Kong terminus of the high-speed rail. Secretary for Transport and Housing: In fact, we are indeed in a hurry because there are many things we need to settle with our Mainland counterparts. For example, the sharing of fare revenue that you have just mentioned. When we sell a ticket in Hong Kong, if the train goes from Hong Kong to other places in the Mainland, part of the routing is in the Mainland, so the cost of maintenance, the cost of operation will also be borne by the counterparts in the Mainland. We need to work out a kind of fare box sharing between Hong Kong and the Mainland parties. And also how about the pricing? When somebody buys a ticket in the Mainland and also buys a ticket in Hong Kong, they should be equal. So we need to come to term as to how much you can charge for a particular journey from A to B or from B to A. How about the kind of currency we are using: should it be Hong Kong dollar or should it be Renminbi? And how is it going to be converted? And also the testing and standard, as well as the maintenance. (It is) because in the maintenance of nine trains; we have altogether nine trains and there will be more trains coming to Hong Kong; would it be economical for us to maintain the trains ourselves, to equip all the testing equipment and all the spare parts? Or whether we can work together with the Mainland counterparts so that some of the works are being done by us and some of the heavy duty things are being done by them. So these are the kind of nitty-gritty that we need to settle before we can put the entire system into operation. Indeed, we are running in a hurry to settle all these things. Of course, we are now in the process of negotiating with the Mainland counterparts. As soon as we have settled, then we will come up and let the public know. Reporter: Any visibility on when such decisions will be out for the public? Secretary for Transport and Housing: I don’t have a crystal ball. We are working very hard to achieve this. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Saturday, November 18, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:54 NNNN

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CE meets Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/18/P2017111800905.htm

18.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Chen Rugui, at the Chief Executive's Office today (November 18). Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Chen's first visit to Hong Kong in his capacity as the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government and participation in the 20th Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference held today. She said that Hong Kong and Shenzhen have been co-operating closely over the years in areas ranging from economic to culture, tourism and environmental protection. Noting that the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development would present tremendous opportunities for Hong Kong and Shenzhen, she said she hoped that the two places would build on the existing basis to deepen co-operation in various areas including professional services, finance and youth development to complement each other to bring about mutual benefits. Mrs Lam mentioned that she learned more about the achievements of the co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in creative industries as well as innovation and technology (I&T) in recent years during her visit to Shenzhen in August. With rapid development in I&T in Shenzhen in recent years and the superb international network and talent in Hong Kong, she expressed the hope that both sides would take forward the plan of the Hong Kong/Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park on the Lok Ma Chau Loop proactively to develop an international I&T centre in the Bay Area. Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong is keen to develop creative industries and that she is pleased that the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Design Innovation Hub has been set up in Qianhai. She is confident that Hong Kong and Shenzhen will develop to be Asia's first-class twin cities in design. Ends/Saturday, November 18, 2017 Issued at HKT 20:03 NNNN

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Twentieth Plenary of Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference held in Hong Kong

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/18/P2017111800744.htm

18.11.2017

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui, leading the delegations of the HKSAR and Guangdong Province respectively, co-chaired the 20th Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference in Hong Kong today (November 18). The Chief Executive said, "At the 20th Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference, Governor Ma Xingrui and I reviewed the progress of Hong Kong-Guangdong co-operation over the past year and laid down the directions for co-operation for the coming year. Both sides considered that the implementation of the co-operation items under the 2017 Work Plan has made good progress. In future, the focus of Hong Kong-Guangdong co-operation will be to take forward the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area (the Bay Area) together. Governor Ma and I had in-depth discussions and exchanges on how to take Hong Kong-Guangdong co-operation to the next level through the development of the Bay Area. Both sides agreed to further expand the 'early and pilot implementation' approach, take forward policy innovation and breakthroughs in major areas, foster the flow of people, goods, capital and information within the Bay Area, and set innovation and technology as the key direction for future development, with a view to developing the Bay Area into a world-class innovation and technology base. The two sides also agreed that the development of the Bay Area will bring enormous opportunities to the development of Hong Kong and Guangdong. We shall deepen our complementary co-operation in future, as well as actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, in order to make contributions to the development of the country." In respect of individual areas of co-operation, the progress made and the directions for future co-operation are set out below: Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area The HKSAR Government has all along been working closely with the Guangdong Government in drawing up the Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area (the Development Plan) jointly with the National Development and Reform Commission. Both sides have already started discussions on taking forward the development of the Bay Area. The country will soon promulgate the Development Plan. Looking ahead, both sides agree to take forward the "early and pilot implementation" approach, take forward policy innovation and breakthroughs in major areas, and foster the flow of factors of production within the Bay Area. For instance, Guangdong Province supports the early implementation of facilitation measures for Hong Kong residents to study, work and live in the Mainland, thereby attracting more talents from Hong Kong to develop their careers in the Bay Area. The Belt and Road Initiative The second Belt and Road Summit was successfully organised in September this year jointly by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The Summit enhanced the trade and economic co-operation amongst economies and regions along the Belt and Road. Over 3 000 government and international organisation representatives and leaders of different sectors from more than 50 countries and regions took part in the Summit. On financial services, the HKSAR Government will continue to promote Hong Kong as the premier platform of capital raising and financing for Belt and Road projects, international asset management and risk management centres, and corporate treasury centre for multinational corporations. On legal services, the Department of Justice continues to encourage enterprises in Guangdong Province to choose Hong Kong as the neutral venue for resolution of investment and commercial disputes under the Belt and Road Initiative. As for exchanges on tourism, the Tourism Commission, together with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, has been co-operating with Guangdong Province and relevant tourism authorities to spearhead the development of "multi-destination" travel and carry out promotion and publicity work in markets along Belt and Road routes. In future, Hong Kong will continue to act as a facilitator for the Mainland in attracting foreign investment and "going global" by assisting Mainland enterprises, including those in Guangdong, to tap into the markets along the Belt and Road and attract foreign direct investment. For example, Invest Hong Kong will partner with relevant departments of Macao and Guangdong to organise investment promotion seminars overseas for promoting the combined advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development. It also plans to liaise with the cities in the Bay Area to jointly organise investment promotion seminars overseas. Innovation and Technology The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation has appointed a consultant for the overall strategic planning and the design of the master layout plan of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop. It also established a subsidiary company, which is vested with the responsibilities to build, operate, maintain and manage the Park, in October this year. The subsidiary company has commenced relevant preparatory work. Hong Kong and Shenzhen will continue to take forward the project through the Joint Task Force. As regards the implementation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme to take forward key collaborative scientific research projects between Guangdong and Hong Kong, 8 projects jointly funded by Guangdong and Hong Kong and another 8 projects jointly funded by Shenzhen and Hong Kong received funding this year, involving about HK$20 million from the Innovation and Technology Fund. In future, the joint effort by Hong Kong and Guangdong in building the Bay Area into an international technology and innovation hub will be a key cooperation area. Youth Co-operation In 2017-18, the Home Affairs Bureau has provided funding of around $91 million through the Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland to support some 120 youth internship projects in the Mainland. It is expected that about 3 500 Hong Kong young people can benefit from the scheme, including some 1 100 undertaking internships in Guangdong Province, which accounts for the biggest share among all provinces/cities of the country. In addition, two thematic internship programmes, namely, the Youth Internship Programme at the Palace Museum and the Youth Internship Programme at Wolong National Nature Reserve were successfully completed in August this year. These two programmes were joined by youth participants from both Hong Kong and Guangdong and enabled youth exchange between both places. It is also hoped that both governments will continue to co-organise the two abovementioned thematic internship programmes in the coming year. The HKSAR Government has set up the Youth Development Fund to support young people to start their own businesses and they may do so in Guangdong Province or other provinces/cities in the Mainland. Besides, the HKSARG Government will continue to organise the "Guangdong-Hong Kong Summer Internship Programme", in collaboration with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, in the hope that more enhanced internship opportunities with special features would be made available from the Guangdong side. Financial Co-operation The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect has been operating smoothly since its launch in December last year. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and the Securities and Futures Commission will continue to enhance and deepen the mutual stock market access in the two places, such as exploring the possibility of including exchange-traded funds in the mutual access mechanism. On bond market, the People's Bank of China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority agreed to launch mutual bond market access in May this year, and the northbound trading was launched on July 3. On mutual establishment of financial institutions, CSRC approved two Hong Kong financial institutions in June this year to set up multiple-licensed Mainland-Hong Kong joint venture securities companies in Shenzhen and Qianhai respectively. Hong Kong will continue to explore with the relevant Mainland authorities to relax the restrictions for Hong Kong financial institutions to enter the Guangdong market, and to allow Hong Kong insurance companies to sell simple and standardised insurance products in the Guangdong Free Trade Zone as a pilot scheme. Co-operation in Professional Services On legal services, 11 associations in the form of partnership have been approved to be set up between law firms in Hong Kong and the Mainland, with 7 in Shenzhen, 2 in Guangzhou and 2 in Zhuhai. Further, 12 barristers and 2 solicitors are retained as legal consultants by Mainland law firms in Guangdong Province. Under the framework of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the HKSAR Government will continue to seek the extension of the geographical scope of this "pilot measure" from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai to cover the entire Guangdong Province in the coming year. On construction and related engineering services, the Development Bureau and Hengqin Management Committee signed a co-operation agreement in August this year. A working group will be set up to extend the co-operation and liberalisation measures being implemented in Qianhai to Hengqin. The Development Bureau will continue to collaborate with Mainland authorities for the arrangements on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. Environmental Protection Both governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong started the mid-term review study in February 2015 with a view to concluding the emission reduction results of four major pollutants in 2015 and finalising the emission reduction targets for 2020. The study is expected to be completed by the end of this year. On the management of the marine environment, the Environmental Protection Department of the HKSAR has launched the notification and alert system on marine refuse this May for trial to perform real-time monitoring of the rainfall data of Hong Kong and 13 cities of Guangdong Province in the Pearl River catchment and to predict the coastal areas of the two sides which may be potentially affected by massive amount of marine refuse. Since the operation, the notification and alert system has activated seven times and issued notifications accordingly due to heavy rain, flooding or significant environmental incident. In view of the massive amount of marine refuse washed ashore this summer, both sides will review the existing arrangement and co-operation in tackling significant cross-boundary marine environmental incident, and explore measures to manage and reduce marine refuse. Cross-boundary Infrastructure Construction works of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link are in good progress. The project is expected to commission in the third quarter next year, and will foster closer exchanges at the community level and economic ties between Hong Kong and the Mainland. As regards the negotiation of the cross-boundary transport arrangements for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), the three governments have agreed on the types and major arrangements for cross-boundary vehicles (including shuttle buses, cross-boundary coaches, cross-boundary hire cars, cross-boundary goods vehicles and cross-boundary private cars). The three governments are distributing the quotas in a progressive manner. In respect of regular quotas (i.e. double-plates) for Guangdong/Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars, in light of the overwhelming responses, both governments have agreed to increase the number of quotas having regard to the smooth operation of the boundary control facilities and adjacent roads upon the commissioning of the HZMB. The exact number of quotas to be added will be announced after discussion of the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments. Other Areas Apart from the above, Hong Kong and Guangdong have also made steady progress in other areas of co-operation such as CEPA, education, tourism, intellectual property rights, food safety, medical services, and social welfare. Co-operation Agreement Signing Ceremony Seven co-operation agreements were signed after the meeting: * Guangdong/Hong Kong Exchange and Training Cooperation Agreement on Labour Inspection and Law Enforcement; * Agreement on Guangdong/Hong Kong Co-operation on Intellectual Property Protection (2017-18) * Collaboration Agreement between Hong Kong Hospital Authority and the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province * Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Higher Education Cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong * Co-operation Arrangement on Technology and Innovation Exchange between Guangdong and Hong Kong * Co-operation Agreement between Guangdong and Hong Kong on Enhancing Youth Exchange * Agreement on Strengthening Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation in Construction and Related Engineering Services The 20th Plenary The 20th Plenary was co-chaired by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui. Officials of the HKSAR Government attending the meeting included the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Roy Tang, and other relevant officials. At the meeting, Mr Cheung and the Executive Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Lin Shaochun, together with other officials of the two sides, reported the progress and achievements made since the 19th Plenary Meeting of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference. Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Mr Huang Liuquan, and Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Ms Qiu Hong, also attended the meeting as special guests. Ends/Saturday, November 18, 2017 Issued at HKT 19:04 NNNN

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HKSAR and the Mainland signed the Co-operation Arrangement for the XRL co-location arrangement

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/18/P2017111800419.htm

18.11.2017

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) signed the Co-operation Arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Establishment of the Port at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link for Implementing Co-location Arrangement (Co-operation Arrangement) with the People's Government of Guangdong Province today (November 18), marking the first step by the two sides in taking forward the relevant tasks of co-location arrangement pursuant to the "Three-step Process". The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui, signed the Co-operation Arrangement in Hong Kong at noon today, signifying the formal commencement of the "Three-Step Process" by the HKSAR and the Mainland in jointly proceeding with the relevant work for implementing the clearance procedures of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). The HKSAR Government and the Mainland will then jointly seek a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) approving and endorsing the Co-operation Arrangement, and thereafter commence the local legislative process, so as to meet the target of implementing co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Station upon the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL in the third quarter of 2018. Mrs Lam said, "As a cross-boundary high-speed rail, efficient and time-saving clearance procedures are absolutely essential to realising the full potential of the XRL in terms of speed and convenience. Implementing co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Station would enable passengers to travel between different destinations across the country with ease and convenience, and allow Hong Kong to provide direct high-speed rail service to an increasing number of Mainland cities. This will fully unleash the transport, social and economic benefits of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL". "I am pleased to sign the Co-operation Arrangement with Governor Ma today and formally commence the 'Three-step Process'. The HKSAR Government will carefully consider the views of different sectors of the Hong Kong community including members of the Legislative Council, and take appropriate follow-up action as we proceed with the work of co-location arrangement with a view to implementing the relevant clearance procedures at the West Kowloon Station in a timely manner." The key contents of the Co-operation Arrangement are as follows: Both sides agree to establish a port at the West Kowloon Station of the HKSAR to implement co-location arrangement whereby both sides will, in accordance with their respective laws, exercise exit and entry regulation, including immigration inspection, customs regulation, and inspection and quarantine measures etc., on departing and arriving persons travelling between the Mainland and the HKSAR, as well as their personal belongings and luggage. The West Kowloon Station Port comprises the Hong Kong Port Area and the Mainland Port Area. The Hong Kong Port Area is to be established by the HKSAR and be subject to its jurisdiction in accordance with the laws of the HKSAR and managed as a cross-boundary restricted area. The Mainland Port Area is to be established by the Mainland and be subject to its jurisdiction in accordance with the Co-operation Arrangement and the laws of the Mainland, and the port administration system is to be implemented thereat. The Mainland Port Area comprises the designated areas on B2 and B3 levels, the platform areas on B4 level as well as the connecting passageways, and includes the Mainland Clearance Area and back office, the waiting hall for departing passengers, station platforms and the connecting passageways and escalators. The compartments of trains in operation on the XRL within the area of the HKSAR (including trains which are in motion, stationary and during embarkation or disembarkation) are also regarded as part of the Mainland Port Area. Immigration inspection authority, customs authority, inspection and quarantine authority, integrated port administration authority and railway police authority stationed by the Mainland will perform duties and functions in the Mainland Port Area in accordance with the laws of the Mainland. They may not enter any area outside the Mainland Port Area to enforce the law, and have no law enforcement powers outside the Mainland Port Area. The establishment of the Mainland Port Area does not affect construction rights, rights relating to the performance of construction work, service concession, operation and regulation and control of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL; nor does it affect the rights and benefits regarding assets (including relevant lands as well as movable or immovable assets on these lands) and facilities pertaining to the Hong Kong Section of the XRL. The HKSAR will continue to handle these matters in accordance with the laws of the HKSAR and exercise jurisdiction over these matters in accordance with the Co-operation Arrangement. The Co-operation Arrangement provides that the HKSAR exercises jurisdiction (including jurisdiction of the courts) over the following matters in accordance with the laws of the HKSAR: (a) The performance of duties and functions or matters related to the performance of duties and functions by designated personnel, i.e. holders of valid permit issued by the HKSAR Government or the Hong Kong operator of the XRL who enter the Mainland Port Area or pass through the Mainland Port Area to other places within the West Kowloon Station to carry out duties and functions. Save as stated above, these personnel should comply with the laws of the Mainland inside the Mainland Port Area and be subject to regulation by the Mainland authorities stationed at the Mainland Port Area; (b) Matters relating to the standards of, and the duties, responsibilities and liabilities concerning, the construction, insurance and design, repair and maintenance of buildings and structures and related facilities (including fire safety; storage facilities of dangerous goods; lifts; escalators; plumbing installations; installations relating to waste and wastewaters; public address systems; ventilation; electricity and energy efficiency etc.), other than facilities and equipment provided by the Mainland authorities stationed at the Mainland Port Area themselves or exclusively used by them in carrying out duties and functions pursuant to the Co-operation Arrangement; (c) Matters relating to the carrying on of business, related insurance and tax affairs of the Hong Kong operator of the XRL and service provider(s), as well as the tax affairs and employment-related obligations, rights and benefits, protection and insurance of their staff members. Service provider(s) referred to above does not include a provider of services to the Mainland authorities stationed at the Mainland Port Area or to the Mainland operator of the XRL, where such service provider does not carry on business in any area of the HKSAR outside the Mainland Port Area; (d) Matters relating to the regulation and monitoring of the operational safety of the railway system of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL, as well as matters relating to environmental regulation and control; (e) Unless the parties by agreement indicate otherwise (whether such agreement is made in writing, orally or through their action), matters pertaining to the contractual or other legal relationships of a civil nature among the following entities or individuals in the Mainland Port Area: the Hong Kong operator of the XRL, contractor(s) of construction works of the West Kowloon Station, material or service provider(s), staff member(s) of the above entities, and XRL passengers; (f) Matters under the responsibility of the Hong Kong operator of the XRL as provided for in the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link Operating Co-operation Agreement (including any subsequent amendment(s) or supplementary agreement(s) thereto) made between the Hong Kong operator and the Mainland operator of the XRL. Except for the matters provided for in paragraphs 5 and 6 above, the Mainland will exercise jurisdiction (including jurisdiction of the courts) over the Mainland Port Area in accordance with the Co-operation Arrangement and the laws of the Mainland with effect from the date of commissioning of the Mainland Port Area. In handling those matters which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Mainland, for the purposes of the application of the laws of the Mainland and the laws of the HKSAR and the delineation of jurisdiction (including jurisdiction of the courts), the Mainland Port Area will be regarded as being situated in the Mainland. Both sides agree to set up a port liaison and coordination mechanism to ensure the safe, smooth and efficient operation of the Mainland Port Area and its effective regulation. In addition, both sides agree to set up an emergency handling mechanism to assist the Mainland in handling sudden or emergency incidents which may occur in the Mainland Port Area in the course of operation. Since the detailed provisions of the Co-operation Arrangement need to be submitted to the NPCSC for consideration at its meeting in December this year, the text of the Co-operation Arrangement cannot be disclosed to the public at this stage. The HKSAR Government will disclose the full text of the Co-operation Arrangement for public information after the NPCSC makes a decision approving and endorsing the Co-operation Arrangement. Ends/Saturday, November 18, 2017 Issued at HKT 12:20 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/14/P2017111400421.htm

14.11.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (November 14): Reporter: Mrs Lam, How can Hong Kong claim to be inclusive and international when you and your Government refuse to welcome or congratulate the city's successful bid to host the 2022 Gay Games? Chief Executive: Well, Hong Kong is an inclusive city. We have the Equal Opportunities Commission and all the necessary institutions in place. But I think we have to also listen to the opinion and views and sentiments of the rest of the community. So I can assure you that we will continue to be a very inclusive society. Reporter: Mrs Lam, there will be co-location debate tomorrow. Are you concerned that the Pan-Democrats or some of the law makers may have some weird tricks up their sleeves again and would you say tomorrow is the absolute deadline that the Government will let the lawmakers discuss it? And if it's not passed then you guys will start the "Three-Step Process" right away? Chief Executive: Well, I have said on many occasions that the legislative process leading to the implementation of the co-location arrangements have a time table because we need to commission the high-speed rail by the third quarter of next year. But at this moment I am pretty confident and this is not just my own feeling but a lot of people who have followed the proceedings in the Legislative Council are very confident that since the debate on the Government motion has been completed and then we should proceed to the officials making their response and then voting. So I am pretty confident that the Government motion should be voted on and hopefully passed in the coming Legislative Council meeting. So with that, we will have the good basis to commence the "Three-step Process" in leading to the commissioning of the high-speed rail by the third quarter of next year. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, November 14, 2017 Issued at HKT 12:26 NNNN

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CE hosts dinner for Governor of Victoria

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/12/P2017111200990.htm

12.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, hosted a dinner for the visiting Governor of Victoria, Ms Linda Dessau, at Government House this evening (November 12). The Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre, Professor Eric Yim, were also present. Welcoming the Governor's visit to Hong Kong to attend the 9th World Chinese Economic Summit tomorrow, Mrs Lam said she is very pleased to see her again after their encounters in 2015. Mrs Lam visited Australia in 2015 in the capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration and was extended warm hospitality by the Governor at the Government House in Victoria. During the Governor's official visit to Hong Kong in the same year, Mrs Lam hosted a lunch for her at the official residence of the Chief Secretary for Administration, and visited PMQ with her. Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong and the State of Victoria have been keen to explore areas for collaboration in design since their last meeting. In particular, the Hong Kong Design Centre signed a memorandum of understanding with the State Government of Victoria in May this year, confirming that Melbourne, the capital of the State of Victoria, as the partner city in the Business of Design Week 2018 and signifying the first time that the flagship design event partners with a city in the southern hemisphere. The event will strengthen cooperation of the business and design sectors between Hong Kong and Melbourne, and promote the designs of Hong Kong and Melbourne. Noting that the State of Victoria will stage an exhibition in the Business of Design Week 2017 to be held next month as part of the preparation for the Business of Design Week 2018, she said she looked forward to the cooperation between Hong Kong and the State of Victoria and believed that it would promote the development of the design trade and other creative industries in the two places, expand the scope for development for youths and boost economic growth. Ends/Sunday, November 12, 2017 Issued at HKT 22:21 NNNN

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CE meets Prime Minister of Australia

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/12/P2017111200632.htm

12.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Malcolm Turnbull, this afternoon (November 12). Mrs Lam who met Mr Turnbull at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting concluded the day before in Da Nang welcomed his visit to Hong Kong, which is the first by a serving Australian Prime Minister in more than 30 years' time. She took the opportunity to thank Mr Turnbull for his government's hospitality in hosting her last visit to Australia two years ago in her then capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration. She told Mr Turnbull that various opportunities for further collaboration between Hong Kong and Australia were identified during that visit. She said Hong Kong and Australia have all along enjoyed strong economic ties, in which, as of last year, Hong Kong was Australia's fifth largest source of investment, sixth largest trading partner in services and seventh largest export market for goods, and with more than 600 Australian companies operating in Hong Kong. Welcoming the launch of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations between Hong Kong and Australia in May this year, Mrs Lam said she is pleased to note that both sides have been working together proactively with a view to taking the close trade and investment relations to a new height. Noting that Hong Kong is keen to develop creative industries, Mrs Lam expressed the hope that Hong Kong and Australia would strengthen co-operation in the field. In particular, she said that discussions are underway for Melbourne will be our next partner city in the Business of Design Week 2018, which will be an excellent opportunity for promoting Melbourne's and Hong Kong’s design. Emphasising that her government accords high priority to youth development, she thanked the Australian government for launching the Hong Kong/Australia Working Holiday Scheme in 2001, which has since benefited more than 66 000 young people from Hong Kong. She also said she welcomed more co-operation in education with Australia which is one of the most popular destinations for Hong Kong students seeking to study overseas. Mrs Lam also pointed out that the Belt and Road Initiative will bring enormous opportunities for economic growth. As Hong Kong is a major international financial centre that has the experience, expertise and connections to serve as the fundraising and financial management hub for Belt and Road projects, Australian companies will benefit by establishing a foothold in Hong Kong to seize the business opportunities. Ends/Sunday, November 12, 2017 Issued at HKT 15:48 NNNN

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CE discusses with APEC leaders on regional economic cooperation

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/12/P2017111200056.htm

11.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, had in-depth discussions with the economic leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2017 Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) in Da Nang, Vietnam, yesterday (November 11) on ways to consolidate and sustain regional and global economic growth, deal with challenges brought by technology and digital economy, and ensure inclusive development. Noting that Hong Kong is a staunch supporter of free trade and will continue to embrace a free and open policy, Mrs Lam said Hong Kong will at the same time proactively implement effective policy initiatives to ensure that people from all walks of life can share the benefits of free trade and economic growth, improve people's standard of living as well as help the under-privileged. She said that Hong Kong holds the belief that a strong and rule-based multilateral trading system is a cornerstone of the global economy. Pointing out that the Eleventh World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference will soon be convened, for which Hong Kong will serve as one of the Vice Chairs, she said the meeting will be crucial to promote free trade globally and hoped that all the members will strive to reach a consensus. She said that following the imminent signing of the Hong Kong-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and a related Investment Agreement, Hong Kong will have signed FTAs with half of the APEC members. She expressed the hope that members will, through regional cooperation, strive to promote the eventual realisation of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific to strengthen ties with the APEC economies. Mrs Lam noted that Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems". Coupled with the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Agreement, the city is an ideal platform for overseas enterprises to tap the vast Mainland market. In particular, Hong Kong has a well-developed services sector and the standard of services is on the rise through sharing of knowledge and experience among different trades in the sector. Hong Kong is capable of providing the best services to overseas enterprises. During a break at the meeting, she met the President of Korea, Mr Moon Jae-in and expressed the hope that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Seoul could be set up as soon as possible to strengthen cooperation between Hong Kong and Korea on trade, investment and other areas. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong around noon today (November 12). Ends/Sunday, November 12, 2017 Issued at HKT 1:12 NNNN

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CE continues to attend APEC meetings in Vietnam

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/10/P2017111001200.htm

10.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (November 10) continues to attend meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and meet with leaders of different economies in Da Nang, Vietnam. ​In the morning, Mrs Lam attended the APEC Women Political Leaders Roundtable, which aims to strengthen the ties amongst women leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. At the meeting participated by the President of Chile, Ms Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Ms Jacinda Ardern, Mrs Lam shared with the women leaders her governing experience and the work on the promotion of equal opportunities for women. ​In the afternoon, she attended a session of the APEC CEO Summit during which President Xi Jinping delivered a speech. She also took part in the Dialogue with APEC Business Advisory Council in which members discussed issues including deepening of regional economic integration through free trade and globalisation, optimising the benefits of the internet and digital economy, and facilitating micro, small and medium enterprises' access to international markets. Attending the APEC Informal Dialogue with ASEAN Leaders, Mrs Lam said that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Hong Kong has been leveraging on its unique advantage under "One Country, Two Systems" to strengthen its status as an international trade and business centre. Noting that ASEAN is a crucial market to Hong Kong, she said she hoped that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to be signed between Hong Kong and ASEAN within days will further strengthen bilateral economic ties and facilitate the trade in goods and services, and investment, taking the regional co-operation to new heights. She also said that with the support of the Central Government, Hong Kong will take an active role in the Belt and Road Initiative. During the day, Mrs Lam held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Vietnam and Thailand. Mrs Lam thanked Vietnam and Thailand for their staunch support during the negotiations on Hong Kong-ASEAN FTA. Congratulating Vietnam on its successful hosting of the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders' Meeting at the meeting with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc, she expressed the hope that the government of Vietnam would facilitate Hong Kong enterprises to invest in Vietnam and Hong Kong tourists to visit the country, and enhance ties between the two places on various fronts. At the meeting with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Prayut Chan-o-cha, Mrs Lam said that the HKSAR Government plans to set up an Economic and Trade Office (ETO) in Thailand, the third Hong Kong ETO in ASEAN, after Singapore and Indonesia, to foster closer ties with Thailand. She said she hoped that the Thai government will render necessary assistance to enable its operation as soon as possible. She also said she looked forward to enhancing economic and trade relations of the two places through regular dialogues at the senior level with the Thai government, and promoting exchanges between non-government organisations of the creative industries in the two places. In the evening, Mrs Lam attended a Gala Dinner hosted by Vietnam for leaders of various economies and watched cultural performances. Ends/Friday, November 10, 2017 Issued at HKT 23:45 NNNN

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CE attends APEC CEO Summit

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/09/P2017110901080.htm

9.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said today (November 9) at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Da Nang, Vietnam, that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government would continue to strive to promote free trade and proactively formulate various policy initiatives beneficial to people's livelihood to ensure that people from all walks of life can reap the benefits of the opening up of the economy. After arriving at Da Nang this morning, Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, hosted a lunch for Hong Kong, China's representatives to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Mr Anthony Nightingale, Dr Allan Zeman and Dr Jonathan Choi, to thank them for reflecting the concerns of Hong Kong's business sector in ABAC over the years. ABAC was established in 1996 as a permanent business advisory body to provide advice to APEC on business sector priorities. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam attended a discussion session of the APEC CEO Summit on new frontiers in trade and spoke on issues including the impact of globalisation on economic development as well as the rising trend of trade protectionism. Speakers of this session also include the President of Peru, Mr Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and two other business leaders. Noting at the discussion session that Hong Kong has over the years been one of the freest and most open economies in the world, she said that Hong Kong has benefitted immensely from free trade which is instrumental in developing the city into an international trade and business centre as it is today. Mrs Lam said that free trade is blamed for various social problems from time to time, giving rise to trade protectionism. Emphasising that Hong Kong will continue to promote free trade, she said that every government should at the same time actively formulate policy initiatives and measures to respond to different social issues, including maintaining people's standard of living, so that they can benefit from free trade and economic development. She said that Hong Kong has been allocating a lot of 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, which she regarded as investment for the future, enable society to better adapt to the changing economic environment, while the returns will provide the Government with more resources to improve people's livelihood in the future. Pointing out that Hong Kong has always been a staunch supporter of free trade and a rule-based multilateral trading system, Mrs Lam said she believed that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) which are free and open in nature could facilitate regional trade and serve as building blocks for the liberalisation of multilateral trade. Hong Kong has already signed FTAs with a number of places and will soon enter into an FTA and a related Investment Agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. She believed that all members of APEC would not just set their sights on their own interests, instead, they would work together to promote free trade for the benefit of the world as a whole. Mrs Lam also reckoned that the Belt and Road Initiative advocated by China will strengthen ties and mutual access amongst those countries along the Belt and Road and other countries, giving new impetus to free trade all over the world. Ends/Thursday, November 9, 2017 Issued at HKT 22:20 NNNN

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CE meets Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of Slovenia

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/08/P2017110800930.htm

8.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia Mr Dejan Židan at the Chief Executive's Office this afternoon (November 8). Welcoming Mr Židan on his visit for the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair, Mrs Lam noted that Hong Kong and Slovenia have already established co-operation in wine-related businesses. She said that the Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in Wine-related Businesses signed between the two places in April this year would lay a solid foundation for further collaboration in wine trade and promotion in the future. Mrs Lam added that Hong Kong's status as Asia's wine hub would provide an excellent platform for the Slovenian wine industry to gain access to tens of millions of visitors to Hong Kong as well as to enter the vast Mainland market. Mrs Lam pointed out that the Belt and Road Initiative advocated by China will strengthen ties between Asia and Central and Eastern Europe. Hong Kong’s status as an international hub for finance, commerce, services and logistics, coupled with its unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems", makes it an ideal gateway for Slovenian companies to expand their business to the Mainland and the rest of Asia. She expressed the hope that Hong Kong and Slovenia could deepen co-operation on all fronts and further promote bilateral ties. Ends/Wednesday, November 8, 2017 Issued at HKT 20:43 NNNN

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CE to attend APEC meetings in Vietnam

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/06/P2017110600707.htm

6.11.2017

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will leave for Vietnam in the morning on November 9 to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2017 Economic Leaders' Meeting and other related meetings in Da Nang. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will accompany the Chief Executive and take part in some of the meetings. The theme of this year's meeting is "Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future", and it has four priorities: promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth; deepening regional economic integration; strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises’ competitiveness and innovation in the digital age; and enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture in response to climate change. Before attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on November 11, Mrs Lam will participate in a discussion session of the APEC CEO Summit on November 9. On November 10, she will attend another session of the Summit as well as the Women Political Leaders Roundtable, the Dialogue with APEC Business Advisory Council, the Informal Dialogue with ASEAN Leaders and the Gala Dinner hosted by the organiser for participating leaders. While in Vietnam, Mrs Lam will also meet with leaders of various economies. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong around noon on November 12. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Monday, November 6, 2017 Issued at HKT 17:40 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at media session

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/03/P2017110300647.htm

3.11.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session after attending the Belt and Road Innovation and Development Forum today (November 3): Reporter: Mrs Lam, how do you feel about the ongoing filibustering in LegCo? And in your speech just now, do you mean that you are going to wait until November 15 before deciding on whether to kick-start the "Three-step Process" to introduce the co-location plan? Chief Executive: Well, at the moment we are very confident and very hopeful that when Legislative Council meets on the 15th of November to continue their discussion on the Government motion on the co-location arrangement that it will be put to vote and hopefully passed, because I have already explained in Cantonese that the Legislative Council President has made two rulings - one is of course he has concluded the debate on the co-location motion itself and was about to invite the officials to speak, and once the officials have spoken, the motion would proceed to voting. The other is regarding the filibustering technique of invoking Rule 88(1) of the Rules of Procedure by one of the non-pro-establishment members; the President has also drawn a line allowing another 30 minutes of discussion. So taking both into account, it is only normal that the debate should come to an end at the seating on the 15th of November, and having considered that in the context of our legislative work, I do feel that we could wait for the motion to be passed on the 15th of November. How do I feel about the filibustering? I feel very sad, very disappointed and very frustrated as many members in society have told me, they are very hopeful about this term of the Hong Kong SAR Government. They really want us to do a lot of things for the people of Hong Kong. And hence in my maiden Policy Address, I have outlined no less than 200 initiatives that we want to pursue. Many of these initiatives will require funding approval by the Legislative Council, or amendments to legislation to be approved by the Legislative Council. But if the Legislative Council is not possible to conduct its normal business, then the chances of our taking forward these efforts will be significantly compromised, and that makes me feel very sad because I’ve just mentioned I have just completed fully the appointment of the politically appointed officials with 12 Under Secretaries and 14 Political Assistants. As a team, we all want to serve the people of Hong Kong, so I make this plea to the non-pro-establishment members of the Legislative Council - please give us a chance to serve the people of Hong Kong. Thank you very much. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Friday, November 3, 2017 Issued at HKT 15:12 NNNN

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Appointment of Political Assistants

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/03/P2017110300274.htm

3.11.2017

The Chief Executive's Office announced today (November 3) that the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, has, on the recommendations of the Appointment Committee, appointed two Political Assistants of the fifth term of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The newly appointed Political Assistants are the Political Assistant to the Financial Secretary, Ms Ho Chui-ping, and the Political Assistant to the Secretary for Food and Health, Mr Kelvin Cheng Sau-kong. Both of them will assume office on November 6. "I have appointed all 12 Under Secretaries and 14 Political Assistants in this term of Government. Passionate, capable, committed and willing to serve the community, they will assist the Secretaries of Department and Directors of Bureau to liaise extensively with various sectors of the community, strengthen communication between the Government and the legislature, gauge views from different channels and explain government policies and measures. I will lead my team of politically appointed officials to pursue concrete results for the benefit of the community with determination, boldness in innovation and a conscientious effort to address the needs of the people. Together, we will build an even better Hong Kong," Mrs Lam said. Following are biographical notes on the new appointees: Ms Ho Chui-ping ------------------ Aged 43. Before joining the Government, Ms Ho was Deputy Director of News and Public Affairs of Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Co. Ltd. She was previously the Chairperson of the Hong Kong News Executives' Association. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Communication from the Hong Kong Baptist University. Mr Kelvin Cheng Sau-kong ----------------------------- Aged 38. Mr Cheng works in the Hospital Authority as Manager in the Service Transformation Department before joining the Government, with responsibility for the planning and implementation of clinical public-private partnership programmes. He holds a Bachelor of Nursing degree and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Hong Kong. Ends/Friday, November 3, 2017 Issued at HKT 9:41 NNNN

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EDB holds Mainland-Hong Kong Life Planning Education Symposium

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201711/02/P2017110200396.htm

2.11.2017

The Education Bureau (EDB) is hosting the Mainland-Hong Kong Life Planning Education Symposium today and tomorrow (November 2 and 3) to share the outcomes of Hong Kong's life planning education and foster professional exchanges with counterparts in the neighbouring areas. The Symposium is one of the events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mrs Carrie Lam, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Symposium this morning. Other officiating guests included the Director General of the Education, Science and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Li Lu; the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung; and the Permanent Secretary for Education, Mrs Ingrid Yeung. The EDB has endeavoured to promote life planning education and to establish a culture in which different sectors of society support young people in life planning, with an aim of creating a wider space for their further development. In recent years, various business entities, professional bodies and non-governmental organisations have worked in close partnership with the EDB and provided a wide range of career exploration activities for students through the Business-School Partnership Programme. In the 2016/17 school year, more than 270 business partners joined the Programme and organised over 1 500 activities, benefiting some 260 000 students. The Symposium is an opportunity to share the valuable experience and fruitful outcomes. The Dean of Education of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Alvin Leung; Honorary Senior Lecturer of the University of Queensland Dr Mary McMahon; and the Director of the Business, Economic and Public Policy Research Centre of Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Dr Lee Shu-kam, have been invited as the keynote speakers of the Symposium. A number of sharing sessions and visits have also been arranged for these two consecutive days. Around 1 000 local and Mainland education practitioners have enrolled for the event. Ends/Thursday, November 2, 2017 Issued at HKT 12:15 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Joint Business Community Luncheon

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201710/31/P2017103100942.htm

31.10.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Joint Business Community Luncheon held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (October 31): Thank you very much, Stephen (Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Mr Stephen Ng), for those kind remarks. First of all, it gives me great pleasure to join so many people, 1,400 friends from the business community, at this joint business community lunch. I understand that this is a long-held tradition after the Policy Address, for the chambers in Hong Kong, both local and international, and also Mainland enterprises' chambers in Hong Kong, to join hands and organise a business luncheon in honour of the Chief Executive for him or her to talk about the Policy Address. I was just wondering why, as the Chief Secretary for Administration, I was never invited to come and take a seat to listen to what my boss had to say about his Policy Address, so every year I could only watch TV broadcast, and I got the impression that this luncheon took place in a hotel. So when I realised only very lately that it's going to be in the Grand Hall, I was a bit worried, because although I have spoken in this venue a couple of times but never was for a luncheon in which later on I'm subject to some grilling from the floor. My worry is not to answer the question. My worry is whether I can listen attentively to those questions in such a big venue. But anyway, thank you very much for this occasion, and special thanks go to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce for taking the lead to organise this event and for the very active participation by all of you. Time is relatively short. I have been given 15 minutes to speak and then another 15 minutes to answer questions, so I cannot give you a comprehensive account of my Policy Address because that will take at least three hours to do it. So I will focus on the economy, because this is a gathering of business people and what I perceive as the role of the Government. But let's start with some figures. I understand that very recently I've got myself into trouble by this figure of 800,000. But I will not shy away from difficulties. As you know, I am a person who likes to rise to the challenge and to confront difficulties in front of me. So, I want to share with you some figures. The economy is doing well so far this year. In the first half of this year we have recorded a 4 per cent real growth year- on-year, which is visibly higher than the 2 per cent in 2016, and it is expected to exceed 3.5 per cent on a whole-year basis. I always like what Paul Chan, my Financial Secretary said, when he referred to this “likely to exceed 3.5 per cent”, he has this Chinese phrase “已無懸念” – in other words, there is no doubt that it will exceed 3.5 per cent; just how much excess we'll have to await Paul to tell you when his next Budget comes. This exceeding 3.5 per cent real growth in a year is the fastest growth since the year 2011 and higher than the average trend growth rate of 3.3 per cent since 1997. So, that's a very good piece of news. Second figure is inflation. Business people are always very worried about inflation. Inflation has remained tame so far in the first nine months averaging 1.7 per cent compared to 2.3 percent in 2016. Exports of goods and services are doing extremely well, picked up significantly, increasing by 6.5 per cent year-on-year in the first half of this year compared to a modest 0.9 per cent in 2016, with exports to Asian markets providing the main growth impetus. So you understand why this Government is putting a lot of attention on the ASEAN region because Asia is going to be another strong impetus for growth in the coming years. Now, domestically, retail sales volume, after falling consecutively since August 2015, resumed growth in March this year and picked up further more recently with a year-on-year growth of 3.9 per cent for the months of July and August. I'm sure you will notice some of the positive sentiments amongst consumers, both local people as well as visitors. Coming to visitors, tourist arrivals, after falling for two consecutive years also rebounded, registering an increase of 2.2 per cent for the first nine months from both Mainland and non-Mainland markets. Worthy to note was an even higher growth in overnight arrivals of 4.5 per cent. The number of overseas and Mainland companies in Hong Kong has also risen. I notice that there are a lot of international chambers in the audience. The latest survey by the Census and Statistics Department together with Invest Hong Kong indicated we now have 8,225 Mainland and overseas companies which have set up in Hong Kong, representing an increase of 3 per cent year-on-year. I'm very gratified to know in particular that those overseas and Mainland companies using Hong Kong as their regional headquarters have risen to 1,413, reversing the declining situation and registering an increase of 2.5 per cent over 2016. And for those of you who are anxious to know which country tops the league in terms of total number of overseas companies, the winner is here, Ambassador (Kuninori) Matsuda of Japan. Now, number of start-ups. This place is very welcoming for small enterprises, for people with strong entrepreneurial spirit, so number of start-ups now stood at 1,926, involving both local and foreign founders. It has surged 24 per cent year-on-year, and has almost doubled the situation in 2014. So, those are the very promising figures that I want to share with you, but not without worries. Let me quote another set of figures, which are concerns to many of us. Private residential prices continued to surge with a year-on-year increase of 18 per cent as at August 2017. Office rental, better, grew by a lesser extent at 5 per cent for all offices and 6 per cent for Grade A offices. But I'm sure you remember this land sale, with the Murray Road Car Park site sold at $23.28 billion, representing an overall AV of over half a million Hong Kong dollars per square metre. So the supply of Grade A offices remains very tight. Now, coming to tightness, the tight labour market tightened slightly further with unemployment rate at 3.1 per cent, signifying full employment. Indeed, private sector vacancies hovered around 70,000 and acute shortages were seen in residential care services, F&B services and accommodation services. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the acute shortage in construction sector has somewhat subsided, which may have something to do with LegCo filibustering. If you don't believe me, you ask Jeffrey Lam. In the 2016/2017 LegCo year, that is before the summer recess, public works projects at a total value of HK$71 billion put on the agenda of the Finance Committee could not be approved before members went on their summer holiday, so it is a delay of at least six to 12 months. Thanks to a modest labour force growth of 0.5 per cent year-on-year, latest projections project a plateau in labour force in 2019 to 2022 as compared to labour force peaking in 2018 based on previous projections a few years ago. When I was the Chairman of the Steering Committee on Population Policy, the then projection was by next year Hong Kong's labour force would peak and thereafter it would decline. Now it's a slightly better situation. Now, these two sets of “promising” and “worrying” figures, when put together, echo my key message to the people of Hong Kong contained in my maiden Policy Address. In the coming few years, Hong Kong is entering a period when opportunities and challenges co-exist. We must leverage our unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems" and inject new and continuous impetus to Hong Kong's economy through a new proactive style of governance, strong commitment embodied in the new roles of the Government and a new fiscal philosophy to manage our finances wisely. Only by so doing and with the strong support from the Central Authorities will Hong Kong be able to seize the many opportunities available to us under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development. Let me say at the outset, because Stephen mentioned about big market, small government and not vice versa, so let me say at the outset that a proactive government approach to economic development does not mean we are deviating from the free market principle. We will continue to respect the rules governing the economy and market operations and promote free trade. But doing all we could to raise Hong Kong's competitiveness is a duty of my Government. My Policy Address has contained a whole range of initiatives to boost our economic vibrancy through efforts in various areas. These areas include providing land, nurturing and recruiting talents, strengthening government-to-government business, giving clear policy directions, providing investment, enhancing business-friendly environment and offering tax concessions where justified. I do not wish to go into details of each of these areas, but will only wish to highlight three measures to illustrate that we are serious and determined and will not shy away from making difficult decisions. And, by the way, two of these three measures actually coincide with what Stephen has mentioned in his remarks. So it does prove that my thinking is now very aligned with the business community. First, right here we are in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). We all know that the convention and exhibition industry is crucial to Hong Kong as an international centre for trade and commerce. By attracting world-class and the most prestigious international conventions and exhibitions to Hong Kong, we have reinforced our position as an international hub. Many large-scale fairs and shows now organised in Hong Kong are the largest in Asia or even in the world, but the shortage of space is a pressing concern. In order to maintain our position in the convention and exhibition industry, we could no longer delay a decision on finding extra venues. We have concluded, and I have announced in my Policy Address that the new facilities should be built in the proximity of the existing Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, right here in Wan Chai. The new venue must be connected to and integrated with the existing HKCEC in order to maximise the benefits. We have therefore decided that we will demolish and redevelop the three government buildings opposite the HKCEC into a new wing that can be connected to and integrated with the existing HKCEC. We will take the opportunity to relocate the Harbour Road Fire Station and improve the traffic arrangements, particularly the pedestrian walkway network in the area. When completed, Wan Chai North will become a convention and exhibition hub not only for Hong Kong but also for Asia. Such a major project is clearly not without difficulties. Several new government office buildings and a new court complex will have to be built to decant the existing tenants. It will also take time. But unless we make up our mind and press ahead, we will not succeed and Hong Kong will lose the many opportunities in front of us. My second example is our determination for Hong Kong to catch up in the innovation and technology (I&T) race and to become an international innovation and technology hub. My Government will concurrently step up efforts in eight areas, namely dedicating more resources for R&D, nurturing a pool of talents, providing and promoting venture capital, building infrastructure, reviewing obsolete legislation, opening up data, updating government procurement and enhancing popular science education. I recognise that the window for us to catch up is small. But opportunities are plenty, especially with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and Hong Kong and Shenzhen joining hands to create an international I&T centre. We cannot afford to take small steps. We have set a goal to double the GDP expenditure on R&D from the current 0.73 per cent of GDP to 1.5 per cent within the current term of Government. I'm holding myself accountable for progress made by personally chairing an internal Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology to take forward these measures identified and steer collaboration amongst bureaux and departments. My third example, which naturally should be music to your ears, is our plans to reduce taxes. In order to further enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong, we have demonstrated determination in our taxation policies. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau has made proposals on the two tax measures put forward in my Election Manifesto, with a rate of tax reduction even deeper than what I had proposed, and will strive to implement them within 2018, provided there is no LegCo filibustering. On the two-tiered profits tax system, the profits tax rate for the first $2 million of profits of enterprises will be lowered to 8.25 per cent. That is half of the standard profits tax rate instead of 10 per cent as proposed in my Manifesto. Profits above that amount will continue to be subject to the standard tax rate of 16.5 per cent. To ensure that the tax benefits will target SMEs, we will introduce restrictions such that each group of companies may only nominate one enterprise to benefit from a lower tax rate. To encourage research on R&D investment by enterprises, we propose that the first $2 million eligible R&D expenditure will enjoy 300 per cent tax deduction with the remainder at 200 per cent. This is likewise a more generous proposal than the single deduction rate of 200 per cent mentioned in my Manifesto. Ladies and gentlemen, I'll stop here to allow time for questions. But before I close, let me appeal to you all to have confidence in Hong Kong. Last weekend, I went to the annual Wine and Dine Festival at the New Central Harbourfront and officiated at the cross-harbour swim from the vantage point in Tsim Sha Tsui. Looking at both sides of the Victoria Harbour and under a clear blue sky – which happens to be my campaign colour and now the colour of my maiden Policy Address, I notice that this event has also used my clear blue sky colour as the backdrop – I feel so much attached to this city I call home. I talked to people, took selfies, and promised to be back next year. I suddenly realised that this is exactly what that succinct closing remark in my Policy Address envisions. Let us connect for hope and happiness. I wish to thank chambers again for putting together this business luncheon for me to talk about my policy vision, and if I may, I promise to be back next year. Thank you very much. Ends/Tuesday, October 31, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:10 NNNN

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Transcript of remarks by CE at question-and-answer session of Joint Business Community Luncheon

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201710/31/P2017103100936.htm

31.10.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the question-and-answer session of the Joint Business Community Luncheon held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (October 31): Attendee: Jimmy Ng of Chinese Manufacturers’ Association (CMA). Chief Executive, CMA are heartened that the Government is stepping up its efforts to develop innovation and technology, and your maiden Policy Address has proposed a host of new initiatives with a focus on building a conducive ecosystem. I’d like to ask, if I may, Chief Executive, will the Government consider drawing up more concrete measures to support and stimulate our traditional industries – I must stress again, our traditional industries – so as to encourage them to embrace new technology and innovations? Thank you. Chief Executive: Well, thank you very much, Jimmy. I think that area of work has already started with the Financial Secretary chairing a committee on innovation and technology and re-industrialisation, but of course in the internal steering committee that I’m going to chair, I will be monitoring the progress closely and see whether we need to put in place concrete measures. While on this subject I just want to share with you a very enlightened conversation I have with Dr Harry Lee, Chairman of Hong Kong RITA (Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel), about how innovation and technology could help to re-energise the very traditional textile industry. So if it needs more resources in R&D, it needs government support in the IP protection, licensing and reaching out to international institutions, I said I will be very happy to support those initiatives. Thank you very much. Attendee: Good afternoon, Chief Executive. My name is Derrick and I’m from the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce. In the Policy Address, land and housing issues are the top of your agenda and you proposed to use a piece of land in Kwun Tong as a pioneer project for the “Starter Homes” (Pilot) Scheme. However, that piece of land is already under the land sale programme for private homes, so simply turning that into “Starter Homes” will not necessarily increase the overall supply. Would the Government consider to form a private-public partnership with the private sector by utilising their farmlands? On one hand, the private sector have to provide lands for “Starter Homes” free of charge and be responsible for building and selling the affordable homes for the eligible homebuyer at cost. On the other hand, the Government can offer lower land premiums required for the private sector to build private homes. Would that be a win-win situation? Chief Executive: Well, first of all, housing is an extremely complicated and difficult issue, but at the same time it is the highest priority topic that the people of Hong Kong want the Government to tackle. But the solution lies in land – if there is no land available for the building of housing, we will just be taking a piece of land from one category to another. So, I agree with you that we cannot keep on taking land from the Land Sale Programme, which is for private housing, for the “Starter Homes”. So, this piece of land is taken out, because first we have been doing quite well in terms of private housing production in the last two years or so, because of larger than expected number of lease modifications providing private housing, and I need to pilot and to see how we could use the land lease to stipulate conditions to produce this type of “Starter Homes”. So, that is no more than just to demonstrate and to test out the land lease arrangements to get that in place. But I have made it very clear, absolutely clear in my Policy Address, I’m not going to take land designated already for the public housing programme, whether it is HOS (Home Ownership Scheme) or public rental housing or this new green form subsidised home, to do the “Starter Homes”, because I know very well that in terms of prioritisation, the Government’s primary duty is to look after the grassroots, the lower income families. So, it does mean, and as stated very explicitly in the Policy Address, that the sources of land for doing more “Starter Homes” in the future will be land in private developers’ hands. So, it will be some of the land that you have mentioned and we all know they exist if we care to look at the annual reports of some of the developers, then we know that they do have a land bank of their own. How to do it is not too difficult, but how to get society to accept it, that is, overcoming the political hurdle and all these worries and suspicions about collusion, transfer of benefits, is a huge challenge. But in my usual style, I’m not going to shy away from difficulties, so I will continue to engage with the stakeholders, with people, with people who are in the know about Hong Kong’s housing policies and I’m sure there are quite a few here, with Stanley Wong and Marco Wu and so on, to find a way, a very transparent way to get this sort of co-operation underway. But I just want to respond because I notice you mentioned about lower land premium. I would be very hesitant to attract developers to join the scheme by offering lower land premium. We will have to find other means to ensure this type of co-operation, which I agree with you would be a win-win arrangement to happen but certainly unlikely to be through a lower land premium. Thank you very much. Attendee: Hello. Aron Harilela, General Chamber of Commerce. Thank you, Chief Executive, for your wonderful speech and your Policy Address. You know, we are very pleased to hear that the Central Policy Unit will be revamped into the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office, which will be responsible for working with all the government bureaux to proactively review existing legislation and regulations in order to remove the outdated provisions that impede the development of innovation and technology. Hong Kong is far behind many other cities in this regard, and it's very nice to hear that you have eight different priority areas that you'd be working on. In addition, I think most of the licences and codes in Hong Kong are outdated. For example, most licences restrict e-commerce, selling online, for example, vitamins and minerals. The fire codes actually restrict robotic automation. Could you elaborate a little bit on this? And I'd pledge that the Chamber would certainly take our time and go through a list of outdated codes and licences if the Government wanted any help on that. We would certainly pledge our resources and our time for that. Chief Executive: Thank you very much, Aron, for asking that question and also offering to help. We do need some outsider help in this particular area. Yes, I have proposals to revamp the Central Policy Unit into a new unit called the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (PICO). One of the assignments I am going to give to this new office is to do one of the eight areas in the I&T (innovation and technology) blue print, that is to review the obsolete legislation to facilitate new forms of economy and to provide business-friendly environment and so on. The reason why it has to be assigned to an outside unit, that is outside of the 13 bureaux is because I suspect there will be some resistance within the Government bureaux because they have been very used to this sort of legislation, rules and procedures and to deviate from them would sort of create a bit of anxiety. So, my experience in public sector tells me that very often for this sort of ad-hoc, important assignments, it should be undertaken by an office under the personal steer of a very senior official but not within an existing bureau. So I would, first thing when this unit is established and the key officers are there, I will ask them to come to see the chambers individually or collectively to get from you your input into this list that you want us to review. Thank you very much. Attendee: Eric Yim, representing the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. Chief Executive Carrie, thank you for your sharing. We are very pleased to learn about the tax reduction on R&D spending in your recent Policy Address – the 300 per cent for the first $2 million and 200 per cent for the rest. This would undoubtedly encourage R&D spending. However, in your Election Manifesto, you also mentioned about possible tax reduction that could also apply to spending on design, branding and environmental protection. Could you share with us whether you have any time table of implementation of these measures on these areas? Chief Executive: Actually, first of all, don’t worry, 不是「走數」, Eric. Well, the two very concrete tax measures were presented in very concrete terms during the election, and they are relatively easy to implement because it is nothing new under the sun. Many tax jurisdictions have this sort of tax regime. It is easier to do. So, my colleagues in the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau have already come up with the needed content of changes to the legislation. But the point I want to make in my Election Manifesto and I continue to make it here today is tax - Of course, tax is means to collect revenue to support the government’s operation and activities - but tax is also a very effective instrument to induce certain behavioural changes, whether it’s for progressing the economy or just to improve livelihood. We do have tax deductions for life-long learning, for supporting your own elderly parents in residential homes and so on. So, I’m open. To answer your question, I have an open mind, I am open to suggestions. I believe at the first Summit on New Directions for Taxation last week, the Financial Secretary and his team would have collated a whole host of ideas on how to make our tax regime more competitive. If nobody has mentioned about design in that context, I suggest Eric you put in a submission to him and to me and I can promise you we will seriously look into it because design within this bigger category of creative industries has been identified as the second major area for us to diversify our economy and I really see the huge potential in Hong Kong’s design industry. Thank you very much. Attendee: Eva,…a Shanghainese working in Hong Kong, just moved in by September,現在在學廣東話，希望下次可以用廣東話交流。Back to English, I worked 14 years plus for Mainland China for the company. So, due to responsibility, there are chances that I see, the Central Government, the provincial government and also a lot of interactions with Guangdong and like Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, etc. Carrie Lam, you are just talking about the “Belt and Road” strategy and also the Greater Bay Area initiative, so honestly, I would like to see any solid plan, especially the differentiation against the competition or constructive one but also people want to make their own city attractive, like Shenzhen or Guangzhou whatever. Recently in a seminar in Guangzhou, I raised a similar question, and the Government just said, “Oh, don’t look at Guangzhou, they are older schools, they are out of date, we are here innovation, technology- big companies like Shenzhen Huawei or … whatever.” So I would love to see, like Hong Kong, actually carries its competitive edge. Ten years ago when I landed in Hong Kong and also I worked with my international colleagues, they recognised Hong Kong as a …city… and I think I enjoyed so much of the advantages and good things and I do hope it carries all. And during my assignment here, I commit myself and also for company, but also for my team in Hong Kong, that I can do just more than good business for the company, but also … in the long-term prosperity of Hong Kong. Thank you. Chief Executive: First of all, thank you very much for your vote of confidence in this city. I do feel very passionately that Hong Kong still possesses a lot of unique advantages, whether it is under “One Country, Two Systems”, or as a result of our years of operating in the international scene. But the two important national initiatives now before us- one is the Belt and Road, the other is the Bay Area, do require the Government to really map out a strategy and some very concrete measures in order to seize those opportunities. For example, in the Bay Area development, having signed a framework agreement on the first of July witnessed by President Xi Jinping, the three Governments together with the National Development and Reform Commission are now working very diligently in the development plan. And I expect the development plan would contain many concrete measures, especially to address the point you raised about the competitive advantages of the nine cities and Hong Kong and Macau, so as to avoid unnecessary duplication in working resources and in investment, but try to do the things that is best being done by one of these cities. As I mentioned, I see a lot of synergy between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and maybe one of the advanced manufacturing cities, whether it is Dongguan or Zhongshan, in order to ride on this I&T development and the commercialisation of the research outcomes. So, this is an area that we will work very closely with our counterparts in the Guangdong Province. Thank you very much. Ends/Tuesday, October 31, 2017 Issued at HKT 21:14 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Inter-School Swimming Competition 2017-18 award presentation ceremony

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201710/27/P2017102700841.htm

27.10.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Inter-School Swimming Competition 2017-18 award presentation ceremony at Kowloon Park Swimming Pool today (October 27): Mrs Lau (Chairlady of the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Secondary Schools Regional Committee, Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation, Mrs Stella Lau), ladies and gentlemen, students, swimmers, Good afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to be here for the Division One Inter-School Swimming Competition's prize presentation ceremony for 2017-18. I also enjoyed very much watching the Finals of the Boys and the Girls A Grade freestyle relays just now. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to over 14 000 students among the 723 teams participating in this year's competition. For the winning athletes, many of you may represent Hong Kong in the future in international competitions and I look to you to bring us glory and honour. Over the years, the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation has been working with the Government on the development of local sports. Thanks to the tireless endeavours and dedication of the Federation, our talented student athletes are given precious opportunities to develop their potential to the full and excel in competitions. I sincerely look forward to our continuous collaboration with the Federation and hope to see our student athletes cherish every opportunity that comes their way in both local and international sports events. The Government has consistently promoted the development of sports through a three-pronged approach, namely to promote sport in the community, to support elite sport and to make Hong Kong a centre for major international sports events. In recent years, our elite athletes have achieved remarkable results in international sports events and inspired many young people with their passion, commitment and hard work. And we're doing all we can, on the sidelines, to help these elite athletes. That includes injecting HK$1 billion next year into the Elite Athletes Development Fund with a view to reinforcing the coaching team and training partner arrangements, and enhancing scientific and medical support for raising their standards. Apart from taking forward the mega Kai Tak Sports Park project to provide modernised and multi-purpose facilities to support major sports events and holistic sports development, the Government has earmarked HK$20 billion in the coming five years to launch 26 projects to develop new or improve existing sports and recreation facilities, including sports grounds, football pitches, swimming pool complexes and open space. These facilities when completed will help boost Hong Kong's sports development in all the three aspects I have just mentioned. They will definitely help enhance the image of Hong Kong as an Asian sports city. They will also help promote healthy lifestyles, encourage social interaction and foster a strong sense of community identity. Before I close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation for tirelessly nurturing young athletes over the years. I would also like to extend my deep appreciation to all those who have dedicated their time, enthusiasm, manpower and resources to make this annual competition a continued success. May I also wish our student athletes all the best in sports, academic pursuit and your future endeavours. Thank you very much. Ends/Friday, October 27, 2017 Issued at HKT 19:22 NNNN

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Speech by CE at Canadian Chamber of Commerce luncheon

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201710/23/P2017102300557.htm

23.10.2017

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a luncheon organised by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce today (October 23): Jeff (Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Jeff Nankivell), Lawrence (the Chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Mr Lawrence Nutting), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. Let me first express my gratitude to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for issuing an invitation to me to meet with members of the Chamber as early as July 6, 2017, and that is, within the first week of my taking office as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), so you have beaten all the other chambers in Hong Kong. That invitation mentioned that the Canadian business chamber would like to support the new government initiatives moving forward, and making Hong Kong the ideal international city for business and investment in Asia. I thank the Chamber for the friendship and its confidence in the HKSAR Government which I have the honour and privilege to lead in the next five years. But I was expecting, as also mentioned in that invitation, a private business luncheon for more dialogue and interaction, but today, this ballroom is filled up with almost 300 guests, and all the electronic media are there, and somehow because of the date chosen, which is less than two weeks since I announced my maiden Policy Address, the event was now described as one for me to discuss the reasoning behind my first Policy Address and for guests to know more about my blueprint for improving Hong Kong's competitiveness in the years ahead. Despite the changes in the theme of the luncheon and the attendance, I am equally thankful for the opportunity to share some thoughts about Hong Kong's future with our Canadian business community. However, I should just add that the convention remains of the Chief Executive to attend a Joint Business Community Lunch hosted by several local chambers after the annual Policy Address, and this year it will take place on October 31. I hope to see some of you there as well. Hong Kong and Canada share many close links, and one of which is the day of July 1, which marks our anniversaries. And the year 2017 is particularly memorable as Hong Kong is celebrating her 20th anniversary as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, while Canada is turning 150 years old as one of the great nations of the world. And let's not forget our good host, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, now 40 years into making things happen for Canadian business here in Hong Kong. I am told that your membership, Lawrence, counts some 900 business people, making CanCham among the largest Canadian business organisations outside Canada, and certainly one of the busiest, most influential international chambers in Hong Kong. We like to do business together. Last year, our bilateral trade was valued at C$4.7 billion (HK$30.3 billion). In 2016, Hong Kong was Canada's eighth-largest export market, with food taking a big bite of that. Indeed, Hong Kong was Canada's largest export market for frozen beef, fourth-largest for fish and seafood. Hong Kong is also a large source of investment for Canada. Foreign direct investment from Hong Kong to Canada was C$12 billion (around HK$76.8 billion) in 2016. While our relationship is already close, I'm confident that our trade, and our investment in each other's economies, will only grow in the coming years. And this is what I want to talk about from my Policy Address delivered on October 11. Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems", our core values featuring the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the free flow of capital and information, etc, our geographical advantage and free and open market make us one of the most competitive economies in the world. Canada's own Fraser Institute has named Hong Kong the world's freest economy every year since its first "Economic Freedom of the World" report came out, more than 20 years ago. Nevertheless, with intensified competition from other regional and global economies, there is no room for complacency. With the rise of protectionism, challenges are even more pronounced. We - the Government and the business community - must therefore strive for innovation and develop a high growth and more diversified economy. We must seize opportunities from the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development, to inject new impetus into the development of our traditional industries that have enjoyed distinct advantages and identified new emerging economic sectors. Instead of going into the detailed plans of my government to consolidate and enhance individual economic sectors, I would like to use the next few minutes to explain how we the Government intend to do it. From the days of my election campaign, I have advocated that while upholding the free market principle, the HKSAR Government has to actively enhance her role in boosting our economic vibrancy through efforts in various areas, including increasing land supply, nurturing local talent and recruiting overseas talent, enhancing government-to-government business, providing clear and visionary policy directions, attracting inward investment and supporting outbound investment, facilitating a business-friendly environment and offering competitive tax measures. These are all very laudable objectives but I recognise that the real test lies in effective implementation. Let me give you a few examples to illustrate that we are serious and determined and will not shy away from making difficult decisions. First, we all know that the convention and exhibition industry is crucial to Hong Kong as an international centre for trade and commerce. By attracting world class and the most prestigious international conventions and exhibitions to Hong Kong, we have reinforced our position as an international hub. Many large-scale fairs and shows now organised in Hong Kong are the largest in Asia, or even the world. But the shortage of space is a pressing concern. For example, I visited the Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council earlier this month, which is the largest in the world. The fair has taken up all available space at the Hong Kong CEC (Convention and Exhibition Centre) and probably with some exhibitors turned away. In order to maintain our position in the convention and exhibition industry, we could no longer delay a decision on finding extra venue, which will make good business sense. We have concluded, and I have announced in the Policy Address that the new facilities should be built in the proximity of the existing HKCEC in Wan Chai; the new venue must be connected to and integrated with the existing HKCEC to maximise the benefits. We have therefore decided that we will demolish and redevelop the three government buildings opposite the HKCEC into a new wing that can be connected to and integrated with the existing centre. We will take the opportunity to relocate the Harbour Road Fire Station and improve the traffic arrangements, particularly the pedestrian walkway network in the area. When completed, Wan Chai North will become a convention and exhibition hub not only for Hong Kong, but also for Asia. Such a major project is clearly not without difficulties. Several new government office blocks and a new court complex will have to be built to decant the existing tenants. It will also take time. But unless we make up our mind and press ahead, we will not succeed and Hong Kong will lose the many opportunities in front of us. The second example I want to give is our commitment to strengthen our bilateral and multilateral ties with the Mainland and overseas countries. We should make full use of Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy in conducting her external affairs as provided for under the Basic Law with a view to open new markets, attract more enterprises and talents to Hong Kong, and strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international trade, commercial and financial centre. Relevant bureaux and departments have been given the clear mandate to negotiate for more FTAs - that is free trade agreements; IPPAs - investment promotion and protection agreements; and CDTAs - comprehensive agreements on the avoidance of double taxation. Noting that people-to-people bond is of no lesser significance, we are similarly eager to establish bilateral co-operation in arts and culture, education and youth activities. In this respect, I am confident that the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between Hong Kong and Canada which came into effect a year ago will usher in greater co-operation between our two economies. Our airlines are certainly doing their part to promote business co-operation as well as people-to-people links. In June this year, Hong Kong Airlines started a new non-stop daily service between Hong Kong and Vancouver. Cathay Pacific has also increased the frequency of its flights connecting Hong Kong and Canada this year. My third example, which should be music to your ears, is our plans to reduce business' tax burden. As noted in the Policy Address, we will launch a two-tiered profits tax system. We will lower the profits tax rate to 8.25 per cent - that is half the current rate - on your first HK$2 million in profits. Beyond that, the standard profits tax rate of 16.5 per cent will remain unchanged. In short, Hong Kong's already low tax rate is destined to get a good deal lower, which can only attract more Canadian companies, entrepreneurs and start-ups to Hong Kong. We are keen, as well, to build a world-class innovation and technology sector. A healthy research and development environment is central to that goal. In my Policy Address, I proposed that the first HK$2 million in eligible R&D expenditure should enjoy a 300 per cent tax deduction, with a 200 per cent deduction for the remainder. These tax measures are by themselves bold and innovative. They will also be put in place with speed. A bill is already ready to go to the Legislative Council to first implement the two-tiered profits tax measure. Our aim is for both proposals to take effect from next year. I have said on many occasions that we cannot take pride in our economic progress if our people do not share the benefits. The extent of discontent and frustrations in society arising from disparity between the rich and the poor and the lack of social mobility for the younger generation are warning signals to government. Hong Kong is no exception. In my Policy Address, I have announced plans and allocated resources for education and many social programmes in housing, health care and social support. I want Hong Kong - this city we call home - to be not only competitive, but also compassionate. Ladies and gentlemen, I can continue to speak for hours about my Policy Address, which in its published form runs into 34,000 words in English, and 49,000 characters in Chinese, about how I would make Hong Kong a better place for you to do business and to live in. But for now I suppose I should stop and leave some time for questions and answers. Before I close, my thanks again to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for giving me this welcome opportunity to speak to you, and for the Consul General, Jeff, for his very enlightened and inspiring words about Hong Kong and Canada. I wish you all an enjoyable lunch. Thank you very much. Ends/Monday, October 23, 2017 Issued at HKT 15:25 NNNN

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