The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, continued to attend the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and delivered a speech at the China Pavilion's Side Event in Azerbaijan yesterday (November 13, Azerbaijan time).
      
     Mr Tse delivered an opening speech at the side event titled "Climate Action: From Climate Science to New Energy Development Opportunities" held by the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Hong Kong Observatory at the China Pavilion. In his speech, Mr Tse elaborated on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's strategies and progress of combating climate change.
      
     Mr Tse said, "Hong Kong reached carbon peak in 2014 and set a target to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. Hong Kong's per capita carbon emission in 2023 was about 4.4 tonnes, which has a reduction by almost 30 per cent from the 2014 level."
      
     He added that Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 has a four-pronged strategy, which includes net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction. Under the strategy, there are three important targets. The first is to stop using coal for power generation before 2035. At this moment, coal accounts for less than 20 per cent of Hong Kong's current fuel mix for power generation. The second is promoting green transport. The HKSAR Government will cease the registration of new fossil fuel-powered and hybrid private cars by 2035. In the first half of this year, six to seven out of every 10 newly registered private cars in Hong Kong were electric vehicles. The third is to deal with methane from landfills. The HKSAR Government is working to stop using landfills before 2035. The first waste-to-energy incinerator will come into operation next year and the Government will tender out in December to build the second one which can treat 6,000 tonnes of waste per day.
      
     Mr Tse also said that Hong Kong is a regional hub and a gateway from the country to the other parts of the world. The country has many innovative products and many new technologies that can help greening the future, reducing carbon emissions, which can help building infrastructures and cities in a green, low carbon, and safe manner. Hong Kong can be a gateway for introducing these green technologies and products to other parts of the world.

     The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, Professor Celeste Saulo, also delivered a speech titled "Early Warning Systems for Effective Climate Action" in the side event. The Commissioner for Climate Change, Mr Wong Chuen-fai; and the Assistant Director (Development, Research and Administration) of Hong Kong Observatory, Ms Sandy Song, shared the HKSAR Government's hydrogen energy development strategy, as well as climate service and climate change adaptation in the event.
      
     â€‹Mr Tse also met with Professor Celeste Saulo before the side event, and exchanged views on issues such as strengthening international cooperation in response to extreme weather and green energy transformation yesterday.
      
     Mr Tse today (November 14, Azerbaijan time) will attend the US-China Subnational Climate Leaders Dialogue hosted by the California-China Climate Institute to introduce Hong Kong's climate resilience strategy.

              

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The Hospital Authority (HA) announces that its general out-patient clinics (GOPCs), specialist out-patient clinics (SOPCs), allied health and other day services will resume service gradually within two hours after the cancellation of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8.
      
     Chronic illness or specialist out-patient clinic patients, who have scheduled appointments at GOPCs, SOPCs, allied health or other day services, can follow the instructions listed on the appointment slips for arrangements, if their appointments are affected by the typhoon. Patients who booked their appointments via the telephone system or mobile apps "HA Go" can make a new appointment one hour after the cancellation of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8.
      
     The HA spokesman said, "Due to the bad weather, some patients were unable to attend their consultations. It is anticipated that the number of patients will increase in the coming few days. The HA has adopted different measures to enhance manpower and service capacity so as to cope with the demand and to render assistance to patients in need."

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The People's Bank of China (PBOC) will issue Renminbi Bills through the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Please find attached the tender notice and the tender information memorandum of the Renminbi Bills to be issued by the PBOC. Please also find attached the tender-related information provided by the Issuing and Lodging Agent through the HKMA.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     The Government today (November 14) announced that, as the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 is now in force, the Children Community Vaccination Centre (CCVC) and Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (PCVSs) under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will not be open for the normal operating hours and their vaccination service will be suspended.

     The CCVC and PCVSs will reopen and resume vaccination service two hours after the cancellation and they will operate until the normal closing time.

     Affected persons can make a new vaccination appointment through the booking system on the website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk) after the scheduled time of the original booking .

Attention duty announcers of radio and television stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     The Department of Health (DH) today (November 14) announced that, as the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 is now in force, all DH clinics will not be open for the normal operating hours, except for Methadone Clinics. Those receiving methadone treatment can attend Methadone Clinics for their daily dose.

     â€‹All DH clinics which were closed due to the typhoon will resume normal service two hours after the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 was cancelled, if the weather and conditions permit.

     The public is advised to pay attention to radio and television announcements.