Author Archives: hksar gov

     The latest test results of the opening-up investigation in the second stage of the holistic assessment strategy for the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project (as at April 25) are now available at the Highways Department’s website for the SCL project (www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/railway_projects/scl/index.html) for reference by the public. read more

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 10.5 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $5.74 million at Hong Kong International Airport on April 19.

     Customs officers inspected an air mail parcel arriving in Hong Kong from the United States on April 19 and found the batch of suspected methamphetamine concealed in 30 coffee packing bags in the parcel.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday (April 24) arrested a man suspected to be in connection with the case in Yuen Long.

     The arrested man, aged 27, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 26).

     Customs will maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcels or express courier channels.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

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     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, at the thematic forum on silk road of innovation of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing today (April 25):
 
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure for me to join you here at the thematic forum on silk road of innovation of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Innovation and technology (I&T) is shaping our future. I&T is also an engine driving economic growth. Today I would like to share Hong Kong’s vision on I&T, and explore co-operation opportunities which will benefit all the Belt and Road economies.  
 
     I&T has been a top policy agenda of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR Government). Our vision is to drive diversified economic development by I&T, and develop Hong Kong into an international I&T hub which is open to talents around the world. Over the past few years, the Hong Kong SAR Government committed significant resources of over US$12.8 billion towards a broad spectrum of initiatives to strengthen Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem, including increasing resources for research and development (R&D), nurturing technology talents, implementing forward-looking tax reform to incentivise R&D activities, providing investment funding, building I&T-related infrastructures, and helping small and medium-sized enterprises to upgrade and transform with I&T solutions for their businesses, etc.
 
     One of the key initiatives I would like to highlight here is that we are building two world-class research clusters in Hong Kong. We have set aside US$1.3 billion to establish Health@InnoHK focusing on healthcare technologies, and AIR@InnoHK focusing on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies at our Science Park. Through this initiative, we can capitalise on the strengths of our local universities and attract top-notch universities and scientific research institutions around the world to collaborate with us, and thus enhance Hong Kong’s overall research and development capability in the long run.   
 
     I am proud to say that we are doing quite well on this effort. So far, the two clusters have attracted the attention of a number of world-acclaimed institutions. To give just a few examples, Harvard University, Stanford University, Imperial College London, University College London and Johns Hopkins University have teamed up with Hong Kong’s institutions, expressing strong interest in joining the two clusters. We anticipate that the first batch of research institutions will be setting up their laboratories in the Hong Kong Science Park by the end of this year. 
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, as President Xi remarked, the Belt and Road Initiative is China’s initiative, the opportunities and fruits that it presents belong to the whole world. Collaboration under the initiative will surely be a win-win for all parties. I know there are other guest speakers waiting to share their valuable views on this exciting topic. May I wish you all a very fruitful and rewarding day at today’s forum. Thank you very much.

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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 25) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

Sex	Female
Age	44
Affected area involved	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
High-risk exposure	Nil
Hospital	Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
Condition	Stable
MERS-Coronavirus preliminary test result	Negative

     “Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV),” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP’s surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization’s latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP’s health advice on MERS.   read more

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements to facilitate a public order event to be held on Hong Kong Island this Saturday (April 27). A. Road closure      The following roads will be… read more