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     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at Cathay Pacific Connecting Hong Kong – Seattle Business Seminar: The Future of Travel and Nurturing Entrepreneurship in Seattle during his visit to the US today (April 9, US West Coast time):
 
Rupert (Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Pacific, Mr Rupert Hogg), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning.
 
     I am delighted to be here this exciting morning in Seattle, a millennial city virtually surrounded by water, craft beer and coffee.
 
     My thanks to Cathay Pacific Airways for organising today’s Connecting Hong Kong-Seattle Business Seminar, and the support of our Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco. Cathay’s launch of direct passenger flights brings more than our two cities together. The new service will create connections well beyond our respective airports – connections in business, government, culture and more. And they will, I’m confident, help us all excel.
 
     Our two cities, and the business and people who drive them, believe in the promise of innovation and technology (I&T). And I’m sure today’s panel discussions will kindle expanded co-operation and collaboration between us in the months and years to come.
 
     When it comes to Hong Kong and I&T, our airport is a good place to begin. One of the world’s top three passenger hubs, Hong Kong International Airport welcomed almost 75 million passengers last year, connecting them to more than 220 destinations around the world.
 
     As good as those numbers are, they are bound to soar in the coming years, thanks to the Three-runway System now under construction at our airport. The project is equivalent to building a brand-new mega airport. It involves expanding the current Terminal 2 and creating a new Third Runway Passenger Building with a floor area of more than 3 million square feet. That’s a lot of space to cover and, with some 100 million passengers a year expected by 2030, it’s a lot of people to manage between the arrival and departure gates.
 
     We’ll make that expansion happen thanks to I&T, just as we’re doing now. I&T are helping the airport create a more convenient and hassle-free journey for its passengers.
 
     It begins with the “HKG My Flight” mobile app, which provides personalised, real-time flight information and boarding alerts. And, thanks to iBeacon and augmented reality technologies, passengers can make their way from kerb to gate easily, as the app translates airport signage into any of nine popular languages.
 
     The mobile app also monitors real-time, car-park space availability and you can book a parking space in advance through this app. No small triumph for a major international airport.
 
     Once paired with MyTAG, an RFID-embedded smart luggage tag, the mobile app also lets passengers know when their luggage is at the baggage claim carousel, putting passengers at ease.
 
     Furthermore, last September, the airport launched the e-Security Gates. Using facial recognition technology, the system verifies identity of departing passengers before they enter the restricted area.
 
     Our Airport Authority is now exploring the use of passengers’ facial biometrics as a single token from check-in to boarding.
 
     Technology is humming behind the scenes as well. Hong Kong International Airport’s trolley tracking system employs video analytic technology to manage more than 13 000 trolleys. And it’s also testing the use of an autonomous tractor to enhance efficiency.
 
     That’s only a sampling of how technology is transforming Hong Kong International Airport but that speaks volume of how technology can do us a world of good. Acknowledging that, we are committed to developing Hong Kong into a world-class smart city. Our Smart City Blueprint, published in 2017, includes more than 70 initiatives covering six major areas, namely Smart Mobility, Smart Economy, Smart Environment, Smart People, Smart Living, and of course, Smart Government. Many of the technologies in use at the airport are some key components underpinning Smart Mobility.
 
     I must also highlight that many of these technologies were developed in collaboration with local companies and R&D institutions based in Hong Kong, which brings me to the second focus of today’s seminar – nurturing entrepreneurship.
 
     Entrepreneurs flourish in an enabling environment, one that allows them to focus on what matters: building their business. Hong Kong offers that and a great deal more.
 
     Our unique “one country, two systems” arrangement is supported by an established common law legal system backed by the rule of law and reassuring intellectual property protection. Our financial services sector competes with London and New York for global business. And our universities are world class, with four among the top 100 globally.
 
     You can also count on our low and simple tax regime and sophisticated communications and logistics infrastructure. Add it all up and you know why Hong Kong’s start-up scene is booming.
 
     At last count, more than 2,600 start-ups called Hong Kong home. That’s up 18 per cent over 2017. We are now among the world’s five fastest-growing start-up centres.
 
     Internationally celebrated innovation laboratories and accelerator programmes such as the Accenture FinTech Innovation Lab and the SuperCharger fintech accelerator have also established a presence in Hong Kong.
 
     It helps that our investment promotion agency, Invest Hong Kong, runs the StartmeupHK programme, which encourages innovative and scalable start-ups to look to Hong Kong for their business future.
 
     Not surprisingly, venture-capital investment in our start-ups is soaring. Last year, it reached US$2.3 billion – some 13 times more than that in 2014.
 
     The Hong Kong SAR Government is also a factor, enabling and promoting targeted economic sectors. That certainly includes I&T, a central policy priority.
 
     To encourage more private venture capital funds to invest in Hong Kong start-ups, we have established the US$250 million Innovation and Technology Venture Fund. It invests with private venture capital funds on a matching basis.
 
     Over and above that, in just the past two years, we have committed over US$12 billion to a raft of initiatives and programmes for boosting our I&T sector. They include expanding our focus on infrastructure and R&D, developing talent, supporting I&T companies and institutions and driving re-industrialisation .
 
     At the Hong Kong boundary with the mainland of China, we are now developing the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park on a space some four times the current size of our Science Park, that means over 13 million square feet. It’s expected that the first-batch land parcels will be made available for construction by 2021.
 
     The new Park will take full advantage of its proximity to the supply chain, manufacturing capabilities and technology talent pool across the boundary in Shenzhen.
 
     R&D is also a priority. And we have committed about US$1.2 billion to establish two innovative clusters at our Science Park. Health@InnoHK will target healthcare technology, while AIR@InnoHK will specialise in artificial intelligence and robotics.
 
     The two R&D centres will give Hong Kong an edge – a powerful selling point – in attracting top international universities, research institutions and technology companies.
 
     And to ensure that innovative proposals stand a better chance of winning government contracts, we are introducing a pro-innovation government procurement policy.
 
     There’s more government incentives in our enhanced tax deductions – offering companies deductions of up to 300 per cent for their R&D expenditure.
 
     To ensure a continuing flow of talent, our Technology Talent Admission Scheme , established last year, expedites the admission of individuals with R&D expertise to Hong Kong.
 
     Furthermore, our Talent List system provides fast-track approvals for I&T experts, data scientists and cyber-security specialists, financial technology experts and others with the specialisations we need to realise the boundless opportunities for Hong Kong to seize.
 
     That certainly includes the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a cluster city development embracing Hong Kong, Macao and nine flourishing cities in Pearl River Delta in Guangdong. Together, the Greater Bay Area presents an enormous market, with a population of more than 70 million consumers and a collective GDP of US$1.6 trillion.
 
     The Bay Area’s Outline Development Plan released in February looks to Hong Kong to play a lead role in several sectors, including financial services, trade, transport – and that includes aviation of course – as well as I&T.
 
     Indeed, the Bay Area is expected to rise as an international I&T hub, connecting the region’s upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. And that, ladies and gentlemen, can expand the opportunities for Hong Kong – and the companies that work with us.
 
     On that note of co-operation and boundless promise, I think it’s time for this morning’s panellists – high-profile business and non-governmental players – to give us their considered take on travel, entrepreneurship, I&T and the future of the two world’s great cities: Seattle and Hong Kong.
 
     I wish you all a rewarding seminar and a very enjoyable direct flight to Hong Kong in your future.
 
     Thank you.

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     Regarding media enquiries today (April 9) on the ticketing sales of the “#FOLLOWMi Sammi Cheng World Tour – Hong Kong 2019” concert (Sammi Cheng’s concert) through the URBTIX, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) gave the following response:
 
     The Government has implemented a series of measures to facilitate the orderly and fair sales of tickets through official channels. Before the ticket sales of large-scale or very popular events commence, the URBTIX proactively discusses with organisers on feasible ticketing arrangements that suit the needs of individual programmes. The Government, with the consent and co-operation of organisers, has introduced two measures for very popular events held at the Hong Kong Coliseum (HKC) since the fourth quarter of 2018:
 

1. No counter booking at the URBTIX outlets on the first day or throughout the whole period of ticket sale. Only Internet, mobile app and credit card telephone bookings are available; and
    
2. Ticket collection will be delayed. People who purchased tickets will have to collect their tickets from the 14th day before and up to the day of the respective performances with the same credit card that they used for ticket purchase.
    

      The Government welcomes the organiser of Sammi Cheng’s concert to adopt the above measures, and is pleased to note the organiser has offered a higher proportion of tickets to the public so that more citizens could have chances to purchase tickets through official channels.
 
     After reviewing the proportion of public sale and consignment tickets for paid-admission events at the HKC and the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, the Government has formulated a proposal to lower the ceiling ratio of consignment tickets gradually. To balance the views of the public and the performing industry, the Government announces the new measure of lowering the overall ceiling proportion of consignment tickets from 80 per cent to 70 per cent for events with four or more performances. That means the lower limit of the proportion of tickets for public sale will be increased to 30 per cent. The related measure is planned to be implemented from July 2019, applicable to booking applications received from July 2019 onwards, and not limited to paid admission events using URBTIX for sale of tickets. The Government will continue to encourage event organisers to increase the ratio of public sale tickets so that more tickets of this kind will be available. The LCSD has sent a letter to the Performing Industry Association (Hong Kong) Limited informing the industry of the related proposal and will arrange to meet with industry representatives to brief them the details.
 
     Besides, to ensure a smooth operation of the URBTIX system and prevent online ticket purchases by bots, LCSD has also been enhancing the system functions, such as introducing multi-layered setting and programmes to prevent purchases by bots, increasing the number of servers and the amount of bandwidth to strengthen the system processing ability and improve network traffic. In fact, the URBTIX system has been operating normally and selling tickets for the Sammi Cheng’s concert continuously since the ticket sales started today. Around 70 000 tickets from 13 shows were available for sale today and they were almost sold out by 3pm. Nearly 40 per cent of the tickets were sold in the first hour (10am to 11am) and nearly 90 per cent were sold at 1pm. Online sale of tickets has been smooth in general throughout the day. read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session today (April 9) at the Central Government Offices on the latest situation of the search by the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) for a Register of Electors relating to the 2016 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election:
 
Reporter: Mr Secretary, over the weekend you called this incident unacceptable, so what steps are being taken now in going forward to address the situation? This is the second time electors’ data have been lost in recent years. Do you have confidence in the leadership of the REO?
 
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: As I said, this incident is of course unacceptable so we have taken proactive ways to handle the matter and we will handle it in a very serious manner. So the follow-up actions we are going to do – as I said – the REO has already reported the incident to the Police, and also notified the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. The REO will also notify the affected electors about the incident and issue letters to government departments and organisations which have frequent contact or handling of personal data so that they are aware of the incident. Also, the REO will review the voter registration information of about 8,000 affected electors and if there were unusual changes to their registrations, the REO will take proactive steps to contact the concerned electors, verify the registrations and follow up as appropriate.
 
     The REO will compile and submit a full report to my bureau and also to the Electoral Affairs Commission on the incident. If, arising from the investigation, there are deliberate cover-up or human errors involved, we would act in strict accordance with the established disciplinary mechanism. Apart from that, the Electoral Affairs Commission will also conduct an investigation on the incident and try to locate problems and loopholes related to the electoral arrangements and also the management within the REO, and would suggest improvement measures. We would take forward these various steps earnestly and also in a very serious manner.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the fifth meeting of the third-term Commission on Poverty (CoP) this afternoon (April 9).          &nbs… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (April 9) investigating an additional case of measles infection.
 
     As at 4pm today, one case, which involves a 23-year-old woman, was recorded. The woman with good past health developed fever and rash since April 5. She sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on April 6 and was discharged with home isolation advised. A laboratory test of her respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. She has been in a stable condition. She has reported to have measles vaccination and had no travel history during the incubation period or communicable period.
 
     According to the patient, she did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. The home contacts of the patient have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance.
 
     Upon notification of the case, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. Investigations are ongoing. The public places the patient visited during the communicable period are listed in the appendix.

     “The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Members of the general public who have visited the public places listed in the appendix during the period should observe if they develop relevant symptoms, such as fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes in seven to 21 days (the medical surveillance period). If symptoms arise, they should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals,” a spokesman for the DH said.

     Upon confirmation of the measles outbreak at Hong Kong International Airport, the DH has implemented control measures at the airport including vaccination and blood testing services. A total of 28 persons received measles vaccination at the vaccination stations as at 6pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 8 005. Ninety-nine blood samples have been collected today. The DH will notify the participants individually of the serology results. A hotline (2125 1122) has been set up for public enquiries and operates from 9am to 5.45pm daily. As of 5pm today, the hotline had received a total of 3 006 enquiries.

     From today to Friday (April 9 to 12), the vaccination quota for the measles vaccination station at the airport remains at 500 doses daily. Vaccination for eligible airport staff will be provided to the following target groups:

(1) Born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before, and with evidence of living with infants under 1 year old or living with pregnant women; or

(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG).

     Details of evidence are as follows:

(a) Supporting documents for living with infants under 1 year old: for example birth certificate, discharge summary or vaccination card of the infant

(b) Supporting documents for living with pregnant women: for example, positive pregnancy tests or antenatal follow-up cards of the pregnant women

(c) Supporting documents for laboratory evidence: for example blood results from the DH’s measles serology test or any laboratory within the past 12 months

     The venue and operation hours of the airport vaccination station are as follows:
 

Venue:	Multi-function Room, HKIA Tower (Level 5, Terminal 2)
Hours:	April 9 to 12 10am to 1pm 2pm to 6pm

     As for the blood test service, the DH will continue with the provision of a measles serology test service for airport staff to identify those who need the measles vaccination. From today to Friday (April 9 to 12), the DH will provide blood test service daily to around 100 airport staff who were born in or after 1967, with priority to be given to staff belonging to target group (1).

     The venue and operation hours of the airport blood test station are as follows: 
 

Venue:	South side before the Immigration Hall at Level 3 of Terminal 2 (non-restricted area)
Hours:	April 9 to 12 10am to 1pm 2pm to 6pm

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