Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) supported the participation of Hong Kong films in nine film festivals in Europe in 2018/19, most recently at the CinemAsia Film Festival 2019 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, held from March 5 to 10.  

     Speaking at the closing ceremony of the CinemAsia Film Festival on March 10 (Amsterdam time), the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Chau, said the vibrant atmosphere of Hong Kong, with its Eastern heritage and Western influences, creates an environment that encourages creativity and diversity.  

     Hong Kong films have gained increasing recognition from the international film industry over the years, with young talents on the rise. First-time film director Jun Li’s film “Tracey”, which was screened at the CinemAsia Film Festival 2019, has been nominated in nine categories, including the Best New Director category, in the upcoming 38th Hong Kong Film Awards.   

     Miss Chau remarked that Jessey Tsang’s film “The Lady Improper”, which would be screened that evening in its European premiere, contained a fine performance by Charlene Choi, who has been nominated for the Hong Kong Film Awards in the Best Actress category.  

     “I am delighted that filmmakers behind three Hong Kong films screened in the Festival, Mary Stephen, Jessey Tsang and Jun Li, are able to be here tonight.  Mary Stephen, one of Hong Kong’s most distinguished editors and directors, also gave a masterclass at the Festival,” Miss Chau said, adding that the Festival also screened the Dutch premiere of Stanley Kwan’s “First Night Nerves”.

     The CinemAsia Film Festival 2019 in Amsterdam was the last of nine film festivals supported by HKETO, Brussels in 2018/19. The other festivals were the 2018 Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in Brussels, Belgium; the 5th Dragon Film Festival in Florence, Italy; the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy; the Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic, Spain; the Salento International Film Festival in Tricase, Italy; the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Thessaloniki, Greece; the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival in Sitges, Spain; and the Asian Film Festival Barcelona 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. Apart from supporting Hong Kong films screening in these film festivals, which were well received by European audiences, HKETO, Brussels also hosted networking receptions and/or supported the organisation of exchange sessions or masterclasses in these film festivals to provide valuable opportunities for Hong Kong filmmakers to discuss and exchange filmmaking experience and skills with European filmmakers.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
     
     The Hospital Authority (HA) made the following announcement today (March 11) in response to the acceptance of the HA’s salary adjustment proposal by the representatives of supporting staff:

     The HA welcomes the acceptance of the salary adjustment proposal by the supporting staff representatives. The HA will submit the proposal to the HA Board for deliberation and endorsement before seeking funding support from the Government for implementation on April 1, to retain serving staff and recruit new staff to help relieve front-line workload.

     The HA expresses gratitude to supporting staff for their dedication in taking care of patients and to the staff representatives for supporting the HA’s work in the interest of patients at large. The new salary adjustment proposal is an 8 per cent pay rise across the board for all Patient Care Assistants, Operation Assistants and Executive Assistants (PCAs, OpAs and EAs) covering both new recruits and serving staff. At present, there are about 25,000 PCAs, OpAs and EAs in total working in public hospitals.
      
     The HA will continue to maintain close communication with supporting staff (including Healthcare Assistant) on measures to attract and retain staff. read more

     The Department of Health (DH) today (March 11) endorsed a licensed drug wholesaler, Hind Wing Co Ltd (Hind Wing), to recall four products, involving seven batches, containing losartan from the market as a precautionary measure due t… read more

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) hosted a booth at the BeSt Education Fair in Vienna, Austria, from March 7 to 10 (Vienna time) to inform visitors about the exciting study opportunities that Hong Kong has to offer. The fair was jointly organised by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research and the Austrian Public Employment Service, with around 75 000 participants from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Slovak Republic expected to attend. The Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li, gave a presentation on March 9 (Vienna time) about the unique advantages of studying in Hong Kong and the valuable living and working experience offered through the Working Holiday Scheme between Hong Kong and Austria.

     In his presentation, Mr Li briefed participants on Hong Kong’s acclaimed universities including their scholarship opportunities and other advantages, such as the Talent List of Hong Kong and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, which make immigration into Hong Kong easier for young talents. He also highlighted the outstanding research opportunities available in Hong Kong. In the 2019-20 Budget, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced plans to inject HK$20 billion into the Research Endowment Fund and to set aside a dedicated provision of HK$16 billion for the refurbishment of research and development facilities at universities. Mr Li also pointed to Hong Kong’s role as the region’s innovation and technology centre, and emphasised the importance given to academic freedom in the city. 

     Many of Hong Kong’s high-quality education programmes are taught in English, while the city’s universities adopt international standards in curriculum design as well as quality assurance. Of the 21 local degree-awarding higher education institutions, three are ranked in the world’s top 50 and three in Asia’s top 10 by the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2019. To attract outstanding non-local students to study in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government offers several scholarship opportunities including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship Fund and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme. 

     To experience Hong Kong first-hand, young people from Austria can also make use of the Working Holiday Scheme. Under the Scheme, young people from Austria between the ages of 18 and 30 can stay for up to 12 months in Hong Kong and are allowed to take up short-term employment as well as enrol in study or training courses as an incidental part of their stay, so as to acquire a better understanding of the cultural, economic and social developments of Hong Kong.

     For more details about studying and living in Hong Kong, visit studyinhongkong.edu.hk.

About HKETO Berlin

     HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Austria as well as the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

    

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Tuen Mun District this afternoon (March 11), where he met with members of the Tuen Mun District Council (TMDC) and toured an inclusive playground in the district, as well as calling at T·PARK, the first self-sustaining sludge treatment facility in Hong Kong. The Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, also joined the visit.

     Accompanied by the District Officer (Tuen Mun), Ms Aubrey Fung, Mr Nip first met with the Chairman of the TMDC, Mr Leung Kin-man, and members of the TMDC to exchange views on district and community affairs.

     Mr Nip then visited the inclusive playground in Tuen Mun Park. This playground is the first barrier-free play space for children in Hong Kong incorporating two natural elements, water and sand, in its design. He said he was glad to learn that the facilities and the play components were specially designed to cater for children of different ages, abilities and physical condition, so that they can enjoy the same playing experience and acquire various skills in the course of playing, thereby fostering the balanced development of their body and mind. Parent-child facilities are also available in the inclusive playground, whereby parents and children of different physical abilities can enjoy the fun of playing together, thus enhancing the parent-child relationship.

     Mr Nip said, “Children’s growth and development is one of the priority policy areas of the current-term government. We have spared no effort in providing our children with equal opportunities to learn and grow, and in helping them to bring their talents into full play despite differences in background and ability.” He paid tribute to colleagues of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Architectural Services Department in taking forward this inclusive playground pilot scheme, giving children with different abilities equal opportunities to enjoy the fun of playing in the playground.

     Mr Nip also visited T·PARK and toured its incineration, power generation, desalination and sludge treatment facilities. He was briefed on the sludge incineration technology adopted at T·PARK as well as its waste-to-energy process, and learned more about the concepts of sustainable development behind the park and the operation of its various self-sustaining facilities. Mr Nip was also briefed by colleagues from the Environmental Protection Department on waste recycling in Hong Kong.