Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Food and Health Bureau announced today (March 1) the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Chinese Medicine Development Fund to advise and make recommendations to the Government on matters relating to the overall administration and operation of the Fund. 
      
     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, said, “The Chief Executive’s 2018 Policy Address announced the establishment of a $500 million dedicated fund. We aim to provide Chinese medicine practitioners and Chinese medicine drug sectors with financial support through the Fund to jointly promote the development of Chinese medicine and enhance the overall standard of the industry, by nurturing talent necessary for the Chinese medicine hospital development and promoting Chinese medicine-related studies and scientific research as well as providing assistance to local Chinese medicine traders in enhancing the quality and standards of production and registration of proprietary Chinese medicines in accordance with statutory requirements. It is also intended to enhance public knowledge and understanding of Chinese medicine.”

     The Committee, for which the Chairman and members are appointed by the Secretary for Food and Health, comprises representatives from the sectors of Chinese medicine practitioners, Chinese medicine drugs, testing and certification, and healthcare, as well as experts, academics and lay persons with rich experience in business management and public administration. The appointments will take effect from March 1, 2019, to February 28, 2021, for a term of two years. The Hong Kong Productivity Council will be serving as the secretariat. 

     Membership of the Committee is as follows:

Chairperson
———–
Mr Douglas So Cheung-tak

Members
———–
Professor Bian Zhaoxiang
Dr Chan Kei-wai
Mr Chan Wing-suen
Ms Anne Chuah Ah-poh
Dr Feng Yibin
Miss Lam Pui-yan
Ms Serena Lau Sze-wan
Mr Lee Kaiping
Dr Liong Ching
Mr Gerry Ma Kwai-yung
Dr Or Ka-hang
Ms Wang Huimin
Mr Wong Ka-on
Professor Justin Wu Che-yuen

Ex-officio Members
——————–
Representative(s) from the Food and Health Bureau
Representative(s) from the Department of Health
Representative(s) from the Hospital Authority
Representative(s) from the Innovation and Technology Commission 

     The Government, together with the Committee, will work closely with the Chinese medicine practitioners and Chinese medicine drug sectors and relevant stakeholders to ensure the Fund effectively serves its purpose of promoting the development of Chinese medicine.
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     The Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications today (March 1) from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade or industrial organisations and research institutes.

     The PASS, with a total allocation of $200 million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong’s professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong’s professional services.

     The maximum grant under the PASS for each approved project is $3 million or 90 per cent of the total eligible project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services is covered by the PASS, including accounting, legal, building and construction, healthcare, information and communications technology, design as well as technical testing and analysis. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome.

     So far, 38 projects have been funded under the PASS, including seminars, forums, workshops, exchange events, exhibitions, and research and studies. Costs directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower costs, venue and set up costs, production and promotion costs, and the project team’s travel and accommodation costs outside Hong Kong, are typically eligible for funding under the scheme. More details about the PASS and the funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk/en/home/index.html.

     The PASS receives applications all year round and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the new round of applications is May 31, 2019.

     A briefing session will be held on March 21, 2019 for organisations interested in applying for the PASS funding. For registration for the briefing session or other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 3655 5418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk. read more

     The Joyful Reading Carnival organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) will be held tomorrow and on Sunday (March 2 and 3) at the Stars Atrium, 1/F, Plaza Hollywood, Diamond Hill, where members of the public, in particular kindergarten and primary school students, are welcome to participate and share the joy of reading in a diversified way.
      
     Through the event, the EDB is bringing together the efforts of the community, business and education sectors and related stakeholders of non-governmental organisations, home-school co-operation parties, professional organisations and government departments to provide a variety of interesting and reading-related games and activities with an aim to encourage parent-child reading and create a fun-filled, enjoyable reading atmosphere.
      
     The two-day Carnival will feature an array of reading-related activities on the stage and in booths, ranging from reading games and storytelling to school performances and meet-the-authors sessions. The venue will be turned into a reading hub with a reading zone in the centre and a display of books on themes such as “Chinese history and culture”, “STEM education”, “Healthy living”, “Moral education” and “Nature and living”. Members of the public will be able to share the joy of reading at ease.
      
     There will also be a line-up of reading experts and authors, including the General Secretary of the Family Development Foundation, Ms Shirley Loo, and artist and writer Christine Cappio Cheung, to talk with the audience about their valuable reading experience and insights.
      
     In addition, the event will showcase a newly produced series of celebrity videos on reading, featuring the Permanent Secretary for Education, Mrs Ingrid Yeung; the Mok Hing Yiu Professor of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Joseph Sung; Ms Loo, who is also a parent-child relationship and parenting educator; former President of the Legislative Council Mr Jasper Tsang; early childhood educator Ms Ponny Shum; the Chairman of the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, Mr Henry Tong; Hong Kong high jump team member Cecilia Yeung; and playwright Chong Mui-ngam. They will discuss aspects of their reading experience and recommend good books to arouse public interest in reading.
      
     Some winning entries of the Joyful Reading Award Scheme will also be screened to recognise students’ and schools’ achievements and efforts in promoting reading.
      
     Members of the public are urged not to miss the chance to share the joy of reading this weekend. More details can be found at the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/curriculum-development/4-key-tasks/reading-to-learn/reading-activities/2019/Joyful-Reading-Carnival.html). read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, March 1, 2019 is 103.2 (up 0.3 against yesterday’s index). read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) today (March 1) reminded Hong Kong residents born in 1985 or 1986 to apply for a new smart identity card in person at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC) on or before March 30. The… read more