Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Hunan Liaison Unit (HNLU) of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan (WHETO) and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) in Hunan jointly held the “2019 Forum between the Hunan Provincial Government and Representatives of Hong Kong Enterprises” on February 26 in Changsha, providing an opportunity for Hong Kong enterprises in Hunan and government departments to communicate directly and discuss issues relating to the business environment in Hunan, as well as to find new development opportunities. The Director of WHETO, Mr Vincent Fung; the Vice Governor of Hunan Province, Mr He Baoxiang; the Director of the HKMAO in Hunan, Mr Xu Zhengxian, and around 20 representatives from various provincial/municipal departments including the Development and Reform Commission of Hunan Province, the China Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department, the Department of Commerce of Hunan Province, the Hunan Local Taxation Bureau, the Administration for Market Regulation of Hunan Province, the Changsha Customs and the HKMAO of Changsha Municipal People’s Government attended the Forum.
 
     This marked the third consecutive year that the Forum had been held. This year, 20 representatives from major Hong Kong-funded enterprises and chambers of commerce attended the Forum and exchanged views on the above issues with officials from various government departments.
 
     The same evening, the HNLU, the HKMAO in Hunan and the Changsha Municipal People’s Government jointly held the “Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening Up cum Hunan-Hong Kong Spring Reception”, which was attended by some 300 Hong Kong people working, living and studying in Hunan, as well as other guests.
 
     Today (February 28) in Wuhan, the WHETO, the Representative Office in Wuhan of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China – Wuhan (HKCCC-WH) jointly held the “Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening Up cum Spring Reception for Hong Kong Residents in Hubei Province 2019”. Around 200 guests including Mr Fung; the Deputy Director General of the HKMAO in Hubei, Mr Zhang Lianghua; the Deputy Director General of the HKMAO in Wuhan, Mr Yu Feng; the President of the HKCCC-WH, Mr Tse Chun-ming; the Central China Director of the HKTDC, Mr Zhou Yilei, and Hong Kong people doing business, working and studying in Hubei attended the event.
 
     Speaking at the event, Mr Fung, said that the year 2018/19 had special meaning as it marked the 40th anniversary China’s reform and opening up; also the Central Government introduced various facilitation measures for Hong Kong people, such as eligible Hong Kong people residing in the Mainland can now apply for a Home Residence Permit; and it is also a fruitful year for infrastructural development in Hong Kong, such as the opening of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Looking forward, he said that there is further good news for Hong Kong such as the gradual development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the 2019-20 Budget initiatives which will benefit the public. The WHETO will continue to participate in and organise various activities to deepen exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Hubei, he added.
 
     During the receptions in Changsha and Wuhan, Mr Fung, spoke with representatives of the respective provincial and municipal governments of Hunan and Hubei. He also talked with Hong Kong people who live, study and operate businesses in Hunan and Hubei to learn more about their experiences there and the latest developments in these provinces.

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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:      The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene conducted a visit to the proposed site for the Agricultural Park (Agri-… read more

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) held a reception in Medan, Indonesia on February 26 (Medan  time) and Surabaya, Indonesia tonight (February 28, Surabaya time), to celebrate the Chinese New Year … read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority Board (HA) Administrative and Operational Meeting discussed the Government Budget 2019-20 today (February 28). The HA Board welcomed the government’s increased financial provision to HA as well as the additional resources allocated for staff retention measures. Among the $68.8 billion recurrent financial provision, $720 million will be utililised in various staff retention measures.
 
     “We are thankful to the Government for helping us retain staff. HA will utilise this additional funding prudently. We have already formulated various staff retention measures. The measures will be implemented after the required funding process is completed,” the HA Chairman, Professor John Leong said.
 
     HA proposed the staff retention measures as follows:
 

• To increase the Fixed Rate Honorarium (FRH) for Doctors to boost staff morale. Around 4,800 doctors are eligible;
• To upgrade Advanced Practice Nurse posts to enhance night shift supervision and senior to junior ratio;
• To encourage nursing professional development, an increment will be granted to nurses who have attained specialty qualification;
• To increase the number of promotional posts for pharmacists so that the senior to junior ratio can be improved;
• To recruit more ward executive assistants to alleviate clerical works of healthcare workers;
• To reduce attrition, salary of supporting staff will be increased. Around 16,000 supporting staff will be benefited;
• Continuation of the Special Retired and Rehire Scheme to attract more retired healthcare workers to rejoin public hospitals and help train younger healthcare workers.

     “We propose to implement the measures as early as practicable after the Legislative Council Finance Committee has approved the required funding. The HA Board also approved in principle effecting enhancements on supporting staff’s salary and doctors’ FRH from April 1 this year,” HA Chief Executive, Dr Leung Pak-yin said.
 
     HA Board approved the abovementioned staff retention measures in principle. Detailed implementation plans will be deliberated by respective functional committees.
 
     Apart from staff retention measures, the Government also allocated additional funding to support HA to further enhancing Special Honorarium Scheme in the coming service surge period.
 
     Professor Leong expressed gratitude to all staff again for their commitment to serve patients, amid the manpower shortfall. read more

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and Zuni Icosahedron in Bangkok today (February 28):
 
Pawit (Director of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Mr Pawit Mahasarinand ), Danny (Creator and Curator of Tian Tian Xiang Shang and Co-Artistic Director of Zuni Icosahedron, Mr Danny Yung), ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon.  It’s a great pleasure to be here today to celebrate with you the launch of a year-long collaboration between Hong Kong’s Zuni Icosahedron and the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC).
 
     It is a remarkably good fit, connecting Zuni, one of Hong Kong’s major performing arts groups since its founding in 1982, and the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Bangkok’s stunning centre for contemporary arts and culture.  I’m told that more than 1.7 million people visited the Centre in 2017 or an average of 5,000 a day.
 
     Given the Centre’s international renown and its growing role in Thai arts and culture, I’m confident that this inspired collaboration between Hong Kong and Thailand will be a memorable one – connecting artists and cultural communities, creating lasting bonds, and helping us all excel.
 
     While it is our first collaboration between Zuni and the BACC, Zuni has a long and successful history of international cultural exchange and co-operation.  Its Tian Tian Xiang Shang exhibition has been showcased at cultural festivals and public spaces around the world, from Singapore, Shanghai, Toronto to Tokyo, Mexico City, Milan, Washington D.C. and many other global cities.  Indeed, more than two million people have enjoyed Tian Tian exhibitions and the multicultural dialogue they stimulate.
 
     The Bangkok Tian Tian exhibition will begin outside at the expansive piazza, with the inclusion there of two Tian Tian sculptures, each six metres high.  Inside, you’ll find 100 Tian Tian figurines created by artists from Hong Kong and Thailand.  And I’m told that many of these will be created during the exhibition period by the visiting members of the public, children included. I am sure our Thai friends will enjoy this exhibition.
 
     In the coming year, this welcome co-operation will feature the performing arts programme “One Table Two Chairs” and the visual arts exhibition “Stage is Cage/Cage is Stage,” as well as a Belt and Road Cultural Forum and an ASEAN Cultural Think Tank research programme.  Performing arts’ workshops and artist talks will also be featured.
 
     Cultural cooperation, of course, has long been a hallmark of Hong Kong-Thai relations.  Indeed, Hong Kong artists participated in the inaugural Thailand Biennale, a four-month international showcase of contemporary art set outdoors amid the sublime scenery of Krabi province.  That exhibition ends today.
 
     And it was one year ago today that Thailand and Hong Kong inked a MoU on Cultural Co-operation. The agreement was signed by Thailand’s Minister of Culture and our Secretary for Home Affairs here in Thailand.  On that occasion, our team brought nine talented young Hong Kong musicians, who staged a well-attended concert at the Chinese Culture Centre.
 
     A year earlier, in March 2017, the Thai Minister of Culture visited Hong Kong, touring some of our cultural facilities, including the West Kowloon Cultural District, one of the world’s biggest cultural projects.  I’m pleased to say that, since the Minister’s visit, the Cultural District has come a long good way.  In January this year, the Xiqu Centre was officially opened.  Dedicated to Chinese opera, it’s the first major performing arts centre to open in West Kowloon.  It will be followed, later this year, by Art Park and the Freespace outdoor performance venue.  In 2020, West Kowloon’s M+ Museum, with its spotlight on visual arts of all kinds, is scheduled to open.  And in 2022, the Hong Kong Palace Museum will open its doors, bring to its visitors artefacts of Chinese art and culture from the imperial collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing.
 
     In short, ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong’s art and cultural scene is blooming.  There is a lot of potential for Hong Kong and Thailand to strengthen our close ties in art and culture, and I am sure that is exactly what we are going to do with your support.
 
     I’m grateful to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and Zuni for this inspired collaboration, for helping Thailand and Hong Kong find creative new ways to come together, to connect and excel. I look forward to many more pleasant surprises from our collaboration with Thailand. I wish this collaboration every success.  Thank you very much.
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