Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, at the Hong Kong International Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit 2018 today (November 30):
      
Professor Zhang (President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Zhang Xiang), Professor Qiu (President of Tsinghua University, Professor Qiu Yong), Professor Tan (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Tan Tieniu), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
      
     Good morning. I am honoured to join you here at the Hong Kong International Artificial Intelligence Summit 2018.
      
     It is most timely for the University of Hong Kong and Tsinghua University to work together to discuss the future of AI, an important topic for all human beings. I am also pleased to know that the two universities are planning a new co-teaching programme on computer science with AI elements. Such a programme would help nurture more talent and promote closer collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland in the area of AI.
      
     AI is very much under the spotlight in the global arena of innovation and technology today. The impact of AI can now be seen from hotline chatbot to driverless vehicles to AlphaGo. AI has fundamentally changed the way we live, work and communicate.
      
     The major driving force of AI today is big data with data analytics. Big data is made possible by the significant decrease in computer memory pricing, the increase in computing power over the past few decades, and by the advancement in cloud computing and ubiquitous Internet connectivity.
      
     Data analytics, together with AI and big data, can help humans deal more effectively with uncertainty, and make better decisions. More importantly, the adoption of AI and robotics technology releases human capital from difficult, dangerous and dirty jobs, so that humans can focus on better and higher value-added work, thereby driving business growth, increasing productivity, and improving our daily living.
      
     Hong Kong is well positioned to develop AI and transform itself into a regional AI hub. We have one of the world’s best infrastructure, open and efficient market, agile and creative talents, free flow of information, as well as excellent global connectivity, with mobile and broadband penetration rates among the highest in the world.
      
     Moreover, according to Scopus, universities in Hong Kong as a whole ranked number three globally in terms of producing the most highly cited and impactful research on AI.
      
     Industry in Hong Kong has started to develop products and services based on AI, such as computer vision and cloud computing platforms in the areas of facial recognition, large-scale semantic image segmentation and classification. One of our local unicorn start-ups, SenseTime, has been entrusted by the national Ministry of Science and Technology to establish the National Open Innovation Platform for Next Generation Artificial Intelligence on Intelligent Vision, the fifth member of China’s AI national team, following Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent and iFlyTek.
      
     We are also working at full steam to build a research cluster focusing on AI and robotics technologies in the Hong Kong Science Park. We aim to pool together the world’s top scientific institutions and technology enterprises to collaborate with our local universities and research institutions. This cluster will commence operation in the second half of next year.
      
     Last but not least, I am sure our distinguished speakers and guests will further share with us and enlighten us with their insights on AI at the Summit. I wish the Summit today a great success.
      
     Thank you very much.

read more

     The Government gazetted today (November 30) the proposed construction of a covered footbridge at the junction of Sham Mong Road and Hing Wah Street West in Sham Shui Po to provide infrastructure necessary to serve the existing and future developments in the vicinity. 

     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Sham Shui Po Home Affairs Enquiry Centre
G/F,  Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices,
303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon

District Lands Office, Kowloon East and Kowloon West,
10/F, Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building,
250 Shanghai Street, Kowloon

     The gazette notice, scheme, plan and location plan will be available at
www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm.

     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Housing an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Housing Bureau’s drop-in box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettethb@thb.gov.hk.

     A notice of objection should describe the objector’s interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Housing not later than January 29, 2019. read more

     The Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the Labour Department (LD) will launch a wide range of occupational safety and health training courses in the first half of 2019. The courses aim at enhancing the working population’s understanding of the legal requirements and standards stipulated under occupational safety regulations, and their awareness of occupational health.   
 
     The training courses cover a wide range of topics, including:
 

1. Major Safety Regulations related to Industrial Accident Prevention
2. Major Health Regulations related to Industrial Accident Prevention
3. Safety Management Regulation cum Safety Inspection Programme and Accident/Incident Investigation
4. Safety Regulations related to Risk Assessment
5. Major Safety Regulations related to Accident Prevention in Office Work
6. Safety Regulations on Working in times of Inclement Weather and Hot Environment
7. A Brief Introduction to Safety Regulations related to Working on Construction Sites cum a Brief Introduction to Codes of Practice related to Working on Construction Sites
8. Safety Regulations on Working at Height and a Brief Introduction to Safety Regulations related to Electrical Work on Construction Sites cum Codes of Practice on Scaffolds
9. Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear Regulations cum Codes of Practice for Safe Use of Cranes
10. Major Safety Regulations related to Renovation, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition Works
11. Major Safety Regulations related to Working in the Catering Trade
12. Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and Regulation
13. Safety Regulations on Manual Handling Operations
14. Dangerous Substances Regulations
15. Health Hints on the Use of Computer cum More Exercise Smart Work
16. Occupational Stress Workshop
17. First Aid in the Workplace (Including demonstration and practice of bandaging)
18. Strategies for the Prevention of Occupational Diseases cum Work and Healthy Lifestyle

     The courses will mainly be conducted in Cantonese at the LD’s Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre, 13/F, KOLOUR‧Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan. Enrolment is free.

     Application forms are available at the training centre or offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the LD. They can also be downloaded from the department’s website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/form.htm). For enquiry, please call 2940 7057. read more

     The Government proposes to implement full-scale reconstruction of the Pak Kok Pier on Lamma Island to enhance the safety of pier users while boarding and alighting vessels. The extent of the area of foreshore and sea-bed affected is described in a notice published in the Government Gazette today (November 30).

     As the geographical location of the existing pier is prone to strong monsoons and sea swell, which makes it difficult for vessels to berth and causes inconvenience to pier users, the government proposes to reconstruct the Pak Kok Pier within an area of approximately 9 670 square metres of foreshore and sea-bed at the northern part of Lamma Island. The proposed works are scheduled to commence in the second half of 2019 and to be completed in 2021.

     The notice and its related plan are posted near the site. The plan is also available for inspection at:

* Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) (where copies can be purchased on order);

* Islands District Office (20/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong); and

* Lands Department’s website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.

     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and sea-bed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before January 30, 2019. The notice of such objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected. read more

     Following is a reminder of the press releases on statistical data to be issued between December 2018 and February 2019.  The schedules for issuing press releases on statistical data in 2018 and 2019 were provided to the media in September 2017 and September 2018 respectively. No change has been made to the original schedule.
 
December 2018
============

Date                Press Release
—–                ——————

6                      Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for third quarter 2018
 
10                    Quarterly business receipts indices for service industries for third quarter 2018
 
11                    Construction output statistics for third quarter 2018
 
11                    Statistics on trade involving outward processing in the mainland of China for third quarter 2018
 
14                    Index of industrial production and producer price index for the industrial sector for third quarter 2018
 
17                    Gross National Income and external primary income flows for third quarter 2018
 
18                    Unemployment and underemployment statistics for September – November 2018
 
18                    Employment and vacancies statistics for September 2018
 
20                    Consumer Price Index for November 2018
 
20                    Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for October 2018
 
20                    Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic activity for third quarter 2018
 
21                    Balance of Payments and International Investment Position statistics for third quarter 2018
 
27                    External merchandise trade statistics for November 2018
 
28                    Wage and payroll statistics for September 2018
 
January 2019
==========

Date                Press Release
—–                ——————

3                      Retail sales statistics for November 2018
 
17                    Unemployment and underemployment statistics for October – December 2018
 
17                    Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for November 2018
 
18                    Business expectations for first quarter 2019
 
22                    Consumer Price Index for December 2018
 
28                    External merchandise trade statistics for December 2018
 
30                    Retail sales statistics for December 2018
 
February 2019
===========

Date                Press Release
—–                ——————

1                      Restaurant receipts and purchases statistics for fourth quarter 2018
 
19                    Year-end population for 2018
 
19                    Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for December 2018
 
21                    Unemployment and underemployment statistics for November 2018 – January 2019
 
22                    Consumer Price Index for January 2019
 
26                    External merchandise trade statistics for January 2019
 
27                    Gross Domestic Product for fourth quarter 2018 and the whole year of 2018 :
                        data contained in the Budget supporting documents (Note)
 
Note: The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2018 and the whole year of 2018 together with other supporting materials will be released along with the Financial Secretary’s “Budget Speech”. According to the Financial Secretary’s Office, the Budget is scheduled to be delivered on 27 February 2019.  No separate press release on the GDP for the fourth quarter of 2018 and the whole year of 2018 will be issued by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) on that day.
 
     The schedule for regular press releases in the other months of 2019 can be downloaded from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/press_release/index.jsp). read more