The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold the "East Side Stories" community thematic carnival on December 9 (Sunday) from 2.30pm to 5.30pm at Aldrich Bay Park in Sai Wan Ho, featuring a variety of activities including performances, an exhibition and workshops to explore the stories of Eastern District. Members of the public are welcome to join in the fun with free admission.
 
     Stand-up comedian Mary will be the emcee of the carnival, which will feature choral singing, woodwind quintet and a cappella performances, as well as a site-specific dance performance, an interactive music theatre show, pop-up theatre of Eastern District and playback theatre performances.
 
     To enhance the public's knowledge of the history and culture of Eastern District, the carnival will also feature a photo exhibition displaying scenes of old Shau Kei Wan. In addition, recordings of fishing songs will be played for carnival-goers to hear tunes dating back to when Hong Kong was still a fishing village.
 
     Workshops on map drawing, paper modelling, story-telling, 3D origami and an "Open Secrets" corner will also be held for public enjoyment. Admission to all workshops is free with tickets. Tickets will be distributed from 2pm on the event day at the respective workshop booths on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     For enquiries about the carnival, please call 2591 1340 or visit the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/territoryevents/communitythematic/ctc2018_swh.html.

        

     A total of 156 additional cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the third quarter of 2018, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 9 543 since 1984.
 
     Reviewing the latest HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (November 27), the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the CHP, Dr Kenny Chan, said that sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission.
 
     Dr Chan stressed the importance of proper use of condoms in reducing the risk of contracting HIV. Men who have sex with men (MSM), who dominate the epidemic, are strongly urged to use a condom for safer sex.
 
     "HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, about half of those with HIV will progress to AIDS within 10 years. However, early HIV treatment prevents AIDS and significantly prolongs survival," Dr Chan said, urging HIV-positive people to seek specialist care as soon as possible.
 
     Of the 156 HIV cases, 133 males and 23 females, reported in the above quarter, 83 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 29 via heterosexual contact and one via injecting drug use. The routes of transmission of the remaining 43 cases have yet to be determined due to inadequate information.
 
     The new cases were reported by three major sources: public hospitals and clinics (72 cases), private hospitals and clinics (27 cases), and the DH's Social Hygiene Clinics (21 cases). Among all newly reported cases, 111 (71 per cent) have already received HIV specialist services at the DH or the Hospital Authority.
 
     In addition, 34 new cases of AIDS were reported in the above quarter, bringing the total number of reported AIDS cases to 1 959 since 1985. Among the new cases, 53 per cent were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact and 44 per cent were related to heterosexual contact.
 
     In the above quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Pneumocystis pneumonia, a kind of chest infection.
 
     "Members of the public, particularly high-risk groups, should use the condom consistently and properly. Those with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early. People who use drugs should discontinue using drugs or receive methadone treatment instead. If injection of drug is unavoidable, do use disposable needle each and every time, and do not share or re-use needles. " Dr Chan said.
 
     The public can call the DH's AIDS Hotline (2780 2211) for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV antibody test. The public may visit the DH's Virtual AIDS Office (www.aids.gov.hk), the Red Ribbon Centre (www.rrc.gov.hk), the AIDS Hotline website (www.27802211.com), the Gay Men HIV Information website (www.21171069.com) and the Harm Reduction website (www.harmreduction.gov.hk) for more information on HIV/AIDS.

  

     Police today (November 27) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Ngau Tau Kok.

     Wong Wai-keung, aged 56, went missing after he was last seen on Ngau Tau Kok Road on November 13 morning. His family made a report to Police on November 24.
 
     He is about 1.68 metres tall, 64 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short greyish black hair. He was last seen wearing a green long-sleeved shirt, dark shorts and white shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or 9020 2746, or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing held at the University of Hong Kong this morning (November 27):
 
Professor Baltimore (Nobel laureate professor and Summit Organising Committee Chair, Professor David Baltimore), Professor Tsui (President of the Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong, Professor Tsui Lap-chee), Sir John (Vice President of the Royal Society, Sir John Skehel), Dr Dzau (President of the US National Academy of Medicine, Dr Victor Dzau), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. Hong Kong is honoured to be chosen as the place for hosting a prestigious group of scientists and experts for the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing, and I am pleased to welcome you all, especially those coming from the Mainland and overseas. I wish to thank, in particular, Victor Dzau, who first raised the idea of bringing this Summit to Hong Kong with me when we met in February this year. He said this Summit will no doubt put Hong Kong on the map of human genome editing and strengthen the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's determination to press ahead with biomedical research in Hong Kong.
 
     In 1990, hundreds of researchers from around the world joined forces for what became the world's largest biological project: determining the sequence of the human genome, identifying all the genes it contains. That landmark endeavour was declared complete in 2003, setting in motion extraordinary advances in the science of human genome editing. It also set in motion a great raft of concerns that led to the inaugural International Summit on Human Gene Editing in Washington, DC, three years ago.
 
     If the technology has continued to accelerate since that 2015 Summit, so, too, have the concerns about the science, ethics, application and governance of human genome editing that must be addressed. This is I believe a subject that will be thoroughly deliberated during the course of this second Summit. Renowned scientists and researchers, technology experts and policymakers, ethicists, patient advocates and many others are here to connect with one another, to discuss and debate the potential benefits and risks of human genome editing, and to consider how to incorporate the societal views into regulations formulation and policy consideration.
 
     Allow me to say, Hong Kong is an ideal place for holding this Summit, given our goal to become an international innovation and technology hub, an ambition with strong support from the Central Government. And biotechnology, I'm pleased to note, is among the key areas we are focusing on.
 
     Our strategy to develop innovation and technology in Hong Kong comprises key elements such as increase in R&D funding, nurturing of local talents as well as admission of non-local talents, development of a cluster of research centres, opening up of health data for research purposes, etc. Detailed initiatives were outlined in my inaugural Policy Address delivered last October, and a recent one last month. You can find some of that information in the booklet in front of you, called Innovation Hong Kong. In total, some $78 billion, or US$10 billion, has been allocated for innovation and technology development through these two Policy Addresses.
 
     Specifically, on health technology, we will be establishing a research cluster in the Hong Kong Science Park. We will invite world-class scientific research institutions and technology enterprises to join this cluster, to work with our local universities and research institutions on R&D projects. In this connection, we signed earlier this month a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which will establish an affiliated institution in Hong Kong with a view to facilitating its Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health to join the research cluster. In addition, France's Institut Pasteur, which I visited in Paris in June this year, has also indicated interest in joining the cluster in collaboration with the Hong Kong University medical school. I anticipate that the first scientific research institutions to establish laboratories in the health technology cluster will get going within the next year.
 
     Noting that genome medicine has huge potential in screening, diagnosis and precision medicine, I announced in my Policy Address last year the establishment of a steering committee to lead the study on strategies for developing genomic medicine in Hong Kong. The steering committee has put forward a recommendation to conduct a large-scale genome sequencing project in Hong Kong in order to enhance the clinical application of genomic medicine. The project also aims to promote innovative research on genomic medicine to cater for future medical development in Hong Kong through the establishment of genome data of local population, testing infrastructure and talent pool. I have accepted the steering committee's recommendation and promise to provide government funding for the purpose.
 
     Funding aside, good research is only possible with data. I am pleased to announce that the Hong Kong Hospital Authority is preparing a Big Data Analytics Platform. It will allow researchers to access its invaluable clinical data for the purpose of further healthcare-related research. We expect the Platform to be ready before the end of this year.
 
     All these recent developments make the hosting of the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing in Hong Kong so very relevant and timely. We welcome all of you to join us in our work to transform Hong Kong into an international health technology hub and to bring significant benefits to mankind.
 
     Finally, my thanks to the organisers, the Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong, the Royal Society, the US National Academy of Medicine and the US National Academy of Sciences, for bringing this far-reaching Summit to Hong Kong. I wish you all a very rewarding Summit and an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong.
 
     Thank you very much.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (November 28) at 11 am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Travel Industry Bill will resume.  If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council.  After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2018 and the Supplementary Appropriation (2017-2018) Bill will also resume.  If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council.  After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bills and their reports are adopted by the Council, the Bills will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     During the meeting, Ms Chan Hoi-yan returned at the Legislative Council by-election held on November 25, 2018 will take the Legislative Council Oath.
 
     On Members' motions, Mr James To will move two separate proposed resolutions under section 34(2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to repeal the Inland Revenue (Double Taxation Relief and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income) (Republic of India) Order and the Inland Revenue (Double Taxation Relief with respect to Taxes on Income and Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance) (Republic of Finland) Order laid on the table of the Legislative Council on October 10, 2018.
 
     Mrs Regina Ip will move a motion on studying the enactment of an ordinance on regulating subdivided units.  The motion states: "That at present, there are in Hong Kong over 150 000 families and elderly singletons waiting for public rental housing, with an average waiting time of 5.3 years, and quite a number of applicants live in units of flats subdivided into separate units (commonly known as 'subdivided units'); according to the estimate of the Government in 2017, there were about 91 800 households living in subdivided units across the territory; the Chief Executive has undertaken in the newly released Policy Address that the Government will actively facilitate various short-term community initiatives to increase the supply of transitional housing and allow wholesale conversion of industrial buildings for transitional housing; in the light of these new initiatives, it is believed that quite a number of transitional housing units leased out in the form of subdivided units will emerge in Hong Kong, but the existing Buildings Ordinance cannot comprehensively regulate the safety of flat subdivision works; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to study the enactment of an ordinance on regulating subdivided units, the contents of which include:
 
(1) by drawing reference from the Housing Act 2004 of the United Kingdom, establishing a licensing system for regulating the operation of subdivided units, and setting standards for the facilities, number of occupants and area of units, so as to ensure a comfortable and safe living environment for households;
 
(2) requiring the installation of separate water and electricity meters for each subdivided unit to prevent overcharging of water and electricity tariffs by landlords; and
 
(3) regulating the rate of rental increase for subdivided units to prevent the households from being heavily burdened by rental."
 
     Ms Alice Mak, Mr Vincent Cheng, Mr Leung Yiu-chung and Mr Andrew Wan will move separate amendments to Mrs Regina Ip's motion.
 
     Mr Jeremy Tam will move a motion on legislating for the protection of whistle-blowers. The motion states: "That, unless insiders of business organisations or government agencies ('whistle-blowers') divulge that acts endangering public interests have occurred in their organisations or agencies, it is invariably difficult for the public or the media to verify the occurrence of such incidents; many past incidents involving significant public interests in Hong Kong, such as the unlawful sewage discharge by the sewage treatment contractor of Tuen Mun Pillar Point Valley Landfill in contravention of the standard requirements of the Environmental Protection Department, the frequent glitches in the new Air Traffic Control System of the Civil Aviation Department after its launch, and the shortened steel bars of the diaphragm walls at Hung Hom Station of the Shatin to Central Link of the MTR Corporation Limited, would have gone unnoticed if no one had blown the whistle, and the public would not have known the truth; since there is no dedicated legislation in Hong Kong for protecting whistle-blowers and those who stand up for justice are often subjected to reprisals, including various retributive acts such as harassment, discriminatory actions, dismissal and litigation, many insiders are afraid to blow the whistle; since many countries in the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan, have already enacted dedicated legislation to protect whistle-blowers, this Council urges the SAR Government to expeditiously enact a whistle-blowing protection law to protect whistle-blowers and safeguard public interests; the areas of legislation should cover:
 
(1) providing statutory protection to whistle-blowers if the incidents disclosed involve criminal offences, breach of legal obligation, miscarriage of justice, threat to public safety or health, environmental damage, abuse of powers, waste of public money, etc., so as to guard them against any unfair treatment, such as punitive actions like dismissal, pay reduction, demotion, transfer, suspension, financial penalty and denial of learning opportunities;
 
(2) requiring all business organisations and government agencies to formulate their own internal measures on protecting whistle-blowers, including the setting up of a well-defined mechanism respectively for reporting incidents and protecting whistle-blowers, so as to stamp out any possible retributive acts;
 
(3) allowing whistle-blowers to disclose to the public incidents endangering public interests in ways they deem fit, including using the media or the Legislative Council as the channels, in addition to the internal reporting mechanism mentioned above;
 
(4) requiring any persons or organisations responsible for handling the secrets divulged by a whistle-blower to maintain the strictest confidentiality of the whistle-blower's personal information; and
 
(5) allowing whistle-blowers to apply for personal protection measures from the judicial authorities when they or their families feel their personal safety or freedom under threat."
 
     Ms Claudia Mo, Mr Kenneth Leung and Mr Chan Hak-kan will move separate amendments to Mr Jeremy Tam's motion.
 
     Meanwhile, Mr Chung Kwok-pan will move a motion for the adjournment of the Council under Rule 16(4) of the Rules of Procedure.  The motion states: "That this Council do now adjourn for the purpose of debating the following issue: the impact of the recent China-United States relations on Hong Kong's economy."
 
     During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk).  Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours.  Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.