The "Hong Kong Maritime Week 2018" (HKMW 2018), a major annual event of the maritime and port industries in Hong Kong, unveiled today (November 18) with the "Hong Kong Maritime Week Orienteering Race 2018". 

     With the overwhelming support received from the industry to the previous two Hong Kong Maritime Weeks, the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board (HKMPB) and the co-organisers, viz. the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, together with their partners, viz. the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Invest Hong Kong, launched the third edition of the HKMW 2018 from November 18 to 24. 

     Officiating at the opening ceremony of the HKMW 2018 today, the Chairman of the HKMPB and Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, said, "Maritime, trading and logistics have all along been the pillar industry of Hong Kong.  As mentioned in the Chief Executive's Policy Address published in October this year, Hong Kong should capitalise on our unique strengths and seize the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.  The Government will, through a package of initiatives including tax concessions and facilitation measures, promote the development of high value-added maritime services such as ship leasing, marine insurance, etc., thereby providing a new development strategy for the Hong Kong maritime industry"

     Mr Chan also mentioned the need to nurture the new generation of maritime talents to continue the good maritime heritage of Hong Kong.  To foster the manpower development of the maritime industry, the Government will inject HK$200 million to the Maritime and Aviation Training Fund to provide students and the in-service practitioners of the maritime and aviation industry with more comprehensive and diversified training incentive schemes and scholarship programmes. 

     HKMW 2018 offers more than 50 activities organised by 60 local and international maritime bodies.   The activities cover eight themes, namely shipping and maritime, maritime law and arbitration, ship finance, marine insurance, ship management, marine technology, port and logistics, and maritime education and career.  Through a series of conferences and seminars, workshops, industry briefings, visits, business networking gatherings, competitions, exhibitions, etc., the international and local industries gather together to promote Hong Kong as the preferred base for operating maritime business and enhance the awareness of general public towards maritime and port industry.

     For more details of HKMW 2018, please visit www.hkmw.hk.

      

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch’s 60th Anniversary presents: Guinness World Records Attempt: Most Nationalities in a Tai Chi Class today (November 18):

     Mr C P Ho (Chairman of International Social Service Hong Kong Branch), Mr Stephen Yau (Chief Executive of International Social Service Hong Kong Branch), Mr Ian Fok (President of Hong Kong Wushu Union), Mr Stephen Ng (Chairman of Wan Chai District Council), Ms Yolanda Ng (elected member of Wan Chai District Council), members of the diplomatic corp, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. I have been many functions in Hong Kong. This is the first ever that I come across 60 nationalities gathered in Wan Chai. This means Hong Kong is truly a cosmpolitan. We are an open society, welcoming any nationality. We believe equalities for everybody, regardless of race, nationality or religion. Hong Kong is truly a great place, a very liveable place for us all.

     I must first of all congratulate the International Social Service Hong Kong (ISS Hong Kong) for organising this event which is truly unique. I am sure that it will make a Guinness World Record today, no question about it. This is also a very auspicious occasion to mark the 60th anniversary of ISS Hong Kong. And today as you all know is Senior Citizen Day, so it is doubly auspicious. We got the Senior Citizen Day in Hong Kong and Tai Chi is very much a pastime of senior citizen when they retired. And today we got 60 nationalities young and old and various spectrum of community, it is truly inclusive and truly meaningful.

     ​Established in 1958, ISS Hong Kong has all along been a valued partner of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in providing support services to generations of new immigrants and ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.I must say that in the last 20 years, I worked very closely with ISS Hong Kong. They are truly my bona fide partner in providing welfare support for the under-privileged and disadvantaged in Hong Kong. It also help enable the diffusion of ethnic minorities and new immigrants merge into the Hong Kong landscape. In addition to serving migrants, it also provides an array of services for families, children, youths and the elderly.

     Currently, the HKSAR Government has commissioned ISS Hong Kong to operate a number of programmes for new arrivals from the Mainland and ethnic minorities. For example, the Home Affairs Department has commissioned ISS Hong Kong to operate a support service centre for ethnic minorities, a mobile information service team at the airport and ambassador schemes for ethnic minority families and youths, as well as an expectation management programmes for prospective migrants from the Mainland. We thank ISS for being a long-standing staunch supporter of the Government in this respect and provide services to over 40 000 new arrivals from the Mainland and 160 000 ethnic minorities each year.

     ​Hong Kong is a multi-cultural city where people from all over the world are welcomed with open arms. Vibrant ethnic minority communities form an integral part of the Hong Kong community. While we may be of different ethnicity, speak different languages or have different traditions, we all call Hong Kong home and work tirelessly to make it a better place to live, work and nurture our future generations.

     ​Given the diverse needs of our ethnic minority communities, the HKSAR Government has set up a Steering Committee on Ethnic Minorities Affairs, chaired by myself as the Chief Secretary, to enhance cross-bureau collaboration and announced a series of new measures to strengthen support for ethnic minorities. To help our ethnic minority groups to integrate into the society, breaking the language barrier is the key to success. To this end, the Education Bureau will provide more funding to schools admitting non-Chinese speaking students to support their learning, particularly the Chinese language. The Labour Department will enhance support for ethnic minority job seekers through a case management approach to help them move up the social ladder. The Social Welfare Department will commission non-governmental organisations like ISS to proactively reach out to the needy and connect them to mainstream welfare services. The Home Affairs Department will enhance the services of its support service centres, including interpretation and translation services, and organise more district-based activities to encourage interaction and exchange between the ethnic minorities and local communities.

     ​I have cited all these examples in order to demonstrate the Government's determination and commitment in creating an equal and caring society in Hong Kong. We also count on the support of District Councils and non-governmental organisations to connect the stakeholders and maintain momentum in the community.

     ​Once again, I would like to thank most warmly the ISS Hong Kong, Hong Kong Wushu Union and Wan Chai District Council for organising today's event. I very much like the idea of this event. Tai Chi emphasise the harmony and balance of yin and yang. Practising Tai Chi helps you de-stress your mind and body. You can feel the peace in mind and free flowing of Qi (energy) in your body. People interaction in a city also shares the same concept. We believe that people of different races and background living in harmony and balance in a city can create an ideal state for healthy and harmonious development.

     ​On this note, I wish all of you an enjoyable day and your families a healthy, happy and harmonious year ahead.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Rhinovirus in a male ward for severe intellectual disability, the spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital made the following update today (November 18):

     One more 56-year-old patient in the ward had presented with respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the patient and the test results were positive to Rhinovirus. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation with stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.

     The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (November 20) to consider two applications for renewal of liquor licence in Kowloon.

     The applications are (not in order of discussion):

A Plus and POINT in Mong Kok

     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend, except during the private session on confidential items.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (November 18).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.