Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Professor Bai Chunli, today (November 8) signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing Affiliated Institution by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Hong Kong (MoU) on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the CAS respectively.
      
     Also present at the ceremony were the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Head of the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office, Mrs Betty Fung; and the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Ms Annie Choi.
      
     The MoU confirms that the CAS will establish an affiliated institution in Hong Kong with a view to facilitating its Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health and Institute of Automation to respectively establish their presence in the research clusters on healthcare technologies and on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies to be set up by the HKSAR Government at the Hong Kong Science Park. The institution will also promote transfer and translation of scientific research results, co-ordinate collaboration between the CAS and local universities, and undertake technological education and promotion activities.
      
     In her speech at the MoU signing ceremony, Mrs Lam said that the MoU signing heralded an important new page in the technological collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The establishment of the affiliated institution of the CAS in Hong Kong will take forward the development of Hong Kong’s technological innovation, bringing new opportunities for the innovation and technology (I&T) sectors in the two places. It also serves as a significant landmark in the building of an international I&T hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
      
     “Welcoming the two CAS research institutes’ participation in the two research clusters, the HKSAR Government will continue its publicity and promotion efforts to encourage more top-notch research centres to join the research clusters,” Mrs Lam said.
      
     At the ceremony, Mrs Lam also announced the setting up of the Joint Laboratory Funding Scheme by the University Grants Committee with the provision of one-off grants up to $30 million for the academic year 2018/19 as a research subsidy to joint laboratories approved by the CAS.
      
     The affiliated institution of the CAS in Hong Kong will also serve as the Secretariat of the Greater Bay Area Academician Alliance to be set up in Hong Kong and provide support for its daily operation. The Alliance will help encourage academicians of the CAS and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) based in the Greater Bay Area to actively participate in developing the Area, as well as bringing prominent scientific talent to contribute to the country’s technological advancement.
      
     Prior to the ceremony, Mrs Lam met with Professor Bai at Government House. A dinner was hosted in honour of Professor Bai after the ceremony. Guests included vice-chancellors of universities, academicians of the CAS and the CAE, and representatives of local research and development institutions. read more

     Police today (November 8) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Mong Kok.        Leung Shau-cheung, aged 87, went missing after he left his residence on Argyle Street yes… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital made the following announcement today (November 8):        Four patients (three male … read more

     The landowner of Shaw Studio in Sai Kung, Clear Water Bay Land Company Limited, failed to carry out sewer connection works for discharging sewage from its two sites into public sewers in accordance with the law and was convicted by Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (November 8) for contravening the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO). The landowner was fined $30,000 plus a total daily fine of $33,100, which sum up to a grand total of $63,100.
      
     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) issued statutory notices to the registered owner of the above-mentioned sites in accordance with the Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation in April last year, requiring the landowner to carry out all necessary sewer connection works for discharging the sewage from the two sites into public sewers before April this year. The landowner did not commence the works by the specified deadline. After investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD prosecuted the landowner in accordance with the Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation. As the above violation continues, the EPD has made an application to the court for imposing an additional daily fine. The Shaw Studio in Sai Kung is currently arranging the tender exercise for sewer connection works and they must complete the works as soon as possible.
      
     A spokesman for the EPD said that the Government is gradually expanding the sewerage network to collect sewage from rural areas to government sewage treatment facilities for proper treatment and discharge. It serves to reduce the use of septic tank systems to treat sewage in rural areas and the adverse impact on the inland rivers and inshore waters, so as to improve the water quality. The spokesman reminded property owners or landowners in rural areas that after receiving the statutory notice on sewer connection, they must comply with the specified requirements and complete the connection works within the specified date.
      
     Pursuant to the Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation, anyone who fails to comply with the statutory notice is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A further fine of $5,000 per day will be imposed if the offence continues. read more

     The West Kowloon Mediation Centre (WKMC) had its opening today (November 8) with a Pilot Mediation Scheme launched at the same time. The significant project marks the Government’s commitment to promote the use of mediation and to enhance public awareness of its benefits.

     The WKMC is a unique facility dedicated to mediation. It is located adjacent to the West Kowloon Law Courts Building, which houses the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT). The Pilot Mediation Scheme will be operated at the WKMC by the Joint Mediation Helpline Office (JMHO), an independent co-ordinator appointed by the Government. Jointly founded by eight professional organisations, the JMHO is a non-profit making, charitable institution in Hong Kong.

     Under the Pilot Mediation Scheme, mediation services will be provided to litigants of SCT cases that are suitable for mediation and other suitable cases. Parties to suitable cases will be required to pay a nominal, all-inclusive application fee of $200 each.

     As the independent co-ordinator, the JMHO will be responsible for matching cases with suitable mediators on the WKMC panel of mediators, and for providing all necessary administrative, logistical and other support to the parties.

     Officiating at the opening of the WKMC were the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC; the Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, Mr Justice Johnson Lam; and the Chairman of the JMHO, Mr Antony Man. The swift implementation of the Pilot Mediation Scheme is an important milestone in encouraging the more extensive use of mediation in Hong Kong to resolve disputes. It also shows the Government’s determination to promote the use of mediation as a time- and cost-effective alternative to litigation in resolving disputes. Implementation of the scheme will be subject to review on a regular basis. read more