The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 is 105.6 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     Police today (October 24) appealed to the public for information on a foreign man who went missing in Kwai Chung.

     Nichols Frank Peter, aged 75, went missing after he left his residence on Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung, yesterday (October 23) morning. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.75 metres tall, 90 kilograms in weight and of fat build. He has a round face with white complexion and grey-white short curved hair. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved collared T-shirt, green long trousers and blue sports 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 New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 6510 4630, or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     â€‹Following is a question by Hon Lam Cheuk-ting and a reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, in the Legislative Council today (October 24):

Question:

     It has been reported that the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) earlier selected swimmers to represent Hong Kong to participate in the 18th Asian Games. Two swimmers nominated by the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association (HKASA) to participate in three events were not selected and their appeals were also dismissed. On the contrary, three other swimmers with inferior results were selected to participate in the competitions, and it was reported that the father of one of the selected swimmers was a member of the Executive Committee of HKASA and a director of two big swimming clubs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) if it knows, in respect of the swimmers selected to represent Hong Kong to participate in 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke and 100m breaststroke events at the Asian Games, whether the best results they had obtained in the relevant events were better than those of the unsuccessful nominees; if their results were not better, why they were selected;

(2) whether it knows SF&OC's justifications for its dismissal of the aforesaid appeals and the details of the appeal system in question; and

(3) given that those swimming clubs which have trainees selected for international competitions will be accorded priority by HKASA in the allocation of swimming lanes at public swimming pools, and such clubs can therefore secure the more sought-after swimming lanes and time slots, thereby admitting more trainees and earning more income, whether the Government knows what measures SF&OC has adopted to prevent role conflicts and transfer of benefits in the selection of swimmers to participate in international competitions?

Reply:

President,

     The Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) is a member of the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia. It is responsible for selecting the Hong Kong Delegation (the Delegation) to compete in major international multi-sport events, including the 2018 Asian Games. For each of the 40 sports in the 2018 Asian Games, the related "national sports association" (NSA) nominated athletes for inclusion in the Delegation based on its established nomination criteria. These nominations were then submitted to the Selection Committee of the SF&OC for consideration with the established selection criteria. Based on the information provided by the SF&OC, my reply to Hon Lam Cheuk-ting's question on the selection of swimmers is as follows:

(1) There were a total of 34 men's and women's individual swimming events and seven relay swimming events at the 2018 Asian Games. All athletes who competed in these events were nominated by the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association (HKASA). In general, the HKASA would nominate the two fastest swimming athletes based on their results in recent years for the SF&OC's consideration. 

     The Selection Committee of the SF&OC held its meeting on April 24, 2018 to consider the HKASA's nominations of 37 swimming athletes based on the SF&OC's established selection criteria. In the light of the gaps between local and international levels of performance in certain swimming events, the SF&OC had to give consideration to the athletes' performances in major international competitions in addition to their rankings in Hong Kong. The SF&OC had accordingly informed all NSAs, including the HKASA, in March 2018 that the athletes' attainment of the specified levels of performance, i.e. top one-third ranking in related events, at the specified major international competitions (note 1), for example, the Olympic Games, Asian Games, World Championships and Asian Championships would be a major factor for selection. In other words, a swimming athlete nominated by the HKASA but without a top ranking result in major international competitions would not be selected as part of the Delegation. Apart from the athletes' results in recent years, the Selection Committee would also take into account the HKASA's preparation plan for the Asian Games, including the training and competitions of swimming athletes, in an overall assessment.   

     After detailed discussion, the Selection Committee accepted the nominations of 33 swimming athletes and selected them as part of the Delegation. The nominations of the remaining four swimming athletes were rejected because their best results could not meet the selection criteria of the SF&OC. As a result, some events such as men's 50 metres butterfly and men's 100 metres breaststroke were left with no swimming athletes selected; while some other events such as men's 50 metres backstroke were left with only one swimming athlete selected.

     According to the rules promulgated for the 2018 Asian Games by the International Swimming Federation, Hong Kong was allowed to send a maximum of two athletes to compete in each individual swimming event. For swimming events with no or only one athlete selected, the Head Coach of the Hong Kong Swimming Representative Team would, subject to the competition schedule and the athletes' participation in relay events, assign athletes, who had been selected to be part of the Delegation on the basis of results attained in other swimming events, to compete in these swimming events. In such a scenario, the athlete assigned to compete in a swimming event might not have the fastest result among all swimming athletes, as some other athletes might have a faster result in the same swimming event but still failed to secure selection to be part of the Delegation because the result did not meet the selection criteria of the SF&OC.  

(2) In accordance with the selection mechanism of the SF&OC, if an NSA is dissatisfied with the decisions of the Selection Committee, it may provide supplementary information and request for a review by the Selection Committee. If an NSA is dissatisfied with the result of the review, it may again submit supplementary information and request for a further review by the Selection Committee. There is no limit on the number of rounds of review requested.  If the NSA is dissatisfied with the result of a review, it may also elect to file an appeal to the Appeal Panel of the SF&OC.

     According to information provided by the SF&OC, the HKASA received the selection results of the Selection Committee on swimming athletes on May 17, 2018. The HKASA provided supplementary information and requested for a review by the Selection Committee on the nominations of three swimming athletes on May 29. The SF&OC informed the HKASA on June 19 that the Selection Committee maintained its original decision. This was because the supplementary information provided could not meet the selection criteria. The HKASA did not file an appeal on the results of the review.

(3) According to information provided by the HKASA, it adopts an annual accumulative scoring system to determine the priority to be given to its affiliated clubs when recommending them to apply to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) for use of swimming lanes in main pools and sessions allocated to it under the Central Lane Allocation Scheme (the Scheme). Under the scoring system, the score of each affiliated club depends on a number of factors, including the history of the club, number of registered members, number of members participated in competitions and their achievements, whether its members are selected as the HKASA's training team members, whether its members are selected to join the Delegation, whether its members are record-breakers or record-holders, and its members' rankings in Open Water Swimming or other swimming competitions. In other words, whether club members are selected to be part of the Delegation is only one of the factors for earning points under the scoring system. Affiliated clubs which are recommended for taking up the swimming lanes allocated to the HKASA under the Scheme must be non-profit-making in nature. All proceeds from the activities must be used for the purpose of the same activity. Any surplus generated from these activities can only be used by the affiliated club concerned for development of the sport. Income or surplus from these activities are not allowed to be directly or indirectly channelled to any member of the affiliated club concerned or any other organisations or persons.

     A mechanism for preventing conflicts of interests is in place under the selection process of the SF&OC. The relevant requirements to the members of the Selection Committee include declaration of interests in writing prior to the selection, the need to withdraw from the selection or refrain from taking part in the discussion of the related events, and prohibition from voting. For example, if the Selection Committee were to discuss nominations by an NSA, of which the Selection Committee Chairman is a committee member, the Chairman is required to withdraw from that part of the meeting, and the Vice Chairman should be asked to chair the discussion and resolution of the selection; or if the Selection Committee were to discuss nominations by an NSA, of which a Selection Committee member is a committee member, the member concerned should only take part in the discussion in the capacity of a representative of the NSA and is not allowed to vote. According to information provided by the SF&OC, the Selection Committee followed the mechanism for preventing conflicts of interests at its discussion of nominations by the HKASA. Thank you, President.  

Note 1: The specified major international competitions in the selection criteria included the 2016 Olympic Games, the 2014 to 2018 World Championship recognised by the International Federation, the 2014 Asian Games, the 2014 to 2018 Asian Championship recognised by the Asian Federation, the 2017 National Games, the 2017 World Games, the 2017 Universiade, the 2017 Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games and the 2016 Asian Beach Games.

     Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Regina Ip and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (October 24):

Question:

     In January 2009, the Education Bureau (EDB) issued a circular to schools on the amendments to the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 480), urging schools to adopt reasonably practicable measures, including developing a school policy (in written form) to eliminate sexual harassment as well as setting up a mechanism for handling sexual harassment complaints, and encouraging schools to make reference to the Framework for Sexual Harassment Policies in Schools prepared by the Equal Opportunities Commission. Moreover, the EDB has issued and updates from time to time the circulars to schools on the handling and prevention by schools of cases of students being sexually abused. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the current guidelines issued by the EDB on handling and preventing sexual harassment in schools does not cover the handling of complaints about staff members being sexually harassed, whether the EDB will consider reviewing and updating the relevant guidelines to ensure that all individuals in schools (including all students and staff members) are able to study or work in a safe environment which is free from sexual harassment; if the EDB will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) given that the EDB leaves it for the schools to develop their own mechanism for handling sexual harassment complaints, of the measures put in place by the EDB to ensure that schools investigate and handle sexual harassment complaints in a fair manner in accordance with their school-based policy on preventing sexual harassment; and

(3) of the number of reports received by the EDB in the past five years on mishandling by schools or school sponsoring bodies of sexual harassment complaints in schools; the procedure adopted by the EDB for dealing with such cases, as well as the relevant investigation outcome and follow-up actions?
 
Reply:

President,

     The Education Bureau (EDB) has all along been committed to assisting schools in creating a safe and sexual-harassment-free environment for staff members to work and students to study. My reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Mrs Regina Ip about sexual harassment in schools is as follows:

(1) The EDB has been adopting various measures, by means of circulars, training courses for principals and briefing sessions for staff members, etc., to request schools to establish a sexually hostile-free environment in schools. The EDB has pointed out clearly in the relevant circular that schools have the responsibility to ensure that all individuals, including students and staff members, are able to study or work in a safe and sexually hostile-free environment. Schools should also take reasonably practicable measures, including developing a school policy (in written form) to eliminate sexual harassment, raising the understanding and awareness of both staff and students about sexual harassment and setting up a relevant mechanism to handle sexual harassment complaints, including complaints about staff members being sexually harassed. Besides, in collaboration with the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), the EDB has also provided schools with clear guidelines on the handling of sexual harassment complaints, which are updated in a timely manner as and when necessary. Drawn up by the EOC in 2009, the Framework for Sexual Harassment Policies in Schools (the Framework), which was updated and uploaded onto the EDB webpage on Prevention of Sexual Harassment in Schools in July and November 2013, sets out clearly the principles, mechanism and timeframe, etc., for handling sexual harassment complaints in schools. The EDB has also made available on the webpage clear guidelines about the procedures and points to note for handling such complaints by schools. These guidelines have all along been applicable to handling complaints about staff members being sexually harassed. The EDB will maintain communication with the EOC, review the guidelines in the Framework when necessary and provide assistance to schools as needed.

(2) Under the spirit of school-based management, the Education Ordinance has entrusted the School Management Committees/Incorporated Management Committees with the power and responsibility to manage schools. Therefore, schools should collaborate with their school sponsoring bodies (SSBs) to formulate school-based mechanisms and procedures for handling school affairs, including the handling of school-related complaints. If a complainant considers his/her sexual harassment case is not properly handled by the school or SSB concerned, he/she may lodge a complaint with or seek advice from the EOC directly, or seek assistance from the respective District School Development Section of the EDB. After receiving the complaint, the EDB will, based on the established mechanism and taking into account factors such as the subject of the complaint and the conflict of interest/roles, etc., decide the appropriate follow-up procedures. If the case can be handled by staff of a higher rank in school or designated staff of SSB/ task force, the EDB will refer the case to the school or SSB concerned for further action according to its school-based mechanism. Under special circumstances, for example, a complaint of a serious nature or involving serious mismanagement by the school, the EDB will intervene and conduct investigation on whether the school's Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy is in order and whether the school has properly handled the suspected sexual harassment case.

(3) Upon receipt of reports on suspected improper handling of sexual harassment complaints by schools, the EDB will follow them up according to the established mechanism as set out in part 2 above. Regarding substantiated cases, depending on the actual circumstances and the severity of individual cases, the EDB will provide appropriate advice or issue warning letters to the school management, demanding the schools concerned to revisit their complaint handling processes and procedures to ensure that the complaints could be handled in a fair and just manner. In the past five years from 2013 to 2017, the EDB received a total of 12 such reports, of which eight were found not substantiated, one substantiated and one partially substantiated after investigation, while two are still under investigation. The two schools involved in the substantiated cases have revisited their handling processes and procedures in handling complaints relating to sexual harassment in schools according to the advice of the EDB.

     Following is a question by the Hon Jimmy Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, in the Legislative Council today (October 24):
 
Question:

     Some members of the innovation and technology (I&T) industry have relayed to me that although the Government has been actively promoting re-industrialisation and I&T development in recent years, the collaborative measures in areas such as providing relevant talents and supporting the industry are inadequate.  Apart from attracting overseas scientific research talents to work in Hong Kong, the Government also needs to actively nurture local scientific research talents, so as to support the long-term development of the I&T industry.  At the same time, the Government should provide I&T start-ups with application scenarios, or even take the lead in giving priority to adopting the research and development (R&D) results of local I&T enterprises, as "it sounds weird if our own Government does not support 'Made in Hong Kong' products".  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of scientific research talents engaged in the I&T industry in Hong Kong in each of the past three years, with a breakdown of the figures by overseas talents and local ones;
 
(2) of the number of occasions in which government departments procured, in each of the past three years, I&T products and services researched and developed locally, and the types of products and services involved (set out in a table);
 
(3) of the number of local I&T start-ups closed down in each of the past three years; given that some I&T start-ups have closed down due to the failure to identify application opportunities for their R&D results, whether the Government made investments and provided manpower support in the past three years to improve the business environment of I&T start-ups; and
 
(4) whether the Government will enhance its policies on and procedure for procuring I&T products and services, and give priority to adopting the R&D results of local I&T enterprises; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Having consulted relevant Government bureaux and departments, our reply to the four parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) According to the statistics by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the total number of personnel (in full-time equivalent) engaging in the innovation and technology (I&T) industry in Hong Kong were 33 660, 35 070 and 35 820 in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively.  However, the C&SD does not keep information on whether the personnel were local or overseas personnel.
 
(2) According to the information provided by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), the number of procurement cases concerning goods and services under tendering procedures by the Government in the past three years is as follows:
 

 
     The Government does not keep statistics on the number of procurement cases of I&T goods and services researched and developed locally. 
 
(3) The Government does not keep statistics on the number of I&T start-ups that have closed down.  Nevertheless, the Government is committed to providing I&T start-ups with comprehensive support and opportunities for trying out its research and development (R&D) outcomes.  The Public Sector Trial Scheme under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) subsidises R&D projects funded by the ITF and incubatees/graduate tenants of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and the Cyberport (referred collectively as eligible projects and enterprises thereafter) for the production of prototypes or samples, as well as conducting trials in the public sector.  As at end-August 2018, 185 projects have been supported with a funding amount of about $300 million involving 270 participating organisations.
 
     As for manpower support, the Internship Programme under the ITF subsidises eligible projects and enterprises to hire local graduates as R&D interns, thereby nurturing more I&T talent.  As at end-August 2018, the programme has subsidised over 3 500 interns with a funding amount of over $800 million.  Furthermore, we rolled out the Postdoctoral Hub programme in August 2018 to provide funding support to eligible projects and enterprises to recruit postdoctoral talent for R&D work.  As at mid-October 2018, the programme has supported over 160 postdoctoral talent with a funding amount of about $75 million.
 
     Besides, the HKSTPC's incubation programmes provide subsidised office space and shared facilities, financial aid package, technical and management assistance, marketing and development assistance, and access to angel investors and venture capitalists through investment matching events to start-ups in the Hong Kong Science Park focusing on new technologies (such as electronics, material and precision engineering etc.), biotechnology, and web and smartphone-based technology.  As at end-September 2018, 260 incubatees are participating in the incubation programmes, and more than 570 companies have graduated, of which more than 75% of them are still in business.
 
     On the other hand, the Cyberport has also launched an incubation programme to provide information and communication technology start-ups with financial, technical and business consultation support to help them turn creative ideas into concrete undertakings or products.  In the past few years, the Cyberport has been expanding its incubation programme.  For instance, the annual quota has been doubled from 50 to 100, new clusters such as financial technology and e-commerce have been formed and the financial subsidy has been increased from $330,000 to $500,000.  As at end-September 2018, a total of 192 companies are participating in the incubation programme, and 314 companies have graduated, of which more than 80% are still in business.
 
     To facilitate start-ups and incubation graduates in commercialising their R&D results and identifying opportunities for market adoption, the HKSTPC, in collaboration with industry leaders, launched the Global Acceleration Academy in April 2017.  The HKSTPC will organise workshops for start-ups participating in the programme and, together with the industry leaders, offer advice to applicants for developing products that serve the needs of the industry under a specific theme.  Their end-products will be showcased to potential business partners and investors.  The HKSTPC has hosted 11 cohorts on various themes such as digital health, logistics technology, artificial intelligence, smart mall, robotics, etc. supporting over 70 start-ups.
 
     In respect of venture funding, the Government has launched the $2 billion Innovation and Technology Venture Fund to encourage venture capital (VC) funds' investments in local I&T start-ups.  The Government will co-invest with the six VC funds selected as Co-investment Partners in local I&T start-ups at an approximately 1:2 ratio.  The HKSTPC also launched the Corporate Venture Fund in 2015 to co-invest with angel investors or VC funds on a matching basis in tenants, current incubatees and graduated incubatees of the Hong Kong Science Park.  The initial fund of $50 million allocated in 2015 has been entirely committed in nine projects, attracting some $673 million from co-investors. The Cyberport set up the $200 million Cyberport Macro Fund in 2016 to provide seed to Series A stage funding to the Cyberport's start-ups.  Five applications have been approved so far.
 
     In addition, the Legislative Council Finance Committee approved in July 2018 the funding proposal of the Government to allocate $10 billion to the HKSTPC and $300 million to the Cyberport, part of which will be used for enhancing support for their tenants and incubatees.  The HKSTPC and the Cyberport are drawing up relevant implementation details.  Relevant initiatives will be launched shortly by phases.
 
(4) The Chief Executive announced in the 2018 Policy Address that the Government will introduce a pro-innovation government procurement policy in April next year.  By raising the technical weighting in tender assessment, tenders with innovative suggestions will stand a better chance of winning the contracts.  The Government will also enhance exchange with the industry and dissemination of procurement information to facilitate the participation of I&T start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in government procurement.  The FSTB is working out the details to assist procuring departments in implementing the new procurement policy.
 
     With the Government's new procurement policy, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) will establish a Smart Government Innovation Lab in 2019 to strengthen coordination and promotion of procurement by Government departments as well as the use of I&T products and solutions from local start-ups and SMEs.  The OGCIO will invite the local industry to submit information technology solutions and product suggestions for different public services, arrange trials and technology testing for appropriate proposals in collaboration with concerned departments, as well as provide technical, financial and venue support, thereby creating more business opportunities for local start-ups and SMEs.