Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, at the press conference on innovation and technology initiatives in the Chief Executive’s 2018 Policy Address today (October 11):
      
Dear media friends,
      
     Welcome to the press conference today.  I will briefly introduce the relevant measures outlined in the Policy Address.
      
Expediting re-industrialisation
      
     To further expedite re-industrialisation, we will launch a $2 billion Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme to subsidise manufacturers, on a matching basis, to set up smart production lines in Hong Kong.  Moreover, we suggest an additional allocation of $2 billion to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) for building manufacturing facilities required by dedicated advanced manufacturing sectors in the industrial estates.

Promoting R&D and Technology Transfer
      
     To promote R&D, technology transfer and realisation of R&D findings, we will double the funding ceiling for Technology Transfer Offices of dedicated universities, Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities, State Key Laboratories and Hong Kong branches of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre, thereby unleashing our strengths in scientific research.
      
Smart City
      
     We are actively taking forward three digital infrastructure projects of smart city development, including the provision of electronic identity (eID) for all Hong Kong residents free of charge from mid-2020.  Last month, we have firmed up a new policy and implementation measures on opening up government data, under which all Government departments are required to formulate and publish their annual open data plans by end of this year, in order to open up more government data and enhance the transparency of open data process.
      
     On Smart Government, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) will set up the Smart Government Innovation Lab in 2019 to speed up the use of information technology (IT) to improve public services.  It will invite the industry to submit IT proposals and product suggestions for various public services, and facilitate the trials and technology testing of suitable solutions. 
      
     In addition, we plan to introduce artificial intelligence and chatbot functions in the GovHK portal in 2019 to facilitate the public to search and use e-Government services, while chatbot functions will also be introduced to the 1823 service.  With the full adoption of eID upon its implementation, it is expected that by mid-2021, the general public will be able to use eID in about 100 e-Government services via their computers or smartphones, and submit almost all 3 000 government forms electronically.
      
     Since the rollout of TechConnect (Block Vote) in mid-2017, we have supported over 40 technology projects proposed by various Government departments.  We will allocate an additional $500 million to the Block Vote to further drive adoption of technology by Government departments in improving public services and operational efficiency.
      
     Apart from using technology within the government, we also wish to create a fervid I&T atmosphere in the community.  $500 million will be allocated for organising City I&T Grand Challenge in the next five years.  We will openly invite various sectors to put forward I&T solutions to tackle issues closely related to our daily lives.  In addition to prize money, solutions selected will have the opportunity to be tried out in suitable public organisations for application and refinement.
      
International I&T Hub
      
     We have been actively participating in the work of developing the Greater Bay Area into an international I&T hub.  Our work has borne some fruits.  For example, new policy has been announced to allow the cross-boundary remittance of science and technology funding of the Central Government; an agreement has also been signed between the national Ministry of Science and Technology and Hong Kong SAR’s Innovation and Technology Bureau last month to deepen I&T co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland; the Chinese Academy of Sciences will establish presence in Hong Kong; and a Greater Bay Area academician alliance will soon be established in the city.  With full national support, unprecedented opportunities for I&T development are ahead.
      
     The new measures announced in this year’s Policy Address will bring more momentum to I&T development of Hong Kong, and also inspire and power our talents to move ahead.  We will work closely with the industry and other stakeholders in taking forward the initiatives.  I call upon everyone to support Government’s efforts to promote innovation and technology.  Thank you.

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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 11) called on the public to stop consuming loose-pack boletes sold at a shop in Sheung Wan as the mushrooms concerned were suspected to contain inedible or poisonous species of mushrooms.

     A CFS spokesman said, “The CFS is following up on a food poisoning case suspected to have been caused by consuming boletus, which was referred earlier by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health. According to an assessment by a mycologist, the mushroom dish concerned contained inedible or poisonous species of mushrooms. Follow-up investigation showed that the mushrooms concerned came from a shop in Sheung Wan and were already sold out. The shop has initiated a recall according to the CFS’ instructions. Members of the public may call the shop at 2517 7333 for enquiries during office hours.”

     The CFS appealed to members of the public who had purchased boletes from the abovementioned shop earlier not to consume them. If symptoms develop after consuming the food, they should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     Mushroom poisoning is generally acute and manifested by a variety of symptoms, depending on the species and amount consumed. The incubation period is usually short. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are the commonest symptoms. Sometimes distinguishing features such as extreme thirst, profuse sweating, hallucination, coma and other neurological symptoms may occur.

     Consumers are advised to heed the following points when buying and eating fresh mushrooms:

• Do not buy mushroom products which are doubted to have carried a mix of unknown species;
• Do not buy mushrooms which look unhygienic (with growing substrates left with the product) or show signs of spoilage (with coloured spots/abnormal smell/slime, etc);
• Wash and cook mushrooms thoroughly before consumption; and
• Seek medical treatment immediately if mushroom poisoning is suspected.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take necessary action to safeguard food safety and public health. read more

     Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, at the press conference on education initiatives in the Chief Executive’s 2018 Policy Address today (October 11):
 
     Education is the key to nurturing talent, which is the most important element in Hong Kong’s continuous development. We therefore propose in this year’s Policy Address a wide range of new initiatives to improve the quality of education. Some of which are based on the recommendations of the various task forces set up last year for reviewing the major policy areas in education. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the stakeholders involved.
 
     First, we will inject $20 billion into the Research Endowment Fund to help attract and retain talents. We will also launch a new Research Matching Grant Scheme with a total commitment of $3 billion for three years. Besides, the Research Grants Council will introduce three new regular Fellowship Schemes for post-doctoral fellows, and researchers at associate professor and professor ranks. We believe these initiatives will foster a stronger research culture, thereby promoting the vigorous development of industries and technological innovation. These are conducive to Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology hub.
 
     Secondly, we are implementing measures to support our teachers. All teaching posts in public sector primary and secondary schools will be converted to graduate posts in the 2019/20 school year. We will also provide public sector schools and schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) with additional resources of $570 million each year to strengthen the administrative support for schools and their management committees.
 
     Thirdly, regarding our students, we will provide, starting from the 2019/20 school year, a new recurrent Life-wide Learning Grant with an annual provision of $900 million to support public sector schools and DSS schools to enable students to broaden their horizons and foster their whole-person development. Furthermore, we will enhance our support for students with special educational needs (SEN). The Learning Support Grant, Intensive Remedial Teaching Programme and Integrated Education Programme will be restructured, with doubling the grant rate for tier-3 support and the provision of permanent teaching posts. The Special Educational Needs Coordinator post of schools with comparatively large number of SEN students will be upgraded to a promotion rank, and the Enhanced School-based Educational Psychology Service will be extended. We will also provide schools with more comprehensive school-based speech therapy services. All these mean an $800 million increase of recurrent expenditure on integrated education.

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     Police today (October 11) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kwai Chung.      Hou Po-hing, aged 53, went missing after he was last seen in a hostel on Shek Yam Road yester… read more

     The Immigration Department (Immd) mounted a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed “Sahara” yesterday (October 10) to combat illegal employment activities in Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po and Tsui Sha Tsui districts. A total of 13 illegal workers, 12 suspected employers and an overstayer were arrested. 

     During operation “Sahara”, enforcement officers raided 1 176 target locations including restaurants, guest houses, motels, street stalls, shops, a salon and residential flats. Thirteen illegal workers and 12 employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised 10 men and three women, aged 22 to 47. Among them, seven men and a woman were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. Meanwhile, 10 men and two women, aged from 21 to 92, were suspected of employing the illegal workers. A female overstayer, aged 36, was also arrested.

     “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties,” an ImmD spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases. It is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD, as a standard procedure, will conduct initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.

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