Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Wang Zhigang, witnessed today (September 20) the signing of the “Arrangement on Enhancing Innovation and Technology (I&T) Cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong” and the “Agreement on Commencing Jointly Funded Projects between the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Innovation and Technology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government”.
 
     The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, and the Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Zhang Jianguo, represented Hong Kong and the Mainland respectively to sign the Arrangement, whereas the Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, and the Director-General of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of MOST, Mr Ye Dongbai, represented the two places respectively to sign the Agreement. The Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Ms Annie Choi, was also present at the signing ceremony.
 
     This was followed by a plaque presentation ceremony by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Wang Zhigang. From today onwards, the 16 Partner State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong will be renamed as State Key Laboratories, which allows them more flexibility to collaborate with different research and development institutions.
 
     At the ceremony, MOST announced that it would entrust SenseTime Group Limited to establish the “National Open Innovation Platform for Next Generation Artificial Intelligence on Intelligent Vision”.
 
     In her speech, Mrs Lam expressed her heartfelt thanks to MOST for its unfailing support for I&T development in Hong Kong. She said, “The Arrangement and the Agreement signed today mark a new page of scientific and technological collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The presentation of plaques to State Key Laboratories is also of great significance, as this would provide more flexibility for the collaboration between the State Key Laboratories of Hong Kong and the research institutes in the Mainland. It also means solid support and recognition.
 
     “Moreover, the recognition given to our home-grown unicorn by MOST in moving forward the national development and planning for the next generation artificial intelligence is also a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s strengths in I&T.”
 
     The Arrangement and its annex “Joint Action Plan on Mainland and Hong Kong I&T Collaboration” will serve as an action guide and framework for the two parties to take forward the various I&T co-operation initiatives in the coming few years. The two sides will enhance co-operation in essentially six areas, namely scientific research, development of platforms, nurturing of talents, transfer of results and incubation of I&T industry, integration into national development strategies, and cultivation of an I&T atmosphere.
 
     With a view to encouraging collaboration between Hong Kong and provinces of the Mainland in the area of scientific research, the Government has been exploring with MOST the feasibility of setting up the Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme to support such collaboration. The Agreement sets out the framework of the funding and the modus operandi of the Scheme, details of which will be announced in due course.
 
     Founded in 2014 by a number of local scholars, the home-grown SenseTime Group Limited has emerged as China’s biggest artificial intelligence unicorn in just a few years’ time. Recognising the leading position of SenseTime Group Limited in artificial intelligence, especially intelligent vision, MOST entrusted SenseTime Group Limited to establish the “National Open Innovation Platform for Next Generation Artificial Intelligence on Intelligent Vision” and participate in the nation’s development of the next generation of artificial intelligence.
 
     State Key Laboratories are a vital component of the national I&T system. High-quality research teams and advanced research equipment are prerequisites for the establishment of State Key Laboratories. MOST approved earlier the establishment of 16 Partner State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong, which had to partner and enter into co-operation agreements with State Key Laboratories in similar scientific research areas in the Mainland. After adjustment, these 16 Partner State Key Laboratories will be officially renamed as State Key Laboratories.
 
     The Chief Executive, accompanied by Mr Yang; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, met with Mr Wang at Government House before the ceremony. After the ceremony, the Chief Executive hosted a lunch at Government House for guests attending the signing and plaque presentation ceremony, including Vice-chancellors of Universities, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and representatives of local research and development institutions. read more

     The Transport Department today (September 20) announced that the auction of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on October 14 (Sunday), in Meeting Room S421, L4, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     “A total of 300 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public auction. The list of marks has been posted at the department’s website, www.td.gov.hk,” a department spokesman said.

     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(a) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
(1) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(2) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(3) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(4) a crossed cheque made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” or “The Government of the HKSAR”. (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.

(b) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.

(c) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(d) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.

(e) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department’s website, www.td.gov.hk. read more

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is inviting library patrons to take part in a series of Reader Liaison Group tea gatherings to express their views on library services and make sugg… read more

     The Buildings Department approved 21 building plans in July, with six on Hong Kong Island, nine in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, 12 were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, six were for commercial developments, two were for factory and industrial developments, and one was for community services developments.

     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on eight building projects which, when completed, will provide 107 100 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 1 620 units, and 25 706 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of works for seven building projects.

     The department also issued 23 occupation permits, with seven on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and 11 in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 189 052 sq m involving 2 932 units, and 192 769 sq m was for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in July totalled about $11.1 billion.

     In addition, seven demolition consents involving seven building structures were issued.

     The department received 2 848 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in July and issued 1 255 removal orders on UBWs.

     The full version of the Monthly Digest for July can be viewed by the public on the Buildings Department’s homepage (www.bd.gov.hk). read more

     The Education Bureau has reminded parents who wish to apply for a Primary One (P1) place for their child in any government or aided school in September 2019 to submit their application forms starting next Monday (September 24).

     “Parents intending to apply for a particular government or aided primary school at the Discretionary Places Admission stage under the Primary One Admission (POA) System should submit the completed application form with all supporting documents directly to that school during school office hours between September 24 and October 2,” a spokesman for the Education Bureau said today (September 20).

     He reminded parents that schools would process the applications in accordance with the established procedures and criteria at the Discretionary Places Admission stage. As such, there is no need for parents to prepare portfolios for their children.

     The spokesman reminded parents to submit only one application form for each child. Otherwise, their application for a discretionary place would be rendered void.

     Children who have accepted the offer of P1 places in Direct Subsidy Scheme primary schools will not be allocated P1 places in government or aided primary schools through the POA System.

     Parents who opt to apply for Central Allocation only should submit the completed application form and supporting documents during office hours between September 24, 2018, and January 25, 2019, to the Education Bureau’s School Places Allocation Section (Primary One Admission) at Office 2, 2/F, Manulife Financial Centre, 223 Wai Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon.

     “When completing the application form, parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If a false address is given by parents to secure a P1 place for their child under the POA System, the application will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn. The public are encouraged to report suspected cases of using a false address for POA applications to the School Places Allocation Section by calling the hotline on 2832 7700,” the spokesman said. read more