The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Professor Klaus Schwab, and hosted a lunch for him at Government House this afternoon (September 14).

     Mrs Lam welcomed Professor Schwab’s visit to Hong Kong and said she was pleased to meet with him again following their meeting in January this year at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. She noted that Professor Schwab will depart for Tianjin later to attend the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the “Summer Davos”, which has been held annually in the Mainland since 2007. She said the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will lead a delegation of start-ups to participate in the forum and wished the forum every success.

     Mrs Lam noted that the WEF, established more than 40 years ago, fosters collaboration and international initiatives and has become an important platform for promoting global co-operation. While attending the WEF Annual Meeting in the capacity as the Chief Executive for the first time earlier this year, Mrs Lam met and exchanged views with leaders as well as members of political and business sectors of various economies. She said she benefited enormously from attending the forum and looks forward to going there again next year to strengthen Hong Kong’s external relations. She also said she was pleased to learn that the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) and the MTR Corporation have recently joined the WEF as partners.

     Those joining the lunch today included Mr Chan, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Chairman of the HKEX, Mrs Laura M Cha; the Chief Executive of the HKEX, Mr Charles Li; the Chairman of the AA, Mr Jack So; the Chief Executive Officer of the AA, Mr Fred Lam; the Non-executive Chairman of the MTR Corporation, Professor Frederick Ma; the Chief Executive Officer of the MTR Corporation, Mr Lincoln Leong; the Head of Asia, Strategic Partnership of the WEF, Ms Julia Devos; and the Chairman of the First Eastern Investment Group, Mr Victor Chu.

    

     The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, will leave for Beijing tomorrow (September 15) for the World Conference on Science Literacy organised by the China Association for Science and Technology.
      
     The inaugural conference will be held at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing from September 17 (Monday) to 19 (Wednesday), with the support from renowned international organisations including the International Science Council, the World Federation of Engineering Organizations and the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Mr Yang will attend the opening session and forums at the conference on Monday.
      
     He will then head for Tianjin later in the afternoon on Monday to join the Financial Secretary for the 2018 Summer Davos Forum.
      
     Mr Yang will return to Hong Kong in the evening on September 19. In his absence, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will act as Secretary for Innovation and Technology.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (September 14) on a baby girl case of biliary atresia:
      
     A three-month-old infant girl was referred to the Neonatal Jaundice Clinic at TMH in mid-July this year for treatment of jaundice.  After examining by the paediatricians, she was found to have elevated bilirubin level. A few days later, the infant was arranged to have the EHIDA scan by the Department of Nuclear Medicine. The examination report has ruled out the possibility of having complete biliary obstruction. Based on the report, the paediatricians further arranged follow up appointments and other examinations for the infant in order to investigate the underlying causes for prolonged jaundice and to formulate the treatment plan.  Throughout the process, TMH has been communicating with the family to explain on the treatment plan.
      
     Since the infant continued to suffer from prolonged jaundice, TMH has arranged the paediatric surgeons from the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) to assess her in early September. After the clinical examinations and reviewing the previous examination reports, the paediatric surgeons decided to arrange the infant to have an operation on September 11. During the operation, it was confirmed that the infant has biliary atresia and a drainage operation (Kasai operation) was then performed. Postoperatively, the infant is now staying at PWH with stable condition. 
      
     TMH management received the report of the incident yesterday (September 13) and carried out a preliminary investigation immediately. The hospital including doctors and patient relation officer met the family today and offered apology for not being able to timely diagnose the congenital biliary atresia so to perform the operation early. TMH is very concerned about the treatment for the infant and an expert panel will be set up to review the care process.
      
     TMH has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office and will work with PWH to continue to follow up the condition of the infant. The patient relations officer will continue to provide the necessary support and assistance to the infant’s family.

The following is issued on behalf of the Torture Claims Appeal Board:

     A spokesman for the Torture Claims Appeal Board (the Appeal Board) said today (September 14) that a personal laptop of a Board member was suspected of being stolen overseas.  The member has reported the incident to the local police there.  As the computer concerned contains personal data of some appellants of non-refoulement claims, the Appeal Board has submitted a data breach notification to report the incident to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD).

     "According to the Appeal Board’s preliminary assessment, the incident involved the personal data of about 30 appellants who are pending hearing, and decisions which the Appeal Board already made and served on other  appellants, which were stored in the laptop.  The personal data include the names and nationalities of the appellants.  The lost laptop does not contain other personal data of appellants," the spokesman said.

     "The incident does not involve data of any Hong Kong residents.  The stolen laptop is not a government property, and is not connected with any computer systems of the Appeal Board or the Government.  Hence, no Government computer system will be affected.  In addition, the Appeal Board will follow up with the affected persons as soon as practicable," the spokesman emphasised.

      "The Appeal Board is highly concerned with this incident.  The Chairperson of the Appeal Board has already reminded all members to strengthen the safety management of all personal data, so as to ensure that the relevant personal data is handled and protected properly.  The Appeal Board secretariat has also commenced relevant work, including the provision of technical support to members to enhance the safety management of personal data."

     "The Appeal Board has reported the incident to the Security Bureau (SB), and will submit a detailed report on the incident within two weeks as per SB's request.  SB has also reminded the Appeal Board to attach great importance to the protection of personal data privacy through clear internal guidelines and various monitoring mechanisms, in order to ensure that all its members and staff would handle personal data in compliance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and other relevant legal provisions.  The Appeal Board will also regularly remind its members and staff of the importance to handle personal data properly.  Should PCPD make other recommendations to the Appeal Board on the incident, the Appeal Board will discuss with SB on the follow-up action," reiterated by the spokesman.

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will depart tomorrow (September 15) afternoon to visit Tianjin and Ho Chi Minh City via Beijing.
      
     Mr Chan will arrive in Tianjin in the evening of September 17 for the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as the Summer Davos forum. He will participate in one of its discussions as a guest speaker on the next day. During his stay, Mr Chan will also call on senior government officials of Tianjin, and hold bilateral meetings with other officials attending the Summer Davos forum. The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, will join part of the visit to Tianjin.
      
     Mr Chan will then fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to address the In Style‧Hong Kong Symposium and its gala dinner organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council on September 20. He will also meet with representatives of the business sector of Vietnam.
      
     Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on September 21. During his absence, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, will act as the Financial Secretary.