The 12th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Trade Fair (PPRD Forum) was held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, on September 5. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, led the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation to join the Forum.

     The theme of the 12th PPRD Forum was "Greater Bay Area: Driving Innovation, Collaboration and Opportunities". Speaking at the opening ceremony in the morning, Mrs Lam said, "The PPRD region comprises the two SARs, Hong Kong and Macao, which are highly international, and nine provinces/regions which are rich in various factors of production, as well as being home to a number of Free Trade Zones. It has all along been a regional economic hinterland. The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will inject further impetus to the regional economic development of the PPRD provinces/regions." Mrs Lam pointed out that there were many Belt and Road strategic links in the PPRD region. She encouraged enterprises in the regions to tap on Hong Kong's financial and professional services, infrastructural as well as logistics support to participate in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, with a view to seizing the opportunities available.

     A thematic dialogue session "Bay Area x PPRD – Innovation and Empowerment, Synergy and Symbiosis" was held after the opening ceremony. At the session, Mrs Lam exchanged views with government leaders of the PPRD provinces/regions and other guests on the topics of co-operation and development in the PPRD region, opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as opening up and innovation. At the session, Ms Lam stressed that the present term of the HKSAR Government had assumed a proactive role, introduced new policy measures, put in timely investments and promoted economic development. She looked forward to identifying more collaboration opportunities with the PPRD provinces/regions.

     At the Chief Executive Joint Conference in the afternoon, Mrs Lam had an interactive discussion with government leaders of the PPRD provinces/regions on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the establishment of an express rail link economic belt in the PPRD region etc. At the conference, Mrs Lam said that the present term of the HKSAR Government strived to identify new engines for economic growth. Development of technology and innovation was one of the key areas. She was greatly encouraged to see the Central Government's staunch support in developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an international technology and innovation centre. She hoped that the strength of Hong Kong in technological research could contribute to the country's technological development. She welcomed the technological research institutes in the PPRD region establishing their presence in Hong Kong and providing internship opportunities for Hong Kong's young people, with a view to nurturing more talents. She also said that with the imminent commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, and the competitive edge of Hong Kong's maritime services and aviation logistics, Hong Kong would continue to provide quality landbound, maritime as well as air services in the PPRD region. She would be pleased to join hands with the other provinces/regions to ride on Hong Kong's international network in taking forward external promotions together.

     During her stay in Guangzhou, Mrs Lam had bilateral meetings with the Governor of the Fujian Province, Mr Tang Dengjie, and the Governor of the Sichuan Province, Mr Yin Li, to discuss Hong Kong-Fuijian and Hong Kong-Sichuan co-operation respectively.

     The PPRD Forum, which is an important regional co-operation platform, covers nine provinces/regions (namely Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan) and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, accounting for more than one-third of the country's population and gross domestic product.

     Mrs Lam returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

              

     Giving a keynote speech at the luncheon of the fifth Hong Kong Legal Services Forum in Guangzhou today (September 5), the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said that distinguished and professional legal services are important elements for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Bay Area) to go global. It is also the driving force for enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong to join forces to tap the global market.
      
     Mrs Lam pointed out that laws of Hong Kong are well established and are familiar to the international business community. Legal professionals in Hong Kong are equipped with extensive experience and international perspective. She hopes Hong Kong can leverage these advantages to support and promote the development of the Bay Area.
      
     Mrs Lam noted that one of the key factors for Hong Kong's extraordinary achievements since the return to the Motherland is the rule of law in Hong Kong. She said, "The independence of the Judiciary is especially important for upholding the rule of law and protecting the freedom and power of members of public and investors. Hong Kong's judicial independence is fully protected by the Basic Law." According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018 published by the World Economic Forum, Hong Kong's judicial independence ranked first in Asia. It shows that the independence of the Judiciary in Hong Kong is highly recognised in the international community.
      
     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, together with the Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Li Chunsheng, officiated at the opening of the Hong Kong Legal Services Forum this morning. Ms Cheng said in the Worldwide Governance Indicators project of the World Bank Group, Hong Kong's percentile rank in rule of law has improved from 69.9 in 1996 to 93.3 in 2016. These statistics suggest an upward trend in the rule of law in Hong Kong
      
     Under the theme "From Bay Area to International Arena", the Forum aimed at promoting Hong Kong as a professional legal services platform for "deal making and dispute resolving", providing cross-border transactional legal services as well as dispute resolution services for enterprises "going out". It featured issues of interest to enterprises in the Bay Area as well as facilitated exchanges between the legal and dispute resolution sectors and businesses of Hong Kong and the Mainland, and furthered co-operation opportunities.
      
     The Forum was held in Guangzhou the second time. The venue was packed with over 1 200 participants including some 120 Hong Kong legal practitioners and dispute resolution professionals. The Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Margaret Fong; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Philip Dykes, SC; the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Ms Melissa Pang; the Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law, Mr Anthony Neoh, SC, also attended the Forum.
      
     A mock arbitration was also staged at the Forum to demonstrate effective dispute resolution through arbitration. In addition, a networking session was held after the Forum during which participants had opportunities to discuss with the legal practitioners specialised areas of law.
      
     The Hong Kong Legal Services Forum has been held on a biennial basis in different cities in the Mainland since 2010. The fifth Forum was jointly organised by the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Asia Office of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center, China Maritime Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center and Asian Academy of International Law.

    

     Giving a keynote speech at the luncheon of the fifth Hong Kong Legal Services Forum in Guangzhou today (September 5), the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said that distinguished and professional legal services are important elements for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Bay Area) to go global. It is also the driving force for enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong to join forces to tap the global market.
      
     Mrs Lam pointed out that laws of Hong Kong are well established and are familiar to the international business community. Legal professionals in Hong Kong are equipped with extensive experience and international perspective. She hopes Hong Kong can leverage these advantages to support and promote the development of the Bay Area.
      
     Mrs Lam noted that one of the key factors for Hong Kong's extraordinary achievements since the return to the Motherland is the rule of law in Hong Kong. She said, "The independence of the Judiciary is especially important for upholding the rule of law and protecting the freedom and power of members of public and investors. Hong Kong's judicial independence is fully protected by the Basic Law." According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018 published by the World Economic Forum, Hong Kong's judicial independence ranked first in Asia. It shows that the independence of the Judiciary in Hong Kong is highly recognised in the international community.
      
     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, together with the Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Li Chunsheng, officiated at the opening of the Hong Kong Legal Services Forum this morning. Ms Cheng said in the Worldwide Governance Indicators project of the World Bank Group, Hong Kong's percentile rank in rule of law has improved from 69.9 in 1996 to 93.3 in 2016. These statistics suggest an upward trend in the rule of law in Hong Kong
      
     Under the theme "From Bay Area to International Arena", the Forum aimed at promoting Hong Kong as a professional legal services platform for "deal making and dispute resolving", providing cross-border transactional legal services as well as dispute resolution services for enterprises "going out". It featured issues of interest to enterprises in the Bay Area as well as facilitated exchanges between the legal and dispute resolution sectors and businesses of Hong Kong and the Mainland, and furthered co-operation opportunities.
      
     The Forum was held in Guangzhou the second time. The venue was packed with over 1 200 participants including some 120 Hong Kong legal practitioners and dispute resolution professionals. The Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Margaret Fong; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Philip Dykes, SC; the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Ms Melissa Pang; the Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law, Mr Anthony Neoh, SC, also attended the Forum.
      
     A mock arbitration was also staged at the Forum to demonstrate effective dispute resolution through arbitration. In addition, a networking session was held after the Forum during which participants had opportunities to discuss with the legal practitioners specialised areas of law.
      
     The Hong Kong Legal Services Forum has been held on a biennial basis in different cities in the Mainland since 2010. The fifth Forum was jointly organised by the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Asia Office of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center, China Maritime Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center and Asian Academy of International Law.

    

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, arrived in Shanghai today (September 5) to meet with the Director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, Dr Wu Jinglei, to exchange views on the co-operation in the medical and health field between Shanghai and Hong Kong. She also led a delegation to visit Longhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to learn about the development of Chinese medicine hospitals.

     Professor Chan said, "During the Fourth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference held in Hong Kong last month, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government identified clear directions for a number of areas of co-operation. Regarding medical and health matters, Shanghai and Hong Kong have agreed to deepen co-operation in four areas, namely the development of Chinese medicine, hospital management, public healthcare and medical services.

     "I am grateful to Shanghai for supporting the development of the first Chinese medicine hospital in Hong Kong. They shared with us the advantages and resources in the field of Chinese medicine; supported the academic exchange in Chinese medicine and the flow of healthcare professionals between the two places; facilitated the standardisation of Chinese medicine in both places; and strengthened the co-operation in terms of international classification of diseases.

     "Hong Kong is pushing forward with the development of its first Chinese medicine hospital. With the support of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine has recommended two experts in Chinese medicine from Shanghai to take part in the relevant committee for the preparation of the Hong Kong Chinese medicine hospital in the capacity of Mainland consultants and offer expert advice on the planning, construction and operation of the Chinese medicine hospital."

     The delegation also visited Longhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine today to understand the operation of the studios of a famed traditional Chinese medicine doctor, the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology and medical wards.

     Professor Chan said, "During today's visit, members of the delegation gained a better understanding of the operation of the hospital and its valuable experience in areas including scope of service, management mode, manpower training and scientific research, which will assist us in developing the first Chinese medicine hospital which can meet the service needs of Hong Kong people."

     The delegation will proceed to Seoul, Korea, tomorrow (September 6). During their stay in South Korea, the delegation will visit the Association of Korean Medicine, the National Medical Center, the Kyung Hee University Oriental Hospital at Gangdong and the National Rehabilitation Center. Professor Chan will also call on officials of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea and meet with Hong Kong people living there.

     The delegation includes the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Elizabeth Tse; the Project Director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office, Dr Cheung Wai-lun; and representatives of the Food and Health Bureau and the Hospital Authority. Members of the Chinese medicine hospital's user group have also joined the visit.

      

     Forty citizens who helped the Police fight crime were commended at the Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony today (September 5).
     
     Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (Management), Mr Kwok Yam-shu, noted that crime figures in the first half of 2018 decreased by 6.2 per cent year-on-year to 26 550 cases, marking a record low since 1977. He attributed the low crime rates in Hong Kong in recent years to the concerted efforts of the Police and citizens. He also commended the GCA recipients for taking the initiative to help the Police fight crime, adding that they demonstrated the spirit of bravery and mutual help.

     Also officiating at the ceremony, Dr Cheng Kam-chung, a member of the Fight Crime Committee, said that the low crime rate in Hong Kong was achieved through long-term mutual trust and co-operation between the Police and the community. He hoped members of the public would continue to help Police fight crime and maintain law and order of the society.

     General Committee Member of Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Ms Chan Sui-kuen, praised GCA recipients as role models for citizens at the ceremony. She hoped more citizens would join the league to promote such acts of bravery and justice.

     With the help of the awardees, more than 30 persons were arrested for a variety of offences including trafficking in dangerous drugs, theft, robbery, arson with intent, indecent assault and outraging public decency.

     The youngest awardee, Mr Liu Kin-leung, aged 19, helped intercept and subdue a man who took upskirt photo of a female. The man was convicted of outraging public decency and sentenced to three weeks’ imprisonment.

     The eldest awardee, Mr Wu Wing-hong, aged 67, helped identify a male culprit who stole a passenger’s properties on a flight to Hong Kong. The man was convicted of theft and sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment.

     Presented twice a year, the Award is organised by the Police Public Relations Branch and sponsored by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. Each of the awardees receives a certificate and a cheque of $3,000. Since 1973, more than 4,000 persons have been commended over the years.