The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, today (August 13) embarked on visits in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Bangkok, Thailand, in the latest promotion activity to update Association of Southeast Asian Nations investors on the business opportunities Hong Kong has to offer in the context of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.
     
     In Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Phillips will participate in a roundtable discussion on business opportunities in Hong Kong relating to the Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, jointly organised by Invest Hong Kong and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The session will highlight to a group of targeted Vietnamese companies the latest economic trends and developments in Hong Kong and the ease of setting up a business in the city. It will also shed light on cross-boundary initiatives that Hong Kong has undertaken to propel its economy and create greater opportunities for businesses. While in Vietnam, Mr Phillips will also meet with major companies in various industries.
     
     Mr Phillips said, "Hong Kong is seeing unprecedented business opportunities lying ahead in the context of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development strategy. This is the most opportune time for foreign investors to come and leverage Hong Kong's advantages to drive business growth arising from these huge opportunities."
     
     The roundtable event is supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore. Its Director, Mr Bruno Luk, said, "In view of the immense opportunities presented to businesses by the Belt and Road and the Bay Area initiatives, I am sure the Vietnamese companies participating at the event will benefit from learning about Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages as their ideal investment destination."
     
     In Bangkok, Mr Philips will meet leaders in the real estate, retail and textiles sectors, as well as restaurant operators and service providers. He will also talk to major local media on the benefits of entering the Hong Kong market for Thai businesses and promote the upcoming StartmeupHK Festival and other trade exhibitions in Hong Kong.
     
     The Belt and Road Initiative is offering a long-term prospect of transnational and intercontinental connectivity and will give rise to rewarding business prospects including new air, sea and land routes; additional ports; railways and roads connecting different regions; economic and trade pacts; and increased investment flow.
     
     The Bay Area will serve as a powerful connection point for the Belt and Road. A cluster of nine flourishing cities in Guangdong Province together with the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, the Bay Area has a collective population of over 68 million and a combined GDP of some US$1.5 trillion.
     
     The "one country, two systems" arrangement ensures that Hong Kong retains its enduring advantages including the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, the free market mechanism, a low-tax regime and free flow of capital and information. "This makes Hong Kong an international city in China that can help connect the country with the rest of the world," Mr Phillips said.
     
     He added that the city can also help in the country's drive to become a technology leader in the context of the Bay Area. Hong Kong has very strong research and development capacity, which combined with Shenzhen's advanced manufacturing will turn the Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub.
     
About Invest Hong Kong
 
     Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to attract foreign direct investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies enrolled as its clients. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 13) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Repulse Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 13) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at St Stephen's Beach, Stanley Main Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lo So Shing Beach, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Pui O Beach, Upper Cheung Sha Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Tong Fuk Beach in Islands District; and Hap Mun Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Task Force on Land Supply will hold its fourth and last public forum (Kowloon) to gauge public views on land supply options. Details and enrolment arrangements of the public forum are as follows:

Date: August 25 (Saturday)
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre, 4/F, West Block, Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre
            (19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon)

     The forum will be conducted in Cantonese. Simultaneous interpretation in English will be available. Interested members of the public may register from tomorrow (August 13) at 9am by using the following methods:

(i) Online: www.landforhongkong.hk/en/participation/engage_act.php;

(ii) Email/fax: Download the registration form from the above website for return via email (pflandforhongkong.hk@a-world.com.hk) or fax (2865 2559); or

(iii) Telephone: 2114 4972 (9am to 5pm).

     Registration will close on August 17 (Friday) at 5pm. In view of the limited seating capacity at the venue, only one seat can be reserved for each registration, and requests will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

     The dates and venues of the roving exhibitions to be held by the Task Force from September 7 to 26 are as follows. The exhibition period is 11am to 8pm.
 

     For enquiries, please contact the Public Engagement Director for the Task Force by telephone at 2114 4972 (9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays)) or email (pflandforhongkong.hk@a-world.com.hk).

     The five-month public engagement exercise of the Task Force on Land Supply will end on September 26. Comments on land supply options and other issues related to land supply from all sectors of society are welcome. For more information on activities of the public engagement exercise, please visit the dedicated website (www.landforhongkong.hk).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (August 12) regarding a sentinel event:

     A 24-year-old pregnant patient had received regular antenatal check-ups at QEH. She was diagnosed with oligohydramnios and proteinuria. Doctor arranged her to be admitted for an induction of labour during gestation of 38 weeks.

     She was admitted to the hospital at about 8am on August 10 (Friday). After assessment, the medical staff used medication to perform an induction of labour for the woman in the morning and closely monitored the condition of the pregnant patient and her foetus. Their conditions were both stable at the time. The woman suddenly developed short duration of seizure at 10.30pm and the medical staff immediately examined and monitored the patient, but she developed cardiac arrest a few minutes later. The medical staff immediately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the woman and called medical staff of different specialties, including Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Unit and Paediatrics, to help the resuscitation.

     During the resuscitation, doctors performed an emergency bedside cesarean section and a baby was delivered at 10.45pm. During the process, the medical staff continued to resuscitate the woman where external cardiac massage, intubation and blood transfusion were performed. The medical team kept a closed communication with her husband and relatives. The medical team performed resuscitation for more than three hours but the patient condition was still critical with repeated occurrence of cardiac arrest. Doctors explained the situation to the patient’s husband and relatives. The patient finally succumbed at about 5am on August 11 (Saturday).

     The hospital has referred the case to the Coroner’s court for further follow-up. The baby is now in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and in serious condition.

     The hospital expresses its deepest condolences to the family. The hospital would continue to closely communicate with the family and provide them with all necessary assistance. The hospital has reported the incident to Hospital Authority Head Office (HAHO) via the Advance Incident Reporting System. An investigation panel will be set up for in-depth investigation. It is expected that the investigation panel report will be completed for submission to the HAHO in eight weeks.