The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Shenzhen today (August 7), touring some innovation and technology companies and an eye hospital set up by Hong Kong people. He also met with Shenzhen officials to exchange views on strengthening co-operation between the two places.

     Visiting an innovation and technology enterprise in Nanshan District, Mr Nip was updated on the latest flexible display technology, as well as the research and development of related intelligent products and their application in daily life. He also toured another technology company in the district specialising in developing 3D sensing technology where he learnt about the application of high-technology sensors in various areas, such as 3D scanning and intelligent recognition. Before leaving Nanshan District, Mr Nip visited an enterprise focusing on developing computer vision technology, including virtual reality and augmented reality.

     During the visits, Mr Nip exchanged views with enterprise representatives to explore complementary co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in innovation and technology development.

     Mr Nip then went to an eye hospital in Shenzhen established by Hong Kong people to see for himself the development of Hong Kong's medical sector in the Mainland.

     The hospital is the first specialist hospital wholly owned by Hong Kong people in the Mainland under the framework of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. Its medical team comprises ophthalmology experts from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas.

     The hospital renders high-quality professional services to Mainland residents on the one hand, and serves as a platform for the diversified development of Hong Kong's medical professionals on the other.

     In the evening, Mr Nip met with the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipality, Mr Ai Xuefeng, and the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Ms Cai Ying, to exchange views on concerted efforts in driving the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and enhancing co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

     Mr Nip will return to Hong Kong this evening.

          

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, visited Shenzhen today (August 7) to get updates on the latest developments in financial technologies (FinTech) and innovation and technology (I&T) in the city.

     Upon arrival, Mr Chan called on the Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Mr Wang Lixin, and exchanged views on further co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

     Mr Chan said that Shenzhen and Hong Kong have all along been close partners. He expressed the hope that both sides can leverage on the opportunities arising from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to strengthen co-operation in FinTech, I&T and creative industries.

     He then visited the headquarters of Tencent to understand more about the newest FinTech services in the Mainland. He also attended an activity organised by the Tencent Financial Academy and exchanged views with Hong Kong youths participating in an internship programme in Shenzhen.

     He remarked that the Greater Bay Area covers not only Shenzhen, which houses many leading I&T enterprises, but also a large number of cities transforming towards an advanced manufacturing economy. As Hong Kong is the most cosmopolitan city in the region and offers the best professional services, its enterprises and those in the Mainland may join forces in tapping new markets and developing the Greater Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub where talent, research and development institutes and enterprises can cluster.

     Mr Chan also visited an intelligent logistics provider and a FinTech company founded by Hong Kong people to learn from their top management about the latest applications in big data analytics and information and communications technology.

     Tomorrow (August 8), Mr Chan will continue his visit in Shenzhen and call on two large-scale technology companies before returning to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

        

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in collaboration with 11 financial regulators and related organisations (note), announced today (August 7) the initiative of the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN).
 
     Building on the UK Financial Conduct Authority's proposal earlier this year, GFIN seeks to provide a more efficient way for innovative firms to interact with regulators, helping them navigate between jurisdictions as they look to scale new ideas. It will also create a framework for co-operation between financial services regulators on innovation related topics, sharing different experiences and approaches.
 
     GFIN today issued a consultation (see Annex) on the role it should play in delivering its objectives including the tools it will use. The consultation sets out three main functions of the GFIN:

• Acting as a network of regulators to collaborate and share experience of innovation in respective markets, including emerging technologies and business models;
• Providing a forum for joint policy work and discussions; and
• Providing firms with an environment in which to trial cross-border solutions. 

     The Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Howard Lee, said, "The opportunities and challenges created by fintech are not bound by jurisdictional borders. The GFIN initiative will enable regulators across the globe to share experience and knowledge in realising the benefits while managing the risks. The HKMA is delighted to be a founding contributor of the initiative and looks forward to facilitating the creation of a healthy fintech ecosystem."
 
     The working group is asking for feedback on the consultation questions by October 14. Over the course of the next two months, the working group will engage with interested parties across different jurisdictions involved in the project. The working group will then assess feedback and agree on next steps.
 
Note: The organisations involved in the GFIN working group at present are: Abu Dhabi Global Market; Autorité des marchés financiers (Québec, Canada); Australian Securities and Investments Commission; Central Bank of Bahrain; United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Dubai Financial Services Authority; Financial Conduct Authority (United Kingdom); Guernsey Financial Services Commission; Hong Kong Monetary Authority; Monetary Authority of Singapore; Ontario Securities Commission (Canada); and Consultative Group to Assist the Poor.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
　　
     The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) gave the following update today (August 7) regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of inpatients with Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) in a medicine and geriatrics ward:
 
     The laboratory test sample of a 70-year-old male patient in the ward was confirmed to have MDRA without clinical symptoms of infection. He is in critical condition due to underlying illnesses, and is under medical surveillance and isolation.
 
     TMH will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     A man, a woman and a company were fined from $2,000 to $3,600 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (August 7) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in January and February this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East and Elgin Street in Central, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs). 

     The staff of the club on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Condition 17 of the CoC was breached. The man, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     During the investigation in the club on Elgin Street, the OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached. Also, OLA officers found that the club had been operating under a name other than the one indicated on the CoC on the day of inspection. The woman, being the manager of the club, was charged with contravening sections 21(1) (a) and 21(1) (c) of the Ordinance and the company, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.