The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Head of the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office, Mrs Betty Fung, attended the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting today (June 24, Lindau time).
 
      Founded in 1951, the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting gathers Nobel Laureates in the fields of natural sciences to meet leading scientists of the next generation to exchange knowledge and experience every year. Some 40 Nobel Laureates and 600 young scientists from different countries take part in the meeting this year.
 
     In the morning, Mrs Lam met with the Chairman of the Foundation for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, Professor Dr Jürgen Kluge and the Managing Director and Member of the Executive Board of the Foundation, Mr Nikolaus Turner. She said that she is pleased to be invited for the first time to the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, giving her the opportunity to experience the major annual academic event. She said that it would be very inspiring for the young scientists to have the chance to exchange with the Nobel Laureates. She added that the Shaw Prize in Hong Kong, which has been set up for more than 10 years, has become a world-renowned science award with a number of recipients being awarded the Nobel Prize as well. She believed that Hong Kong can make reference to the experience of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and organise similar academic meetings in Hong Kong in the future.
 
     In the afternoon, Mrs Lam met with the Austrian Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research, Professor Dr Heinz Fassmann, who also attended the Meeting. She said that Hong Kong is actively strengthening collaboration with academic and scientific research institutions in different parts of the world to advance the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong. Noting that Austria attaches importance to scientific research with universities excelling in various fields, she expressed the hope that she and officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government could visit Austria in the future to discuss how to strengthen bilateral co-operation.
 
      Mrs Lam then attended the opening ceremony, the opening concert and the dinner organised by the host of the Meeting. Addressing the guests at the cocktail reception held before the dinner, Mrs Lam said that innovation and technology is the driving force for the world to move forward, and nurturing talent is essential for the development of innovation and technology. She added that the Lindau Novel Laureate Meeting is a very meaningful activity.  Noting that Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development need a lot of talent, she welcomed young scientists from different parts of the world to participate in the development.
 
     Before the dinner, Mrs Lam met with three Nobel-Shaw Laureates, Professor Dr Michael Rosbash, Professor Dr Michael Young and Professor Dr Robert Lefkowitz to learn about their views on the promotion of scientific research and invite them to go to Hong Kong to exchange with young people in the future.
 
     Mrs Lam will continue to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting tomorrow (June 25, Lindau time).

            

     A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) said a Zlin Z42 aircraft of the Hong Kong Aviation Club (registration number: B- LUK) was involved in an accident this afternoon (June 24) which resulted in a person being injured and admitted to hospital.

     "The CAD's Air Traffic Control Tower received a report from the Fire Services Department at around 4.38pm that a light aircraft was involved in an accident. The CAD immediately initiated the emergency alerting procedure and notified relevant parties to standby in the vicinity. B-LUK was subsequently found in the bushes at Ma Shi Chau, Tai Po. According to preliminary inspection, wings and fuselage of the aircraft were damaged. The pilot was sent to the Prince of Wales Hospital for medical treatment in conscious state. The accident did not cause any injury or damage to any persons or properties on the ground," the spokesman said.

     The CAD is investigating and following up on the case with the Hong Kong Aviation Club.

     After concluding her visit to Europe, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will depart for Beijing direct and arrive in the city on June 26. During the stay in Beijing, she will report to the Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng, the views and suggestions of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and different sectors of the community on matters relating to the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will join the visit.

     Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the early hours on June 27. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive.

     The Task Force on Land Supply will hold the second public forum (New Territories East) to gauge public views on land supply options. Details and enrolment arrangements are as follows:
 
Date: July 7 (Saturday)
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Venue: Tai Po Community Centre
            (2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po, New Territories)
 
     The forum will be conducted in Cantonese. Simultaneous interpretation in English will be available. Interested members of the public may register from tomorrow (June 25) 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 June 29 (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.
      
     In addition, the dates and venues of the roving exhibitions to be held by the Task Force from June 27 to July 29 are as follows. The exhibition period is 11am to 8pm.
 

     Enrolment arrangements and other details of the remaining two public forums, and the details of roving exhibitions from August to September, will be announced in due course.
      
     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.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 24) that Mui Wo Swimming Pool in Islands District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 5.15pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.