The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, hosted a luncheon for the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, Professor James Watson, at Government House in the afternoon today (October 15), during which she introduced him to Hong Kong's exceptional environment for Innovation & Technology (I&T) and the measures she proposed in the Policy Address aiming to support the I&T development in Hong Kong. The Vice-Chancellor and President of Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Rocky Tuan, the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Hong Kong, Professor Paul Tam Kwong-hang, the Vice-President of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Nancy Ip, and the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, also attended the luncheon. Professor Watson is a renowned American molecular biologist and geneticist. He was awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine together with other scientists for their joint research in DNA.

     Mrs Lam welcomed Professor Watson's visit to Hong Kong. In briefing Professor Watson on the strategy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on I&T development, she said that the Government is determined to develop Hong Kong into a knowledge-based economy and promote I&T development in all aspects in order to improve people's livelihood. Noting that Hong Kong's I&T development is supported by sound technological foundations and outstanding capability in scientific research with the convergence of top universities, research institutes and high-quality professional scientific research talent from around the world, she said that most important of all is the unique advantage of "One Country, Two Systems" and the city's proximity to the huge Mainland market that give Hong Kong the huge potential to become an international I&T hub.  

     Mrs Lam said to the guests that last year's Policy Address outlined the strategy of pushing ahead with I&T development at full steam in eight major areas, and committed significant resources for this purpose. The strategy has received wide recognition from various sectors and good progress has been made. In particular, the HKSAR Government launched the Technology Talent Admission Scheme to attract and nurture top-notch talent and the Technology Talent Scheme to subsidise research institutions and enterprises to recruit talent to carry out research and development activities, and train their existing staff to apply advanced technology for adding value to their businesses this year. In addition, Institut Pasteur from France, as well as the Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health and the Institute of Automation in Beijing under the Chinese Academy of Sciences have earlier expressed interest in joining the I&T clusters to be established at the Hong Kong Science Park, with one focusing on healthcare technologies and the other on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies. The RWTH Aachen University of Germany has also indicated its interest in joining recently. They will conduct more midstream and downstream research and development (R&D) projects in collaboration with local universities and scientific research institutions to strengthen Hong Kong's R&D capabilities.

     Mrs Lam said that the recently announced 2018 Policy Address is built on the current good progress and proposed to further promote the I&T development by injecting $20 billion into the Research Endowment Fund set up by the Research Grants Council, launching a new Research Matching Grant Scheme with a total commitment of $3 billion and setting up fellowship schemes to strengthen the pool of talent in research and I&T in Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government will also step up its effort in promoting re-industrialisation by setting up a $2 billion "Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme" to subsidise manufacturers, on a matching basis, to set up smart production lines in Hong Kong. Furthermore, an additional allocation of $2 billion will be provided for the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation to identify suitable land in industrial estates for building manufacturing facilities required by the dedicated advanced manufacturing sector.

  

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Secretary of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, Mr Zhang Shuofu, at Government House this morning (October 15). The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, were also present.
 
     Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Zhang's visit to Hong Kong and thanked him for personally receiving her and other guests who arrived at Guangzhounan Station by the Vibrant Express train on the day of commissioning of the Hong Kong Section the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) last month and for briefing her on the latest developments of Guangzhou. She said that Hong Kong and Guangzhou enjoy close ties in economic affairs and trade and people-to-people exchanges, and that the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL will further enhance the connectivity between the two places. Noting that some of the trains running between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Guangzhounan Station pass through Qingsheng Station in Nansha and that she viewed the transportation network and surrounding development of Qingsheng Station during her visit to Guangzhou in May, she said she believes that the high-speed rail service can help Hong Kong and Nansha explore co-operation in different areas.
 
     Mrs Lam said that the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will bring new development opportunities for Guangzhou and Hong Kong. She said that Hong Kong has advantages in areas such as innovation and technology, biomedicine and education and that Guangzhou can provide land as the hub for transformation of technological achievements as well as provide more room for the development of innovation and entrepreneurship by young Hong Kong people. She said she hopes that the two places will strengthen co-operation and jointly contribute to the development of the Bay Area.

    

     Six nominations were received by the Returning Officer for the Legislative Council Kowloon West geographical constituency by-election at the close of the two-week nomination period at 5pm today (October 15).
 
     Two nomination forms were submitted to the Returning Officer today.
 
     Particulars of the nominees are available on the election website (www.elections.gov.hk/legco2018kwby/eng/nominat.html).
 
     A full list of the validly nominated candidates will be published in the Gazette after the Returning Officer has validated and confirmed the eligibility for candidature of the nominees.
 
     If the number of validly nominated candidates is more than one at the by-election, a poll will be held on November 25, 2018 (Sunday).
 
     The Electoral Affairs Commission will hold a briefing for candidates and their agents at the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, at 7pm on October 22 (Monday).
 
     The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah, will chair the briefing session and brief candidates and their agents on the guidelines on election-related activities, electoral arrangements for the by-election and the important points to note in running their election campaigns. A representative from the Independent Commission Against Corruption will explain the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance. A representative from Hongkong Post will also explain the arrangement and requirements of the free postage service for election mail. Representatives from the Registration and Electoral Office and the Department of Justice will also be present.
 
     Before the briefing, the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer will determine the order of appearance of names of candidates on the ballot papers and the allocation of designated spots for the display of election advertisements by drawing of lots.

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, visited Islands District this afternoon (October 15).

     Mr Lau first met with members of the Islands District Council to brief them on the major work of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau. They also exchanged views on banking services at district level and other district issues of concern.

     He then proceeded to the Hong Kong International Airport Tower, where he was briefed on the construction progress of the Three-runway System and SKYCITY. The Three-runway System project, including the provision of the third runway and associated taxiways, the Third Runway Passenger Building and related infrastructural facilities, was launched with an aim to improve service quality and meet the growing demand for air traffic in future.

     In addition, the SKYCITY project is underway and is set to provide a brand new airport experience for travellers with a combination of hotels, retail, dining and entertainment facilities, and offices. 

     Mr Lau also met with a group of youths who had participated in the Islands District Youth Development Network programme at the Tung Chung Community Hall before concluding his visit. He said he was pleased to see the youngsters showing great interest in issues relating to Fintech development and other social and public affairs, and expressed his appreciation for their concern about the future development of Hong Kong.

      

     Police today (October 15) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in North Point.

     Li Jui-mei, aged 81, went missing after she was last seen at Hoi Wan Street, North Point yesterday (October 14) afternoon. Her family made a report to Police today.

     She is about 1.6 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a pointed face with yellow complexion and long greyish white hair. She was last seen wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, khaki trousers, light-coloured shoes and carrying a black shoulder bag and a crutch.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040 or 9886 0034 or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.