Police today (October 6) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Happy Valley. 
      
     Chan Shi-lung, aged 67, was last seen at a hospital on Eastern Hospital Road in Happy Valley yesterday morning (October 5). His family made a report to Police on the same day.
      
     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 64 kilograms in weight and of middle build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue and grey stripes T-shirt, apricot-coloured trousers, dark-blue sports shoes.
      
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 5613 6963 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
 

  

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session after attending the Launching Ceremony of PolyU Jockey Club "Operation SoInno" cum "One from Hundred Thousand" Symposium on "Transitional Social Housing" today (October 6):
 
Reporter: The public housing ratio is going to be raised up. How will this affect the market right now?
 
Secretary for Development: We think it's the right thing to do. I have explained it publicly. I think the Secretary for Transport and Housing has also explained it publicly. Given the huge shortage of public housing, we think it is reasonable to devote more resources to public housing. We have done so, for example, by picking nine sites on Anderson Road and in Kai Tak. Originally, those sites would be put in the Land Sale Programme, those sites will now be devoted to public housing. We think it is the right thing to do.

     You asked about pricing in the private housing market, it is determined by a lot of factors. As I have said before, land supply by the government is but only one factor, interest rates, the flow of capital and also the land supply that can be provided through redevelopment by private developers, there are all different factors that contribute to housing prices. There is no one easy projection or theory that can be made.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, at the Design Thinking Launch Reception today (October 6):
 
Eric (Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre, Professor Eric Yim), Mr Kelley (Partner of IDEO, Mr Tom Kelley), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to all of you. I am very excited to join you today at the Design Thinking Launch Reception. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Tom Kelley who flew all the way from Palo Alto to Hong Kong to support the launch event and share his insight with us.
 
     As we all know, Mr Kelley is a design thinking guru and author of international best-sellers on the subject of innovation. I have heard wonderful feedback from participants of the roundtable discussion this morning who have benefitted richly from Mr Kelley's talk on the innovation imperative and how organisations can build a culture of innovation. For those who have missed his sharing this morning – we will have another chance to hear from Mr Kelley on "the value of design thinking on business, society and personal development" after the launch ceremony.
 
     Launching this series of design thinking events here at No. 7 Mallory Street is also of particular significance. As one of Urban Renewal Authority's Heritage Preservation and Revitalisation projects, No. 7 Mallory Street is indeed a cluster of ten pre-war Grade 2 historic buildings with preserved original structures such as balconies, a tiled pitched roof, timber French doors and an internal timber staircase.
 
     Given its rich history and prominent location at the city centre, the Government is working closely with Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) to utilise this place in an innovative manner for promotion of design and design thinking. To turn design, a sometimes elusive idea to the general public, into something relatable and tangible, we understand the importance of enhancing the community’s understanding and appreciation of good design and design thinking. I believe the launch event today at No. 7 Mallory Street is a good place to start.
 
     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, is about to deliver her second Policy Address in a few days’ time. Some may recall in her last (2017) Policy Address, Mrs Lam spoke at length on design thinking and creativity, and partnering with the HKDC to promote them as tools for problem-solving both within and outside Government. It aligns well with the people-centric governance philosophy of the current-term Government.
 
     Within the Administration, we have had a good start in just a year. In December 2017, we piloted an "Inner Circle Briefing on Design Thinking" workshop to senior officers of the Government. The Civil Service Training and Development Institute, together with the Efficiency Office and the HKDC have so far organised nine design thinking workshops or seminars for over 300 civil servants of different ranks, including directorates and middle management. Some of those courses will be included as on-going training programmes to be conducted regularly.
 
     We have been seeking to apply design thinking concepts in various Government initiatives, such as the design of Hong Kong's exhibition area in the "China International Import Expo 2018" to be held in Shanghai in November. Other upcoming projects applying design thinking include our new intelligent sports and recreation services booking and information system, by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the electronic identity (e-ID) which will be provided for free for all Hong Kong residents, allowing them to use a single digital identity and authentication to conduct government and commercial transactions online. Some public organisations such as the Ocean Park have also applied design thinking in improving provision of services.
 
     Looking ahead, the Government is also drawing up internal guidelines to encourage bureaux and departments to apply design thinking in the Government procurement process.
 
     We firmly believe that the nurturing of creativity and design thinking should begin at an early age and should take place both within and outside our education system. This year, we have sponsored various industry players to carry out meaningful projects to promote design thinking among our young people through CreateSmart Initiative of Create Hong Kong. For example, earlier this summer, PMQ organised the first "PMQ WOW Summer Camp" and a summer fair to introduce the idea of design thinking to young students and the public. On top of that, a new project "deTour YOUTH" offers education and mentorship opportunities to young kids and teens from September to December 2018. I am pleased to say that more are in the pipeline for 2019.
 
     While promoting design thinking is a priority area of the Government, we also need support from members of the design fraternity, and participation of the wider community. To this end, I would like to thank the HKDC, our close and strategic partner, for all its effort in promoting design and other relevant creative sectors.
 
     Last but not least, may I wish the upcoming events on design thinking every success and a most rewarding one to each and every participant. Thank you very much.

     Hong Kong Customs today (October 6) seized about 2.9 kilograms of suspected rhino horns with an estimated market value of about $590,000 at Hong Kong International Airport.
      
     Customs officers intercepted a 27-year-old male passenger at the airport this morning. He arrived in Hong Kong from Johannesburg, South Africa.
      
     During Customs clearance, the batch of suspected rhino horns was found in his check-in suitcase. The man was then arrested.
      
     The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up investigation.
      
     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
  

  

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the Symposium on Cancer Challenge in Hong Kong today (October 6):

Dr Leong (President of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, Dr Leong Che-hung), Mrs Chu (Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, Mrs Patricia Chu), HRH Princess Dina (President of the Union for International Cancer Control, Princess Dina Mired), Sophia (Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan), distinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It is my honour to join you at this Symposium. First and foremost, my warmest welcome to all the speakers, experts, guests and participants from abroad. I would also like to congratulate the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society on staging this meaningful and important event, not only for the medical professions but also for the betterment of public health in Hong Kong.

     The theme of this Symposium is "Sustainable Cancer Control Plan for Hong Kong". It goes without saying that cancer is a public health threat and challenge nowadays. According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death across the globe, causing about 9.6 million deaths in 2018. In other words, about one in six deaths worldwide are attributable to cancer. Worse still, the number of new cases is expected to rise by about 60 per cent within the next 20 years given the ageing population globally.

     In Hong Kong, cancer claimed over 14 300 lives in 2017 or nearly one-third of total deaths, and has ranked top among all fatal diseases for many decades. We are mindful that both the high mortality rate and the number of new cancer cases are on the rise, mainly because of the ageing population and changes in lifestyle. The adverse implications of this growing trend on the healthcare system and economic development should not be underrated.

     What can we do to tackle the problem? As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". In 2001, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government established the Cancer Coordinating Committee (CCC), chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health, to steer the direction of work and advise on the strategies on cancer prevention and control. The membership of the Committee comprises experts, academics, doctors and professionals from both public and private sectors in the field. A Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening set up under the CCC is tasked to regularly keep track of local and international scientific evidence and formulate evidence-based responses to local circumstances.

     Scientific evidence also shows that unhealthy lifestyles, particularly high consumption of red and processed meat, inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol consumption, are key risk factors for developing cancer. Indeed, about 40 per cent of cancer deaths can be prevented by modifying or avoiding the aforesaid factors. To promote a healthy lifestyle, the HKSAR Government this year introduced "Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong". The target is to reduce the risk of premature deaths caused by key non-communicable diseases, including cancer, by 25 per cent.

     Furthermore, early detection and diagnosis of cancer is another of the most effective means to lower mortality and reduce suffering during treatment. To this end, we have so far launched three territory-wide science-based screening programmes, namely the Cervical Screening Programme for women aged from 25 to 64, the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme for people aged from 50 to 75 and the Community Care Fund Pilot Scheme on Subsidised Cervical Cancer Screening and Preventive Education for Eligible Low-income Women, to strengthen our efforts to reach out to women in need.

     While the HKSAR Government is committed to preventing proliferation of cancer in the community, we need the concerted and persistent support of the entire community, including the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, in this uphill battle. While there is steady improvement in cancer cure and control in areas such as breast cancer and thyroid cancer, we need relentless support from all quarters of society for substantial and continuous improvement in cancer care, cancer control and prevention.

     On this note, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation again to the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society for its staunch support in promoting cancer prevention and cancer care over the past 50 years. This Symposium indeed provides a valuable platform for government representatives, non-governmental organisations, professional bodies, academic institutes and private corporations to share their experience and latest know-how in furtherance of a sustainable cancer control plan for Hong Kong.

     I wish the Symposium every success, all of participants a fruitful discussion and our overseas visitors an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong.

     Thank you.