Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session after the reception in celebration of the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China held by the Compatriots of Commercial and Industrial Circles of Hong Kong today (September 14).

Reporter: Mrs Lam, we see that the Government is actually getting ready early to prepare for this storm and is bracing for the strong impact. Why is the Government taking such a cautious approach? Are you afraid this might actually cause people to panic more? And also, will important infrastructure such as express rail or West Kowloon terminus or even the bridge infrastructure be under danger under the strong winds?

Chief Executive: We are taking every step to prepare Hong Kong for this typhoon because we are advised that this is a super typhoon. If you read the news, both local and overseas news, you will see that this is really a very big storm, and over the last few months, including up to this moment, parts of the world are also affected by very severe typhoons. So, in Hong Kong we have a duty as the Government to make all the necessary preparations. The preparations include mobilising all the relevant departments to take precautionary measures, and also include, during the typhoon, we need to be able to respond effectively in order to mitigate any damage or any loss of life and injuries. And the third prong of our strategy is, after the typhoon, I have given the instruction that we should restore the city back to its normal state as soon as possible.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)  
 

     A chain supermarket was convicted and fined $5,500 today (September 14) at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts for supplying short-weight fruit, in contravention of the Weights and Measures Ordinance (WMO).

     Customs officers earlier conducted a test-buy operation at a supermarket in Sham Shui Po and bought a pack of pre-packed red grapes with a declared net weight of 914 grams.

     Upon examination by the Government Laboratory, it was confirmed that the red grape pack was short in weight by 72.1 grams.

     Customs officers then conducted an operation against the supermarket and seized 29 packs of pre-packed red grapes with declared net weight ranging from 766 to 984 grams.

     Examination by the Government Laboratory revealed that the red grape packs were short in weight ranging from 57 to 96.6 grams.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the WMO. Under the WMO, any person who in the course of trade supplies goods to another person by weight or measure should supply the goods in net weight or net measure. Any shortage of the quantity purporting to be supplied is an offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $10,000.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the WMO to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, attended the opening plenary of the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) co-organised by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in San Francisco, the United States, this morning (September 13, San Francisco time). At the summit, global political and business leaders as well as different stakeholders held an in-depth conversation on the benefits of delivering a clean energy economy and discussed the urgent need to address the impact of climate change on human life and prosperity. 

     In the afternoon, Mr Wong departed for Facebook Headquarters, where he toured the campus and met with the Director of Sustainability, Mr Edward Palmieri, and the Strategic Initiatives Manager, Ms Chaya Nayak, to understand more on the company's initiatives related to sustainable development and its leading role during natural disasters and other crises.

     Mr Wong then visited the Salesforce Transit Center, a newly opened intermodal transit station for bus and rail services, to see its green building features. The building was awarded the US Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold rating.

     Mr Wong will continue his itinerary at the GCAS tomorrow (September 14, San Francisco time), when he will deliver a speech on Hong Kong's efforts in mitigating climate change.

              

     The celebrated Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia – Roma will make its Hong Kong debut with two acclaimed young pianists, under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano, in November.
 
     The first concert, with an all-Russian programme, will be held on November 22 (Thursday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, while the second concert, which will be staged on November 23 (Friday) at the same auditorium, comprises a "feast" of Beethoven.
 
     To supplement these not-to-be-missed concerts, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise two fringe activities for audiences. On October 24 (Wednesday), a film entitled "The Italian Character" will be screened at 7.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum, to be followed by a post-screening talk. The event is co-presented by the LCSD and the Italian Cultural Institute. "The Italian Character" won the Platinum Remi Production Award at the WorldFest Houston and second place in the Globo d'Oro's Best Documentary Film awards. Featuring details about the planning process for an orchestral concert and interviews with players and the conductor, the audience will gain insights into a fascinating world that is usually concealed.
 
     Savio Lau, the editor of a local Hi-fi magazine, will share his views on the documentary and the orchestra after the screening. The film is in English, Italian and Russian with English subtitles (in parts) while the talk will be conducted in Cantonese and supplemented in English. Admission is free with limited seats available on a first come, first served basis. Online registration can be made at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_600.html from now onwards.
 
     One week later, Lau will select and play recordings of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia – Roma over the years. As well as listening to the music, which will be played on high-end hi-fi equipment to provide superb sound quality, the audience will be entertained by Lau and music critics Edison Hung and Chui Yuen as they elaborate on the history and style of the orchestra. This event will be held at 7.30pm on October 31 ((Wednesday) at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Tickets priced at $100 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_608.html.

     The Innovation and Technology Commission today (September 14) invited Hong Kong residents of Chinese nationality with significant achievements in science and technology to submit entries for the 2019 State Technological Invention Award (STIA) and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award (SSTPA).

     The STIA and SSTPA are two award categories under the State Science and Technology Awards administered by the State Council. The Commission has been entrusted by the National Office for Science and Technology Awards to co-ordinate nominations from Hong Kong for the two awards since 2002.

     "The State Science and Technology Awards are highly prestigious in the national science and technology sector. They aim to recognise outstanding contributions to scientific and technological progress by citizens and organisations, commend the enthusiasm and creativity of scientists and technologists, accelerate the development of scientific and technological undertakings, and enhance overall national strength. We encourage local scientists and technologists to submit entries for the Awards," a spokesman for the Commission said.

     Entries for the 2019 STIA and SSTPA in Hong Kong will close on October 15, 2018. Details are available on www.itc.gov.hk/en/ssta. For enquiries, please contact the Innovation and Technology Commission (Tel: 2810 3904; email: ssta@itc.gov.hk).