Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a public function today (August 16):

Reporter: As there might be a big outbreak in Hong Kong, what measures have been taken to prevent the outbreak?

Secretary for Food and Health: On the day before yesterday, there were four (local) dengue fever cases in total within one day. We are very concerned about the situation and we want to reduce the risk of any outbreak. Therefore, it is important for us to take a number of measures including the mosquito control by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). There would be a territory-wide campaign. On one hand, the FEHD is working on different sites, trying to eliminate mosquito breeding at the source. On the other hand, I think it is also important for everybody in the community to be alert, pay attention to mosquito prevention and do whatever they need to do. Government departments such as those responsible for the management of parks and private housing estates should take appropriate measures. Those are some of the possible sources of mosquito breeding, especially there was heavy rain in the last few days. The Centre for Health Protection will continue the surveillance on dengue fever. In collaboration with the Hospital Authority (HA), they have already established an e-Dengue platform so that we can better track new cases of dengue fever coming to HA.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Rating and Valuation Department will issue today (August 16) about 330 000 requisition forms asking payers of rates and/or government rent to provide details of rents and other terms of tenancies for different categories of properties.

     A spokesman for the department said the rental information collected would be used to prepare a new round of general revaluation.

     "The general revaluation will better reflect prevailing market rents of properties. The new rateable values will take effect from April 1, 2019," the spokesman said.

     Rates and/or government rent payers should complete and return the forms within 21 days. They can also complete and return the forms by using the Electronic Submission of Forms service provided at the department's website (www.rvd.gov.hk).

     Rates and/or government rent payers are reminded to affix sufficient postage if they return the forms by post to ensure timely and successful postal delivery.

     Anyone having difficulty in completing and returning the forms within the specified period must apply in writing for an extension of time before the end of the stipulated period and should state their reasons. 

     Anyone who knowingly makes a false statement or refuses to furnish any of the particulars specified in the form commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 or $10,000 respectively. They will also be fined an amount equivalent to three times the rates and/or government rent undercharged.

     Enquiries on how to complete the form can be made by calling the number printed on the form, or visiting the department at 15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon. 

     The department's website also provides answers to commonly asked questions on completing the form.

     Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, at the Grand Challenges for Engineering Symposium today (August 16):
      
Professor Zhang (President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Professor Xiang Zhang), Tim (President of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences and President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Timothy Tong), Professor Grubbs (2005 Chemistry Nobel Laureate and Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry at California Institute of Technology, Professor Robert Grubbs), distinguished guests and speakers, ladies and gentlemen,
      
     Good morning. First of all, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our overseas guests. 
      
     I am honoured to attend the Grand Challenges for Engineering Symposium today and address such a distinguished group of engineers and scholars. 
      
     I would like to thank the University of Hong Kong and the US National Academy of Engineering for bringing this remarkable Symposium to Hong Kong. The Grand Challenges for Engineering Symposium is not only connecting academic leaders from around the world, but also inspiring and developing the next generation of talent to tackle the biggest challenges in engineering, while advancing the well-being of society and mankind. Today's Symposium resonates well with the HKSAR Government's innovation and technology agenda, that is, to pool together global and local talent to establish Hong Kong as a hub in using innovation and technology to address social challenges.
      
     During the past two years, we have accelerated ahead with new programmes and invested an unprecedented HK$78 billion to support our innovation and technology development. These include infrastructure improvements such as provision of free electronic identity or eID to all our residents in two years' time, and mega projects such as development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park located right at the boundary of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. We are also providing and facilitating more funding support to researchers and the industry, incubation for start-ups, training and re-tooling of talent and incentives for attracting overseas R&D institutions to set up research bases in Hong Kong. We have also broken new ground by providing the first ever super tax deduction to companies of up to 300 per cent for R&D expenditures, and we are rolling out new talent schemes to facilitate admission of sought-after technology talent from the Mainland and overseas.
      
     A grand engineering challenge is not just about achieving academic excellence or overcoming technical challenges, but utilising knowledge and innovation to improve the well-being of the society as a whole. That hinges on the availability of inquisitive talent. Our local universities excel in research excellence as well as knowledge transfer. HKU has long been considered a wellspring of ideas and fertile ground for creative talent. I would like to highlight two projects originating from the young engineers of the Faculty of Engineering of HKU. The first project developed smart and environmental friendly Passive LED Power Driver Lighting Technology which was awarded the Gold Medal with Special Recognition at the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva in April 2018, and it is undergoing trial on the streets of Hong Kong. Another project is the fabrication of strong and ductile multi-phase Super Steel which won the TechConnect Global Innovation Award at the World Innovation Conference & Expo in May 2018. These are very encouraging achievements indeed.
      
     In closing, I would like to pay tribute to the University of Hong Kong's continuing efforts in nurturing our next generation of engineers and innovators. I am most grateful to all the speakers and panelists of the Symposium for sharing your invaluable knowledge, experience and insights to inspire our young minds. Have a great and enjoyable conference today! 
      
     Thank you very much.

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 16) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Pui O Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Tong Fuk Beach in Islands District; Hap Mun Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the first plenary meeting of the leading group for the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a member at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing today (August 15). The meeting was hosted and convened by the Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng, to discuss and plan for priority areas of work for the next stage of the Bay Area's development. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, sat in on the meeting as working staff.

      Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to the Central Government for setting up the leading group as a top-tier body to advance the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and strengthen its co-ordination. Noting that Hong Kong's integration into the development of the Bay Area will enrich the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" and is conducive to maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, she said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will seize the opportunity and collaborate fully in the development of the Bay Area.
 
     She reported at the meeting the latest work progress of Hong Kong on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub, including the advancement of I&T development by the HKSAR Government in accordance with the eight-pronged approach set out in the Policy Address delivered last year, establishment of a presence in the two research clusters to be set up at the Hong Kong Science Park by the Chinese Academy of Sciences for its research institutions to enable collaboration with local higher education institutions or research and development (R&D) centres for R&D projects; a co-operation arrangement to be signed between the national Ministry of Science and Technology and the Innovation and Technology Bureau of the HKSAR Government to promote exchanges and collaboration on science and technology; and the establishment of a Bay Area academician alliance in Hong Kong to promote the participation of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering in the development of the Bay Area.
 
     In the evening, Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, as well as Mr Nip and Mr Chan, visited China Railway Corporation (CR) to meet with the General Manager of CR, Mr Lu Dongfu, and tour its dispatch and command centre. The centre is responsible for monitoring the operation and dispatch of the major rail lines in the Mainland to ensure their smooth running.
 
     Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to CR for its staunch support in the construction of and operational arrangements for the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) over the years. She said that after her meeting with Mr Lu in Beijing in August last year, the two parties immediately established a High-Level Liaison Mechanism to discuss regularly the operational arrangements and financial matters in relation to the Hong Kong Section of the XRL. In the past year, five High-Level Liaison Mechanism meetings have been held and the sixth meeting will be held tomorrow (August 16). The two parties also signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Arrangements for Preparation of Key Operational Issues for the Hong Kong Section of the XRL in January this year, marking the reaching of consensus in principle on financial and operational matters.
 
     Mrs Lam particularly thanked CR for including Guilin and Kunming, which are popular travel places for Hong Kong people, as destinations for direct long-haul services, as well as improving train frequency, adjusting the train pairs flexibly according to passenger flow, lowering significantly the service fees for selling Mainland journey tickets at counters at West Kowloon Station, and supporting the study on enhancing the Mainland ticketing system to allow Hong Kong people to purchase Mainland journey tickets directly online free of service fees in the future. She invited Mr Lu to visit Hong Kong to attend the commencement ceremony of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL in late September to witness the commissioning of the new cross-boundary infrastructure of Hong Kong.
 
      Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (August 16).