The Forum on Mainland-Hong Kong Cooperation in Innovation and Technology held today (May 15) by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government was attended by over 100 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), as well as representatives of the HKSAR Government and the technology sector. The forum discussed new opportunities brought about by opening up science and technology funding by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Ministry of Finance for application by Hong Kong higher education institutions and research institutions.

     In her address, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, highlighted that the forum was meant to brief research experts at the earliest opportunity on the newly announced guidelines of the Central Government in support of the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong and Macao.

     Under the guidelines, universities and research institutions in the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao can now bid for funding to undertake central fiscal science and technology projects, on the basis of merit and competition. The new arrangements have realised cross-boundary remittance of project funding, which the local technology sector has long been calling for.

     Mrs Lam said, "Local research will be funded by the science and technology funding of the Central Government. This will foster technological co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland and give full play to the unique advantages in technology of the two places, laying a solid foundation for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop. The policy also paves the way for building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub and provides incessant impetus for the current-term Government in spurring innovation and technology development."

     A Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Huang Wei, announced details of the new policy at the forum. Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Mr Huang Liuquan and Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Mr Tan Tieniu also addressed the forum.

     In the panel discussion hosted by the President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Timothy Tong, a number of speakers had in-depth discussions on the new policy. They are:
 

• Professor C C Chan
  Academician of the CAE
• Professor Nancy Ip
  Member of the CAS and Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies and the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Professor Pei Duanqing
  Director General of the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, CAS
• Professor Tang Xiaoou
  Co-Founder of SenseTime Group Limited
• Mr Wu Xueti
  Deputy Director General of the Department of Resource Allocation and Management, MOST

     Also attending the forum were the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; and the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Ms Annie Choi.

     The Government published today (May 15) the Consultation Report on Review of Electoral Arrangements, setting out the views received during the public consultation conducted in late 2017 and the Government's recommendations on the way forward for three issues related to electoral arrangements.

     "During the almost seven-week public consultation period, we have received more than 15,400 submissions. We also consulted Members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) at the meeting of the LegCo Panel on Constitutional Affairs, met with the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 District Councils and deputations/individuals to solicit their views during the consultation period," a Government spokesman said.

     "On regulation of election advertisements (EAs) published through the Internet (including social media), overwhelming support has been received for providing an exemption in the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (Cap. 554), such that a third party (i.e. individuals or groups that are neither the relevant candidates whose elections are promoted or prejudiced nor their election expense agents) incurring merely electricity and/or Internet access charges can be exempted from the criminal liability arising from incurring election expenses as a result of expression of views on the Internet that constitutes an EA."

     The spokesman added, "The Government plans to implement the proposed exemption through an amendment Bill to be introduced into the LegCo within 2018."

     On regulation of election surveys, the Government observes that there is yet to be a consensus in the community on the three issues raised in the Consultation Paper, including whether election surveys conducted outside the No Canvassing Zones on the polling day should be regulated, whether election surveys conducted prior to the polling day should be regulated, and whether any change should be made to the existing regulation on exit polls on the polling day. Some respondents have also raised questions on the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing any regulation. In this regard, it is proposed not to make any change to the existing regulation for the time being.

     On the polling hours, among the views received during the public consultation period, views from political parties were rather diverse, while the overwhelming majority of other written submissions were not in favour of shortening the polling hours of LegCo and District Council elections. It is proposed that the present polling hours of elections should be maintained for the time being before the Government reviews other issues related to polling hours (e.g., whether alternative arrangements could be provided for electors who are unable to go to the polling stations in person on the polling day to cast their votes), and before a consensus is reached by the community.

     The Consultation Report is available on the website of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau at www.cmab.gov.hk.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Castle Peak Hospital made the following announcement today (May 15):
 
     Twelve patients (aged 27 to 69) in a female adult psychiatric ward presented with respiratory symptoms since May 11. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Rhinovirus. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition.
 
     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 is 99 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (May 15) the May 2018 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS).

     Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains two feature articles entitled "Container Statistics, 2012 to 2017" and "The Four Key Industries and Other Selected Industries in the Hong Kong Economy".

"Container Statistics, 2012 to 2017"

     Although the container throughput decreased from 23.12 million TEUs in 2012 to 20.77 million TEUs in 2017, the port of Hong Kong was still one of the busiest ports in the world. Laden container movements between Hong Kong and the mainland of China (the Mainland) accounted for 38.1% of the laden container throughput of the port of Hong Kong in 2017. About 73.0% of the laden container movements between Hong Kong and the Mainland were in the Pearl River Delta region.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Outward Processing and Shipping Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 4889; email: shipping@censtatd.gov.hk).

"The Four Key Industries and Other Selected Industries in the Hong Kong Economy"

     The Government has been actively pursuing economic development in order to keep up the competitive advantage of Hong Kong. The traditional Four Key Industries in Hong Kong, namely financial services, tourism, trading and logistics, and professional and producer services, have been the driving force of Hong Kong's economic growth, providing impetus to growth of other sectors and creating employment. In addition, selected emerging industries, including cultural and creative industries, medical services, education services, innovation and technology, testing and certification services, and environmental industries, have also been identified as enjoying advantages for further development.

     This feature article analyses the economic contribution and employment situation in respect of the Four Key Industries and selected emerging industries in 2016.

     For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the National Income Branch, C&SD (Tel: 3903 7002; email: gdp-p@censtatd.gov.hk).

     Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 140 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp460.jsp?productCode=B1010002).

     Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Services Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).