Hongkong Post today (May 15) announced the postal service arrangements for the Birthday of the Buddha on May 22. No mail delivery and no mail collection will be provided. All post offices will be closed except for the General Post Office and the Airport Post Office. The business hours of the two offices will be from noon to 5pm and 8am to 5pm respectively. General postal services will be provided. Details of services available will be advertised at the respective post offices.

     For more information, customers may visit the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk or call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.

     President Xi Jinping has made an important instruction in response to a letter written to him by 24 Hong Kong academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, expressing concern about cross-border remittance of science and technology project funding to Hong Kong. The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance have promulgated provisions on opening up science and technology funding of the Central Government for application by higher education institutions and research institutions in Hong Kong, which include the arrangements on cross-border remittance of approved project funding to Hong Kong, with a view to further enhancing the role of the local technology sector in promoting national technological advancement. The HKSAR Government welcomes the initiative.

     A Government spokesman said today (May 14), "We are very thankful to President Xi for personally making the instruction which affirms that Hong Kong has a solid technological foundation and a pool of quality scientific and technological talents, and recognises the significant contribution made by Hong Kong’s science and technology sector to the development of Hong Kong and the country. The instruction also mentions that the Central Government will promote collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland on the technology front and support Hong Kong to become an international innovation and technology hub. All these have been most encouraging to the science and technology sector in Hong Kong.

     "We welcome and much appreciate the Central Government's support to allow universities and research institutions in Hong Kong to apply for science and technology funding of the Central Government and use the funding here in Hong Kong. This is not only a significant breakthrough in Mainland-Hong Kong technological collaboration, but also a response to the calls of the local academia and research sector. The current-term Government is committed to promoting scientific research and the development of innovation and technology. We believe that the new policy on allowing cross-border remittance of research funding will inject further impetus into our research sector and encourage local technology talents to collaborate with the Mainland and participate in major technology missions of the country. Besides, it will help leverage Hong Kong’s advantages in scientific research and its internationalised position in pooling together innovation resources in the Bay Area and across the world, and jointly developing the Bay Area into an international innovation and technology high ground."

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited Bangkok, Thailand, today (May 14). She attended the 74th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and also met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Somkid Jatusripitak.
 
     In the morning, Mrs Lam delivered a keynote speech at the opening of the Ministerial Segment of the 74th session of ESCAP with “Inequality in the Era of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” as the theme. She shared with participants Hong Kong’s experience in promoting social inclusion and environmental protection to achieve sustainable development. 
 
     Mrs Lam said that the successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland has laid the foundation for the city's continued prosperity and stability. She added that Hong Kong will seize the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative and strive to promote economic development, which she stressed should be inclusive and beneficial to all.
 
     Noting that Hong Kong is one of the safest and most efficient cities in the world and has accumulated a lot of experience in city management, covering areas such as firefighting, flood prevention, slope stabilisation, aviation safety and railway operation, she said Hong Kong is pleased to help and share experience in capacity building with emerging economies, as part of the city’s contribution to the promotion of people-to-people bonds in the global environment. On environmental protection, Mrs Lam outlined Hong Kong’s targets and actions in combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions. She said that various countries should embrace greater co-operation across political, economic and social boundaries to achieve the common goals.

     At noon, Mrs Lam attended a lunch hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister to exchange views on strengthening co-operation between Hong Kong and Thailand. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to note that the Thai Government responded positively to her proposal in the Policy Address delivered last year to establish in Bangkok the third Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and that preparatory work is making good progress. It is hoped that the Office can commence operation early next year.

     In the afternoon, Mrs Lam met with the Head of the China delegation to the 74th session of ESCAP, Mr Zhang Jun. She expressed her gratitude to the Central Government for its support for the participation of Hong Kong as an associate member in the annual session of ESCAP and related work over the years. Also attending the meeting were the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr Lyu Jian, and the Permanent Representative of China to ESCAP, Mr Li Hong.
　　
     Mrs Lam departed Bangkok after the meeting and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Kwai Chung this afternoon (May 14) in which an 87-year-old man died.

     At about 1.23pm, a public light bus (PLB) driven by a 64-year-old man was travelling along Kwai Yi Road towards Kwai Foo Road. When approaching MTR Kwai Fong Station, it reportedly knocked down the 87-year-old man who was crossing the road.

     Sustaining serious head injuries, the man was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in conscious state and was certified dead at 3.38pm.

     The PLB driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1300.

     A woman aged 63 was convicted at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 14) for practice of Chinese medicine without registration and possession of unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm). She was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and a fine of $10,000 respectively.

     The Police and the Department of Health (DH) conducted a joint operation and raided a moxibustion rehabilitation centre at Nan Fung Centre in Tsuen Wan on November 15, 2016. Investigations revealed that the woman provided moxibustion in the premises and a quantity of unregistered moxa sticks was also seized during the operation.

     "The DH is very concerned about the potential health risks arising from non-professionals applying Chinese medicine-based treatment," a spokesman for the DH said.

     "Moxibustion is regarded as one of the Chinese medicine therapies if traditional Chinese medicine theory is applied. It involves the stimulation of acupoints through burning moxa sticks. Through the effects of heat and medicine, it can regulate meridians and collaterals, and relieve pain. Improper use can lead to skin burns and infections. In addition, use of unregistered pCm may also pose threats to public health as the safety, quality and efficacy are not proven," the spokesman explained.

     According to section 108 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap 549), any person who practises Chinese medicine while not being a registered Chinese medicine practitioner or listed Chinese medicine practitioner in Hong Kong commits a criminal offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $100,000 and to three years' imprisonment. In addition, according to section 119 of the Ordinance, no person shall sell, import or possess any pCm unless it is registered. The maximum penalty for each offence is $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.

      Members of the public should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional when feeling sick, and should make a report to the Police if illegal Chinese medicine practice is suspected. In addition, a list of registered and listed Chinese medicine practitioners has been uploaded to the website of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK) (www.cmchk.org.hk) for viewing. The public can also call the Secretariat of the CMCHK (Tel: 2121 1888) for related enquiries.