Police yesterday (July 28) reclassified a body found case in Wong Tai Sin on July 27 as murder.
      
     At about 6.45pm on July 27, Police received a report from a man that his 46-year-old younger sister was found unconscious in a flat on Yuk Wah Crescent.
      
     Police officers sped to the scene and located the woman lying on bed. Sustaining facial and neck injuries, she was certified dead at scene. Initial post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was asphyxiation.
      
     Upon further investigation, Police believed that the deceased had a dispute with a 43-year-old man over relationship issues. During the dispute, it is suspected that the deceased was strangled by the man with his hands and lost her breath. The man was arrested for murder yesterday. He is being detained for further enquiries.

     Active investigation by the District Crime Squad of Wong Tai Sin District is underway.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session in Laos today (July 29):
 
Chief Executive: Media friends from Laos, Hong Kong and beyond, this is the first official visit by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to Laos. I attach great importance to this visit.
 
     Joining me this time are a strong delegation of some 30 high-level representatives from such sectors as industry and commerce, financial services, transport, logistics, innovation and technology and tourism; also a team of senior officials of the HKSAR Government.
 
     Laos is the first stop of our visit in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
 
     Earlier this morning, I had the pleasure of meeting the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
 
     I expressed my gratitude to the Lao Government, the ASEAN Chair for 2024, for supporting Hong Kong’s accession to the RCEP.
 
     In the afternoon, our delegation visited Vientiane Secondary School. I am pleased to see the young and energetic students are learning Chinese in class.
 
     We then visited two flagship projects of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Saysettha Development Zone and Vientiane Railway Station, the terminal of China-Laos Railway.
 
     I am pleased to learn that the railway has brought great benefits to the Lao people and opened up a new path for Laos' development.
 
     In a moment, I am joining a dinner with representatives of the Lao Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
 
     Our two-day visit in Laos is fruitful, with a total of 12 MoUs being exchanged, covering a broad range of areas, from trade and economic partnership, investment promotion, customs collaboration, education exchange, logistics co-operation, to financial services and services development.
 
     Looking ahead, I believe Hong Kong and Laos will have huge potentials and opportunities for co-operation, and there is ample room to grow in terms of trade and people-to-people exchange. Thank you.
 
Reporter: I have two questions. First, what specific projects are you most excited during this visit and how do you believe they will benefit Hong Kong and Laos? Second, in your opinion, what are the unique strengths that Hong Kong companies bring to the table when partnering with countries like Laos? How do you see those strengths fostering mutual growth and developments? Thank you.
 
Chief Executive: Regarding the project initiatives which I am most excited about, I must, first of all, emphasise that this is the first official visit of a Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Laos. We value our bourgeoning bilateral relations, and this is demonstrated by the scale of my delegation, which comprises several of my top officials and some 30 Hong Kong business leaders from prominent sectors such as finance, legal services, logistics, creative industries and others. I was excited, during my visit to Laos this time, that a number of MoUs – a total of 12 – have been exchanged. They covered a broad range of areas, including trade and economic partnership, investment promotion, customs collaboration, education exchange, logistics co-operation and financial services. As shown in the number and coverage of the MoUs, the anticipated collaboration between Laos and Hong Kong will be more than ever before, while Hong Kong companies and businesses can seize the opportunities to tap into a young and promising market in Laos to develop emerging industries jointly.
 
     During my time in Vientiane, I visited the Saysettha Development Zone and the Vientiane Railway Station, the terminal of China-Laos Railway, which is a flagship project of our country's Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong plays a significant role in the Belt and Road Initiative due to its strategic location, well-established financial infrastructure, profound expertise in trade and investment, and world-class professional services. We are eager to support the development of Belt and Road projects in Laos.
 
     I also visited a secondary school, and I was glad to see so many young and energetic students. Many of them are learning Chinese in class. Hong Kong is one of the world's leading higher education centres, with five universities ranking among the top 100 globally. Promising Lao secondary school graduates may receive our scholarships offered to Belt and Road countries, including Laos, to study in universities in Hong Kong. It is our aim to play a positive role in the development of human capital in Laos. Concurrently, students from Hong Kong have much to learn from interacting with their peers from Laos.
 
     In regard to the strengths that Hong Kong-based companies can offer, I think the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) present tremendous business and investment opportunities. Hong Kong plays strategic roles in these two big projects. We are a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" under these initiatives, and this is because of, first of all, our strategic location, our well-established financial infrastructure, profound expertise in trade and investment and world-class professional services. With our unique advantage under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is an ideal gateway for the Laotian business sector to tap into the GBA market and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. Lao companies, particularly as Laos is a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative, are encouraged to make use of Hong Kong's financial, logistics and professional services to expand overseas and to explore the vast Mainland market.
 
     Hong Kong is an international financial centre. It has various investment schemes – we call them "Connect Schemes" – for investment opportunities into the Mainland and also the international markets. So I think Lao capital, and Lao enterprises and investors can think of using Hong Kong to help them in their investment opportunities.
 
     And also, Hong Kong has long been a renowned centre for international arbitration, and is the only jurisdiction to have an agreement with the Mainland on reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments with such a wide coverage. We can provide international legal and dispute resolution services for enterprises, and help businesses in the Belt and Road region to explore the Mainland market. So opportunities abound, and I believe that more co-operation in the business sector between the two places and people-to-people exchange will help producing good benefits to the two peoples.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

  

     â€‹The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (July 29) led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation to continue their visit in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Mr Lee met with leaders of the Lao government, and visited a local school, an enterprise and a railway project. He also attended a business dinner to exchange views with local business leaders.

     In the morning, Mr Lee and his delegation met with key members of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr Lee said that with the support of such national strategies as the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development, Hong Kong is an important platform connecting the Mainland with the world. He encouraged Lao enterprises to make use of Hong Kong’s financial, logistics and professional services to expand overseas, and to explore the vast Mainland market.

     Mr Lee then respectively met with the Prime Minister of Laos, Mr Sonexay Siphandone, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

     Mr Lee said that Hong Kong attaches great importance to its close collaboration with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Laos. As the first Chief Executive of the HKSAR visiting Laos, Mr Lee said he hopes to lead his team to explore partnerships with Laos in different areas and contribute to the co-operation between China and Laos under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

     Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is actively seeking accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in order to further contribute to the economic development of the region. Noting that the Lao government has assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN this year, Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Lao government for acknowledging Hong Kong's potential contribution, and its continuous and strong support to Hong Kong's accession to the RCEP.
     Mr Lee and Mr Saleumxay also jointly witnessed the exchange of 12 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between organisations and enterprises of the two places in areas including customs collaboration, investment promotion, trade and economic partnership, financial services, education exchange and so on.

     Mr Lee noted that the conclusion of the series of MoUs between Hong Kong and Laos will promote the connections between the two places across various fields. He said that it will also allow Hong Kong enterprises to seize the opportunities in entering the market of Laos, grasping the abundant development potential of Laos, and jointly developing emerging industries.

     In the afternoon, Mr Lee visited a secondary school in Laos to tour teaching facilities and watch a performance by students. Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government has set up the Belt and Road Scholarship to support outstanding students from countries and regions along the Belt and Road, including Laos, to pursue full-time studies in publicly-funded universities of Hong Kong. He looked forward to more talent from Laos staying in Hong Kong for development in the future.

     Afterwards, Mr Lee visited the Saysettha Development Zone, a new economic zone in Vientiane. The development zone is a key co-operation project between the governments of China and Laos, and is the only state-level overseas economic and trade co-operation zone established by China in Laos. Currently, about 150 companies from nine countries and regions have settled in the zone.

     Mr Lee also visited Solarspace Technology (Laos) Sole Co. Ltd in the development zone to learn more about its business in manufacturing solar cells and modules. He highlighted that the HKSAR Government is committed to combatting climate change, with the target of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. He expressed his hope that Hong Kong and Laos enterprises could have more co-operation opportunities in new energy.

     Mr Lee and his delegation then visited Vientiane Station, the terminal station of the China-Laos Railway, to understand more about the operation of the railway. The China-Laos Railway is a flagship project of China-Laos co-operation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, playing a significant role in connecting the two countries. Mr Lee said that the China-Laos Railway has greatly shortened the transportation time for cargo and passengers between the two countries, and helped to promote people-to-people exchange. As an international trade and shipping centre, and a regional aviation hub, Hong Kong possesses a high-quality logistics service sector that could share its experience with Lao enterprises, supporting the development of the regional logistics industry in Laos, he added.

     In the evening, Mr Lee attended a dinner with the Lao Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Speaking at the dinner, Mr Lee introduced the latest development opportunities of Hong Kong to local business leaders, as well as the HKSAR Government's measures in strengthening connections between the peoples and business communities of the two places.

     The delegation led by Mr Lee will depart for Phnom Penh, Cambodia tomorrow (July 30) to continue the visit programme.

                                                      

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 29) following up a cluster of Candida auris carrier cases involving a total of six residents at a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE) in Kowloon City, and reminded members of the public about the proper use of antimicrobials and maintaining personal hygiene against infection.

     The CHP received notification from the Hospital Authority that a 78-year-old male resident of the aforementioned RCHE, who was earlier admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and had contact with a known carrier case at the hospital, was confirmed to have carried Candida auris upon testing a week later when he was already discharged back to RCHE, while another 96-year-old female resident of the RCHE was confirmed to have carried Candida auris upon admission screening.

     Upon receiving the notification, the CHP conducted further epidemiological investigation at the RCHE and found that the two aforementioned residents had contacts during their stay in the RCHE. Also, contact screening revealed another four carrier cases involving four female residents aged between 89 and 100. One of them had contacts with the 78-year-old male resident, while the remaining three share room with the 96-year-old female resident mentioned above. The six of them, with underlying illnesses, have no symptoms of infection, and are in stable condition.

     The CHP is continuing its investigation on the infection source of the cluster and a site inspection has been conducted. It is found that the first case (78-year-old male resident) was discharged without knowing the carrier status and the infection spread within the RCHE concerned before appropriate infection control measures have been implemented. 

     The CHP has provided infection control advice and training to staff of the RCHE. The RCHE is advised to follow the prevailing guidelines to enhance infection control measures including appropriate placement of carrier residents, strict implementation of contact precautions, enhancement of environmental cleansing and disinfection, use of dedicated medical equipment, toilet and bathing facilities to prevent the spread of Candida auris. The CHP will keep in close liaison with the RCHE concerned, monitor the situation of the residents and ensure the RCHE has carried out the various infection control measures.

     A spokesman for the CHP explained that Candida is a fungus commonly found in the natural environment, particularly in moist and warm environments. In humans, it is commonly found in body sites such as the oral cavity, the digestive tract, the skin and the vagina. It is a common fungus living on or in the human body but can occasionally cause infections, especially in individuals with impaired immunity.

     â€‹â€‹Among the different candida species, Candida auris is more drug-resistant. Infections vary from being mild to potentially life-threatening or fatal, depending on which part of the body is affected and the general health condition of the patient. The spokesman stressed that proper use of antimicrobials and maintaining personal hygiene, especially hand hygiene, are crucial to the prevention of the emergence and cross-transmission of Candida auris.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired the 16th meeting of the Youth Development Commission (YDC) today (July 29). 
      
     At the meeting, members were briefed by government representatives on the latest implementation matters of the Youth Development Blueprint. They were pleased to note that policy bureaux and departments have been taking forward more than 160 measures as stated in the Blueprint, and nearly 60 new measures put forward last year, at full steam to support the growth and development of young people in an all-round manner.
 
     The progress of the various youth development initiatives under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the YDC, from among those measures, is summarised as follows:

     (1) The HYAB is actively preparing to organise the Youth Development Summit scheduled to be held on August 10 this year as the opening and highlight of the 2024 Youth Festival. Under the theme "Set Sail for New Horizons", the Summit has invited key officials responsible for youth policies, technology innovators, experts from creative industries, young entrepreneurs, representatives of youth organisations, etc as guest speakers. The HYAB has also recruited local young people and invited youth groups from the Mainland and overseas to participate in the event in Hong Kong; 

     (2) The HYAB and the YDC continue to implement various Mainland and overseas exchange and internship programmes, and have launched for the first time the Pilot Scheme on Subsidy to Grassroots Youth for Participating in Exchange Activities Outside Hong Kong to provide additional subsidies to grassroots youths, to encourage more young people of different backgrounds to broaden their horizons and explore development opportunities; 

     (3) In March this year, the HYAB launched the mobile application for youth "HKYouth+" as a one-stop platform to disseminate diversified information on various youth development programmes, covering a number of areas such as national development, arts and culture and entertainment, innovative technology, and physical and mental wellbeing. It enables young people to explore suitable activities and development opportunities based on their needs and interests; 

     (4) The HYAB and the YDC launched in April this year a new round of the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases under the Youth Development Fund. Through providing entrepreneurial support and incubation services in the GBA for young people of Hong Kong, the two funding schemes help them address the initial capital needs and cope with the challenges in setting up their business. A total of 80 applications by non-governmental organisations were received in the current round of the two funding schemes, an increase of about 40 per cent compared with the previous round; 

     (5) The HYAB has subsidised various youth uniformed groups to enhance national education promotion efforts. It has also organised five rounds of a Chinese Drill Instructors Workshop together with the Hong Kong Police College and the Civil Aid Service. A total of more than 270 instructors have been trained, enabling all youth uniformed groups to have formally trained instructors to teach Chinese footdrills. In addition, the Tsing Yi Community Isolation Facility has been converted into the Youth Development and National Education Base, which is managed by the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association. It has been available for use by youth uniformed groups starting in April this year for holding activities, including flag raising, footdrill training and other youth development activities; and 

     (6) The HYAB has been continuously organising a number of activities for the Youth Link to link up participants of various government youth programmes, provide them with a wide range of opportunities to develop diverse talent, and strengthen their interaction and trust with the Government. More than 10 000 youths have joined the Youth Link. 
     â€‹
     Mr Chan said, "The Government has been working with the YDC to continuously take forward and deepen youth development work through the Blueprint. The various measures in the Blueprint have achieved good progress in its implementation. I would like to thank all members of the YDC for their active participation in the publicity and implementation of the Blueprint. I hope that the YDC will continue to work closely with various bureaux and departments to steadfastly nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, and, equipped with global perspective, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking."