The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will depart for Beijing in the late afternoon today (July 22) to call on relevant central ministries and institutions to discuss strengthening co-operation and exchange.

     Other members joining the visit will include the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Eddie Yue; the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ms Christina Choi; the Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Authority, Mr Clement Cheung; and the Chairman of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, Mrs Ayesha Macpherson Lau.

     Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong in the evening on July 24. During his absence, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, will act as the Financial Secretary. The Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury during Mr Hui's absence.

     â€‹As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
      
     Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
      
     The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
      
     A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees' risk of heat stroke.
      
     Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
      
     The LD issued the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work", detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers' and employees' reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department's thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.

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Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 22) 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; and Hap Mun Bay Beach and and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced that the 7th edition of the Global Fast Track (GFT), 2024 is now open for applications until September 20. The programme is open to fintech companies globally and locally, offering opportunities to pitch their cases on international stages and benefit from mentorship and business matchmaking to unleash their potential. The global finalists of the GFT's pitching competition will compete in the grand finale at Hong Kong Fintech Week (HKFW). New features this year will further strengthen Hong Kong's position as the premier international fintech hub.
 
     Global Head of Financial Services, Fintech and Sustainability at InvestHK, Mr King Leung, said, "The Global Fast Track has evolved into a fintech-friendly platform in the past few years. We have helped over 1,000 fintech companies from more than 50 economies to showcase their cutting-edge innovations and expedite their market entry in Hong Kong and beyond. We are thrilled to build on this success and continue to offer unparalleled access to a global network with more than 100 investor and corporate champions, mentors, and industry leaders through GFT 2024."
 
     Mr Leung added, "With the introduction of new features this year, we aim to further unlock the true potential of innovation within the fintech industry and provide a springboard for groundbreaking solutions to make a transformative impact. I look forward to welcoming high-caliber applicants from around the world and the remarkable outcomes that will emerge from this programme."
 
New features for GFT 2024

1. Unparalleled networking opportunities
 
These include:

• ongoing one-on-one meetings facilitated by the GFT matchmaking platform;
• Founders Champions Night (new) – Successful homegrown champions of Hong Kong who have raised funds, been acquired or expanded internationally, will join an exclusive networking session with the GFT finalists;
• More international champions (new) –  champions such as investors and financial institutions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region are onboarded to GFT to help facilitate two-way connectivity between the GCC region and Hong Kong; and    
• Investor Network Night (new) – companies can connect with key investor champions of the programme, setting the stage for them to showcase their potential growth and funding opportunities. 

  
2. Featured verticals for 2024

     In addition to the finTech and artificial intelligence tracks that have been a mainstay of GFT, the 2024 edition will introduce three new verticals: ESG/Green Fintech, Blockchain, and Insurance/HealthTech. This expansion aligns with the evolving landscape and emerging trends in the financial services industry.

     This year, semi-finalists of each track will be invited to Hong Kong to pitch in person on stage during HKFW, with the grand finale taking place on the second day. This is an unparalleled opportunity for qualified fintech innovators to showcase their profile in front of audiences numbering in the thousands, key corporates and investors looking for fintech solutions and investment opportunities. Previous winners have come from around the world including Canada, France, Israel, Mainland China, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
 
     InvestHK is excited to work alongside Finoverse, the appointed co-organiser of GFT 2024, to scale the programme to new heights. For details of the entire programme of GFT 2024 and the application process, please visit here.

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     The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (July 22) announced that as the Standby Signal No. 1 has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point will be closed at 8.30am until further notice.