Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this afternoon (July 28), on concluding his visit to three ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states:
 
Reporter: May I know how you think this trip helped to consolidate Hong Kong’s position in the ASEAN region, and also because you mentioned that the three countries support Hong Kong’s bid to join the RCEP. But is there any progress on this? And also, how do you respond to the Washington Post reports that you’ve been blocked from joining the APEC later this year? And because you mentioned that there will be some rules like for the APEC host to invite people joining the APEC, so will you have any countermeasures? Thank you.
 
Chief Executive: I attach great importance to Hong Kong’s relation with ASEAN member states, and that is one of the key purposes of our visit this week. I’m very pleased and satisfied that the leaders of the three countries that we have visited all attach similar importance to our visit, and we have started very good dialogue and built up our friendship. We have already come to quite a clear consensus that co-operation is the way forward and we should expand co-operation and enhance exchange of knowledge and experience, because we all believe co-operation will help each other.
 
     The relationship between Hong Kong and ASEAN member states has always been good. This has been so during my day-to-day contacts with representatives of ASEAN states in Hong Kong, and also it is a very clear impression and feeling that we came across during our visit in this week. With the support of the 10 countries of ASEAN for Hong Kong to get into the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) as a member, we feel, of course, very happy and grateful for the support. We do think that Hong Kong can contribute to the overall value creation of the region once we have become a member because Hong Kong is a free economy, we have a lot of strengths and professional services that we can offer to regional co-operation, and the RCEP represents about one-third of economic activities and population, and the economic engine for growth is going to be Asia and this region, so it will be a win-win situation if we can successfully join the RCEP. I, of course, have good optimism but we are also pragmatic because the procedure to get a session to be a member of the RCEP is a process that will be designed and also started by RCEP member states and the RCEP secretariat. But we will work tirelessly to ensure that our case is well made out to member states and the values that we can create will be beneficial to regional co-operation.
 
     Regarding APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), I have made my position very clear and I have made it clear many times openly. First of all, APEC is an international organisation that has guidelines, protocols and conventions to operate. And it is the guidelines, protocols and conventions of APEC for the host economy or country to extend invitation to the leaders of the member economies. Hong Kong is a member economy of APEC. I would expect the host economy to act in accordance with APEC rules, guidelines and conventions to issue invitations to the leaders of the member economies. It has been the practice for so many years and we have been acting in accordance with these rules, guidelines and conventions. Hong Kong will participate in APEC meeting in accordance with these rules and guidelines.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

    

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation to continue their visit in Malaysia today (July 28). He visited local major enterprises, attended a business luncheon and exchanged views with local political and business leaders.

     In the morning, Mr Lee and the delegation had breakfast at a local hawker centre. They then visited a major Malaysian conglomerate, Berjaya Corporation Berhad, to understand its diversified businesses, including the development of its retail business in Hong Kong. Mr Lee encouraged the corporation to use Hong Kong as an important platform to tap into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) market, expanding its businesses in Hong Kong and other GBA cities.

     At noon, Mr Lee attended a business luncheon jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Addressing the luncheon, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is bestowed with the unique advantages of having the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected with the world under “one country, two systems”, and that he looked forward to more enterprises of Malaysia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to come to Hong Kong and explore business opportunities.

     Enterprises and institutions of Hong Kong and Malaysia also signed 11 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and agreements in areas including trade, finance, railway and property development, digital transformation, and financial technology.

     Mr Lee then visited another Malaysian conglomerate, Sunway Group, to tour the medical and elderly facilities in Sunway City and understand the group’s business development. He introduced the HKSAR Government’s latest policy and measures in attracting talents and enterprises, and encouraged the group to expand its investment and trade in Hong Kong. 

     Mr Lee then met the media with the accompanying Principal Officials; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Dr Peter Lam; and some members of the delegation, to conclude the visit. Mr Lee said that he has led the delegation to visit Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia in turn, to promote Hong Kong’s advantages to local political and business leaders, and made achievements in five areas:

     1. The Chief Executive has built friendship and communication with the leaders of the three countries, and established communication with the Secretary-General of ASEAN;

     2. Over the past week, a total of 33 MOUs and agreements have been signed with different organisations of the three countries. The number of MOUs and agreements signed was the highest among similar trips and they cover such areas as trading and commerce, investment, finance, innovation and technology, logistics, academic research and cultural exchange. They signify that the importance accorded to Hong Kong has far exceeded expectations;

     3. Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia have reaffirmed their support to Hong Kong’s accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership;

     4. The HKSAR Government and the Government of Singapore have agreed to reconvene the civil service exchange programme suspended earlier due to the pandemic; and

     5. The Government of Malaysia has extended the visa-free entry for holders of the HKSAR passport to Malaysia from one month to 90 days, benefitting all holders of the HKSAR passport.

     Mr Lee and the delegation will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (July 29).

                              

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 28) investigating a confirmed case of botulism, and appealed to members of the public to seek medical advice immediately if they develop symptoms of botulism.

     The case involved a 59-year-old male patient who works in Hong Kong but lives in Shenzhen. He presented with symptoms including limbs weakness, blurring of vision and slurring of speech since July 13, and was admitted to North District Hospital on the same day and stays in the Intensive Care Unit. The clinical diagnosis was botulism. He is in critical condition. His stool specimen tested positive for DNA of botulinum neurotoxin gene. Epidemiological investigation of the case is ongoing.

     “Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The bacteria produces spores that are heat-resistant and exist widely in the environment. In the absence of oxygen, the spores germinate, grow and excrete botulinum toxins. The toxins can block nerve functions, so patients may experience drooping of the eyelids, double vision or blurred vision, problems with chewing, hoarseness of voice or even difficulties in swallowing, speaking or breathing, and even lead to paralysis,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The spokesman appealed to the public to seek medical advice immediately if they develop symptoms of botulism. They can also visit CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/24/44865.html) for related information. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 28) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting 11 persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hyg… read more

     The Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, today (July 28) congratulated Hong Kong swimming athlete Siobhan Bernadette Haughey on winning a silver medal in the Women’s 100m Freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan.
 
     Mr Lau said, “Siobhan Bernadette Haughey performed at her best and demonstrated superb skills in the competition, winning a silver medal for Hong Kong. I am so glad and very proud of her great performance and wish her success in upcoming events.” read more