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     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the 2024 Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit Welcome Dinner today (November 18):

Eddie (Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Eddie Yue), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Good evening.

     It’s a pleasure to be here, with you, tonight, at the welcome dinner for this year’s Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit. 

     I hope you enjoyed this evening’s innovatively arranged East-West dinner as well as entertainment. The culinary delights, paired with the enchanting performances, are meant to bring you a refreshing experience with a unique blend of East and West cultures. 

     But above all, it is your very presence that is the vital ingredient that truly brings out this international flavour, infusing the evening, and indeed our Summit, with a rich tapestry of diversity and warmth. 

     Because, of course, this is a “global” summit – an East-West coming together here in Hong Kong – and has been since the first edition, two years ago. 

     And because Hong Kong, thanks to the “one country, two systems” principle, is a global financial centre, a “super connector” bridging East and West: in business, trade and finance, in culture and education, and in the people of Hong Kong, who make it all happen. 

     Tonight’s venue, Cloud 39 at The Henderson, reflects the boundless promise that unique reality presents. This stunning new addition to Hong Kong’s skyline offers more than sweeping, 270-degree views. With its curved façade, inspired by the bauhinia flower, it encapsulates Hong Kong: our innovation, our longstanding resilience and our singular identity. 

     “Sailing through Changes” is the apt and timely theme of this year’s Summit. When the wind is good, the sailing is breezy – a buoyant sport and rewarding pastime. But in times like today’s – with our world shaped and reshaped by macroeconomic shifts, the unceasing advances of technology and geopolitical ruptures, the sailing can be bumpy and fraught with uncertainty.

     Globally, elections impacted more than half the world’s population this year. The results will recast political and economic landscapes for the foreseeable future. 

     They will influence trade and investment flows and financial and political policy. Navigating these, and other uncharted waters, will require determined and interconnected financial systems – demand co-operation and collaboration rooted in multilateralism rather than isolationism. 

     That’s where tomorrow’s Summit comes in. Where you come in. I’m confident that, working together, we can explore, and respond to, the latest trends and concerns shaping finance. That we can forge the partnerships, East and West, that will help us build a mutually rewarding and sustainable future. 

     My thanks to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for organising this year’s Summit. I’m grateful, too, to all the many supporting organisations involved. 

     And, of course, my gratitude to each of you for making this year’s Hong Kong Summit an essential global gathering. 

     Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you the best of business and investment, and an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong, this lovable Asia’s world city. 

     Thank you.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Environmental Affairs visited Black Point Power Station of CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP) at Tuen Mun today (November 18) to learn about the operation of the power station, the CLP’s decarbonisation roadmap, as well as the mitigation measures taken to cope with extreme weather.

     Members first received a briefing by the CLP management on the operation of Black Point Power Station as well as the progress of its “Climate Vision 2050” decarbonisation targets. Members noted that the second new gas-fired generation unit at Black Point Power Station has been commissioned this year, increasing the CLP’s local gas-fired generation ratio. The CLP has been working to gradually phase out coal-fired generation and explore new technologies to align with the Government’s net-zero electricity generation decarbonisation strategy, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.

     Members then observed the drones and robotics technology, including the cage drone and the crawler robot, utilised at Black Point Power Station to mitigate the risks faced by staff working at height and confined spaces. 

     In addition, Members learned about the CLP’s enhanced measures against extreme weather, including line arresters, raised-floor switch rooms, flood gates, sump pumps and flooding alarm systems at power facilities such as power stations and transmission towers. During the visit, Members exchanged views with the CLP representatives on contingency measures to cope with extreme weather, and strengthening stability and reliability of power supply.

     Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of the Panel, Mr Lau Kwok-fan; the Deputy Chairman, Mr Chan Siu-hung; Panel members Mr Gary Zhang; Professor Lau Chi-pang; as well as non-Panel members Mr Michael Tien; Mr Luk Chung-hung; Mr Duncan Chiu; and Mr Benson Luk.

      

      One Hong Kong resident (defendant) was arrested and prosecuted by the Immigration Department (ImmD) and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment at the Shatin Magistrates’ Court today (November 18) for dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence (money laundering) and transferring an identity card to another person.
 
      The ImmD launched an anti-illegal worker operation and arrested a number of overstaying foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) working as cleaners in the same restaurant. After in-depth investigation, it was discovered that the arrested FDHs had all used others’ identity cards during job seeking. They would also borrow the rightful holders’ bank accounts for receiving salaries. The rightful holders would provide their ATM cards for the FDHs to withdraw the salaries every month in return for a reward of around HK$2,000.
 
      In the course of investigation, the foreign spouse of one of the identity card holders, who was a holder of recognizance form that prohibited him from taking any employment, was found to have taken up illegal employment using another person’s identity card. The rightful holder of the said identity card, the defendant, was later arrested. Under caution, the defendant admitted to have knowingly transferred his identity card to a recognizance form holder to impersonate him during job seeking while providing his bank account to the recognizance holder for receiving salary with the account.
 
   The defendant was later charged with money laundering and transferring an identity card to another person. He pleaded guilty to the charges today at the Shatin Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.
 
   As of today, over 20 persons have been apprehended, and the amount of salaries processed is around $2.5 million. The five illegal workers involved have been imprisoned for 12 to 15 months. One other identity card rightful holder was also sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment upon conviction of eight charges, including money laundering, conspiracy to use others’ identity card, and transferring an identity card to another person. The case is still under investigation, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further prosecutions.
 
   “Money laundering is a serious offence. A person commits the offence of money laundering if he deals with any property, including money, which he knows or has reasonable grounds to believe to be proceeds of indictable offence. Offenders are liable upon conviction to the maximum penalty of a $5,000,000 fine and 14-year imprisonment. Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who without lawful authority or reasonable excuse transfers to another person an identity card commits an offence. It is also an offence to use or have in his custody or possession an identity card which relates to another person. Offenders are liable upon conviction to the maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for 10 years,” an ImmD spokesman warned.
 
   “Under the laws of Hong Kong, it is an offence to make a false representation to Immigration Officers. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years,” the spokesman reiterated.
 
   The ImmD has always been concerned about similar modus operandi and will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against any related crimes. The ImmD reminds all employers to take all practicable steps to ensure the candidate is lawfully employable during recruitment. Employers shall check the candidates’ information and portraits carefully when inspecting the candidates’ identity cards. If there exists any doubts on a person’s identity or the identity card the person possessing, one may report the incident to the ImmD. read more

     The Civil Service College (CSC) launched the Executive Series on Brokering North and South: China in a Multipolar World. The second seminar in the series, on the topic of China-US Relations and the New World Order, was delivered by the Dean of the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University, Professor Wu Xinbo, and chaired by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the China Institute of Fudan University, Mr Eric Li, at the Central Government Offices today (November 18).

     Addressing the seminar, the Head of the CSC, Mr Oscar Kwok, said that the geopolitical situation is complex and ever changing. With China and the United States being the world’s largest economies and significant geopolitical forces, the trajectory their relationship takes has a crucial impact on global stability and prosperity. Hong Kong has always been a crucial bridge connecting the country and the world. To leverage its unique advantages, Hong Kong must not only focus on traditional markets and trade partners, but also expand its global reach and establish closer ties with regions and countries of the Global South, in particular countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Middle East, and BRICS. The objectives of the Executive Series on Brokering North and South: China in a Multipolar World organised by the CSC are to help civil servants gain a deeper understanding of the changing international landscape and to equip them with the knowledge and perspectives needed to enable them to actively promote exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and countries in the Global South. This is not only a necessary step for Hong Kong to weather future challenges and enhance its resilience amid the turbulence, but also key to contributing to the national strategy.

     About 230 civil servants in directorate, senior and middle ranks from 59 bureaux/departments attended the seminar in person or online today.

     The Executive Series on Brokering North and South: China in a Multipolar World invites renowned scholars and leaders from the Mainland and overseas as guest speakers to inspire civil servants to reflect on the influence of China, as a major player in a multipolar world, on the global community amid the rise of the Global South and profound changes in the international landscape, and to explore how Hong Kong, as a city where East meets West, should leverage its strengths in its unique role in connecting the country with the world. It covers subjects pertaining to the rise of the Global South and international order, new quality productive forces and global developments, preservation and innovation of fine traditions of culture and art and international communication, and a holistic approach to national security and global initiatives, etc.

          

     â€‹The 42nd Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators (APCCA), hosted by the Correctional Services Department (CSD), opened today (November 18). About 140 correctional chiefs and representatives from 29 Asia-Pacific countries and regions, as well as representatives of relevant professional organisations, are attending the Conference to exchange views on correctional services and consolidate and foster regional co-operation.
      
     The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; and the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Conference.
      
     In his opening speech, Mr Cheuk said that the theme of this year’s APCCA is “Collaboration for Sustainable and High-quality Development”, which highlights the determination of correctional officers from various places to advance and deepen regional co-operation, with a view to achieving high-quality development in the field of correction. He noted that the CSD has achieved remarkable results in the application of innovation and technology in the development of Smart Prison and the implementation of diversified rehabilitation programmes. During the Conference, the CSD will share its experiences and exchange views with counterparts from various places to promote and strengthen regional collaboration, thereby jointly enhancing the effectiveness of correctional work.
      
     Mr Wong said in the ceremony that the CSD is honoured to host the Conference. He added that collaboration is a key element in the development of sustainable and high-quality development. The Conference provides an important platform for correctional practitioners from different places to exchange views and share valuable experiences, and to enhance co-operation among members, thereby injecting new impetus into sustainable and high-quality correctional work.
      
     The agenda of the Conference, lasting from today to Thursday (November 21), will cover five specialised areas, namely “Challenges and initiatives in corrections”, “Training, fostering and developing staff: Ensuring a professional, accountable and supportive culture”, “Technology as an aid to reducing prison violence, and to managing and rehabilitating offenders in prison and the community”, “Working with families and communities to improve rehabilitation and reintegration”, and “How to design, construct and operate prisons in a more environmentally friendly way”. During the Conference, participants will visit correctional institutions in Hong Kong to gain a better understanding of the unique advantages and the latest developments of Hong Kong’s correctional system, including the development of Smart Prison projects and diversified rehabilitation programmes.
      
     The APCCA is an annual conference that provides a platform for organisations and representatives engaged in correctional and prison work in the Asia-Pacific region to foster professional exchanges and co-operation on correctional services. Currently, members cover 25 countries with a total of 34 jurisdictions involved.
      
     The CSD is one of the founding members of the APCCA and serves as the Joint Secretariat and Fund Administrator. The CSD has been promoting the development of the platform and exchanges among members, playing the role of an international link. The CSD hosted the first, 13th and 23rd APCCA in 1980, 1993 and 2003 respectively, and this is the fourth time it has served as host of the Conference.