Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, arrived in Georgia yesterday (May 2, Tbilisi time) afternoon, for attending the 57th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) from May 2 to 5.
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Chan first met with the President of the ADB, Mr Masatsugu Asakawa. They exchanged views on various issues including regional green transition, climate finance, infrastructure development, as well as strengthening co-operation between Hong Kong, China and the ADB.
      
     Responding to climate change is one of the themes of this year’s Annual Meeting. Mr Chan pointed out that as an international financial centre, Hong Kong is a leader in Asia in green and sustainable finance. The amount of green bonds issued in Hong Kong accounts for over one-third of the entire Asian market’s. Meanwhile, Hong Kong continues to enrich its variety of green financial products and actively aligns with international green standards. While meeting the needs of different investors, these also help channel funds to support regional green and transition projects more effectively.
      
     Mr Chan stressed that Hong Kong, China has long maintained a cordial cooperation relationship with the ADB, and is willing to share knowledge and exchange experiences with the ADB and other regional partners, particularly in the areas of finance, infrastructure development, and innovative technology applications. They are warmly welcomed to make use of Hong Kong’s deep and wide fundraising platforms and professional services to support the rolling-out and management of different projects.
      
     Mr Chan later attended the Asian Development Fund (ADF) 14 Pledging Meeting. He said that Hong Kong, China has been supporting the replenishments of the ADF for years, with a view to helping developing member countries to engage in sustainable development projects, including responding to climate change, promoting gender equality, meeting their own social development needs, and more. Hong Kong, China will continue to contribute to the development and progress of the region. 
      
     Mr Chan will attend the Constituency Meeting at the ADB Annual Meeting today (May 3, Tbilisi time) and meet with the ADB senior management as well as financial officials from other countries and regions.

      

     A man who went missing in Sham Shui Po has been located.      Tsang Chiu-sau, aged 76, went missing after he was last seen outside Apliu Street Public Toilet on April 30 afternoon. His family ma… read more

     A spokesman for the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) said today (May 2) that the department is following up on a system security incident of an online server platform, which involved data collected by the EMSD in “restriction-testing declaration” (RTD) operations conducted between March and July of 2022 in combating COVID-19.

     Data stored on the designated online server platform include names, telephone numbers, identity card numbers and addresses of about 17 000 members of the public at 14 buildings which are listed at Annex. The data were only accessible to authorised personnel by logging in with a password. 

     On the evening of April 30, the EMSD was notified by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data that according to a public report, the data concerned could be browsed on the server platform. The EMSD immediately checked and found that the password login system failed. The data could be browsed without entering any password but they were not downloadable. Upon EMSD’s request, the service provider of the online server platform removed the data from the platform that evening (April 30). The EMSD has reported the incident to the Police, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Security Bureau.

     The EMSD expresses sincere apologies for the incident. Although there is no evidence that relevant data have been published so far, the EMSD will notify relevant households by mailing to flats of the buildings involved. In case of suspicious circumstances, they should report to the Police as soon as possible. For enquiries, please call the EMSD’s hotline at 2333 3762. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Health Services visited the Hong Kong Genome Institute (HKGI) in the Hong Kong Science Park today (May 2) to learn about the latest development of the Hong Kong Genome Project (HKGP).
 
     Members received a briefing on the HKGP by the HKGI’s Chairperson, Mr Philip Tsai; the Deputy Chairperson, Professor Raymond Liang; the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lo Su-vui, and the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Dr Brian Chung. The HKGP is the first large-scale genome sequencing project in Hong Kong. Since its full operation in 2021, the HKGI has been collaborating with the Department of Health, Hospital Authority and medical schools of universities, to help patients and their families, who join the project on a voluntary basis, look for the potential disease-causing genetic variants through whole genome sequencing analysis. They said that the HKGP aimed to establish a genome database of the local population, testing infrastructure and talent pool with a view to accelerating the development of genomic medicine and addressing the healthcare needs of Hong Kong in the long run. Members then exchanged views with the management team of the HKGI on the HKGP and the development of genomic medicine.
 
     Members then toured the Genomic Laboratory. It is the first laboratory in Hong Kong that offers end-to-end whole genome sequencing services and equipped with advanced instruments for performing sequencing services, analysis and research.  
 
     Members who participated in the visit were the Panel Chairman Ms Chan Hoi-yan, the Deputy Chairman, Dr David Lam and Panel members Mr Chan Kin-por, Ms Lam So-wai, Mr Edward Leung, Mr Chan Pui-leung and Professor Chan Wing-kwong.

      

     â€‹The Tourism Commission of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau held a consultation session on the formulation of the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 (Blueprint 2.0) in the Central Government Offices today (May 2) for trade representatives to express views.
      
     The Government promulgated the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry (Blueprint) in October 2017, setting out vision, goals and four long-term development strategies for the tourism industry in Hong Kong and proposing short, medium and long-term measures. As tourism is one of the main driving forces of Hong Kong’s economy, the Chief Executive announced in the 2023 Policy Address that the Government will update the Blueprint and formulate corresponding future work plans, specific actions, measures, and performance indicators to formulate Blueprint 2.0, in a bid to further drive the development of the local tourism industry in collaboration with different industries.
      
     The Government has launched a trade consultation for Blueprint 2.0, which will end on June 14. During the consultation period, the Government will invite representatives of the travel trade, related organisations and stakeholders to offer views on Blueprint 2.0 through meetings or in writing. The Tourism Commission also welcomes views from stakeholders on or before June 14 by email (tourismblueprint@cstb.gov.hk), fax (3848 4127) or post (11/F, Harbour East, 218 Electric Road, Fortress Hill, Hong Kong).  
      
     The Government targets to publish Blueprint 2.0 this year, outlining the goals and key directions for further enhancing tourism development as well as fostering collaboration of different industries to enhance the speed and quality of the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry.