The Government announced today (November 14) that the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, has appointed or reappointed the following persons as Board members of the Hong Kong Dance Company Limited for a period of two years until the conclusion of the company's Annual General Meeting in 2026.
 
Ms Christine Leung Wan-chong (reappointment)
Ms Melissa Kaye Pang (reappointment)
Mr Ronald Wu Keng-hou (reappointment)
Mr Ting Tin-yau (new appointment)

     The 18th meeting of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee was held in Xi’an on November 12. The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and Vice Minister of Science and Technology Ms Lin Xin.
      
     The meeting took note of the Committee's work report since the 17th meeting, and reviewed and approved the Committee's 2024-25 workplan. The Committee agreed to strengthen co-operation in the following areas:
 
(i) Strengthen policy co-ordination 

     Support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in promoting the development of Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre at full speed in accordance with the directions and strategies set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, including accelerating the development of the Hong Kong Park in the Loop, as well as promoting new industrialisation and the flow of scientific research data.
 
(ii) Promote the opening up of national-level science and technology programmes to Hong Kong 

     Promote the opening of national science and technology (S&T) programmes to Hong Kong in an orderly manner, support Hong Kong scientists in participating in major national scientific research missions, and continue to increase support for young Hong Kong scientists.
 
(iii) Conduct science and research collaboration projects between the two places 

     Continue to implement the Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme, and the 2025 Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme between the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Research Grants Council.
 
(iv) Support more Hong Kong experts joining national science and technology expert databases and associations 

     Support more Hong Kong experts joining national science and technology expert databases and national science and technology award expert databases. Encourage more S&T professionals from Hong Kong to join the national societies of the China Association for Science and Technology, and participate in their governance and operations.
 
(v) Deepen the exchanges of S&T professionals in the two places 

     Support Hong Kong in organising an S&T forum and exhibitions, encourage international S&T institutions and organisations to set up in Hong Kong, increase efforts in attracting top scientific research talent from around the world, and encourage young scientists from Hong Kong and the Mainland to deepen exchanges and co-operation.
 
(vi) Strengthen the construction of Mainland and Hong Kong S&T co-operation platform and bases 

     Conclude the reorganisation exercise of the State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong with a view to incorporating them into the national mechanism. Continue to deepen collaboration among the technology and industrial parks between the two places and accelerate the establishment of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratories.
 
(vii) Promote the I&T and regional technological development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area 

     Accelerate the cross-boundary flow of innovation elements in the Greater Bay Area, support the development of the Northern Metropolis in Hong Kong and continue to take forward the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.
 
     A spokesman of the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) said, "The workplan will further deepen the I&T collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong, accelerate the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T centre, and facilitate its better integration into national development. The Commission, relevant departments of the HKSAR Government, universities, I&T parks and research and development institutes will continue to deepen their I&T collaboration and exchanges with the Mainland."
      
     The Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee is tasked with organising and co-ordinating technological exchanges and co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The liaison offices of the Committee are set up at the China Science and Technology Exchange Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the ITC of the HKSAR Government.

     Subsequent to the announcement last week that a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1 subtype) was detected in an environmental sample from the Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) was notified by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) yesterday (November 13) that a sample from a dead wild bird and another environmental sample from the MPNR also tested positive for H5N1 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, a spokesperson for the AFCD said today (November 14).

     In collaboration with the AFCD, a research team of the School of Public Health, HKU, collects samples from the MPNR regularly for avian influenza surveillance. A sample from a Eurasian wigeon and an additional environmental sample collected on November 6 have been confirmed to be positive for H5N1 virus.

     An AFCD spokesman said the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, the managing organisation of the MPNR, has stepped up cleaning and disinfection of tourist facilities, including bird hides and a floating boardwalk. A disinfectant carpet has been placed at the entrance of the MPNR for visitors to disinfect the soles of their shoes. In addition, the AFCD is closely monitoring the situation of birds in the MPNR and has put up notices to remind visitors to pay attention to personal hygiene.

     There are no chicken farms within three kilometres of where the sample has been collected. The AFCD has strengthened avian influenza surveillance and is closely monitoring the situation of local poultry farms and wholesale markets. Poultry farmers, pet bird shop owners, and licence holders of bird exhibitions are reminded from time to time to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza are implemented.

     "People should avoid contact with wild birds and live poultry as well as their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. The public can call 1823 for the AFCD's follow-up if they come across birds suspected to be sick or dead, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry," the spokesman said.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will continue to be vigilant over live poultry stalls. It will also remind stall operators to maintain good hygiene.

     The Department of Health will keep up with its health education to remind members of the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent avian influenza.

     The AFCD, the FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police will strive to deter the illegal import of poultry and birds into Hong Kong to minimise the risk of avian influenza outbreaks caused by imported poultry and birds that have not gone through inspection and quarantine.

     All relevant government departments will continue to be highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against avian influenza. Health advice about preventing avian influenza is available on the AFCD website at www.afcd.gov.hk/english/quarantine/qua_live/H5N1_healthadvice.html.

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a three-week enforcement operation codenamed "Nunchaku" from October 22 to November 11 to combat counterfeit goods activities involving cross-boundary transshipments during the Double 11 Festival shopping period. During the operation, Customs detected 35 related cases and seized about 3.25 million items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of over $90 million. One person involved in the cases was arrested.  

     Customs discovered that criminals intended to ship counterfeit goods abroad via Hong Kong to meet the huge shopping demand during the Double 11 Festival. As such, through risk assessment, Customs inspected seven containers at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound and two incoming lorries at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point Inbound Cargo Examination Building. After inspection, Customs officers seized a total of about 78 000 suspected counterfeit goods with a total estimated market value of about $27 million.

     Moreover, through intelligence analysis and detailed investigations, 26 related cases were uncovered in a number of local logistics companies. In the operation, Customs officers mounted strike-and-search actions against about 30 logistics companies in Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan, seizing about 3.17 million suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, footwear, clothing and glasses, with a total estimated market value of about $63 million.

     Investigations into the above-mentioned cases are ongoing. One person involved in the cases was arrested, and he has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods from reputable shops or websites and to check with trademark or copyright owners or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt to avoid buying counterfeit or infringing goods.

     Customs reminds practitioners in the logistics industry to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and to check with trademark owners or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt when handling cargoes. The department also reminds traders or online sellers not to sell counterfeit or infringing goods and to be cautious in merchandising since selling counterfeit or infringing goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

     Customs will continue to step up inspections and conduct intelligence-led enforcement to vigorously combat counterfeit and infringing goods activities at different levels.

     Under the TDO, any person who imports or exports or sells or possesses for sale any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. 

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting or infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, led a delegation to attend the 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Conference on Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dongguan today (November 14) to have in-depth exchanges and discussions on Chinese medicine (CM) services, education and industry development with officials from the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Guangdong Province and GBA cities, with a view to fostering collaboration.
 
     Professor Lo said, "The year's conference has its theme on 'Developing New Quality Productive Forces to Facilitate CM Development in the GBA', echoing the spirit of deepening the reform of the medical and healthcare system, and enhancing the inheritance and innovation development mechanism of CM as highlighted in the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Hong Kong has been participating in taking forward and deepening the construction of the CM highlands and high-quality development of CM in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Over the past year, the Hong Kong SAR Government fully exploited the advantages of CM and integrated Chinese-Western medicine (ICWM) in the healthcare system that has been adopting both Chinese and Western medicine on a dual-track basis, and significantly increased the number of public hospitals and service points providing ICWM services. The Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) of the Department of Health also launched the Digital Herbarium for Chinese Medicines website, which is open for use by members of the public, the industry and international scientific research institutions. The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to introduce innovative measures in multiple aspects, including CM healthcare services and inpatient services, CM standards and application of CM data sources, as well as scientific research, in order to develop Hong Kong into a bridgehead for the internationalisation of CM.
 
     "The year of 2025 will be a notable year for CM development in Hong Kong. By the end of 2025, the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) and the permanent GCMTI building will have their services commenced in phases. The CM Development Blueprint will also be released at the end of 2025. I am honoured that it will be Hong Kong's turn to host the 7th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Conference on Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine next year. I am looking forward to meeting you all in Hong Kong then to witness our key milestones of CM development as well as experiencing the charm of the city as an events capital."
 
     Professor Lo also witnessed at the conference the signing of framework agreements on co-operation in CM talent cultivation by the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government (HHB) and the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR Government with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province (TCMBGD) respectively. The framework agreements aim to strengthen the interaction and collaboration in cultivating CM talent and establish a long-term and efficient collaboration mechanism. He also witnessed the signing of various agreements on multiple GBA CM co-operation projects, including the Co-operation Framework on GBA CM Visiting Scholars Programme between the Hospital Authority (HA) and Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, with a view to strengthening professional clinical exchange and promoting the development of ICWM services.
 
     Representatives of the HHB, the Department of Health (DH) and the CMHHK participated in the plenary session, roundtable discussion and keynote session of the conference respectively to update attendees on the latest developments and policy visions of CM in Hong Kong, the city's effort in contributing to the nation's promotion of the internationalisation of CM, the future development of the CMHHK, etc.
 
     In the afternoon, some members of the delegation attended the meeting on the co-operation mechanism of the construction of CM highlands in the GBA convened by the NATCM to exchange views on the latest developments of the construction of CM highlands in the GBA.
 
     The next conference will be held in Hong Kong. A representative of the TCMBGD handed over the conference flag to a representative of the HHB at the closing ceremony of the conference.
 
     Co-organised by the TCMBGD, the HHB, the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and the Dongguan Municipal People's Government, this year's conference aims to press ahead with the in-depth integration of CM development in the GBA and the full implementation of the Outline Development Plan for the GBA and the Construction Plan for the Chinese Medicine Highlands in the GBA (2020-2025). 
 
     Members of the Hong Kong delegation included the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Project Director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office of the HHB, Dr Cheung Wai-lun; the Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development of the HHB, Dr Vincent Chung; the Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), Dr Edmund Fong; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko; as well as a number of officials of the HHB, the DH and the HA. The Hospital Chief Executive of the CMHHK, Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, also joined the delegation for the conference.