The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) gave a talk at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, continuing to reach out to students and graduates in Europe as part of the Government's efforts to attract overseas talents to Hong Kong. 

     HKETO, Brussels visited the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece's largest university, on November 13 (Thessaloniki time) to participate in its Career Day.  The Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Chau, gave a presentation to the local students about the excellent study and career opportunities Hong Kong offers to international students. She encouraged students to look into the study possibilities and the different schemes offered by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and Hong Kong's tertiary institutions. Miss Chau also informed them of Hong Kong's latest developments and policies which promote talent admission, including the immigration facilitation measures under the framework of the Hong Kong Talent List promulgated in August 2018.

     At the Career Day in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, students were provided with brochures and other publications on the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, the talent admission scheme, the Talent List and postgraduate programmes offered by Hong Kong tertiary institutions.
 

  

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     Rioters continue to set barricades and damage transport facilities at different districts, which have been left gridlocked.
      
     As at 7pm today (November 13), there were serious obstructions in the following areas:
     Sheung Shui Lung Sum Avenue to Jockey Club Road, Tolo Harbour and Tseung Kwan O Sheung Tak Estate area in New Territories; Kowloon Tong Waterloo Road outside Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, Mongkok Nathan Road and Cross-Harbour Tunnel (Kowloon entrance) in Kowloon; Connaught Road Central, Pedder Street to Jackson Road and Sai Wan Ho Tai On Street on Hong Kong Island.
      
     Police warn the rioters to stop all obstructions and leave immediately. Members of the public are reminded to stay tuned to the latest traffic arrangement.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin), together with the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, dedicated a business conference in Budapest, Hungary, to the unique Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development on November 5 (Budapest time). With a combined GDP of around US$1.5 trillion and 70 million people, the GBA is one of the most dynamic economic regions in the Mainland.

     Speakers included the Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li; the Regional Director, Europe, Central Asia and Israel of the HKTDC, Mr William Chui; the Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Dr Petra Ponevács-Pana; the Key Account Director of FRF Neon Kft, Mr Gyorgy Bacskai; the Chief Executive Officer of Rail Cargo Terminal – BILK Zrt, Mr Viktor Lippai; and Board Member of the Hungary – Hong Kong Business Association Mr Botond Vasarhelyi.

     In his presentation, Mr Li highlighted the strategic composition of the GBA with the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao as well as Guangdong Province, with its nine cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing, in the southern part of China. The country has made it a national strategy to develop the area into an international innovation and technology hub. Co-operation among Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao will further deepen and the complementary advantages of the three places will be fully leveraged on.

     "The Greater Bay Area will without doubt further enhance its leading role in China's economic development and opening up," Mr Li said when outlining the way forward. He specifically pointed to Hong Kong's leadership role within this new economic powerhouse. For all the same reasons that Hong Kong plays a dominant part in the development of the GBA, the city is also the perfect place for Hungarian businesses to capitalise on the growth potential of this key economic area, he said.

     "Hong Kong is the most international city in the Greater Bay Area, and has one of the most business-friendly environments worldwide, with a good tradition of the rule of law, a free economic system and well-established information technology infrastructure and financial systems, as well as a wealth of talents and professional services with extensive knowledge on global markets," Mr Li said.

About HKETO Berlin

     HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Hungary as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     In response to public assemblies in some public hospitals today (November 13), the spokesperson for Hospital Authority (HA) appeals against holding these activities in public hospitals as they will affect smooth hospital operations and the provision of a suitable environment for patient care.

     The HA sent an email to all HA staff yesterday to express that staff members hope to see the resumption of a peaceful community as soon as possible, while the professionalism of healthcare worker should not be dampened.  Hence, the HA repeatedly reiterated that public assemblies should not be held in public hospitals to avoid affecting hospital operations, inducing patient anxiety, as well as affecting the tranquil hospital environment.  The HA also advised colleagues to avoid exposing themselves to undue risks of legal and professional responsibilities.

     The HA thanks again the efforts of staff members, who have demonstrated their professionalism and dedication to patient care in the past few months.  The HA hopes that the difficult time for Hong Kong will soon be over.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) expresses appreciation to staff members for their commitment in reporting duties. Amid traffic disruptions in various districts, Accident and Emergency Departments, outpatient, inpatient and emergency services at public hospitals were largely normal during the day time. Out of safety concerns for patients and staff members, evening services of General Outpatient Clinics will be suspended.

     The HA spokesperson said, "Besides emergency patient conveyance and inter-hospital patient transfer, the HA is also closely monitoring the transportation of patient food, blood products and other supplies, and in particular urgent patient specimens, for advance contingency planning in light of possible delays due to territory-wide traffic disruptions. While supporting services remain normal at the moment, HA will keep in view of the related risks."

     "As some staff members could not report duties on time in some hospitals today, some elective surgeries and day hospital services have been affected. Community outreach services in some districts have been delayed by local traffic disruptions. Healthcare staff have contacted the patients by phone to provide advice as required."

     The HA reminds patients who are not able to attend their scheduled consultation to call the clinics to reschedule the appointments later. Hospitals will reschedule elective surgeries for patients who have not attended the scheduled operations.  HA would like to apologise to all patients being affected.

     At the same time, HA would exercise flexibility for staff who could not report duty as scheduled. Service departments have activated contingency measures to deploy manpower as needed, while transportation and accommodation will be provided for staff in need as far as possible.

     HA would like to express appreciation again to staff who may need to work additional hours beyond their normal duty. HA Major Incident Control Centre will closely monitor the situation to help co-ordinate service arrangement as appropriate.