The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Third Hong Kong-Switzerland Financial Dialogue was successfully held in Bern, Switzerland on November 12. The Dialogue, co-organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) under the Swiss Federal Department of Finance, aims to deepen financial services collaboration between Hong Kong and Switzerland and facilitate exchange of views on important issues surrounding the global financial system. 
 
     The Dialogue was chaired by Senior Executive Director of the HKMA, Mr Edmond Lau, and Acting Head of Policy Planning and Strategy of the SIF, Mr Christoph König, with representatives from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, the Swiss National Bank, SIF and the HKMA attending. The meeting discussed the latest development of new finance, including green finance and fintech, and opportunities arising from Mainland China's financial open-up including the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Both sides also discussed some international financial policy issues. 
 
     On the same day, Mr Lau opened the third Hong Kong-Switzerland Financial Seminar and participated in one of the panel sessions. The Seminar was co-organised by the Private Wealth Management Association of Hong Kong and the Swiss Bankers Association. At the Seminar, Mr Lau shared his views on the latest development of the private wealth management industry in Hong Kong and the HKMA's work in enhancing Hong Kong's financial platform, nurturing talent and promoting financial connectivity in the GBA, including the recently announced wealth management connect. He also called on closer collaboration between industry members in Hong Kong and Switzerland. In particular, Swiss private banking industry can leverage on the established strengths of Hong Kong to tap the vast opportunities promised by an increasingly affluent GBA population.
 

    

     Taking into consideration transportation service disruptions, and to ensure the safety of patients and staff members, the Department of Health today (November 13) announced that the operation arrangements of its methadone clinics have been adjusted today. Details are as follows:
 
     The following clinics will provide services to those who have been receiving methadone treatment until 7pm today:
    
1. Lady Trench Methadone Clinic
2. Violet Peel Methadone Clinic
3. Sham Shui Po Methadone Clinic
4. Robert Black Methadone Clinic

     The rest of the methadone clinics will not open.

     Please visit the following website for the information of methadone clinics: www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_mc.html.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, together with the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; and the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, met the media today (November 13). Following is the transcript of remarks from the media session:

Reporter: Secretary, if the situation is so dangerous, why is the EDB (Education Bureau) not ordering a full class suspension? Is the Government simply trying to save face in not suspending classes? Second question, Secretary for Security, what do you make of comments that by storming university campuses that Hong Kong Government is trying to recreate Tiananmen June 4th incident, tending to murder students. What do you have to say on those comments?

Secretary for Education: I think when we consider whether we need to make special arrangements for schools, our first consideration is always the benefit of the students. I think that is the utmost important consideration that we have in mind. This morning, the traffic conditions in different districts are different, and I think every parent has their own consideration, their own situation that they have to consider. So, for the situation this morning, we think that our current system of allowing schools to make school-based decisions and parents to make the decision about whether their kids should go to school or not should be maintained. 

Reporter: Isn't the current situation more dangerous than (Typhoon) Mangkhut?

Secretary for Education: I think it is different from a typhoon situation, when the whole Hong Kong was under the influence or the impact (of the typhoon). But of course we will keep monitoring the overall situation and, if necessary, we will make necessary arrangements. 

Secretary for Security: I think we should put things in the right perspective. What happened yesterday was at the bridge which leads to the Chinese University, the bridge overstands the Tolo Highway, and there were people overthrowing a lot of things into this main thoroughfare. It is a serious danger to public safety. Imagine somebody driving in that thoroughfare, and is obstructed or hit, then the consequence of a serious traffic accident resulting in serious death or injuries is something that we must take into consideration. The Police have a duty to ensure that this public safety is maintained. That is why they had to ensure that they would take charge of this bridge, which previously was occupied by the mobsters in order to control (the situation) so that there would be no more things being thrown into the thoroughfare. That is the first important thing. When they tried to do what they are required to do under the law to maintain public safety for the good of everybody using the thoroughfare, then they were under attack. And of course, you could see on television that petrol bombs were thrown at them, so they must act in order to maintain their position, and also to defend themselves. When something like this, which is so outrageously against the law with a lot of violence causing harm to the people there, particularly police officers, they (the Police) of course have to take action, and that is what we saw on television. So we have to put the things in the right perspective. Somebody broke the law by throwing things into the thoroughfare causing serious danger to road traffic and public safety, the Police had to take action, had to take charge of the bridge. They were then faced with attacks with petrol bombs, so they had to take the action, so that should be taken into the full perspective when we look at this incident.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Home Affairs Department announced today (November 13) that due to special circumstances in various districts, the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres in all districts will be closed earlier at 5pm today.

     German social enterprise The DO School announced today (November 13) that it has opened its Hong Kong campus as its regional headquarters, using the city's global hub status to spread its influence across the Asia-Pacific region.
           
     The DO School, founded in 2013, supports businesses, entrepreneurs and young talents in turning ideas into action, creating movements of change and enabling social impacts. With its unique methodology, it helps executives and other individuals enhance their innovative ability through various social and corporate engagement activities including top management meetings, intrapreneurship academies, co-creation sprints and more.
           
     The Head of The DO School Hong Kong, Dr Anson Wong, said, "We already have partnered with various corporations and institutions on different projects here in Hong Kong. In order to nurture existing partnerships in the city and around the region, we decided to open our Hong Kong campus and use it as the focal point to manage all operations in this part of the world." 
           
     Dr Wong added, "Hong Kong positions itself as a leading regional business centre and strategic hub for growth. It is a critical base for us to develop new programmes and explore new partnerships. The Hong Kong campus allows us to fully deliver programmes with a local team supported by our international network of experts and innovators."

     Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Dr Jimmy Chiang said, "Hong Kong is a popular location for overseas and Mainland companies, as well as entrepreneurs from around the globe to set up or expand their business. This dynamic setting provides The DO School with plenty of opportunities to create specific programmes for corporate leaders and entrepreneurs who are looking for new solutions to their business challenges."
     
About The DO School
      
     Established in 2013, The DO School is a global organisation based in Berlin, Germany, that enables a purposeful economy that is sustainable and innovative. It has offices in New York, Berlin, Hamburg and Hong Kong. It has run programmes in over 30 countries, catalysed hundreds of new products and services, and impacted the lives of millions of people around the world. For more information, please visit www.thedoschool.com.
      
About Invest Hong Kong
      
     Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.