Tag Archives: China

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Correctional Services Department today (February 7) to meet with directorate officers and frontline correctional officers, and to learn about the department’s latest developments and work of staff. She also toured the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.
 
     Mrs Yeung and the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, first met with the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing, and directorate staff and were briefed on the custodial environment and facilities of the institution, as well as ways to introduce smart elements and an advanced management mode into facilities improvement projects of the institution.
 
     They then toured various detention, security and rehabilitation facilities, including the exercise yard, dayroom, special unit, hospital, bathroom and reception office, and learned about the challenges and difficulties encountered by the frontline staff in the operation of the reception centre.
 
     During the visit, Mrs Yeung was also briefed by frontline staff on the Intelligent Robotic Monitoring System to know more about how the system assists correctional officers in conducting nighttime patrols and enhancing supervision of persons in custody. In addition, they learned about the application of the Smart Health Sensing System and Contactless Vital Sign Monitoring System, which are used to monitor the breath and heartbeat of patients in the reception centre’s hospital.
 
     Mrs Yeung said, “It is a general trend to utilise information technology to implement a modernised management mode in correctional facilities and proactively introduce ‘smart prison’ elements, which could further improve not only the operational efficiency of the reception centre but also the working environment of correctional officers.”
 
     Before concluding her visit, Mrs Yeung met with staff representatives of various grades in the department to exchange views on matters that concerned them. She thanked the colleagues for their commitment and diligence in their work, and for striving to maintain round-the-clock security and order in the correctional facilities.

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     Principal Officials (POs) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government have started travelling to all 18 districts throughout Hong Kong today (February 7) to visit grassroots families for three consecutive days … read more

     The Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, and Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government Mr Tao Yongxin, leading delegations of the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Shenzhen respectively, held the fourth meeting of the Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy in Hong Kong today (February 7).
      
     At today’s meeting, the HKSAR Government introduced the Northern Metropolis Action Agenda and the Hong Kong Major Transport Infrastructure Development Blueprint, which were promulgated last year, as well as major tasks for the Northern Metropolis this year. These major tasks include commencing works for the second-phase development of Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen, the remaining-phase development of Kwu Tung North/Fanling North, and the first-phase development of the San Tin Technopole; and conducting public engagement on the land use proposals for four regions, including Lau Fau Shan, Ngau Tam Mei, New Territories North New Town and Ma Tso Lung. The HKSAR Government also introduced details of the implementation of the Second Phase Opening-up of Sha Tau Kok. The government of Shenzhen, on the other hand, introduced relevant development plans on the Shenzhen side connecting to the Northern Metropolis. 
      
     Both sides exchanged views on matters related to the collaboration on the Northern Metropolis including cross-boundary transport, planning of control points, etc. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening co-operation to pursue high-quality development.
      
     After the meeting, the delegation of the HKSAR Government and the delegation of the government of Shenzhen visited the Hong Kong Science Park. They were briefed by representatives of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation on the developments of the park and visited a medical robotics centre. After that, the delegations visited the Sha Tau Kok Frontier Closed Area to learn about the latest progress of the opening up of the area.
      
     Mr Wong said, “The Northern Metropolis adopts an ‘industry-driven and infrastructure-led’ approach as its key planning axle, and will forge a major hub for Hong Kong to integrate into the overall development of our country. When formulating the industry positioning of each region in the Northern Metropolis, we attach great importance to the development positioning and potential of the corresponding areas in Shenzhen, the transport link, connections between boundary control points, and the prospects for co-operation between the two places, ensuring that the planning of the Northern Metropolis complements the development of Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area for mutual benefits.
      
     Officials of the HKSAR Government attending the meeting today also included the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, as well as the heads of relevant departments. read more

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, chaired the 14th meeting of the Chinese Medicine Development Committee (CMDC) today (February 7) to listen to members’ views on the latest progress of various policy initiatives on Chinese medicine (CM) development and engage in in-depth exchanges with the members on the formulation work of the CM Development Blueprint.
    
     Professor Lo said, “The Government attaches great importance to the development of CM, and has been stepping up efforts and devoting more resources to fully press ahead with various tasks in promoting CM development in recent years. In his 2023 Policy Address, the Chief Executive put forward a number of policy initiatives in relation to CM development, including taking forward the preparatory work for Hong Kong’s first Chinese Medicine Hospital, strengthening integrated Chinese-Western medicine (ICWM) services, promoting scientific research and standard-setting for CM testing, formulating the CM Development Blueprint and boosting the establishment of CM talent pool.”
 
     Professor Lo made particular reference to the CM Development Blueprint which will map out the vision and strategies for the future development of the CM industry in Hong Kong, with a view to optimising the top-tier design for the development of policies. The Chinese Medicine Unit (CMU) of the Health Bureau (HHB) has commenced last September the stakeholder engagement work for formulating the Blueprint, so as to collaborate with the CM sector in setting out the short, medium and long-term objectives for the overall development and long-term planning of CM in Hong Kong as well as making respective recommendations and action plans. In addition, the CMDC will set up a CM Development Blueprint Subcommittee and its three working groups to focus on discussions of various topics on CM development.
 
     During the meeting, representatives of the relevant government departments and organisations briefed the CMDC on the latest progress and major achievements of multiple policy initiatives on CM development, including:
 

• The construction and preparation work for the commissioning of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMH) is progressing at full steam, with the premises expected to be handed over in batches by next year to tie in with the need for service commencement. The CMH announced the composition of its core management team and signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine last month to foster co-operation on various fronts covering the preparatory work for the hospital’s commissioning, exchange of CM talent, cross-boundary distance discussion of cases, establishment of a sharing platform for drug interaction alert notification and development of a scientific research network;

 

• Starting from October last year, the quota for government-subsidised CM outpatient services provided at the 18 Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres has been increased from about 600 000 per year to 800 000 per year, marking a 30-plus per cent surge in quantity;

 

• Having regularised the ICWM Pilot Programme early last year, the Hospital Authority (HA) has further extended the services to more public hospitals and other disease areas, including increasing the number of participating wards providing stroke care and introducing the new cancer care pilot programme in 2023-24;

 

• To accelerate the promotion of CM informatisation and digitalisation, and to facilitate the sharing of information, the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) of the Department of Health is strenuously gearing up for the launch of a world-class Digitalised Chinese Medicines Information Platform, while at the same time taking forward the work on promoting testing, scientific research and education as well as enhancing international exchanges on CM drugs;

 

• Since the launch of the Chinese Medicine Development Fund (CMDF) in June 2019, nearly 7 500 funding applications have been approved to date, benefitting various stakeholders of the CM sector. The Government has also been continuously refining the funding arrangement of the CMDF, and has injected an additional $500 million to commission organisations to conduct large-scale training, publicity and research projects on strategically priority themes, and to take forward new capacity-building initiatives for the industry;

 

• The Government continues to establish closer exchanges with relevant ministries as well as various provinces and cities of the Mainland to initiate collaboration in the realm of CM, strengthening Hong Kong’s role under the Construction Plan for the Chinese Medicine Highlands in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (2020-2025) for proactive integration into the overall development of CM in the country, and at the same time capitalising on Hong Kong’s strengths to give full play to the city’s role as the country’s gateway to the international markets and contribute to the internationalisation of CM;

 

• The Government actively promotes various types of high-quality CM talent nurturing projects, including co-organising the first edition of the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Talent Short-term Training Programme with the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in November last year, and encourages local CM practitioners to actively participate in different CM training programmes and award schemes on the Mainland;

 

• The Government continues to encourage the CM sector to promote professional development and improve its standard, enhance industry development and expand new markets, deepen applied studies and research, and assist in tackling public health incidents; and

 

• Upon strengthening its functions since 2023-24, the CMU of the HHB has been dedicated to pushing forward various tasks in different aspects, including driving the overall planning and co-ordination on policies of CM development as well as deepening the communication and connection with CM stakeholders in Hong Kong and the Mainland.  

 
     Professor Lo added, “We would like to express gratitude to the members for their valuable advice on the Government’s policy initiatives in promoting CM development. Among all, I earnestly anticipate that the two flagship institutions, namely the CMH and the GCMTI, will serve as the key platforms for the city’s CM development in the future, giving strong impetus to promote the holistic and high-quality development of CM. With the support of our country as well as the joint efforts of the Government and the CM sector, the development of CM in Hong Kong will certainly usher in a new era, new opportunities and a new outlook.”
 
     The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko, as well as representatives of the relevant government departments and organisations also attended today’s meeting.
 
     Established in 2013 and chaired by the Secretary for Health, the CMDC drives the direction and long-term strategies for the future development of CM in Hong Kong by providing recommendations to the Government on four key areas, including the development of CM services, personnel training and professional development, scientific research and development, and development of the CM drug industry (including CM drug testing). read more

     Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements on both sides of Victoria Harbour on February 11 (Sunday) to facilitate the public to watch the Lunar New Year fireworks display.   … read more