The Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications today (September 7) from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade or industrial organisations and research institutes.

     PASS, with a total allocation of $200 million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects for increasing exchanges and co-operation of Hong Kong's professional services with external counterparts, promoting relevant publicity activities, and enhancing the standards of Hong Kong professional services through capacity building programmes. 

     The maximum grant under PASS for each approved project is $3 million or 90 per cent of the total eligible project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services is covered by PASS, including accounting, legal, building and construction, healthcare, information and communications technology, design, and technical testing and analysis. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome.

     So far, 25 projects have been funded under PASS, including seminars, forums, workshops, exchange events, exhibitions, and research and studies. Costs directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower cost, venue and set up cost, production and promotion cost, and the project team's travel and accommodation cost outside Hong Kong, are typical items funded. More details about PASS and the funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk.

     PASS receives applications all year round and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the upcoming round of applications is November 30.

     A briefing session will be held on September 14 for organisations interested in applying for PASS funding. For registration for the briefing session or other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 3655 5418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, September 7, 2018 is 104.2 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The Marine Department (MD) today (September 7) launched a new round of its publicity campaign at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal to promote the message that passengers on high-speed craft plying between Hong Kong and Macao should have their seat belts fastened for a safer sea journey.
 
     The MD has set up a large backdrop of a Hong Kong scene installed with genuine cabin seats at the waiting lounge of the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan. Passengers of high-speed craft plying between Hong Kong and Macao are encouraged to try the seats with their seat belts fastened to enjoy the Hong Kong scenery as if they were on board a high-speed craft. Promotional leaflets and souvenirs are being distributed to passengers in the waiting lounge by the MD's Marine Inspectors, who are also appealing to passengers to fasten their seat belts at the appropriate time to ensure a safe sea journey.
 
     A spokesperson for the MD said the slogan of the campaign is "Have a Safe and Happy Journey with Your Seat Belt Fastened", which aims to remind passengers on high-speed craft plying between Hong Kong and Macao to be aware of the master's announcement during the voyage. When the master announces the instruction, passengers should fasten their seat belts to ensure a safe journey.
 
     The spokesperson said the MD will continue to distribute promotional leaflets at the waiting lounges and display promotional materials such as posters prominently at the three cross-boundary ferry terminals. In addition, the MD will make use of different channels to enhance passenger awareness of fastening seat belts on high-speed craft plying between Hong Kong and Macao.

    

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (September 7) announced that the department tested 91 water samples collected from cooling towers in 85 buildings in its routine inspections in August this year. Six samples were detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The cooling towers in which the six samples were collected in August are located at 40 Praya Street, Cheung Chau; Fortune Factory Building, 40 Lee Chung Street, Chai Wan; Gateway TS, 8 Cheung Fai Road, Tsing Yi; New Lucky House, 13-13C Jordan Road, Jordan; Kwun Tong Industrial Centre Phase 3, 448-458 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong and Lee Wo Building, 124-136 Wo Yi Hop Road, Kwai Chung. The EMSD has issued nuisance notices under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owners of the cooling towers requiring appropriate disinfection work to be done. Disinfection of the cooling towers in these six cases has already been completed by the owners. Details of these six cases can be found in Annex 2. The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website
(www.emsd.gov.hk/en/other_regulatory_services/cooling_towers/water_sampling/index.html).

     The EMSD reminds the owners of fresh water cooling towers that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality in their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of legionella.

     Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, at the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) Innovation and Technology Symposium 2018 today (September 7):

Harry (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the HKRITA, Dr Harry Lee), Edwin (Chief Executive Officer of the HKRITA, Mr Edwin Keh), Felix (Chairman of the Fashion Summit Steering Committee, Mr Felix Chung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. I am delighted to join you all at the opening of the Innovation and Technology Symposium. First, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to a distinguished group of researchers, experts, industry leaders, designers, who are here today, from different parts of the world.

     I would like to also thank the HKRITA and the organisers of the Fashion Summit for hosting this prestigious event. Today's symposium is an excellent platform for industry experts to get together and deliberate on the opportunities and challenges ahead. We all know that with innovation and technology, we can always turn challenges into opportunities, and opportunities into business.

     Innovation and technology is the key to enable enterprises to stay competitive. Leveraging on its industry expertise in textile and clothing, the HKRITA has been assisting the industry to migrate towards green and smart manufacturing. Since its establishment in 2006, the HKRITA has embarked upon nearly 200 projects, with over $600 million support from the Innovation and Technology Fund, and has collected many accolades from the successful projects. Government funding alone is never enough. We need collaboration from industry partners to achieve the multiplier effect and put innovative technology into practice. Our industry, academia, research sector and the community must work together to reap the benefits. The HKRITA's four-year R&D project in textile recycling technology with the H&M Foundation provides a vivid example of such collaboration.

     Earlier this week, the HKRITA joined hands with its industry partners to announce the major breakthrough in creating a closed loop system for recycling disposed textiles and garments at the Mills in Tsuen Wan. On the same day, I also witnessed the opening of an environmentally friendly yarn production line in Tai Po Industrial Estate. This is the first textile production line set up in Hong Kong in more than 50 years. A Hong Kong company, Novetex Textiles Limited, has adopted the HKRITA's technology in an automated mass production line, to recycle old or disposed textiles and clothing to manufacture yarns, which are then used to make new textiles or clothing. This HKRITA technology was awarded a Gold Medal at the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva in April 2018.

     As we all know, the Financial Secretary announced in the 2018-19 Budget to allocate over $50 billion to enhance the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong. This includes injecting $10 billion into the Innovation and Technology Fund, to further strengthen our support for R&D. Last month, the Innovation and Technology Bureau launched the Technology Talent Scheme to help nurture more tech talents in Hong Kong. The Scheme comprises the Postdoctoral Hub Programme, which subsidises eligible organisations to recruit postdoctoral talent for R&D work; and the Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme, which subsidises local enterprises to train their staff in advanced technologies which can add value to their businesses. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is deeply committed to facilitating and promoting the development of innovation and technology. The prospects are very exciting indeed. Let's make use of innovation and technology to open up new frontiers for Hong Kong and for the world.

     Before closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Harry and Edwin for their dedication in leading the HKRITA to become an R&D and innovation partner of the textiles industry. To all the speakers of the symposium, I am most grateful for the sharing of your invaluable knowledge, experience and insights. I am sure we can all benefit from your presentation and fruitful discussion.

     Thank you very much and have a great day at the conference.