Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 14) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Shek O Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island as Grade 2, which means the water quality has improved and the beach is suitable for swimming. The red flag was hoisted at the beach earlier due to the water quality being classified as Grade 4 and unsuitable for swimming.

     However, the red flag at the beach is still hoisted due to big waves. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the 2018 Green and Social Bond Principles Annual General Meeting and Conference today (June 14):
      
Mr Scheck (Chief Executive of the International Capital Market Association, Mr Martin Scheck), Norman (Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Norman Chan), distinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen,
      
     Good morning. It's a great pleasure to join you today for the fourth Green and Social Bond Principles Conference. I'm pleased to note that the Conference is taking place in Asia – right here in Hong Kong – for the very first time.
      
     I'd say that underlines the rising prominence of sustainable and green investment, as well as the tremendous power of Asia in propelling the global economy.
      
     It speaks, too, of Hong Kong's stature as one of the world's leading financial centres.
      
     The green bond market has come a long good way in just over a decade. It debuted only in 2007, with the issuance of a "climate awareness bond" by the European Investment Bank.
      
     The 2015 Paris Agreement, adopted by 195 countries, has taken it to another level, lending it both heightened urgency and broad credibility across the full spectrum of governments, financial institutions and public and private entities.
      
     In September 2016, green finance was for the first time included on the agenda of the G20 Summit held in Hangzhou, China. The importance of green finance was rightly recognised by the G20 leaders in the communique of the summit.
      
     Last year, the global green bond issuance was around US$160 billion, 80 per cent more than the previous year. And China, the leading advocate of green finance at G20, issued more than US$23 billion worth of green bonds last year. Today, sovereign issuance accounts for about one-third of the total in both developed and emerging markets. 
      
     I am glad to report that Hong Kong will soon join the green wave, by issuing government green bonds with a borrowing ceiling of about US$13 billion. 
      
     We will, let me assure you, do so under the best market practices, and we will encourage others to arrange financing for their green projects through our premier capital platform.
      
     The sheer scale of capital required to meet the global, low-carbon challenge demands an international alignment of interests, incentives as well as practices, and of course, public-private collaboration.
      
     It helps, enormously, that the Green Bond Principles, with their focus on transparency, disclosure and reporting, are creating a level playing field for investors and issuers.
      
     Building on this foundation, many national and regional authorities governing green bond issuance are developing practices that respond to their local circumstances.
      
     That includes Hong Kong. We are tapping our local expertise to get a head start on green finance certification. 
      
     I must say I am encouraged by the favourable market response to our first local Green Finance Certification Scheme, which was launched in January this year.
      
     The Scheme reflects a number of widely recognised international standards, including of course the Green Bond Principles, awarding pre-issuance and post-issuance stage certificates to green-debt instruments.
      
     And we will set up a Green Bond Grant Scheme to subsidise the costs issuers incur in using our Green Finance Certification Scheme.
      
     Another financial incentive, the Pilot Bond Grant Scheme, offers a grant equivalent to half the expenses incurred in each eligible bond issuance. 
      
     I'm sure you'll hear more about this from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority today.
      
     And let me add that the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, among other international organisations, have issued green bonds here in Hong Kong. 
      
     That gives us a bit of a head start. More importantly, our financial services sector has long earned the trust – and the capital – of the international institutions and major corporations.
      
     We aim to build our reputation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, as well as the expanding economies under the Belt and Road Initiative.
      
     I am confident that Hong Kong will, soon enough, be well known for green finance as we are now counted on for capital formation prowess, our offshore Renminbi products, and our many attractions as a global centre for IPOs (initial public offerings).
      
     In short, ladies and gentlemen, we see green as the new gold not just for our economy but also for our community and our common future.
      
     I wish you all a very fruitful conference today.
      
     Thank you.

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 14) that the shark prevention nets at Lido Beach and Casam Beach in Tsuen Wan District have been repaired and the beaches have been reopened.

     The beaches were temporarily closed earlier on for shark prevention net maintenance work.

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Computational Thinking Education 2018 cum Coding Fair today (June 14):
 
Stephen (President of the Education University of Hong Kong, Professor Stephen Cheung), Margie (Chairperson of the Steering Committee of CoolThink@JC, Ms Marjorie Yang), Leong (Executive Director, Charities and Community, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Cheung Leong), Horace (Vice-President (Student Affairs) of the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Horace Ip), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning to you all first. I am really pleased to be here today, joining you at the International Conference on Computational Thinking Education 2018 cum Coding Fair. Today is the second edition of this conference, which serves as an excellent platform to attract hundreds of pioneers in computational thinking education from all over the world, including internationally recognised academics, front-line education practitioners, and most importantly innovation and technology (I&T) professionals.
 
     Thanks to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. This event will not be possible without its generous support for CoolThink@JC. And I am personally a staunch supporter of CoolThink. In fact, I have attended several CoolThink events and visited some primary schools joining CoolThink. I firmly believe learning coding skills and computational thinking from an early age can prepare our youth to tackle challenges in their daily lives. CoolThink brings together the Education University of Hong Kong, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the City University of Hong Kong. Through a train-the-trainer programme, CoolThink offers some 16 000 primary students at 32 schools early exposure to coding and computational thinking. I believe such skill building will inspire our very young students' creativity and problem-solving.
 
     To ensure Hong Kong catches up with other economies in the global innovation and technology race, the Chief Executive announced in her Policy Address last October that the Government will promote I&T development in eight major areas. These include  talent development and strengthening popular science education. The Education Bureau has updated the curricula of the STEM Education Key Learning Areas, and published the draft supplementary document on "Computational Thinking – Coding Education" for use by all our schools, providing opportunities for students to learn and apply computational thinking and coding skills.
 
     Computational thinking is becoming more important in many different professions. It is not only for better understanding and making optimal use of technology. It is also a means to create new technology and new innovation.
 
     I am delighted to see events like the Coding Fair today organised and embraced by our tertiary education sector. This helps our younger generation to equip themselves with an innovative mindset and the skills set for the digital era, via computational thinking and coding.
 
     Before I close, let me express my gratitude to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Education University of Hong Kong, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the City University of Hong Kong for the great effort in promoting computational thinking in Hong Kong. Have fun with the Coding Fair!
 
     Thank you very much.
 

     The Government today (June 14) announced the appointment of Dr Sunny Chai as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and the appointment/re-appointment of 11 members to the HKSTPC for two years starting from July 1, 2018.
          
     The appointment of the HKSTPC Chairman is made by the Chief Executive under section 1(1)(a) of Schedule 2 to the HKSTPC Ordinance (Cap. 565). Dr Chai is a seasoned industrialist with rich experience in public service. He will succeed the incumbent HKSTPC Chairman, Mrs Fanny Law, whose term of appointment will end on June 30, 2018.
      
     "I am deeply grateful to Mrs Law for her tremendous contribution to the work of the HKSTPC and the development of Hong Kong's innovation and technology ecosystem," the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said.
      
     "During the past four years, Mrs Law capably steered the work of the Hong Kong Science Park as the flagship innovation and technology institution of Hong Kong. Under her leadership, a number of new initiatives and important infrastructural projects, including the Science Park expansion programme, the Data Technology Hub and the Advanced Manufacturing Centre, have been making good progress," Mrs Lam added.
      
     The Government also announced the appointment of eight new members and re-appointment of three serving members by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan.
      
     Mr Herbert Chia, Mr Donald Choi, Mr Dennis Ho, Professor Mak Tak-wah, Mr Jimmy Ng, Mr Gavin Poon, Professor Sean Tang and Mr Denis Tse are appointed as new board members of the HKSTPC.
      
     Mr Theodore Ma, Mr Joseph Ngai and Professor Tsui Lap-chee are re-appointed as board members of the HKSTPC.
      
     A Government spokesman said, "The Corporation's board of directors is a repository of strong expertise from a wide variety of technology and professional areas. With the immense experience and knowledge of board directors, we believe that they can steer the Corporation to fulfil its public mission effectively and further enhance Hong Kong's position as a hub for innovation and technology."
      
     The tenure of four incumbent board members, Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Professor Shyy Wei, Mr Richard Sun and Mr Billy Wong, will expire on June 30 this year.
      
     "The outgoing members have contributed valuably to the Corporation and the betterment of the local innovation and technology ecosystem. The achievements of the Corporation are due in no small measure to their guidance and wise counsel," the spokesman added.
      
     The HKSTPC, which began operation in 2001, manages the Hong Kong Science Park, three industrial estates and an InnoCentre. It provides a comprehensive range of services to cater for the needs of industry at various stages, including nurturing technology start-ups through its incubation programme, providing premises and services for applied research and development activities, and providing developed land for production.