The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (January 10) visited Shenzhen and concluded his three-day visit to Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). 
 
     In the morning, Mr Chan visited the Vocational and Professional Education Services (Shenzhen) Company Limited (VPES), which is the first Mainland operation centre of the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council (VTC), to receive a briefing on its operation by the Chairman of the VTC, Mr Tony Tai, and the Executive Director of the VTC, Mr Donald Tong. He also talked with students of the VTC and those of Shenzhen Polytechnic University to learn about their joint scientific research projects, and exchanged views on strengthening Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation in vocational and professional education and training (VPET).
 
     Mr Chan was pleased to learn that the VPES, since its formal opening last year, has been operating smoothly. As a VPET exchange platform, it has been fostering the VTC's co-operation with education institutions, enterprises and organisations on the Mainland in areas including programme exchanges, field studies and workplace attachments. It seeks to help more Hong Kong young people understand the country's development; and enable Mainland young people to learn about the VPET scene as well as different progression pathways in Hong Kong. Such pathways include staying in Hong Kong for one year after graduating from the VTC's designated full-time professional Higher Diploma programmes to seek jobs relevant to their disciplines under the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme announced in the Policy Address last year. 
 
     Thereafter, Mr Chan met with the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mr Meng Fanli, and the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Mr Qin Weizhong, to discuss issues of mutual concern as well as the strengthening of exchanges and co-operation on various fronts. Mr Chan said that, since the Hong Kong/Shenzhen Co-operation Meeting was successfully held in Hong Kong in February 2023, the relevant government departments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen have been making good use of the co-operation mechanism to deepen exchanges and co-operation in an array of areas, including finance, business and trade, innovation and technology, culture, tourism, education and youth development.
 
     Mr Chan added that Hong Kong and Shenzhen have been expediting, under the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone released by the Central Government in August 2023, the development of the co-operation zone; and that both places will fully leverage their "dual engine" roles to drive Qianhai development in the GBA further to the Overall Development Plan for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone released by the Central Government in December 2023. At the same time, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will steadfastly implement the Northern Metropolis Action Agenda published in October 2023, with a view to achieving deeper integration with the planning of Shenzhen and other GBA cities as well as better integration of Hong Kong into the national development.
 
     Mr Chan said that Hong Kong will continue to fully capitalise on its distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. He looked forward to Hong Kong and Shenzhen's continued pursuit of deeper and higher-level exchanges and co-operation in more areas under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits to foster the high-quality development of the GBA.
 
     Before returning to Hong Kong this afternoon, Mr Chan visited The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) and conversed with the Party Secretary and Director General of the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission, Ms Wu Hongyan; the HKU-SZH Chief Executive, Professor Kenneth Cheung; and the hospital's medical staff. He was pleased to learn that the HKU-SZH has developed rapidly in just over 10 years since its establishment. It has made a number of achievements, including attaining the status of a Grade 3A General Hospital, a High-level Hospital of Guangdong Province, and a pilot hospital for the high-quality development of public hospitals of the National Health Commission.
 
     Mr Chan was also pleased to learn that the HKU-SZH has been working hand in hand with the HKSAR Government to take forward initiatives such as health care vouchers and the Pilot Scheme for Supporting Patients of the Hospital Authority in the GBA, so as to enhance medical services for Hong Kong people living on the Mainland. He looked forward to the two cities continuing to steadfastly implement the Framework Agreement on Medical Collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong signed in September 2023, so as to facilitate the flow of talent, drugs, medical devices and healthcare services, and underpin the important national strategy of "Healthy China".
 
     Concluding the three-day visit to GBA Mainland cities, Mr Chan said that upon the fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the Outline Development Plan for the GBA this year, he has every confidence in the governments of Guangdong Province, the HKSAR and other GBA cities forging ahead by jointly expediting the co-ordinated and integrated development of education, technology and talent in the GBA, so as to inject new impetus into and make new contributions to the high-quality development of the GBA and the country at large.  

                      

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (January 10) urged the public to stop using a model of IKEA ÅSKSTORM 40W USB charger (model number: ICPSW5-40-1) and contact the product supplier, IKEA Hong Kong, for product return and refund.
 
     According to the supplier, damaged cable of the USB charger may lead to thermal burn and electric shock. The supplier has therefore decided to arrange a recall with full refund of this product.

     For enquiries, please call IKEA Hong Kong's customer service hotline at 3125 0888 or visit its website at www.ikea.com.hk.

    

     The Education Bureau (EDB) has established Hong Kong's first teacher training and exchange base at South China Normal University (SCNU) in Guangzhou. A plaque-unveiling ceremony was held today (January 10).
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said that the Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address proposed to establish the first teacher training and exchange base on the Mainland for developing regular teacher training, exchange and collaboration projects there. She expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education for its support, and the Department of Education of Guangdong Province and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG) for their guidance and co-ordination, which facilitated the establishment of the first base at SCNU. She pointed out that SCNU offers teacher education with unique characteristics and has been zealously supporting the professional development of Hong Kong teachers. SCNU was the first institution to organise training for Hong Kong teachers since the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland early last year. In the past some eight months, it has organised eight study tours and trained around 900 Hong Kong teachers, including 60 non-Chinese speaking teachers.
 
     She said that the EDB would step up co-operation with SCNU and make good use of the university's strengths, professional development platform, training experience, network and resources via its base to develop diversified and high-quality teacher training projects, enabling educators of the two places to learn from one another and thrive together.
 
     Today was also the launch day of another new batch of Mainland study tours for Hong Kong newly-joined teachers. Dr Choi hoped that teachers participating in the tours will treasure the opportunity to study on the Mainland, see for themselves the national modernisation development in various aspects, enhance their affection for and sense of belonging to the country, share good stories about the country's education, strengthen the national pride and sense of responsibility and ownership of students and lead them to integrate into the country's overall development proactively.
 
     Other guests at the ceremony today included the Director-General of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Dr Zhu Kongjun; the Division Director of the Education, Science and Technology Department of the LOCPG, Mr He Jinhui; the Secretary of the Communist Party of China at South China Normal University Committee, Dr Wang Binwei, and around 150 Hong Kong newly-joined teachers.
 
     This morning, Dr Choi toured the Affiliated High School of SCNU to learn about its vision and curriculum characteristics. In the afternoon, she exchanged views with SCNU leaders and met their Hong Kong students.
 
     Yesterday (January 9), Dr Choi visited Sun Yat-sen University and met its President, Professor Gao Song, to learn about the latest developments of the University.
 
     Tomorrow morning (January 11), Dr Choi will depart for Shenzhen to visit the Longgang Science and Technology Museum together with students participating in the Mainland study tour of the senior secondary subject of Citizenship and Social Development. Members of the tour include around 40 non-Chinese speaking students. They will gain an understanding about the national development and Chinese culture through experiential learning offered by the tour.
 
     Dr Choi will conclude her visit and return to Hong Kong at noon on the same day.

          

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

     This press release is issued jointly by the Insurance Authority (IA) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (January 10):
      
     The IA has taken disciplinary action against Cheung Tak On, a current technical representative (agent) appointed by an Authorized Institution at the material times, by suspending his licence for two months and ordering him to pay a pecuniary fine of HK$2,900, on the grounds of him not being fit and proper. The disciplinary action is decided on the basis of all relevant information, including the information gathered by the HKMA in its investigation into Cheung's conduct.
      
     The HKMA's investigation found that, between January to February 2021, Cheung took a total of 20 gift vouchers with a total value of HK$2,900 from an Authorized Institution by which he was employed at the material time without its knowledge or authorization. The gift vouchers were intended to be given by the Authorized Institution to its clients as gifts. Certain clients did not however claim their gift vouchers and Cheung decided to keep these for himself without letting his employer know.
      
     On being discovered, Cheung admitted his wrongdoing. At the time he had only used one of the coupons with a value of HK$50 for his personal use and he returned the remaining coupons he had taken.
      
     The IA is of the opinion that Cheung's conduct crossed the ethical line between right and wrong and, in this respect, he demonstrated a lack of fitness and properness to be a technical representative (agent) during the period in which he was serving in that capacity. Disciplinary action at an appropriate level is therefore merited. In deciding the disciplinary sanction to be imposed under section 84 of the Insurance Ordinance, the IA weighed all relevant circumstances in balance, including that:
 

1. Cheung admitted to his wrongdoing;
2. Cheung used one of the gift vouchers with a value of HK$50;
3. Cheung returned the unused gift vouchers to the Authorized Institution, including the coupons that the Authorized Institution had yet to discover to be missing at the material time;
4. Cheung's personal circumstances;
5. Cheung's otherwise clear disciplinary record; and
6. the need to send a message to deter similar conduct.

 
     The Head of Market Conduct of the IA, Mr Peter Gregoire, said, "Once you cross the line between right and wrong in your professional life, that line can begin to blur until one day, if you are not careful, it is eroded altogether. The consequences of this type of ethical fading can be devastating. That's why it is vital to call it out right at the start and hold individuals accountable for their actions when they let their ethics slip. Disciplinary action calibrated and deployed at the appropriate level not only penalises wrongdoing, but can help force a course correction at the right moment. That's what we are aiming for in this case. In doing so, we also seek to reinforce the necessity of underpinning the insurance industry with a strong ethical culture."
      
     The Executive Director (Enforcement and AML) of the HKMA, Ms Carmen Chu, said, "This enforcement outcome illustrates the result of close collaboration between the HKMA and the IA, with the key objective of sending a strong deterrent message to the industry and practitioners that dishonest conduct will not be tolerated. Banking and insurance professionals are reminded to ensure good understanding of conduct standards and internalise the learning from this and other relevant cases and thus contributing collectively to market integrity and consumer protection."
 
     The IA acknowledges Cheung's co-operation in accepting the disciplinary actions which has resulted in prompt resolution of this matter (Note).
      
     For further information on the IA's enforcement work, please see the "Enforcement News" section of the IA's website. Public disciplinary actions against licensed insurance intermediaries may also be searched on the "Register of Licensed Insurance Intermediaries" on the IA's website. For further information on the HKMA's enforcement work, please see the "Enforcement Actions" section on the HKMA's website.

Note: Pursuant to section 84(1) of the IO, at any time when the IA is contemplating exercising a power under section 81, it may, if it considers it appropriate to do so in the interests of policy holders or potential policy holders or the public interest, by agreement with the person concerned (a) exercise a power that the IA may exercise in respect of the person under section 81; and (b) take an additional action that the IA consider appropriate in the circumstances of the case.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, began his visit programme to Beijing today (January 10) and called on the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong.

     Mr Yau gave Mr Xia an overview of the latest situation and the way forward in key areas of work of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), including attracting enterprises and investment, expanding global economic and trade network, exploring emerging markets, developing Hong Kong into a regional intellectual property trading centre as well as assisting enterprises in better integrating into the national development. Mr Xia fully recognised the work of the CEDB. 

     Mr Yau expressed his gratitude to Mr Xia for his encouragement and support. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will press ahead in building a vibrant economy to enhance competitiveness and give full play to Hong Kong's distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under "one country, two systems". The CEDB will continue to assist local and overseas enterprises in tapping the opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of the country.

     In the afternoon, Mr Yau visited the ark space lab of Yinhe Hangtian (Beijing) Internet Technology Co Ltd (GalaxySpace) to learn about the company's developments in satellite technologies. 

     He also visited the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing and attended a dinner with Hong Kong residents and businessmen in Beijing to understand their developments on the Mainland.

     Mr Yau will continue his visit to Beijing tomorrow (January 11).