Police today (December 11) laid a holding charge against a 52-year-old woman with one count of murder.

     The woman was arrested yesterday (December 10) in suspected connection with a murder happened in Tai Po on December 9, in which a 62-year-old man died.

     The case will be mentioned at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 12) morning.

     A carcass of a Eurasian teal found in the Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR) was suspected to be positive for the H5 avian influenza (AI) virus based on preliminary testing, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (December 11). Further confirmatory tests are being conducted.

     The bird carcass was collected earlier at the MPNR. The Eurasian teal is a winter visitor mainly found in the Deep Bay area.

     The spokesman said cleaning and disinfection of visitor facilities including bird hides and a floating boardwalk has been stepped up. A disinfectant carpet has been placed at the entrance of the MPNR for visitors to disinfect the soles of their shoes. In addition, the AFCD is closely monitoring the situation of the birds there and has put up notices to remind visitors to pay attention to personal hygiene.     

     There are no chicken farms within three kilometres of where the dead bird was found. The AFCD will remind poultry farmers to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against AI. Pet bird shop owners and licence holders of pet poultry and bird exhibitions will also be reminded to implement proper precautions against AI.

     The spokesman said that the department will closely monitor poultry farms and the wholesale market to ensure that proper precautions against AI have been taken. The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance.

     "People should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. The public can call 1823 for AFCD's follow-up if they come across birds suspected to be sick or dead, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry," the spokesman said.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will continue to be vigilant over live poultry stalls. It will also remind stall operators to maintain good hygiene.

     The Department of Health will keep up its health education to remind the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent AI.

     The AFCD, the FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police will strive to deter the illegal importation of poultry and birds into Hong Kong to minimise the risk of AI outbreaks caused by imported poultry and birds that have not gone through inspection and quarantine.

     All relevant government departments will continue to be highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against AI. Health advice about preventing AI is available on the "Avian Influenza Health Advice" page at www.afcd.gov.hk.

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, met with senior officials of Laos and representatives from major business chambers during their visit to the country today (December 11).
 
     Mr Hui and Mr Yau had bilateral meetings respectively with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith; the Minister of Industry and Commerce of Laos, Mr Malaithong Kommasith; and the Minister of Finance of Laos, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, in Vientiane. They discussed issues of mutual concern including Hong Kong's recent relaxation measures for Laotian talent for working, training and studying, the potential for collaboration in financial and commercial services, as well as Hong Kong's accession request to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
 
     To learn more about the business environment in Laos and explore opportunities of business co-operation, Mr Hui and Mr Yau met respectively with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the most representative business community in Laos with over 4 000 members, and the Lao Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the first national overseas Chinese business association in Laos.
 
     Mr Hui also met with the Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR (the central bank of the country), Dr Bounleua Sinxayvoravong, to exchange views on how to ensure resilience of the financial system and the sound supervision of financial institutions.
 
     Concluding today's visit, Mr Hui said, "It is my great pleasure to visit Laos, which will assume the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Chairmanship next year with the theme 'ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience'. In line with this theme, Hong Kong attaches much importance to our connectivity with places around the world and resilience against various challenges. It is believed that Hong Kong and Laos have huge opportunities for co-operation in economic and financial areas. Despite complexities posed by the uncertain outlook for the global economy, geopolitical tensions and high interest rates, Hong Kong's financial system remains resilient. As an international financial centre, our various connect schemes channel capital between the Mainland and international markets. Hong Kong continues to be Asia's largest hedge fund hub and cross-border wealth management hub, as well as the world's largest offshore Renminbi business centre.
 
     "Hong Kong is renowned for its world-class financial infrastructure. We will make the best use of our positioning as an international financial centre under the National 14th Five-Year Plan by playing the roles of a 'super connector' and a 'super value-adder'. Hong Kong stands ready to provide solutions for Laos and ASEAN to attract international capital to support their projects and development."
 
     Mr Yau said, "As an international trade centre and Asia's prime investment and logistics hub, Hong Kong offers a business-friendly environment with a simple and low tax system, a robust financial regulatory regime together with a mature legal system. Coupled with the benefits stemming from national strategies including the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development and the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI), we are the bridge that connects the nation and Asia to the rest of the world, and vice versa. With our unique advantages under 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong is an ideal gateway for the Laotian business sector to tap into the GBA market and participate in the B&RI.
 
     "Hong Kong is committed to further bolstering our close relationship with ASEAN. The continued robust growth of bilateral trade between Hong Kong and ASEAN member states (AMS) is a testament to the solid foundation that we have built over the years. In the first half of 2022, trade in goods between us increased by 12.1 per cent year-on year to reach US$84 billion. I appeal to the AMS, including Laos, with its upcoming Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024, to offer their continued support to Hong Kong's early accession to the RCEP so as to further highlight the open, inclusive and multilateral nature of the RCEP," Mr Yau added.
 
     Before concluding their visit to Laos tomorrow (December 12), Mr Hui and Mr Yau will call on the Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Laos, Mr Wang Chang, to give him an update on Hong Kong's latest developments. Mr Hui will then depart for Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam to start his visit to the country while Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong.

            

The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:

     The Communications Authority (CA) today (December 11) launched a promotion truck tour campaign themed "My Promise against Phone Scams" to enhance publicity against telephone scams. The promotion truck, featuring games and exhibits, will tour Hong Kong's 18 districts from today to December 22.

     "The aim of this publicity campaign is to remind members of the public to always stay vigilant against unknown telephone calls and short messages, and to refrain from disclosing their personal or account information, or transferring money to unknown callers or senders of short messages under any circumstances, to avoid being scammed," a spokesman for the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) said.

     The Director-General of Communications, Mr Chaucer Leung, visited the promotion truck today at one of the first-day parking locations on Hung Shing Street, Ap Lei Chau. He joined members of the public on-site for the "My Promise against Phone Scams" tongue twister game and the "Anti-phone Scams Do's and Don'ts" game, which aim to remind the public to stay vigilant at all times against unknown telephone calls and short messages.

     In addition to the fun games, the CA has also arranged to display on the promotion truck relevant information on telephone scams and distribute promotional leaflets and souvenirs to visitors to enhance the effectiveness of publicity.

     Details of the campaign, including the tour schedule and parking locations of the promotion truck, are available at OFCA's website (www.ofca.gov.hk/trucktour).

      

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, chaired the third meeting of the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development (CITID) this afternoon (December 11).

     At the meeting, members were briefed on the major initiatives that were in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" related to the purview of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, and shared their views on the relevant initiatives. Moreover, members also shared their suggestions with the Government on the industry planning of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) in the Loop.

     Professor Sun said, "Innovation and technology (I&T) are instrumental in societal progress, and provide key impetus for Hong Kong's high-quality economic development. The Policy Address sets out a series of initiatives with a forward-looking approach to support the I&T development."

     On the HSITP, he stated that the HSITP will contain various clusters with different industry themes to establish a diverse I&T ecosystem. At the same time, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to work closely with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to foster the synergistic development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.

     Established on March 3, 2023, the CITID advises the Government on the directions and strategies as set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint on promoting development of I&T in Hong Kong, and enhances co-operation among stakeholders.