The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) Phase 1 Redevelopment Project has been completed. The grand opening of KWH Phase 1 Building today (November 28) marked a significant milestone for the hospital. The hospital's facilities have been further enhanced to improve patient services.
 
     The grand opening ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing. Other guests attending the ceremony included the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; the Chairman of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) (2023-24) and Hospital Governing Committee of KWH, Mr Herman Wai; the Chairman of TWGHs (1964-1965), Mr Ho Sai-chu; the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko; the Cluster Chief Executive of Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC), Dr Eric Cheung; and Hospital Chief Executive of KWH, Dr Tang Kam-shing.
 
     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, gave a video keynote speech at the grand opening ceremony, bearing witness to the new chapter of KWH. Mr Lee encouraged healthcare professionals to collaborate with the community closely for the wellbeing of citizens to build a healthy Hong Kong.
 
     Mr Cheuk, in his speech during the ceremony, stated, "The Government has been allocating substantial resources to healthcare. In addition to the two Hospital Development Plans, the Government will continue to plan and implement the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, shifting the healthcare system's focus from treatment-oriented to prevention-oriented, with a central role for family doctors. It will reduce the incidence of severe illnesses and alleviate the pressure of hospitals in providing secondary and tertiary medical services."

    Mr Fan expressed gratitude in his speech for the Government's commitment to public healthcare services. Mr Fan said, "The KWH Redevelopment Project is an important project in the HA's Hospital Development Plan. Upon the service commencement of the building, the overall accident and emergency services of KCC were strengthened. The Phase 2 Redevelopment Project of the hospital has already commenced, and upon completion, it will further enhance the clinical services, consolidating KWH's role as a large acute hospital providing comprehensive inpatient and day care services."
 
     Mr Wai said that KWH was established in 1911 and has served the community for 112 years. It has consistently upheld the TWGHs' tradition of providing free medical services, and serves the public with the mission "to heal the sick and to relieve the distressed". The floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the atrium allow passersby on Waterloo Road to catch a glimpse of the architectural heritage of the Tung Wah Museum, which was built in 1911 and was originally the main building of KWH, symbolising the unwavering commitment to serving the community.
 
     The expansion of KWH is a significant milestone in the healthcare development of KCC. The hospital has set a new vision for future development – Smart, Sustainability, and Healing. To align with the HA's strategic goal of developing a smart hospital, KWH has introduced various technological enhancements as part of the redevelopment, including the implementation of a 5G network, making it the first hospital under the HA's purview to provide 5G network services covering the whole hospital. In addition to offering 5G Wi-Fi services to the public, 5G technology can also be applied to telehealth. KWH's 5G operating theatres have been put into service in phases, supporting real-time transmission of surgical images and allowing clinical teams outside the operating theatre to offer advice, meeting the demands of multidisciplinary care in surgery.
 
     The KWH Phase 1 Building has been in service since April of this year. With a total floor area of approximately 145 000 square metres, it provides over 1 200 beds and features 14 operating theatres. The hospital's one-stop ambulatory care centres reduce the need for hospitalisation and enhance patient treatment and health management. The Phase 2 Redevelopment Project of KWH is already underway, involving the demolition and reconstruction of the main block, north wing, and east wing of the old building and the refurbishment of the TWGHs Tsui Tsin Tong Outpatient Building.

      

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (November 28) that persons interested in the open auction for the overhauled Lai Wan Market may visit the market on December 4.

     The overhaul of the Lai Wan Market is a project of the Market Modernisation Programme. After the completion of the overhaul works, the categories of retail commodities allowed for sale in stalls of the market cover various fresh provisions, including fish, fresh meat, frozen meat, poultry, fruits, vegetables, food-related dry or wet goods, non-food related dry or wet goods, etc. The overhauled market is expected to reopen before Lunar New Year in 2024 at the earliest, and the FEHD will announce the exact date for opening the market for business in due course. Existing tenants who choose to continue business in the market can take part in the restricted auction to bid for a stall after the overhaul. The remaining stalls after the restricted auction will be put up for open auction for eligible persons in late December. Details will be announced in due course.

     Persons interested in the open auction may visit the Lai Wan Market in advance on December 4. Persons under the age of 18 will not be allowed to enter. The FEHD will start issuing admission tickets (a total of six touring sessions with a total of 240 admission tickets starting from 10am to 1pm), on a first-come, first-served basis, at the open area outside Mei Foo Farm Fest, Mei Foo Sun Chuen (near Delia Memorial School (Glee Path)), at 8.45am on December 4. Each person will be issued with one ticket and is allowed to select one touring session only. Admission is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are required to enter the market according to the respective sessions selected by them, and adhere to the safety rules concerned.

     Information about Lai Wan Market, including details of the stalls, floorplan and photo have been uploaded to the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pleasant_environment/tidy_market/LaiWanMarket/index.html).

     The China Manned Space delegation arrived in Hong Kong today (November 28) to start a four-day visit.

     The delegation is led by the Deputy Director General of the China Manned Space Agency, Mr Lin Xiqiang. Members of the delegation comprise astronauts who carried out the mission of constructing the Chinese Space Station, including Shenzhou-12 astronaut Mr Liu Boming, Shenzhou-13 astronaut Ms Wang Yaping, Shenzhou-14 mission commander Mr Chen Dong, Shenzhou-15 astronaut Mr Zhang Lu, as well as experts from related fields of the manned space engineering systems.
      
     The delegation arrived at Hong Kong International Airport around noon today. To express Hong Kong people’s warm welcome for the delegation, students greeting at the airport waved the National Flag and the Regional Flag, applauding and cheering when the delegation entered the arrivals hall. The delegation also waved to the crowds in the hall as a token of their appreciation.
      
     In the afternoon, the delegation attended a media briefing to introduce the latest developments of the China Manned Space Program and answer questions from the press.
      
     The delegation also attended a welcome banquet hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in the evening to meet people from various sectors of the community.
      
     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, delivered welcome remarks. "The China Manned Space Program has achieved one breakthrough after another over the past 30 years, showing the world how to pursue the dream of space aspirations with 'Chinese speed'. The achievements you have accomplished have made us as Chinese all profoundly proud and honoured", he said.
      
     Mr Lee said he believed that Hong Kong people would be thrilled by the delegation's visit, while the delegation's introduction of the achievements made by the country in aerospace technology would enhance a sense of national identity amongst members of the public, and continue the mainstream values characterised by the love of both the motherland and Hong Kong at the core and in conformity with the principle of "one country, two systems". He hoped that Hong Kong youth would seize the opportunity not only to learn manned space-related knowledge from the delegation, but more importantly to gain inspiration from their perseverance, skills and abilities in the face of challenges when contributing to the manned space program of the Chinese nation.
      
     The delegation will meet with teachers and students from local secondary and primary schools for exchanges, and attend a variety show at the Hong Kong Coliseum tomorrow (November 29) to mark Hong Kong's welcoming of the China Manned Space delegation.

        

     The Secretary for the Civil Service (SCS), Mrs Ingrid Yeung, presented the SCS's Commendation Award to civil servants from different bureaux and departments with outstanding performances at the Central Government Offices today (November 28). The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, also attended the ceremony to extend his congratulations to the award recipients.
 
     One hundred civil servants were awarded under the SCS's Commendation Award Scheme 2023. They came from 38 bureaux and departments, involving 50 grades including professional and technical grades, disciplined services, general grades as well as Model Scale 1 grades.
 
     Addressing the ceremony, Mrs Yeung said that the awardees had demonstrated dedication in their respective posts and areas of service, and that their perseverance in providing quality public services and pursuit of excellence were highly commendable.
 
     Mrs Yeung pointed out that the civil service is the backbone of the Government's governing team and the key to governance. The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address mentioned a number of initiatives to strengthen the civil service management system, including advancing the performance-based management system and giving due recognition to civil servants with outstanding performances and dedication to serving the community. In addition, the Government will continue to enhance training for all civil servants to enhance their patriotism and sense of national security. It will also introduce the Civil Service Staff Exchange Programme with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) such that Hong Kong civil servants will have opportunities to station temporarily on the Mainland to have a deeper understanding of the development of the GBA. She encouraged all civil servants to continue to uphold the spirit of providing quality service, to stay people oriented, to go an extra mile and strive for excellence in their work, and to showcase more good stories of civil servants to the public.
 
     With 12 days to go before the District Council Election, and civil service awardees attending today's ceremony with their family members, Mrs Yeung took the opportunity to appeal to civil servants to cast their votes with their friends and families on the polling day to discharge their civic responsibility with a view to building a better community together.
 
     Senior Airworthiness Officer (Certification) of the Civil Aviation Department Mr Henry Leung, who was commended today, serves at the Airworthiness Office of the Flight Standards and Airworthiness Division. He is responsible for upholding the airworthiness requirements for aircraft entering Hong Kong registration and granting approval of aircraft modifications and repairs. He participated in type certification work of the C919 large passenger aircraft, independently developed by the country, and exchanged views with experts from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China to strengthen mutual ties.

     Another awardee is Chief Customs Officer Mr Tjong Yu-pau. He is currently a Discipline Officer in the Rail and Ferry Command. He has rich frontline experience and has been assigned to various posts to perform passenger and cargo inspections at different boundary control points. He has been performing his duties diligently and giving full play to his strengths in every post. He also contributes to the community by providing voluntary music teaching at a community family centre in his spare time.
 
     An awardee, Land Surveyor of the Lands Department Mr Ho Chi-ho, changed his job from a contract project manager to a land surveyor seven years ago. He works in the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure Platform Section and had been actively promoting the development and application of common spatial data infrastructure in Hong Kong with his team. He established an efficient and reliable platform to collect different types of spatial data and standardise the specifications for ease of use, and to also assist Hong Kong to develop into a smart city.
 
     The SCS's Commendation Award Scheme was introduced in 2004 to commend colleagues who have achieved outstanding performances continuously for five years or above by the SCS on behalf of the Government. The Scheme has a meticulous selection process which requires nominations from Permanent Secretaries, departmental heads or heads of grades, adjudication by a selection committee and the final decision on the awardees' list by the SCS.
 
     To enhance public understanding of the work of award-winning civil servants and their dedication to serving the community, the Civil Service Bureau and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) have jointly produced a 10-episode television series of five minutes each entitled "United to serve the community – Good stories of civil servants", for broadcast on RTHK TV31 from mid-December. In each episode, an outstanding civil servant who received the commendation award will be featured to showcase the "good stories of civil servants" and demonstrate the spirit of civil servants' courageousness, perseverance in overcoming challenges, commitment and dedication to serving the community through their introductions of their work, and to attract more outstanding talent to join the Government.

          

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (November 28) chaired the second meeting of the third-term Human Resources Planning Commission.

     At the meeting, members were briefed by representatives of policy bureaux on the initiatives regarding manpower development in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" and offered their views. Members welcomed the further measures launched under the Government's ongoing strategy of trawling for enterprises as well as attracting and retaining talent to raise Hong Kong's competitiveness. Such measures include implementing the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, relaxing the visa requirements for talent in certain countries, expanding the coverage of universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme, launching the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme, and introducing a stamp duty suspension arrangement for incoming talent's acquisition of residential properties. Members also supported the Government in consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's development of "eight centres" as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan to provide impetus for the city's sustaining economic growth.

     Meanwhile, members were glad to note the Government's endeavours to address the manpower shortage across various sectors in Hong Kong through training, retraining, employment support, importation of labour, and use of innovation and technology. Members supported that the Government should continue to go all out to promote vocational and professional education and training, expand the vocational talent pool, and develop Hong Kong into an education and talent hub. Members also expressed their views on the implementation of the various measures.

     Mr Chan said, "The Government accords high priority to training local manpower, attracting and retaining talent, and promoting local employment. The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address sets out an array of initiatives on manpower development accordingly to strengthen Hong Kong's role as the gateway for talent from both the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and overseas. The Government will press ahead with the various initiatives, while expanding the potential labour force continuously, to meet the needs of Hong Kong's economic and social development."

     Prior to the meeting, Mr Chan led members to appeal to the trade and industrial sectors, the professional services sectors, the labour sector, the academia and members of the public for voting at the District Council (DC) Election on December 10 to fulfil their civic duty. He also called on employers of various sectors to implement flexible work arrangements on the polling day for employees to vote at their designated polling stations, so as to elect capable DC members to act in concert with talent across sectors in building a better community.