The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in October showed a drop of 454 cases, representing a decrease of 0.2 per cent compared with that of September, according to the latest CSSA caseload sta… read more
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to San Francisco, the United States, yesterday (November 15, San Francisco time).
Mr Chan had lunch with a group of representatives of start-ups, venture capital, and private equity firms in Silicon Valley. During his speech, Mr Chan stated that the Central Government has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the “one country, two systems” principle in Hong Kong in the long run. This institutional advantage allows Hong Kong to maintain an excellent business environment, the common law system, the linked exchange rate system, and international connections. It enables the continued free flow of capital, talent, cargo, and information, as well as convergence of international capital and talent in Hong Kong. With the advantages of the Greater Bay Area and the vast Mainland and Asian markets, Hong Kong stands as a prime option for foreign investment to explore the Mainland and Asia-Pacific markets.
Mr Chan introduced Hong Kong’s economic development direction and opportunities in the new stage, particularly in finance and technology innovation. He highlighted a series of policy measures to attract businesses and talent, among them, the strong fundamental scientific research capabilities, robust protection of intellectual property rights, vibrant start-up and venture capital ecosystems, and the new industrialisation policies introduced by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) are particularly favourable for the development of the innovation and technology industry. In addition, Hong Kong is an international metropolis with excellent education, social diversity and inclusiveness, harmony between urban and rural areas, rich cultural life, and good public security. Hong Kong warmly welcomes businesses and talent from around the world to develop and invest in Hong Kong.
Mr Chan also visited a biotech start-up in Silicon Valley that focuses on combining artificial intelligence and health technology data to enhance the preliminary research efficiency and discoveries in areas such as genetic engineering as well as medicine research and development. Due to Hong Kong’s strong scientific research talent and capabilities, along with the advantages of “one country, two systems” and policy support from the Government, the company is actively considering establishing a research and development centre and regional headquarters in Hong Kong to develop their business in Asia.
Furthermore, Mr Chan visited an international company specialising in payment and financial technology, and exchanged views on Hong Kong’s latest economic and financial situation, as well as the application and development of financial technology with the company.
Mr Chan attended the welcome reception of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in the evening.
Mr Chan will attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on behalf of the Chief Executive today (November 16, San Francisco time) to exchange views on various global issues with regional leaders.
According to the latest labour force statistics (i.e. provisional figures for August – October 2023) released today (November 16) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increase… read more
In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt, and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
From noon on November 15 to noon today (November 16), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 146 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 14 516 samples of food imported from Japan (including 9 553 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 4 160 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more
​The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, co-chaired a meeting of the task force for collaboration on planning and development of Hong Kong-Shenzhen control points with Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government Mr Wang Shourui at the Central Government Offices today (November 16) to continue to take forward the relevant work in various boundary control points (BCPs) between the two sides.
Mr Tang welcomed the arrival of the leaders of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, as well as members of the Office of Port of Entry and Exit of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and other relevant units, noting that they had done a lot of work to prepare for the meeting. At the meeting, the teams of the two sides discussed the functional positioning of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen land-based BCPs and the planning of transportation connection. They also reported the progress of various issues including the redevelopment projects at the Huanggang BCP and the Sha Tau Kok BCP, as well as the transfer of the existing function of fresh food clearance at the Man Kam To BCP.
In concluding the meeting, Mr Tang said that both sides agreed to implement the planning of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development blueprint to promote the flows of people and goods in the GBA and take forward a series of measures to enhance the handling capability and clearance facilitation of the BCPs, giving full play to the leading role and knock-on effect of Hong Kong and Shenzhen as core engines for the development of the GBA.
Officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attending the meeting also included representatives from the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, the Immigration Department, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the Planning Department, the Architectural Services Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Transport Department.
