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 (November 13) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.
The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) is inviting applications for the 2023/24 Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme (the Scheme) from today (November 13) until January 12, 2024.
Launched in 2004, the Scheme provides funding for applied research and development (R&D) projects in Guangdong/Shenzhen and Hong Kong to enhance collaboration between universities, research institutes and technology enterprises of the two places, and to upgrade the technological level of the industries in the Greater Pearl River Delta region.
There are three categories of projects under the Scheme. The first category is funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) of Hong Kong and open to Hong Kong institutions. The second category is funded by the relevant Mainland authorities and open to Mainland institutions. The third category is jointly funded by the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments or the Shenzhen and Hong Kong governments; applications have to be simultaneously submitted by Hong Kong and Mainland institutions to the ITC and the relevant Mainland authorities respectively.
An ITC spokesman said, "The Scheme encourages more diversified and quality R&D projects to be undertaken in the two places, thereby further fostering R&D collaborations in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and facilitating the development of Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub. As at end-August 2023, 379 projects were approved under the Scheme, involving a funding amount of over $1 billion."
Further information is available on the ITF website (www.itf.gov.hk/l-eng/TCFS.asp). For enquiries, please contact the ITF Secretariat (Tel: 3655 5678; email: enquiry@itf.gov.hk).
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is investigating a lift incident that occurred today (November 12) at Ka On Building in Sham Shui Po.
The EMSD received at 3.16pm today a report about a lift incident occurred at around 2.45pm at Ka On Building in Sham Shui Po. Preliminary findings revealed that the drive machine of the lift was dislocated and all four suspension ropes were broken. The safety gear functioned and stopped the lift below the 1/F landing. No casualty was reported. The lift has ceased operation immediately.
The lift was installed in 1979 and is maintained by Holake Hong Kong Lifts Ltd. The maintenance contractor is required to submit an incident report within seven working days. The investigation of the cause of the incident by the EMSD is on-going.
Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Shaw Prize 2023 Award Presentation Ceremony today (November 12):
Deputy Director Lu Xinning (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), Deputy Commissioner Fang Jianming (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR), Dr Raymond Chan (Chair of the Shaw Prize Foundation), Professor Reinhard Genzel (Chair of the Board of Adjudicators of the Shaw Prize Foundation), Professor Kenneth Young (Chair of the Shaw Prize Council), esteemed laureates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
A very good evening to you all. It's my great pleasure to take part in this year's Shaw Prize ceremony. A great pleasure, to welcome all of you here in Hong Kong! This evening's ceremony is the award's first in-person ceremony since 2019. A truly remarkable occasion.
The Shaw Prize was set up more than two decades ago, by the late Sir Run Run Shaw. Hong Kong is proud to be home to this prestigious international award, which many consider to be the "Nobel Prize of the East".
It recognises and honours the world's leading scholars and scientists, for significant breakthroughs in the three scientific disciplines of astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences. All nominations go through the rigorous consideration by Selection Committees and a Board of Adjudicators, all composed of prominent academics and scientists from around the world.
I would like to express my sincere congratulations to all the laureates from 2020 to 2023, for your exemplary work in science. Your achievement not only manifests your lifetime pursuit of academic excellence, but also serves as an important inspiration to scientists and researchers in the world, especially the younger, up-and-coming generation.
Therefore, I'm glad that you could finally make it to Hong Kong, to receive your well-earned awards and, hopefully, enjoy the many attractions of Asia's world city.
Hong Kong is blessed with some of the world's top universities and their research institutes. Our talented academics strive to bring about societal changes in various fields of scientific endeavour, to ultimately benefit humanity – from life science and medicine, to robotics and moon rovers.
With the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is determined to develop into an international innovation and technology centre. The Government is committed to creating an innovation ecosystem that is conducive to research and development, scientific breakthroughs, and sustainable commercialisation of research outcomes.
And tonight is just the start of a seminal week of scientific marvel. I'm pleased to note that many of you will take part in the inaugural Hong Kong Laureate Forum, a week-long series of events scheduled to begin tomorrow. The Forum will bring together over 20 Shaw Prize laureates and distinguished scientists, to exchange with hundreds of young scientists in a thought-provoking line-up of world-class seminars and discussions.
My congratulations, once again, to all Shaw Prize winners for your inspired breakthroughs.
Congratulations, also, to the Shaw Prize Foundation for your untiring efforts to keep the founders' great vision going, and for making this wonderful award scheme truly international.
I wish you all the best in the world of science, and here in Hong Kong. Thank you very much.
Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances, a highlight programme of the newly launched Asia+ Festival this year, was held this afternoon (November 12) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and Foyer, showcasing the arts and cultures of different parts of Asia through a variety of folk dances, musical instrument performances, a fashion show and a martial art performance. The programme received an enthusiastic response and attracted more than 30 000 participants.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, addressed the Asia+ Festival ceremony in a pre-recorded speech, pointing out that Hong Kong was a city deeply rooted in Chinese culture, it had long been a place known for its dynamic fusion of cultures of Asia and other parts of the world. Under the auspices of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government was expediting the advancement of Hong Kong's cultural scene, comprehensively developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, and connecting itself with other parts of Asia and the world by leveraging its own advantages.
Officiating guests of today's ceremony included the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Fang Jianming; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; and representatives from Consulates General in Hong Kong of the participating countries of Asia+ Festival. Various ethnic stage performances began after the conclusion of the ceremony. Members of the public could then appreciate the passions of different ethnic groups through their stage shows.
In addition to the traditional ethnic stage performances, the Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances also features an exhibition entitled "Charm of Hues – National Costume and Headdress Exhibition" from today until November 19 at the Foyer of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre to showcase beautiful costumes and decorations that people wear during festive events and arts performances. The exhibits include dance costumes of the Indian Bhangra dance, Nepal's Gurung tribe Ghatu dance and Japan's Tokushima traditional dance; a northern Vietnam's traditional hat Nón Quai Thao for New Year celebrations, a Cambodian Apsara crown; as well as the traditional costumes thobe and abaya worn by men and women of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and more.
Twenty-three countries and regions participated in this year's event, namely Hong Kong, China; Macao, China; Bangladesh; Cambodia; India; Indonesia; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea; Kuwait; Laos; Malaysia; Nepal; Mongolia; Pakistan; the Philippines; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Türkiye; the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
An online programme recapturing the event highlights today will be broadcast on November 26 at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Community Programmes Office (CPO) website (www.cpo.gov.hk/activity/en-aecp-2023-carnival/).