One of the annual flagship events of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), the Hong Kong FinTech Week 2023, was concluded yesterday (November 5). Themed "Fintech Redefined.", the event this year features more than 500 speakers, 650 exhibitors and tens of thousands of participants from over 90 economies either in person or virtually.
 
     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, announced three major initiatives to foster co-development of fintech and real economy at the Main Conference of the FinTech Week on November 2. These include launching a new Integrated Fund Platform (IFP), welcoming cross-boundary e-CNY applications to benefit inbound and outbound visitors between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and promoting real economy-related applications and innovations by the Virtual Assets (VA) and Web3.0 sector, as well as further development of the regulatory framework.
 
     "To elaborate on our three major initiatives, the FSTB published today (November 6) details of each of them for better understanding by all stakeholders," Mr Hui said.
 
     The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) welcomes the plan to establish a new IFP for retail fund distribution, noting that this will reinforce Hong Kong's position as a leading international asset and wealth management centre. The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) also has announced that it is currently evaluating the operating model and structure of the fund platform. The HKEX will work closely with the Government, the SFC and other stakeholders on the development.
 
     The e-CNY applications announced represent cross-boundary financial innovations, connecting the e-CNY ecosystem with payment vehicle and banking payment system in Hong Kong. These innovations focus on retail payments, facilitating cross-boundary consumption and the interconnectivity within the Greater Bay Area. They also pave the way for exploring more future application scenarios and use cases of e-CNY in the Greater Bay Area.
 
     On facilitating innovations by the VA and Web3.0 sector, the Government will seek to promote real economy-related applications and innovations by the sector, for example tokenisation of Real World Assets and traditional financial assets, and further development of the regulatory framework for VA-related activities.
 
     "I am glad to learn that our initiatives are well supported. Looking ahead, the Government will join hands with regulators and major market players to press ahead with the initiatives, with a view to injecting new energy to our ever-growing fintech ecosystem," Mr Hui said.
  
     Details of the three major initiatives announced in the FinTech Week can be found in annexes.
 

     â€‹The Health Bureau announced today (November 6) that the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) will be officially launched next Monday (November 13). Starting that day, all Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of diabetes mellitus (DM) or hypertension (HT) can enrol in the scheme at any District Health Centre (DHC) or DHC Express (DHCE) and pair with a family doctor for DM and HT screening and long-term follow-up. A constantly updating list of participating family doctors is now available on the dedicated website of the CDCC Pilot Scheme, with over 330 family doctors (as of November 3) available for matching by citizens' own choice.

     Under the CDCC Pilot Scheme, eligible persons can undergo DM and HT screening, attend doctor consultations, receive laboratory investigations, and, subject to their health conditions, be offered prescribed medication, follow-up care at nurse clinics and allied health services in the private healthcare sector by shouldering certain co-payment amount with government subsidies under a co-payment model. Those interested in joining the scheme can register as a member of any DHC/DHCE across 18 districts. They will then be assisted to pair with a family doctor upon giving consent to enrol in the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth). Persons aged 65 or above may settle the co-payment fees with Elderly Health Care Vouchers, including that for consultations, services by nurse clinics and allied health, and laboratory investigations.

     The paired family doctor will give medical consultation to participants and arrange for them laboratory investigations, followed by advisory on the diagnosis. Participants who are diagnosed as not having any sign of DM or HT upon screening will be aided by the DHCs/DHCEs to set health management goals. Arrangements will also be made as needed for them to join activities that can help them adopt a healthier lifestyle for staying in good shape.

     As for those who are diagnosed with prediabetes, DM or HT, they will be supported with government subsidies for long-term follow-up by the family doctor they selected. Participants diagnosed with prediabetes are entitled to a maximum of four subsidised consultation visits per year, while those diagnosed with DM or HT are entitled to a maximum of six subsidised consultation visits per year. Participants prescribed with basic-tier drugs for use under the CDCC Pilot Scheme will not be required to pay addition fee for such medication. There are more than 40 items of relevant basic-tier drugs including drugs for regulating blood glucose level and blood pressure as well as drugs for treating episodic illnesses. These drugs are sufficient for treating patients with prediabetes, DM and HT in general. The Government will review the list from time to time to meet the needs of participants.

     Apart from subsidising the consultation visits, laboratory investigations and drug fees, the Government also set up an incentive mechanism. Once the participants have achieved certain health incentive targets (such as having their health indexes monitored and subsequently uploaded to the eHealth mobile application, attended follow-up consultations regularly, completed health education programmes or undergone specified examination as advised), they will enjoy a reduction of co-payment fee with a maximum amount of $150 for their first subsidised consultation in the following programme year (i.e. starting from the third programme year).

     The Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau, said, "Everybody should take the primary responsibility for their own health. As projected in the Population Health Survey 2020-22 of the Department of Health, some 17 per cent of the population aged 45 to 84 have an underlying condition of DM or HT. By joining the Scheme, eligible persons will be able to start managing their health earlier, thus preventing onset of diseases and receiving early identification and early treatment. This is particularly effective in delaying the occurrence of serious illnesses caused by DM or HT, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, retinopathy, or alleviating relative symptoms. As such, I would like to call on eligible persons to make good use of the Scheme for achieving better health."

     The service flow, government subsidy level and co-payment fee of the CDCC Pilot Scheme are stated in the annexes. For more details, members of the public may browse the dedicated website of the CDCC Pilot Scheme (www.primaryhealthcare.gov.hk/cdcc/en), or call the hotline at 2157 0500. Dedicated staff of the hotline will answer calls from 9am to 9pm from Mondays to Saturdays.

     Details of the programme was also outlined in the press release issued by the Health Bureau earlier.

     Following is the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the 5th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit – Judicial Conference under Hong Kong Legal Week 2023 today (November 6):

Ms Anna Joubin-Bret (Secretary of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Ms Anna Joubin-Bret), Acting Commissioner Li (Acting 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 Li Yongsheng), Your excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning, and to those watching from overseas, good afternoon, and perhaps good evening. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all not only to the start of the 5th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit 2023, but also to the start of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2023.

Legal Week 2023

     Hong Kong Legal Week is a significant annual flagship event for Hong Kong. Organised by the Department of Justice with a number of co-organisers, including UNCITRAL today, it serves as a vital platform for exchange on various topical issues in the legal and dispute resolution sector among judges, government officials, academics, legal practitioners and other professionals from Hong Kong and around the world.

     The theme for this year's Hong Kong Legal Week is "Onward & Forward: Connecting the World", as we aim to highlight Hong Kong's role in facilitating international co-operation and global connectivity in the post-pandemic world. Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong has distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from China, our motherland, while being closely connected to the world. Having direct access to the huge Mainland market and strong international connectivity at the same time, Hong Kong is determined to serve as a "super connector" and a bridge linking the Mainland and the rest of the world.

     I am confident that the events during the Legal Week will serve as a powerful demonstration of our unwavering commitment in strengthening our unique status as the "super connector" in promoting global connectivity.

Judicial Summit

     As we emerge from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial for us to reflect on the lessons learned and foster global connectivity to move forward together. To strengthen global connectivity, continuous exchanges and knowledge sharing on legal rules governing cross-border commerce and exchanges are of utmost importance.

     In today's Judicial Summit, we are delighted to gather here in Hong Kong, a leading international trade centre and a legal and dispute resolution services hub, to discuss current issues in international trade law and dispute resolution under this year's theme, "Post-pandemic resilience, new beginnings, and innovations in international trade law and dispute resolution". The last edition of the Judicial Summit was held in Hong Kong in 2021 when we were still in the midst of the pandemic and participation from overseas was basically confined to online participation. I am therefore pleased to see so many overseas participants in person today at this fifth edition of the Judicial Summit, which is a very good testimony of the fact that Hong Kong is connecting to the world again.

     On top of that, the biennial Judicial Summit marks a memorable occasion for our seamless collaboration with UNCITRAL in the past decade. The inaugural Asia-Pacific Judicial Summit first took place in Hong Kong in 2015, and we are proud to be hosting the 5th Judicial Summit today.

     I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the strong and fruitful collaboration between the Department of Justice and UNCITRAL. UNCITRAL, being the core legal body of the United Nations system in the area of international trade law, has been working in commercial law reform worldwide since its establishment in 1966 with a view to harmonising and modernising various international commercial rules.

     In recent years, the Department of Justice has been working closely with UNCITRAL on various initiatives. For example, we have co-organised events such as the UNCITRAL Working Group III Inter-Sessional Meeting on the Use of Mediation in Investor-State Dispute Settlement, and worked with UNCITRAL to set up the Inclusive Global Legal Innovation Platform on ODR (online dispute resolution) to facilitate studies on issues relating to online dispute resolution and to foster development of innovative solutions. These collaborative efforts have allowed us to contribute to the evolution of international trade law and dispute resolution mechanisms.

     In addition, we are delighted to see UNCITRAL's strong support for the secondment program with the Department of Justice, which enables our officers to actively take part in UNCITRAL's work and enhance their knowledge of international legal matters, strengthening Hong Kong's capacity in foreign-related legal affairs. I am glad that a colleague of mine who has been seconded to the UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific is also with us today and will be speaking on some UNCITRAL texts at the Judicial Conference this morning.

     Indeed, the Judicial Conference today will cover a wide spectrum of UNCITRAL texts, from the recently signed United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships, also known as the Beijing Convention, UNCITRAL texts on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, to UNCITRAL's recent work on dispute resolution and on digital economy and trade. These carefully selected topics are of great significance in re-establishing connectivity in the post-pandemic world. They also highlight the concerted efforts made by UNCITRAL and the international community in advancing the development of international trade law to prepare for a more interconnected world.

     In addition to today's Judicial Conference, tomorrow, we will also host a closed-door Judicial Roundtable. This exclusive session is specifically designed to better balance and cater to the needs of judges and judicial officers, allowing them to gain knowledge while also sharing their valuable experiences, and the closed-door format is a tradition that has continued since 2017. This year, judge participants from all over the world will engage in roundtable discussions on the UNCITRAL mediation framework as well as sharing experience in the use of technology in dispute resolution and court proceedings.

Other events

     In addition to our events co-organised with UNCITRAL, the Legal Week 2023 features also other significant events. Tomorrow, we will host the Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development, focusing on our effort to promote global interconnectivity and high-quality development along the Belt and Road region.

     On Wednesday, we will host events under the theme of "New Domains in Mediation and Arbitration" to explore current topics in international commercial arbitration and mediation.

     Thursday's programme includes panel discussions and forums exploring the potential of Hong Kong as a gateway to the opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

     Finally, on Friday, we will hold a series of sessions under the theme "Rule of Law for the Future", featuring panel discussions on various topics, ranging from the legal aspects of the development of the maritime and aviation industry in Hong Kong, rule of law and national security law education, to intriguing topics in art law and intellectual property law, aiming to support Hong Kong's development as an East-meets-West cultural centre and a regional intellectual property trading centre.

     Therefore, you will see that the events during the Hong Kong Legal Week 2023 echo the strong support for further development of Hong Kong in eight key areas (eight centres) under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

     Our priority is to reinforce our position as an international financial centre, and promote the development of two emerging industries by enhancing our status as an innovation and technology centre, as well as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. At the same time, we will continue to play our role as an international trade centre and fully capitalise on our existing status as an international shipping centre and global aviation hub to enhance our functions in the regional and global supply chain. We will also continue to enhance our strengths as the legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region and develop Hong Kong into a regional intellectual property trading centre.

     As participants will appreciate, the events and the theme of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2023 are highly relevant to the development of the "eight centres" in Hong Kong. I am confident that the Hong Kong Legal Week 2023 will serve as a platform to showcase and explore how individuals, organisations, and communities, based locally in Hong Kong or overseas, can seize these opportunities and move forward together.

Capacity building

     Finally, I must pay tribute to UNCITRAL and other partners this week for their significant contribution to capacity building for this region and beyond.

     The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, serves as a shared blueprint for promoting peace and prosperity for people and the planet, both now and into the future. Target 3 in Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires us to: "promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all". Furthermore, Goal 17 is to "strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development". This goal recognises capacity building as a crucial part of implementing the SDGs.

     Hong Kong is determined to further enhance its status as a regional hub for capacity building. In line with our Chief Executive's Policy Address 2023, we will set up a dedicated office and an expert group within next year to take forward the establishment of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. Leveraging Hong Kong's bilingual common law system and international status, the Academy will regularly organise practical training courses, seminars, and international exchange programs to promote exchanges among legal professionals, judges and government officials in the Asia-Pacific region as well as around the world. The Academy, when established, will also provide training for talent in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs for the country, and nurture legal talent conversant with international law, common law, civil law, and the country's legal system.

     In fact, capacity building initiatives by and among international organisations play a pivotal role in equipping government officials, practitioners and other stakeholders with the necessary legal skills and knowledge to navigate the complex international legal landscape. These initiatives foster collaborative relationships between international organisations and economies, while also nurturing a pool of legal talent and professionals. Such efforts would contribute to improved access to justice within the region and beyond, addressing the growing demand for legal expertise as international trade increases. The Judicial Summit taking place today, jointly organised by UNCITRAL and the Department of Justice, exemplifies Hong Kong's distinctive potential as a regional centre for capacity building.

     Moving forward, the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy will strive to organise more and more capacity building programmes and regular training courses to cater to the growing demands for legal training and exchanges in the region. I encourage all of you to stay updated on our future activities and take full advantage of the excellent training opportunities they provide.

Conclusion

     Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that today's discussions will serve as a source of inspiration for us all. Let us seize this opportunity to further engage in exchanges and discussions, as we navigate the post-pandemic world together.

     On this note, may I express my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you for joining us, either online and in person. I would like to extend my special thanks to the Asian Development Bank for their generous support in providing online simultaneous interpretation of the event into Tetun, so that judges and other participants from Timor-Leste will be able to actively participate and engage in this event. I would also like to extend a special note of gratitude to UNCITRAL again for their unwavering support. The dedication of my fellow colleagues in the Department and the hard work of our working partners have contributed significantly to bringing us all together here today, making Hong Kong Legal Week 2023 possible. And with that, I officially pronounce the commencement of the Judicial Summit and the Hong Kong Legal Week 2023. Thank you.

     â€‹The Labour Department (LD) will hold the Seizing New Opportunities Job Fair at Dragon Centre in Sham Shui Po on November 8 and 9 to provide a large number of vacancies from various industries for job seekers.
 
     About 40 organisations will participate in the two-day job fair, offering over 2 600 quality job vacancies from various industries. Around 20 organisations will set up booths and conduct recruitment on the spot each day. A wide variety of positions will be offered including engineer, accountant, pastry cook, tailor, bartender, programmer, clerk, kitchen helper, security officer, e-commerce assistant, and warehouse assistant. Job seekers can visit the LD's Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk) for more details of the vacancies.
 
     Around 89 per cent of the vacancies offered at the job fair are full-time jobs. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $13,000 to $21,000. About 94 per cent of the vacancies require a Secondary Five education level or below. Around 69 per cent are open to job seekers without relevant work experience.
 
     Job seekers can submit job applications during the event and may be selected for on-the-spot interviews. They can also make enquiries on the employment services provided by the LD at its counter inside the venue.
 
     The job fair will be held from 11am to 5.30pm at Atrium, 1/F, Dragon Centre, 37 K Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po (near Sham Shui Po MTR Station Exit C1). Admission is free, with final admission time at 5pm each day.

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 6) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.