Tag Archives: China

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 (October 26) that … read more

     In response to media enquiries on 2023 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index (Index), a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government spokesman made the following reply today (October 25):

     Hong Kong continues to rank the 6th in East Asia and the Pacific, and attains the 23rd out of 142 countries and jurisdictions covered in the Index. Hong Kong remains high in the overall ranking, ahead of some European and American countries which often unreasonably criticise the rule of law and human rights situation of Hong Kong.

     In respect of “Order and Security”, Hong Kong’s score is higher than last year and continues to attain the 6th in its global ranking. It is sufficient proof of the important role of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) in maintaining the order and security of Hong Kong. The NSL has provided the necessary conditions for ensuring the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and enables Hong Kong residents to enjoy their rights and freedoms in a safe and peaceful environment. This is conducive to the rule of law, the protection of human rights, the successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, and the long-term interests of both the country and the “two systems”.

     In respect of “Absence of Corruption”, Hong Kong’s score remains unchanged, ranking the 9th globally. This demonstrates that the city’s anti-corruption efforts have been widely recognised. The Government will continue to promote the exchange of anti-corruption experience among experts and scholars from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s international status in integrity building.

     In respect of “Fundamental Rights”, Hong Kong’s score is also higher than last year and ranked three places higher globally. In relation to “Regulatory Enforcement” and “Criminal Justice”, whilst Hong Kong’s scores remain the same as last year, its global rankings climb one and two places respectively. Hong Kong’s scores slightly drop in relation to “Constraints on Government Powers”, “Open Government” and “Civil Justice”.

     As a matter of fact, Hong Kong’s overall score (0.73) is the same as the countries ranked globally from the 20th to the 22nd. Regarding the minor drop in scores in some aspects and the slight adjustment in the global ranking, the HKSAR Government will continue to enhance the international community’s proper understanding of the rule of law situation in Hong Kong, thereby telling the good stories of Hong Kong.

     The HKSAR steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and fully and faithfully lives up to the top priority of the principle of “one country, two systems”. The HKSAR Government will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the NSL and further strengthen the HKSAR’s legal framework and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security to prevent, suppress and punish in accordance with the law acts and activities that endanger national security. At the same time, it will safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law with a view to ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”. read more

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, in the Policy Address today (October 25) set out a range of measures to promote a caring, inclusive, healthy and high-quality society.
 
     Initiatives announced in the Policy Address focused on enhancing education and healthcare as well as creating a childbearing environment and supporting the disadvantaged in society.
 
International Hub for Post-Secondary Education
 
     Young people are Hong Kong’s future. The Government will capitalise on Hong Kong’s strength in education to help young people to develop and shape their future, and build Hong Kong into an international hub for post‑secondary education.
 
     To achieve this goal, the Government outlined a number of initiatives, including:
 

• doubling the admission quota of non-local students at Government-funded post-secondary institutions to 40 per cent, starting from the 2024/25 academic year;
• injecting $1 billion into the Government Scholarship Fund to attract more outstanding local and non-local students to pursue studies in Hong Kong;
• providing about 13 500 additional hostel places by 2027 to cater to student needs; and
• taking forward the development of post-secondary education in the Northern Metropolis to develop the Northern Metropolis University Town. There, post-secondary institutions will be encouraged to strengthen co-operation with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions, and share resources and enhance collaboration with the industry sector.

 
      The Government will press ahead with the establishment of universities of applied sciences (UASs). Working with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, it will prescribe the standards to be qualified as UASs to raise the status of vocational and professional education and training to attain qualifications at university degree level. This will provide an alternative path to success for young people who aspire to pursue a career in the technical professions.
 
Health and medical innovation hub
 
     Leveraging on the city’s healthcare strengths, the Government set out plans for a health and medical innovation hub to enhance services and attract more local, Mainland and overseas pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises to conduct research and development (R&D) and clinical trials in Hong Kong.
 
      A preparatory office will be set up next year to study the potential restructuring and strengthening of the current regulatory and approval regimes for medicine, medical devices and medical technology. The office will also put forward proposals and steps for the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) as a step towards the transition to the “primary evaluation” approach in approving applications for registration of pharmaceutical products, and explore the upgrading of the CMPR as a standalone statutory body in the long run. This will help accelerate the launching of new drugs and medical devices to the market, and foster the development of R&D and testing of medical products and related industries.
 
     The Government will establish the Greater Bay Area (GBA) International Clinical Trial Institute in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone next year to provide a one-stop clinical trial support platform for medical research institutions. 
 
     A new “1+” mechanism will also be set up by the end of the year to expedite the approval of new drugs and promote R&D on drug and clinical trials in Hong Kong.
 
     To promote the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, the Government will launch the Digitalised Chinese Medicines Information Platform in early 2024 for Chinese medicine identification and educational purposes. A Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint will also be published in 2025.
 
     Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government will enhance local capacity to combat communicable diseases through surveillance, early warning, prevention and control, as well as international co-operation in scientific research in areas such as vaccines. The Hong Kong Jockey Club will provide funding of $3 billion to support related efforts.
 
Youth Development
 
     To nurture the next generation with affection for our country and our city, a global perspective and positive thinking, the Government would continue to implement and enhance some 160 measures set out in the Youth Development Blueprint published last year, and organise the Youth Development Summit in mid-2024 as the opening and highlight of the next Youth Festival.
 
     In addition to carrying forward various Mainland and overseas youth exchange and internship programmes, the Government will establish the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the GBA before year’s end.
 
Promote fertility
 
     Noting Hong Kong’s persistently low birth rate, the Policy Address unveiled a range of initiatives to promote fertility and create a childbearing environment. The initiatives include:
 

• providing a one-off Newborn Baby Bonus of $20,000. This measure will last for three years;
• raising the deduction ceiling of home loan interest or domestic rent for eligible taxpayers from the current $100,000 to $120,000, starting from the year of assessment 2024/25;
• introducing the “Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme” to raise the chances for families with newborns to purchase subsidised sale flats (SSFs), and reserving an additional 10 per cent of SSFs for this purpose from 2024; and
• introducing the “Families with Newborns Allocation Priority Scheme”, under which family applicants with newborns will wait one year less in their queue time for public rental housing flats.  

 
     The Policy Address also set out a range of measures to support prospective parents who require assisted reproductive technology in conceiving a child, including increasing the public service quota of assisted reproductive services for in-vitro fertilisation and providing tax deduction for assisted reproductive services.
 
     Childbearing support for working families will be strengthened in the following areas:
 

• increase the Child Care Centre Parent Subsidy from a maximum of $600 to $1,000 per month starting from April 2024;
• the number of service places under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project will be doubled to about 2 000 starting from the fourth quarter of 2024;
• increase the number of service places under the After School Care Programme for Pre-primary Children from about 670 to nearly 1 200 over the next three years starting from 2024; and
• increase the number of Aided Standalone Child Care Centre service places by about 900 over the next three years starting from 2024.

 
Caring and Inclusive Community
 
     The Government announced the expansion of various elderly care services. These include extending the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong to cover specific residential care homes for the elderly who wish to retire in the Mainland cities of the GBA, and extending the coverage of the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly to include nursing home places.
 
     An additional $1 billion will also be injected into the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care to enhance the subsidies for eligible elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure, rent and trial technology products.
 
     Additional support will be on hand for carers through mobilising Care Teams. They will help identify and refer carers for the elderly and persons with disabilities in need of respite and assistance.
 
     To support special school leavers and their carers, designated teams will be set up to proactively contact them and provide training on caring and interaction skills, arrange post-school care plans and line them up with community support services.
 
     Ethnic minorities are also in line for support in education, employment, welfare and healthcare.
 
     The Government will set up two additional support service centres in 2024, taking the total number to 10. Each of these centres will be invited to set up a Ethnic Minority Care Team to reach out to ethnic minority households on their needs. The Government will continue to support non-Chinese speaking students to learn Chinese.
 
     Government departments will step up recruitment and outreaching efforts to invite applications from ethnic minorities.  read more

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, set out his vision of a liveable, innovative and green Hong Kong in his second Policy Address today (October 25), emphasising land and housing as the top priority.
      
     Measures introduced in last year’s Policy Address have increased public housing supply. Public housing demand for the next 10-year period (2024-25 to 2033-34) is 308 000 units, while the Government has identified sufficient land to develop about 410 000 public housing units. The excess housing will help shorten the waiting time for public rental housing (PRH) units. 
 
     Total public housing supply, including light public housing, will reach 172 000 units in the coming five-year period (2024/25 to 2028/29). Compared with the five-year period at the beginning of the current-term Government (from 2022-23 to 2026-27), an additional of 67 000 households will be benefitted (Note).
      
     The Government will continue to enhance the quantity, speed, efficiency and quality of public housing. To that end, plans include:
 

• 10 Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) redevelopment projects, creating about 32 800 flats. The HKHA will provide the housing estates with additional local open space and recreational facilities;
• next year, the HKHA will select 10 PRH estates as pilot sites for the adoption of such innovative technologies as the Internet of Things sensors, artificial intelligence and mobile devices, to help in daily estate management; and
• the HKHA will continue to apply modular integrated construction (MiC) approach and other innovative construction technology to expedite construction and enhance building quality.

 
     As for overall land supply, it is estimated that more than 7 000 hectares of land will be provided over the 30-year period ending in 2048. That should leave at least 1 000 hectares of land in reserve, after considering projected land demand over the same period. The supply target for private housing in the next decade is projected to be 132 000 units. The Government will make available sufficient land in the next five years to provide about 80 000 units.
      
     To stay on top of the pressing issue, the Government will continue to expedite land production. Measures include:
 

• streamlining statutory and administrative procedures;
• extending the arrangement for standardisation of land premium; and
• expediting the approval of building plans.

 
     The issue of Subdivided Units (SDUs) stems from the prolonged shortage of land and public housing, which is very complicated and requires meticulous planning to resolve. The Government has been increasing the overall supply of public and private housing. In particular, the supply of PRH units in the coming decade will exceed the supply target projected, making it an opportune time to resolve this long-standing problem.
      
     A Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units will be established, led by the Deputy Financial Secretary, with the Secretary for Housing as deputy.
 
     The task force will study the issue in detail, presenting recommendations along the following directions in 10 months’ time, including setting minimum living condition standards for SDUs, offering measures to eradicate substandard SDUs, preventing their resurgence and putting forward solutions to address the problem in an orderly manner.
      
     To address problems related to the dilapidation of aged buildings, the building owners are provided with technical and financial support for building repairs. To improve building management and building safety, the Government will: 
 

• adopt a more precise approach in selecting target buildings for issuance of the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme notices;
• strengthen capabilities in inspecting buildings and carrying out emergency repair works through outsourcing;
• review Operation Building Bright 2.0 to assist and urge owners or owners’ corporations (OCs) that have applied for the subsidy to expedite action;
• introduce a bill next year to amend the Buildings Ordinance, streamlining prosecution procedures and raising penalties against non-compliance with notices;
• introduce a bill this year to amend the Building Management Ordinance, strengthening the regulation of OCs regarding large-scale maintenance projects; and
• strengthen the registration and disciplinary systems of contractors to ensure the quality and safety of their work.

  
     The Northern Metropolis is a new engine for Hong Kong’s future growth. Upon completion, in 20 years, it will provide about 500 000 new housing units and create 500 000 new jobs.
      
     The Government will shortly publish the Action Agenda for the Northern Metropolis. It will integrate deeply with the planning of Shenzhen and other Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities. The planning of the Northern Metropolis has adopted an “industry-driven and infrastructure-led” approach, dividing the region into four main areas:
 

• a hub for high-end professional services and logistics located in Hung Shui Kiu and connected with the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone;
• an innovation and technology zone covering the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in San Tin Technopole, which will create synergy with the Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Zone;
• a boundary commerce and industry zone that will drive such industries as advanced construction, green environment industries, health care, food technology and modern logistics, while promoting cross-boundary business services; and
• a blue and green recreation, tourism and conservation circle covering Robin’s Nest, Sha Tau Kok and Yan Chau Tong.

 
     In addition, the area will be home to a wide range of community and social services, including a Northern Metropolis University Town, government office buildings, arts and cultural facilities, and the Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park.
      
     The newly established Committee on the Financing of Major Development Projects will put forward proposals on financing the relevant infrastructure and transportation development.
 
     The Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone lies at the convergence of the Northern Metropolis and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen innovation and technology corridor. The Government would work with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to promote its development and explore innovative measures, including:
 

• providing travel convenience for research and development (R&D) personnel;
• promoting cross-boundary capital flow within the Hetao Co-operation Zone;
• facilitating data and sample exchanges for research or trials;
• capitalising on Hong Kong’s ability to pool international talent to work in Hetao; and
• taking forward frontier technological research.

 
     The Government would establish the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute next year in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, providing one-stop clinical trial support for pharmaceutical R&D institutions.
 
     In terms of the transport network, the Hong Kong Major Transport Infrastructure Development Blueprint, to be published by end-2023, would include the enhanced Three Railways and Three Major Roads proposals, and new projects including two railways and one major road. The enhanced proposals include the provision of three intermediate stations at Northeast Tsuen Wan, Northeast Kwai Chung and Tsuen King Circuit on the Central Rail Link and transit to the Tsuen Wan Line. The new two railways and one major road will be conducive to the development of new towns in the eastern part of the Northern Metropolis.
 
     In addition, the Government will implement smart and green mass transit in East Kowloon, Kai Tak and Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen. The Government will commence the preparatory work, including planning, investigation and design. Suppliers and operators will be invited to submit expressions of interest for projects.
 
     The Government would make every effort to promote the use and supply of new energy in sea, land and air transport so as to spearhead green transformation of the industry. Measures include:
 

• developing a green maritime fuel-bunkering centre to attract more ocean-going vessels to bunker green fuel in Hong Kong. An action plan for the construction of bunkering facilities and the development of supply chains, including the provision of liquefied natural gas bunkering will be launched next year;
• promoting the supply of sustainable aviation fuel, with an action plan to be formulated by the Airport Authority Hong Kong;
• supporting green public land transport: testing more new energy vehicles, including electric public light buses, electric heavy goods vehicles, electric coaches, hydrogen double-decker buses and hydrogen street-washing vehicles. The Government would earmark $50 million to subsidise the purchase of wheelchair-accessible electric taxis. A citywide green transformation roadmap and timetable for public buses and taxis would be formulated in the first half of 2024, with a view to achieving zero vehicular emissions by 2050. The Government would provide supporting facilities to realise the goal of introducing about 700 electric buses and 3 000 electric taxis by end-2027;
• promoting electric private car use: the Government would expedite the expansion of the network of charging facilities, with the goal of increasing the number of public and private parking spaces with charging facilities to 200 000 by mid-2027. The Government will also offer incentives for operators of petrol-filling stations to convert the stations into green-energy refuelling stations. Two vacant petrol-filling station sites, to be converted to charging stations in the first quarter of 2024, will be offered for tender; and
• formulate the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in the first half of next year.

 
     The Government would launch a “Shining City Project” next year, developing the Shing Mun River and Yuen Long Nullah into flower-viewing hotspots. Art and design elements will be brought to suitable pitches, courts and sports venues, and landscaping improvement works will be implemented in selected areas during major festivals. 
 
Note: For the five-year period at the beginning of the current-term Government (from 2022-23 to 2026-27), the overall supply of public housing units was about 105 000 units. read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the press conference on “The Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address” today (October 25):
 
Reporter: The first question is regarding the relaxing of the stamp duties in this year’s Policy Address. Who’s the Government targeting to help with these measures to reduce the stamp duties in terms of property? Is it prospective homeowners, developers or even current homeowners? And are you worried that these measures would overstimulate the market instead? The second question is about the overall general direction of the Policy Address. Some critics would say that your Policy Address this year does not have a strong direction to boost the local economy. Instead, the Government is seeming to rely on the property market as it has before to strengthen the economy. What do you think about this view? Thank you.
 
Chief Executive: When the stringent measures relating to property prices were introduced, it was a time when speculation was very high, when the trend of property prices kept going up, and also, people’s attention seemed to focus on property speculation, and making quick money was the goal. After the introduction of those measures, and in the recent examination of situation, first of all, interest rate has gone up and it will remain high. Geopolitical situation is going to be complicated. The whole world is facing pressure in regard to economic development and also the property prices have already been going down from its height.
 
     So the question the Government needs to answer is, should all these measures be made permanent or should we at some stage, look at whether there should be some changes? In my consultation I have heard a lot of suggestions, strong voices as well. Some asked for a lot to be done, or under. So the Government has to come to a decision after making an assessment of the situation of Hong Kong, which includes not just locally, but also internationally, because property market is highly affected by interest rate, by economic situation and also by sentiment. I have come to the stage after taking into consideration of all these things that it is time to relax some measures. And that is why I have done what I have announced. Is it the right balance? I think it is because it is important that at one stage when we do any change of relaxation, then we maintain stability in the market. Considering all factors, I think what I have just introduced is a right mix of measures, of some measures being retained and some measures being relaxed.
 
     The main objective of the government policy in regard to the property is that we want the market to be stable. We do not want big changes in either side because we want people, when they make their decision about buying a property, which is one of the most important decisions for a lot of families, they will be able to make a good judgment, good decision as a result of government policy, as a result of government explanation of its assessment of the situation. And we hope that through introduction of these changes, the society of Hong Kong will know the position of the Government and then they can make a sensible decision based on their own situation.
 
Reporter: Good afternoon, Mr Lee. Are you concerned that the last effort in 2003 to enact Article 23 – resulted in the then largest protest in history and the resignation of top officials – do you agree or disagree with your colleagues that those demonstrations were result of foreign interference? And second, the biggest crisis facing the city is of course the climate crisis like everywhere, but your Policy Address was rather thin again on new green initiatives. The measures you announced appear to be more reactive than proactive when it comes to recent weather and the hydrogen issue is not so developed. So, with a city powered by coal, hardly any electric buses or taxis, supermarket packaging out of control, in light of the recent severe weather, why do we lag behind China on this issue?
 
Chief Executive: First of all, I think if you ask any governments what will be one of their priorities, then any government will say that it is to fulfil its constitutional duty. Article 23 is stated in the Basic Law, which the Hong Kong SAR Government has not been able to fulfil for over 20 years. Constitutional responsibility is one of the key areas for any government to be serious about. So yes, while we will develop economy to help people’s livelihood, we cannot forget the Government also has constitutional responsibility. Without constitution, I think things will become chaotic. So yes, we will do Article 23 enactment in 2024. Any country places a strong emphasis on the protection  of national security. I don’t know which country you come from. I am sure your country has a lot of legislation to protect national security.
 
     The 2019 riots, black violence, and the attempted colour revolution happened because of the obvious vacuum situation on legislation regarding national security. We have suffered badly. We have to learn this through pain. We thank the Hong Kong National Security Law for establishing the stability and security for Hong Kong, and that is why we all can now sit this peacefully to go about our day-to-day duty. If this was still 2019 when all the violence was still happening, when you could all of a sudden be grabbed by one of the black rioters, stripped, insulted and seriously beaten up, that will not allow Hong Kong to progress in any way. Yes, we will protect Hong Kong’s security and national security. The Hong Kong National Security Law also requires Hong Kong to enact Article 23 as quickly as possible.
 
     Foreign interference with Hong Kong’s affairs – it is still happening. I think you don’t need me to particularly point you to any examples. We will be doing consultation in regard to enactment of Article 23. We did not succeed in 2003. I would say this was because of, in some way, not being able to make people understand very properly what Article 23 can do for them in a positive way. I think after the 2019 harm and troubles, people understand how national security is an important factor for stability, for continuing our normal day-to-day life.
 
     I think the answer is very simple. We will ensure that people will understand what the eventual legislation will do, will protect them, and will ensure that they will go about their day-to-day activities freely, happily and also without worrying about security threats, particularly national security threats.
    
     In regard to climate change, I do not think you have read the Policy Address in good detail and also have ignored all the action plans and strategies that have been announced and are being implemented in Hong Kong. First of all, we have, a few years ago, published our action plan in regard to climate matters. We have also implemented a series of measures to encourage people to use cleaner vehicles. That is why we have some incentive schemes for people to switch from fuel-generated cars to electric cars. We have set 2050 to be the year for us to be carbon neutral. We have also set 2035 to be the year when we will reduce the carbon emission by 50 per cent compared to the 2005 standard. We have also announced that, by 2035, we will no longer allow cars which are fuel-generated to be registered. We are rolling out a lot of measures to control solid waste. We are rolling out measures to encourage recycling. We are building new power-generating facilities which will use solid waste to generate power. So we are doing a lot. We are now actively promoting installation of charging facilities for electric cars. The Policy Address introduced different measures to also make use of new energy in our vehicle fleet, also in ensuring that Hong Kong’s refilling of fuel for ships will be using green energy. We are also talking about how we will develop hydrogen in vehicle fleet and other areas of green development. We have been promoting Hong Kong by making use of Hong Kong’s financial centre position with a programme called Core Climate, so people can make use of our financial facilities to trade carbon emission. We have a long list of measures, and I advise you to go and also study in detail. Of course there will be other measures we will roll out either in this year or in my next year’s Policy Address.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

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