The Drinking Water Safety Advisory Committee, accompanied by the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Tony Yau, visited the advanced water treatment facilities in Tai Po Water Treatment Works (TPWTW), the Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) System and the Floating Solar Power (FSP) System in Plover Cove (PC) Reservoir this afternoon (October 17).

     The expansion of TPWTW was completed in 2018. The expansion not only increased the daily output capacity of TPWTW to meet the fresh water demand but also introduced several advanced water treatment technologies.

     The Advisory Committee first toured the Central Control Centre at TPWTW to learn about its operation, the advanced water treatment process and the Integrated Treatment Information & Tele-alert System which assists in water quality monitoring. 

     They then visited the ozone generation plant to know about the use of ozone as an advanced and efficient drinking water disinfection technology which can reduce the chlorine consumption by around 30 per cent. After that, they arrived at the first on-site chlorine generation facility in Hong Kong. The facility can generate the chlorine amount on demand and largely eliminate the risk of chlorine leakage during transportation and storage of liquid chlorine. The above facilities can help enhance the operational safety and flexibility of drinking water disinfection.

     They then visited the USV System for use in the water quality monitoring in PC Reservoir. Each USV is equipped with a Global Positioning System and an automatic water quality monitoring and sampling unit. It enables simultaneous monitoring of water quality at different locations in the reservoir and automatic generation of visualised water quality reports. The Water Supplies Department is currently enhancing the intelligence of the USV System to increase the efficiency of water quality monitoring, including intelligent route planning and intelligent water quality monitoring and sampling capabilities, by allowing the USV System to automatically plan cruise routes and respond in real time to changes in water quality.

     Lastly, they visited the FSP System in PC Reservoir. The pilot project can generate as much as 120 000 units (kilowatt-hours) of electricity annually, reducing around 84 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission. The pilot project will lay a solid foundation for a long-term development of renewable energy with some useful reference data for the future implementation of large-scale floating photovoltaic farms in Hong Kong.

          

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesperson for Tung Wah Eastern Hospital (TWEH) made the following announcement today (October 17):
      
     Six patients (aged 52 to 89) in a female medicine and rehabilitation ward had presented with fever or respiratory symptoms since October 9. Appropriate tests had been arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Influenza A virus. Among the patients, an 89-year-old woman passed away on October 16 due to her underlying illness, while the others are still hospitalised under medical surveillance, and are in isolation in stable condition.
      
     Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the health condition of the patients in the ward concerned.
      
     TWEH has reported the cases to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports and Public Works Subcommittee conducted a joint visit to the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) today (October 17) to inspect its major venues to better understand the updated implementation progress.

     Accompanied by the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, and the Commissioner for Sports, Mr Sam Wong, Members first visited the KTSP Experience Centre and received a briefing by the representatives of KTSP Limited on an overview of the KTSP project and its site model. Members also viewed KTSP's construction site and visited the hospitality suite mock-up at the KTSP Experience Centre.

     Members then headed to the construction site of KTSP to visit the Main Stadium and observe the Indoor Sports Centre and Public Sports Ground. Members noted that KTSP, with a project cost of $31.9 billion and occupying an area of about 28 hectares, will provide modern and multi-purpose sports and recreation facilities. These include a 50 000-seat Main Stadium, a 10 000-seat Indoor Sports Centre, a 5 000-seat Public Sports Ground and about 14-hectare landscaped open space upon completion. KTSP will not only allow the staging of more large-scale international sports events, but also provide the general public with leisure and sports facilities for community use, thereby facilitating sports development in Hong Kong. The Government expects that the major facilities of KTSP will be completed by the end of 2024 by phases to allow the hosting of some of the events of the 15th National Games in Hong Kong in 2025.

     At the invitation of KTSP Limited, a total of 14 members of the Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports and Public Works Subcommittee joined the visit.

      

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, led the high-level Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation to attend the CEO Conference of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing today (October 17). Mr Lee also delivered a speech at the Plenary Meeting of the Conference.
      
     Jointly organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, the CEO Conference was attended by over 1 200 government and business leaders, and eminent representatives from the business, trade and professional sectors from Belt and Road countries and regions to share their insights on contributing to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road in achieving common development and prosperity.
      
     Speaking at the Conference, Mr Lee said that the number of regional headquarters set up in Hong Kong by Belt and Road counterparts between 2017 and 2022 had doubled from 83 to 168, representing a growth of more than 15 per cent per annum on average. Hong Kong's direct investment in Belt and Road countries up to 2021 had also increased by 70 per cent from US$70 billion to US$120 billion, featuring an average annual growth of nearly 15 per cent. The total remittance of Renminbi (RMB) for cross-border trade settlement had more than doubled from RMB3.9 trillion to RMB9.3 trillion, registering a growth of over 18 per cent per annum on average. These figures eminently reflect the immense growth potential of the Belt and Road countries, as well as the role of Hong Kong as a participant, facilitator and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI).
      
     Looking ahead, Mr Lee pledged that the HKSAR Government will continue to proactively integrate into the overall development of the country and live out the Silk Road's spirit of "win-win co-operation" by working hand in hand with Belt and Road countries and enterprises to pursue development and share the fruits of success.
      
     The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harilela Hotels Group, former Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Dr Aron Harilela, also spoke at the Conference on how Hong Kong assists international enterprises in opening up and developing the Belt and Road markets.
      
     At the Conference, three projects on investment and technical co-operation involving Hong Kong enterprises, and totaling more than US$450 million, were included in the project signing ceremony.
      
     A total of 44 Hong Kong delegates attended the Conference this time, an increase of one-third in number than the previous edition, reflecting the significant role of Hong Kong as the functional platform for the B&RI. Amongst them are a number of young entrepreneurs and professionals who will be providing the future impetus of development under the new chapter of the Belt and Road.
      
     In the evening, Mr Lee attended the welcoming banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping for guests attending the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
      
     In addition, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Mr Woo Ying-ming; the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip; the Head of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit, Dr Stephen Wong; and the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho as well as other members of the delegation, were respectively invited to the welcoming dinner hosted by the CEO Conference and other dinners by the high-level forums or thematic forums.
      
     Mr Lee, Mr Chan and the Chairman of John Swire & Sons (HK), Mr Guy Bradley, will attend the opening ceremony of the third Forum tomorrow morning (October 18).
      
     Nine parallel forums will be held tomorrow afternoon. Mr Lee will speak at both the high-level forum on connectivity and the thematic forum on sub-national co-operation. The latter will also feature a dedicated Hong Kong Chapter.
      
     Five other government officials as well as nine non-official delegation members will respectively be either speakers or moderators at the nine parallel forums. All members of the delegation will respectively attend the nine parallel forums for full participation at all events of the Forum.

    

     The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, visited Huizhou today (October 17) to meet with leaders of the Huizhou Municipal Government and attend the Symposium for Promoting the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. She also met and exchanged views with Hong Kong young entrepreneurs who started their businesses in Huizhou, as well as Hong Kong business people operating there.
 
     Upon arrival in the morning, Ms Chan called on the Mayor of Huizhou, Mr Wen Jinrong, to learn about the latest development in Huizhou and exchange views on deepening co-operation between Hong Kong and Huizhou to jointly promote the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 
     In the afternoon, Ms Chan attended the Symposium for Promoting the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to explore with government officials and business leaders in Hong Kong and Huizhou on the significant opportunities brought about by Greater Bay Area development to talent and enterprises. The Symposium was co-organised by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the Office of the Leading Group on Construction of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of Huizhou Municipality, and the Bureau of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of Huizhou Municipality.
 
     Speaking at the Symposium, Ms Chan said that through further deepening co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the objectives of Greater Bay Area development are to leverage the complementary advantages of the three places, take forward the synergistic economic development, and further enhance the supporting and leading role of the Greater Bay Area in the country's economic development and opening up. Huizhou is an important hub on the east coast of the Greater Bay Area and is known as the Gateway of Eastern Guangdong. With its convenient transportation network, ample marine resources, long history and rich cultural and tourism resources, Huizhou has huge scope for development. Being the most international city in the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong can give full play to its dual roles in going global and attracting foreign investment. Hong Kong and Huizhou can pursue higher-level and deeper collaborations in different areas.
 
     Ms Chan added that to further enhance the support for Hong Kong people and enterprises to develop in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, the Promotion Centre of the GDETO of the HKSAR Government commenced operation in April 2023 to promote to them the enormous opportunities brought about by Greater Bay Area development through organising seminars, study missions, etc. The Promotion Centre also encourages Mainland talent and enterprises to make use of Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems", and come to Hong Kong to explore more opportunities for development.
 
     Over 300 guests, including government officials of the HKSAR and Huizhou, representatives of trade associations, industry leaders and representatives of start-ups, attended the Symposium. Participants had in-depth exchanges about business and trade, talent policies, as well as the business and investment environments of Hong Kong and Huizhou, with a view to exploring together greater opportunities under Greater Bay Area development
 
     Ms Chan then visited the Huizhou Zhongkai Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Base to learn about the operation of the Entrepreneurship Base and exchange views with Hong Kong young entrepreneurs who started their businesses in Huizhou. She encouraged Hong Kong young people to grasp the significant opportunities brought about by Greater Bay Area development so that they could also contribute their strengths towards Greater Bay Area development while fulfilling their dreams.
 
     In the evening, Ms Chan attended a dinner hosted by the Huizhou Association of Enterprise with Foreign Investment to gather the views of Hong Kong business people in Huizhou on their operating experiences and development plans on the Mainland. Ms Chan also encouraged Hong Kong business people to continue to actively participate in the development of the Greater Bay Area, and to serve the country's needs by capitalising on Hong Kong's strengths.