Tag Archives: China

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (December 5) made the following statement on his departure:

     I am honoured to have served as the first Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism since July 1, 2022. Knowing that I was charged with a heavy responsibility, I dedicated myself during the two and a half years in service. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all colleagues in the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau for fighting side by side with me. I am also grateful for the support from members of the political team. I believe that the newly appointed Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, will continue to committing to the duties with her team, striving for the betterment and development of Hong Kong’s future.

     I am indebted to all colleagues, industry stakeholders and the media for their support throughout my service in the last 10 years or so. read more

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, announced today (December 5) that in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law, the Central People’s Government, upon his nomination and recommendation, approved the appointment of Ms Mable Chan as the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Miss Rosanna Law Shuk-pui as the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the removal of Mr Kevin Yeung from the post of Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Mr Lam Sai-hung from the post of Secretary for Transport and Logistics.
      
     “Mr Yeung and Mr Lam have served Hong Kong and the Government with integrity and dedication over the years. I would like to extend my thanks for their contributions and I wish them all the best after leaving government service,” the Chief Executive said.
      
     On the appointment of Ms Chan and Miss Law, the Chief Executive said, “They are seasoned Administrative Officers and have had a distinguished performance in the Government over the past 35 years, possessing proven administrative and management skills, leadership skills, explanatory skills and proactivity. I am confident that they would lead their respective policy bureaux and spare no effort in serving the community and contributing to Hong Kong.”
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     Following are the biographical notes on Ms Chan and Miss Law:
      
Ms Mable Chan
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     Ms Chan joined the Administrative Service in July 1989 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2022. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, the former New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, the former Chief Secretary’s Office, the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office, the former Constitutional Affairs Bureau, the former Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, the former Education and Manpower Bureau, the Education Bureau as well as the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau. She was Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) from August 2016 to October 2017, Commissioner for Transport from October 2017 to July 2020, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport) from August 2020 to June 2022 and has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics since July 2022.
      
Miss Rosanna Law Shuk-pui
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     Miss Law joined the Government in July 1989. She served in the Labour Officer and Trade Officer Grades before joining the Administrative Service in July 1990, rising to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2022. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Civil Service Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Constitutional Affairs Branch, the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office, the former Trade Department and the former Environment, Transport and Works Bureau. She was Deputy Commissioner for Tourism from August 2010 to September 2016, Deputy Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs from September 2016 to September 2020, Commissioner for Transport from September 2020 to August 2023 and has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing from August 2023.      

      

     To implement the policy measure relating to boosting sports promotion in the community as announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will regularise the Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports and launch the Subvention Scheme for New Sports (SSNS) in 2025-26 for application by eligible sports organisations. The measure will support the long-term development of new sports. The SSNS is open for application from today (December 5) until January 13, 2025.
      
     The SSNS follows the modes of operation of the Pilot Scheme to provide subvention to local sports organisations for promoting new sports on a project base. Each successful applicant sports organisation will be offered a maximum of $200,000 ($180,000 for the year 2024-25), or 85 per cent of the total eligible expenditure of the individual activity, whichever is lower.
      
     A sports organisation wishing to apply for the subvention must be a non-profit-making organisation with Articles of Association registered as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). The new sport under application must be distinct from the sports/disciplines currently solely governed by national sports associations under the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. The applicant organisation must also be recognised by and affiliated to the international federation, Asian federation, regional federation or recognised by the General Administration of Sport of China, and have successful experience in organising sports development programmes of various levels and types with active public participation in the past two-year period of 2023 to 2024.
      
     Applicant sports organisations will also need to provide a comprehensive long-term development and promotion plan, as well as relevant information on their competency in organising and arranging programmes. A well-established governance structure with transparent and accountable policies should also be in place and widely recognised by the sports sector.
      
     Priority will be given to the sports organisations that have never received subvention from the Pilot Scheme. If applicant sports organisations have previously received subvention from the Pilot Scheme, the LCSD will take into consideration their past performance and records when vetting their applications.
      
     For enquiries, please contact the Sports Funding Office of the LCSD at 2601 8756 or email ssns@lcsd.gov.hk. Please visit the LCSD’s website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/programmes/programmeslist/sss/ssns.html) for details. read more

     Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a scrap trader in Wan Chai was suspected of using an inaccurate electronic platform scale to weigh scrap metal.      Customs officers took enfo… read more

     Following are the opening remarks by the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Maggie Wong, at the Policy Dialogue Session of the Business of Intellectual Property (BIP) Asia Forum today (December 5):
 
Deputy Commissioner Hu (Deputy Commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration Mr Hu Wenhui), Deputy Director-General Wang (Deputy Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization Ms Wang Binying), Chairman Norasingh (Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation, Mr Xaysomphet Norasingh), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     It is a true honour to stand before such a distinguished gathering of intellectual property (IP) leaders, experts and practitioners from around the world. We are all here today because we share a common belief that IP, being a cornerstone of innovation, is a powerful engine driving economic growth, societal progress and entrepreneurial success.
 
The power of IP in a transforming world
 
     At this critical juncture of global economic transformation, where technological advancements are accelerating faster than ever before, IP has become the bedrock that supports the creation, protection and commercialisation of ideas and innovation. The impact of IP on economic and social growth is profound, and our role as custodians of this system has never been more important.
 
     Today, I am proud to share with you how Hong Kong is advancing as a regional IP trading centre. As a city that thrives on entrepreneurship and creativity, Hong Kong understands that a robust IP ecosystem is essential for nurturing new ideas and innovations, turning them into tangible products and services, and ultimately bringing them to the local and global marketplace.
 
Strengthening IP legal frameworks for innovation
 
     Hong Kong’s innovation and technology sector and creative industries are brimming with potential, and we are taking concrete steps to strengthen the legal frameworks that protect the fruits of innovation and creativity. For example, as announced by the Chief Executive in his 2024 Policy Address, we will propose updates to the Copyright Ordinance next year to enhance the protection for artificial intelligence (AI) technology development. AI, as we all know, is transforming every walk of life across the globe, and ensuring that IP is safeguarded in AI-related development will be critical to fostering sustainable future social and economic growth.
 
     In addition, we will be launching a consultation in 2025 to modernise our registered designs regime currently under review, ensuring that it remains robust and agile to meet the evolving needs of the local industries and digital economy.
 
     To further enhance the IP landscape, we are also proposing legislative amendments to streamline the IP litigation processes, enabling the High Court to manage and hear such cases more efficiently.
 
     These efforts reflect our commitment to ensuring that our IP framework remains responsive to the unique challenges posed by emerging technologies, making Hong Kong’s IP framework more accessible and attractive to innovators and businesses.
 
Leveraging technology for IP services
 
     Beyond strengthening IP protections, we also focus on making the IP system more efficient and accessible. Next year, the Trade Marks Registry under the Intellectual Property Department will launch a new AI-assisted image search service, making it easier for the public and businesses to search our trademark database. This service will help streamline the trademark application process, encourage entrepreneurs to protect their brands and intellectual assets, and reduce barriers to entry for businesses seeking to expand their IP portfolios.
 
     Furthermore, we are proud that with the support of the Central Government, Hong Kong will participate in the World Intellectual Property Organization Lex-Judgments Database next year. By sharing important IP case precedents of Hong Kong courts, it will showcase to the international community our IP jurisprudence and reinforce Hong Kong’s reputation as a leader in IP enforcement and dispute resolution.
 
Fostering an IP-savvy workforce
 
     To foster an IP-savvy workforce, we are also partnering with the Qualifications Framework Secretariat to develop practical training materials across 23 industries and engaging with the patent agent sector to plan for the introduction of regulatory arrangements for local patent agent services. We will also double our efforts in IP education, outreaching to 200 000 students during this term of Government, up from our previous goal of 100 000. All these will provide personnel in a diverse range of sectors with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of IP rights, equipping the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to thrive.
 
Conclusion: collaborating for a better tomorrow
 
     As we look to the future, in an era defined by rapid technological change and digital transformation, IP will continue to shape the trajectory of our economies and societies in profound ways. The various programmes in this year’s BIP Asia Forum will provide a valuable platform for us to share our ideas, experiences and best practices, with the common goal to strengthen the global IP ecosystem and ensure that it remains responsive to the challenges and opportunities ahead.
 
     With this note, let us make the best use of this Policy Dialogue Session to collaborate, innovate, and harness the power of IP for the benefit of all.
 
     Thank you. read more