Tag Archives: China

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Hong Kong Association of Banks Distinguished Speaker Luncheon today (November 27):
 
Ms Luanne Lim (Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Banks), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to be here, once again, to address you at what has become an eminent luncheon tradition, one that goes back to 2006. I’m grateful to the Hong Kong Association of Banks for organising this welcome gathering. And, of course, my thanks to the Association’s distinguished members: 151 banks from 28 countries and regions.
 
     This afternoon brings us together to exchange insights, and to look to the future with renewed vigour and purpose. That future, let me add, looks bright thanks to our collective achievements and continuing good co-operation.
 
     When it comes to achievements and co-operation, let me begin with the launch, in March, of nine measures to support our small and medium-sized businesses, thanks to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Banking Sector SME Lending Coordination Mechanism. Some 20 000 SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) had benefitted, I’m pleased to note, through the first six months of those support measures.
 
     And, in August, a joint Taskforce on SME Lending was established to support SME access to bank financing, at the individual and sector levels. For that, my thanks to the principals behind the Task Force – the HKMA and you, the Hong Kong Association of Banks.
 
     Yes, SMEs are the backbone of our economy. They account for over 98 per cent of Hong Kong’s enterprises, employing around 45 per cent of the private sector workforce in our city. We must do everything we can to see them through challenges, and open the doors of opportunities for them.
 
     Which is why I emphasised SME support in my third Policy Address, delivered last month, including allowing companies borrowing under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme to seek principal moratorium for up to 12 months.
 
     I also set aside an additional HK$1 billion for the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales, or BUD Fund, to help SMEs upgrade their businesses and expand their markets. That includes incorporating ASEAN’s 10 Member States into the E-commerce Easy initiative.
 
     Supporting the digital transformation of SMEs is essential, and Cyberport’s Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme will be extended to a range of new industries, including food and beverage, as well as tourism and personal services.
 
     And, as you know, the HKMA is considering offering more flexibility when it comes to the capital requirements of banks. We are committed to facilitating your assistance to our SMEs and, in doing so, prime our economy for success, long down the road.
 
     We certainly count on our banks for community well-being, as well as economic growth. This year, Hong Kong was, once again, ranked third globally in the Global Financial Centres Index. We achieved the top rankings in such areas as “business environment”, “human capital” and “infrastructure”. In “banking”, “investment management” and “insurance”, our rankings also rose significantly.
 
     Our banks play a crucial role in ensuring the resilience of our financial system. I applaud your hard work in upholding the high standards of our financial services.
 
     Just as important is your continuing work in corporate social responsibility, CSR. I appreciate your effort in pledging, together, preferential arrangements to tax-exempt charities in Hong Kong at this event. I understand that today is also the graduation ceremony for the Association’s CSR programme. My recognition and congratulations to each and every one of the programme graduates.
 
     Integrating CSR into your core strategies makes our financial environment more sustainable and inclusive. It helps, too, in attracting professionals, in driving social innovation, and in addressing such pressing issues as financial inclusion and environmental sustainability.
 
     Speaking of environmental sustainability, the Government is determined to see Hong Kong’s rise as a regional green finance hub. 
 
     Just last month, the HKMA launched the Sustainable Finance Action Agenda. It’s designed to enable sustainable fund flow and help banking’s transformation to net zero. 
 
     The Action Agenda followed the HKMA’s publication, in May, of the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, a pivotal tool in raising awareness about green finance. 
 
     Its alignment with the taxonomies of both the Mainland and the European Union, will give financial institutions and investors a common framework for assessing the sustainability of projects and assets. 
 
     Bond issuance is central to green finance. And we have issued HK$220 billion worth of green and sustainable bonds since May 2019, in a variety of currencies and tenors. And we have become a green bond market leader in doing so. 
 
     In the coming weeks, we will launch a roadmap on the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards on sustainability disclosure. We aspire to make Hong Kong among the world’s first jurisdictions to align local requirements with international sustainability reporting requirements. 
 
     We are equally committed to innovation and technological advancement in the financial sector. 
 
     The establishment, in June, of a dedicated proof-of-concept subsidy scheme for green fintech makes that clear. Among other things, it will provide early stage funding support for pre-commercialised green fintech projects.
 
     Beyond its value in green and sustainable finance, fintech can help companies tap into new technology, including AI (artificial intelligence) and blockchain, to boost efficiency and stay abreast of the competition. 
 
     We have rolled out the FiNETech2 series, where we announced the launch of a new sandbox for the banking sector. It allows banks to pilot their novel Generative AI use cases within a risk-managed framework, and with targeted supervisory feedback.
 
     We believe that fintech solutions developed under this sandbox can get to market faster and more smoothly, giving early adopters a real advantage.
 
     My Policy Address also focused on fintech, with a pledge to enhance the Commercial Data Interchange.
 
     It will help banks obtain more comprehensive company search records, facilitating their business operations. 
 
     All this innovation, and so much more on the horizon, demands a constant flow of strategic talent.
 
     It demands, too, a range of training programmes to enhance the skills and knowledge of today’s banking professionals, and train the generations to come.
 
     The Enhanced Competency Framework, for example, provides banking with a set of common and transparent competency standards, ensuring that training programmes are consistent and effective across the industry. 
 
     The Association’s commitment to education and professional development through the “Talent for Future Programme”, to take one example, ensures that our workforce is equipped with the latest skills and essential knowledge to navigate the ever-evolving financial landscape. That, I am confident, will strengthen Hong Kong’s overall competitiveness.
 
     I am grateful to the Hong Kong Association of Banks for its unwavering commitment to training and development in the banking industry, for its commitment, too, to the economy, and the community, of Hong Kong.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, I know you will enjoy today’s luncheon, just a few minutes away, and I wish you all the best of business, and banking, in the year of promise to come. Bank on that.
 
     Thank you.

    

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):
 
Question:

     There are views pointing out that in the seventh term District Councils (DCs), District Officer serving as Chairman of the relevant DC has opened a new chapter in district governance. This not only ensures the Government’s leading role in district affairs but also facilitates the co-ordination of education and promotion of the Constitution and the Basic Law at the community level, so that members of the public have more opportunities to be aware of and understand the Basic Law, as well as the history, role and responsibilities of Hong Kong in the development of the country, while nurturing their sense of national identity. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) how the Government makes good use of the seventh term DCs to support promotion activities or studies on the Constitution and the Basic Law;

(2) of the amount of budget earmarked by the Government for the work of DCs in various districts relating to promotion activities on the Constitution and the Basis Law after the seventh term DCs commenced operation;

(3) of the respective numbers of promotion activities or studies relating to the Constitution and the Basic Law conducted in each district since the seventh term DCs commenced operation;

(4) whether it has formulated indicators for specific projects of the seventh term DCs in order to continuously step up promotion of the Constitution and the Basic Law and assess the effectiveness of the relevant projects on an ongoing basis; and

(5) whether it has assessed the respective effectiveness of the publicity and education work in each district in promoting the Constitution and the Basic Law in the seventh term DCs?

Reply:

President,
 
     Having consulted the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Home Affairs Department, the consolidated reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee is as follows:

     The Constitution is the root and origin of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Basic Law. The Constitution and the Basic Law together form the constitutional basis and order of the HKSAR, providing a solid legal basis and constitutional framework for the country’s basic policies on the HKSAR, including “one country, two systems”, while at the same time providing the strongest safeguard for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government has all along attached great importance to the promotion on the Constitution, the Basic Law, “one country, two systems”, and national security related legislation. The Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (CBLPSC) led by the Chief Secretary for Administration has been providing steer, making plans and coordinating the related efforts of various parties concerned both in the Government and in the community. Five sub-groups were set up under the CBLPSC to, through diversified promotional activities, proactively promote the Constitution, the Basic Law, and national security related legislation to different target groups, including schools, local community, young people, industrial, commercial and professional sectors and community outside Hong Kong, etc.
 
     At the district level, the District Offices of 18 districts have been striving to enhance the national and civic awareness of members of the public, including working with different district organisations to co-organise or sponsor activities to promote the Constitution and Basic Law, as well as strengthening the promotional efforts through the network and support of the District Councils. These activities include promotions and exhibitions, seminars, workshops, carnivals and quiz competitions etc, for instance, displaying the national flag and organising carnival under the theme of the Constitution and the Basic Law on the Constitution Day to publicise and promote the related messages to the people in the district. This year, the District Offices, together with district organisations, have organised or are planning to organise 64 activities, with an expected outreach of around 60 000 people. Besides, we have been sponsoring different non-governmental organisations and district organistions through various sponsorship schemes such as the “Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Activity and Research Sponsorship Scheme” and the “Community Participation Scheme” to organise a diverse range of activities, with a view to widely promoting the Constitution, the Basic Law, and national security related legislation to the community.

     The HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen publicity and education of the Constitution and the Basic Law through diverse channels and innovative approaches, including displaying large outdoor publicity messages, producing publicity video clippings, making extensive use of online platforms and social media for publicity, organising various kinds of physical activities to reach into the community, providing sponsorship to non-governmental organisations or community organisations for conducting different promotion and research, and consolidating community efforts for enhanced publicity, etc, so as to strengthen public understanding on the Constitution, the Basic Law, and national security related legislation. Also, to strengthen the related work, the 2024 Policy Address has enhanced the relevant key performance indicators: to organise no less than 730 promotional activities with no less than 940 000 participants and no less than 26 million views via online publicity in 2025. We will make every effort to take forward the relevant publicity and education work. read more

Following is a question by the Hon Holden Chow and a written reply by Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that the Government had not published the Design Manual: Barrier Free Access (“the Design Manual”) when some aged public rental housing (“PRH”) estates were constructed, resulting in the design of these estates failing to meet the current requirements on barrier-free facilities. Some residents of these estates have relayed that the surfaces of the footpaths in the estates are mostly uneven and there is a lack of covered access connecting the buildings. Moreover, some buildings do not provide lift services for all floors, causing inconvenience to the daily lives of people such as the elderly and wheelchair users. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number and names of PRH estates that have not been designed in accordance with the requirements stipulated in the Design Manual;

(2) whether it has plans to enhance the barrier-free facilities in aged PRH estates in the light of the “Well-being design” guide introduced for PRH, using the Design Manual as the standard; if so, of the estates involved and the details of the enhancement work; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) whether it will construct barrier-free access in aged PRH estates that comply with the requirements stipulated in the Design Manual, provide level access exclusively for wheelchair users to alleviate their plight of difficulty in travelling, and retrofit covers for access between buildings; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(4) as the Design Manual specifies that “[w]here it is impractical to provide a passenger lift or a ramp, a self-operated vertical lifting platform should be considered as a reasonable alternative for vertical circulation for wheelchair users”, and it is learnt that the lifts at Oi Shun House, Yau Oi Estate, Tuen Mun can only reach the 23rd floor, and residents have to use the stairs to reach the 24th floor, and that there are no barrier-free facilities between floors, whether the authorities have compiled statistics on the current number of aged PRH estates in Hong Kong with such a situation; if so, set out in a table the names of such estates, and whether the authorities will retrofit inclined or vertical lifting platforms in the buildings of such estates; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) endeavours to enhance barrier-free access and facilities in public rental housing (PRH) estates to meet the needs of PRH residents, especially the elderly and persons with disabilities. HA has adopted the concept of “Universal Design” in new estates to provide an inclusive and harmonious living environment for people with different physical abilities. 
 
     In addition to the provision of barrier-free facilities in common areas, the elderly or persons with disabilities can apply to HA for adaptation works on facilities in PRH flats if they have special needs in terms of movement. To better address the special needs of individual elderly persons and tenants in need, with reference to the advice from doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists or medical social workers, etc., HA carries out adaptation works free of charge for the tenants concerned. These works include provision of a ramp at the entrance of the flat where feasible, widening the doorway of bathrooms, laying anti-skid floor tiles on suitable floor surface, etc. If a tenant requests only for the installation of grab bars or conversion of a bath tub into a shower area in the bathroom, HA will directly arrange the relevant works for the tenant free of charge, without the need for tenants to seek advice from doctors or physiotherapists.
 
     Moreover, in order to enhance the co-ordination work on barrier-free issues and to provide timely provision of assistance to residents, HA has launched the Access Co-ordinator and Access Officer Scheme since 2011. Access Officers station in various PRH estates to assist persons with disabilities in using the barrier-free access and facilities in PRH estates.
 
      My reply to the respective parts of the question raised by the Hon Holden Chow is as follows:

(1) The “Design Manual: Barrier Free Access” (DM) stipulates the Mandatory Section and the Best Practice Section. It is the established policy of HA to comply with the prevailing requirements as set out in the DM on the provision of barrier-free access and facilities, wherever practicable. In view of the introduction of the “DM 1997” and “DM 2008”, HA implemented improvement works in 2001 and 2010 respectively on its premises which were completed before the launch of the DM to provide necessary barrier-free facilities. The improvement works included providing ramps, installing suitable handrails at access routes, providing and adding tactile guide paths connecting main estate entrances to major facilities within estate area and entrances of residential blocks, etc. In some individual HA buildings, subject to different constraints such as building design, there may not be complete provision of the relevant facilities. Since DM covers an array of requirements and guidelines, HA did not keep comprehensive statistics related to all the requirements. All new HA buildings with construction commenced after December 1, 2008 as well as alterations and additions works to existing HA buildings shall meet the mandatory requirements as stipulated in “DM 2008” as far as practicable. 

(2) In September this year, HA has published the “Well-being Design Guide” which includes well-being concepts such as “Age-friendliness” and “Urban Integration” covering design suggestions for enhancing barrier-free access facilities. Besides application in new projects, HA would also take into account the situation of individual PRH estates and apply the relevant design concepts in existing estates. HA would enhance public spaces, facilities and environment of estates through two pilot projects namely “Let’s Go Well-being‧Well-being Design Pretest” and “HAppy Family‧Colourful and Fun Estate Project”.  Throughout the projects, the design team would invite residents and stakeholders to participate in discussions and workshops on design to collect suggestions for the improvement works, with a view to applying the well-being design ideas in suitable spaces in the estates. Should the pilot projects be well received, HA would take the projects as a basis to gradually extend the improvement works to other suitable PRH estates.

     Currently, the pilot projects cover Kai Yip Estate, Fu Shan Estate, Chak On Estate, Shui Pin Wai Estate, Mei Lam Estate, Butterfly Estate, On Ting Estate, Kwai Fong Estate, Wan Hon Estate, Shun Tin Estate, Kai Tin Estate, Hing Man Estate, Yue Wan Estate, Sun Chui Estate, Lee On Estate, Ping Shek Estate, Lung Tin Estate, Shek Wai Kok Estate, Hung Hom Estate, Fu Cheong Estate, Tsz Lok Estate, Choi Yuen Estate, Tai Yuen Estate, Sam Shing Estate and Yau Oi Estate. The first phase of works for some estates (such as Wan Hon Estate, On Ting Estate and Yue Wan Estate) had been completed, providing social seatings and service counters that were convenient for the elderly and persons with disabilities in the estates. The improvement works for the remaining estates will also be completed by phase from 2025 to 2027.

(3) An Access Officer has been appointed in all individual premises under HA to provide assistance to persons with disabilities in accessing premises and using services and facilities therein, as well as handle enquiries regarding accessibility issues of the venue. In addition to the regular checks conducted by Access Officers, when estate staff identify defects and deficiencies in barrier-free access and facilities during daily patrols, they will take immediate follow-up actions including repairs to uneven footpaths. Regarding provision of access route exclusively for wheelchair users and addition of covered walkway in aged PRH estates, HA has to first conduct feasibility study and consider a number of factors, including constraints of Universal Design, management, and technical concerns about constructions, views of various stakeholders, statutory and leasing constraints, permitted plot ratio, etc., before commencing construction works where practicable. HA has previously taken forward the addition of covered walkways in aged PRH estates such as On Ting Estate, Cheung Hong Estate, and Kwai Shing West Estate, connecting major facilities within estates area and facilitate residents’ access. 

     With regard to various facilities in PRH estates, HA will continue to actively communicate with district communities/individuals as well as residents in PRH estates and conduct studies to explore the alterations or additions of facilities in estates to cater for the need of various persons in estates, including the elderly, persons with disabilities etc.

(4) HA strives to retrofit lift entrances on floors without lift access, where practicable. In addition, HA launched the “Lift Addition Programme” in 2008, retrofitting lifts within PRH estates, including in PRH blocks without lifts, to enhance pedestrian access and to provide barrier-free access for residents with a view to facilitating their use. HA has completed the works of retrofitting lifts to its PRH blocks where technically feasible and cost-effective. Currently, nearly 99 per cent of HA’s PRH flats were provided with lift services.

     For instance, Yau Oi Estate in Tuen Mun, which was built in the late 1970s, was designed in accordance with the public housing standards at that time, and hence the DM published in 1997 was not adapted. That said, due to building design constraints, it was not feasible to install lift entrances on the top floor of Oi Shun House. HA has also studied the installation of vertical lifting platforms between the 23rd and 24th floors of Oi Shun House, but it was proven the installation would be unsuitable due to the limitations of existing spaces and building design. Furthermore, according to current building fire safety requirements, non-fire services installations, such as inclined lifting platforms (also known as stair lifts), cannot be installed in fire escape staircases. Since all staircases in Oi Shun House are fire escape staircases, it is unsuitable to install inclined lifting platforms in Oi Shun House. In view of these circumstances, currently it is difficult for HA to install the aforementioned two devices in Oi Shun House. That said, HA will continue to keep in view the development of new technologies and review the feasibility of improvement works as necessary. 

     To facilitate the access of elderly residents or tenants with disabilities who live on floors without lift services, the current policy allows them to apply for transfer to other flats in the same estate or other estates. HA will make suitable arrangements as far as practicable. Over the past three years, HA has approved about 180 cases of such special transfer.
  read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Martin Liao and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):

Question:

     The Government published the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0 in 2020, which covers initiatives including the implementation of the Smart Village Pilots (the Pilots). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the Pilots include the provision of telehealth services for the elderly living in remote areas, and the Hospital Authority (HA) has set up “health huts” in some village offices in North District and Islands District where elderly people suffering from chronic diseases may receive remote medical consultations in the villages, and HA has also stated that it will extend such service to as much as 20 to 30 villages in 2024-2025, whether the Government knows (i) the details of and considerations in site selection by HA, (ii) if HA has plans to extend such service to other remote villages, and (iii) if HA has assessed the feasibility of further expanding the target group and scope of the service (i.e. not limiting consultation services to elderly people suffering from chronic diseases); if HA has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) as there are views that communication networks are the key infrastructure for building smart villages, and the Government has already been providing free Wi-Fi service at over 150 village premises, whether the authorities will draw up a timetable for further extending free Wi-Fi service to more village premises, and review in a timely manner the quality of the Wi-Fi network operations (e.g. network speed and stability), so as to ensure that the quality of the networks can meet the needs of villagers in using various types of electronic services; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether it will consider drawing reference from digital cultural tourism projects such as the Cloud Museum of Dunhuang Caves mini programme of the Mainland to further consolidate information on rural tourism in Hong Kong, so as to optimise users’ experience; whether it will strengthen inter-sectoral cooperation with the tourism, media and innovation and technology sectors, and make use of innovative technologies such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence, digital interactive technology and 3D modelling, so as to promote the conservation and publicity of rural culture in digital form; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Having consulted the Health Bureau, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and relevant departments, a consolidated reply in response to the questions raised by the Hon Liao is as follows:
 
(1) As part of the Government’s Smart Village Pilots, the Hospital Authority (HA) has been promoting the provision of telehealth services to suitable patients residing in remote areas, particularly the elderly and individuals with limited mobility, with a view to enhancing patient convenience and service efficiency. The HA will arrange medical and nursing services through telehealth, having taken into account the patient’s clinical stability, clinical needs, and operational feasibility. In general, telehealth services are more suitable for chronic patients who are clinically stable, follow-up patients, and those who do not need to visit hospitals to undergo physical examinations.

     Patients residing in remote areas who are suitable for telehealth services can receive consultations and follow-up care from doctors through the HA Go mobile application, without visiting hospitals in person. Moreover, the HA will coordinate with some village offices and Rural Committees to provide guidance, facilities and related arrangements for telehealth services for patients in need, including conducting telehealth consultations at the “health huts” established in the area.

     At present, the HA’s telehealth services are provided in the North District (such as Fanling, Sheung Shui, Sha Tau Kok, and Ta Kwu Ling) and outlying islands (such as Peng Chau, Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, Mui Wo, Tai O, Tap Mun, Ko Lau Wan, Kat O, High Island, Ma Wan and the southern part of Lantau Island), covering around 50 villages and serving approximately 1 200 attendances annually. The HA plans to extend its service to 60 villages by early 2025. The site selection criteria include technical readiness (such as availability of communication devices and network stability) and collaborative arrangements with relevant stakeholders (such as village offices and non-profit organisations).

     Besides, the HA has progressively implemented telehealth in suitable healthcare services, including some Specialist Out-patient Clinics, General Out-patient Clinics, Nurse Clinics and Allied Health Clinics, etc. The HA will regularly review the effectiveness of telehealth services with a view to better supporting patients’ needs and improving cost-effectiveness.

(2) The Government launched the “Subsidy Scheme to Extend Fibre-based Networks to Villages in Remote Areas” in 2018, with a view to providing financial incentives for the fixed network operators to extend their fibre-based networks to rural and remote areas. At present, fibre-based networks have been rolled out to more than 200 villages. The Government has also provided free public Wi-Fi services at over 150 village premises, which are managed by service providers on a day-to-day basis. Such management includes real-time monitoring and provision of prompt maintenance where necessary in accordance with contract requirements to ensure the normal operation of the Wi-Fi services.

     Moreover, the Government consulted the industry in mid-2024 on the “Subsidy Scheme to Extend 5G Coverage in Rural and Remote Areas” and is currently reviewing the feedback received to finalise the arrangement of improving 5G coverage in villages. As for the free public Wi-Fi services, the Government will review from time to time the needs of other village premises not yet covered, technical feasibility and views of local residents before deciding whether to extend the services to more village premises.

(3) The Government is dedicated to promoting smart tourism to enhance the travel experience for visitors so as to strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a premier tourism destination. With regard to rural tourism, we have integrated smart elements into various attractions and tourism projects and made use of smart technology to foster the preservation and promotion of Hong Kong’s countryside and nature.

     For example, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department launched the “Enjoy Hiking” thematic website (hiking.gov.hk) in 2019 to provide the public with detailed information on hiking routes and attractions. The website compiles and provides information on the features, scenic spots, and transportation of various hiking routes and attractions, making it convenient for the public and visitors to plan hiking activities and experience the natural beauty and cultural history of the countryside. For example, the website introduces the Sheung Yiu Folk Museum at the Pak Tam Chung Nature Trail, various ancient trails within the country parks, etc.

     Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark (Hong Kong Geopark) launched the “Same Roots ‧ Same Origins” project in 2017. This initiative preserves village culture by oral history, with innovative technological elements added to enrich visitor experience. Hong Kong Geopark has launched online 3D virtual tours for Geopark communities (including Kau Sai Village and Yim Tin Tsai, as well as story rooms at Lai Chi Wo, Ap Chau, Kat O and Kau Sai Village), and developed the “Our Stories” webpages to feature the oral history of Seven Villages of the Hing Chun Alliance (ourstories.hk) and Kat O (luckyharbour.hk). In addition, the Kat O Heritage Trail was established, allowing visitors to listen to villagers and geopark guides telling stories about the island by scanning the QR code on interpretation panels.

     The Countryside Conservation Office (CCO) under the Environment and Ecology Bureau is also establishing Smart Countryside Conservation Trails (CCTs) in Lai Chi Wo and Mui Tsz Lam, and Kuk Po, which are expected to be rolled out gradually in 2025. Similarly, visitors may scan the QR codes on information panels to access audio guides and short videos for an in-depth insight of the stories behind the village attractions. The CCTs will later be enhanced with an application incorporating Augmented Reality for visitors to check-in at relevant points of interest. 3D virtual tour will also be available on the CCO’s dedicated website for visitors to explore the CCTs anytime and anywhere.

     Moreover, the Tourism Commission incorporated the use of virtual tour technology in various tourism projects. The websites of both “Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival” and “Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival” provide virtual tours with a 360-degree virtual reality function and audio guides to facilitate visitors’ further understanding of the creative concepts of artworks. All the artworks and signage of the two festivals are also provided with QR codes connecting to the websites of the Festivals. One of the artworks displayed at Yim Tin Tsai curated under Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival 2024 also utilises the application of augmented reality to express the emotions and memories of villagers leaving and returning home.

     The Government will continue to promote smart tourism in different areas to enhance visitors’ experience. read more

     â€‹Following is a question by the Hon Tang Fei and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):
 
Question:
 
     There are views that Hong Kong is facing a demographic problem brought by a low birth rate and the persistent under-enrolment in schools on the one hand, while the number of applications for late admission of dependent children of arrivals under various talent admission schemes has increased sharply on the other, posing new challenges to the supply and demand of school places. Meanwhile, the policy of allocating vacant school premises/school sites for the development of international schools has further affected the allocation of local education resources. Regarding the policy on the development of international schools, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of applications received and approved by the authorities from school sponsoring bodies of international schools applying for operation in Hong Kong in each of the past five years; the factors on which the authorities based in approving the applications from international schools for operation;
 
(2) under the policy of allocating vacant school premises/school sites for the development of international schools, of the criteria by which the Government allocates sites for the development of international schools; how it ensures that the provision of sites for the development of international schools does not undermine local education resources at the same time; and
 
(3) whether it knows the respective requirements for local and non-local students under the enrolment policies of international schools and private schools newly applying for operation; how the Government ensures that, after the conversion of aided schools to private schools, sufficient aided school places can still be maintained in Hong Kong to uphold educational equity?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     The education system in Hong Kong provides parents with diversified and high-quality choices. The Government’s policy objective is to provide 12 years’ free primary and secondary education to all children through public sector schools. Apart from publicly-funded schools, private schools in Hong Kong have been playing a unique role in offering local and non-local curricula according to their mission. International schools belong to the private school sector and operate on a self-financing and market-driven basis. In general, they are not subsidised by public funds for capital costs and daily operation.
 
     The Government is committed to supporting the development of a vibrant international school sector, mainly to meet the demand for school places from non-local families living in Hong Kong and families coming to Hong Kong for work or investment. This policy objective is crucial in attracting and retaining talent in support of Hong Kong’s development as an international centre on finance, business, innovation and technology, education and culture, and reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international cosmopolitan with global connectivity.
 
     Regarding the question asked by Hon Tang Fei, the reply is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) There are 54 international schools (including one special school) in Hong Kong. There is no newly established international school in the past five years. In the 2023/24 school year, international schools admitted about 42 100 students, accounting for 6.4 per cent of primary and secondary students in Hong Kong. There are two ways to set up an international school in Hong Kong:
 
(i) Application for registration as a private school first and seek recognition as an international school: School sponsoring body may identify private land and/or school premises in Hong Kong for operation of school and apply to the Education Bureau (EDB) for registration as private school. After the private school has been in operation for a certain period of time, the school operator may then seek the EDB’s recognition of the school as an international school subject to its fulfillment of relevant requirements. The start-up requirements include at least 70 per cent of the school places allocated to non-local students (Note), a proven track record of school operation and full accreditation from an established accreditation body, a sustainable financial plan.
 
(ii) Participation in the School Allocation Exercise (SAE): The supply of international school places is planned on a territory-wide basis. The EDB commissions a consultancy study from time to time on the provision of international school places at primary and secondary levels in Hong Kong. When there is a projected shortfall of international school places, the Government will allocate greenfield sites or vacant school premises (VSPs) for international school use through an open and competitive bidding mechanism as appropriate, to increase the number of international school places. It has been 10 years since the last allocation of greenfield sites and VSPs to international schools (in 2014). In the light of the overwhelming response to various talent admission schemes in the past two years, the EDB is conducting an SAE to allocate two VSPs offering some school places in meeting any short-term surge in education needs of dependant children of incoming talent from both the Mainland and overseas.
 
     All along, the vast majority of education expenditure and land resources have been allocated to publicly-funded schools. For example, since the implementation of the existing SAE mechanism in 1999, the Government has allocated 156 school sites or VSPs for public sector primary and secondary schools. During the same period, the Government allocated only 16 school sites or VSPs for international school development. Since 2017, the EDB has sought funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council and completed a total of 37 school building projects during the period, all of which are public sector school projects except one was an international school redevelopment project.
 
(3) Private schools, which operate on a self-financing and market-driven basis, may set their own school-based admission requirements and procedures for admitting students (including non-local students who have been approved to study or reside in Hong Kong). The requirement on the percentage of non-local students to be admitted applies to the international schools operated by the English Schools Foundation and the new campuses of international schools which entered into a service agreement with the EDB upon allocation of school premises or sites since 2007. These schools/campuses were required to enrol no less than 50 per cent of non-local students, and the percentage has been raised to 70 per cent by the EDB since 2009, in accordance with the terms of the service agreements. As Hong Kong has returned to normalcy and has been actively attracting more foreign investment and talent to the territory, the EDB expects that the number of non-local students, including those from the Mainland and overseas, to be admitted by international schools will increase gradually.
 
     The EDB will continue to closely monitor the number of newly-arrived children and the demand for school places of the dependants of various talent schemes, and to conduct dynamic assessment of the demand for and supply of school places, as well as reserve sufficient school places in public sector schools for eligible school-age children. Should an existing publicly-funded school wish to cease operation and convert into a private school, it has to apply to the EDB for change of its mode of operation and for registration. The EDB will consider a basket of factors, including the lease conditions and restrictions on the use of the land of the school, curriculum planning, class structure, staff establishment, etc, to ensure that the school is capable of providing quality education.
 
Note: Local students refer to those who are Hong Kong permanent residents (with the right of abode in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)) and do not have any valid passport other than HKSAR Passport. Students not covered by this definition are all regarded as non-local students. read more