The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (November 25) released the latest maintenance cost information on lifts in private residential and commercial premises in Hong Kong for public reference when choosing registered lift contractors.

     The EMSD had earlier engaged an independent consultant to conduct a sampling survey on the maintenance costs of lifts in private residential and commercial buildings in Hong Kong. The consultant analysed the data collected from about 10 440 lifts at about 2 588 locations, and calculated the average monthly maintenance costs of the lifts as follows:

Private residential buildings
 

 
Private commercial buildings
 

     The cost information is available in the Responsible Persons' Corner on the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/lifts_and_escalators_safety/responsible_persons_corner/index.html). The EMSD will update it on a half-yearly basis.

     In choosing registered lift contractors, the responsible persons for lifts are advised to make reference to the materials published in the Responsible Persons' Corner in addition to the price factor. The materials include:
* performance ratings of registered contractors;
* sample contracts for procurement of lift maintenance services;
* a guidebook for persons responsible for lifts;
* guidelines for selection of registered contractors for provision of maintenance services;
* guidelines for modernisation of existing lifts;
* guidelines for management of lift maintenance works;
* a checklist for building management staff to conduct daily safety inspection of lifts; and
* common questions and answers on lift management.

Note: The above price figures were updated on September 30, 2024, whereas the previous price figures were updated on March 31, 2024.

     Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Opening Ceremony of "VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture" today (November 25):

Kevin (Chairman of Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, Mr Kevin Yeung), Walter (Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, Mr Walter Ma), Raistlin (Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau), Victor (Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Mr Victor Tsang), Sunny (Legislative Council Member Mr Sunny Tan), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I would like to welcome you all to the opening of "VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture".

     Fashion is a powerful medium of expression – it tells stories, reflects characters and identities, and connects people. Hong Kong has a long history of being a melting pot of East and West cultures, and has extensive international networks that attract local and overseas industries to organise and join major cultural and creative events here. All these contribute to the creation of a vibrant ecosystem for growing the local cultural and creative industries. Design, especially fashion design, is indisputably our strong suit.

     To develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, which has strong national support, the Chief Executive said in his 2024 Policy Address that the Hong Kong Fashion Design Week, which is now branded "Hong Kong Fashion Fest", will be organised annually starting this year.

     The Hong Kong Fashion Fest, which runs from November 20 to December 4, will feature a series of events, ranging from a summit and a forum on the development of the industry, fashion shows and exhibitions, to a cross-sector evening party. Industry professionals, fashionistas, celebrities, the public and tourists alike are all invited to join.

     The programmes of the Hong Kong Fashion Fest are organised by various participating organisations, with the sponsorship of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA). Established in June 2024, the CCIDA carries the mission to foster a conducive environment for promoting the industry-oriented development of the arts, culture and creative sectors.

     Today's event is organised by the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA). There will be three sessions of fashion show, in which four gifted and prominent fashion design masters from Hong Kong, Beijing, France and the Netherlands will be presenting a total of 48 couture fashion pieces. The brilliant designs stand as a testament to craftsmanship, vision and the limitless possibilities of human creativity. The fashion show today will be followed by trunk shows on Wednesday and Thursday, to foster a deeper connections between designers' works and potential couture clients. To share the magic experience of couture with the public, a mini-exhibition of selected show pieces has also commenced yesterday and will last until early December.

     I would like to extend my gratitude to the HKFDA for putting together the Hong Kong Fashion Fest. Among the complexities, transporting the breathtaking garments with intricate embroideries, delicate pleating and innovative silhouettes from different locations in the world and gathering them in Hong Kong are the most challenging. The HKFDA has overcome all the difficulties and accomplished the task with perfection. Please join me for giving a round of applause to its Chairman Kevin, and Bonita, the curator and project director.

     Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy the fashion show to follow and the fabulous programmes of the Hong Kong Fashion Fest for the rest of the week. Thank you very much.

    

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation in Tung Chung yesterday (November 24) to combat infringing activity involving a restaurant using an illegal streaming device to broadcast live football matches in the course of business. A batch of illegal streaming device, audio-visual equipment and network equipment, with a total estimated market value of about $18,000, was seized. This is the first time since the implementation of the Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 that Customs has applied "communication right" to detect cases of unauthorised communication of live football matches to the public by restaurants in the course of business.
      
     Customs earlier received information from a copyright owner alleging that certain restaurants were communicating live football matches to the public in the course of business, without the authorisation of the copyright owner. After a detailed investigation and with the assistance of the copyright owner, Customs officers yesterday took enforcement action during a live football match and raided a restaurant in Tung Chung. The batch of illegal streaming device, audio-visual equipment and network equipment was seized.
      
     During the operation, two men, aged 27 and 57, were arrested. The investigation is ongoing.
      
     Customs reminds business operators not to engage in unauthorised activities involving the dissemination of copyrighted works. Member of the public should also respect intellectual property rights and refrain from watching infringing works or pay-TV channels through any form of illegal streaming. Applications or streaming links related to illegal streaming may contain computer viruses or malicious programmes that can pose potential risks to users.
      
     According to the Copyright Ordinance, it is illegal for anyone, without the authorisation of the copyright owner, to engage in any trade or business that involves communicating works to the public for profit or reward or, in the course of such trade or business, to communicate copyrighted works to the public; or to communicate copyrighted works to the public to an extent that damages the rights of the copyright owner. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for four years and a fine of $50,000 for each copyrighted work.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected infringement activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 1828080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
      

    

     Mobile Libraries 9 and 12 will suspend services during designated periods in December for routine maintenance, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 25).

     Mobile Library 12 will suspend services from December 2 to 7. The affected service points are Cheong Shing Court in Fanling; Kwong Fuk Estate in Tai Po; Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen King Circuit Playground and Cheung Shan Estate in Tsuen Wan; Kwai Luen Estate in Kwai Chung; and Fu Cheong Estate in Sham Shui Po. For enquiries about Mobile Library 12 services, please call 2479 1055.

     Mobile Library 9 will suspend services from December 9 to 14. The affected service points are South Horizons in Ap Lei Chau, Oi Tung Estate in Aldrich Bay, Heng Fa Chuen in Chai Wan, Tin Wan Estate in Aberdeen and Tai Hong Street in Lei King Wan. For enquiries about Mobile Library 9 services, please call 2505 4690.

     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.

     Hong Kong FinTech Week (HKFW) 2024 concluded on November 1. The week commenced with the two-day main conference on October 28 and 29, featuring engaging panels, speeches and discussions among government officials, regulators, fintech innovators and industry leaders from around the world.
 
     The entire week attracted over 37 000 visitors from over 100 economies and featured over 800 distinguished speakers, over 700 sponsors and exhibitors and more than 30 Mainland and international delegations. The annual flagship event was organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), and co-organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and the Insurance Authority (IA).
 
Steer the future of financial services
 
     With this year's theme "Illuminating New Pathways in Fintech", the main conference featured eight themed forums on the latest technologies and cross-industry connections. These included the Global Forum; Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Advanced Tech Forum; Blockchain & Digital Assets Forum; Payments & Other FinTech Forum; InsurTech Forum; Green FinTech & Impact Forum; WealthTech & InvestTech Forum; and Hong Kong Connect Forum.
 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, opened HKFW 2024. He remarked that Hong Kong, with its singular advantages, has attracted fintech start-ups from around the globe. He said, "At present, we house more than 1 100 fintech and Web3 companies, an increase of about 15 per cent compared to last year. Hong Kong's open, free and diverse environment, burgeoning innovation and technology ecosystem, full range of funding support, deep talent pool, pro-business and pro-innovation regulatory system, the Greater Bay Area application scenarios, and the ability to connect both China and the world are clear points of attraction."

     Looking to the future, as AI and blockchain technologies guide the development of fintech, Mr Chan emphasised the need to promote development while addressing potential challenges. "The Government has rolled out a policy statement to outline our policy stance and regulatory approach towards the responsible application of AI in financial services sector. We will continue to encourage the industry to capture opportunities brought by AI, and assess and mitigate its associated risks.  The Government and the financial regulators will work closely with the industry to create a conducive and sustainable market environment," he said with regard to AI.
 
     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, then gave a thorough presentation on the AI policy statement. Mr Hui said, "The Government will work hand in hand with the financial regulators and industry players to foster a healthy and sustainable market environment, thereby enabling the financial institutions to seize the opportunities and adopt AI in a responsible manner. Such efforts will promote the high-quality development of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.  There are plenty of AI models and infrastructures available to financial institutions, accounting firms and solution providers. We encourage the financial services industry to make full use of these resources in the market."
 
New policy address initiatives
 
     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, attended the main conference and delivered his keynote address. He introduced Hong Kong's multi-dimensional business advantages and an array of new business-friendly initiatives announced by the Chief Executive in his 2024 Policy Address, such as the recently amended Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, which provides more flexibility and convenience for Hong Kong enterprises (including fintech ones) to invest and do business on the Mainland. In addition, he encouraged fintech companies to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong to enjoy Hong Kong's advantages and the new initiatives.
 
     The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, shared the initiatives in the Policy Address to fuel the sustainable development of the innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, such as the setting up of a HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund and redeploying HK$1.5 billion for optimising the I&T Venture Fund. "Hong Kong's fintech mission continues to gather pace, backed by an I&T ecosystem that is growing in strength. Companies investing in Hong Kong are set to benefit from both the Mainland's unique technological progress and global innovation."
 
     The Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong, Ms Alpha Lau, also highlighted a series of financial services and fintech key measures from the Policy Address. "We will continue to actively expand and deepen our overseas networks, forge more financial co-operation with the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey region and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, explore further collaboration with Islamic markets in finance, and organise more international financial mega-events in Hong Kong."
 
The future of innovative technologies
 
     The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, highlighted in his keynote speech the importance of embracing the digital frontier to drive the next phase of financial innovation, and shared lessons learned during the HKMA's fintech journey: focus on real-world problems, be bold and be collaborative in driving innovation.
 
     Mr Yue also emphasised two key areas of financial innovation for the next phase: tokenisation and AI. The HKMA is accelerating the development of asset tokenisation in Hong Kong through Project Ensemble to drive innovation in financial market infrastructure and Project Evergreen to promote a wider adoption of tokenisation in capital markets. The HKMA also announced a series of other initiatives covering various areas, including breaking down boundaries for payment, unlocking data potential, and empowering banks to go fintech, to spearhead the journey of fintech development.
 
     The Executive Director, Intermediaries of the SFC, Dr Eric Yip, noted in his keynote address how virtual assets are at the forefront of every financial regulator's agenda today. Hong Kong currently has three SFC-licensed virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs), with 15 more applications being processed. Investors can soon expect more licensed platforms that are compliant with the SFC's robust investor protection measures. Dr Yip also highlighted the SFC's initiatives in fostering a vibrant virtual asset market in Hong Kong, including implementing a swift licensing process for VATPs, establishing an official consultative panel for all licensed VATPs, developing further regulatory building blocks for related regulation, and supporting tokenisation initiatives.
 
     The IA is also launching the Cyber Resilience Assessment Framework under the Guideline on Cybersecurity to bolster insurers' operational resilience and an industry survey in 2025 to facilitate the development of a robust but flexible regulatory framework to spur the fair, transparent and ethical use of AI. With the significant protection gap in Asia, regulators and enterprises should focus on measures that enhance resilience in the face of increased climate and cyber risks, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the IA, Mr Clement Cheung.
 
Working towards a shared future
 
     Hong Kong's international collaborations shared the spotlight at this year's main conference. In a panel discussion on "Fintech in Hong Kong & the Middle East: New Opportunities", the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, and Deputy Director General, Financial Sector Development Program of Saudi Arabia, Mr Mohammed AlSarrani shared the benefits of increasing collaboration between the two markets, specifically when it comes to green finance, fintech, Web3, and family offices.
 
     According to Mr AlSarrani, Saudi Arabia's position at the centre of three continents, along with its economic transformation, offers unique investment opportunities for companies and financial institutions in Hong Kong and vice versa. "I believe both Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia offer unique economic landscapes that can benefit significantly from collaboration."
 
     In the panel "Harmonising Regulation & Governance Across Jurisdictions", the Chief Executive Officer of the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, Mr Matthew White, and the Minister Counsellor for Economic and Financial Affairs of the European Union, Mr Sabino Fornies-Martinez, discussed how different jurisdictions balance innovation and regulation in the virtual assets industry, with case studies from Dubai and the European Union. Both Mr White and Mr Fornies-Martinez agreed on the importance of international collaboration to avoid regulatory arbitrage and ensure seamless cross-border operations.
 
     The technology opportunities in Mainland China were of specific interest to speakers. In the "FinTech Frontier: Exploring Accelerated Cross-Border Technology Integration" panel discussion, speakers noted an 80 per cent increase in cross-boundary travel between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, along with a 70 per cent rise in cross-boundary digital payment usage in Mainland China. A mix of fintech advancements from Mainland and international innovation companies in Hong Kong can offer better solutions for cross-boundary payments. The panel also emphasised Hong Kong's role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) technology integration, stating that Hong Kong is a window for Chinese companies to reach global markets. By leveraging Hong Kong as a "super connector" for international engagement, it could enable GBA fintech companies to reach global markets and attract talent from around the world to the region.
 
Global Fast Track winners
 
     The semi-finalists of the Global Fast Track were also invited to Hong Kong to showcase their business solutions on stage during HKFW, with the grand finale taking place during the main conference.
 
     This year's Global Fast Track Awards was the most competitive ever with over 500 competitors from 56 global economies pitching to be crowned fintech champion. The 2024 edition of the global pitching contest featured five verticals: fintech, artificial intelligence, ESG/green, blockchain, and insurance/healthtech.
 
     The seventh edition of the annual competition announced two winners for the first time, as this year featured two categories:
 

• Winner of the Global Fast Track Mainland China Category was: Datatist

     Shanghai-based AI predictive analytics software solutions for banking and securities clients. Its AI platform comprises hundreds of models to ensure operational effectiveness, while maximising ROI and efficiency.
 

• Winner of the Global Fast Track International Category: WeavAir

     Singaporean provider of cutting-edge environmental, social and governance (ESG) data analytics software specifically designed for financial institutions and fund managers. Its unique platform combines satellite imagery networks, predictive AI models, and decision support systems to deliver real-time, highly accurate data-backed ESG decision-making.
 
     The Global Head of Financial Services, Fintech & Sustainability at Invest Hong Kong, Mr King Leung, presented the awards to this year's winners and expressed his hope that more emerging start-ups would achieve even greater global success through Hong Kong.
 
About Hong Kong FinTech Week
 
     Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024, organised by the FSTB and InvestHK, and co-organised by the HKMA, the SFC and the IA, is Asia's global financial technology event for scaling new heights. The week-long event featured a series of community activities across Hong Kong and Shenzhen, including a GBA Tour, satellite and networking events, lifestyle activities, and workshop. The event also featured the world's first-ever Web3x3 Basketball Game, hosted by FinTech Basketball League. For more information, please visit www.fintechweek.hk.

About InvestHK
 
      InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment. It has set up a dedicated fintech team in Hong Kong to attract the world's top innovative fintech enterprises, start-up entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders to set up and scale their business via Hong Kong into Mainland China, Asia, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.hongkong-fintech.hk.