The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (December 16) that it has appointed a Governance and Structure Reform Committee under the HA Board to provide strategic guidance, oversight, and reform advice on implementing governance and structure reforms, based on the recommendations of the Review Committee on the Management of the Public Hospital System earlier, in order to lead the HA to address challenges ahead.
 
     The HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, said that members of the Reform Committee have extensive experience in healthcare organisation operations and corporate governance. The Reform Committee will start working immediately and regularly report progress to the Health Bureau and the HA Board to lead the HA to enhance its governance by actively promoting reforms. With a spirit of innovation and change, the HA strives to develop a sustainable public healthcare system to enhance community well-being. 
 
     Membership of the Reform Committee is as follows:
 
     Chairman
     Henry Fan Hung-ling
 
     Members
     Thomas Chan Chung-Ching
     Dr York Chow Yat-ngok
     Sylvia Fung Yuk-kuen
     Dr Tony Ko Pat-sing
     Franklin Lam Fan-keung
     Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun
     Pang Yiu-kai
     Jack So Chak-kwong
 
     Mr Fan stated, "The Reform Committee will provide valuable opinions on the future development of the HA, thereby driving the HA's governance and reforms in a positive way to enhance patient safety and provide public healthcare services that meet the expectations of the public."

     To commend 79 local companies for their outstanding achievements, the 2023-24 Hong Kong Awards for Industries (HKAI) Presentation Ceremony was held today (December 16) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, addressed the ceremony in a video message. The officiating guests at the ceremony included the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Maggie Wong; and the Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Aaron Liu.

     In his video speech, Mr Lee said that the award-winning enterprises and products come from various industries and sectors, and they all demonstrate one thing in common – the spirit of Hong Kong enterprises to strive and persevere. The enterprises have been pursuing breakthroughs in improving the level of design of products and equipment, unleashing creativity, engaging in upgrading and transformation, applying innovation and technology, and enhancing service experiences, thereby achieving high value-added development and promoting Hong Kong's quality brands.

     Mr Lee added that, with rapidly evolving geopolitics, the many uncertainties in the external economy, and prevailing trade protectionism, unprecedented global changes of a century have been accelerating. Further, Hong Kong is currently undergoing economic restructuring. Many enterprises, in particular small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are facing various forms of challenges. The Government has been sparing no effort in helping SMEs accelerate the process of upgrading and transformation, digitalisation and green transformation, and explore new markets. He encouraged the awardees, as well as other enterprises, to take the initiative to embrace changes, relentlessly motivate innovation and creativity, and fully capitalise on the city's distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, thereby driving Hong Kong to achieve high-quality development.

     A total of 167 entries were received in the 2023-24 HKAI. The winners were determined by the final judging panels chaired by Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong. The Grand Award winners were Dunwell Engineering Company Limited (upgrading and transformation), Techtronic Industries Company Limited (consumer product design), Emerging Viral Diagnostics (HK) Limited (equipment and machinery design), Watsons Hong Kong (customer service), and Logital Co. Limited (innovation and creativity).

     The HKAI aims to recognise the outstanding achievements of Hong Kong enterprises in the manufacturing and services industries in enhancing their competitiveness in various aspects and in their endeavours towards high value-added activities. The HKAI also helps promote Hong Kong brands.

     The 2023-24 HKAI covers five categories, namely the upgrading and transformation category organised by the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council, the consumer product design category organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the equipment and machinery design category organised by the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the customer service category organised by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, as well as the innovation and creativity category organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. The Trade and Industry Department serves as the Secretariat of the Organising Committee of the HKAI.

     The detailed list of winners of the HKAI is available on the thematic website www.hkindustryaward.org.

    

     The Department of Health (DH) today (December 16) alerted members of the public to fraudulent advertisements published on social media and online platforms about medical insurance provided by the Hong Kong Government.

     The fraudulent advertisements, carrying the DH logo, claimed that the Government will provide medical insurance for the elderly in Hong Kong. The DH clarified that it has never published, or authorised the publishing of, such advertisements, adding that all the remarks in the advertisements are fictitious. The DH has reported the case to the Police.

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to any suspicious websites or unknown persons via the advertisements should contact the Police.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (December 18) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Construction Industry Security of Payment Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Deductions for Leased Premises Reinstatement and Allowances for Buildings and Structures) Bill 2024 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     Meanwhile, the Stablecoins Bill, the Ozone Layer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Private Columbaria (Amendment) Bill 2024 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debates on the Bills will be adjourned.
 
     On Members' motions, Mr Chan Yung will move a motion on taking forward red tourism and the panda economy in Hong Kong. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Kenneth Leung, Mr Stanley Ng and Ms Chan Yuet-ming will move separate amendments to Mr Chan's motion.
 
     Mr Jeffrey Lam will move a motion on actively responding to economic transformation and maintaining a favourable business environment. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Rock Chen and Dr Hoey Simon Lee will move separate amendments to Mr Lam's motion.
 
     Mr Chan Kin-por will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure to take note of a report of the House Committee on consideration of the subsidiary legislation and other instruments. The motion is set out in Appendix 3.
 
     During the meeting, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present "The Government Minute in response to the Annual Report of The Ombudsman 2024" and address the Council.
 
     In addition, the Chairman of the Panel on Development, Dr Lo Wai-kwok; the Chairman of the Panel on Housing, Mr Stanley Ng; the Chairman of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services, Mr Martin Liao; the Chairman of the Panel on Public Service, Mr Dennis Leung; the Chairman of the Panel on Constitutional Affairs, Mr Lai Tung-kwok; the Chairman of the Panel on Economic Development, Mrs Regina Ip; the Chairman of the Panel on Manpower, Mr Lam Chun-sing; the Chairman of the Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting, Ms Elizabeth Quat; and the Chairman of the Panel on Transport, Dr Chan Han-pan, will present the Reports of the related Panels and address the Council respectively.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, is on a three-day visit to Beijing, during which he will meet with officials from various ministries and authorities. He attended the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) Beijing Representative Office this afternoon (December 16).

     The HKIAC and the Department of Justice have been working closely to jointly promote Hong Kong's international arbitration. The HKIAC is the sole appointing authority under the Arbitration Ordinance responsible for appointing arbitrators and determining the number of arbitrators when the parties to a dispute fail to reach an agreement. It is also one of the seven designated arbitral institutions under the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

     Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Lam said that the HKIAC is the first arbitral institution outside the Mainland to establish an office in Beijing, marking a new milestone. The establishment of the Representative Office enables Beijing to become more internationalised and diversified in the arbitration field and to better meet the needs of the country's development. He looks forward to seeing Beijing and Hong Kong continue to join hands to promote co-operation and exchanges in legal matters and dispute resolution. The Co-Chairperson of the HKIAC, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Victor Dawes, SC; and Vice-President of the Law Society of Hong Kong Mr Amirali Nasir also attended the opening ceremony today.

     Mr Lam also met with officials from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today for discussions and exchanges on the progress of the Department of Justice's major policy measures. Mr Lam had dinner with Vice-president of the Supreme People's Court Mr Mao Zhonghua yesterday evening (December 15).

     Mr Lam will meet with the Minister of Justice, Ms He Rong, tomorrow (December 17) to brief her on the establishment of a dedicated platform for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) lawyers and a GBA legal information platform. They will also discuss the work of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and relevant training for foreign-related legal talent.

     Mr Lam will conclude his visit to Beijing and return to Hong Kong on the same day.