Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade and Ministers Responsible for Women in Arequipa, Peru, today (May 17, Arequipa time):
 
     Thank you, Co-Chairs.
 
     I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to Peru for the warm hospitality extended to me and my delegation in this enchanting "White City" of Arequipa. Today's meeting is particularly special, as we are joined by our fellow Ministers Responsible for Women in this first joint ministerial meeting on women and trade in APEC's history.
 
     Undoubtedly, trade and women's economic empowerment are profoundly intertwined. Representing nearly 55 per cent of our population in Hong Kong, China (HKC), women play a crucial role in driving economic growth. While HKC's trade policy is gender-neutral, we are keenly aware of the possible constraints faced by women in trade, from the dual burdens of job and family commitments to specific challenges they face, which may include lack of mobility, skills, funding and networks.
 
     To enhance women's participation in trade and capitalise on the rising trends in global trade, we consider it essential to eliminate barriers to trade, such as lowering the cost of doing business or streamlining procedures through the use of technology. In tandem, wider digitalisation of trade can help women, many of whom lead smaller-scale or home-based businesses, to develop and grow their operations. Indeed, building digital skills, encouraging women's participation in the digital economy and innovation, as well as strengthening the capacity of women-owned and women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to participate in the global value chain, are all key action areas set out in the La Serena Roadmap for Women and Inclusive Growth endorsed in 2019.
 
     In HKC, we are implementing various measures on this front. For example, we are pushing towards with the final phase of our Trade Single Window, and have put in place the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme to assist MSMEs in electronic payment and other digital solution packages. Within APEC, we hope that through collaborative efforts, we could help accelerate this transformation to open up new opportunities for women to participate in trade, including through continued implementation of the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap.
 
     Support measures for MSMEs can help women reap the benefits of trade. For HKC, we provide extensive support for MSMEs through over 40 funding schemes and support programmes, such as the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme which specifically aims to enhance access to bank financing. HKC also promotes the use of online dispute resolution in APEC to facilitate MSMEs' uptake of digital technologies to resolve disputes at a lower cost and with ease, thereby enabling their inclusive participation in international trade.
 
     The path to women's empowerment in trade extends beyond creating equal opportunities; it is about unlocking the vast potential that a diverse economy offers. We hope that APEC member economies can continue our efforts in liberalising and facilitating trade, and building a trade and investment environment that is free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive and predictable, as our Leaders committed in the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040.
 
     Allow me to pause here and invite my senior official to introduce HKC's other efforts and policies to facilitate women's access to the economy.
 
     Thank you.

     Heung Hoi Ching Kok Lin Association has been issued a Public Subscription Permit to hold a territory-wide flag sale from 7am to 12.30pm today (May 18), a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said. 

     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/ngo/controlofc/flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.

     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) delegation led by the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung, began its duty visit in Singapore today (May 17).
      
     The delegation visited the Parliament of Singapore to pay a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Parliament, Mr Seah Kian Peng, and met with some Members of Parliament. Both parties exchanged views on various topics including the relationship between the executive authorities and the legislature, as well as Innovation and Technology, land and housing, digital economy, etc. The delegation received a briefing on the Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) conducted by Members of Parliament in Singapore, and shared LegCo Members' experience in handling public complaints.
      
     The delegation had the opportunity to observe a MPS conducted by a Member of Parliament in his constituency in the evening, to gain a deeper understanding of how these sessions facilitate direct communication between Members of Parliament and their constituents and address community issues. Members believed that MPS can enhance public engagement and such experience is worth referencing. During the session, the delegation also shared insights with the Member of Parliament on parliamentary work.
      
     The delegation also met with the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Cao Zhongming, to introduce the latest social and economic developments in Hong Kong and explore how Hong Kong could play a bridging role in the mutually beneficial and co-operative relation between China and Singapore. The delegation also expressed its gratitude to the Central Government and Ambassador Cao for continuously supporting Hong Kong's accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will facilitate enterprises of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to expand their businesses in Hong Kong and tap into the Mainland market.
      
     During the visit, the delegation went to JTC Corporation (JTC), a government agency responsible for the development of industrial land and infrastructure, supporting and promoting Singapore's new industrialisation and enterprise development. Members received a briefing by representatives of JTC on its landmark projects, including the development of One-north, which is positioned as a national research and development hub. The delegation opined that various projects of JTC could serve as valuable references for Hong Kong in developing "new quality productive forces" and transforming the Northern Metropolis into a "new international I&T city".
      
     The delegation then met with representatives of the Housing & Development Board of Singapore to gain an overview of local housing policies and projects that provide affordable and quality subsidised housing for citizens. Delegation members would draw on the relevant experience, with a view to putting forward suggestions to the Government on further enhancing the housing ladder in Hong Kong.
      
     In addition, Members met with representatives of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association and Hong Kong community groups to understand their work, businesses and lives in Singapore. Members also highlighted Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems" to investors in Singapore, encouraging them to utilize Hong Kong as a platform to gain access to the Mainland market.
      
     The delegation will continue its duty visit in Singapore tomorrow (May 18) before departing for Hong Kong in the afternoon.

          

     â€‹The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, and the Guangdong Technology Financial Group Co. Ltd. (Guangdong Technology Financial Group) jointly organised a conference in Guangzhou today (May 17) to promote transformation of research and development (R&D) outcomes of Hong Kong higher education institutions and support the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, attended the conference in Guangzhou and delivered a speech.
      
     The conference aimed to capitalise on the strengths of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao co-operation, build a platform for the integrated development, exchange and co-operation of scientific research, talents, financial and industrial resources, etc. in the GBA, promote precise matching of innovation and technology (I&T) projects of Hong Kong higher education institutions with financial resources, accelerate the flow of innovation resources between Guangdong and Hong Kong, advance the development of the GBA into a new highland for global I&T investments, and nurture "new quality productive forces" in the GBA. A total of 13 I&T teams from Guangdong and Hong Kong participated in the roadshow.
      
     Speaking at the conference, Ms Chan said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will proactively encourage various sectors of the community to develop "new quality productive forces", including supporting the local I&T sector to visit the Mainland more often, especially the Mainland cities of the GBA, for exchange and interaction, so as to keep up with the latest development of "new quality productive forces" in the Mainland. The Government is dedicated to achieving the construction of a more comprehensive and globally competitive I&T industry chain by promoting complementarity and development between Hong Kong and Mainland cities of the GBA.
      
     Ms Chan pointed out that, taking into account Hong Kong's social and economic situations, the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint promulgated by the HKSAR Government provides a clear development path and systematic strategic plan to chart Hong Kong in moving towards the vision of an international I&T centre. In particular, promoting the comprehensive development of upstream, midstream and downstream sectors to form an extensive I&T ecosystem chain is the key to developing "new quality productive forces". The HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government are actively pursuing the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone in full swing so as to develop an I&T hub of the GBA. With the staunch support of the country, and the full co-operation of various cities in the GBA, more I&T teams will continue to seek breakthrough and contribute to the high-quality development of the country.
      
     During the conference, a representative from the Innovation and Technology Commission introduced the HKSAR Government's policies and measures in recent years in promoting the full interaction and collaboration among industry, academia, research and investment sectors, as well as accelerating the formation and development of "new quality productive forces". In addition to consolidating and enhancing our strengths and capabilities in basic R&D, the policies and measures accelerate the transformation of outstanding R&D results and their application to specific industries, so as to continuously create new value and support the high-quality development of the new real economy. Many of these are collaboration projects between institutions of Hong Kong and other cities of the GBA or the Mainland, leveraging the resources and strengths of Hong Kong and the Mainland to jointly promote technology implementation and commercialisation.
      
     Supported by the People's Government of Guangdong Province, a national investment and financing platform (「粵科發布ã€�) was jointly established by the Guangdong Technology Financial Group and the Guangdong Venture Capital Promotion Association. The platform plays an important role in facilitating the development of an international I&T ecological centre in the GBA and accelerating the development of "new quality productive forces".
      
     Ms Chan then visited Oâ‚‚ PARK, a creative park developed by Hong Kong entrepreneurs in Haizhu District, Guangzhou. She was briefed by representatives of the park on the revitalisation of old factories project and learned about the park's latest efforts in promoting arts, culture and creative industries.

      

     In response to media enquiries on the pilot project of using black soldier flies (BSF) bioconversion technology for treating chicken waste in the EcoPark, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 17) gave the following response:
      
     The Government has been planning to explore different technologies, including bioconversion technology, through pilot projects to treat livestock waste. The purpose is to gain experience, collect data, and compare the advantages and disadvantages of various technologies and their cost-effectiveness, with a view to formulating the long-term waste treatment arrangements.
      
     Regarding chicken waste, the EPD engaged a contractor in 2021 through an open tender process to provide services for carrying out a trial in the EcoPark using BSF bioconversion technology in treating chicken waste and converting it into fish feed and fertiliser. The contract operation period is one year. The contractor will decommission the plant and return the site after the expiry of the operation period. The plant was installed and started operating in February 2023, processing about 10 tonnes of chicken waste per day, which accounts for one-fourth of the chicken waste generated in Hong Kong. The contract was originally scheduled to end in February 2024. In order to collect more data, the EPD and the contractor mutually agreed to extend the operation period by six months until August 2024.
      
     In the meantime, the EPD has successfully tested the "anaerobic co-digestion" technology in treating pig waste and food waste at O．PARK2. Currently, O．PARK2 processes an average of 20 tonnes of pig waste per day, accounting for half of the pig waste generated in Hong Kong.
      
     Following the BSF pilot project and building upon the successful experience of using the "anaerobic co-digestion" technology for treating pig waste, the EPD will commence a trial using the "anaerobic co-digestion" technology to treat chicken waste in August. In the initial phase, 10 tonnes of chicken waste per day will be converted into energy. Depending on the effectiveness, the EPD may further increase the capacity for chicken waste treatment. The EPD will utilise the data, operational experience, cost-effectiveness, and other information collected from both the BSF and the "anaerobic co-digestion" pilot projects to formulate long-term waste treatment arrangements for chicken waste.
      
     Regarding the use of BSF bioconversion technology for food waste treatment, the EPD is currently using anaerobic digestion to convert food waste into energy. The "Food Waste/Sewage Sludge Anaerobic Co-digestion" trial projects at Tai Po and Shatin Sewage Treatment Works currently in operation are very successful. Due to the scarcity of land resources in Hong Kong, using BSF bioconversion technology or other technologies to treat large amount of food waste would require significant additional land. In the future, the EPD will focus on developing the use of Sewage Treatment Works for "Food Waste/Sewage Sludge Anaerobic Co-digestion" to enhance the overall capacity for food waste treatment.