Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 15) that samples of a kind of frozen confection imported from Thailand were found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. The affected product has been marked and sealed, and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Milk Ice (Frozen Confection)
Brand: After You Dessert Cafe
Place of origin: Thailand
Net weight: 1 700 grams
Importer: Skyfair Trading Limited
Use by date: December 8, 2024

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected samples of the above-mentioned frozen confection at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that two samples contained 250 and 260 coliform bacteria per gram respectively, exceeding the legal limit.”

     “The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularities. The affected product has all been marked and sealed, and has not entered the market. The CFS will temporarily suspend the permission to import for sale of the product concerned granted earlier to the importer,” the spokesman said.

     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. read more

     Following is the English translation of the opening remarks by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, at the special meeting of the Legislative Council Finance Committee today (April 15):
 
Chairman,
 
     Education is the key to nurturing talent. Hong Kong has sound education infrastructure, world-renowned universities, outstanding research talents, as well as diverse and quality basic education. The quality of our teaching and learning is ranked among the top in various international comparative studies. Building on our unique status and advantages under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong will better integrate into the overall development of the country and contribute to the development of the country and Hong Kong. In future, the Government will continue to make plans for education development from a holistic and long-term perspective to develop an international education hub, nurture and attract talent, and enhance Hong Kong’s impetus for growth. In line with the national strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, we will foster new quality productive forces and strive for high-quality development, thereby contributing to the building of a leading country in education as well as a nation strong in science and technology.
 
     To provide better education for children, the current-term Government strives to enhance the quality of education to better prepare for the future. It is our goal to nurture young people to become virtuous, knowledgeable and responsible lifelong learners with global perspectives, positive values and attitude, love for the country and the city, who are ready for future challenges and opportunities. The Government’s expenditure on education will be $115.7 billion in the 2024-25 financial year, accounting for about 15 per cent of the total government expenditure. The recurrent expenditure on education has, over the past 10 years, increased by 48 per cent with an average growth rate of around 4.4 per cent per annum. This demonstrates the Government’s determination and commitment to investing in education.
 
     To further enhance the quality and diversity of education, as well as strengthen support for students, we implement various new initiatives in the 2024-25 financial year. Measures for post-secondary and Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) include –
 
(a) Supporting potential self-financing post-secondary institutions to form an alliance of universities of applied sciences (UAS). The Government announced on March 21, 2024, that the Hong Kong Metropolitan University had fulfilled the relevant criteria and successfully qualified as the first UAS in Hong Kong. We have set aside a start-up fund of $100 million to support the formation of the alliance of UAS, and to support joint promotional activities of the alliance in the next five to 10 years, to instil in students, parents and the community better appreciation of the importance of VPET.
 
(b) Providing additional subsidies for full-time students pursuing designated applied degree programmes under the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors to encourage institutions to offer more applied degree programmes and to enhance enrolment incentive.
 
(c) Supporting the Vocational Training Council to further strengthen its efforts on VPET, including extending the Pilot Incentive Scheme to Employers under the Training and Support Scheme as well as the Pilot Subsidy Scheme for Students of Professional Part time Programmes for five years, further supporting student exchange activities, enhancing support for students with special educational needs, encouraging employers to provide workplace learning, and strengthening the promotion of VPET.
 
(d) Gradually increasing the quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme from 300 to 400 places per academic year, to attract more outstanding talent to study and conduct research in Hong Kong. 
 
     For students’ physical and psychological well-being, the Education Bureau (EDB) provides each publicly funded primary and secondary school and their Parent-Teacher Associations the One-off Grant for Mental Health at School of $60,000 and the One-off Grant for Mental Health of Parents and Students of $20,000 to help schools organise related programmes or procure related services or materials for promoting mental health of students, teachers and parents in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 school years. We launch “Mental Health Literacy” resource packages for students at different learning stages in phases starting from the 2023/24 school year, so as to facilitate the school in promoting mental-health literacy in class, thereby strengthening students’ awareness of mental health. We also provide a series of intensive workshops for teachers and school guidance personnel to enhance their knowledge and skills in caring for students with mental-health needs.
 
     For supporting students with special educational needs, the EDB enhances the existing staff provision of resource teachers for students comorbid with autism spectrum disorder in primary and secondary sections of aided special schools and extend it to schools for social development starting from the 2024/25 school year.
 
     For primary and secondary education, the EDB launches a five-year “Greater Bay Area Career Exploration Tours” programme starting from the 2023/24 school year with a view to deepening senior secondary students’ understanding of the latest developments of various industries in the Greater Bay Area through personal observation and experience. The programme will provide around 700 tour quotas for public sector schools (including special schools) and Direct Subsidy Scheme schools operating senior secondary curriculum from the 2024-25 to 2028-29 financial years. Together with the Mainland exchange programmes provided for primary and secondary students on a regular basis and Mainland study tours for the senior secondary subject of Citizenship and Social Development implemented since the 2022/23 school year, students will have ample opportunities to visit the Mainland and gain a first-hand understanding of our country’s development and achievements. In addition, we implement the subject on science in primary schools starting from the 2025/26 school year with a view to strengthening students’ scientific and creative thinking. The final version of the curriculum framework was announced in March 2024. We also provide a one-off grant of $350,000 for each publicly funded primary school to kick-start the subject. Upon enacting legislation for safeguarding national security on Article 23 of the Basic Law by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, we will, building upon our foundation, step up the support for schools to integrate relevant topics into learning and teaching, with a view to enhancing students’ awareness of safeguarding our national unity and ethnic solidarity, as well as maintaining the security, sovereignty and development interests of our nation.
 
     For kindergarten education, we increase the one-off provision of the Grant for Promotion of Chinese Art and Culture to enable kindergartens to organise more school-based activities of Chinese culture to further enhance students’ understanding of traditional Chinese culture, cultivate their national identity and sense of belonging to our country, and nurture their love to our country as well as their sense of national pride. We also increase the one-off provision of the Professional Capacity Enhancement Grant with expanded usage scope to further strengthen the capacity and professional development of kindergarten teachers, including arranging exchange activities or sharing of good practices with kindergartens on the Mainland, with a view to fostering collaboration among kindergartens and enhancing the quality of kindergarten education.
 
     In the coming year, echoing the strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, we will build on our achievements and consolidate our experiences to proactively take forward the work on various fronts in order to contribute to the development of our country and Hong Kong and at the same time tell good stories of Hong Kong’s education. Mr Chairman, my colleagues and I will be happy to answer further questions from Members. Thank you. read more

     Today (April 15) is National Security Education Day. The Security Bureau (SB) and its eight disciplined services and auxiliary services held various activities this year in line with the theme “10th anniversary of a Holistic Approach to National Security” to deepen the public’s understanding of the work of the services in safeguarding national security and to enhance their awareness of the responsibility in safeguarding national security.

     The SB and its disciplined services jointly held a flag-raising ceremony at the Hong Kong Police College this morning, with the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, officiating at it. The ceremony started with a music performance by the Hong Kong Police Band, followed by a march-in of the disciplined services ceremonial guard. The Police flag party then marched into the venue and conducted the flag-raising ceremony with the playing and singing of the national anthem. The flag-raising ceremony was broadcast live via Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) TV 32, as well as the social media platforms of the SB and its disciplined services and auxiliary services, and more.

     Addressing the ceremony, Mr Chan said that national security is the foundation for prosperity and stability in society, as well as the well-being of the people. With the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, its effect in stopping violence and curbing disorder as well as quickly restoring social stability in the Hong Kong community was immediate. With the concerted efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the Legislative Council and all sectors of the community, the HKSAR fulfilled its constitutional duty by completing the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law this year to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security.

     Noting that national security education and patriotic education go hand in hand, Mr Chan said that the HKSAR Government will work with the newly established Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee chaired by him, and will rally support from all quarters to leverage forces in four areas, namely school education; local community; history, politics, economy and culture; and media publicity, to endeavour to promote patriotic education, as well as the mainstream values characterised by patriotism with an affection for the country and Hong Kong and in conformity with the principle of “one country, two systems”, with a view to enhancing the national identity and appreciation of the richness and beauty of traditional Chinese culture among the people of Hong Kong, especially the young generation.

     After the flag-raising ceremony, Mr Chan officiated at the Safeguarding National Security Cup awards presentation ceremony to commend the SB and its disciplined services and auxiliary services for holding the Safeguarding National Security Cup sports competitions, allowing participants to showcase their vitality and unity through such sports as badminton, tug of war, basketball, triathlon and floor curling, while raising their awareness of promoting national security at the same time.

     Apart from the flag-raising ceremony, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, today also attended other national security education activities, including the National Security Education Day Opening Ceremony cum Seminar held by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. He also showed his support for community efforts in promoting national security education by delivering keynote speeches at the seminar on national security organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Guangdong Community Organisations, and the online seminar on national security hosted by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, as well as officiating at National Security Education Day 2024 held by the Hong Kong Island Federation.

     Furthermore, the Territory-wide Inter-school National Security Knowledge Challenge, jointly organised by the SB, the Department of Justice, the Education Bureau and the Hong Kong Shine Tak Foundation for the first time, received overwhelming support from teachers and students. Over 102 000 students from 585 secondary and primary schools participated in the Challenge. A 30-minute programme featuring the highlights of the finals and the award presentation ceremony will be broadcast at 9.30pm today on HOY Infotainment.

     To support National Security Education Day, the disciplined services and auxiliary services of the SB held open days during the past weekend, attracting a large number of people to join. Diversified activities included Chinese-style foot drill, tactics and rescue drills, displays of firearms and equipment, and game booths. Mr Tang visited the open days one by one to encourage members of the services to keep up their good work in resolutely safeguarding national security.

                  

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, at the First Anniversary Ceremony of Smart Mobility Technology (C-V2X) Alliance today (April 15):

Sunny (Board Chairman of Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), Mr Sunny Lee), Denis (Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, Dr Denis Yip), distinguished guests, friends and speakers, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon everyone. Having witnessed the birth of the Smart Mobility Technology (C-V2X) Alliance last year, it gives me great pleasure to be here again today to celebrate the first anniversary of the Alliance.
      
     I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to ASTRI for building this platform, which brings together policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss the future of Hong Kong’s smart mobility landscape.
      
     Since the release of the Smart City Blueprint (Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong) in 2017, as well as the Blueprint 2.0 (Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0) in 2020, the Government has never ceased its efforts in advancing smart city initiatives. We have also made significant progress in the past few years. 
      
     Take autonomous vehicle (AV) technology as an example, it not only offers the advantages of eliminating human errors and preventing driving misconduct, but also opens a new window of opportunity for better assimilation of different traffic rules in Hong Kong. The driving systems in Hong Kong and the Mainland differ in terms of left- and right-hand driving, as well as traffic regulations. Without the presence of drivers on board, AVs are no longer bound by some of the restrictions imposed on conventional drivers and can accommodate different driving rules and systems, thereby contributing to the integration of driving modes between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and the traffic plying between the two areas.
      
     I had the privilege of riding on board different AVs in various cities of our motherland since I took up this role in the middle of 2022, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. I have always been impressed by their performance.
      
     Today, autonomous driving is still an emerging technology that requires further study and testing in our city. And public awareness and acceptance are part and parcel to the long-term development of the new technology. Currently, there are already quite a few AV trials taking place in different locations across the territory, for example, university campuses, residential areas, the Science Park, as well as the West Kowloon Cultural District, and ASTRI is one of the key drivers.

     I have once said that the focus of autonomous driving in Mainland China is on taxi, and my thinking is very different for Hong Kong. If I apply autonomous driving in Hong Kong, I would like to use it on a minibus. For a double-decker bus without any driver, it may cast doubt because a double-decker bus is quite a big vehicle, but for a minibus that serves about 10 to 20 passengers, probably this is the middle way that we are more comfortable with. From my previous work experience with the MTR, as I work closely with the MTR before, an MTR train without drivers, when first introduced in a decade ago, made people nervous. So at that time, we placed a human being in the driving cabin, but actually that human being does not serve any driving purpose. It is just for public announcement purpose, but people are quite comfortable as long as they see a man or woman standing there.

     Despite the efforts from the industry, the Government has paved the way for wider and more flexible trials and application of AVs in Hong Kong by introducing a new regulatory regime for trial and use of AVs last December, and the new framework came into effect just last month. 
      
     This marks a key milestone of the Government’s continued efforts in promoting smart mobility and demonstrates our great ambition and strong commitment to further application and adoption of autonomous vehicles in Hong Kong. 

     On top of policy guidance and regulatory framework, the Government has also been providing funding support to R&D (research and development) institutions and the academia, as well as enterprises through the $1 billion Smart Traffic Fund for conducting research and application of innovation and technology, including autonomous driving and related technologies since 2021. So far, there are eight approved projects related to autonomous driving and V2X (vehicle-to-everything) technology. We will continue to provide staunch support to academia and the industry to keep autonomous driving and V2X technologies thriving. And I am very much looking forward that the citizens of Hong Kong will have the opportunity to take a trial ride on one of the test AVs by the end of this year. And this is a promise that I keep on saying, by the end of this year we should be able to offer one of the trial rides for passengers to ride on the bus or the minibus that we are testing.

     In addition, the Government has proposed under the ongoing Traffic and Transport Strategy Study to further promote the development of AVs in Hong Kong. Fulfilling this potential will require close collaboration between the Government and various stakeholders ranging from the industry, academia and the research sector – that is, every one of you. I appeal to your active participation and unfailing support in developing and deploying autonomous driving and V2X technologies in Hong Kong. Your contribution means a lot to us, and this is why a professional network like the Smart Mobility Technology (C-V2X) Alliance is of great value and significance. By bringing together leading experts and industry leaders, the Alliance provides an invaluable platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and problem solving. You are the driving force behind the breakthroughs that will make the future of smart mobility a reality in Hong Kong.
      
     I am also pleased to learn that the findings of the Connected & Autonomous Vehicle Development Study in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA) will be announced today. Hong Kong and the rest of the GBA are poised to create unstoppable momentum towards a smart and sustainable future, unleashing the true potential of a leading smart city in the world. 
      
     Next year, we will be promulgating a long-term strategy blueprint which will outline our vision for Hong Kong’s transportation landscape up to 2050. We will continue to keep abreast of the global technological development in respect of AVs and V2X, and I am confident that Hong Kong will remain at the forefront of the global smart mobility transformation.
      
     As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, realising our vision requires the concerted efforts from every one of you. Together, let’s keep tapping into the new frontiers of smart mobility while continuously maintaining the excellence of Hong Kong’s world-renowned transport system.

     Ladies and gentlemen, the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government has promulgated the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles “港車北上” since last July, and we are mapping the way forward for the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles “粵車å�—下”. I have a dream. One day, all the two schemes will be extended to autonomous vehicles, which means that integration with our motherland is not only for the people, but will be extended to vehicles as well. I am an engineer by training and I have been practicing engineering for over four decades. I fully appreciate the difficulties and complexity for this kind of task, which involves interoperability across the border. I will count on all the intelligent brains in front of me to get the work done and to turn my dream true, and I believe this should not be long.
      
     Lastly, I wish that all of you will enjoy the event today. Thank you.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or internet banking login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more