Tag Archives: China

     The second annual session of the 14th National People’s Congress and the second session of the 14th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee (“two sessions”) were concluded successfully in March this year. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (April 9) held a seminar on learning the spirit of the “two sessions” at the Central Government Offices, so as to enable the participants to have a deeper understanding of the essence of the “two sessions” and its significance to Hong Kong’s future development.
 
     The seminar was hosted by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee. The Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zheng Yanxiong, was invited to the seminar to share his views. The seminar was attended by more than 200 participants, including Principal Officials of the HKSAR Government, Members of the Executive Council and Legislative Council, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department.
 
     Speaking at the seminar, Director Zheng pointed out that the HKSAR has to grasp the spirit of the “two sessions” focusing on seven aspects. They are, namely, grasping deeply the spirit of the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping; grasping the significant achievements of the country on all fronts over the past year; grasping the determination and confidence in national economic and social development; grasping the tenet that high-quality development is the fundamental principle of the new era; grasping the strategic plans for developing new quality productive forces; grasping the various plans for this year’s agenda put forward by the “two sessions”; and grasping the profound importance and key plans for Hong Kong as highlighted by the “two sessions”. The government work report made a number of references to significant plans closely related to Hong Kong, including financial services, supporting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to better play its role as power sources for high-quality development, promoting high-quality Belt and Road co-operation, and promoting entry to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The important development paths mentioned in the report, in particular those concerning high-quality development and the development of new quality productive forces, deserve a high degree of attention from Hong Kong.
 
     On behalf of the HKSAR Government, Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to Director Zheng for his sharing, which benefited the participants greatly by giving them a deeper understanding of the spirit of the “two sessions”. He sincerely thanked the Central Government for fully acknowledging and staunchly supporting the work of the HKSAR Government. He pointed out that the Central Government’s unwavering support for the high-quality development of Hong Kong’s economy had brought significant historic opportunities for Hong Kong’s development. He encouraged the HKSAR Government officials and all sectors of the community to implement the spirit of the “two sessions” and remain united to give full play to it in their work, leveraging the advantages of “one country, two systems” to better seize the nation’s high-quality development opportunities and integrate into the country’s overall development. read more

     A man who went missing in Kwai Chung has been located.      Li Anzhi, a Mainland man aged 83, went missing after he left his residence in Lai Yiu Estate yesterday morning (April 8). His family member made… read more

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Uzbekistan Investment, Trade and Tourism Forum today (April 9):
 
Ambassador Arziev (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the People’s Republic of China, Mr Farhod Arziev), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to join you all for today’s forum, which seeks to promote exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Uzbekistan in investment, trade and tourism.
 
     Located at the heart of Central Asia, Uzbekistan enjoys a long history as a hub for trade, culture and innovation along the historic Silk Road trade route. Today, it plays an important role in fostering economic development and connectivity between Asia and Europe under the Belt and Road Initiative, a key development strategy implemented by our motherland.
 
     Hong Kong treasures the vast opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative and drives the advancement of this blueprint in various areas.
 
     And trade is one of those areas, I am pleased to say. As an international trade centre, Hong Kong promotes free trade, maintains a robust trading and investment system, and facilitates the free flow of capital, talent, goods and information.
 
     All those advantages have enabled our city to continuously enlarge our global economic and trade networks and expand our reach to Belt and Road markets, including Uzbekistan.
 
     For one thing, our two economies enjoy close trade ties. In 2022, Uzbekistan was Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in Central Asia, accounting for some 67 per cent of our total trade with the region.  
 
     Strengthening regional co-operation is always close to our heart. In January this year, our Government’s Deputy Secretary for Justice led a Hong Kong delegation to join the forum on China-Uzbekistan co-operation in Xinjiang.
 
     Hong Kong will continue to proactively develop a more stable, open, inclusive and mutually beneficial international economic and trade environment. Our city will also continue to serve as the prime gateway between Mainland China and the rest of the world, thanks to our “one country, two systems” framework – and the distinctive advantages that brings us.
  
     Those advantages include a robust legal and regulatory framework, and a market-oriented and internationalised business environment. They also include our motherland’s support for Hong Kong’s development of eight strategic centres, covering areas like trade, finance, innovation and technology (I&T), and art and culture.
 
     We encourage enterprises from Central Asia to make good use of Hong Kong’s world-class financing, professional services, I&T solutions, and much more, for business development.  
 
     Business aside, we are equally determined to strengthen Hong Kong’s positioning as a premier tourism destination. We welcome travellers from Uzbekistan to come experience our unique East-meets-West tourism offerings.
 
     We also encourage Hong Kong people to develop tourism and cultural ties with Uzbekistan. I am especially pleased to note that, since 2020, Hong Kong SAR passport holders can visit your country visa-free. 
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, I look forward to the closer co-operation between our two economies. Today’s inaugural ceremony of the Uzbekistan Economic, Trade, Investment and Cultural Centre in Hong Kong will surely foster our ties.  
 
     On that note, I wish you all the best of business, and health, in the year to come.  Thank you. 

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the … read more

     The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, together with the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, today (April 9) held a briefi… read more