Tag Archives: China

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (April 8) the results of the 2024 annual pay review. The review was undertaken by the Governance Sub-Committee (GSC) of the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee (EFAC). The GSC’s recommendations have been approved by the Financial Secretary through EFAC.

     The Financial Secretary has approved that the Fixed Pay of HKMA staff will be adjusted upward by a general increase of 2.1 per cent, whereas an allocation of 1.35 per cent of Fixed Pay is set aside for awarding good performers. Variable Pay equivalent to 19.93 per cent of Total Pay will also be paid to staff on the basis of their performance in 2023. Variable Pay is a one-off payment to staff who have attained or exceeded the required level of performance.

     The Financial Secretary determines the pay adjustment of HKMA staff each year having regard to the recommendations made to him by the GSC through EFAC, GSC’s assessment of the performance of the HKMA in the preceding year, the pay-survey findings of the financial sector conducted by independent human resources consultants and any other relevant factors. read more

     The symposium on safeguarding national security for the social welfare sector of Hong Kong, jointly organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Connecting Hearts Limited (Connecting Hearts), was held today (April 8) to foster the sector’s understanding of the importance of safeguarding national security as well as the implementation of the National Security Law and Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on people’s wellbeing, with a view to further enhancing the sector’s awareness of safeguarding national security.

     Conducted in both online and offline formats, the symposium attracted around 6 500 participants from the social welfare sector. The Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR Mr He Jing; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government, Mr Chris Sun; and the Chairman of the Connecting Hearts, Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon, officiated at the symposium.

     Addressing the symposium, Mr Chan said that national security is the basis of existence and development of every country. Hong Kong, as an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, shoulders the responsibility of safeguarding national security. With the effective implementation of the National Security Law and the improvement of the electoral system of the HKSAR to ensure “patriots administering Hong Kong”, the city has achieved a major transition from chaos to order. With the constitutional responsibility of enacting legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law fulfilled, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance came into effect upon gazettal in March 2024. With the legal system and enforcement mechanisms thus strengthened to safeguard national security, the city has reinforced its foundation to advance towards prosperity.

     He pointed out that the social welfare sector stands at the forefront of society to help citizens, particularly grassroots people, address the most pressing difficulties of high concern to them. He hoped that the social welfare sector will continue to stay true to its mission of serving the community with a patriotic spirit, and work hand in hand with the HKSAR Government and the community at large, to ensure the orderly implementation of social welfare services for the long-term prosperity and stability of the HKSAR.

     Mr He also addressed the participants and called on the social welfare sector to fully use their unique advantages to assist strengthening Hong Kong’s social foundation in safeguarding national security. Professor of Law of Tsinghua University Professor Wang Zhenmin, who also undertakes research work in the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, delivered an online talk to give a holistic view of national security.

     Afterwards, Mr Sun shared his views and vision on safeguarding national security with participants of the symposium. He said that national security is the foundation of people’s livelihood. The social welfare sector should resolutely build up the mainstream values characterised by patriotism at the core and in conformity with the principle of “one country, two systems”, and spare no effort in developing social welfare services with safeguarding national security as the cornerstone. He hoped that social welfare organisations will continue to work hand in hand with the LWB and the SWD to safeguard national security.

      The Chairman of the Hong Kong Playground Association, Mr Sin Yat-kin; the Chief Executive of the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon, Ms Alice Lau; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited, Mrs Patricia Lau, hosted a sharing session at the symposium to inform participants of the work of the local social welfare sector in implementing measures to safeguard national security.

              

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (April 10) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2024 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives 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 Waterworks (Amendment) Bill 2023 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives 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 Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions for Intellectual Property Income) Bill 2024 and the Dentists Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bills will be adjourned.

     On Members’ motions, Ms Elizabeth Quat will move a motion on promoting the development of low-altitude economy. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Professor William Wong, Mr Chan Pui-leung, Dr Johnny Ng, Mr Chan Siu-hung, Mr Yim Kong, Mr Tang Ka-piu and Dr Hoey Simon Lee will move separate amendments to Ms Quat’s motion.

     Dr Kennedy Wong will move a motion on managing the Government’s non-financial assets more proactively. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Duncan Chiu will move an amendment to Dr Wong’s motion.

     Meanwhile, Ms Starry Lee 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 subsidiary legislation and other instruments. The motion is set out in Appendix 3.

     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. read more

     Police today (April 8) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Kwun Tong.      Lui Yin-chi, aged 13, went missing after she left her residence in Kwong Tin Estate on April 6 a… read more

     â€‹The Department of Health (DH) today (April 8) said that a DH-subvented programme, namely the Pilot Alcohol Cessation Counselling Service (the Pilot Programme) run by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), was launched today. The Pilot Programme will provide free counselling service for people identified to have probable alcohol dependence.

     Under the two-year Pilot Programme, Hong Kong residents identified as having probable alcohol dependence, defined by scoring 20 or above at the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), are eligible to receive the counselling service free of charge. Delivered by counsellors of the TWGHs, the service comprises three components, namely initial assessment, evidence-based individual counselling intervention, and subsequent evaluation follow-up.

     Information of the Pilot Programme has been uploaded to the DH’s Change for Health website. Eligible persons who are interested to join the Pilot Programme can call the enquiry hotline of the TWGHs (2884 9876) or visit their webpage (atp.tungwahcsd.org/DH_Alcohol/DH_Alcohol.pdf) for more details on enrolment method and service centre. The Pilot Programme also accepts medical and social service units in the community to refer cases in need to the counselling service. The DH and TWGHs will closely monitor the usage of the Pilot Programme. Further modes of cooperation with District Health Centres will also be explored in the future.

     According to the information of the World Health Organization, the harmful use of alcohol is a causal risk factor in more than 200 diseases, injuries and other health conditions. The harmful use of alcohol is associated with a risk of developing health problems such as mental and behavioural disorders (including alcohol dependence), as well as major non-communicable diseases (such as liver cirrhosis and some cancers). Beyond health consequences, the harmful use of alcohol brings significant social burdens to individuals, families and society at large.

     The Population Health Survey 2020-22 of the DH showed that the proportion of persons aged 15 or above with probable alcohol dependence (AUDIT score 20 or above) was 0.1 per cent (estimated 5 700 persons) in the 12 months preceding the survey. For consequences of alcohol use, findings showed that among those with AUDIT score 20 or above, 13.2 per cent reported having family or marital problems, while 26.7 per cent reported having job or work problems due to drinking.

     A spokesman for the DH reminded that the most effective means to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms is to avoid alcohol consumption. Alcohol drinkers are advised to appraise their drinking habits and appreciate the health benefits of cutting down or even stopping alcohol consumption completely. The Change for Health website of the DH has provided the electronic alcohol screening and brief intervention (e-SBI) tool for drinkers to assess their own drinking risk and obtain brief health advice. Persons who are assessed to have harmful drinking or suspected to have alcohol dependence are advised to seek professional help. 

     For more information on the harmful effects of alcohol and changing drinking habits, please visit the Change for Health website of the DH at www.change4health.gov.hk/en/alcohol_aware/index.html. read more