Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the First Annual Hong Kong Climate Forum – Greater Bay Area Climate Action and Cooperation today (March 25):
 
Professor Zhang (President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Zhang Xiang), Professor Gong (Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Gong Peng), distinguished speakers and guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     I am delighted to join you today at the First Hong Kong Climate Forum. This is a golden opportunity to discuss and advance our shared commitment to a sustainable future. On behalf of the Hong Kong SAR Government, a very warm welcome to you all, especially to our friends from around the world; from Beijing, the Greater Bay Area, California, and elsewhere. Also, my sincere thanks to Governor Newsom of the State of California, who will speak to us via video.
 
     This international gathering is a vivid reminder that, wherever we may live, we all share the same "home" – planet Earth. Our planet is in peril as climate change continues to gather pace.  We must all act together with urgency to protect our beautiful home.
 
     Last week, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that 2023 was the hottest year on record by clear margin. In the words of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, "Never have we been so close to the 1.5° C lower limit of the Paris Agreement on climate change." Rising sea levels and extreme weather events have become regular items on the evening news. No country, no politician can say that we shouldn't be worried about global warming.
 
     As the WMO rightly puts it, "The cost of climate inaction is higher than cost of climate action." 
 
     Fortunately, there is a beacon of hope with energy transition becoming a top priority for many countries and governments. I am proud to say that our country, China, is at the forefront of this transition, and Hong Kong is ready and able to play its full part.
 
     Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, President Xi Jinping announced China's commitment to achieving peak carbon emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060. Green transition has been deeply engraved in China's overriding principle of governance and the pursuit of high-quality development.
 
     Our country's progress has been remarkable. Through substantial investment in green energy, infrastructure and manufacturing, China has brought benefits to itself and other members of the global community. Today, close to half of the world's installed photovoltaic capacity is in China. China also accounts for around 70 per cent of the global production of lithium batteries. And new energy vehicles, NEVs, are a bright spot. Last year, the Mainland's NEV production reached more than 9.5 million, an increase of around 36 per cent year on year.  Our country has been the world's largest NEV producer for nine years in a row. It is also a major player in driving the world's green transition process.
 
     Here in Hong Kong, we are committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of that commitment, we are striving to halve our carbon emissions by 2035, as compared to the 2005 level. We are doing this through four main strategies: net-zero electricity generation, green buildings, green transport, and waste reduction.
 
Climate finance
 
     An essential dimension of global green transition is funding. Global climate finance flows reached around US$1.3 trillion in 2021/22. However, it is estimated that annual climate investments would have to reach US$9 trillion by 2030 and US$10 trillion by 2050.
 
     In other words, there is a huge funding gap to fill. And this is an area where Hong Kong can make valuable contributions as Asia's green financing centre. Green bonds issued in the Hong Kong market account for more than one-third of Asia's total. We serve bond and debt issuers, public and private, from the Mainland, Asia and around the world. And we have been rolling out new and experimental financial products such as tokenised green bonds and securitisation of green projects. 
 
     Hong Kong also possesses high-quality professional services that play a significant role in promoting international green standards. Apart from green project certification, we are aligning our standards with the Common Ground Taxonomy adopted by the Mainland and the EU. 
 
     Later today, we will issue a vision statement on developing a sustainability disclosure ecosystem, a forceful commitment of the HKSAR Government and financial regulators to formulating a set of local sustainability reporting standards aligned with the IRFS (International Financial Reporting Standards) Sustainability Disclosure Standards published by the International Sustainability Standards Board.
 
Green technology
 
     Alongside funding, green technology is another key to green transition. Innovative solutions, be they energy saving technologies, new materials for eco-friendly products or carbon sequestration, would transform, reduce or even revolutionise our environmental impact. In this regard, Hong Kong has strong basic research capabilities – five of our universities, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) included, are among the global top 100. 
    
     Our Science Park and Cyberport are home to about 200 green-technology companies, including some that are equipped with globally competitive technologies and have successfully tapped into Mainland and overseas markets. Let me give you a couple of examples.
 
     A start-up from Science Park has developed the world's first 3D reef tiles to help restore underwater habitats for threatened marine life. The company has successfully expanded into the Middle East market.
 
     Another start-up from Cyberport has been pioneering the establishment of mobile decentralised farms in dense cities. It has expanded into Thailand and Australia.
 
     There are more such examples. But in a nutshell, green tech and green finance are a unique value proposition of Hong Kong. And what is most encouraging is that Hong Kong, along with the rest of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), is fast rising as an international innovation and technology hub. Indeed, the GBA is rapidly becoming a region that has the combined advantages of the San Francisco Bay and the New York Bay Areas. 
 
A call for action
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, last Saturday (March 23), Hong Kong joined cities around the world in marking the annual Earth Hour. This is a valuable event to raise awareness of the climate peril that threatens our home. But giving an hour of our time for the Earth each year is not enough. We all need to be 100 per cent committed to a sustainable future for our home, your home. 
 
     With such an influential international audience here, allow me to take this opportunity to share my humble views on what we need to do together as we embark on the road to a green future. 
 
     First, we live in a highly connected world where climate events have global impact. We need to put political differences and upheavals aside and work together to address urgent climate change issues. If we don't share the responsibility to act now, we will surely share the consequences of inaction later. We must act in concert.
 
     Second, finance and technology are key forces driving green transition. Nothing should stop us from facilitating international financial and technological co-operation on green matters, nor should there be international trade barriers or restrictions on green products or goods such as new energy vehicles. It does no good to consumers, no good to the higher objective of green transition. Collaboration and fair competition will help us achieve a better planet future.
 
     My heartfelt congratulations to the Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality of the HKU for organising this forum. I look forward to the enlightening discussions, best practices sharing and collaborations to be forged. 
 
     I wish you all a very fruitful forum and our visitors a memorable stay here in Asia's world city. Thank you.

    

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is inviting proposals from local performing artists and art groups for the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme (CCAS) 2025. Selected artists and art groups will bring performing arts to public spaces in different districts through outreach activities in 2025.
 
     Applicants should be registered local non-profit-making performing art groups or ensembles of artists that have been active in the performing arts scene in the past year, with experience in public performance. The Department encourages applicants to bring in potential young talents and set the stage for them to shine in community arts.
 
     Each applicant is required to submit one proposal with a brief description of the project theme and content. The proposal should cover one or more of the following five types of performing arts: Chinese opera/operatic singing, dance, music, theatre arts (including drama, mime, magic and puppetry), and multimedia. The proposed projects should mainly feature touring performances, and may include talks, workshops, demonstrations, episodic performances, exhibitions or a combination of these activities.
 
     Applications can be submitted online, by post or by hand to the Audience Building Office (10/F, Queen Elizabeth Stadium, 18 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai). Application forms can be downloaded from the Audience Building Office website (www.abo.gov.hk) or obtained at the Audience Building Office. The deadline for application is noon on May 6 (Monday).
 
     A briefing session on the scheme will be held at 3pm on April 9 (Tuesday) at Room AC2, 4/F, Administration Building of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, to introduce to interested individuals and art groups the application details of the scheme. There will also be experience sharing by previous Community Cultural Ambassadors. For registration details of the briefing session, please visit the Audience Building Office website.
 
     For enquiries on the scheme, please call 2591 1611, email to amab1@lcsd.gov.hk, or visit the Audience Building Office website.

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Hong Kong International Cultural Summit today (March 25):
 
Dr Wang Xudong (Director of the Palace Museum), Your Excellency Ambassador Bertrand Lortholary (Ambassador of France to China), Deputy Director Lu Xinning (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)), Deputy Commissioner Pan Yundong (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR), Mr Henry Tang (Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you today for the opening of the Hong Kong International Cultural Summit.
    
     More than 700 of you are here for this inaugural International Cultural Summit. And international it certainly is – with high-profile attendees from the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and beyond, and prominent speakers from at least a dozen countries and regions. The result is one of the largest international cultural gatherings ever staged in Hong Kong.
 
     This event, and your welcome presence here, reflects Hong Kong's long-standing role as the multicultural bridge between East and West. That reality is rooted in our Chinese culture, in concert with our open, inclusive and international community – and economy. All that is premised under the auspices of the unique "one country, two systems" principle. Hong Kong is the only city in the world that enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage.
 
     That is why we are committed to capitalising on our unparalleled advantages, and develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. A commitment that enjoys the full support of our country, under the National 14th Five-year Plan.
 
     The Hong Kong SAR Government attaches great importance to propelling Hong Kong's rise as a cultural hub. And we're serious about this.
 
     This financial year, we will inject US$180 million into our Film Development Fund and US$370 million into our CreateSmart Initiative, supporting projects in film, arts, design and other cultural initiatives.
 
     We will introduce a Signature Performing Arts Programme Scheme to encourage world-class performing arts productions and international cultural brands to be staged as long-running shows in Hong Kong.
 
     We've boosted our cultural exchange provision as well. We are determined to support more local arts groups and artists in performing outside Hong Kong.
    
     The West Kowloon Cultural District, the vast piece of harbourside land we are now standing on, is essential to realising Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange – to our rise as an arts and cultural hub connecting the world.
 
     And I'm delighted that the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority has brought you here for this global cultural gathering. I'm heartened to learn that more than 20 MOUs (Memoranda of Understanding) and cultural co-operation agreements have been signed during the Summit. And with many of the world's most renowned arts and cultural institutions.
 
     I am confident that these and other collaborations will enrich Hong Kong's cultural landscape, and they will create invaluable opportunities for our performing arts groups, artists and young people to broaden their creative horizons. I welcome your arts and cultural groups and artists to perform in Hong Kong. And, in doing so, to experience all that Hong Kong has to offer.
 
     In the meantime, I know you will enjoy every moment of your stay here. After all, this is Hong Kong's "Art March" – a whole month dedicated fully to mega arts and culture events and happenings. All over this world city. All over Hong Kong.
 
      "Art@Harbour" has just opened. Put together by the Government in collaboration with teamLab and other partners, this innovative fusing of art, science and technology will light up both sides of our storied Victoria Harbour, day and night.
 
     Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central open this Thursday. This year's Art Basel, with its East-meets-West convergence, counts more than 240 art galleries from all over the world. That's up 37 per cent over last year, almost 40 per cent. It speaks, resoundingly, of Hong Kong's return to business – and the brilliant business of art.
 
     For the film lovers among you, the 48th Hong Kong International Film Festival starts screening this Thursday as well.
 
     The second edition of our Pop Culture Festival returns next month and, in June, the inaugural Chinese Culture Festival debuts.  
 
     The Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo is another first. It takes place here in October, as does the fourth edition of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival.

     The Greater Bay Area is a cluster-city development that brings together Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in southern China. Collectively, the area boasts a population of 86 million, and is an economic powerhouse equivalent to the world's 10th largest economy. More importantly, we share similar heritage roots but also celebrate widely diverse lifestyles and custom. It is certainly a cultural extravaganza worth looking forward to. 
 
     This year, too, we will launch the first Hong Kong Fashion Design Week. It will bring together a wide variety of design events into one flagship initiative for Hong Kong's cultural, creative and tourism industries.
 
     And we're just getting going, ladies and gentlemen. Hong Kong is on its way to becoming the arts, culture and events capital of Asia.
 
     We are already among the largest art trading centres in the world. In the first quarter of 2023, Hong Kong realised a cheering almost 60 per cent, year-on-year growth reportedly, in artwork and antiquities exports.
 
     That's thanks, in part, to Hong Kong's unique advantages as a free economy with a low and simple tax regime and a seamless logistics network.
 
     Speaking of seamless logistics – and a great deal more – my thanks to the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority for organising this remarkable international gathering. 
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, I know you will enjoy your stay with us in Hong Kong. And I look forward to continuing the goodwill and the creative collaborations this Summit has set in motion. I wish you all the best of art, culture and business in the year to come.  And as Henry said, spend more in Hong Kong!
 
     Thank you.

    

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that around 11 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong's sea, land and air control points during the upcoming Easter and Ching Ming festive period (from March 28 to April 7). The ImmD, in consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, estimates that around 9.5 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points. The number of outbound passengers and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be relatively higher on March 29 (Friday) and April 1 (Monday), with around 601 000 passengers and 589 000 passengers respectively.
 
     The ImmD estimates that the passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai- Macao Bridge Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 207 000, 169 000 and 143 000 passengers respectively.
 
     To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has minimised leave for frontline officers for the flexible deployment and operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks. Additional security guards will also be deployed to provide crowd management support.
 
     Furthermore, the ImmD, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point to make the necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with the Mainland authorities, such as the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. To ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted as necessary.
 
     To avoid congestion and a longer than usual waiting time for immigration clearance, the ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The expected busy times at boundary control points are available on the website of the ImmD at www.immd.gov.hk. Furthermore, passengers may also check the estimated waiting times at each land boundary control point at any time or place via the Immigration Mobile Application (ImmD Mobile App). They can then plan their trips effectively and save time queuing at control points. The ImmD Mobile App can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store (supports iOS version 11.0 or above), Google Play (supports Android version 8.0 or above), Huawei AppGallery (supports Android version 8.0 or above) and the APK file available on the ImmD website. Passengers can download the ImmD Mobile App by scanning the QR code (see Annex) or via the ImmD website, www.immd.gov.hk. In addition, information on public transport services to and from various control points is available on the Transport Department website at www.td.gov.hk.
 
     For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
 
     Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
 
     About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. Hong Kong residents enrolled for the Express e-Channel should re-enrol if they have been issued with a new identity card. Furthermore, the Contactless e-Channel service is available at all control points now. All eligible Hong Kong residents, after enrolment, can generate an encrypted QR code through the Contactless e-Channel mobile application to enter the e-Channel, and then verify their identity with the facial verification technology for automated immigration clearance.
 
     In addition, all control points have introduced self-service departures for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure) which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment.
 
     Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868.

     The Labour Department (LD) will hold the Exploring New Opportunities Job Fair at MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok on March 26 and 27 to provide a large number of vacancies from various industries for job seekers.
      
     About 60 organisations will participate in the two-day job fair, offering over 4 700 quality job vacancies from various industries, among which more than 2 800 are from catering, retail and hotel industries. Around 30 organisations will set up booths and conduct recruitment on the spot each day. A wide variety of positions will be offered including accounting associate, assistant event sales manager, enrolled nurse, residential care homes worker, dental clinic assistant, registered safety officer, software engineer, laboratory technician, digital marketing officer, barista, baker and security guard. Job seekers can visit the LD's Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk) for more details of the vacancies.
      
     Around 83 per cent of the vacancies offered at the job fair are full-time jobs. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $12,000 to $23,000. About 95 per cent of the vacancies require a Secondary Seven education level or below. Around 59 per cent are open to job seekers without relevant work experience.
      
     Job seekers can submit job applications during the event and may be selected for on-the-spot interviews. They can also make enquiries on the employment services provided by the LD at its counter inside the venue.
      
     The job fair will be held from 11am to 5.30pm at 1/F, MacPherson Stadium, 38 Nelson Street, Mong Kok (near Mong Kok MTR Station Exit E2). Admission is free, with final admission time at 5pm each day.