The review meeting of the Civil Service Staff Exchange and Collaboration Programme, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Mainland municipalities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), was held in Shenzhen today (March 8). The first batch of Hong Kong civil servants arranged by the HKSAR shared their experiences and insights gained from the three-month exchange in Shenzhen.
 
     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung; the Director General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Ms Chen Liwen; and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Director General of the Organization Department of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mr Cheng Buyi, attended and addressed the review meeting. The Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung; the Director General of the HKMAO of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Mr Jiang Likun; and the Head of the Civil Service College, Mr Oscar Kwok, were also present.
 
     At the review meeting, Mrs Yeung said that this year marks the fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The successful completion of the Civil Service Staff Exchange and Collaboration Programme with the Mainland municipalities in the GBA is of great significance and has laid a solid foundation for future exchanges and co-operation between civil servants from both sides.
 
     Mrs Yeung said, "Hong Kong civil servants play a crucial role in promoting the high-quality development of the GBA. The Chief Executive has proposed in the 2023 Policy Address the introduction of an exchange programme with civil servants from GBA cities, enabling Hong Kong civil servants to gain a deeper understanding of the development of the GBA and the work of the host government agencies, thereby better complementing the GBA's development strategy." She expressed her gratitude to the HKMAO of the State Council, the HKMAO of the Guangdong Provincial Government and the HKMAO of the Shenzhen Municipal Government for their support for the programme.
 
     The HKSAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government signed the Agreement on Civil Service Staff Exchange and Collaboration Programme with the Mainland Municipalities in the GBA in September last year. The first batch of participants began their exchange in Shenzhen in December last year. They were assigned to the Futian District People's Government, the Agency for the Construction and Development of Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality (Qianhai Authority), the Ecology Environment Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, and the Transport Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, to engage in in-depth exchanges in areas such as district management, technology development, town planning, transportation and environmental protection. The 10 participating middle and senior-level civil servants came from eight departments and grades, including the Administrative Officer Grade, the Executive Officer Grade, the Environmental Protection Department, the Highways Department, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Planning Department and the Transport Department.
 
     Mrs Yeung said that the exchange period has been extended from four weeks to about three months. The participants this round were assigned to projects that promote Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation and the city's development, deepening their understanding of the operations of Mainland government authorities and the formulation and implementation of policies, while also establishing closer ties with their Shenzhen counterparts. The participants also visited major facilities and took part in cultural and sports activities in Shenzhen, experiencing first-hand the city's vibrancy and creativity.
 
     Mr Cryus Chow from the Administrative Officer Grade was among the first batch of participants of the exchange programme. During his exchange, he served successively as the Special Assistant to both the Vice District Mayor of the Futian District People's Government and the Deputy Director of the Agency for the Construction and Development of Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone. Among his responsibilities was to promote the development and planning of the Hetao area. During the review meeting, he shared his reflections, "This exchange has been a learning process, allowing me the opportunity to participate in project meetings and visits with Shenzhen civil servants. I was deeply impressed by the boldness of my Shenzhen counterparts in proposing and discussing many innovative ideas."
 
     Miss Chan Fei-fei from the Executive Officer Grade served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Director-General of the Qianhai Authority during her exchange. She was involved in the day-to-day operations of the Hong Kong and Macao Service Office of the Qianhai Authority, serving Hong Kong residents and enterprises in Qianhai by understanding their needs and exploring suitable measures for their development. She considered the exchange an opportunity to enhance her understanding of national policies and the operations of Shenzhen's government authorities. Upon her return to Hong Kong, she hopes to apply the experience and insights gained to her work.

     Mrs Yeung encouraged the participants to actively share their experiences with their colleagues after returning to Hong Kong, integrate their learning from the exchange with the situation in Hong Kong, and apply it to their future work, thereby playing an active role in future co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
 
     Under the co-ordination of the HKMAO of the State Council, the Civil Service Bureau has organised the Civil Service Staff Exchange Programme jointly with a number of Mainland municipalities since 2002. Under the programme, officers from Hong Kong and the Mainland are attached to each other's side to share experience and expertise so as to better understand each other's structure, regulations, policy, operation, etc, to foster co-operation and communication and gain first-hand experience of the host city's latest developments.

          

     The Government announced today (March 8) that the Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Kevin Lam Sze-cay, Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi and Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong as members of the Independent Commission on Remuneration for Members of the Executive Council and the Legislature, and Officials under the Political Appointment System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The reappointments are for a period of three years with effect from April 1, 2024. 

     The Independent Commission advises the Government on matters relating to the systems of remuneration for Members of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council, as well as those for officials under the Political Appointment System. The Chairman of the Independent Commission is Mr Carlson Tong and other members are Mr Philip Tsai Wing-chung and Ms Winnie Wong Chi-shun.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 8) that the Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 7pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

     A red tide was sighted during the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (March 8).
               
     On March 6, staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department spotted a red tide at Stanley Main Beach, Hong Kong Island. The red tide has dissipated and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.
               
     A spokesman for the working group said, "The red tide was formed by Noctiluca scintillans, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic."
               
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan and Po Toi fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
           
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.

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

     Following is the transcript of remarks by Mr Andrew Leung, the President of the Legislative Council (LegCo) at a media briefing at the LegCo Complex today (March 8):

     At the Legislative Council meeting just now, the Safeguarding National Security Bill was introduced into the Council for First Reading and Second Reading. The Subcommittee to Study Matters Relating to Basic Law Article 23 Legislation has been turned into a bills committee, which will commence scrutiny of the Bill immediately this afternoon.

     To legislate for Article 23 of the Basic Law is a constitutional duty of the entire Hong Kong SAR. Both the Government and LegCo must make every effort to complete the legislative process as soon as possible. I also fully agree that there is a genuine and urgent need for the legislation. We will spare no effort and work together to plug the national security loophole as soon as possible. As the President of LegCo, I called a meeting of the Council today in accordance with section 14(1) and (2) of the Rules of Procedure to fulfil our constitutional duty.

     As mentioned in the Government's consultation document, each country enacts laws to safeguard national security. It is the inherent right of a sovereign state and an international practice. I note that 98.6 per cent of the views received during the consultation period supported the legislative exercise and gave positive comments. Meanwhile, LegCo Members also reflected the views of the people truthfully, and gave specific and constructive advice to the Government during meetings of the Subcommittee and joint panel. I believe that the Government will continue to listen extensively and study carefully Members' views to enhance the legislation.

     Enactment of legislation to safeguard national security is the constitutional duty of the Hong Kong SAR and we have failed to do so in the past 27 years. The Seventh LegCo is honoured to be able to shoulder this historic mission at this critical juncture, with a view to contributing to the stability and development of our country and Hong Kong. I have every confidence that upon completion of the enactment of the legislation for safeguarding national security, the Hong Kong SAR will be able to focus on developing the economy and improving people's livelihood, and ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems."

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)