The Rating (Exemption) Order 2024 will be gazetted on March 8. The Order seeks to implement the one-off rates concession proposed in the 2024-25 Budget to maintain the economic recovery momentum at the beginning of the financial year.
 
     The Budget has proposed to waive rates for the first quarter of 2024-25, with the concession ceiling of $1,000 per tenement. The proposed rates concession will benefit about 3.51 million properties, leading to revenue forgone of about $3 billion.
 
     The Order will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on March 13.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai (Dubai ETO) hosted a business luncheon in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on March 6 (Dubai time). The event was co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

     About 120 guests from local government and businesses, particularly from the innovation and technology (I&T) and related sectors, attended the event.

     Addressing the guests at the business luncheon, the Director-General of the Dubai ETO, Mr Damian Lee, welcomed the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and his business delegation, which included representatives from Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, Hong Kong Cyberport, and various technology companies and start-ups from Hong Kong, to attend the event during their visit to the UAE.

     Delivering a keynote speech at the business luncheon, Professor Sun highlighted that the main objective of his visit was to strengthen bilateral relations between Hong Kong and the UAE, with a particular focus on exchanging updates and co-operation in the field of I&T between the two regions.

     Professor Sun also spoke about the flourishing development of I&T in Hong Kong and introduced Hong Kong's role as a "super value-adder" to bridge Mainland China and the rest of the world. Hong Kong and the UAE have a lot in common. Both places have diverse cultures, and share the same vision of developing a diversified and sustainable economy, in particular to become a leading I&T hub in the respective regions. Professor Sun said that through solidifying bilateral I&T co-operation and partnership, Hong Kong can serve as a springboard for the UAE to enter the Greater Bay Area, other Mainland cities and the Asian markets, whereas Hong Kong tech companies can also make full use of the UAE as a gateway to tap into the Middle East markets.

     Other speakers at the business luncheon included the Under Secretary of the Foreign Trade and Industry of the UAE Ministry of Economy, Mr Abdulla Al Saleh, and the Regional Director of Middle East and Africa of the HKTDC, Mr Daniel Lam.

     The event served as a platform for Hong Kong and the UAE to establish networks in the I&T field. The participants took the opportunities to interact with local companies, particularly those from the I&T and related industries, exchange business and market information and explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

        

     â€‹The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) held the third briefing on municipal solid waste (MSW) charging for the District Services and Community Care Teams at Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre today (March 6).
      
     The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, attended the briefing to brief Care Team members on the latest arrangements for implementing MSW charging and the implementation details of the first phase of regulating disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products.
      
     Dr Chui said, "To successfully implement this policy involving all sectors of Hong Kong, support at the community level is essential. We hope that Care Team members will fully understand the implementation details through this series of briefings, allowing them to work with the District Council (DC) members and members of the local community to fully support and assist the EPD in promoting and explaining the policy of MSW charging in their community work, so as to help the general public to get prepared for the implementation of MSW charging."
      
     The EPD held two other briefings for Care Team members in Hong Kong and the New Territories on February 20 and 29 respectively. Promotional materials of MSW charging were also delivered to DC members and Care Team members through District Offices.
      
     Moreover, an English briefing was held by the EPD at the same venue today, and attended by Care Team members, representatives of domestic helper groups invited through the Labour Department, and other English-speaking individuals to brief them on the implementation details of MSW charging.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Tung Wah Eastern Hospital made the following announcement today (March 6):
      
     Five patients (aged 76 to 97) in a female orthopaedic ward have presented with respiratory symptoms since March 3. Appropriate tests were arranged for the patients and their results were positive for Influenza A. The patients are being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.
      
     Infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
      
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
 

     The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming, today (March 6) promoted Hong Kong's distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world in his appeal to talent to make the move to Hong Kong on his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

     Mr Ho, accompanied by an officer of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE), first attended a campus job fair in Universiti Malaya this morning and had exchanges with employers from various industries as well as recruitment portal representatives. In addition, Mr Ho hosted a recruitment talk to introduce to university students the development trends of different professions in Hong Kong, the outside talent needed and various talent admission schemes. Universiti Malaya is an eligible university under the Top Talent Pass Scheme. He urged students in Malaysia to explore opportunities and develop their careers in Hong Kong.

     Accompanied by the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, Mr Ho then called on the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya, Professor Noor Azuan Abu Osman, at a lunch gathering to learn more about the development opportunities of Malaysia in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They exchanged views on the recruitment and nurture of as well as support for talent, and explored directions of deepening talent exchange and collaboration between the two places.

     Mr Ho attended similar events of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and National University of Singapore in August 2023 and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen in November 2023. HKTE will continue to collaborate with Dedicated Teams for Attracting Businesses and Talents in the Mainland Offices and overseas Economic and Trade Offices to proactively reach out to and recruit talent through key Mainland and overseas job fairs, and provide one-stop support for the long-term settlement of talent arriving in Hong Kong.

     In the afternoon, Mr Ho visited the "Immersive Hong Kong" roving exhibition held by the Information Services Department in Kuala Lumpur. Apart from immersing himself in exhibition zones presenting the appeal of Hong Kong by interactive art technology, Mr Ho also toured the information panels displayed on site covering insights from ASEAN talent about their experiences in Hong Kong. He encouraged visitors of the exhibition to visit, work, live or invest in Hong Kong as its theme suggests – "Hong Kong – Where the World Looks Ahead". The exhibition is set to run at Centre Court, Level 2, Pavilion Bukit Jalil until March 10.