Hong Kong yesterday (March 3, Manama time) signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with Bahrain, signifying the sustained efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in expanding Hong Kong's CDTA network, in particular with tax jurisdictions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. 
 
​     This CDTA is the 49th agreement that Hong Kong has concluded. It sets out the allocation of taxing rights between the two jurisdictions and will help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities. 
 
​     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, "Bahrain is one of the economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. I have every confidence that this CDTA will further promote economic and trade connections between Hong Kong and Bahrain, and offer additional incentives for the business sectors of both sides to do business or make investments. Hong Kong will continue to negotiate with trading and investment partners with a view to expanding its CDTA network. This could enhance the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a business and investment hub, and consolidate the city's status as an international economic and trade centre."
 
​     Under the Hong Kong-Bahrain CDTA, Hong Kong companies can enjoy double taxation relief in that any tax paid in Bahrain, whether directly or by deduction, in accordance with the CDTA will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in Hong Kong in respect of the same income, subject to the provisions of the tax laws of Hong Kong. 
 
​     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, who was on an official visit to Manama, signed the CDTA with Bahrain on behalf of the HKSAR Government. Representing the Government of Bahrain was the Minister of Finance and National Economy of Bahrain, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.
 
​     This CDTA will come into force after the completion of ratification procedures by both jurisdictions. In the case of Hong Kong, it will be implemented by way of an order to be made by the Chief Executive in Council under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112). The order is subject to negative vetting by the Legislative Council.
 
​     Details of the Hong Kong-Bahrain CDTA can be found on the Inland Revenue Department website (www.ird.gov.hk/eng/pdf/Agreement_Bahrain_HongKong.pdf).

    

     The Department of Health (DH) today (March 4) appealed to members of the public to be aware of obesity and develop a healthy lifestyle in support of World Obesity Day.

    World Obesity Day has been observed on March 4 since 2020 to stimulate and support practical actions that will help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight and reverse the global obesity crisis. Having the theme of "Let's Talk About Obesity And…", World Obesity Day in 2024 urges the community to start cross-cutting conversations.

     A spokesman for the DH said, "Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders and sleep apnoea."

     In Hong Kong, a body mass index (BMI) of adults from 23 to less than 25 is regarded overweight, while a BMI equal to or greater than 25 is considered obesity. Furthermore, having excess body fat around the waist may also bring health problems. Waist circumference of men who are 90cm or above, and that of women are 80cm or above, are considered centrally obese. For students, overweight (including obesity) is defined as weight exceeding 120 per cent of the median weight-for-height (applicable to male students with height below 175cm and female students with height below 165cm).

     According to the Population Health Survey (PHS) 2020-22 conducted by the DH, among persons aged between 15 and 84, 32.6 per cent of them are obese, 22 per cent of them are overweight and 37.8 per cent were classified as centrally obese. The PHS also revealed some common unhealthy lifestyle in Hong Kong. About one quarter of persons aged 18 or above performed an insufficient level of physical activities, and about 98 per cent of persons aged 15 or above reported an inadequate intake (i.e. an average of less than five servings) of fruit and vegetables per day.

     The DH's Student Health Service provides free annual health assessment service for eligible primary and secondary school students. A total of 233 000 primary school students and 97 000 secondary school students attended the Student Health Service Centres for annual health assessment in the 2022/23 school year. The detection rates of being overweight (including obesity) among primary and secondary school students were 19.5 per cent and 20.5 per cent respectively.

     Leading a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of obesity. "The fundamental cause of obesity is more calories are consumed than expended. To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, members of the public are encouraged to eat a balanced diet, be physically active and reduce the amount of time spent being sedentary," the spokesman stressed.

     The DH has been promoting a healthy lifestyle through a life-course and setting-based approach. People eating out and ordering takeaway food are common in Hong Kong. The DH has been enlisting the support of restaurants to provide healthier dishes to members of the public through the EatSmart Restaurant Star+ campaign. Furthermore, in collaboration with relevant government bureaux/departments and the public, private and non-governmental sectors, the DH has also launched the StartSmart@school.hk, EatSmart@school.hk campaigns, and the Joyful@Healthy Workplace Programme to encourage healthy eating and physical activity in order to create an environment conducive to a healthy lifestyle in pre-primary institutions, primary schools and workplaces.

     Furthermore, with an aim to advocate members of the public to lead an active lifestyle, the DH has launched "10 000 Steps a Day" Campaign since 2022 to arouse members of the public to integrate walking, which is a simple form of physical activity, into their daily life. The Walking Challenge last year further invited people to form groups with family members and friends to support each other to walk 10 000 steps a day.

     The Government is committed to halt the rise of obesity. The DH will continue to step up efforts to enhance public awareness about the importance of healthy living and increase people's health literacy, as well as working in close partnership with other government departments and community partners to foster a health-enhancing environment.

     A man who went missing in Sha Tau Kok has been located.

     Lee Tim-fat, aged 62, went missing after he was last seen on Lin Ma Hang Road on March 1 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on March 2.

     The man returned to his residence yesterday (March 3) afternoon. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     â€‹The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, led a delegation of representatives from the innovation and technology (I&T) industry to begin their visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 3 (Riyadh time).
      
     Upon arrival in Riyadh in the afternoon, Professor Sun, together with the delegation, visited King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and met with its President, Dr Munir Eldesouki. They were briefed on the tech city's innovative projects and solutions for research applications, such as the Saudi semiconductor and genome programmes and water harvesting from thin air, and visited an innovation centre for promoting advanced manufacturing and a number of laboratories, as well as satellite manufacturing facilities. They went on to The Garage in the tech city, an accelerator providing support to local and international emerging start-ups in Riyadh with the required infrastructure and a range of supportive integrated services. Professor Sun also engaged in exchanges with technology enterprises of the accelerator.
      
     Professor Sun noted that support for start-ups is essential to building a vibrant I&T ecosystem. Hong Kong's two I&T flagships, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) Corporation and Cyberport, have been committed to providing comprehensive support to I&T start-ups, including incubation programmes, rent concessions, workspace, shared facilities, subsidy grants, and marketing and business development support.
      
     Professor Sun then met with Vice Chairman of the Saudi Chinese Business Council, Dr Anas Mohammed Alfadda, to brief him on Hong Kong's latest I&T developments and business opportunities. He expressed hope, through this visit of Hong Kong's delegation, to build up partnership with the Saudi business and technology sectors, and invited Saudi enterprises and investors to explore investment opportunities in Hong Kong.
      
     Members of the delegation include the Chief Executive Officer of the HKSTP Corporation, Mr Albert Wong; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan, and representatives of more than 10 technology enterprises from the two I&T flagships and relevant industries. They will continue their trip in Riyadh today (March 4, Riyadh time) to attend LEAP 2024 technology conference.

            

     Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Make-A-Wish Hong Kong (MAW HK) 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner tonight (March 3):

Ms Anita Lai (Chairperson of MAW HK), Professor Rosie Young (Honorary Advisor of MAW HK), Dr Kevin Lau (Honorary Advisor of MAW HK), Ms Linda Choy (Honorary Advisor of MAW HK), Professor Philip Chiu (Dean of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong), Professor Ivan Hung (Professor of the Department of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong), Dr Lee Tsz-leung (Hospital Chief Executive of Hong Kong Children's Hospital), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It is my great pleasure to join you at this gala dinner to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Make-A-Wish Hong Kong.
 
     First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Make-A-Wish Hong Kong for its unswerving support and dedicated commitment to children in need over the past 25 years. Since its establishment in 1998, Make-A-Wish Hong Kong has made great success in fulfilling the wishes of over 2 200 three to 17-year-old children in Hong Kong and Macao with critical illnesses. Make-A-Wish Hong Kong aims to bring hope, strength and joy to these children and their families during their most difficult time by making their wishes come true. Such a tendering and philanthropic cause well deserves the full support of everyone. 

     The current-term Government attaches great importance to the promotion of tripartite collaboration among the Government, the community and the business sector to direct resources to those that are most in need. To take the lead, the Government has introduced various cross-sectoral programmes in collaboration with different sectors, including Make-A-Wish Hong Kong, to respond to the needs of the underprivileged. 

     In 2008, the Government set up the Child Development Fund (CDF) to promote the longer-term development of children from disadvantaged background. So far, over $1,080 million has been injected into the Fund to support more than 310 projects operated by schools and NGOs, benefitting over 26 000 underprivileged children. The Fund actively promotes collaborative efforts among the private sector, the community and the Government. While the Government supports schools and NGOs to implement projects through the Fund, the private sector contributes matching funds to the saving plans of the participating students and volunteers from the community who serve as mentors to provide guidance to the young participants in mapping out personal development plans and applying savings to implement their plans. 

     Considering the time required for the development of children, participating schools and NGOs provide three-year projects comprising key training and capacity building programmes to encourage children to plan for their future, build up a savings habit and accumulate intangible assets such as a positive attitude, personal resilience, social network and more that are all essential attributes for their long-term development. 

     The Fund will launch the next batch of projects in the first quarter of 2024. Let me take this opportunity to make an appeal to interested primary schools and NGOs to join hands with the Government to extend the reach of CDF projects to more underprivileged children. Of course, any donations from individuals and enterprises to support the saving plans of the participating children will be hugely appreciated! 

     The Government endeavours to enable our next generation to strive together with determination to achieve their goals and pursue their dreams. We trust Make-A-Wish Hong Kong will continue to partner with us in creating an enabling environment for the betterment of our young ones. On this note, I would like to extend my warmest wishes on the Silver Jubilee of Make-A-Wish Hong Kong, and my deep gratitude for its generous support for children over the past 25 years. I wish Make-A-Wish Hong Kong continuous success and every one of you an enjoyable and memorable evening. 

     Thank you.