The Correctional Services Department (CSD) and the Hungarian Prison Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today (March 1) to promote mutual exchanges and co-operation on correctional services with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of correctional work.
      
     The MOU was signed in Hungary by the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing, and the Director General of the Hungarian Prison Service, Lieutenant General Dr Tamás Tóth.

     Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Wong said that the MOU sets out that the two sides will strive to develop and implement co-operation programmes including joint research, personnel and information exchanges, and experience sharing in correctional services. He added that the signing of the MOU is of great significance as it will facilitate the development of the two correctional authorities, establish long-term co-operation, as well as increase professional exchanges in international correctional services.

     â€‹The CSD has signed MOUs with the correctional authorities of Canada, Singapore and South Korea since 2001, and will continue to expand co-operation and strengthen exchanges with international correctional authorities.

  

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

     The Hong Kong Green Week-Finance Stream was successfully concluded today (March 1). More than 1 600 participants from close to 30 jurisdictions attended the various sustainability-themed events. The attendees represented financial institutions, corporates, central banks, international organisations, government agencies, academia, consulting firms, among others.
      
     The anchor finance event of the Hong Kong Green Week was the Climate Business Forum: Asia Pacific (CBF), co-hosted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the International Finance Corporation. It was kicked off on February 26 and attracted more than 400 participants, including top decision makers in global business and finance, to discuss solutions to unlock climate financing in the Asia Pacific. The two-day event covered a broad range of topics including the energy transition, decarbonisation of heavy industries, the circular economy, the future of sustainable finance, and new climate technologies in emerging and developing markets in the Asia Pacific. 
      
     Riding on the CBF, institutions from the public and private sector organised more than 10 roundtables, seminars, and networking events focusing on themes such as climate finance, carbon markets, electric vehicle supply chain, net-zero transition financing, green classification framework, and financing green development in the Belt and Road region. In addition, the HKMA and the International Monetary Fund co-hosted the Asia Climate Finance Roundtable on February 29, which explored the key steps to scale up climate finance and the role of central banks and regulators in managing climate risks.
      
     The events this week provided a platform for industry participants to spur new business development, facilitate knowledge exchange and networking opportunities, and promote collaboration across the public and private sectors to meet the Asia Pacific region's climate financing challenges.
      
     The Hong Kong Green Week-Finance Stream is part of the HKMA's broader efforts to promote and enrich the green and sustainable ecosystem in Hong Kong. During the autumn of 2024, the HKMA and the Dubai Financial Services Authority will also co-host the Joint Climate Finance Conference in Hong Kong, which will explore common opportunities and challenges in accelerating the flow of transition financing in the Middle East and Asia.

     Police today (March 1) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Airport District.
      
     A foreign woman, Yuson Elizabeth Arnoco, aged 61, went missing after she was last seen at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port Passenger Clearance Building on February 26. Police received the report yesterday (February 29) morning.
 
     She is about 1.55 metres tall, 54 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a pointed face with yellow complexion and black and white long hair. She was last seen wearing a black beanie, a blue hoodie, a black coat, brown pants, black shoes and carrying a white handbag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040 or 9886 0034 or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Government announced today (March 1) the sale of New Kowloon Inland Lot 6639 (i.e. No. 8 Kai Fuk Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon) for converting into a quick charging station (QCS) through public tendering. The tender invitation will close on May 10. The Government also announced the price ceiling and its adjustment mechanism for the charging of electric taxis (e-taxis) and electric public light buses (e-PLBs) at designated QCSs.
 
     A spokesperson for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, "To promote green transformation of vehicles and to achieve zero vehicular emissions and carbon neutrality by 2050, the Government announced that there will be no new registration of fuel-propelled private cars (including hybrid vehicles) in 2035 or earlier. To cope with the rapid demand of charging facilities with the increase of electric vehicles (EV), the Government has expedited the expansion of the charging network for different types of EVs (including commercial EVs). The Government has also completed the feasibility study of converting two petrol filling stations into QCSs and will invite tenders in stages for the sale of government lands at Kowloon East and New Territories East."
 
     New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 6639 has a site area of about 1 127 square metres and is designated for QCS purpose. Land sale documents including the forms of tender, tender notice, Conditions of Sale and sale plan of the lot are now available on the Lands Department (LandsD) website (www.landsd.gov.hk) for download. The sale plan is available for inspection by the public from today until close of the tender. The sale plan in hard copy form may also be purchased from today till close of the tender at the Survey and Mapping Office of the LandsD, 6/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong. The particulars of the tender have also been gazetted today.
 
     The spokesperson continued, "In order to encourage owners of taxis and PLBs to expedite the adoption of e-taxis and e-PLBs, and by reference to the current arrangement of dedicated liquefied petroleum gas filling stations, a charging ceiling price mechanism will be established for e-taxis and e-PLBs at designated QCSs. The operators of designated QCSs cannot charge a price that is higher than the ceiling price to be announced by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on a monthly basis. The charging price for other EVs will be determined by the market."
 
     Details of the charging ceiling price will be announced regularly on the EPD website (www.epd.gov.hk) and the "EV-Charging Easy" app when the designated QCSs are in operation. In addition, the charging ceiling price will be posted at each QCS to enable the trade practitioners to monitor the changes in charging prices.

     The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, arrived in Guangzhou this morning (March 1) to start her visit there.

     Miss Mak, accompanied by the Commissioner for Youth, Mr Eric Chan, met with the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province (GDHKMAO), Ms Chen Li-wen in the morning. They exchanged views on the joint promotion of youth development in Guangdong and Hong Kong, including deepening youth exchanges between the two places. Miss Mak shared the vision and general direction of the Youth Development Blueprint released by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), as well as the latest progress of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's work in promoting youth development. She said that the HYAB will continue to work closely with the GDHKMAO to provide a favourable environment and offer comprehensive support to youth development.

     In the afternoon, Miss Mak attended a sharing session regarding Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) youth innovation and entrepreneurship. Speaking at the event, she said that the HKSAR Government encourages young people in Hong Kong to seize the opportunities brought by the development of the GBA and develop a business there. The HYAB, the GDHKMAO and the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province jointly established the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area in December last year. About 60 representative organisations from various sectors in Hong Kong and other cities of the GBA joined the Alliance to set up a one-stop information, publicity and communication platform.

     About 50 members of the Youth Link, who are participating in exchange activities in Guangzhou, joined the sharing session. They interacted with the speakers and gathered information on living and developing careers in the GBA.

     Miss Mak then visited the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province and met with its Director-General, Mr Du Minqi. They exchanged views on encouraging Hong Kong youth to start businesses in the GBA and strengthening collaboration between youth innovation and entrepreneurship bases in Guangdong and Hong Kong. Miss Mak shared the latest developments of the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area under the Youth Development Fund launched by the HYAB and the Youth Development Commission. She stated that the HYAB will continue to work closely with the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province to promote youth innovation and entrepreneurship.

     In the evening, Miss Mak and members of the Youth Link met with representatives of the Hong Kong's chambers of commerce in Guangdong Province to learn about their living and working conditions on the Mainland. Miss Mak encouraged young people to grasp the opportunities to study, conduct exchanges and start a business on the Mainland, so as to enhance their understanding of the development of the country and contribute to the country and Hong Kong.

     Miss Mak will continue her visit to Guangzhou and Foshan tomorrow (March 2), and return to Hong Kong on the same day.