The Cyber Security Professional Awards (CSPA) 2023 presentation ceremony was successfully concluded today (February 29), with a total of 52 winners and organisations commended for their outstanding achievements in the cybe… read more
​To support Hong Kong Green Week and the Government’s initiative in promoting a green economy for sustainable development, the Housing Bureau (HB) organised a seminar themed “Leveraging BuildTech and Green Finance in Public Housing” today (February 29).
This seminar, held at the University of Hong Kong and supported by its Department of Civil Engineering, aims to connect stakeholders to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration and explore the relationship between innovation and technology, green finance and public housing development. Over 200 representatives from building contractors, suppliers, professional bodies, start-up companies, academia, research institutes, financial firms and investment sectors participated in the seminar.
In her opening remarks, the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said that she felt delighted to hold the seminar. With rich experience in mass public housing production of the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Housing Department (HD), the HB hopes this seminar could serve as an opportunity to explore cross-sector collaboration to connect innovative building technology, sustainability and green finance, with a view to opening up new opportunities for green technology and finance.
Eleven guest speakers who are industry pioneers, business leaders and government officials were invited to share their insights and experiences in the application of innovative technology solutions to foster collaboration and partnerships between construction and finance sectors in green technology for public housing.
In her closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary for Housing and Director of Housing, Miss Rosanna Law, said that she was thrilled to receive valuable ideas from different stakeholders from the construction, estate management and finance sectors. She looks forward to the collective efforts for green and sustainable investment, financing and certification in promoting a greener and more sustainable future for public housing development.
The HD has been committed to adopting innovative construction technologies, smart construction sites and construction robots to enhance the speed, efficiency, quantity and quality of increasing the public housing supply. The HD also actively promotes smart estate management to enhance management efficiency and the service quality of nearly 200 public housing estates.
The Highways Department (HyD) today (February 29) said that the two-lane traffic arrangement at Shek O Road near Lan Nai Wan was fully resumed at around 5pm this afternoon. The section of carriageway concerned… read more
The Government served a notice to the Legislative Council (LegCo) today (February 29) to introduce a resolution under the Loans Ordinance to set a borrowing ceiling of a total of $500 billion for the Government Green Bond Programme (GGBP), the scope of which will be expanded to cover sustainable projects, and the Infrastructure Bond Programme (IBP) to be established.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “The GGBP is instrumental in promoting the development of green finance in Hong Kong, signifying the Government’s commitment to supporting sustainable development and combatting climate change. The programme has been successful in establishing important benchmarks for green bond issuance in the region and won considerable acclaim from international investors. To further consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a green and sustainable finance hub, we will expand the scope of the GGBP to cover sustainable projects and rename it as the Government Sustainable Bond Programme (GSBP).
“Another major initiative is the establishment of the IBP to enable better management of the cashflow needs of infrastructure projects and facilitate their early completion for the good of the economy and people’s livelihood. Both the GSBP and IBP will include retail issuances to cater for public participation and priority investment by funds of the Mandatory Provident Fund. Setting a borrowing ceiling of a total of $500 billion for these two programmes can allow more flexibility in quota re-allocation. We hope that this can be effected as soon as possible,” Mr Hui added.
The GGBP was established in 2018. The expansion of the GGBP to cover sustainable projects and the establishment of the IBP were announced in the 2023-24 Budget. The 2024-25 Budget further announced setting a borrowing ceiling of a total of $500 billion for these two programmes. The sums borrowed will be credited to the Capital Works Reserve Fund for investment in projects conducive to long-term development.
Subject to the legislative process, the Government will move the resolution in LegCo on March 27. read more
In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary cold shelters in various districts today (February 29) for people in need of the service. The temporary shelters will remain open when the Cold Weather Warning is in force.
Clean mattresses and blankets/quilts, hot meals and hot water will be provided to shelter users free of charge during the opening of temporary shelters.
To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.
Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters may call the department’s hotline 2572 8427 for more information.
The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Island:
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Central and Western:
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern:
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern:
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
Wan Chai:
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon:
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Kowloon City:
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong:
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin:
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong:
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories:
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Islands:
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung
North:
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung:
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin:
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po:
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan:
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun:
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
Yuen Long:
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long read more