â€‹Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Qatar Financial Centre Authority of the Qatar Financial Centre of the State of Qatar today (July 9) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pledging mutual co-operation on investment promotion exchange and support.
          
     The MOU was signed by the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Mr Stephen Phillips, and the Managing Director of Business Development of the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, Ms Sheikha Alanoud Bint Hamad Al-Thani, in the presence of the Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Vincent Tang, and the Consul General of the State of Qatar in Hong Kong, Mr Mohammed Sultan Al Kuwari.
          
     Mr Phillips said, "The signing of the MOU today signifies an important milestone for Hong Kong and Qatar in terms of mutual investment promotion co-operation. The MOU offers a basis for both parties to enhance the existing ties beneficial to attracting foreign direct investment to each other's jurisdictions. Towards this end, InvestHK will continue to work closely with the Qatar Financial Centre over future investment promotion work."
          
     Ms Al-Thani said, "The Qatar Financial Centre is delighted to sign a MoU with InvestHK. This agreement is yet another indication of our commitment to the Asian market, and will undoubtedly enable the Qatar Financial Centre to further broaden its capacity to create even more business opportunities for organisations in Qatar and Hong Kong, while paving the way for more avenues for collaboration. By leveraging the expertise, network and capabilities of both our institutions, I am confident that we will create multiple opportunities for business growth and long-term economic prosperity."
          
     The MOU provides a framework to enhance the close relationship for the mutual benefit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Qatar and their co-operation with each other in promoting both inward and outward investment in the two jurisdictions. According to the MOU, both sides will share information and experiences in investment promotion, encourage interested local companies to set up or expand their business within the area of the other jurisdictions, and support each other's investment promotion events that foster bilateral investment between the two jurisdictions.
      
About InvestHK
      
     InvestHK is the department of the HKSAR Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
        
About the Qatar Financial Centre
      
     The Qatar Financial Centre is an onshore business and financial centre located in Doha, providing an excellent platform for firms to do business in Qatar and the region. The Qatar Financial Centre offers its own legal, regulatory, tax and business environment, which allows 100 per cent foreign ownership and 100 per cent repatriation of profits, and charges a competitive rate of 10 per cent corporate tax on locally sourced profits. For more information, please visit www.qfc.qa.

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 9) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Repulse Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 9) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Deep Water Bay Beach, St Stephen's Beach and Turtle Cove Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lo So Shing Beach, Pui O Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Tong Fuk Beach in Islands District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 8) investigating a suspected food poisoning case related to the consumption of wild mushrooms, and urged the public not to pick and eat wild mushrooms.

     The case involves a 50-year-old male, who developed perioral numbness, blurring of vision and nausea about 30 minutes after consuming wild mushrooms at home yesterday (July 7). He sought medical attention at Tai O Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic today and was subsequently referred to North Lantau Hospital for admission and further management. He is in a stable condition.
 
     Initial investigations revealed that the patient picked the wild mushrooms that he consumed from the roadside around South Lantau Road on Lantau Island on July 6. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.

     "Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the mushroom species, patients may also have other symptoms like profuse sweating, hallucinations, coma or other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases," he added.

     "If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Maritime Professional Promotion Federation:
 
     The Maritime Professional Promotion Federation (MPPF) and other maritime organisations jointly held a press conference, entitled "A Successful Maritime Professional Series", at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum today (July 8). The first woman in Hong Kong to qualify as a chief engineer of seagoing vessels, Miss Joanna Kwok, who was one of the speakers, talked about her experiences.
 
     Miss Kwok has joined Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Limited since her completion of the Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education. Following her unflagging efforts over the past few years, she has finally achieved professional success in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Her experience has conveyed a significant and positive message to the shipping industry in Hong Kong and consolidated awareness among young people on vocational and professional education and training.
 
     Mr Cheuk Ka-ho, who has received deck officer training in a shipping company, and Mr Demen Cheung of the Hong Kong & Kowloon Motor Boats & Tug Boats Association Limited also spoke on their experiences at today's press conference.
 
     Representatives of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) and its Maritime Services Training Board, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Limited, the Maritime Services Training Institute, the Nautical Institute (Hong Kong Branch), the Hong Kong Seamen's Union and the Hong Kong Institute of Marine Technology were also at the press conference to share their views on what makes a successful maritime professional.
 
     Hong Kong is an international maritime centre and has long held prime status in the global maritime industry. Nevertheless, Hong Kong faces the problem of a shortage of maritime professionals, which is an issue also encountered by other maritime centres. To encourage more young people to join the maritime industry, the MPPF took the initiative to launch a seagoing subsidy scheme between 2002 and 2004, providing scholarships for those who aspire to work at sea and helping them fulfil their dreams of working on board vessels. The Government also launched the Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme in 2004 to provide more deck cadets and engineer cadets with financial incentives, and to enable more interested youths to benefit from it. The Scheme provides a cash allowance to cadets under training, so as to enable them to realise their seafaring dreams. To date, more than 550 deck and engineer cadets have participated in the Scheme. Many beneficiaries have acquired Certificates of Competency (deck officer or marine engineer officer) and are working in various major organisations, including the Marine Department, which demonstrates the success of the Scheme. The Maritime and Aviation Training Fund (MATF) was later set up by the Government in April 2014 to support the manpower development of maritime and aviation sectors. Since then, the Scheme has been operated under the MATF. In May 2019, $200 million was approved to be injected into the MATF to sustain and enhance existing training schemes and scholarships, as well for launching new initiatives for the maritime and aviation sectors.
 
     The shortage of maritime professionals is also seriously affecting the local market. Manpower training for young people is therefore also essential to the sustainability of the local market.
 
     There are promising career prospects for cadets who complete their on-board training. Those who pursue a seafaring career have a 100 per cent chance of gaining an interview. They can work on vessels that either operate locally or travel further afield, or they can take up posts in various disciplined forces such as the Marine Police and the Customs and Excise Department. Generally speaking, it takes cadets about eight years to obtain master or chief engineer qualifications. After obtaining these professional qualifications with relevant work experience for ocean-going vessels, mariners can turn to shore-based maritime industries and take up managerial posts, such as marine officer, ship surveyor, ship manager, logistics manager and surveyor in classification societies. Alternatively, they may choose to further their studies and take up jobs in other maritime businesses after acquiring the related professional qualifications. Examples of such professions include maritime arbitration, maritime law, maritime engineering and marine insurance.
 
     The MPPF was jointly formed by individuals from eight maritime unions and affiliated maritime organisations in 2002. Its objectives are to promote the maritime industry, to encourage young people to join the industry, to enhance relevant education and training, to nurture maritime talents and to maintain Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre.
 
     The Hong Kong Shipowners Association has lent its full and strong support by helping graduates who want to join the industry to find a job. The Association also helps cadets to tackle difficulties in working on board overseas and to adapt to their seagoing careers. The MPPF sincerely thanks the shipping companies that have provided trainee posts for graduates.
 
     Seafaring is safe, professional and advanced, and offers attractive remuneration and bright prospects. Those who would like to pursue a career in the industry can consider studying the Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or the Higher Diploma in Maritime Studies Programme under the VTC; mechanical engineering degree programmes under local universities; or undergraduate degree programmes offered by the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. For details, please visit www.seagoinghk.org.