The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) Board discussed and endorsed at the Administrative and Operational Meeting today (October 25) the arrangement to extend maternity leave to 14 weeks with immediate effect.
 
     The HA spokesperson said that the arrangement was adopted, following the Policy Address on October 10 which suggested extending statutory maternity leave from the current 10 weeks to 14 weeks, to allow mothers more time to spend with and take care of their newborn babies. Except for the extension of the duration of maternity leave, the prevailing arrangements in respect of maternity leave for HA employees such as eligibility, the period for commencement of maternity leave, notification and documentary proof requirements shall remain unchanged.
 
     "The HA employees whose actual date of confinement or expected date of confinement falls on or after today are eligible for the extended maternity leave for 14 weeks," the spokesperson said, adding that the HA will issue a human resources circular with frequently asked questions and answers to facilitate staff members' understanding of the implementation details. The relevant webpage will also be updated accordingly for reference.

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (October 25) attended the fourth cultural ministers' meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Chengdu, Sichuan. Mr Lau participated in the meeting as a representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and as a member of the Chinese delegation led by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Luo Shugang. The theme of the forum is cultural exchange and collaboration of China and Arab states under the international co-operation framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
     
     Speaking at the meeting, Mr Lau said, "Hong Kong strives to expand co-operation and strengthen arts and cultural exchange with regions along the Belt and Road, in order to forge people-to-people bonds. Hong Kong has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Co-operation with Egypt. We look forward to establishing closer ties on cultural collaboration with more Arab states."

     He said Hong Kong has various kinds of cultural exchanges and co-operation with countries around the world, and the cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the Arab states have been remarkable. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have supported and participated in the yearly Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances, co-organised by the Hong Kong Government and consulates. Reciprocal visits have been arranged for officials responsible for cultural affairs from Hong Kong and the Arab states to conduct exchanges on museum services and library work.

     During the meeting, Mr Lau introduced the latest developments of the West Kowloon Cultural District, including the commissioning of the Xiqu Centre at the end of this year. The Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ will be completed in the coming years. He said these two large-scale museums would integrate ancient and contemporary arts as well as Eastern and Western culture at the West Kowloon Cultural District.

     Today, Mr Lau visited cultural facilities in Chengdu to keep abreast of the city's latest cultural developments. At night, he will attend the closing ceremony of the fourth Arabic Arts Festival. Mr Lau will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (October 26).

    

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, October 25, 2018 is 105.8 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The Home Affairs Bureau announced today (October 25) appointments to the Museum Advisory Committee (MAC) and its three standing sub-committees, namely the Art Sub-committee (ASC), History Sub-committee (HSC) and Science Sub-committee (SSC), with the re-appointment of Mr Stanley Wong Yuen-fai as Chairperson of the MAC, Mr Vincent Lo Wing-sang as Chairperson of the ASC, Ms Anita Fung Yuen-mei as Chairperson of the HSC, and the appointment of Professor Ching Pak-chung as the new Chairperson of the SSC.

     All appointments are for a two-year term up to October 19, 2020.

     The MAC and its three standing sub-committees, established on October 20, 2016, comprise members of different backgrounds with a great wealth of professional expertise and experience relevant to the work of the museums, including professionals, academics, museum experts, collectors, art promoters, entrepreneurs, marketing and public relations experts, and community leaders. The MAC and its three standing sub-committees advise the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on strategies for development, promotion and management of the public museums. 

     A spokesman for the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) thanked all the chairpersons and members of the MAC and its standing sub-committees for their ardent support and invaluable contributions in the past two years, including Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, the outgoing SSC Chairperson, and Professor Eric Yim Chi-ming, the outgoing MAC and ASC Member, adding that the HAB looked forward to receiving the valuable advice of the new MAC and its standing sub-committees on the development of the public museums.
 
     The membership list and terms of reference of the MAC are as follows:

Chairperson
Mr Stanley Wong Yuen-fai
 
Members
Mr Victor Cheng Pat-leung
Ms Liza Cheung Lai-sang*
Professor Ching Pak-chung*
Ms Anita Fung Yuen-mei
Mrs Christine Ip Yeung See-ming
Ms Elaine Kwok*
Mr Gyver Lau Kwok-leung
Professor Leung Wing-mo 
Mr Vincent Lo Wing-sang
Ms Anthea Lo Wing-sze
Ms Doris Luey Sisi
Professor Ricardo Mak King-sang
Professor Eva Man Kit-wah
Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai
Dr Ng Chun-hung 
Professor Ng Tai-kai
Mr David Pong Chun-yee
Ms Clara Shek Ka-lai
Mr Douglas So Cheung-tak
Ms Helen So Hiu-ming*
Professor Joseph Ting Sun-pao
Ms Ada Wong Ying-kay
 
* Newly appointed Members
 
Terms of Reference

     To advise the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services on a wide range of subject matters concerning the public museums and related offices managed by the LCSD:
 

• positioning, image-building and branding;
• business development strategies including but not limited to acquisition and use of museum collections, organisation of exhibitions and education programmes, identification of research projects, sponsorship and partnership initiatives;
• marketing and publicity strategies on the promotion of the museums both locally, on the Mainland and overseas;
• development of community engagement strategies to reach out to a wider community and stakeholders (e.g. local artists, collectors, local and overseas museums, cultural organisations, and educational institutions);
• measures to strengthen the operational efficiency and accountability of public museums; and
• any other matters as proposed by the LCSD.

 
     The membership lists and terms of reference of the three standing sub-committees are attached at Annexes 1 to 3.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced the following senior appointment today (October 25).
 
     Dr Desmond Nguyen will be appointed as Hospital Chief Executive (HCE) of Kwai Chung Hospital (KCH) with effect from February 1, 2019, succeeding Dr Lo Tak-lam upon his retirement.
 
     Dr Nguyen is a psychiatrist by background. Since 2016, he has been the Deputy HCE of Kowloon Hospital, in addition to his role as consultant of the department of psychiatry, a position he has held since 2008 in the hospital. Dr Nguyen is an experienced senior clinician with rich management experience. He is actively involved in psychiatric service planning and improvement, such as introducing psychiatric services in the accident and emergency department, implementing measures for prevention of inpatient suicide as well as leading the Critical Incident Psychological Services of Kowloon Central Cluster.
 
     The HA Chairman, Professor John Leong, and the HA Chief Executive, Dr Leung Pak-yin, congratulated Dr Nguyen on his new appointment and wish him every success in taking up the new post. Professor Leong and Dr Leung also expressed their appreciation to Dr Lo Tak-lam for his dedicated service over the years and wish him a happy retirement.