Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations,
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
The Tourism Commission announces that in support of Earth Hour 2025 organised by the World Wildlife Fund, "A Symphony of Lights" light and sound show will be suspended tonight (March 22). The show will resume as normal tomorrow (March 23).
Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth has been issued a Public Subscription Permit to hold a territory-wide flag sale from 7am to 12.30pm today (March 22), a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.
Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/ngo/controlofc/flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.
In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the opening ceremony of Collect Hong Kong Art Fair 2025 today (March 21):
Mr Peter Lau (Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Arts Centre), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
In fact, this is the third event of this afternoon that I attended. And just now I was in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, at the opening of the Art Museum's expansion. The second art event also related to our tertiary institution. It is actually a great pleasure to join you all today at the opening of Collect Hong Kong Art Fair 2025. This remarkable biennial event celebrates the immense talent of our local artists and brings together art lovers from all around the world. As we can see, Collect Hong Kong is not just an art fair – it is a platform that nurtures creativity, fosters connections, and enriches our city's vibrant cultural landscape. Seeing and hearing is believing. It's really vibrant.
With the clear support in the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Hong Kong Government strives to develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Blessed with a unique background as a cultural melting pot of East and West, extensive international connections, as well as large-scale arts and cultural facilities developed one after another, Hong Kong has made remarkable achievements in the development of the art trading market. In 2023, the total trade value of works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques exceeded HK$100 billion, making Hong Kong one of the world's top three art trading centres. This reaffirms Hong Kong's position as an international hub for arts and culture.
Collect Hong Kong 2025 plays a vital role in showcasing the depth and diversity of our artistic community. This year, the event coincides with globally renowned fairs such as Art Basel and Art Central, which further adds colour to the fantastic art month – Hong Kong Super March, and will definitely present an immersive art experience to visitors from all around the world.
But, as Peter said, unlike the two fairs I mentioned just now, you would have noticed that Collect Hong Kong is mainly showcasing the works of our home grown local artists. I very much appreciate Collect Hong Kong's dedication to provide a platform to showcase our home-grown talents to the community and the rest of the world. This event brings together an impressive range of creative minds, from emerging talents taking their first steps into the art world, to established artists whose works have already made a significant impact. I encourage everyone here today to explore the incredible works on display, engage with the artists, and if possible, support them by acquiring their art. Every piece tells a unique story, and every purchase is an investment in the future of our creative community.
I would like to commend the Hong Kong Arts Centre for making this event happen, and particularly for opening the event with free admission. This effort ensures that art is for everyone – students, families, and those who may be experiencing an art fair for the very first time. By making art more accessible, we cultivate a deeper appreciation and understanding of creativity in our society.
I would also like to thank all supporting and collaborating institutions including our colleges, tertiary institutions and all the art schools, and everyone who has contributed to the Hong Kong art scene. I wish Collect Hong Kong 2025 a resounding success, and everyone of you here a memorable and enriching experience. Thank you.
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, concluded his visit to Beijing today (March 21).
Mr Tse met with representatives from the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) in the morning and discussed issues including green development, ocean governance and biodiversity. He pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has rich marine natural assets and biodiversity, and will further co-operate with cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the future to strengthen environmental protection and ecological conservation, jointly building a beautiful bay area. He also invited the CBCGDF to participate further in Hong Kong's conservation work and environmental education, working together to promote green and sustainable development.
Mr Tse visited the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in the afternoon and met with the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Zhang Xingwang. Mr Tse introduced various measures under the HKSAR Government's Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries, which aims to promote modernisation and intensification of agriculture and the fisheries, and to gradually upgrade and transform the industry to provide the people of Hong Kong with more fresh, high-quality and safe local agricultural and fisheries products, and to enhance food safety in Hong Kong.
Both sides also exchanged views on leveraging Hong Kong's advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, to develop the potential of an international food hub and expand the access of the Mainland's high-quality agricultural and fisheries products to the global market.
During the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on the latest developments in restocking, and the technical and practical experiences of multi-storey livestock farms. Mr Tse pointed out that Hong Kong is a highly developed city with precious land resources, and the development of agriculture and fisheries is facing many challenges. As the country has a strong foundation in the development, research and application of agro-technology, both sides agreed to establish a mechanism to strengthen co-operation, technological exchanges and talent training.
Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong this evening.
​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (March 21) attended the ceremony to celebrate the topping out of the wet-laboratory enabled Buildings 8 and 9 and the full development of Building 11 for talent accommodation in the Phase 1 development of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Hetao Co-operation Zone). The Hetao Co-operation Zone is one of the four major co-operation platforms among the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. It enjoys unique advantages of "one country, two systems", "one river, two banks" and "one zone, two parks", with an aim to develop into a world-class innovation and technology (I&T) hub which connects the Mainland and the rest of the world, making it a crucial source of new quality productive forces for the country.
Speaking at the topping out ceremony, Mr Lee remarked that, "The Hong Kong Park is a 'super platform' for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to serve as a 'super connector' and a "super value-adder". We will make good use of Hong Kong's advantages as an international city and an international hub for high-calibre talent with a view to building the Hetao Co-operation Zone into a bridgehead for I&T, and a showcase and incubator for high-end achievements for the country.
"The HKSAR Government will remove barriers and break through the development limitations with a reform mind-set for the development of the Hong Kong Park. We will also actively explore policy innovation, in particular for supporting policies relating to the free flow of personnel, materials, capital and data, so as to facilitate wider harmonisation of rules and mechanisms between the two places with the spirit of innovation and reform."
The Hong Kong Park, with about 87 hectares, will be developed in two phases from west to east. The country attaches great importance to the development of the Hetao Co-operation Zone. The HKSAR Government has long been actively taking forward the construction of the Hong Kong Park. Last year, the HKSAR Government has established the Steering Committee on the Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park in the Loop, chaired by the Chief Executive, to steer and co-ordinate the work of relevant bureaux and departments in developing the Hong Kong Park. The Steering Committee conducted the second meeting yesterday. The Chief Executive has instructed bureaux and departments to expedite the imminent commissioning of the buildings and the future development of the Hong Kong Park with a spirit of innovation and creation to accelerate the work and enhance efficiency.
The HKSAR Government has also promulgated the Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone in November last year. It sets out the key development directions, strategies and targets of the Hong Kong Park, thereby leading the development of the Park through top-level design. The Development Outline also specifies the major tasks of the construction and promotes high-quality I&T development among the GBA through fostering collaborative efforts with the Shenzhen Park.
With the completion of the first two wet-laboratory enabled buildings and a talent accommodation building, the Hong Kong Park will officially enter into its operational phase when the first batch of tenants from life and health technology, artificial intelligence, data science and other pillar industries move in starting from the second half of this year. The HKSAR Government is expediting the remaining development of Hong Kong Park. The construction of another five buildings is in full swing. Furthermore, as announced in the 2025-26 Budget last month, the Government has earmarked $3.7 billion to expedite the provision of infrastructure and public facilities of the Phase 1 development of the Park. The detailed planning of the Phase 2 development of the Park will be completed within this year.
To support the construction of the Hong Kong Park, following the release of about five hectares of land for Batch 1 development last year, the Government will soon transfer the community isolation facilities at the remaining 14 hectares of land for Batch 1 development to other locations and will complete the site formation works this year in order to release the relevant land parcels to the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITPL). The HSITPL will identify suitable land parcels for the invitation of private development proposals this year with a view to expediting the development by leveraging market forces.
The Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry and Chairman of the HSITPL, Mr Eddie Mak; and the Board of Directors of the HSITPL jointly officiated the topping out ceremony.
After the ceremony, Mr Lee visited Building 11 (talent accommodation) of the Hong Kong Park to learn about its facilities, environment, ancillary features, as well as exchanging views with representatives of the I&T enterprises which will settle in the Park.
