Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications starting today (December 1) from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes.
     
     The PASS, with a total allocation of $200 million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong’s professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong’s professional services.
     
     The maximum grant under the PASS for each approved project is $3 million or 90 per cent of the total eligible project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services, such as accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, are eligible for the PASS. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome. Expenses directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower costs, venue and set-up costs, production and promotion costs, and the project team and active participants’ travel and accommodation costs outside Hong Kong, are typically eligible for funding support under the Scheme. Funding support may also be provided for travel and accommodation costs incurred by participants of relatively longer professional internship or attachment programmes outside Hong Kong which are funded by the PASS.
     
     Up to the end of November 2021, about 80 projects had been funded under the PASS, including activities in and outside Hong Kong. The activities include capacity-building programmes for enhancing the standards of local professionals, such as training programmes, workshops and study tours; outreach and promotional activities for showcasing the strengths of Hong Kong’s professional services, such as roadshows, promotional seminars and participation in exhibitions outside Hong Kong; exchange activities for deepening interaction between Hong Kong professionals and their external counterparts, such as visits to other economies and international conferences and seminars held in Hong Kong; and research projects on potential external markets for Hong Kong professional services and development of best practice guidelines and manuals for professionals. In view of the latest pandemic situation, suitable flexibility will continue to be provided to grantees for implementing their projects. Details about the PASS and its funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk/en/home/index.html.
     
     The PASS receives applications all year round and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the new round of applications is February 28, 2022. A briefing session will be held this month for organisations interested in applying for PASS funding. For registration for the briefing session or other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 3655 5418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 is 101.1 (down 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tend… read more

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, highlighted the fundamental importance of the rule of law to more than 180 principals and teachers at a training course today (December 1).

     The training course, “Reinforcing the Rule of Law”, was co-organised by Endeavour Education Centre and the Education Bureau, and supported by the Department of Justice (DoJ). It aims to provide teachers with a proper understanding of the rule of law, the Constitution and the Basic Law, as well as the importance of national security.

     At the beginning, Ms Cheng emphasised that judicial independence is the cornerstone of the rule of law, which is premised on the solid infrastructure that has been laid down in the Basic Law, including the security of tenure, the immunity of judges, and importantly, the express provision in Article 85 of the Basic Law that guarantees judicial independence, free from any interference. 

     Noting the recent instances of intimidation against judges and judicial officers, Ms Cheng said that judges, in exercising their judicial power, must take into account the applicable law and admissible evidence. Their judgments set out the full reasons for arriving at a decision. This is in accord with the basic principle that judges are to decide cases according to the law impartially and independently. 

     She further said that it is fundamental to the rule of law that everyone should respect court decisions and obey court orders. Attacks made against the Judiciary simply based on the outcome of cases, or made with an attempt to exert undue influence on judges by means of doxxing or threats of violence, are not only unacceptable in a law-abiding society, but will also be to no avail.   

     On prosecution policy, Ms Cheng stressed that Article 63 of the Basic Law guarantees that all prosecutions are controlled by the DoJ, free from any interference. All prosecutorial decisions are based on admissible evidence and applicable laws. Prosecutions would be instituted only if there is sufficient admissible evidence to support a reasonable prospect of conviction and if it is in the public interest to do so. The DoJ has been carrying out this constitutional duty in a professional and fair manner. 

     In explaining the rule of law in international legal order, Ms Cheng outlined the principles of equality of states and non-intervention. She said that improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is within the purview of the Central Authorities. The improved system ensured the balanced and orderly political participation of the Hong Kong community as well as broader representation. She called on electors to cast votes in the Legislative Council Election on December 19, with a view to building a brighter future for Hong Kong together.

     At the training, Ms Cheng also introduced to the principals and teachers the basic principles of statutory law and common law in Hong Kong’s legal system, adding that rights and freedoms are protected by the Basic Law. However, she reminded that such rights and freedoms are not absolute but may be subject to restrictions which are, amongst others, in the interests of public order and the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. 

     Before concluding her talk, Ms Cheng said that Hong Kong has been making progress in international rankings on the rule of law since Hong Kong’s return to the Motherland. The Worldwide Governance Indicators project of the World Bank Group showed that Hong Kong’s percentile rank in respect of the rule of law was 69.85 in 1996. With the full implementation of “one country, two systems” and safeguards provided for by the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s score reached 74.75 in 2000, and has been consistently above 90 since 2003, demonstrating that the city’s rule of law has a solid foundation.

     This occasion was the second time for Ms Cheng to deliver a talk at the training course. Today, she was joined by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Maggie Yang, who gave a presentation on offences in relation to drugs, cyber bullying, signature forging, etc.

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     The Kwun Tong Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the Labour Department (LD) will launch a wide range of occupational safety and health courses in the first half of 2022. The courses aim at enhancing the working population’s understanding of the occupational safety regulations and their awareness of occupational health.   

     â€‹The courses cover a wide range of topics, including:
 

1. Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and Regulations
2. Gas Poisoning in Manholes
3. Confined Spaces Regulations
4. Major Safety Regulations Related to Working in Catering Trade
5. Dangerous Substances Regulations
6. Safety Management Regulation
7. Safety Regulations on Manual Handling Operations
8. Regulations Related to Safety in Hotel Industry
9. Safety Regulations on Working in Times of Inclement Weather and Hot Environment
10. Major Safety Regulations Related to Accident Prevention in Office Work
11. A Brief Introduction to the Regulation on Display Screen Equipment
12. Office Workstation Setup
13. Air Monitoring in the Workplaces
14. Lighting Assessment in the Workplaces
15. Guidance Notes on Standing at Work
16. A Brief Introduction to the Regulation on Display Screen Equipment and Workstation Risk Assessment
17. A Brief Introduction on Occupational Health Hazards in Elderly Homes
18. Risk Assessments on Manual Handling Operations in Elderly Homes
19. More Exercise, Smart Work
20. Strategies for the Prevention of Occupational Diseases
21. Occupational Health in Catering Industry
22. Chemicals and Occupational Health
23. Medical Examinations for Workers Engaged in Hazardous Occupations in Industrial Undertakings
24. Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries
25. Occupational Health for Security Guards
26. Chemicals and Occupational Health in Hotel Industry
27. Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work in a Hot Environment
28. Occupational Health for Office Workers
29. Health Hints on the Use of Computer
30. Prevention of Upper and Lower Limb Disorders
31. Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders for Office Workers
32. Occupational Health for Cleansing Workers
33. Occupational Contact Dermatitis
34. Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries for Workers of Residential Care Home
35. Occupational Health for Professional Drivers
36. Work and Common Gastrointestinal Diseases
37. Occupational Stress
38. Happy Workplace
39. Work and Healthy Lifestyle
40. Work and Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension
41. First Aid in the Workplaces

 
     The courses will be conducted in Cantonese at the LD’s Occupational Safety and Health Centre, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong. Enrolment is free.
      
     Members of the public can apply via the new online platform www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en or by fax. Please visit the LD’s website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content6.htm) for more details or call 2361 8240 for enquiries. read more