Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on the Productivity Enhancement Programme at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (March 5):
 
Reporter: Good morning, Mr Sun. Will the 7 per cent funding cut to social welfare organisations affect their services? And also, you had a meeting with the representatives on Monday, did they propose any suggestions to share their financial burden with the Government?
 
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Thank you. Under the Productivity Enhancement Programme just announced by the Financial Secretary in his Budget, all envelope holders, including me, have to deliver by the year 2027-28 a cumulative reduction of 7 per cent. That means I have to work together and discuss with the 170-odd NGOs (non-governmental organisations) to make sure that we can deliver that target. In coming up with our proposal, I have tried my very best to absorb the farthest possible reduction through the Social Welfare Department.
 
     But given the magnitude of the reduction, it is just not possible for the department itself to absorb all the reduction, so we have to come up with a proposal. In coming up with the proposal, again we are guided by the principle that we should provide hope as far as possible to the small and medium NGOs, so that the cut is much moderate. Instead of a 7 per cent cumulative cut, we have absorbed 4 per cent. Altogether, for the small and medium NGOs, they will face a cut of 3 per cent by the year 2027-28.
 
     However, for large NGOs, there is not much we can help. They have to reduce their budget by 2027-28 by 7 per cent. But at the same time, we are trying our very best to, first of all, provide a much longer period for them to manage and hold their reserve, so firstly, they can make better use of that reserve to get through the more difficult years. And secondly, over cost apportionment, we are providing more flexibility. The first round of relaxation has just been announced.
 
     And also, we are going to review each and every Funding and Service Agreement (FSA). The purpose is to provide more flexibility to reduce reporting and supervision, but of course, this is subject to the principle that it is not going to affect the benefits of their users. So I am pretty confident after the meeting on Monday that we are more or less on the same page. We are working together. We are facing a budget cut, but at the same time, because of the more flexible use of reserve and also the efforts we are making to provide more room for them to make better use of their resources, we should be able to deal with that together. Thank you.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

     â€‹Correctional officers stopped a 49-year-old male person in custody from committing suicide by hanging in Tai Lam Correctional Institution today (March 5).

     At 3.10am today, correctional officers found the person in custody attempting suicide by hanging with a bedsheet tied to the grille bars of his dormitory. The officers immediately called for reinforcements to rescue and provide first-aid treatment to him. The person in custody was found unconscious at the time and was subsequently sent to a public hospital for further treatment. The case has been reported to the Police.

     A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department uses all possible measures to prevent persons in custody from attempting suicide or self-harm. These measures include administrative arrangements, improvement of institution facilities, staff training and first-aid services."

     The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of theft in February 2025.

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 (March 5) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (March 5). The arrangements will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

     The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from 50 minutes before the start of the first race for day racing, or from 6pm onwards for night racing:

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp outside the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed, except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside the HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Traffic along eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road, except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

     The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

1. Road closure

– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside the HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of the HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.

     In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of the HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

– Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Learner drivers prohibition

     Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces

     Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm for day racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm for night racing respectively.

     All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.

     Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site.

      Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Chinese New Year reception hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) in Barcelona, Spain on March 4 (Barcelona time):
 
Ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening, buenas noches, Kung Hei Fat Choi! It is with great pleasure that I join you all here this evening at the Chinese New Year Reception in Barcelona to extend my warmest greetings from Hong Kong.
 
     As we gather here to celebrate the Year of the Snake, it is a timely opportunity to reflect on the Snake as a symbol of transformation, agility, and wisdom – qualities that resonate deeply with our endeavors in pushing ahead the innovation and technology (I&T) development.
 
     Building on Hong Kong's success as a world-renowned international financial, aviation and trading centre, Hong Kong is well-positioned to be developed into an international I&T centre under the big wave of technology. With the unwavering support from the motherland and our substantial investment on the I&T front in recent years, Hong Kong's I&T ecosystem is becoming increasingly vibrant. Our I&T development is now at the dawn of an unprecedented golden era.
 
     Over the past two years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has launched a series of proactive initiatives to boost Hong Kong's I&T development, including developing I&T infrastructure, supporting research and development, and attracting talent and investments. I am happy to say that they are bearing fruit. Start-ups in Hong Kong continued to flourish with a record high number of almost 4 700. We had also achieved impressive progress in attracting I&T enterprises and talent from the Mainland and overseas. In two years' time, we have attracted more than 130 I&T enterprises with high potential and representativeness to set up or expand their businesses in the city. All of them are the best proof of Hong Kong's attractiveness.
 
     But we are not resting on our laurels. Leveraging the unique advantages we enjoyed under "one country, two systems", we continue to strengthen our impact as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" in the international arena through promoting global I&T and industry collaboration.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, as the Chinese proverb says, "The plan for the year lies in the Spring". With me tonight are representatives from Hong Kong's major I&T quangos, including the Hong Kong Science Park, Cyberport, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, and the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute, as well as their tech ventures. We are here not only to showcase Hong Kong's latest I&T offerings in the Mobile World Congress 2025, but also to explore new opportunities and sow the seeds for more win-win I&T co-operation between Hong Kong and Spain, as well as the entire Iberian Peninsula. I am confident that our tech mission to Spain this time will be a fruitful one, just like the future of Hong Kong's I&T development.
 
     In closing, thank you for my colleagues at the Brussels ETO as well as the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for co-organising this great event. May the Year of the Snake inspire us to shed our old ways of thinking and embrace the agility, wisdom and spirit of innovation that will drive us forward.
 
     Thank you and wish you all an enjoyable evening!