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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the banking industry jointly launched the Banking Talent Programme today (June 4) to nurture young talents for the industry, and provide participants with an opportunity to better prepare for future careers in the banking sector. The Programme targets fresh graduates from local universities who will be offered six-month work opportunities and industry-specific training.
 
     The Programme is supported by the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) and all local universities. Further details of the Programme are set out below:
 

• Job opportunities: Around 300 openings will be offered by banks, Stored Value Facilities operators, together with the HKMA. Work opportunities will be provided in areas ranging from front-line operations to back-office functions in retail and commercial banking;

 

• Professional training: A series of induction seminars as well as professional training courses will be organised by the HKMA, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Academy of Finance, the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) and reputable industry practitioners;

 

• Programme period: The Programme will start from early September 2020 and last for a period of six months;

 

• Financial support: The HKMA will reimburse participating firms up to 50 per cent of the monthly salary of Programme participants, which is HK$12,000 per month, and subsidise the course fees for the relevant professional training courses attended by the graduates;

 

• Eligibility: Students graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2020 from local universities may apply for the Programme, and the disciplines preferred will depend on the work nature of specific jobs and the need of participating firms; and

 

• Application: Application will open on June 15 and the results will be announced by participating firms around end of July after selection interviews.

 
     The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “Joining the job market during a recession can be very stressful. It is therefore encouraging that the banking industry is providing full support to our new Banking Talent Programme, which aims to provide both short-term relief and valuable learning opportunities to young graduates who aspire to develop their career in the banking sector. In turn, the Programme also benefits the industry by expanding the talent pool to support the future growth of Hong Kong’s banking sector.”
 
     Further information about the job opportunities provided by the participating firms and other details will be posted on the website of the HKIB (www.hkib.org), the administrator of the Programme, from June 15. read more

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (June 4) announced details of its five-day StartmeupHK Festival 2020, which will run from July 6 to 10. Befitting its theme of start-ups and technology, the festival is making the unprecedented move of transforming from an in-person event to a fully virtual experience.
      
     The week-long extravaganza of startup events will feature keynote addresses by renowned industry figures from around the world, exhibitions, investor matching and a jobs fair, and will be open to attendees across the globe for free, with additional paid premium sessions. The festival will showcase the latest developments in smart cities, retail tech, artificial intelligence, fintech, lifestyle tech, and global start-up trends and insights. It represents a unique opportunity for start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, students and government representatives to connect, exchange ideas and benefit from business opportunities in Hong Kong, Mainland China and elsewhere in Asia.
      
     “Despite the challenges, Hong Kong’s startup ecosystem remains resilient,” Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Charles Ng said. “Our solid track record stands as a testimony to Hong Kong’s enduring appeal as a place for startups to settle, grow, launch and expand into other markets.
      
     He added, “The number of startups in Hong Kong in 2019 reached 3 184, up 21 per cent year on year. And, importantly, the number of people working in the city’s startup sector grew 31 per cent to 12 478. Hong Kong’s appeal as a startup hub extends to a wide variety of industries, with sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, supply chain management and logistics technology all having experienced phenomenal growth in recent years.”
      
     Citing InvestHK research on the city’s start-up ecosystem, Mr Ng pointed out that about one-third of startup founders came from outside Hong Kong, with the United States, Mainland China and the United Kingdom being the leading three places of origin.

     Day 1 (July 6) of the festival will feature the Connected Cities Conference, an event hosted by KPMG, showcasing innovations for the next generation of urban living. Global and regional speakers from academia and business, including leading entrepreneurs, will discuss successful smart cities around the world and how smart technologies, including the Internet of things, artificial intelligence and data analytics can enhance a city’s liveability, workability and sustainability.
      
     Day 2 (July 7) will play host to Connected Retail Experiences, a full-day virtual fair and half-day conference hosted by Bailey Communications for retailers and brand owners that understand retail is changing and that are looking for solutions to help reposition their businesses. The event will encompass the technology and innovation that goes into creating seamless branded retail experiences across all channels, as well as the future of retailing and how retailers are able to harness the power of the “data lakes” of information that they hold on their customers’ purchasing habits.
      
     Straddling Day 2 and Day 3 (July 7 to 8) and hosted by WHub, the Startup Impact Summit 2020 will be what its name suggests – an event that brings together the local and international tech communities to showcase ideas and create impact. The event will feature multiple tracks with stages dedicated to venture capital, innovation, social impacts, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and overseas markets. It will also include start-up pitches, a job fair, a start-up village, workshops, investor matching and a masterclass, as well as an Asia-wide hackathon. The event aims to connect entrepreneurs, corporates, investors and students, and help the audience gain practical skills to start and scale their business.

     Day 4 (July 9) will see an exciting double-header of the Lifestyle Tech Conference and the Ecosystem Summit. Hosted by Jumpstart Media, the Lifestyle Tech Conference will provide key insights into the global start-up ecosystem. The half-day virtual conference will bring together high-value speakers from around the world, dissect today’s top trends, and share the experiences of the most promising start-ups, investors, corporates and change-makers disrupting our world today. It will also include a curated full-day virtual investor-matching session. The event will offer a sneak peek into the future of everyday life – participants will be able to hear first-hand on how lifestyle tech is changing the way we live, eat, work and shop.
      
     Meanwhile, the Ecosystem Summit, hosted by the Mills Fabrica, will focus on ways to foster and grow the start-up ecosystem in Hong Kong and internationally. With a series of panels and roundtables, the half-day event will highlight ways to develop entrepreneurial talent through education and incubation, transform corporates through innovation, take Hong Kong start-ups global, and promote the city as a world innovation hub.
      
     Day 5 (July 10) will end the festival on a strong note with the Hong Kong Financial Institutions Awards 2020 Forum. Hosted by Sina Finance, with support from the Center for Investing at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and S&P Global Market Intelligence, the forum and awards ceremony will celebrate the success of innovators in Hong Kong’s financial sector and recognise awardees’ contributions to the city’s financial markets. This year’s theme is “The road ahead: How will entrepreneurs be adaptive to the changing world in the next decade?”.

     The Head of StartmeupHK at InvestHK, Ms Jayne Chan, said, “Now entering its fifth year, this year’s festival will be truly an embodiment of the Hong Kong start-up ecosystem in action – from investors who provide the capital to fuel technological development to start-up owners who push the boundaries and corporations that embrace new technological solutions. Participants will be able to witness first-hand how these movers and shakers are transforming every aspect of our lives, by the minute and for the better. The year 2020 marks the start of a new decade. Now it’s time for all of us to join forces to harness the wind of innovation and chart a course for the future.”
      
     To follow the latest start-up developments in Hong Kong, please visit www.startmeup.hk.
 
About InvestHK

     InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 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. read more

      As the Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate precautions to prevent heat stroke when working in a hot or humid environment.
 
     Heat stroke could occur if an employee works in a hot or humid environment for prolonged periods of time, as the body may fail to regulate its temperature by effective heat dissipation through sweating.
 
     The symptoms of heat-related illnesses include feeling thirsty, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, muscle spasm or even mental confusion, and loss of consciousness or convulsion in severe cases.
 
     Construction workers, cleaning workers, kitchen workers and porters, for example, are more prone to heat stroke as they may be working for long hours in such an environment, especially if appropriate preventive measures have not been taken.
 
     The LD reminds employers to arrange for a suitable assessment of the risk of heat stress in the work environment and take appropriate preventive measures. The LD has produced two leaflets entitled “Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Construction Sites” and “Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Outdoor Cleansing Workplaces” respectively. Employers engaged in construction or outdoor cleaning work are advised to refer to these checklists in assessing the risk of heat stress at their workplaces. As for heat stress assessment at a workplace in general, employers can refer to a booklet entitled “Risk Assessment for the Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work” produced by the LD.
 
     The LD also reminds employers and employees to take the following precautions to prevent heat stroke:
 
Employers
———
(1) Take heed of the weather report and adopt shift work arrangements for employees to reduce their exposure to the hot environment, or arrange appropriate rest breaks for them during very hot periods;
(2) Avoid working under direct sunlight and set up temporary sunshade wherever possible;
(3) Provide cool potable water for employees at all times during work. If necessary, provide drinks containing electrolyte for employees to replenish loss of salt during profuse sweating;
(4) Minimise physical demands by using tools or mechanical aids at work;
(5) Increase air flow by enhancing ventilation or air-conditioning as appropriate;
(6) Isolate heat-generating facilities at the workplace and use insulating materials to minimise heat dissipation to the other work areas; and
(7) Provide relevant information and training for employees on heat stroke such as preventive measures and first aid treatment.
 
Employees
———
(1) Wear clothing made of suitable materials (for example, cotton) that is loose-fitting and light-coloured to help heat dissipation, minimise heat absorption and allow sweat evaporation;
(2) Wear a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors;
(3) Drink plenty of water or other appropriate beverages with electrolytes to replenish the fluids and salt lost through sweating; and
(4) Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, rest in a cool or shady place and drink water, inform supervisors to take appropriate actions immediately.
 
     Some employees may have difficulty in adapting to a hot working environment owing to their own health conditions. Employers should take this into account and consider the recommendations of their doctors when assigning work to these employees.
 
     In addition to the publications on risk assessment, the LD has produced a leaflet entitled “Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work in a Hot Environment” for the public. The publications can be obtained free of charge from the offices of the Occupational Health Service of the LD, or downloaded from the department’s webpage at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_9.htm. read more

     The Fire and Ambulance Services Education Centre cum Museum (FASECM) will partially reopen its exhibition facilities tomorrow (June 5), although interactive exhibitions, public programmes and individual visits will remain suspe… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 4) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     “The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system,” the spokesman explained.

     “The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They should pay special attention,” the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

• Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
• Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;
• Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
• For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
• Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):
 

• Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
• Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;
• Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming, sweating or toweling off; and
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     The public may obtain more information from the DH’s Health Education Infoline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO’s Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. read more