Author Archives: hksar gov

     Hongkong Post announced today (May 21) that a new set of special stamps on the theme “Heartwarming”, together with a special stamp issue of “Stamp Sheetlet to Commemorate Hongkong Post’s Participation in the CHINA 2019 World Stamp Exhibition”, will be released for sale on June 11 (Tuesday).
 
     The new set of “Heartwarming” stamps features six stamp designs, four for local mail postage and two for air mail postage. A local mail postage stamp is valid for a local small letter weighing 30 grams or less whereas an air mail postage stamp can be used to send a small letter by air mail weighing 20 grams or less to any place around the world. The Customised Service for Heartwarming Stamps is also available for tagging personalised photos or images to customised mini-panes. These stamps are ideal choices for celebrating joyous occasions by mail.
 
     Separately, the China 2019 World Stamp Exhibition will be held in Wuhan, Hubei, from June 11 to 17 in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and promotion of postal and philatelic development. Hongkong Post will issue a stamp sheetlet to commemorate its participation in this spectacular event. The stamp sheetlet will present the exhibition logo featuring a stylised carrier pigeon outlined with stamp perforations and Wuhan’s iconic Yellow Crane Tower, together with colourful silhouettes of landmarks of Hong Kong and Wuhan to signify the philatelic interaction of the two cities.
 
     Information about the two special stamp issues and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk and via the Hongkong Post mobile app. 

          

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, began his visit to London, the United Kingdom (UK) yesterday (May 20, London time) to update the UK business and political sectors on Hong Kong’s latest economic developments and explore opportunities for further co-operation in trade and creative industries.

     Mr Yau called on the UK’s Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr Mark Field and the Secretary of State for International Trade, Dr Liam Fox separately to discuss matters relating to global and bilateral trade issues.

     Noting that economic relations, trade and investment between Hong Kong and the UK have gone from strength to strength which is evident in the high value of trade in goods and services as well as the flow of foreign direct investment between the two sides, Mr Yau said he hoped that both sides can build on their strong foundation to continue enhancing trade and economic co-operation.

     Mr Yau also visited two UK-based international think tanks. He first met with the Director of Chatham House, Dr Robin Niblett, to exchange views on issues related to global economic developments and how UK enterprises can tap into the Mainland market through the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

     Mr Yau then held a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Legatum Institute, Baroness Philippa Stroud. He was delighted to learn that Hong Kong had topped the Global Index of Economic Openness (GIEO) 2019 recently released by the Institute, which underlined the Government’s steadfast commitment in upholding the free market principles. The GIEO ranked 157 economies’ openness to commerce and included an analysis of what enables or hinders each economy’s ability to trade domestically and internationally. Hong Kong was ranked the world’s most open economy this year.

     Mr Yau also attended a lunch with the Committee of the Hong Kong Association, at which he shared his insights with local business leaders on the latest trade and economic situation in Hong Kong, and the opportunities available for Hong Kong in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative.

     In the evening, Mr Yau attended a seminar on creative industries and design jointly organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London and Invest Hong Kong, and supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the UK’s Department for International Trade. The seminar was attended by more than 80 local stakeholders from various creative sectors. Mr Yau and the UK’s Minister for Investment at the Department for International Trade, Mr Graham Stuart, delivered keynote addresses at the seminar.

     Speaking at the seminar, Mr Yau talked about Hong Kong’s efforts in spurring the development of creative industries. He also emphasised the opportunities Hong Kong offers to UK businesses in exploring the Mainland China and Asian markets, as well as the eagerness of Hong Kong’s creative industries to embark on more collaborations with the UK counterparts.

     Prior to the seminar, Mr Yau met with the Minister of State for Digital and the Creative Industries of the UK, Ms Margot James, to exchange views on how to drive closer collaboration between Hong Kong and the UK in creative industries. He said he looked forward to furthering the partnership between the two places at the Business of Design Week 2019 this December.

     Mr Yau will continue his visit to London today (May 21, London time).

            

     As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to pr… read more

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:      Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding that comes to … read more

     â€‹The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (May 20, Geneva time) attended the 72nd World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
      
     Professor Chan attended the 72nd WHA as a member of the People’s Republic of China delegation. The agenda of this year’s assembly will cover a wide range of issues with public health importance requiring global attention and concerted efforts from all member states, including health and environment and climate change, prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, ending tuberculosis and global shortage of, and access to, medicines and vaccines.
      
     In addition to the plenary session, Professor Chan also attended a side event with the theme “Primary Health Care towards Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goal” to listen to a presentation by the Minister of the National Health Commission, Mr Ma Xiaowei, about the on-going development of primary healthcare services in the Mainland.
      
     She also took the opportunity to learn about the experience of other countries in developing primary healthcare services.
      
     “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to enhancing district-based primary healthcare services in Hong Kong with an emphasis on medical-social collaboration and public-private partnership,” Professor Chan said.
      
     “The Government will set up a District Health Centre (DHC) in all districts in the next few years. The services offered in the DHCs will focus on primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, including health promotion, health assessment, chronic disease management and community rehabilitation.
      
     “This new service model of DHCs will echo the principle of universal health coverage. We will share with the WHO our insight and experience gained from this new service model and our upcoming blueprint for primary healthcare development of Hong Kong.”
      
     Professor Chan also exchanged views on healthcare-related issues with senior officials of other member states and WHO at the WHA.
         
     Professor Chan will continue to attend the WHA tomorrow (May 21, Geneva time). She will depart Geneva in the morning on May 22 and arrive in Hong Kong on May 23.