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     Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending the special meeting of the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee today (April 11):

Reporter: Do you think the Hong Kong Medical Council should approve the … as soon as possible and they should abandon the secret ballot?

Secretary for Food and Health: The Food and Health Bureau welcomes any measures that will increase the attractiveness to overseas doctors to come back to work in Hong Kong because we face manpower shortage. The Medical Council would be discussing in the upcoming meeting those proposals that they had proposed last time about waiving the internship requirement for overseas doctors. The Food and Health Bureau welcomes those proposals, but as I have said before, I think this is only one small step. For other measures that would improve or increase the attractiveness of getting more overseas doctors to come back to work in Hong Kong, we are now working very closely together with the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, the Hospital Authority, the Department of Health and also the key stakeholders of medical associations in order to come together to work out some improvement measures.

Reporter: Are you positive about it, because they have already voted down once?

Secretary for Food and Health: According to media reports, actually many doctors’ associations and stakeholders are disappointed about the result. I think that is why the Hong Kong Medical Council has decided to very quickly discuss the proposals. I am confident that they will come up with some proposals that would achieve the purpose.

Reporter: Is there anything that the Government can do to monitor the Hong Kong Medical Council better and to step up their role in this matter?

Secretary for Food and Health: The Hong Kong Medical Council is a statutory and independent body. Of course we do have government representatives but the number is small. But in any case, our government members would obviously voice their concern, opinions and suggestions. I think what the Hong Kong Medical Council is proposing is one but a small step in attracting overseas doctors. We will pursue other measures such as providing more resources to the Hospital Authority to hire more doctors under Limited Registration. Those doctors may not be specialists, but they may be at intermediate level and also doctors at different levels. I think we should introduce measures to attract those people as well.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     Hongkong Post announced today (April 11) that, as advised by the postal administration of the United States, due to mail backlog at the Chicago mail processing centre, all mail delivery services to Chicago (postcodes 400XX… read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, April 11, 2019 is 103.4 (down 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (April 10, US West Coast time) began his itinerary in San Francisco, the United States, and met with senior management of different innovation and technology (I&T) companies to promote I&T co-operation between Hong Kong and the US.
      
     This morning, Mr Chan discussed the latest development trends of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) with the senior management of Automation Anywhere, a robotic process automation software developer company. With offices in various cities globally, this company offers services to help different industries to improve operational efficiency through automation.
      
     He said that the Hong Kong Government has devoted resources to take advantage of the convenience and the huge opportunities brought about by the development of AI and robotic technologies.
      
     Apart from allocating $10 billion to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) to enhance support for its tenants and incubatees, it has provided funding of $10 billion to establish two innovative clusters in the Science Park, which focus on healthcare technologies as well as AI and robotics technologies, he added. He encouraged the company to further enhance collaboration with local industry players.
      
     Over a lunch with representatives of major venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, Mr Chan gave an overview of the financial and professional support to start-ups at different stages of their development, listing regime of Hong Kong that attracts the new economy sector and the initiatives to attract private equity funds to set up and operate in Hong Kong.
      
     Noting Hong Kong’s fast growing start-up community currently has more than 2,600 companies, Mr Chan said they are welcome to go to Hong Kong for investment opportunities.
      
     He then visited NVIDIA for an update on the recent developments of the application of AI. The company is one of the technology partners involved in setting up the Data Analytics Platform with the HKSTP to help enhancing data development in Hong Kong and drive smart city development. 
      
     In addition, Mr Chan met with the top management of AutoX, a developer of autonomous driving technology, and deepened his understanding of the latest developments of the technology.
      
     Given that the founder is a graduate of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Mr Chan encouraged him and his company to take part in promoting smart city development in Hong Kong.
      
     Mr Chan then paid a courtesy call on the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco, Mr Wang Donghua.

     He will continue his itinerary tomorrow (April 11, US West Coast time). 
     

            

     The Government declared by notice in the Gazette today (April 11) the vacancy of an elected seat in the Yuen Long District Council San Tin Constituency.      In accordance with section 26(c) of … read more