Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Centenary Dinner today (April 23):

Steven (President of CIMA, Mr Steven Swientozielskyj), William (Chairman of CIMA Hong Kong Branch Committee, Dr William Chen), Ms Li (Regional Vice President, North Asia, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, Ms Vicky Li), government colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening.  

     As a practising CPA (certified public accountant) in my earlier life and an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, I'm delighted to be here with you, on this milestone occasion – CIMA's Centenary Celebration Dinner. 

     Not too many organisations get to add "centenary" to the title of their annual dinner. CIMA has managed to do it, with rewarding dividends for all concerned. As one of the world’s largest professional bodies of management accountants, CIMA has, from its beginnings, played a central role in the global development of management accounting. 

     Today's management accountants focus on much more than costs. They are problem solvers, data analysts and strategic planners. Their goal is driving maximum value and efficiency for businesses everywhere.

     Which is why, just two years ago, CIMA and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) launched the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. 

     The joint venture between CIMA and AICPA sets out to drive relevance and opportunity for management accountants, as well as making management accounting a global profession. It creates an influential network of top accountants around the world and helps the profession to stay ahead of market changes and developments, which is particularly important in a time of rapid changes and increasing competition.

     The two organisations also developed the Global Management Accounting Principles, a universal standard of quality for management accounting. The Principles have been well received by employers and management accountants worldwide. Members and students of the two organisations also benefit from the increased recognition of their qualifications and competence under the new global brand.

     In Hong Kong, accounting professionals have long contributed – and substantially, let me add – to the global success of our financial services industry. And even more, Hong Kong accountants have played a key role in the economic development of the Mainland of China over the years. In return, the Mainland's powerhouse economy presents enormous business opportunities for the accounting sector. 

     Those opportunities are about to get even greater, with the Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative going full steam ahead. These far-reaching national initiatives will serve to boost prospects for the accounting profession, particularly for management accountants. 

     The Greater Bay Area brings together Hong Kong, Macao and nine consumer-rich cities in the Guangdong Province. Together, this cluster city development counts a population of some 70 million people and a collective GDP worth US$1.6 trillion. That, ladies and gentlemen, compares favourably with Australia or the Republic of Korea.  

     The Outline Development Plan for the Greater Bay Area was announced in February. It focuses on co-operation among the 11 centres, taking advantage of the varying strengths and expertise of each partner city. 

     Not surprisingly, Hong Kong has been tasked with driving the Greater Bay Area's financial services, as well as its trade and transport, while supporting the Greater Bay Area's rise as an international hub for innovation and technology. 

     That will boost the flow of people, goods, capital and information throughout the region, creating outsized business opportunities for Hong Kong businesses, and professional services.

     I know that CIMA has built up good relations with its counterparts in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, and those connections, I'm confident, will continue to expand, for mutual benefit. 

     The Hong Kong SAR Government will, rest assured, support and promote our accounting services within the Greater Bay Area, helping the profession to realise the boundless promise of the Area.

     Then there's the Belt and Road Initiative, which will create stronger economic and trade opportunities along its vast corridors, including such large-scale infrastructure projects as railways, highways and ports, all in the pipeline. 

     These will generate immense demand for professional services, in the financing, consultancy and management of infrastructure and related projects. Hong Kong accountants are well-placed, and supremely well-qualified, to meet that need.  

     Lastly, allow me to thank CIMA for its unwavering efforts in supporting the development of management accounting in Hong Kong and in providing top quality policy advocacy to the Government over these many years. 

     Speaking of many years, my congratulations, once again, to CIMA on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. I wish CIMA another century of surpassing success here in Hong Kong – where people and businesses connect and excel – and of course  around the world.  

     I wish you a most enjoyable and memorable evening.  

     Thank you for having me here tonight.

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, continued the Legislative Council (LegCo) joint-panel duty visit to the Yangtze River Delta Region today (April 23).

     The three Directors of Bureaux and LegCo members attended a seminar organised by the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) in the morning during which they were briefed by the Director of the SDRC, Mr Ma Chunlei, on the latest progress of the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta Region.
 
     In the afternoon, the delegation left Shanghai and travelled to Hangzhou by high-speed railway. They first visited the Hangzhou Public Service Center to learn about how the municipal government streamlined procedures to provide one-stop service to process different kinds of applications from residents and enterprises.

     The delegation met with the Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, Mr Che Jun, to exchange views on issues relating to Hong Kong-Zhejiang co-operation in the evening. They also attended programmes relating to tourism and cultural promotion afterwards.

     The delegation will continue their visit in Hangzhou tomorrow (April 24) and return to Hong Kong in the evening.

              

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding a male patient who was confirmed as a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on April 16, the spokesperson for Tseung Kwan O Hospital made the following announcement today (April 23):
 
     In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has performed contact tracing and three more male patients aged from 66 to 85 were confirmed as VRE carriers. One of the contacts passed away due to his underlying illness. The first patient and the other two carriers are still hospitalised under isolation. Their clinical condition is stable.
 
     The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
 

     The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) said today (April 23) that no additional case of measles infection has been recorded as at 4pm today.

     Regarding measles control measures implemented at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), a total of 10 persons received measles vaccination at the airport vaccination station as at 6pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 8 264.

     From tomorrow to Sunday (April 24 to 28), the vaccination quota for the measles vaccination station at the airport remains at 500 doses daily. Vaccination for eligible airport staff will be provided to the following target groups who:

(1) Were born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before, and with evidence of living with infants under 1 year old or living with pregnant women; or

(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG)

     Details of evidence are as follows:

(a) Supporting documents for living with infants under 1 year old: for example, birth certificate, discharge summary or vaccination card of the infant

(b) Supporting documents for living with pregnant women: for example, positive pregnancy tests or antenatal follow-up cards of the pregnant women

(c) Supporting documents for laboratory evidence: for example, blood results from the DH's measles serology test or any laboratory within the past 12 months

     The venue and operation hours of the airport vaccination station are as follows:
 

     As for the blood test service, the DH will continue to arrange the provision of a measles serology test service for airport staff to identify those who need the measles vaccination. A DH contractor will continue to provide the blood test service for about 200 airport staff who were born in or after 1967 daily from tomorrow to Thursday (April 24 to 25). Nine blood samples have been collected today. The DH will notify the participants individually of the serology results.

     The venue and operation hours of the airport blood test station are as follows:
  

     A hotline (2125 1122) has been set up for public enquiries and operates during office hours from Mondays to Fridays. A total of 3 241 enquiries have been received so far. 

     "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals," the spokesman advised.

     The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) today (April 23) released Aircraft Serious Incident Preliminary Reports 2/2019 and 3/2019 on two incidents in which Captains were incapacitated from performing pilot flying duties due to physical discomfort during flights, leading to reversion to single pilot operation by the First Officers.

     The occurrences involved two Cathay Pacific flights, namely a Boeing 777-367 aircraft (registration mark B-HNP) flying from Sapporo, Japan, to Hong Kong on January 26, 2019, and an Airbus A350-941 aircraft (registration mark B-LRR) flying from Perth, Australia, to Hong Kong on February 21, 2019.

     A spokesperson for the AAIA said that the preliminary reports contain information relating to the respective serious incidents collected up to the time of issue, and must be regarded as tentative.

     "The AAIA will continue to collect and study all relevant information in order to determine the circumstances and causes of the serious incidents. More in-depth investigation and analysis have to be conducted before any conclusion can be drawn," the spokesperson said.

     The full Aircraft Serious Incident Preliminary Reports 2/2019 and 3/2019 are available for download from the AAIA webpage (www.thb.gov.hk/aaia/eng/investigation_reports/index.htm).