The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary: Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, will leave Hong Kong tomorrow (October 10) to attend the 19th Conference of Chief Justic… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: The spokesperson for Kwai Chung Hospital made the following announcement today (October 9): Three female patients (aged 33 to… read more
The Transport Department (TD) today (October 9) reminded members of the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in phases this weekend (October 12 and 13) to facilitate the … read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) fully support the Banking Industry Integrity Charter (Integrity Charter) introduced by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The two organisations co-hosted today (October 9) a launching ceremony for the Integrity Charter together with the ICAC. Senior management from 30 banks, including those from major retail banks and private wealth management banks in Hong Kong, attended the ceremony. Representatives of the Chinese Banking Association of Hong Kong and the Private Wealth Management Association also attended the event (see Annex).
The HKMA has long been encouraging banks to further their work in integrity building. The ICAC launched the Integrity Charter to create a platform for communication through public-private partnership, helping banks to implement effective integrity management and anti-corruption measures. The ICAC will provide anti-corruption recommendations tailored for the banking industry, share anti-corruption cases with the industry, and arrange regular thematic training for banks to further support the industry’s efforts in integrity building and promoting honest and responsible business practices. Banks participating in the Integrity Charter will commit to further strengthening their internal anti-corruption capabilities and promoting an integrity culture among their business partners.
The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue; the Commissioner of the ICAC, Mr Woo Ying-ming; and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Banks, Ms Luanne Lim, officiated at the ceremony to mark the launch of the Integrity Charter. During the event, the ICAC also showcased for the first time the logo specially designed for the Integrity Charter.
In his welcome remarks, Mr Yue said, “Customer trust is an important pillar for the sustainable development of the banking industry. The professionalism and ethical conduct of banks and their frontline staff are key to building customer trust. The launch of the Integrity Charter by the ICAC is conducive to maintaining the stability of the Hong Kong banking system, and also helps to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. It provides strong support for the Hong Kong banking industry to develop new markets, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia.”
Mr Woo said in his welcome remarks, “Hong Kong is widely recognised as one of the most corruption-free places in the world and its financial sector is vibrant and thriving. The Integrity Charter combines the two advantages of Hong Kong – integrity and finance – underlining the banking industry’s commitment to integrity and enhancing its anti-corruption capabilities, to maintain and develop Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre.”
Ms Lim said, “The Integrity Charter will help the public better understand banks’ determination to maintain a clean society and combat corruption collectively.” She encouraged members of the association to participate in the Integrity Charter.
For further information about the Integrity Charter, please visit the webpage of the ICAC’s Corruption Prevention Advisory Service at cpas.icac.hk/EN/Info/TP_Library?cate_id=10046. read more
The Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation convened its 19th meeting in Guangzhou today (October 9) to deepen sustained co-operation in informatisation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Guangdong Province.
The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, and the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province (GDDIIT), Mr Qu Xiaojie, reviewed the work progress and achievements of the Expert Group over the past year. They discussed and exchanged views on the work plan in the coming year, and agreed to continue strengthening co-operation in five areas of informatisation:
1. accelerating development of a Guangdong-Hong Kong smart city cluster;
2. deepening collaboration on cross-boundary e-commerce between Hong Kong and Guangdong;
3. enhancing informatisation for cross-boundary customs clearance;
4. continuing to deepen the innovation and technology (I&T) co-operation; and
5. expediting co-operation in telecommunications business and infrastructure between Hong Kong and Guangdong.
Mr Wong said in the meeting that “Guangdong’s Research Report on Development of New Quality Productive Forces 2023” revealed that Guangdong has established significant competitive advantages in three major sectors including artificial intelligence (AI), high-end manufacturing, and biomedicine. This resonated well with the emphasis of the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint that Hong Kong should focus on the development of I&T industries of strategic importance such as life and health technology, AI and data science, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology industries. He hoped that the Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the GDDIIT could jointly explore avenues for promoting collaboration in the development of AI and digital industries between the two places.
Officials from relevant departments, including the DPO, the Office of the Communications Authority, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Marine Department, and Hong Kong Customs attended the meeting on behalf of the HKSAR Government. Mainland representatives who attended the meeting included officials from the GDDIIT, the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Government Service and Data, the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, the Radio and Television Administration of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Communications Administration, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, the Department of Transport of Guangdong Province, the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee. Members of the HKSAR delegation also comprised representatives from research institutions and industry organisations, including the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre, the Cyberport, and GS1 Hong Kong.
With the arrangement of the GDDIIT, the Hong Kong delegation visited the Guangzhou Digital Technology Group after the meeting to learn more about the enterprise’s developments on AI, smart city solutions and its exploration of data elements. read more