Tag Archives: China

     In his visit to Kwun Tong District today (June 14), the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, toured the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) Headquarters and the financial technologies (Fintech) innovation lab eXellerator to get a better grasp of the public and private efforts in spurring innovation and technology (I&T).
 
     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Kwun Tong District Council, Dr Bunny Chan, and the District Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr Steve Tse, Mr Yang first visited the EMSD Headquarters. The Acting Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Tai Tak-him, gave a brief account of I&T application in enhancing EMSD services, pushing forward smart city development and supporting commercialisation of research and development (R&D) results of local enterprises.
 
     The EMSD introduced a plan at the end of last year to turn its Headquarters Building and related facilities into a testing ground. Start-ups and universities can make use of this testing ground to field-test electrical and mechanical-related and energy efficiency-related I&T projects. Projects’ effectiveness and performance will be measured and verified with a view to promoting their development.
 
     In collaboration with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the EMSD has organised the Innovative Technology Day since 2017. Representatives from start-ups of the Incu-Tech Programme, government departments and public organisations are invited to exchange views on driving realisation of R&D results. Early this year, the EMSD established the Innovation Office and launched the E&M InnoPortal. The platform facilitates matching amongst government departments, public organisations, universities and start-ups to enhance their services through I&T applications and accelerate commercialisation of research outcomes of local universities.
 
     A number of project demonstrations were shown to Mr Yang, including:
 
(1) The Remote Monitoring System developed in-house by the EMSD to monitor traffic lights, and pumping and lighting systems for underpasses and subways;
(2) A smart thermostat for central air-conditioning systems developed by a team from the City University of Hong Kong with funding support from the Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities;
(3) Passive light-emitting diode lighting technology developed by a team from the University of Hong Kong;
(4) Video analytics on passenger flow for lift operation optimisation developed by a start-up engaged via the E&M InnoPortal; and
(5) The Safematics Smart Safety System supported by the Public Sector Trial Scheme.

      This was followed by a visit to the Fintech innovation lab eXellerator in Standard Chartered Tower. Designed and run by co-working space operator WeWork, eXellerator brings together different departments of the bank, clients and start-ups to enhance user experience with Fintech. Mr Yang called for collaboration between eXellerator and the Cyberport Fintech community. Citing Cyberport as the largest Fintech cluster in Hong Kong with over 250 Fintech start-ups, Mr Yang said he believed that promising solutions could be found there.
 
     Before concluding the district visit, Mr Yang met with members of the Kwun Tong District Council to listen to their views on I&T development.

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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 14) investigating a case of invasive meningococcal infection, a communicable disease transmitted by direct contact with droplets from carriers or infected persons.

     The case involves a 60-year-old woman, with underlying illnesses, who has presented with fever, vomiting and diarrhoea since June 11. She sought medical treatment from the Accident and Emergency Department (A&ED) of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on June 12 and passed away at the A&ED on the same day.

     Her blood sample tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient lived alone and had no travel history during the incubation period. The CHP’s investigation is continuing. The case was also referred to the Coroner for investigation.

     “Meningococcal infection is caused by a bacterium known as meningococcus. It is mainly transmitted by direct contact through respiratory secretions, including droplets from the nose and throat, from infected persons. The incubation period varies from two to 10 days, and is commonly three or four days,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The clinical picture may vary. Severe illness may result when the bacteria invade the bloodstream (meningococcaemia) or the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis).

     Meningococcaemia is characterised by sudden onset of fever, intense headache, purpura, shock and even death in severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis is characterised by high fever, severe headache and stiff neck followed by drowsiness, vomiting, fear of bright light, or a rash. It can cause brain damage or even death. The brain damage may lead to intellectual impairment, mental retardation, hearing loss and electrolyte imbalance. Invasive meningococcal infections can be complicated by arthritis, inflammation of the heart muscle, inflammation of the posterior chamber of the eye or chest infection.

     Meningococcal infection is a serious illness. Patients should be treated promptly with antibiotics.

     To prevent meningococcal infection, members of the public are advised to take heed of the following measures:
 

• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing, and clean hands with alcohol-based handrub when they are not visibly soiled;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with tissue, dispose of nasal and mouth discharge in a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands immediately;
• Avoid crowded places;
• Avoid close contact with patients who have fever or severe headache;
• Travellers to high-risk areas may consult doctors for meningococcal vaccination; and
• Travellers returning from high-risk areas should seek medical advice if they become ill and should discuss their recent travel history with their doctor.

    
     The public may visit the CHP’s website for more information on meningococcal infection. read more

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Director General of the Department of Culture of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Yiyang; and the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative… read more

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will leave Hong Kong tomorrow (June 15) for duty visits to Bordeaux and Paris in France as well as Noordwijkerhout in the Netherlands from June 16 to 21.   &… read more

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 14) the preliminary statistics on Hong Kong’s Gross National Income (GNI) and external primary income flows (EPIF) for the first quarter of 2018.

     Hong Kong’s GNI in the first quarter of 2018 increased by 9.4% over a year earlier to $712.1 billion at current market prices. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), preliminarily estimated at $688.0 billion at current market prices in the same quarter, recorded a 9.1% increase over the same period. Measured at current market prices, the value of GNI was larger than GDP by $24.2 billion in the first quarter of 2018, representing a net external primary income inflow of the same amount, and equivalent to 3.5% of GDP in that quarter.

     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, Hong Kong’s GNI increased by 5.5% in real terms in the first quarter of 2018 over a year earlier. The corresponding GDP in the same quarter increased by 4.7% in real terms.

     Total primary income inflow into Hong Kong, estimated at $349.6 billion in the first quarter of 2018 and equivalent to 50.8% of GDP in that quarter, increased by 18.8% over a year earlier. Meanwhile, total primary income outflow, estimated at $325.4 billion in the first quarter of 2018 and equivalent to 47.3% of GDP in that quarter, increased by 18.6% over a year earlier. Taking the inflow and outflow together, a net external primary income inflow of $24.2 billion was recorded in the first quarter of 2018.

     As for the major components of total primary income inflow, direct investment income (DII) increased by 12.1% over a year earlier, mainly due to the increase in earnings of some prominent local enterprises from their direct investment abroad. Portfolio investment income (PII) increased by 19.8% over a year earlier, mainly attributable to the increase in interest income received by resident investors from their holdings of non-resident long-term debt securities and the increase in dividend income received by resident investors from their holdings of non-resident equity securities. Other investment income (OII) increased by 82.7%, largely caused by the increase in interest income from external assets of the local banking sector. Income on reserve assets increased by 51.0%, as a result of the increase in investment earnings from foreign currency reserves.

     Regarding the major components of total primary income outflow, DII increased by 13.8% over a year earlier, mainly due to the increase in earnings of some prominent multinational enterprises from their direct investment in Hong Kong. PII increased by 11.6%, mainly attributable to the increase in interest payout to non-resident investors from their holdings of resident long-term debt securities. OII increased by 93.6%, largely caused by the increase in the interest rates.

     Analysed by country/territory, the mainland of China continued to be the largest source of Hong Kong’s total external primary income inflow in the first quarter of 2018, accounting for 34.7%. This was followed by the British Virgin Islands (BVI), with a share of 25.4%. Regarding total external primary income outflow, the BVI and the mainland of China remained the most important destinations in the first quarter of 2018, accounting for 28.0% and 25.3% respectively.

Further Information

     GDP and GNI are closely related indicators for measuring economic performance. GDP is a measure of the total value of production of all resident producing units of an economy. GNI denotes the total income earned by residents of an economy from engaging in various economic activities, irrespective of whether the economic activities are carried out within the economic territory of the economy or outside. In other words, GNI is obtained by adding to GDP the primary income earned by residents from outside the economic territory and deducting primary income earned by non-residents from within the economic territory. Primary income comprises investment income and compensation of employees.

     Figures of EPIF presented above are compiled based on data obtained from the Survey of External Claims, Liabilities and Income conducted quarterly by the C&SD, supplemented by data from other sources.  

     Figures of GNI and EPIF analysed by income component from the second quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2018 are presented in Table A, while selected major country/territory breakdowns of external primary income inflow and external primary income outflow for the same quarters are presented in Tables B(1) and B(2) respectively.

     Statistics on GDP and GNI from 2016 onwards and EPIF from 2017 onwards are subject to revision when more data become available.

     Enquiries about GNI and EPIF statistics may be directed to the Balance of Payments Branch (2) of the C&SD at 3903 7017. read more