The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     At the invitation of the National Health Commission (NHC), the Hospital Authority (HA) and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences jointly organised the 2024 Forum on Frontiers in Medical Sciences among Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao (the Forum) today (September 15). The Forum invited five academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering / Chinese Academy of Sciences from the Mainland and Taiwan, including the Vice-minister of the NHC and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Mr Cao Xuetao; academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Mr Wang Rui; academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Mr Dong Jiahong; academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mr Song Erwei; and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Mr Chen Chaolong, to attend in person and deliver a keynote speech.

     Mr Cao Xuetao expressed that two sides of the strait shared the same roots and were connected by blood. He emphasised the vast potential for co-operation in the frontier of medical science. He hoped to strengthen research collaboration, promote talent exchange, share medical resources, improve the quality of healthcare services, and optimise service efficiency. He encouraged all colleagues to seize this forum as an opportunity to advance the development of frontier medical technologies and strive to create a better living for the public.

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau said that, "The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China adopted the Resolution on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization. Today's conference provided exactly an opportunity for experts from the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao to engage in more in-depth discussions on medical and healthcare reforms, promote high-quality healthcare development, and drive new quality productive forces. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government had high level of healthcare profession and efficient medical and healthcare systems at international standards. Hong Kong was leading in various medical and healthcare indicators and efficiency standards. With the advantages of "one country, two systems", the HKSAR Government had the strong support of the country and could better integrate into national development; at the same time, we were closely connected to the world. The HKSAR Government had also served an active role in the process of the reform of the country. The National 14th Five-Year Plan had expressed to develop Hong Kong into the international innovation and technology centre, particularly emphasising biomedicine innovation and technology. Health and medical innovation could drive high-quality development in healthcare and also become new quality productive forces. The HKSAR Government would continue to strengthen the active integration and co-operation with the Greater Bay Area (GBA). With the establishment of the GBA international clinical trial platform and advanced biomedicine technology industrial pilot transformation base in the Hong Kong Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, it enabled Hong Kong to go global and attract foreign investment and to strive to develop into an international hub for medical innovation."

     The Forum has two youth forums, in which experts from the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao were invited to participate, aiming to deepen their understanding of each other's cutting-edge medical technologies and clinical applications through presentations, and at the same time provide a platform for professional exchange and to foster in-depth integration among clinical experts in Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau in the future.

     The Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko, said at the Forum that thanks to NHC's invitation, the HA was honoured to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to co-organise the Forum, which gave him an opportunity to witness that the medical innovation and clinical applications across the strait, and Hong Kong and Macau are at the forefront of the world. Dr Ko hoped Hong Kong will continue to play its role as a "super-connector". The HA will persist in facilitating collaboration among medical professionals across various regions.

        

Attention TV and radio duty announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following special announcement as soon as possible, and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     A fire broke out on a vessel in the waters at New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter at 5.19pm today (September 15). The Fire Services Department is conducting a firefighting operation.
           
     Members of the public who are being affected by the smoke and an unusual odour carried by the wind are advised to close their doors and windows and stay calm.

     â€‹Correctional Officers stopped four remand persons in custody assaulting another remand person in custody at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre today (September 15).
      
     At 9.37am today, four male remand persons in custody aged from 38 to 47 assaulted a 50-year-old male remand person in custody inside a dayroom. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the assailants and called for reinforcement.
      
     During the incident, the victim sustained injuries to his head, chest and arm and was referred to a public hospital for further treatment after receiving examination and treatment at the institution hospital. The assailants did not sustain any injuries.
      
     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.
      
     The five persons in custody were respectively remanded for the offences of trafficking in a dangerous drug, theft, burglary, etc.

     â€‹Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on business suspension of chain fitness and beauty group at a media session after officiating at the kick-off ceremony of Jockey Club "Brain Health" Dementia Screening and Community Support Project this afternoon (September 15):

Reporter: An English follow-up question of the Physical Fitness incident. What kind of assistance has the Bureau provided for the affected employees up until now? Secondly, what kind of advice would you urge the affected employees to take at this stage?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: First of all, up till now we have received around 670 employees of Physical Fitness seeking help from the Labour Department. Basically they are looking for relief to their unpaid wages and severance payment. They are all eligible to apply for funding support under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund (PWIF). There is a procedure under the Fund. Right now, colleagues in the Labour Department together with members of the labour unions are trying their very best to persuade the employer of Physical Fitness to sign a statement declaring that they are unable to pay. If this statement could be signed, it will speed up the whole process. The 600 odd employees will get the payment under PWIF in a very speedy manner. In the event that this statement is not available, there is an established procedure which has to go through the Labour Tribunal and also to file a petition to the Court, so it takes a bit more time. Yet you can rest assured that under the Fund, all the affected employees can get funding support for their unpaid wages and severance payment.

     Secondly, on the newly opened brand Healthy, for ex-employees of Physical Fitness, if they are considering joining the new company, they should pay attention to the terms of the new employment, make sure they know what terms are being offered, as well as the protection and terms of the employment, make sure they know what they are signing for. Also, they have to ask the new employer about how their unpaid wages and severance payment with the ex-employer would be handled. I think this is very important and I urge them to make sure they consider all these factors before signing a new employment contract.    

     Thank you very much.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

     Hong Kong Customs will set up a booth at the Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW), to be held at the AsiaWorld-Expo, from tomorrow (September 16) for five consecutive days to publicise the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime (the Regime), and will provide on-site counter services to assist non-Hong Kong dealers in submitting cash transaction reports during their participation in the exhibition.

     According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), the Regime came into effect since April 1, 2023. Any person who is seeking to carry on a business of dealing in precious metals and stones and engage in any transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with Hong Kong Customs and fulfil his/her anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing statutory obligations as appropriate. All dealers in precious metals and stones must successfully obtain a relevant registration before they can carry out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000.

     For non-Hong Kong dealers fulfilling the prescribed conditions (including those who come to Hong Kong to participate in exhibitions), although they are exempt from registration, they are required to submit to Hong Kong Customs a cash transaction report for any cash transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 carried out in Hong Kong within one day after the transaction, or before the dealer or the person acting on behalf of the dealer leaves Hong Kong, whichever is earlier.

     Non-Hong Kong dealers can make an online submission of a cash transaction report via the Regime's webpage at www.drs.customs.gov.hk by accessing the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System. They can also download the related form at www.drs.customs.gov.hk/download/drsform/CED418_Form%208_Cash%20transaction%20report.pdf and then submit the report in person at Hong Kong Customs' booth in the JGW. 

     The Hong Kong Customs' booth (Booth 5B09) is located at Hall 5 of AsiaWorld-Expo and will be open from 10am to 6pm between September 16 and 19, and from 10am to 5pm on September 20.

     Dealers can visit the website (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.html) for more information about the Regime.