The Transport Department (TD) today (August 28) announced that the 15th batch of four projects has been approved by the Management Committee on Smart Traffic Fund, involving a total grant of around $21.4 million.

     The four approved projects in the latest batch cover localisation system for autonomous driving, privacy preserving sensing fusion system for traffic monitoring, driver support training recommendations to enhance cross-border driving safety during the northbound travel, and study on public transport re-routing. Details of the projects are available on the Fund's website (www.stf.hkpc.org).

     The Fund accepts applications year-round to provide funding support to local organisations and enterprises for conducting research and application of innovation and technology with the objectives of enhancing commuting convenience, enhancing efficiency of the road network or road space, and improving driving safety. All applications are considered and assessed in batches by the Management Committee, which is chaired by the Deputy Commissioner for Transport (Planning and Technical Services) and comprises representatives from the Government, experts in the industry and relevant stakeholders.

     The TD appeals to interested organisations and enterprises for participation to help make the Fund a success, and to build Hong Kong into a more liveable and sustainable city by driving Hong Kong toward a new era of transportation.

     Application details are available on the Fund's website. For enquiries, please contact the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Secretariat of the Fund, on 2788 5536 or stf_sec@hkpc.org.

     ​Invest Hong Kong announced today (August 28) that a leading Mainland digital intelligence solutions provider, Hi-Think Technology Corporation, has established its regional headquarters, Hi-Think Technology International Limited (Hi-Think International), in Hong Kong.
     
     Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Dr Jimmy Chiang congratulated Hi-Think International on the move. He said, "Hi-Think International's decision to set up its regional base in Hong Kong proves that the city is a premier platform for Mainland companies to go global and explore overseas markets. I wish Hi-Think International every success in Hong Kong and beyond."
     
     Hi-Think International's parent company, Hi-Think Technology Corporation, is one of China's top 100 software companies and ranks second in China's international software services exports. Hi-Think International provides software solutions and digital technologies to overseas corporate users, with business operations covering Japan and Southeast Asia. It has subsidiaries in Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa in Japan, as well as in Dalian, Jinan, and Suzhou on the Mainland.
     
     The Chairman of Hi-Think International, Mr Wang Yue, said, "We aim to leverage Hong Kong's advantage as an international business hub to provide an array of solutions globally, including Web3.0 platforms, AI platforms, smart parks, low-carbon city complexes, and smart warehousing, enabling our clients to achieve digital intelligence transformation."
     
     He added, "In February this year, we signed a strategic investment agreement with ITOCHU Corporation to support the digital transformation and development of the group's global business. In addition to our growing business in Japan, we are actively looking to expand into overseas markets, such as Southeast Asia and Hong Kong."
     
     For more information about Hi-Think International, please visit hi-think.com.hk.
     
     To get a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720319843106.

    

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Wong Tai Sin this morning (August 28) in which a woman died.
     
     At 10.55am, a minibus driven by a 66-year-old man was travelling along Lung Poon Street towards a transport interchange. When the minibus was approaching a pedestrian crossing, it reportedly knocked down the 47-year-old woman who was crossing the road.
     
     The woman was trapped under the minibus and subsequently rescued. Sustaining multiple injuries, she was rushed to United Christian Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 12.55pm.
     
     The minibus driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.
     
     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon East is under way.
     
     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 0264.
 

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
      
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
      
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
      
     From noon on August 27 to noon today (August 28), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 197 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
      
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website (www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
      
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 80 005 samples of food imported from Japan (including 51 245 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 18 400 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.    

     The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, began a four-day visit to Seoul today (August 28) to promote the development opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and to enhance exchange and collaboration in different areas between the two places.
 
     This evening, Ms Chan will attend a reception with the theme of "Hong Kong – Your Super Connector and Super Value-adder with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area". The reception is organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) (HKETO (Tokyo)), in collaboration with the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office. The reception aims to showcase the unlimited business opportunities and development potential of the GBA to various sectors of the local community, while encouraging Korean talent and enterprises to leverage Hong Kong’s role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" for exploring the enormous markets of the GBA and of the Mainland.
 
     During her stay in Seoul, Ms Chan will call on local government officials, visit a number of innovation and technology enterprises, and exchange views with representatives from various business chambers of commerce and industry associations to learn about the latest developments in Korea. She will also attend a talent attraction luncheon organised by the HKETO (Tokyo) to promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages and talent attraction policies to Korean talent, thereby encouraging them to seize the significant opportunities brought about by GBA development through Hong Kong.
 
     Ms Chan will conclude her visit and return to Hong Kong on August 31.