The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:
 
     The delegation led by The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, completed a three-day visit to Beijing today (August 28) and will return to Hong Kong this evening.
      
    At the courtesy call on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council yesterday morning (August 27), the delegation met and exchanged views with Member of the Office Leadership, Mr Xiang Bin. Mr Chan gave an overview of the Office's latest work progress and strategic direction in future, particularly its focus on mediation and the promotion of interdepartmental collaboration.
      
     Mr Xiang recognised the Office's role and work in handling public complaints and monitoring government administration, and considered it to have served a unique purpose of fostering social harmony and stability. He encouraged the Office to remain steadfast in a people-oriented approach to leverage its strength, help people resolve problems and enhance the standard of public administration, as well as properly acting as a bridge between the public and the Government.
      
     The delegation also visited the Information Centre of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Commission of Supervision to learn more about online reporting of irregularities.
      
     Yesterday afternoon, the delegation visited the Beijing Municipal Administrative Centre to observe the operation of local administrative services. The delegation also experienced the advancements in autonomous vehicle technology during their visit to the Innovation Centre in the Beijing Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area.
      
     This morning, the delegation toured the Museum of the Communist Party of China to learn and gain an insight into the CPC's remarkable achievements, its development path and success stories over various periods, and the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:
 
     The delegation led by The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, completed a three-day visit to Beijing today (August 28) and returned to Hong Kong this evening.
      
     At the courtesy call on the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee yesterday morning (August 27), the delegation met and exchanged views with its Deputy Director Mr Xiang Bin. Mr Chan gave an overview of the Office's latest work progress and strategic direction in future, particularly its focus on mediation and the promotion of interdepartmental collaboration.
      
     Mr Xiang recognised the Office's role and work in handling public complaints and monitoring government administration, and considered it to have served a unique purpose of fostering social harmony and stability. He encouraged the Office to remain steadfast in a people-oriented approach to leverage its strength, help people resolve problems and enhance the standard of public administration, as well as properly acting as a bridge between the public and the Government.
      
     The delegation also visited the Information Centre of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Commission of Supervision to learn more about online reporting of irregularities.
      
     Yesterday afternoon, the delegation visited the Beijing Municipal Administrative Centre to observe the operation of local administrative services. The delegation also experienced the advancements in autonomous vehicle technology during their visit to the Innovation Centre in the Beijing Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area.
      
     This morning, the delegation toured the Museum of the Communist Party of China to learn and gain an insight into the CPC's remarkable achievements, its development path and success stories over various periods, and the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:
 
     The delegation led by The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, completed a three-day visit to Beijing today (August 28) and will return to Hong Kong this evening.
      
    At the courtesy call on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council yesterday morning (August 27), the delegation met and exchanged views with Member of the Office Leadership, Mr Xiang Bin. Mr Chan gave an overview of the Office's latest work progress and strategic direction in future, particularly its focus on mediation and the promotion of interdepartmental collaboration.
      
     Mr Xiang recognised the Office's role and work in handling public complaints and monitoring government administration, and considered it to have served a unique purpose of fostering social harmony and stability. He encouraged the Office to remain steadfast in a people-oriented approach to leverage its strength, help people resolve problems and enhance the standard of public administration, as well as properly acting as a bridge between the public and the Government.
      
     The delegation also visited the Information Centre of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Commission of Supervision to learn more about online reporting of irregularities.
      
     Yesterday afternoon, the delegation visited the Beijing Municipal Administrative Centre to observe the operation of local administrative services. The delegation also experienced the advancements in autonomous vehicle technology during their visit to the Innovation Centre in the Beijing Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area.
      
     This morning, the delegation toured the Museum of the Communist Party of China to learn and gain an insight into the CPC's remarkable achievements, its development path and success stories over various periods, and the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

    

     The Transport Department (TD) today (August 28) announced that the auction of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on September 14 (Saturday) in Meeting Room S421, L4, Old Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 350 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public auction. The list of marks has been uploaded to the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html," a department spokesman said.

     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark concerned may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(1) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.

(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.

(3) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(4) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.

(5) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Traditional Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/tvrm_auction/index.html.

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the NovaX Global Investmatch Carnival 2024 today (August 28):

Clarence (Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr Clarence Ling), Raymond (Member of the All-China Youth Federation Mr Raymond Zhao), Steve (Executive Chairman of the Hong Kong Young Scientist Association and Member of the All-China Youth Federation, Mr Steve Gao), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It is my great pleasure to attend the NovaX Global Investmatch Carnival 2024. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Innovating Hong Kong for bringing together top-tier innovative companies, investment institutions, and industry experts from around the world to Hong Kong to explore technological frontiers and investment opportunities and shape the future of innovation.

     Start-ups are the heartbeat of innovation. As I have mentioned in many occasions, funding is an essential element to support the growth and sustainable development of start-ups, as well as to enhance the global innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. I am delighted to see that today's event provides a platform for start-ups to connect with investors, and innovation to meet with opportunity. This echoes our I&T development strategy to diversify venture financing channels and support the development of start-ups and industries.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to providing comprehensive support to start-ups at different stages of their development. Apart from the various entrepreneurship schemes and incubation programmes provided by the two I&T flagships in Hong Kong, namely the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hong Kong Cyberport, there are multiple fundraising channels available for start-ups from other government and private investment funds. We encourage the enrichment of venture financing channels and welcome more participation from the venture capitalists and business sector to build a more vibrant I&T ecosystem.

     Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland, and at the same time being closely connected to the world. By leveraging our role as a "super-connector" and a "super value-adder", Hong Kong can pool together innovation resources all around the world to promote I&T development and investment, also serve as the bridge linking the Mainland and the rest of the world, as well as the springboard for overseas enterprises to access the huge Mainland market and for Mainland enterprises to go global. This year, in the Global Innovation Index, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster continued to rank second in the world for the fifth consecutive year. We welcome start-ups, talent and investors to come to Hong Kong to explore the amazing I&T landscape with open arms. 

     Ladies and gentlemen, to foster a vibrant I&T ecosystem, we need to develop a sustainable I&T ecological chain through close collaboration across various sectors. Promoting collaborative efforts among the government, academia, research institutions, and the investment sector is of paramount importance. Let us join hands to embark on an I&T journey across borders.

     In closing, may I extend my best wishes for the success of the NovaX Global Investmatch Carnival and a fruitful experience to all attendees present here today. Thank you very much.