Correctional officers stopped a person in custody from assaulting another person in custody and two staff members at Lo Wu Correctional Institution yesterday (August 22). At 7.07pm yesterda… read more
Correctional officers at Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution stopped a fight among detainees yesterday (August 22). At 5.42pm yesterday, two male detainees aged 35 and 39 respectively enga… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The delegation of the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene (the Panel) continued its duty visit to Nanjing and Yangzhou today (August 22).
In the morning, the delegation participated in an exchange session with representatives of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Both parties had in-depth discussions on policy measures regarding cityscape management and environmental hygiene. The delegation then visited Nanjing City Interface’s management centre to gain insights into how the city implements a “unified management in one network” approach to integrate data on one network, monitor the whole region on one screen, and co-ordinate emergency response and solve problems in one stop, thereby enhancing modern urban governance capability.
In the afternoon, the delegation held an exchange session with the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to jointly explore how to promote the development of agriculture and fisheries in the two places through the promotion of technology applications, brand building and talent attraction.
Before departing for Yangzhou, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the leaders of the Nanjing Customs District to learn about the policy measures on safety and testing of imported and exported food products in Jiangsu Province, as well as related publicity and education work. The delegation wished to draw on the experience of Jiangsu Province to further enhance food safety in Hong Kong.
The delegation had dinner and exchanged views with leaders of the Yangzhou Municipal People’s Government in the evening to learn about Yangzhou’s latest development.
The delegation will continue its duty visit to Yangzhou and Nanjing tomorrow (August 23).
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, began his visit to Beijing today (August 22).
Professor Sun called on Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Mr Zhang Yunming. He gave him an introduction on the development plan of Hong Kong’s new quality productive forces and new industrialisation, including the latest development in such industries as artificial intelligence and robotics, life and health technology, advanced manufacturing and new energy, and third-generation semiconductors in Hong Kong, as well as the planning of the Hong Kong park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Co-operation Zone) and San Tin Technopole in support of the technology industry development in Hong Kong. Professor Sun said Hong Kong has to develop new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions, promote the development of new industrialisation, and integrate into the country’s industrial innovation system. The meeting also discussed about how Hong Kong could proactively integrate into the country’s overall development strategy and get to the forefront of development of new quality productive forces of the country.
Professor Sun also visited the National Health Commission to call on Vice Minister Mr Cao Xuetao. During the meeting, Professor Sun gave a briefing on Hong Kong’s latest situation on promoting the scientific research and industry development of life and health technology. He also introduced the overall planning and development direction of the Hong Kong park of the Hetao Co-operation Zone. To support the high quality development of the Co-operation Zone, both sides exchanged views on the realisation of dedicated cross-boundary measures to promote the flow of innovation and technology (I&T) elements in the Co-operation Zone. Among which, both sides examined the suggestion of cross-boundary flow of Mainland medical and health data and biological samples to the Hong Kong park for scientific research and clinical trials on the safe and orderly principle.
In addition to calling on central ministries, Professor Sun also attended the 2024 World Robot Conference and exchanged views with speakers at the dialogue session. Under the theme of “Global Robotics Development and Governance” in the first chapter of the conference’s main forum “Industry Development”, Professor Sun elaborated on the key development trends and applications of robotics in future technological innovation.
Professor Sun pointed out that Hong Kong is committed to promoting robotics development ecosystem. Fifteen research and development centres have been admitted to the AIR@InnoHK, an InnoHK Research Cluster dedicated to the development of artificial intelligence and robotics technology, to leverage the city’s strong research and development capabilities in developing related technology industries and applying the latest robotics technology in different scenarios including healthcare services, industry and commerce. At the same time, Hong Kong proactively attracts Mainland and overseas I&T enterprises by leveraging its role as a “super value-adder” to expand related industries. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government also encourages government departments to utilise robotic technologies to enhance their services and meet daily challenges.
With the theme of “Co-Fostering New Quality Productive Forces for a Shared Intelligent Future”, the 2024 World Robot Conference was organised by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and the World Robot Cooperation Organization. Exhibitions, contests and supporting events were also held concurrently.
On the same day, Professor Sun and other delegates visited a supplier of intelligent system solutions and visited its intelligent experience centre to learn more about the enterprise’s business development, key technologies and core products, as well as its businesses on promoting the innovative transformation of scientific and technological achievements.
The Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), Dr Ge Ming, also joined part of the visit.
Professor Sun will continue his visit in Beijing tomorrow (August 23).
The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, attended the 8th International Mediation Summit in Urumqi, Xinjiang today (August 22) to promote exchanges on commercial mediation between Hong Kong and Xinjiang and explore collaboration opportunities.
Under the theme of “Deepen Reform and Innovation in Dispute Resolution Mechanism and Promote the Development of Economic Trade and Investment”, the Summit featured multiple panel sessions exploring the latest developments and sharing experience in dispute resolution mechanisms, attracting hundreds of lawyers, mediators, arbitrators, and representatives of enterprises, etc. from the Mainland and overseas, including countries from Central Asia.
In his opening remarks, Mr Cheung said that Hong Kong and Xinjiang can achieve mutual development. Xinjiang has been playing a crucial role in promoting economic and trade relations with the Belt and Road countries. Being an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region and the only common law jurisdiction in China, Hong Kong is dedicated to promoting multifaceted dispute resolution mechanism such as mediation so as to create a favourable environment for business and investment and to support high quality economic development within the region and beyond.
He also elaborated on Hong Kong’s latest development in promoting international commercial mediation, strengthening training for mediation talents, promoting mediation culture and widening the use of mediation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
He mentioned that with the Belt and Road Initiative further facilitating international investment and trade, international investment and commercial disputes are expected to increase. The International Organization for Mediation headquarters in Hong Kong will not only consolidate the city’s role as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, but also provide friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services for settling international disputes upon its establishment, thereby building Hong Kong as a centre for international mediation.
He added that the Department of Justice (DoJ) has been actively nurturing legal talents and promoting mediation culture. Since 2018, the DoJ has been organising training courses on investment law and investment mediation, and participants from 40 jurisdictions have completed the courses. The DoJ also launched the “Mediate First” Pledge campaign in 2009, which has been extended to Shanghai, Shenzhen and Bangkok, and will continue to be extended to other GBA cities and overseas regions. At present, more than 890 units have signed the Pledge committing to first explore the possibility of resolving disputes by means of mediation.
Upon his arrival in Urumqi yesterday (August 21), Mr Cheung called on Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Ms Sun Hongmei and attended a dinner together. Mr Cheung pointed out that Xinjiang is located at the core of the Silk Road Economic Belt with distinct geographical advantages, while Hong Kong has the unique advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world. With a well-established legal system and a pool of top international legal and professional services talents, he believed that Hong Kong could make proactive contribution in enhancing the legal and international business environment in Xinjiang.
In the afternoon, Mr Cheung met with the senior officials of the Justice Department of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to explore ways to enhance co-operation in legal services between Xinjiang and Hong Kong, so as to better meet Xinjiang’s demand for foreign-related legal services and talents, and to jointly contribute to the development of the country. He then visited the One-stop Dispute Resolution Centre of Functional Urumqi Economic and Technological Development Zone of China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The centre, being the first one-stop commercial dispute resolution platform set up in the Pilot Free Trade Zone, addresses the needs of enterprises for integrated legal services from courts, prosecutorial organs and lawyers as well as services for intellectual property rights protection. It provides enterprises with one-stop services for international commercial litigation, arbitration, mediation and legal consultation and actively creates a law-based business environment.
He also met with the Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and Chairman of the CCPIT Mediation Center, Mr Yu Jianlong, to exchange views on enhancing co-operation between Hong Kong and Xinjiang in legal services for commercial matters. He also attended a luncheon with representatives of Hong Kong enterprises in Xinjiang to understand how legal services of Hong Kong could better support the business sector in seizing national development opportunities.
Mr Cheung will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (August 23).
