â€‹The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (July 29) led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation to continue their visit in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Mr Lee met with leaders of the Lao government, and visited a local school, an enterprise and a railway project. He also attended a business dinner to exchange views with local business leaders.

     In the morning, Mr Lee and his delegation met with key members of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr Lee said that with the support of such national strategies as the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development, Hong Kong is an important platform connecting the Mainland with the world. He encouraged Lao enterprises to make use of Hong Kong’s financial, logistics and professional services to expand overseas, and to explore the vast Mainland market.

     Mr Lee then respectively met with the Prime Minister of Laos, Mr Sonexay Siphandone, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

     Mr Lee said that Hong Kong attaches great importance to its close collaboration with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Laos. As the first Chief Executive of the HKSAR visiting Laos, Mr Lee said he hopes to lead his team to explore partnerships with Laos in different areas and contribute to the co-operation between China and Laos under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

     Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is actively seeking accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in order to further contribute to the economic development of the region. Noting that the Lao government has assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN this year, Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Lao government for acknowledging Hong Kong's potential contribution, and its continuous and strong support to Hong Kong's accession to the RCEP.
     Mr Lee and Mr Saleumxay also jointly witnessed the exchange of 12 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between organisations and enterprises of the two places in areas including customs collaboration, investment promotion, trade and economic partnership, financial services, education exchange and so on.

     Mr Lee noted that the conclusion of the series of MoUs between Hong Kong and Laos will promote the connections between the two places across various fields. He said that it will also allow Hong Kong enterprises to seize the opportunities in entering the market of Laos, grasping the abundant development potential of Laos, and jointly developing emerging industries.

     In the afternoon, Mr Lee visited a secondary school in Laos to tour teaching facilities and watch a performance by students. Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government has set up the Belt and Road Scholarship to support outstanding students from countries and regions along the Belt and Road, including Laos, to pursue full-time studies in publicly-funded universities of Hong Kong. He looked forward to more talent from Laos staying in Hong Kong for development in the future.

     Afterwards, Mr Lee visited the Saysettha Development Zone, a new economic zone in Vientiane. The development zone is a key co-operation project between the governments of China and Laos, and is the only state-level overseas economic and trade co-operation zone established by China in Laos. Currently, about 150 companies from nine countries and regions have settled in the zone.

     Mr Lee also visited Solarspace Technology (Laos) Sole Co. Ltd in the development zone to learn more about its business in manufacturing solar cells and modules. He highlighted that the HKSAR Government is committed to combatting climate change, with the target of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. He expressed his hope that Hong Kong and Laos enterprises could have more co-operation opportunities in new energy.

     Mr Lee and his delegation then visited Vientiane Station, the terminal station of the China-Laos Railway, to understand more about the operation of the railway. The China-Laos Railway is a flagship project of China-Laos co-operation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, playing a significant role in connecting the two countries. Mr Lee said that the China-Laos Railway has greatly shortened the transportation time for cargo and passengers between the two countries, and helped to promote people-to-people exchange. As an international trade and shipping centre, and a regional aviation hub, Hong Kong possesses a high-quality logistics service sector that could share its experience with Lao enterprises, supporting the development of the regional logistics industry in Laos, he added.

     In the evening, Mr Lee attended a dinner with the Lao Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Speaking at the dinner, Mr Lee introduced the latest development opportunities of Hong Kong to local business leaders, as well as the HKSAR Government's measures in strengthening connections between the peoples and business communities of the two places.

     The delegation led by Mr Lee will depart for Phnom Penh, Cambodia tomorrow (July 30) to continue the visit programme.

                                                      

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 29) following up a cluster of Candida auris carrier cases involving a total of six residents at a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE) in Kowloon City, and reminded members of the public about the proper use of antimicrobials and maintaining personal hygiene against infection.

     The CHP received notification from the Hospital Authority that a 78-year-old male resident of the aforementioned RCHE, who was earlier admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and had contact with a known carrier case at the hospital, was confirmed to have carried Candida auris upon testing a week later when he was already discharged back to RCHE, while another 96-year-old female resident of the RCHE was confirmed to have carried Candida auris upon admission screening.

     Upon receiving the notification, the CHP conducted further epidemiological investigation at the RCHE and found that the two aforementioned residents had contacts during their stay in the RCHE. Also, contact screening revealed another four carrier cases involving four female residents aged between 89 and 100. One of them had contacts with the 78-year-old male resident, while the remaining three share room with the 96-year-old female resident mentioned above. The six of them, with underlying illnesses, have no symptoms of infection, and are in stable condition.

     The CHP is continuing its investigation on the infection source of the cluster and a site inspection has been conducted. It is found that the first case (78-year-old male resident) was discharged without knowing the carrier status and the infection spread within the RCHE concerned before appropriate infection control measures have been implemented. 

     The CHP has provided infection control advice and training to staff of the RCHE. The RCHE is advised to follow the prevailing guidelines to enhance infection control measures including appropriate placement of carrier residents, strict implementation of contact precautions, enhancement of environmental cleansing and disinfection, use of dedicated medical equipment, toilet and bathing facilities to prevent the spread of Candida auris. The CHP will keep in close liaison with the RCHE concerned, monitor the situation of the residents and ensure the RCHE has carried out the various infection control measures.

     A spokesman for the CHP explained that Candida is a fungus commonly found in the natural environment, particularly in moist and warm environments. In humans, it is commonly found in body sites such as the oral cavity, the digestive tract, the skin and the vagina. It is a common fungus living on or in the human body but can occasionally cause infections, especially in individuals with impaired immunity.

     â€‹â€‹Among the different candida species, Candida auris is more drug-resistant. Infections vary from being mild to potentially life-threatening or fatal, depending on which part of the body is affected and the general health condition of the patient. The spokesman stressed that proper use of antimicrobials and maintaining personal hygiene, especially hand hygiene, are crucial to the prevention of the emergence and cross-transmission of Candida auris.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired the 16th meeting of the Youth Development Commission (YDC) today (July 29). 
      
     At the meeting, members were briefed by government representatives on the latest implementation matters of the Youth Development Blueprint. They were pleased to note that policy bureaux and departments have been taking forward more than 160 measures as stated in the Blueprint, and nearly 60 new measures put forward last year, at full steam to support the growth and development of young people in an all-round manner.
 
     The progress of the various youth development initiatives under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the YDC, from among those measures, is summarised as follows:

     (1) The HYAB is actively preparing to organise the Youth Development Summit scheduled to be held on August 10 this year as the opening and highlight of the 2024 Youth Festival. Under the theme "Set Sail for New Horizons", the Summit has invited key officials responsible for youth policies, technology innovators, experts from creative industries, young entrepreneurs, representatives of youth organisations, etc as guest speakers. The HYAB has also recruited local young people and invited youth groups from the Mainland and overseas to participate in the event in Hong Kong; 

     (2) The HYAB and the YDC continue to implement various Mainland and overseas exchange and internship programmes, and have launched for the first time the Pilot Scheme on Subsidy to Grassroots Youth for Participating in Exchange Activities Outside Hong Kong to provide additional subsidies to grassroots youths, to encourage more young people of different backgrounds to broaden their horizons and explore development opportunities; 

     (3) In March this year, the HYAB launched the mobile application for youth "HKYouth+" as a one-stop platform to disseminate diversified information on various youth development programmes, covering a number of areas such as national development, arts and culture and entertainment, innovative technology, and physical and mental wellbeing. It enables young people to explore suitable activities and development opportunities based on their needs and interests; 

     (4) The HYAB and the YDC launched in April this year a new round of the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases under the Youth Development Fund. Through providing entrepreneurial support and incubation services in the GBA for young people of Hong Kong, the two funding schemes help them address the initial capital needs and cope with the challenges in setting up their business. A total of 80 applications by non-governmental organisations were received in the current round of the two funding schemes, an increase of about 40 per cent compared with the previous round; 

     (5) The HYAB has subsidised various youth uniformed groups to enhance national education promotion efforts. It has also organised five rounds of a Chinese Drill Instructors Workshop together with the Hong Kong Police College and the Civil Aid Service. A total of more than 270 instructors have been trained, enabling all youth uniformed groups to have formally trained instructors to teach Chinese footdrills. In addition, the Tsing Yi Community Isolation Facility has been converted into the Youth Development and National Education Base, which is managed by the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association. It has been available for use by youth uniformed groups starting in April this year for holding activities, including flag raising, footdrill training and other youth development activities; and 

     (6) The HYAB has been continuously organising a number of activities for the Youth Link to link up participants of various government youth programmes, provide them with a wide range of opportunities to develop diverse talent, and strengthen their interaction and trust with the Government. More than 10 000 youths have joined the Youth Link. 
     â€‹
     Mr Chan said, "The Government has been working with the YDC to continuously take forward and deepen youth development work through the Blueprint. The various measures in the Blueprint have achieved good progress in its implementation. I would like to thank all members of the YDC for their active participation in the publicity and implementation of the Blueprint. I hope that the YDC will continue to work closely with various bureaux and departments to steadfastly nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, and, equipped with global perspective, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking."

     This past June, "Fame in a Flash – A Tour of AVON Recording Studios", a highly popular event under the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024 presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), sold out instantly. To allow more members of the public the chance to visit this legendary studio, the LCSD has announced that 24 additional tours will be arranged. Tickets for the additional tours will be on sale from August 2 (Friday).
 
     "Fame in a Flash – A Tour of AVON Recording Studios" is one of the featured programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024. The event is curated by ACOO and supported by the Avon Recording Studios.
 
     Founded in 1983, Avon Recording Studios is one of the most esteemed professional recording facilities in Hong Kong, having witnessed the birth of countless classic pop songs. In 2015, it was saved from demise by Mr Hins Cheung who took over the helm and funded its renovation, thus carrying the torch for this "Pop Music Hall of Fame" to safeguard its music archives of cultural value.
 
     Through the guided tour, participants can learn more about the studio's history, its architectural and acoustic designs as well as the many stories behind them. Participants will also be able to take part in a "demo recording" session assisted by professional audio mixers. Each attendee can choose a song from a special playlist, which includes gems from different eras, before recording a one-minute segment of their singing with high-quality equipment. At the end of the tour, each participant will receive a personalised audio record as a memento. 
 
     The additional tours are detailed as follows:
     Dates: August 10, 17 and 31 (Saturday);
　　　　　 September 7, 14 and 21 (Saturday)
     Time: Four tours per day at 1pm, 2.30pm, 4pm and 5.30pm respectively
     Venue: Avon Recording Studios (2/F, ACME Building, 22-28 Nanking Street, Jordan, Kowloon)
     Language: Conducted in Cantonese
 
     To promote Hong Kong's pop music and to give more people a taste of song recording at a top-tier studio, admission fee for this event is set at $180. Tickets for the additional tours will be sold through a real-name ticketing system. Persons below 12 will not be admitted, and each person can purchase a maximum of two tickets. The purchaser must provide in full the English name of the tour attendee, which will be printed on the ticket for checking at the admission point. There will be no ticket transfer, exchange nor upgrade available. The names of the ticket holders cannot be changed upon purchase. Ticket holders are required to bring along the true copy of identity proof with photo, and are advised to arrive at the Avon Recording Studios entrance at least 15 minutes before the tour commences for identity check.
 
     Tickets for the additional tours will go on sale at 10am, August 2 on the URBTIX website (www.urbtix.hk) and its mobile ticketing app URBTIX (Android, HarmonyOS and iPhone/iPad versions). Tickets can be booked through the Internet and mobile app, but not at the URBTIX counter, telephone nor self-service ticketing kiosk. For programme and ticketing enquiries, please call 6689 5735 (ACOO) or 3166 1100 (URBTIX), or visit the event webpage at www.pcf.gov.hk/en/programmes/fameinaflash.
 
     Last year, the LCSD presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to great acclaim. This year's second edition features "Arts & Action" as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to explore the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong's pop culture. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.

            

     The first batch of 110 public and private construction sites participating in the Smart Site Safety System Labelling Scheme (4S Labelling Scheme) has passed the assessment and were issued label plaques today (July 29) to indicate the proper adoption of 4S – Smart Site Safety System – at their respective construction sites. 
      
     The 4S Labelling Scheme was launched by the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) in May 2024 to issue labels to construction sites after on-site inspections and assessments of the proper adoption of 4S, with a view to driving a wider adoption of 4S in the construction industry and providing a safer working environment for site personnel through identifying such construction sites.
      
     Speaking at the Presentation Ceremony of Plaques for the 4S Labelling Scheme, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau, noted that 4S could issue timely alerts to relevant site personnel to effectively prevent serious accidents, while facilitating efficient management of construction progress. He encouraged the construction industry to continue to support 4S, earnestly participate in the 4S Labelling Scheme, utilise innovative technologies, and promote smart site safety construction, with a view to ensuring site safety and promoting sustainable development of the construction industry.

     The Chairman of the CIC, Mr Thomas Ho, called for early adoption of 4S on construction sites. He said that site management should visit construction sites to ensure 4S is effectively adopted.
      
     The 110 public and private works construction sites with labels issued today involve different works types and scales, and have also adopted 4S covering various advance technologies and devices. The 4S Labelling Scheme has received applications from more than 350 construction sites in the first two months since its launch, and the assessment is being conducted progressively. 
      
     The plaques will be placed at conspicuous spots around construction sites, with 4S labels for identification and ease of monitoring, including facilitating enforcement departments to monitor the sites without 4S labels. The list of such construction sites is available at the CIC's website (www.cic.hk/4s-labelling/en/project-list) for public inspection. 
      
     The Government has been adopting a multipronged approach to promote the wide adoption of 4S in the construction industry. Apart from the 4S Labelling Scheme, the DEVB has required capital works contracts exceeding $30 million to fully adopt 4S. The Buildings Department has introduced mandatory measures since July 1. Conditions will be imposed under the Buildings Ordinance requiring the adoption of 4S to provide qualified supervision of building works when granting the first approval, or approval of major revisions of superstructure plans, of private development projects. For building works with an estimated cost exceeding $30 million and involving the use of mobile plants and tower cranes, registered contractors are required to adopt relevant 4S alert systems. The Government also subsidises private works projects to adopt 4S through the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund, and has launched respective packages of 4S products with the CIC for various types and scales of private works projects.