Tag Archives: China

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) hosted a summer networking reception in London, United Kingdom (UK), on June 27 (London time), greeting about 200 guests which included UK government officials, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, mayors and deputy mayors from some London Boroughs, leading figures in the business sector, academics, media representatives and members of the Chinese community. 

     Speaking at the reception, the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, provided an update on the latest development of Hong Kong. He highlighted the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s commitment to compete for enterprises and compete for talents, including expanding the coverage of professions in the Talent List for various immigration scheme in May. “The Top Talent Pass Scheme and various enhanced talent schemes were introduced about half a year ago, with 84 000 applications received by the end of May, among which some 49 000 applications had been approved. This is a solid proof of Hong Kong’s attractiveness for global talents,” he said.

     Mr Law concluded on a positive note, “With the dual advantages of ‘one country’ and ‘two systems’, Hong Kong has an integral role to play in the development blueprint laid out in the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We are confident that Hong Kong provides a favourable environment for businesses to thrive and tap into the Mainland and Asia-Pacific markets.” 

     The reception also featured a string quartet performance by members from the Ponte London Orchestra, with a variety of classical and contemporary pieces played throughout the evening. 

          

     â€‹The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, led Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments to visit Huzhou City and Jiaxing City of Zhejiang Province today (June 28) to obtain a deeper understanding of the practical experience of grassroots governance and common prosperity.
      
     In Anji County, they visited places including Yucun and Villa & Resort to learn more about rural transformation and success stories about improving rural environment and increasing rural income. They also talked to local residents and shop operators to learn more about their daily lives and business practices.
      
     More than a decade ago, Yucun closed the county’s largest mining area which caused serious pollution. Through improving the environment, the local government rediscovered the value of the village and put efforts on rural rebuilding and reconstruction of urban and rural areas. Following the concept of “clean waters and green mountains are just as valuable as gold and silver”, the local government established the first ecological county in the country and developed rural tourism economy. After years of continual and dedicated efforts, Anji County has accelerated green development and paved the way for the modernisation of grassroots governance, creating a path of transformation and upgrading for ecological economisation and economic ecologisation, which increased farmers’ income, narrowed income gap between urban and rural areas to achieve common prosperity.
      
     Similarly, after a careful conversion, Villa & Resort, a homestay cluster, has been transformed from a “hollow village” where most of the young people left the village for work in the city in the past, to an integrated community for leisure tourism, arts, culture and creativity which attracted a large number of young people to start their businesses and let tourists to stay and enjoy village life there.
      
     The delegation also visited the Hello Kitty Amusement Park in Hangzhou; the China Bamboo Expo Park, the first county-level base for giant pandas in the country; the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History; and the Song Ming Tea Expo Garden in Anji which is developed in the direction of agriculture, tourism and culture.
      
     Mrs Yeung said development needs to balance economic interests and the impact on the environment and lifestyle. In the course of development, there is a need to assist those who are less capable financially to find opportunities to improve their lives. The successful practical experience of common prosperity and Chinese-style modernisation in Zhejiang has enabled senior civil servants to gain a first-hand understanding of ways to resolve conflicts in the process of development. It is believed that upon their return to Hong Kong, the participants can, taking into account their own experience from this trip, formulate more people-oriented policies in their respective positions so as to boost momentum for development in community and improve people’s livelihood.
      
     She also said many of the places visited today have green, tourism and cultural elements, and are examples of successful transformation combined with advantages of natural valuable resources. She believed that they would be an inspiration to colleagues in different positions.
      
     The delegation will continue its visit in Zhejiang Province tomorrow (June 29).

            

     In response to the comments on the conviction of the contractor for construction works under the Shatin to Central Link Project yesterday (June 27) for material deviation from the approved plans, a spokesman for the Buildings Department (BD) today (June 28) made the following statement.

     Upon completion of investigations into the irregularities in the construction works at the Hung Hom Stabling Sidings under the Shatin to Central Link Project, and based on the findings of the investigations and after consulting the Department of Justice (DoJ), the BD instigated prosecution action against the concerned registered contractor (Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited) for an offence under section 40(2A)(a)(ii) of the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123) in May 2020. In the course of the prosecution, the DoJ, having reviewed the circumstances of the case and relevant evidence, and in order to maximise the chance of successful conviction, amended the charge to an offence under section 40(2A)(b) of the BO in June 2023. The details and the factual basis of the case remained unchanged. The two offences are of similar gravity and carry the same maximum penalties (a maximum fine of $1,000,000 and three years’ imprisonment). There is no question of the amended charge being less serious than the original charge.

     The BD and the DoJ are studying the verdict to consider whether an appeal should be lodged.

     As mentioned in yesterday’s press release, the BD will refer the case to the Contractors’ Disciplinary Board for instigating disciplinary proceedings under the BO. read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department… read more

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 28) reminded the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented from 8.30am to 11.30am tomorrow (June 29) at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai in connection with the preparation work for the celebration of the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 1.
 
Traffic arrangements
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     The following sections of roads will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic:

– Expo Drive;
– Expo Drive Central;
– Expo Drive East;
– The slip road leading from the Central – Wan Chai Bypass (CWB) Tunnel to Expo Drive; and
– Lung Tat Path eastbound.
 
Public transport arrangements
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     The following bus route diversions and associated temporary relocation of bus stops will be implemented in connection with the road closures mentioned above:
 
– The terminal point for cross-harbour route No. 961 at Expo Drive East will be relocated to Harbour Road outside Wan Chai Training Pool;
– The bus stop for cross-harbour route No. 930 at Gloucester Road westbound near Paterson Street would be suspended and replacement bus stops will be temporarily provided at Hennessy Road near Tonnochy Road, Hennessy Road near Wan Chai Fire Station, Yee Wo Street outside Hong Kong Mansion, and Tung Lo Wan Road opposite St. Paul’s Hospital after route diversion;
– The cross-harbour route Nos. 104, 914P and 914X will be temporarily diverted but existing bus stops will not be affected; and
– The taxi stand at Expo Drive will be suspended.
 
     In anticipation of more traffic in the vicinity of Wan Chai North, motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, they should exercise tolerance and patience, follow the Police’s instructions and be alert to the latest traffic news through the media.
 
     Appropriate traffic signs will be erected to guide motorists. Public transport operators will display notices to inform passengers of the temporary arrangements. Public transport users are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of bus route diversions and relocation of bus stops. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary.
 
     For details on the special traffic and transport arrangements, members of the public can browse the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) or mobile application “HKeMobility”. read more