Tag Archives: China

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following statement in response to a safety incident of hospital facilities today (April 17): 

     At 3pm today, a 7-year old female paediatric patient attended a scheduled session for sensory integration treatment in the Occupational Therapy treatment room at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Centre. The treatment was performed in a room with safety padded floor, patient sitting on a platform swing attached to the eye ring hung from the ceiling which was about 20cm from the floor mat.

     During the treatment, the eye ring connecting the platform swing loosen. The patient fell on the mat gently and our staff lifted up the patient immediately. After checking, the patient was not injured and her relative was informed. KH staff checked all other eye rings in the treatment room immediately and no potential danger was found. The eye rings were suspended to use for safety’s sake.

     KH has engaged maintenance contractor to conduct routine safety checking on the facilities in the centre. According to the record, the related eye ring has no abnormality in the last checking in March 2023 and July 2022. The contractor is required to enhance checking and provide investigation report. The hospital has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. read more

     The Government disbursed the first instalment of the consumption voucher under the 2023 Consumption Voucher Scheme (CVS) to about 6.4 million eligible persons on April 16. The Government reminds members of the public that the vouchers must be used at local retail, catering and service outlets or their online platforms which accept payments by the stored value facilities (SVFs) under the scheme (i.e. AlipayHK, BoC Pay, Octopus, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK). The vouchers must not be used for other purposes including encashment. The SVFs have set usage restrictions on the vouchers to prevent them from being used for non-designated purposes.

     On recent posts on social media platforms alleging that consumption vouchers can be cashed in, a Government spokesman said that the Government has asked the SVF operators to monitor merchants’ transactions using consumption vouchers. If individual merchants are suspected to have act of irregularities including encashment of vouchers, the relevant operators will take appropriate follow-up actions, including terminating the stored value payment service provided to the concerned merchants. In addition, if individual merchants collude with members of the public to make forged transaction records to encash consumption vouchers through unlawful means and engage in acts such as falsification and deception, they may have committed a criminal offence. The CVS Secretariat will refer suspected non-compliant encashment cases to law enforcement agencies for follow-up.
 
     People may visit the CVS website (www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk) or call hotline 18 5000 for detailed information of 2023 CVS. read more

     The Vice Chairman of the 13th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, continued his visit in Hong Kong for a fifth day today (April 17).

     This morning, Mr Xia, accompanied by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, met with representatives of local and foreign business chambers and listened to their views. 

     After that, Mr Xia, accompanied by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, toured the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and interacted with young financial management trainees of the HKEX. 

     Accompanied by Mr Paul Chan; the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; and Mr Joseph Chan, Mr Xia then visited the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). He listened to a briefing by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on the latest situation and development direction of Hong Kong as an international financial centre. He was also briefed by the HKMA, the Securities and Futures Commission and the Insurance Authority on their work. 

     In the afternoon, Mr Xia headed for the Hong Kong Science Park with Mr Lee and the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong. Upon arrival, Mr Xia first visited the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, followed by the Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center at the research and development centre of InnoHK. He also attended an exchange session with representatives of the local innovation and technology industry and young scientists.

     After that, Mr Xia proceeded to visit the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Accompanied by Mr Lee and the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, he was briefed by the Council Chairman of the HKUST, Professor Harry Shum, and the President of the HKUST, Professor Nancy Ip, on the development strategy of the University. He then toured the campus and had an exchange session with representatives of teaching staff and students. 

     In the evening, accompanied by Mr Lee, Mr Xia took a boat trip in Victoria Harbour and was briefed by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, and the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, respectively on the harbourfront development and the latest development of cultural and tourism infrastructure in Hong Kong.

     â€‹Mr Xia will continue the last day of his visit tomorrow, concluding his six-day visit in Hong Kong.

            

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (April 17) started his visit to Beijing.

     In the morning, Mr Tse visited the National Energy Administration (NEA) to exchange views on issues such as the promotion of energy co-operation. Mr Tse said in the meeting that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government would proactively integrate into the overall development of our country and strengthen regional co-operation in clean energy, so as to lead Hong Kong towards the goal of carbon neutrality and to tie in with our country’s planning and development of energy and decarbonisation.

     “The NEA expressed their support in ensuring Hong Kong’s electricity supply and in the promotion of clean energy and green and low-carbon transition. The HKSAR Government is grateful for the support of the NEA,” said Mr Tse.

     Mr Tse then visited the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) to learn about its history and development, as well as its contributions to areas including energy security, green development and supporting people’s livelihood. Mr Tse also met with the representatives from the State Grid and conducted exchanges.

     In the afternoon, Mr Tse visited the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) to exchange views on issues of mutual concern, including the facilitation arrangement for exporting food made in Hong Kong to the Mainland markets, as well as the construction and commissioning of the electronic data transmission system for food supply for Hong Kong. Both parties exchanged some initial thoughts at the meeting today. The GACC supports the enterprises of Hong Kong to integrate into the overall development of the country proactively. Further discussion on the way forward will be conducted at working level later.

     The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the GACC also signed the Co-operation Arrangement for Regulation of Safety of Raw Milk supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong. Mr Tse said the Arrangement can further strengthen co-operation of both parties in the field of food safety and increase the clearance efficiency. He also expressed gratitude to the national support in securing the supply of food to Hong Kong, stressing that the HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities to ensure an adequate, stable and safe food supply to Hong Kong.　

     Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (April 18).

      

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) and eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today (April 17) to establish a long-term partnership, so as to facilitate the continuous education of persons in custody (PICs) who were students of the universities before imprisonment and wish to continue their studies.
      
     The CSD has been committed to providing appropriate rehabilitation programmes and encouraging PICs to pursue further studies. The signing of the MoU will enable the CSD to provide more comprehensive support for PICs’ studies including assisting remorseful students in custody in need in credit transfers for continuing their studies at respective universities after release.
      
     The MoU was signed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing, and the Presidents/representatives of the eight UGC-funded universities, and witnessed by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, and the Chairman of the Research Grants Council, Professor Wong Yuk-shan, on behalf of the UGC.
      
     Mr Tang said that the signing of the MoU demonstrates the determination and efforts of the CSD and the universities in helping young PICs reintegrate into society. The MoU will enable young PICs to continue their studies, through which they will be nurtured to have an aspiring mind-set and positive thinking, so that they can contribute to Hong Kong and the country.
      
     Professor Wong said that this partnership between the CSD and the UGC-funded universities is a testament to the shared belief that education has the power to change lives for the better. He commended the two sides for their unwavering commitment to education and willingness to participate in this transformative initiative. He believes that by investing in the education of PICs, it will bring a brighter future for them, their families, and eventually the community as a whole.
      
     The Convenor of the Heads of Universities Committee and the President of Lingnan University, Professor Leonard Cheng, said that education provides young PICs with the opportunity for personal progress and success, thereby bringing them a sense of purpose, achievement and hope for living a meaningful life after release. He is confident that more young PICs will benefit from the opportunities of continuous education with the commitment of the UGC-funded universities being made under the framework of the MoU.