According to the figures released today (March 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.8% or 20 900 persons in December 2022 compared with a year earlier… read more
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, this morning (March 20) paid a courtesy call on the Director General of Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, Mr Li Bin, to exchange views and explore opportunities of enhancing collaboration. The Commissioner for Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum, and various tourism industry representatives also joined the visit.
Mr Yeung said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has always attached great importance to connections with Guangdong province. Exchanges between the two places at the community level have been frequent and there is much room for further collaboration on cultural tourism. As the country’s Culture and Tourism Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) clearly supports Hong Kong in developing into an international tourism hub and a core demonstration zone for multi-destination tourism, Hong Kong takes up an important role in promoting the high-quality development of GBA tourism. With the country’s support, I am confident that Hong Kong could bring a positive impact on developing the GBA into a world-class bay area for leisure by utilising its well-developed cross-boundary infrastructure and rich tourism resources. On cultural collaborations, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have built a platform for cultural co-operation since 2002 and will strive to strengthen the relevant mechanism, with a view to boosting opportunities for arts groups to perform in the GBA.”
The HKSAR Government has been proactively delivering projects since the promulgation of the Culture and Tourism Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has supported 54 local productions of different genres to stage a total of 141 performances in seven Mainland cities in the GBA as well as the Macao Special Administrative Region since 2018, and established its network and communication mechanism with major performance venues in the GBA. Create Hong Kong has also supported a number of activities to promote the development of creative industries in the GBA, which include participating in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Biannual Meeting to Discuss the Development of Film Industries 2021, inviting cities of the GBA to participate in “Business of Design Week”, and sponsoring the PMQ in organising the “Renewed Creativity” roving exhibition in Shenzhen.
Mr Yeung attended training activities for the tourism industry organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in Guangzhou this afternoon. He will return to Hong Kong tonight.
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, March 20, 2023 is 101.4 (up 0.1 against last Saturday’s index).
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, March 18, 2023 was 101.3 (up 0.1 against last Friday’s index). read more
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, at a media session after the Fight Crime Committee meeting at Central Government Offices this afternoon (February 24):
Reporter: You mentioned just now that, you mentioned two people I think, one of them visited 59 inmates for 395 times and the other 47 people for more than 200 times. What do you think they are trying to do? Are you saying that by making the visit to inmates they are endangering national security? If so, how do they do that? My second question is regarding He Jiankui. Can you explain why the visa of the mainland scientist is actually revoked? Do you think the matter actually affected Hong Kong’s international image in terms of its talent attraction policy?
Secretary for Security: Regarding your question about two people who have visited the inmates for hundreds of times, first of all, you have to know that he has no personal connection with those inmates. And the purpose of his visit is basically to instil hatred against the Government and to instil negative feeling about the Government, which is in contradiction with our rehabilitation aims of our correctional institutions. So this is a security threat, this is a threat to Hong Kong. Your second question is about He Jiankui. Basically, we have to see each case on its own merit. If we have evidence to show that the applicant is not actually fitting all the criteria, of course we will screen out his/her application.
Reporter: Can you explain what are the crimes involved in terms of visiting the inmates?
Secretary for Security: Actually I am not saying that at this moment of time, there is evidence to substantiate a crime but this is something that we have to look into. Is there anyone trying to instil hatred, trying to endanger national security through influencing the inmates? This is something that we are looking into. As investigation is ongoing, I am afraid I cannot disclose more details but it is along that way. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more
The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) today (February 24) reminded members of the public to stay alert to fraudulent calls purporting to be made by the Communications Authority (CA) or OFCA in relation to real-… read more