The Government Property Agency (GPA) is inviting tenders for a five-year lease of the government property at Shop No. 15 on Podium Level 2 of Shun Lee Disciplined Services Quarters, 32 Lee On Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, sub… read more
Following is a question by the Hon Lam Chun-sing and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (March 26):
Question:
The Government launched a three-year Pilot Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work (the Pilot Programme) on September 23, 2022, to facilitate injured workers’ early recovery and return to work. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the current staff establishment and strength of the Work Injury Rehabilitation Office (WIRO), which is responsible for implementing the Pilot Programme, as well as the average number of cases followed up by each of its case manager;
(2) of (i) the number of reported work injury cases received by the Labour Department (LD) in each of the past three years and this year to date and, among them, (ii) the number of cases identified as eligible for participating in the Pilot Programme (and its percentage), and (iii) the number of cases participating in the Pilot Programme (and its percentage in the total number of cases eligible for participating in the Pilot Programme), and set out in Table 1 a breakdown by (a) construction industry, (b) catering and hotel industry (the industry covered since May last year), and (c) transportation and logistics industry (the industry covered since May last year);
Table 1
| Case category | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | This year to date | ||||||||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (a) | (b) | (c) | (a) | (b) | (c) | (a) | (b) | (c) | |
| (i) | ||||||||||||
| (ii) | Not applicable | Not applicable | ||||||||||
| (iii) | ||||||||||||
| Total | ||||||||||||
| Return-to-work status | Industry | ||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | |
| (i) | |||
| …… | |||
| (iv) | |||
| Total | |||
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (as at February) | |||||
| Industry# | (a) | (a) | (a) | (b) | (c) | (a) | (b) | (c) |
| (i) Reported work injury cases* | 4 466 | 3 291 | 3 273 | 4 570 | 3 053 | 375 | 615 | 435 |
| (ii) Cases preliminarily identified as suitable for participation in the Pilot Programme | 697 ^ |
2 498 | 1 717 | 586 @ |
656 @ |
148 | 121 | 102 |
| (iii) Admitted cases and rate (iii/ii) | 131 (19%) |
524 (21%) |
470 (27%) |
250 (43%) |
273 (42%) |
52 (35%) |
55 (45%) |
48 (47%) |
| Time from preliminary identification to first medical consultation | Construction industry | Catering and hotel industry | Transportation and logistics industry | Number of participants (Rate) |
| Seven days or below | 483 | 93 | 92 | 668 (37%) |
| Above seven days to 14 days | 502 | 135 | 147 | 784 (43%) |
| Above 14 days to 21 days | 105 | 49 | 43 | 197 (11%) |
| Above 21 days | 87 | 28 | 39 | 154 (9%) |
| Total | 1 177 | 305 | 321 | 1 803 |
| Return-to-work status | Construction industry | Catering and hotel industry | Transportation and logistics industry | Aggregate figures | |
| Perform same type of work* | Number of participants (Rate) |
388 (43%) |
107 (51%) |
131 (57%) |
626 (46%) |
| Perform other types of work* | Number of participants (Rate) |
78 (9%) |
7 (3%) |
17 (7%) |
102 (8%) |
| RTW status still being followed up | Number of participants (Rate) |
106 (12%) |
71 (34%) |
59 (26%) |
236 (17%) |
| Yet to RTW as at the end of follow-up | Number of participants (Rate) |
254 (28%) |
14 (7%) |
21 (9%) |
289 (21%) |
| Unable to contact for RTW follow-up | Number of participants (Rate) |
86 (9%) |
12 (6%) |
3 (1%) |
101 (7%) |
| Total | 912 | 211 | 231 | 1 354 | |
Police today (March 26) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Tseung Kwan O. Tung Kit-yu, aged 22, went missing after she left her residence on Kai King Road on March … read more
​The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, led a delegation of Hong Kong principals and education experts to attend the International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2025 in Reykjavík, Iceland, on March 25 (Reykjavík time) to discuss the latest trends in global education development with representatives from other regions. She also took the opportunity to promote the advantages of Hong Kong as an international post-secondary education hub.
The Summit was co-organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Education International, the Ministry of Education and Children of Iceland, and the Icelandic Teachers’ Union. Under the theme “Quality Education: The Key to Prosperity and Well-being”, the Summit this year brought together education ministers, teacher leaders and education experts from around the world to exchange views on the promotion of quality early childhood education, the provision of inclusive and supportive learning environments, and a child-centred education system.
Speaking at the session on kindergarten education of the Summit, Dr Choi said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has implemented the Kindergarten Education Scheme since the 2017/18 school year to provide quality and highly affordable kindergarten education that meets the diverse needs of students. At present, among these kindergartens in Hong Kong, about 90 per cent of the half-day programmes are free of charge, while fees for whole-day programmes are maintained at a low level. The Scheme also enhances kindergarten education on various fronts, including upgrading teachers’ professional qualifications, improving the teacher-student ratio, and supporting teachers’ continuous professional development.
During the Summit, Dr Choi also met the Minister for Education, Training and Skills of South Australia, Mr Blair Boyer, to explore ways to promote education exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Australia, including introducing the various measures taken by the HKSAR Government to achieve a highly internationalised higher education sector in Hong Kong, and to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
On March 24 (Reykjavík time), Dr Choi attended a seminar of the Summit on exploring the frontiers of artificial intelligence in education with representatives from other regions. Speaking at the seminar, she said that, in line with the worldwide trend and the national direction of developing digital education, and to nurture innovation and technology (I&T) talent, the HKSAR Government will continue to promote digital education with a view to facilitating the use of I&T in empowering education, and enhancing students’ digital literacy and skills.
She said that the relevant initiatives include setting up the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education to gather collective wisdom and insights on promoting digital transformation of school education in Hong Kong; strengthening relevant professional training for teachers; optimising digital education infrastructure of schools; bolstering ties between local, Mainland or international I&T institutions and tertiary institutions; and organising the International Summit on the Use of AI in Learning and Teaching Languages and Other Subjects this year.
On the same day, Dr Choi met the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Children of Iceland, Ms Erna Kristín Blöndal, to discuss further education collaboration between Hong Kong and Iceland, and the latest developments in vocational and professional education and training (VPET). Dr Choi said that the HKSAR Government is committed to promoting VPET as a pathway parallel to conventional academic education, providing young people with quality, diversified, and multiple entry and exit pathways to further studies. The Government has been forging ahead with the development of universities of applied sciences, including allocating HK$100 million for the establishment of the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences to support post-secondary institutions to embark on joint promotion with the industries and stakeholders. She welcomed students from Iceland and other places to study in Hong Kong or participate in short-term student exchange programmes, and looked forward to further strengthening educational exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Iceland.
In addition, she visited a local primary school to learn about the features of Icelandic education. She also paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Iceland, Mr He Rulong, to introduce Hong Kong’s latest education policy.
Dr Choi will depart for Delhi, India, on March 27 (Delhi time) to attend the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education 2025 Conference and Exhibition.
Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan at the JUMPSTARTER 2025 Grand Finale today (March 26):
Cindy (Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Ms Cindy Chow), distinguished guests, innovators, participants, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It’s a pleasure to be here at the Grand Finale of Alibaba’s JUMPSTARTER. A warm welcome to all innovators, entrepreneurs and investors joining us today, especially those who have travelled from far and wide.
You have come at a truly exciting time, as we celebrate “Super March” in Hong Kong, a wonderful showcase of an array of global gatherings, from prestigious business conferences like this one to cultural and sporting events such as Art Basel and the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. There are just abundant opportunities to connect, collaborate, and create unforgettable moments together.
Since its inception eight years ago, the Alibaba JUMPSTARTER event has become a remarkable event for start-ups and scale-ups to pitch their innovative ideas and present cutting-edge solutions while connecting with potential investors from around the globe.
AI for a sustainable future
More than a competition, today’s event is an excellent platform for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences and driving thought leadership regarding our technological future. The theme of this year’s event, “AI and sustainability”, is a crucial one, as it addresses two of the most significant issues facing humanity. The potential of AI to support sustainability goals is vast and evident. Taking climate change as an example, AI’s sweeping application can transform many sectors, through optimising energy consumption, accelerating the development of new materials, enhancing climate forecasting, and much more.
Indeed, the future of AI is a captivating topic that draws significant attention. One thing is certain: it will transform production, business and consumption models, fundamentally redefining the core competitiveness of many economies. This is why countries and regions around the world are making AI the prime focus.
What is less certain is the path along which AI and related technologies will evolve. Not long ago, we assumed that the unprecedented advancement of AI would lead to an exponential demand for supercomputing power, chips, data centres. The startling emergence of deep learning models like DeepSeek and open-source alternatives has prompted a critical re-evaluation of this assumption. We must now ask ourselves – do we truly need such an abundance of chips? Are we perhaps over-investing in data centres?
But regardless of the path, one truth remains: the market inherently favours innovative and cost-effective technologies that generate greater value. History shows that groundbreaking solutions can bring about positive disruptions to the market. And this highlights the immense value of start-ups and their innovations. It reinforces that creativity and innovation are equally essential, if not more, in driving success.
Another critical topic is talent in the age of AI. As AI becomes central to economic competitiveness, we must re-invent our education systems to nurture talent for AI-related industries. Enhancing AI literacy among the general population is also vital, equipping individuals with the skills needed to adapt to the evolving landscape shaped by AI.
Hong Kong: ahead with AI
Here in Hong Kong, we are harnessing AI’s potential with a forward-looking perspective, actively pursuing a number of directions to secure a promising future with AI.
First, embracing AI as a core industry. Hong Kong’s future success relies on our ability to leverage AI to empower our industries. We have good potential: five of our universities rank among the global top 50 in data science and AI. Supported by a vibrant start-up ecosystem, we attract global capital and talent. Our city serves as a convergence point for Mainland and international data. To achieve our vision, we will promote more cross-sectoral collaboration among academia, tech and other industries, enabling AI to integrate widely and unleash its full potential. We also support cross-boundary collaboration on AI-related technologies and applications.
Second, nurturing talent for an AI-driven future. Recognising the importance of early intervention, we are actively promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in schools. Recently, in my Budget, I engaged several leading technology companies in Hong Kong, including Alibaba, to organise a series of activities for primary and secondary school students. Their activities aim at sparking students’ interest in innovation and technology through hands-on experience with AI and robotics. We anticipate enriching these initiatives further in the future.
Finally, promoting responsible AI development. While AI offers tremendous benefits, it also presents challenges that require appropriate safeguards against misuse. In the financial sector, we have issued a policy statement emphasising a responsible approach to adopting AI, balancing its benefits against risks such as cybersecurity threats, intellectual property concerns and data privacy. We anticipate other sectors to similarly establish relevant principles and guidelines tailored to their needs and circumstances.
Concluding remarks
Ladies and gentlemen, the profound discussions on AI underscore the importance of today’s event. From experts’ insights to the innovative pitches by contestants, your contributions will deepen our understanding of this vital area. This collective effort will enhance Hong Kong’s thought leadership and raise our profile as an international hub for AI exchanges and collaboration.
With that in mind, I wish this event a great success, and all of you the best of business and health in the time ahead. Thank you very much.
