The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     Details of the meetings of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Committees to be held in the LegCo Complex during the week from May 17 to 21 are available in the meeting schedule attached.
      
     The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change. Please refer to the LegCo Calendar on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.
      
     Members of the public can watch or listen to the meetings via the Webcast system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meetings at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

     The latest shipment of about 740 000 doses of the Comirnaty vaccine, manufactured by BioNTech and filled and finished at another plant (Baxter) in Germany, arrived in Hong Kong today (May 14) as arranged by Fosun Pharma.

     Soon after the arrival of the latest batch of the Comirnaty vaccine in Hong Kong, staff carried out stringent checking and inspection of the vaccine in accordance with established procedures to ensure that it complies with the product specifications and that the transportation process follows the relevant cold-chain requirements. The Government will put the vaccine in validated ultra-low temperature freezers to ensure its proper storage in accordance with the temperature specified by the drug manufacturer.

     The labels of these vaccine vials contain English and simplified Chinese. The vaccine concerned was manufactured by the same manufacturer and filled and finished at the same plant with the same specifications in Germany.

     Two red tides were sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (May 14).
 
     The first red tide was spotted by staff of the Marine Department at Victoria Harbour from North Point Ferry Pier to Heng Fa Chuen on May 9. The second red tide was spotted by staff of the Environmental Protection Department in waters off New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter on May 10. Both red tides have dissipated and no associated fish deaths have been reported as at today.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, "Both red tides were formed by Guinardia delicatula, which is common in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic."
 
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at the fish culture zones of Tung Lung Chau, Po Toi and Ma Wan to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
 
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (May 14) for people in need of the service.
      
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
      
     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
      
     The 19 night heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung North Park (Zone B) Activity Room
29 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre
King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
 
     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 22 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For the addresses of the community centres and community halls, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

      The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), together with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), launched the Mainland Enterprises Partnership Exchange and Interface Programme today (May 14). The first sharing session under the Programme was organised in collaboration with the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association (HKCEA). The Programme seeks to promote ties between Mainland enterprises and Hong Kong's professional services bodies in seizing Belt and Road-related opportunities under the country's new development strategy of "dual circulation".

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Director-General of the Bureau of Capital Operation and Returns Management of the SASAC, Mr Li Bing; and the Chairman of the HKCEA, Mr Miao Jianmin, spoke at the sharing session, which was attended by about 100 representatives from over 40 enterprises and professional services bodies.

     Mr Yau said that the 14th Five-Year Plan adopted in March this year supports Hong Kong's participation and contribution to the opening up and development of a modernised Chinese economy, and the development of Hong Kong into the prime functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative. The support from the country will inject a fresh stimulus to the city's economy, and give further impetus to Hong Kong's participation in the Initiative.

     He added that Hong Kong's professionals in such areas as financing, risk management, and legal and dispute resolution are conversant with international practices and standards, and are highly reputable. They possess rich experience and connection networks in relevant areas, and can join hands with Mainland enterprises to leverage on complementary advantages, thereby enhancing the competitiveness and participation standards under the Belt and Road Initiative and open up greater markets.

     At the sharing session, representatives from local financial and insurance sectors introduced the financing, professional risk management and insurance services provided in Hong Kong. The Commissioner for Belt and Road from the CEDB, Dr Denis Yip, moderated a panel discussion session which focused on business co-operation opportunities between Hong Kong and the Belt and Road-related countries and regions, and how Hong Kong's professional services sector might support Mainland enterprises in "going global". In addition, around 50 business matching sessions involving subsidiaries of seven state-owned enterprises in Hong Kong and over 20 local professional services providers were organised on the day, enabling them to establish connections and partnerships for projects in future.

     Participating guests at the sharing session today include the Chief Executive of Swiss Re International SE Hong Kong Branch, Mr Jia Jingwei; the Senior Advisor (External) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Donald Chen; Vice President of Mainland Development, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mr Edward Li; the Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Mr Wang Bing; the Executive Director, General Business of the Insurance Authority, Mr Simon Lam; the Vice President of China Life Insurance (Overseas) Company Limited, Mr Jiang Tao; and the General Manager of Enterprise Business of China Mobile International, Ms Emma Zeng.