Tag Archives: China

     â€‹The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, arrived in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday morning (January 20, Davos time) to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025.

     Upon arrival, Mr Chan had lunch with several leaders from the finance and business sectors attending the Annual Meeting. He promoted Hong Kong’s advantages and value as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to them. The guests included representatives from large-scale financial, transportation, industrial and technology enterprises from Europe, America, the Middle East and Japan. During the lunch meeting, Mr Chan briefed the guests on Hong Kong’s latest economic and social developments, particularly the positive progress made in the local financial market last year, and the achievements in attracting businesses and talent. He emphasised Hong Kong’s strategies and measures for developments in finance, innovation and technology, trade and aviation, as well as how to create opportunities for businesses and talent worldwide.

     Thereafter, Mr Chan met with the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, to discuss strengthening bilateral trade co-operation. He expressed his gratitude for Mr Albudaiwi’s visit to Hong Kong to attend the 18th Asian Financial Forum (AFF). Both parties agreed that the new session “Gulf Cooperation Council Chapter” at the AFF marked a milestone in advancing financial services co-operation between Hong Kong and the Gulf states. Mr Chan also expressed hope for accelerating the signing of a free trade agreement between Hong Kong and the GCC, and noted that the HKSAR Government will actively promote more two-way visits of business delegations, thereby facilitating the matching of projects in the digital economy and green transformation, as well as co-operation in the securities markets, Islamic finance, and asset and wealth management between Hong Kong and the Arab States.

     In the afternoon, Mr Chan met with Mr Martin Gilbert, the Chair of Revolut, a UK-based fintech company specialising in digital banking services, to learn about the latest developments in their digital banking operations, cryptocurrency trading and security risk management for digital banking services. Mr Chan noted that Hong Kong has a vibrant fintech ecosystem, and is the best entry point into the Chinese Mainland market. He welcomed Revolut to expand its business in Hong Kong to tap into the Mainland and Southeast Asian markets.

     In the evening, Mr Chan attended the welcome reception hosted by the WEF. He will continue his trip in Davos today (January 21, Davos time), including attending the Special Address by Vice Premier of the State Council Mr Ding Xuexiang.

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Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     The fire danger situation today (January 21) is red and fire risk is extreme. The countryside is extremely vulnerable to fire. If you are planning to spend the day in the countryside, please take pre-cooked food for a picnic and take all measures to prevent hill fires. The penalty for lighting fires illegally in the countryside is $25,000 and a year’s imprisonment. read more

     â€‹The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a detached house in Jardine’s Lookout this morning (January 20), in which a man fell from a wooden folding ladder while installing an air-conditioner. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by his death and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

     The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the air-conditioning works at the detached house concerned. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”

     The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
           
     To protect workers’ safety, the LD reminds contractors that ladders are usually used for ascending and descending only. Using ladders for work-above-ground is unsafe. Contractors shall provide and ensure that workers use appropriate working platforms or other safe means of support, including step platforms or hop-up platforms in conformity with international or national standards, instead of ladders. 

     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

     In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 20) received a report of a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection in a girl who had not yet received the seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV). She is still hospitalised and in critical condition. The CHP urged the public who have not yet received the SIV to act immediately to minimise the risk of serious complications and death after infection.
           
     “A 14 year-old girl living in a boarding section of a special school developed fever and malaise since January 8 and consulted a private doctor on January 10. She started to have confused speech on January 15. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre on January 17 and was admitted immediately. Her condition deteriorated on January 19 and she was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit of Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment. Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen was tested positive for influenza A (H1) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The girl has underlying illnesses and did not travel during the incubation period. There has been no recent outbreak in her school. Her household contacts, so far, are asymptomatic. Initial investigation revealed that she did not receive 2024/2025 seasonal influenza vaccination. The CHP reiterated its call to the parents to bring their children to receive SIV as soon as possible.
           
     “Influenza vaccination has been scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, while significantly reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death from seasonal influenza. All persons aged six months and above (except those with known contraindications) who have not yet received the SIV should act immediately, particularly the elderly and children who have higher risk to get infected with influenza and other complications,” the spokesman said.
           
     The spokesman reminded the public that Hong Kong has entered the influenza season. As the seasonal influenza activity is expected to increase further while the activity of other respiratory infectious diseases may also increase. To protect their health and that of their family members, the public should not only receive SIV, but also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene, and take the following measures to prevent contacting influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
 

• Wear surgical masks to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• High-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised) should wear surgical masks when visiting public places. The general public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one’s eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, consider whether to go to work or school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, perform physical activity regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     For the latest information, members of the public can visit the CHP’s seasonal influenza and COVID-19 & Flu Express webpages.  read more

     With the Lunar New Year approaching, the Centre for Food Safety and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have jointly stepped up inspections of food premises to protect f… read more