kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
CE expresses sorrow over passing of Mr Arnaldo de Oliveira Sales
7.3.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (March 7) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Mr Arnaldo de Oliveira Sales. "Mr Sales was committed to the development of sports in Hong Kong all his life, making tremendous contributions and leaving a lasting impact. Being one of the founding members of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, he had held different key positions in the organisation for years and had been the president for more than 30 years. During this time, in addition to promoting the participation of Hong Kong athletes in competitions outside the city, he also helped Hong Kong athletes continue to take part in international competitions as 'Hong Kong, China' after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), greatly enhancing the opportunities of Hong Kong athletes. Apart from sports, Mr Sales was committed to serving the community. Held in high regard, he was the Chairman of the former Urban Council, and a member of the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Basic Law Consultation Committee. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 1998 in recognition of his efforts in the promotion of amateur sports and the Olympic games in Hong Kong. "I am saddened by the passing of Mr Sales. On behalf of the HKSAR Government, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Saturday, March 7, 2020 Issued at HKT 20:23 NNNN
CE visits staff of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in country park
7.3.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Dr Leung Siu-fai, visited Tai Mo Shan Country Park this morning (March 7) to learn more about the management services of the park amid the epidemic. Mrs Lam noted that the number of visitors in various country parks across the territories increased by 25 per cent in February. Mrs Lam visited the Tai Mo Shan Country Park Visitor Centre and the Twisk Country Park Management Centre of Tai Lam Country Park as well as its campsite and hiking trails to learn about the anti-epidemic measures and management work of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), including temperature checks for visitors at the visitor centre. She also visited a refreshment kiosk at Tai Mo Shan Country Park to know more about its business. The AFCD has provided rent concessions to all kiosks in country parks and will extend such relief measures until September this year to help tide small shop operators over the difficult times. She appreciated the kiosk's contribution to environmental protection and its reduction of waste and disposable plastics, which helps the public adopt a green lifestyle while enjoying the countryside. Dr Leung also introduced the work of the AFCD on enhancing country parks to Mrs Lam along the way, including the enhancement of campsites and associated facilities, the improvement of hiking trails with natural materials, the provision of more lookout points for enjoying the scenery and strengthening the services of visitor centres. Among them, a new refreshment kiosk at the Tai Mo Shan Visitor Centre will be opened on April 1 this year. Praising AFCD personnel for their commitment to service, Mrs Lam said in the face of the increase in visitors in country parks during the epidemic, front-line staff members have been strengthening anti-epidemic and cleaning work to protect the health of the public. The AFCD has also enhanced its promotions and public education on anti-epidemic measures and protection of the environment through various means including social media and the networks of partner organisations. She appealed to members of the public to keep an appropriate social distance while enjoying the countryside amid the epidemic. Ends/Saturday, March 7, 2020 Issued at HKT 17:23 NNNN
CE visits Hongkong Post
6.3.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Kowloon Speedpost Operations Centre at Lei Yue Mun Estate in Yau Tong today (March 6) to view the centre's operation. She also thanked postal staff for working day and night during the COVID-19 epidemic, prioritising the delivery of a large number of parcels containing face masks to members of the public. Accompanied by the Postmaster General, Miss Cathy Chu, Mrs Lam inspected the Kowloon Speedpost Operations Centre. She was briefed on how Hongkong Post has dealt with the surge in volume of inward mail items during the epidemic, with many containing such protective gear as face masks, through manpower deployment and adjustments to working hours. From the end of the Lunar New Year up to now, Hongkong Post has completed the delivery of 160 000 parcels containing face masks to the public. Mrs Lam praised postal staff for their commitment to people-oriented services. In response to the tight supply of face masks in the market, they proactively identified parcels with face masks and prioritised their delivery to address the needs of the public. Although workload has increased amid the epidemic, postal staff have worked tirelessly and taken the necessary precautionary measures to resume full public services. She thanked the postal staff for their hard work and encouraged them to continue to provide quality services to the public. Ends/Friday, March 6, 2020 Issued at HKT 21:08 NNNN
CE and politically appointed officials donate remuneration to Community Chest
6.3.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (March 6) wrote a letter to the Community Chest of Hong Kong, attaching to it cheques worth a month of remuneration from her and all politically appointed officials (including the Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux, the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, under secretaries and political assistants) totalling 44 people as a donation for the sum of $10,805,250 to show that the governing team are fighting the disease and riding out the difficult times with the public. A Government spokesman said that the Government has, through the establishment of the $30 billion Anti-epidemic Fund and the 2020-21 Budget delivered by the Financial Secretary recently, rolled out various measures to relieve the impact of the epidemic on various sectors in the community and the general public. Meanwhile, many civic-minded organisations and bodies have also responded to calls for assistance by lending a helping hand to the underprivileged proactively to help tide them over the difficult times. "In support of fighting the epidemic together, the Community Chest set up 'The Community Chest Anti-NCP Rainbow Fund' earlier to take care of the financial needs of people and deliver care kits to grass-roots citizens. With its years of experience in helping disadvantaged people, the Community Chest will play an important role at this critical moment by allocating funds donated by various sectors to organisations that serve the community effectively so that people in need can continue to receive support," the spokesman said. Ends/Friday, March 6, 2020 Issued at HKT 15:15 NNNN
Appointments to Board of Ocean Park Corporation announced
6.3.2020

The Government announced today (March 6) that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen and Mr Stephen Wong See-yuen to the Board of Ocean Park Corporation (OPC) for a period of two years from March 10, 2020 to March 9, 2022. "We are grateful to Ms Fong and Mr Wong for their hard work in taking forward the development of Ocean Park. We are sure that, with the devotion and wide-ranging expertise of the Board members, the Board would continue to lead Ocean Park to serve the Hong Kong community and its visitors," a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said. The OPC is a statutory body established under the Ocean Park Corporation Ordinance to manage Ocean Park as a public recreational and educational park. Ends/Friday, March 6, 2020 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN
Governing team riding out difficult times with the public
28.2.2020

The disease has caused a significant impact on the local economy in the past two months. Various sectors have been hard hit, and the public has been challenged to get through these difficult times. To show that the governing team are fighting the disease and riding out the difficult times with the public, the Chief Executive and all politically appointed officials (including Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux, the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, under secretaries and political assistants) will donate one month's remuneration to the Community Chest of Hong Kong for charity purposes. The Non-official Members of the Executive Council have also unanimously agreed to donate one month's honorarium to the charity. The governing team appeals to the public to be united to win the battle against the disease. The governing team will spare no efforts in implementing relief measures under the Anti-epidemic Fund and the 2020-21 Budget so that Hong Kong can ride out the difficult times as soon as possible and regain momentum in going forward. Ends/Friday, February 28, 2020 Issued at HKT 20:52 NNNN
CE&apos;s statement on 2020-21 Budget
26.2.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 26) issued the following statement on the 2020-21 Budget: The Financial Secretary today delivered the third Budget of the current-term Government, at a time when Hong Kong is facing unprecedented challenges to the health of our economy and well-being of our entire community. I support the bold and substantive proposals in the 2020-21 Budget, and I am confident that they will help to boost our efforts to combat the coronavirus epidemic, take care of people in need and bolster the economy. The counter-cyclical measures proposed in the Budget, amounting to more than $120 billion, represent an unequivocal commitment by the Government to rise to the challenge of overcoming adversity and helping people in need. These proposals also complement the initiatives set out under the recently established $30 billion Anti-epidemic Fund. Taken together, this substantial funding commitment will provide comprehensive support for people from all walks of life. I also support the Budget initiative of providing a cash payout of $10,000 to Hong Kong permanent residents aged 18 and above. I believe that given the extraordinary challenges that our community is facing, this is a justifiable and effective measure. For some people, the cash payout will help to make ends meet in their hour of need. It will also encourage local consumption and inject some much-needed impetus into the economy. While the Government should make good use of Hong Kong’s healthy fiscal reserves accumulated over the years to help our city weather the storm, the Financial Secretary’s forecast of Budget deficits continuing in the next few years serves as a reminder that Hong Kong needs economic growth to generate more revenue to support our social development. While the Government will press ahead with various strategies to diversify our economy and create new areas of opportunity for business and job creation as set out in previous Policy Addresses and Budgets, we need concerted efforts by all in the community. I am pleased that the Financial Secretary, while focusing on the need to help the people of Hong Kong, has doubled the Government’s efforts to promote both our traditional economic pillars such as the financial services sector as well as emerging sectors where Hong Kong has a competitive edge such as innovation and technology. Concurrently, we should not lose sight of our response to global environmental challenges. I therefore welcome the measures to promote the development of decarbonisation and green technologies contained in the Budget. In these unprecedented times, I am confident that the 2020-21 Budget proposals will provide effective and targeted support to help the Hong Kong community withstand the current difficulties and gear up for a brighter tomorrow. I appeal to Members of the Legislative Council and society at large to support the 2020-21 Budget proposals, with a view to facilitating their early implementation. Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Issued at HKT 13:26 NNNN
CE visits Social Welfare Department and elderly home
21.2.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Social Welfare Department's (SWD) Integrated Family Service Centre in To Kwa Wan this afternoon (February 21) to express her gratitude to staff members for their tireless efforts in providing assistance to people under quarantine. She also took the opportunity to visit an elderly home in the district to distribute surgical masks to the staff members. Mrs Lam visited the Integrated Family Service Centre of the SWD to learn about how colleagues help people under home quarantine who are unable to resolve daily needs on their own, for example, elderly people who live alone, by delivering daily necessities and providing other forms of support to them. The staff members of the Emergency Relief Support Unit of the SWD also shared their experience in supporting the operation of quarantine centres. Since the implementation of compulsory quarantine measures for people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland (including Hong Kong residents, Mainland residents and visitors from other places) on February 8, the SWD has provided assistance to about 1 900 people from more than 1 200 households. Mrs Lam said that the SWD has been providing various services to people in need in society, demonstrating the Government's care for the community. The SWD also plays an important role in this anti-epidemic work by taking care of the practical needs of the people under quarantine. Noting the heavy workload of this responsibility, Mrs Lam expressed her heartfelt appreciation to SWD colleagues for serving the public tirelessly during the epidemic. Since the implementation of the compulsory quarantine on February 8 until yesterday, the Department of Health has issued a total of 14 417 quarantine orders. Of them, 13 694 persons are under home quarantine and a large majority are Hong Kong residents. Mrs Lam then took the opportunity to visit a private elderly home in the district to distribute a batch of surgical masks produced by the Correctional Services Department to the nursing staff. Understanding the practical needs of the nursing staff, Mrs Lam said that in addition to according priorities to the frontline healthcare workers and government personnel providing emergency services, she announced earlier to set aside about one million surgical masks monthly for staff members of public and private institutions offering residential care services. She expressed the hope that the elderly homes will continue to take disease prevention measures and work with the Government to win the battle against the disease together. The head of the elderly home said that the tight supply of protective equipment in the market has left them with only a limited stock. She thanked the Government for providing surgical masks to them so that they can take care of the elderly with peace of mind. Ends/Friday, February 21, 2020 Issued at HKT 23:24 NNNN
CE welcomes passage of funding application for Anti-epidemic Fund by LegCo
21.2.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, welcomed the passage of the funding application for the Anti-epidemic Fund by the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee today (February 21). "I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to LegCo Members for their support and approval of the funding application for the $30 billion Anti-epidemic Fund to achieve the objective of fighting the disease together to ride out these difficult times. All relevant bureaux will spare no efforts in implementing various measures as pledged and try to ease procedures so as to benefit enterprises and members of the public as soon as possible. The Government is pleased to submit a quarterly report to LegCo on the implementation of every measure. "The Government will continue to assess the impact of the epidemic on society and listen to comments from all sectors, while introducing more support measures as necessary. The Financial Secretary will announce the 2020-2021 Budget next Wednesday (February 26) and will introduce measures as in the past to support the economy and relieve people's burden. "In addition to the assistance provided by the Government, I appeal again to all sectors in society to stand united in this difficult time and support each other with the spirit of mutual care and assistance to prevail in this challenging period." Ends/Friday, February 21, 2020 Issued at HKT 21:43 NNNN
CE expresses sorrow over passing of Lady MacLehose
21.2.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 21) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Lady MacLehose. "Lady MacLehose took an active part in public and community service during her stay in Hong Kong, showing care for people in the community. She was the Chairperson of the Community Chest between 1971 and 1976. She also rendered tremendous support to children and adults with disabilities to unleash their potential to the greatest extent and build up confidence through horse riding. She founded the Riding for the Disabled Association in 1975 and later facilitated the establishment of the riding school at Pok Fu Lam to promote the activity. "I am saddened by the passing of Lady MacLehose. On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her family," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Friday, February 21, 2020 Issued at HKT 20:40 NNNN
CE and Principal Officials kick off distribution work of donated surgical masks
18.2.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, yesterday evening (February 17) joined various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to distribute surgical masks to the elderly and grassroots families in need at different districts. The surgical masks were donated by private organisations to the Government earlier. Other Principal Officials will later join other NGOs to conduct visits and distribute surgical masks. Together with Po Leung Kuk, Mrs Lam went to Tak Tin Estate in Lam Tin to distribute surgical masks, food, leaflets with health information and other goods to a few Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients who are also elderly living alone, conveying to them their warmest regards. Mrs Lam then visited the social housing units of Lok Sin Tong in Kowloon City and some subdivided units in the vicinity. While distributing surgical masks with the staff of Lok Sin Tong to the grassroots families, Mrs Lam also learned about their living conditions. Meanwhile, Mr Lau and Dr Law went to Mong Kok and Tai Kok Tsui with the Mong Kok Kai Fong Association Limited and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals respectively to distribute to the elderly and the grassroots families anti-epidemic bags with surgical masks, alcohol-based handrub and cleansing products. Due to the disease, the global supply of surgical masks remains tight and members of the public have difficulty in buying masks. The Chief Executive has therefore decided to pass several batches of surgical masks donated by the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and other persons to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to NGOs so that they can re-distribute them to the underprivileged, especially the elderly. There are in total about 1.6 million such surgical masks. The move is aimed at sharing the relatively scarce resources with the community so as to fight the disease together. The Government will continue to increase the overall supply of surgical masks in Hong Kong through a multi-pronged approach and has substantially suppressed the usage of surgical masks by government departments. Priority will continue to be accorded to healthcare staff and other officers providing emergency public services in the distribution of surgical masks. Mrs Lam said, "I appeal to the whole community to stay united and fight the disease together. Members of the public can support the Government's disease prevention and control efforts by staying at home as much as possible and reducing social contacts so as to minimise the risk of the spread of the disease and reduce the consumption of surgical masks." Ends/Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Issued at HKT 0:19 NNNN
Government distributes masks to frontline cleansing workers of government contractors
17.2.2020

As the Government understands that outsourced cleansing service contractors have encountered difficulties in procuring masks, to protect the health of cleansing workers and maintain environmental hygiene, the Chief Executive announced on February 8 that the Correctional Services Department (CSD) would increase the production of an additional 700 000 masks, which would be set aside for distributing to cleansing workers engaged by outsourced cleansing service contractors in order to relieve the imminent need. The first batch of around 95 000 masks was delivered by the CSD to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Housing Department. The two departments have started distributing masks to cleansing workers today (February 17). Priority was given to those workers who are responsible for cleaning public toilets, public markets, refuse collection points, streets and public housing estates. Starting next week, some of the masks will be provided to frontline outsourced contract cleansing workers through the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, as well as the control points at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Shenzhen Bay. The above initiative is expected to benefit around 21 000 frontline cleansing workers of government contractors. Ends/Monday, February 17, 2020 Issued at HKT 21:30 NNNN
CE&apos;s statement
13.2.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 13) issued the following statement on the appointment of Mr Xia Baolong, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council: I extend a warm welcome to the appointment of Mr Xia Baolong as the Director of the HKMAO, in addition to his current capacity as the Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC. As the HKMAO is responsible for Hong Kong affairs in the Central Government, it has a close relationship with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The appointment of Mr Xia as the HKMAO Director in addition to his capacity as the Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC is testimony to the importance the Central Government attaches to Hong Kong and Macao affairs. I have no doubt that under the leadership of Mr Xia, the HKMAO will continue its support for the work of the HKSAR Government in fully and thoroughly implementing "One Country, Two Systems", taking forward the development of Hong Kong in various aspects and ensuring the long-term prosperity and stability of the city. Ends/Thursday, February 13, 2020 Issued at HKT 19:12 NNNN