kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
CE continues her visit to Beijing
2.2.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to Beijing today (February 2). In the morning, Mrs Lam called on the Minister of Commerce, Mr Zhong Shan, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to meet with Mr Zhong again following their meeting last August. She thanked the Ministry of Commerce for its continued support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, including the participation of the Vice Minister of Commerce, Ms Gao Yan in the Belt and Road Summit held in Hong Kong last September, and the seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's Advantages, Meeting the Country's Needs (the Belt and Road Seminar) to be held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing tomorrow. She also expressed her gratitude for the Ministry's support on Hong Kong's signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Noting that Hong Kong will continue to promote regional economic co-operation, she said Hong Kong will enter into more FTAs and actively arrange for various parties to participate in the first China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November, and hoped that the Ministry would continue its support for Hong Kong. Mrs Lam, together with Mr Lau, Mr Nip and Mr Chan, then visited the headquarters of China Central Television (CCTV) and was briefed by the Vice President of CCTV, Mr Wei Dichun, on CCTV's development strategies and production flow. Noting that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Mainland's reform and opening-up, Mrs Lam said she hopes to co-operate with CCTV to promote the nation's achievements as well as Hong Kong's past and future contributions, to which Mr Wei responded positively. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam had a working meeting with the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming, at which she summed up the results of her visits to various central ministries during this trip. She also thanked the HKMAO for its support and assistance to the HKSAR Government in organising the Belt and Road Seminar to be held tomorrow. In the evening, Mrs Lam met with relevant personnel to prepare for the Belt and Road Seminar tomorrow. Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce, the Seminar aims to promote Hong Kong's competitive edges to the relevant Mainland ministries and state-owned enterprises with a view to jointly pursuing the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. Ends/Friday, February 2, 2018 Issued at HKT 21:51 NNNN
Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting
30.1.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (January 30): Reporter: Mrs Lam, although you said the decision is made by the electoral officer, but many people think the officer is pressured by the Secretary for Justice, which is in turn pressured by you or Beijing. How would you respond to that? And on the Hospital Authority, despite the additional funding, there are some systemic problems, like there are not enough hospital beds. How can the Authority tackle these problems? Chief Executive: Well, on the first question, there is absolutely no ground for that sort of accusation or allegation of pressure. The Returning Officers in Hong Kong are acting in accordance with the law to determine the eligibility of each case based on provisions in the law, as well as the evidence put in front of the Returning Officer. Of course, in the course of discharging his or her statutory duty, the Returning Officer may need to approach the Department of Justice for some legal advice, and that is how the actual situation works. As far as the situation of the Hospital Authority, I have to say that I understand and recognise that while on the one hand we have a very sound, very reliable public hospital system, which we are all very proud of, but you are right, at the same time the Hospital Authority, being such a huge organisation now, does have some systemic issues that we need to tackle. I have every determination to tackle those systemic issues together with the Secretary for Food and Health. But in the short term, we need to address the heavy workload at some of the public hospitals, so I have just announced that in order to provide the Hospital Authority management with every assurance in terms of resource support to implement short-term or immediate measures to relieve the workload, I will allocate an additional $500 million to the Hospital Authority so that they could speedily put in place some of the additional measures. In addition, I want to have a measure introduced which will help to boost staff morale and also better retain staff in the Hospital Authority, and that is to remove a practice which has been put in place for the last 15 years that any new recruit into the Hospital Authority, or any such new recruit upon promotion, they would not have a salary increment, or what we call a pay point increment, in the first two years. I feel that removing this particular practice will be, in my view, a sort of recognition to the very dedicated staff that we now have in the Hospital Authority. But in the longer term, there are many issues that we need to tackle and which I believe the Secretary for Food and Health would put in extra efforts and priority to look at those issues. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, January 30, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:29 NNNN
Seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong&apos;s Advantages, Meeting the Country&apos;s Needs to be held in Beijing
26.1.2018

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will hold a seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's Advantages, Meeting the Country's Needs in Beijing on February 3 in conjunction with the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce. The seminar will promote to the relevant Mainland ministries and state-owned enterprises ways to make use of Hong Kong's highly internationalised platform and distinctive edge in the areas of finance, professional services, commerce and trade and forming strategic partnership to jointly pursue the opportunities being brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. With this, Hong Kong will contribute to the implementation of the national policy of the Belt and Road Initiative by leveraging the city's advantages in meeting the country's needs. The full-day seminar to be held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing will comprise three thematic sessions, with respective focuses on finance and investment; professional services; and commerce and trade, industries development and technology application. There will be in-depth discussions and sharing with senior management and executives of large-scale state-owned enterprises (SoEs) (including central enterprises) about riding on Hong Kong's capital market when taking forward the Belt and Road developments; complementary co-operation with Hong Kong's professional services; and the integration of creative and information technology industries with pillar industries under the Initiative. A Hong Kong delegation comprising representatives from the professional services and business sectors in Hong Kong will participate in the seminar. They will take the opportunity to establish direct contact with SoEs with a view to seizing opportunities together in the process of "going global". The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will attend the seminar. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will be the moderators of the three thematic sessions. Before attending the seminar, Mr Yau, Mr Lau and Mr Nip will join the Chief Executive's visit programme in Beijing to call on relevant ministries. They will leave Hong Kong on January 31 and return on February 4. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury; and the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs during the absence of the three Secretaries. Ends/Friday, January 26, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:15 NNNN
CE to visit Beijing
26.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will visit Beijing from January 31 to February 4. She will attend the Seminar on Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative - Leveraging Hong Kong's advantages, Meeting the Country's needs, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce, on February 3. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will also join the visit. During her stay in Beijing, Mrs Lam will visit central ministries and other organisations. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong on February 4. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Friday, January 26, 2018 Issued at HKT 10:00 NNNN
Switzerland and Hong Kong strengthen co-operation in financial markets
23.1.2018

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: Swiss Federal Councillor Mr Ueli Maurer, and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mrs Carrie Lam, met in Bern, Switzerland, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of financial markets and to exchange views on international financial and tax matters today (January 23, Bern time). Authorities and private sector representatives from Hong Kong and Switzerland signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) during the meeting. During their meeting, Mr Maurer and Mrs Lam discussed topics including the further development of the two financial centres, the opportunities arising from the opening-up of the financial markets in Mainland of the People's Republic of China, developments in the financial technologies (fintech) sector and international tax issues. They also reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance bilateral collaboration to promote the healthy development of the financial services industry in and between Switzerland and Hong Kong. Hong Kong and Switzerland held an official financial dialogue for the first time in September 2017, during which the two places agreed to further formalise bilateral financial collaboration. Three MoUs were signed today. The first MoU, signed by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Mr Norman Chan, and the Head of the Swiss State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF), Mr Jörg Gasser, serves as the basis for regular financial dialogue and sets out the parties' willingness to strengthen financial markets cooperation, including in the area of RMB internationalisation, wealth management, infrastructure financing and international financial matters. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) also signed an MoU with the HKMA to enhance fintech collaboration with a view to facilitating financial innovation in the two places. A third MoU was signed by the Hong Kong Private Wealth Management Association and the Swiss Bankers Association to further collaborate to promote the development of private wealth management in Switzerland and Hong Kong. On the same day, HKMA and SIF, pursuant to the MoU and together with FINMA and the Swiss National Bank, will jointly host the second financial dialogue to exchange views on current policy issues of mutual interest. Ends/Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:13 NNNN
Transcript of remarks by Acting CE at media session before ExCo meeting
23.1.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (January 23): Reporter: The meetings that she will be attending in LegCo aren't really targeting at the scandal that she is in right now. When is she going to the LegCo to answer specifically to this question? And also, how can the public tolerate this any further on the excuse that she is simply too busy? How can this not affect the Government's reputation or image? Acting Chief Executive: I think Ms Cheng (Secretary for Justice) has already made a media statement last Sunday evening. And she has also publicly apologised for the inconvenience and concern caused to the community and she stands ready to go back to LegCo. In fact, she will be appearing in LegCo tomorrow for an oral question and also, of course, she has undertaken to attend the LegCo Administration of Justice and Legal Services Panel meeting on the 26th of February. And also she pledged if her consultation with stakeholders can be completed earlier, she stands ready to attend the meeting earlier. So, I think she is pretty keen to establish a rapport with LegCo members. Reporter: How does it affect the Government's image at this point do you think? Acting Chief Executive: I think we mustn't link the two together at the present stage. Ms Cheng has already made it clear that she was not sensitive enough in handling the matter. And she is certainly doing her best to rectify all the problems, particularly the illegal structures concerned. OK? (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:24 NNNN
CE to visit Switzerland
17.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will depart for an official visit to Switzerland in the early hours on January 22, and will attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos from January 24 to 26. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, will join part of the visit. Mrs Lam will visit Zurich, Bern and Basel to meet with senior government officials, members of the business sector and professionals to update them on the latest developments of Hong Kong. She will address a business luncheon to be hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Swiss-Hong Kong Business Association, and also visit various institutions related to technology, finance, medicine and the arts. During her attendance at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Mrs Lam will address different sessions. She will also meet with leaders of various economies, as well as the leadership of the World Economic Forum and other international organisations. Mrs Lam will leave Davos on January 26 (Switzerland time) and arrive in Hong Kong on January 27. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive. Ends/Wednesday, January 17, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:45 NNNN
CE meets guest speakers of AFF
16.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met a number of guest speakers of the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) separately yesterday and today (January 15 and 16) at the Chief Executive's Office to exchange views on global and regional economic, trade and financial development. All of them are experts from Mainland and overseas governments, regulatory authorities or finance sectors, including the 76th United States Secretary of the Treasury, Mr Jacob J Lew; the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Mr David Lipton; the President and Chairman of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Mr Jin Liqun; the Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Dr Jiang Yang; the Vice Chairman and President of the China Investment Corporation, Mr Tu Guangshao; and the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vista Equity Partners, Mr Robert Smith. Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to them for accepting the invitation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to speak at the two-day 11th Asian Financial Forum, themed on "Steering Growth and Pioneering Innovation: Asia and Beyond", which concluded today. They spoke on a wide range of topics at the Forum including the economic outlook of China, Asia and the world; how to leverage innovation to maintain growth and drive the global economy; emerging innovations in financial technologies (Fintech) for Asia; and how the internationalisation of the Renminbi and the Belt and Road Initiative would impact global economic and market developments. More than 2,900 attendees from around the world benefited from their insights. Mrs Lam pointed out that "growth" and "innovation" are the two keywords underlying the theme of this year's Forum, and are very much in line with Hong Kong's development. Hong Kong is in the Asian region where growth and potential are boundless, and China is the engine of global economic growth. Hong Kong, which has been innovating into prosperity, needs to seize upon innovation to stay ahead and remain competitive, she said. In particular, the current-term Government is committed to developing Fintech to raise operational efficiency, generate new business opportunities and enhance customer experience, propelling further economic growth. Ends/Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:06 NNNN
CE meets Executive Committee members of Hong Kong Housing Society
16.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met with the Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), Mr Marco Wu, and members of its Executive Committee at Government House today (January 16) to exchange views on various housing policy issues, and hosted a lunch for them. Mrs Lam said the HKHS has all along been a close partner of the Government in implementing housing policy. She expressed her gratitude for the efforts made by the HKHS in providing public rental units and subsidised sale flats, and in assuming the unique role of "housing laboratory", addressing the housing needs of different groups in the community. She reiterated the housing policies set out in her maiden Policy Address delivered last year, pointing out that the Government would build a housing ladder with a focus on home ownership, step up efforts in increasing the supply of housing units based on the Long Term Housing Strategy, and optimise the existing housing resources. She said she was pleased to learn that the HKHS had recently launched the pre-sale of 620 subsidised sale flats in Tuen Mun and Tseung Kwan O, and thanked the HKHS for proactively exploring the initiative to allow the owners of its subsidised sale flats to rent out their flats with premium unpaid to needy families on a pilot basis. She said she hoped that the HKHS would continue to support the various housing initiatives of the Government. Ends/Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Issued at HKT 19:47 NNNN
CE meets University Grants Committee members
12.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met members of the University Grants Committee (UGC) at Government House today (January 12) to exchange views on issues including UGC’s efforts in recent years in grooming high-calibre talent, promoting research work and strengthening governance in the funded institutions, and hosted a lunch for them after the meeting. She expressed her gratitude to some 20 local and overseas experts on the UGC for their valuable advice to the Government on allocation of funding to the funded institutions and the strategic development of higher education in Hong Kong under the leadership of the Chairman, Mr Carlson Tong. Noting that the universities in Hong Kong have made remarkable achievements in the academic domain and are highly reputable around the world, they have all along carried the mission of grooming talent, supporting research work and advancing social development in Hong Kong. Remarking that she stated in her maiden Policy Address delivered last year that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government would invest heavily in education and actively promote scientific research and the development of innovation and technology (I&T), she thanked the UGC for accepting the Government’s invitation to set up a task force to review the existing research support strategy, the level of research funding and the funding allocation mechanism for the higher education sector. She said she is confident that the recommendations would help Hong Kong enhance the level in scientific research and transfers in I&T fields, advancing the I&T development in the city. She expressed the hope that the UGC would continue to work closely with the Government and the funded institutions to pursue excellence in teaching and learning in the tertiary institutions to strengthen Hong Kong's position as a regional education hub. Ends/Friday, January 12, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:11 NNNN
CE visits ICAC
9.1.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) headquarters today (January 9) to keep abreast of its work. Accompanied by the ICAC Commissioner, Mr Simon Peh, and Acting Head of Operations, Mr Ricky Yau, Mrs Lam started the visit by touring the facilities of the Operations Department, including the report centre, which operates 24 hours a day handling complaints and enquiries from the public, and the video interview room. She was briefed on the complaints handling procedures, the proactive investigation strategies and the computer forensic services provided to front-line investigators. Mrs Lam then visited the Community Relations Department and the Corruption Prevention Department to learn about their anti-corruption efforts and promotion of anti-corruption messages through various channels. She said she was pleased to note that in addition to conducting local work, the ICAC, in support of the country's Belt and Road Initiative, also shares its rich experience in fighting corruption in Hong Kong with regions and countries along the Belt and Road to enhance their integrity. Mrs Lam also met with ICAC investigators, new recruits and staff representatives separately to understand their work and listen to their aspirations. "A corruption-free environment is of paramount importance to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. I am grateful to ICAC colleagues for their tireless efforts, distinguished professionalism and team spirit in their all-out fight against corruption by embracing the approach of law enforcement, prevention and community education, making Hong Kong a city internationally renowned for its clean governance. In the face of new challenges as the community progresses, I am confident that the ICAC will move with the times and stay vigilant to safeguard the integrity of Hong Kong in a fair and impartial manner," she said. Ends/Tuesday, January 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:24 NNNN