kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
Response to media enquiries on HKSAR Government&apos;s attendance at APEC Economic Leaders&apos; Meeting
1.11.2023

In response to media enquiries, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) confirmed today (November 1) that the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, had personally received the invitation from the United States to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held from November 15 to 17 in San Francisco, United States. Due to scheduling issues, the Chief Executive would not be able to attend the meeting to represent Hong Kong, China in person, and has appointed the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, to attend the meeting on behalf of the Chief Executive. Ends/Wednesday, November 1, 2023 Issued at HKT 20:03 NNNN
Speech by CE at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok
21.10.2023

Following is the video speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok today (October 21): Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Hello everyone. Sah wah dee khrap. Welcome to the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok. We are excited to bring to Bangkok the first ever overseas edition of our flagship Hong Kong Week events, to showcase Hong Kong's unique culture of artistry and creativity. Under the unique "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong is where the China advantage and the global advantage converge in a single city. As a pluralistic metropolis blending Chinese and Western cultures, Hong Kong is a strong believer of the promotion of mutual understanding among peoples of different places through cultural exchange. We are eager to share the artistic achievements of our Asia's world city with audiences from every part of the world. We also endeavour to bring quality artworks encompassing rich Chinese culture to more overseas cities, giving play to our unique strengths as a conduit between the Mainland of China and the rest of the world. With a long and vibrant history, Thailand is fast becoming a cultural centre of the region. From mesmerising folklore and legends, to the vivid development of modern and contemporary art, Thailand's cultural scenes continue to fascinate the world. This year, we are glad to hold our first overseas Hong Kong Week in Bangkok to further enhance the exchanges and collaboration in arts and culture, and creative industries between our two cities. The Hong Kong Week features diverse programmes, from music, dance and film, to fashion and intangible cultural heritage events. The eventful programme provides lots of opportunities for artists in Hong Kong and Bangkok to collaborate and exchange ideas. With the passion of our artists, I am confident that this three-week festival will be filled with colours and sparks. Confident, as well, that it will bolster cultural appreciation and ties between our peoples. Looking ahead, I hope more of our friends from Thailand would come to Hong Kong, to see for yourselves the unparalleled and plentiful opportunities, and feel the energy of our dynamic city. We welcome all of you in Hong Kong, for travel, for work, for studies, or even for investment. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all our dedicated partners, in particular the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Thailand, and Mahidol University, for giving your tremendous support to this Hong Kong Week. I wish Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok a great success, and everyone an enjoyable afternoon at the reception and the opening concert. Thank you. Ends/Saturday, October 21, 2023 Issued at HKT 17:30 NNNN
HKSAR Government to attend APEC Economic Leaders&apos; Meeting in United States
31.10.2023

In response to media enquiries, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) indicated today (October 31) that Hong Kong, China had, according to convention, received the invitation from the host economy to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held from November 15 to 17 in San Francisco, United States. The HKSAR Government had already replied that, due to scheduling issues, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, would not be able to attend the meeting to represent Hong Kong, China in person, and that the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, would attend the meeting on behalf of the Chief Executive. APEC is a useful platform for member economies to engage in discussions and forge consensus on policy directions and measures that help stimulate economic development in an inclusive and sustainable manner in the region. The HKSAR has long been participating in APEC as a full and separate member under the name of Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong, China will continue to participate in APEC matters, with a view to contributing to regional economic co-operation by leveraging our distinctive advantages under "one country, two systems" and our status as an international trade and financial centre. Ends/Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Issued at HKT 18:30 NNNN
HKSAR Government today holds &quot;Improving district governance Building a better community&quot; seminar
31.10.2023

To further promote improving the district governance system and reforming the District Councils (DCs), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will hold the "Improving district governance Building a better community" seminar at 3pm today (October 31) at the Central Government Offices. Representatives from various sectors of the community, leaders of political groups with affection for the country and Hong Kong, and authoritative experts and scholars are invited to attend. The seminar will be chaired by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee. The Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zheng Yanxiong; the Vice-chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Professor Wong Yuk-shan; the former Vice-chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the NPC, Ms Maria Tam; the Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Coalition, Mr Tam Yiu-chung; the Consultant of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, Professor Lau Siu-kai; and the deputy head of the Hong Kong deputies to the NPC, Dr Stanley Ng, will give keynote speeches. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, will host a question-and-answer session after the keynote speeches. The seminar will be broadcast live from 3pm to 5pm. Members of the public can view it on the website of the Information Services Department ( webcast.info.gov.hk ), the news.gov.hk's Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/govnews.hk ) or the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau's Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/cmab.gov.hk ). Radio Television Hong Kong TV 32 will also broadcast the seminar. A Government spokesman said, "Improving the district governance system and reforming the DCs are related to the good governance of the HKSAR, good community life, and a better living and working environment for all citizens. Members of the public are encouraged to watch the broadcast to better understand improving the district governance system." Ends/Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Issued at HKT 11:30 NNNN
CE congratulates Hong Kong athletes for achievements in Asian Para Games Hangzhou
28.10.2023

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (October 28) extended his congratulations to Hong Kong athletes on achieving outstanding results in the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou, commending their distinguished performance and noble sportsmanship. Mr Lee said, "The Hong Kong team won a total of 47 medals, comprising eight gold medals, 15 silver medals and 24 bronze medals. Breakthroughs were achieved in swimming including breaking several Asian Para Games records and winning all three medals in the same event. Their achievements are most heartening. "All along, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been supporting the participation by persons with disabilities in sports to demonstrate their talents. In this Asian Para Games, athletes of the Hong Kong team, as in the past, demonstrated their perseverance in competitions. They have earned the admiration of all Hong Kong people and made us proud. "In recent years, the Government has significantly increased its resources for persons with disabilities in sports development. For this financial year alone, a budget of over $130 million has been earmarked, representing an increase of 80 per cent as compared to five years ago. The Government, in collaboration with the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee, has launched a five-year pilot programme on career and education for athletes with disabilities in June this year to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills so as to facilitate their integration into society and post-athletic transformation for their second-career development in the future. The HKSAR Government will continue to put in resources with a view to supporting the athletes with disabilities in sports development." Ends/Saturday, October 28, 2023 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN
HKSAR Government welcomes NPCSC&apos;s adoption of Patriotic Education Law of People&apos;s Republic of China
24.10.2023

​The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government welcomes the adoption of the Patriotic Education Law of the People's Republic of China at the 6th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress today (October 24). The law will take effect on January 1, 2024, which aims to strengthen patriotic education, inherit and promote the spirit of patriotism. The Patriotic Education Law of the People's Republic of China sets out the main content of patriotic education, covering areas such as ideology and politics, history and culture, national symbols, the magnificent scenery and historical and cultural heritage of the motherland, constitution and law, national unity and ethnic solidarity, national security and defense, and the deeds of heroes and martyrs and role models. The law also includes provisions on patriotic education for different groups such as compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, "The HKSAR Government has been working together with various sectors of the community to promote patriotic education, with a view to enhancing the sense of national identity and patriotism of different sectors of the community. The HKSAR Government will fully facilitate the relevant work to co-ordinate within the Government and also the patriotic forces of different sectors in making persistent efforts to promote patriotic education, so as to enable the public to gain further knowledge of the history, culture and rapid development in all aspects of our country and understand the close relationship between Mainland and Hong Kong." Ends/Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Issued at HKT 22:46 NNNN
Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo
24.10.2023

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (October 24): Reporter: The first question regarding the visit of California Governor Gavin Newsom, saying that Hong Kong will soon host an annual event bringing together the bay areas of the US and the Greater Bay Area. How do you see the city's role as a bridge for co-operation between the US and China amid continued tensions between the two countries? And also regarding the Policy Address, the Government will reportedly consider measures such as offering cash handouts to newborns and also prioritising newborn parents for subsidised housing, which are both unprecedented and controversial. Do you believe that you have any confidence in convincing the public using these measures and whether or not they will buy into this? Thank you. Chief Executive: Hong Kong is always in support of good relations with all countries. We promote and support free trade. We promote and support free economies. We promote and support collaboration, because through co-operation and collaboration, I think governments and people can work together to bring benefits to the overall good of both places. So we are in support of promoting co-operation and collaboration in different areas, whether it relates to climate change, whether it relates to how to sail through this economic storm, and also green economy and all these. Yes, Hong Kong will continue to play the role of creating opportunities for co-operation and collaboration. We have been holding a lot of international conferences in Hong Kong in regard to different topics. We will continue to do that, and we will be happy for anybody to take part including people from different parts of the world. And of course, we welcome US players to come, particularly those from the business sector, because I think business means opportunities for everybody. And business also, I think, is the biggest force that will drive economic development and people-to-people exchange, so we'll continue that role. In regard to issues that may have relevance to the Policy Address, I thank you for the big interest in the Policy Address, but I really would hope that you just wait for one more day and all the issues that will be covered in the Policy Address will be made known tomorrow. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Issued at HKT 13:22 NNNN
CE meets Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
15.10.2023

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Mr James Marape, at Government House today (October 15). The Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, also attended the meeting. Mr Lee welcomed Mr James Marape's visit to Hong Kong. Noting that Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea have been maintaining a close relationship in business, Mr Lee said despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the merchandise trade between the two places recorded a substantial increase of 34 per cent in the past three years, from US$65 million in 2019 to US$87 million in 2022. Pointing out that Papua New Guinea was the first Pacific country to sign a memorandum of understanding with the nation for co-operation on the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018, Mr Lee encouraged more Papua New Guinea enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's institutional strengths, such as the commitment to the rule of law, the free flow of information and capital, a simple and competitive tax system, with a view to seizing opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative. Mr Lee said he looks forward to continuing to strengthen ties between the two places, and jointly explore opportunities for further co-operation, so as to achieve mutual benefits. Ends/Sunday, October 15, 2023 Issued at HKT 16:55 NNNN
Welcome home reception for Hong Kong, China delegation to 19th Asian Games Hangzhou held today
14.10.2023

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) hosted a welcome home reception at Central Government Offices this afternoon (October 14) to congratulate home athletes of the Hong Kong, China Delegation on their triumphant return to the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou (Asian Games) and praise their performance in the Games, as well as expressing gratitude to the coaches and medical teams for their contributions. Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that the outstanding performance is the outcome of athletes' efforts, and at the same time, reflecting that the Government is on the right track in allocating resources for sports development. The Government's estimated expenditure on sports development in 2023-24 is around $7.4 billion, representing an increase of about 40 per cent as compared to five years ago and the focus on promotion is in five aspects, namely to promote sports in the community, support elite sports, promote Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, professionalism in the sports sector and development of sports as an industry. The Asian Games was held in Hangzhou between September 23 and October 8. The Hong Kong, China Delegation has sent a total of 680 athletes, whose remarkable achievements in winning a total of 53 medals, namely eight golds, 16 silvers and 29 bronzes, a record-breaking total attained by Hong Kong athletes in the Asian Games. Details of the medalists of the competition are set out in the Annex. Also attending the reception today were the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China SF&OC, Mr Timothy Fok; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Li Yongsheng; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the Asian Games, Mr Kenneth Fok; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Joe Wong; the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu. Ends/Saturday, October 14, 2023 Issued at HKT 19:06 NNNN
Re-appointment of Panel Judge under Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance
13.10.2023

The Government announced today (October 13) that the Chief Executive, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, has re-appointed Mr Justice Poon Siu-tung, a Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, as a Panel Judge under the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance (Chapter 589) (the Ordinance) for another term of three years from October 25, 2023 to October 24, 2026. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, "I am grateful to Mr Justice Poon Siu-tung for his full dedication in handling the law enforcement agencies' applications for authorisations under the Ordinance during the past three years. I am confident that he, on re-appointment, will continue to work with the other two Panel Judges, Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah and Madam Justice Lisa Wong Kwok-ying, to make use of their expertise and experience to ensure the effective operation of the regulatory regime under the Ordinance." The Ordinance provides a comprehensive statutory framework for regulating the conduct of interception and covert surveillance by law enforcement agencies, and aims to strike a balance between maintaining law and order and protecting the privacy rights of individuals. Under the Ordinance, Panel Judges shall consider applications for authorisations of interception and Type 1 surveillance and for device retrieval warrants. Ends/Friday, October 13, 2023 Issued at HKT 9:50 NNNN
Chief Executive appoints District Councils Eligibility Review Committee members
11.10.2023

The Government announced today (October 11) the Chief Executive (CE)'s appointment of members of the District Councils Eligibility Review Committee (DCERC) commencing on October 11, 2023. In accordance with section 10B of the District Councils Ordinance (Cap. 547), the DCERC is responsible for reviewing and confirming the eligibility of any person proposed to be appointed as a DC member, registered as an ex-officio member, or nominated as a candidate for DC elections. Pursuant to section 10A of the District Councils Ordinance, the CE appoints the chairperson, three official members and three non-official members of the DCERC with a term commencing on October 11, 2023. The relevant membership list of the DCERC is as follows: Chairperson -------------- Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki Official members ------------------- Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak Mei-kuen Non-official members ------------------------ Miss Maria Tam Wai-chu Professor Wong Yuk-shan Mr Johnny Mok Shiu-luen A Government spokesman said, "To fully implement the principle of 'patriots administering Hong Kong' at the district governance level of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and firmly place the District Councils (DCs) in the hands of patriots, the amended District Councils Ordinance establishes the DCERC to ensure that candidates of DC elections, persons proposed to be appointed as DC members, and those eligible to be registered as ex-officio members meet the requirement of upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR." The spokesman also said, "The non-official members appointed to the DCERC are all staunch patriots who love the country and Hong Kong. The have a deep understanding of the Constitution and the Basic Law, and are well-respected by all sectors of society. We are very grateful for their acceptance of the appointment as members of the DCERC who will assist in reviewing and confirming the eligibility of candidates and members of the DCs, thereby providing a very important institutional safeguard for the implementation of 'patriots administering Hong Kong'." The above appointment has been published in the Gazette today and reported to the Central People's Government for record. Ends/Wednesday, October 11, 2023 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN