kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
CE follows up on Policy Address initiatives
14.10.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended a TV programme this morning (October 14) to elaborate on the initiatives in the 2018 Policy Address and visited an old building in Sai Ying Pun in the afternoon to know more about support measures the residents need in carrying out building repair and maintenance works and introduce to them relevant measures in the Policy Address. Accompanied by the Director of Buildings, Mr Cheung Tin-cheung; the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Alfred Sit; the Director (Building Rehabilitation) of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), Mr Daniel Ho and the District Officer (Central & Western) Mrs Susanne Wong, Mrs Lam visited a 52-year-old building on Wilmer Street, Sai Ying Pun and met with residents who are also members of the owners' corporation. They briefed her on the 13-storeyed building's repair and maintenance works in the past and works needed in the future. She also inspected areas of the building where repair works will be carried out and the lift. She then paid a home visit to an elderly resident to understand her daily life and introduce to her measures rolled out by the Government to support building repair and maintenance works. Mrs Lam noted that the building has applied for the subsidy schemes by the URA and plans to strengthen its fire safety standards and carry out the necessary repair works. The residents welcomed the initiative in the Policy Address to help home owners in need expedite lift modernisation. "Hong Kong is facing the challenge posed by ageing buildings. Strengthening building rehabilitation will not only help protect the lives of residents and passers-by and improve the living environment of residents, it will also enhance the adaptability of buildings to extreme weather conditions brought by climate change. In the Policy Address last year, I proposed to allocate $3 billion to launch "Operation Building Bright 2.0" and devote $2 billion to subsidise eligible owners to undertake fire safety enhancement measures. The relevant schemes have already been rolled out. In the Policy Address this year, I further proposed to launch in partnership with the URA the Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme with a provision of around $2.5 billion to subsidise lift modernisation for aged buildings to safeguard public safety, with additional subsidy for eligible elderly owner-occupiers. I look forward to launching the scheme in the first quarter of next year," Mrs Lam said. In addition to rolling out various subsidy schemes to help owners in need enhance building safety, relevant government departments will collaborate with the URA to assist building owners who have participated in the above-mentioned schemes to build in corruption prevention safeguards in their building repair and maintenance projects and to provide more information on building rehabilitation and market information so that the processes of tendering for contractors will be conducted in a fair, just and competitive manner. Ends/Sunday, October 14, 2018 Issued at HKT 19:45 NNNN
CE visits Ying Wa Primary School
12.10.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited Ying Wa Primary School in Sham Shui Po this afternoon (October 12) to learn more about the participation by students in extra-curricular activities and exchange with the teaching staff on the teaching and learning environment of the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) school. Accompanied by the Supervisor of the school, Mr Tsang Chiu-kwan and the Headmistress, Ms Maria Lam , Mrs Lam toured the campus and watched the participation by students in different extra-curricular activities, including swimming, athletics, table tennis, volleyball and dancing, as well as English speaking, science and visual arts. She also watched the performance by the orchestra, the choir and the Chinese drum team in the school hall. Mrs Lam was pleased to note that the school attaches great importance on life-wide learning of students and arranges for them a wide range of extra-curricular activities which the students thoroughly enjoy. She also lauded the students for their excellent performance in various areas. "The current-term Government regards the expenditure on education as the most meaningful investment in our future. Therefore I have, as in the previous year, allocated considerable new resources to and put forward a number of new initiatives on education in my recent second Policy Address to give further support for schools to enhance the quality of education. These include the provision of additional resources to strengthen the administrative support for schools, implementation of the all-graduate teaching force policy and provision of permanent teaching posts and grant for integrated education. "In particular, I consider that the development of our young people should be holistic and should not be limited to academic achievement. I have therefore proposed to provide, starting from the 2019/20 school year, a new recurrent Life-wide Learning Grant with an annual provision of $900 million to public sector and DSS schools to encourage them to extend learning beyond the classrooms and, through extra-curricular activities, field studies and community service, enhance students' interest in learning, broaden their horizons and help them develop positive values. I look forward to working with the education sector to create a diverse and enjoyable learning environment for students to grow up in a comprehensive and balanced manner," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Friday, October 12, 2018 Issued at HKT 23:01 NNNN
Chief Executive in Council grants second 10-year operating right of peak tramway
10.10.2018

The Government today (October 10) announced that the Chief Executive in Council (CE-in-C) has approved the grant of the second 10-year operating right of the peak tramway to the Peak Tramways Company Limited commencing January 1, 2026. "In granting the above, the Government is satisfied with the Company's commitment and capability of implementing an upgrading plan which will be conducive to maintaining the peak tramway as an important tourism and recreational facility. We look forward to the resulting enhanced peak tram facilities and services for the enjoyment of tourists and locals alike," a Government spokesman said. Under the upgrading plan, the Company will increase the tramcar capacity by over 75 per cent from 120 passengers to 210 passengers; construct a covered, temperature-controlled queuing and waiting area for about 1 300 passengers at the lower terminus of the peak tramway; and renovate the upper terminus platform areas. The implementation of the upgrading plan would go a long way towards addressing the long-standing queuing problem at the terminus and bring about enhanced service provision to tourists and locals. The Company will invest over $650 million for implementing the upgrading plan, currently expected to be completed in 2021. The CE-in-C has also approved granting the Company the use of three additional pieces of Government land with an area of about 426 square metres adjacent to the existing tramway area for implementing the part of the upgrading plan aiming to increase the holding capacity of the lower terminus and improve the waiting environment for passengers. Under the second 10-year operating right, the Company will continue to pay to the Government annually a sum of consideration equivalent to 12 per cent of its total annual revenue received in the year for the occupation and use of the additional Government land on top of the existing Government land on which the track of the peak tramway and the four intermediate stations lie. The Company will also set a service pledge on service frequency of the peak tramway as good as that in the first 10-year operating period. Technical amendments to the Peak Tramway (Safety) Regulations (Cap. 265 sub. leg. A) and the Peak Tramway Ordinance (Cap. 265) will be introduced into the Legislative Council to implement the upgrading plan. Ends/Wednesday, October 10, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:28 NNNN
2018-19 judicial service pay adjustment
10.10.2018

On the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service (Judicial Committee) chaired by Professor Wong Yuk-shan, the Chief Executive in Council has decided that the pay for Judges and Judicial Officers (JJOs) for 2018-19 should be increased by 4.69 per cent. The pay adjustment will take retrospective effect from April 1, 2018. A government spokesman said today (October 10), "In coming up with its recommendation on judicial pay for 2018-19, the Judicial Committee has adopted a balanced approach, taking into account a basket of factors approved by the Chief Executive in Council in May 2008, the principle of judicial independence and the position of the Judiciary. The basket of factors includes: (a) responsibility, working conditions and workload of judges vis-à-vis those of lawyers in private practice; (b) recruitment and retention in the Judiciary; (c) retirement age and retirement benefits of JJOs; (d) benefits and allowances enjoyed by JJOs; (e) unique features of the judicial service such as the security of tenure, the prestigious status and high esteem of the judicial offices; (f) prohibition against return to private practice in Hong Kong; (g) overseas remuneration arrangements; (h) cost of living adjustments; (i) general economic situation in Hong Kong; (j) budgetary situation of the Government; (k) private sector pay levels and trends; and (l) public sector pay as a reference." A copy of the Report on Judicial Remuneration Review 2018 submitted by the Judicial Committee to the Chief Executive on July 20, 2018 is available at the website of the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service ( www.jsscs.gov.hk/en/publications/reports_jscs.htm ). The Government will seek the approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on the proposed pay adjustment. Ends/Wednesday, October 10, 2018 Issued at HKT 14:00 NNNN
Appointments of permanent judge and non-permanent Hong Kong judge of Court of Final Appeal
10.10.2018

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary: The Chief Executive has, on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission and with the endorsement of the Legislative Council, made the following appointments: Permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal: ------------------------------------------------- (with effect from October 25, 2018) The Honourable Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, Chief Judge of the High Court Non-permanent Hong Kong judge of the Court of Final Appeal: ------------------------------------------------------------------- (for a term of three years commencing October 25, 2018) The Honourable Mr Justice Robert Tang Ching, GBM, Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal Ends/Wednesday, October 10, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN
CE meets Governor of Guizhou Province
9.10.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Governor of Guizhou Province, Ms Shen Yiqin, at Government House this afternoon (October 9). The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, were also present. Mrs Lam welcomed Ms Shen's first visit to Hong Kong in her present capacity to attend an event on economic, trade and tourism promotion between Guizhou and Hong Kong to be held tomorrow (October 10) and wished the event every success. Noting that exchanges between the governments of the two places are frequent, Mrs Lam said that Mr Chan attended the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2018 in Guiyang a few months ago; the Vice-Governor of Guizhou Province, Mr Lu Yongzheng, visited Hong Kong in the middle of this year to attend a trade promotion event; and the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, led a delegation to Guiyang earlier to attend the 2018 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Forum. All of these visits have demonstrated that Guizhou and Hong Kong attach great importance to the co-operation between the two sides, Mrs Lam said. Mrs Lam said that Guizhou possesses abundant resources, has seen rapid development in recent years and holds immense growth potential, while Hong Kong, being the largest source of external investment in Guizhou, is an excellent platform to attract foreign capital for Guizhou and help Guizhou enterprises to "go global". She said that with the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link last month, it only takes around five hours to travel from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Guiyang North Station, bringing immense benefits for further co-operation between the two places. Given that Guizhou is striving to develop its big data industry with remarkable results and that Hong Kong is proactively advancing the development of innovation and technology, including biomedicine, artificial intelligence and smart city initiatives, Mrs Lam expressed the hope that the two places will explore more room for co-operation in relevant areas. Ends/Tuesday, October 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:18 NNNN
Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting
9.10.2018

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (October 9): Reporter: Mrs Lam, Victor Mallet is not an activist and he was not advocating independence for Hong Kong. He is very different from Andy Chan. He was purely chairing a talk at the FCC. So, why was his visa denied? He is not leading the Hong Kong independence movement. He was purely facilitating a talk at the FCC… Chief Executive: I am sorry, what you said is pure speculation. I have just answered in Cantonese that as far as entry and exit matters, these are matters within Hong Kong's autonomy under "One Country, Two Systems". Point number two is on every individual case, the Director of Immigration will act in accordance with the law and the policy and the circumstances concerning that particular case. The third point is, as a rule, not only locally, but internationally, we will never disclose, the Immigration Department will not disclose the individual circumstances of the case or the considerations of his decision. So, I cannot comment on your speculations. Reporter: Mrs Lam, if the Government is talking about independence almost every week, how do journalists navigate this red line? Can they quote independence figures, interview them, invite them to a forum, or invite them only alongside a government representative? If reporters don't know clearly, they may self-censor. So, can you tell us which of these reporting and which is now unlawful advocacy? Chief Executive: I'm sorry, I cannot tell you exactly what journalists should say or act or interview, but I can assure you, as I did in Cantonese, freedom of expression, freedom of reporting are core values in Hong Kong, and as the Chief Executive, I and the HKSAR Government, will safeguard all these rights as enshrined in the Basic Law. Every act, every case will be dealt with in accordance with the law, the policy and the circumstances, including the facts of the case. Thank you very much. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, October 9, 2018 Issued at HKT 14:04 NNNN
CE meets Secretary of CPC Fujian Provincial Committee
8.10.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met with the Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Mr Yu Weiguo, at Government House at noon today (October 8). The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, also attended the meeting. Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Yu's visit to Hong Kong to attend an activity organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations last night as well as a Fujian-Hong Kong co-operation promotion event to be jointly held by the Fujian Provincial Government and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) tomorrow (October 9). Noting that Fujian is a core area of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Mrs Lam encouraged the province to leverage Hong Kong as a platform to jointly explore business opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. Mrs Lam said that there are more than 1 million Fujian clansmen living in Hong Kong, and many Hong Kong people are studying and living in Fujian. With the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link last month, West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong is now directly connected with 10 destinations in Fujian Province, and it will take only some five hours to reach the provincial capital, Fuzhou. Consequently, she said she expects that economic and cultural links between Hong Kong and Fujian will become even closer. Mrs Lam also thanked the Fujian Provincial Government for its care for Hong Kong people living in the province. She noted that measures were rolled out by the Central Government to assist Hong Kong residents in living, working and studying in the Mainland, and that an announcement was made earlier allowing Hong Kong residents living in the Mainland who meet the relevant criteria to apply for residence permits to enjoy a number of rights, public services and facilitation measures in their place of residence. She said she hopes that the Fujian Provincial Government will continue to implement the measures proactively. Mrs Lam added that she launched the platform for Hong Kong-Fujian co-operation between the HKSAR Government and the Fujian Provincial Government in 2015 in the capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration and took part in the Hong Kong-Fujian Co-operation Conference held in Fuzhou and Hong Kong, and that she is pleased that the third co-operation conference would be held in Fuzhou next month. She said she hopes the two places will collaborate more, identify new growth opportunities and strengthen co-operation and exchanges in areas such as innovation and technology, tourism and youth development. Ends/Monday, October 8, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:46 NNNN
Chief Executive to deliver Policy Address to LegCo
8.10.2018

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (October 10) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Chief Executive will deliver the Policy Address. Meanwhile, Dr Helena Wong will move a proposed resolution under section 34(2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 laid on the table of the Council on June 13, 2018. The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website ( www.legco.gov.hk ). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website. Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. Ends/Monday, October 8, 2018 Issued at HKT 17:40 NNNN
CE meets Secretary General of World Meteorological Organization
3.10.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Professor Petteri Taalas, at the Chief Executive's Office this morning (October 3). The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, was also present. Mrs Lam welcomed Professor Taalas' visit to Hong Kong again and extended her congratulations to the WMO on being awarded the Welfare Betterment Prize of the Lui Che Woo Prize 2018 in recognition of the work of the WMO over the years which has contributed to the mitigation of the impact of natural disasters on humans. Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong, which has been a member of the WMO since 1948, has actively taken part in the Organization's work. She said that the incumbent Director of Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the Permanent Representative of Hong Kong, China with the WMO, Mr Shun Chi-ming, was the first Asian person to be the President of the WMO's Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology and that his presidency ended earlier after eight years of remarkable service. Mrs Lam noted that the HKO and the WMO yesterday (October 2) signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will further strengthen meteorological co-operation between both parties with the support by the HKO for the WMO's initiative in establishing the Global Multi-hazard Alert System. Mrs Lam said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) attaches great importance to the work in combating climate change and will proactively meet the commitments of the Paris Agreement, which applies to the HKSAR. Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ was released at the beginning of last year and sets out in detail the measures on mitigation, adaptation and resilience in regard to combating climate change. She added that Hong Kong has expertise and rich experience in city management and dealing with natural disasters and that the city is pleased to help and share experience in capacity building with emerging economies. Ends/Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Issued at HKT 20:51 NNNN