kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
CE concludes visit to France
22.6.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, concluded her one-week visit to France this afternoon (June 22, Paris time). In the morning, Mrs Lam met with the President of Ile de France region, Mrs Valérie Pécresse. Ile de France is one of the 18 regions of France including the city of Paris. It has a population of more than 12 million which is 18 per cent of the national population. Noting that Hong Kong is keen to collaborate with different parts of France and that the Ile de France region is very influential in the country, she said that Paris and Hong Kong, both of which are international metropolitans, have a lot of room for co-operation in areas including investment, innovation and technology, culture and youth exchanges. She particularly introduced the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area to Mrs Pécresse, encouraging the Ile de France region to explore the huge market of the Bay Area through Hong Kong. After the meeting, Mrs Lam visited the headquarters of Schneider Electric, a French multinational corporation specialising in digital transformation of energy management and automation. It has set up headquarters in Hong Kong in recent years. Mrs Lam toured the innovation hub of the company to understand the latest technology on energy saving and management, and smart solutions for various industries, cities and homes. Mrs Lam said the visit to France is very successful. By meeting with senior officials of France and participating in a range of events, members from different sectors of France have known more about the situation of Hong Kong and are more interested in strengthening co-operation with Hong Kong in various aspects, including the signing of two memorandums of understanding on co-operation in tourism and scientific research she witnessed during the trip. Mrs Lam welcomed the signing of two memorandums of understanding between the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) and Groupe ADP yesterday on strengthening co-operation between the Hong Kong International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in airport management, aviation development and air cargo development. She said the collaboration is set to boost Hong Kong's role as an aviation hub in the region and is yet another testimony that there is limitless potential for co-operation between Hong Kong and France in various aspects. The Chief Executive Officer of AAHK, Mr Fred Lam, who signed the memorandums of understanding on behalf of AAHK also attended the business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Paris yesterday. Mrs Lam left Paris in the afternoon for Zurich and will travel to Lindau tomorrow (June 23, Paris time) to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Opening Ceremony the next day. During her stay in Zurich, she will attend a dinner to be hosted by the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Zurich, Dr Zhao Qinghua. Ends/Friday, June 22, 2018 Issued at HKT 23:52 NNNN
Appointments to Board of Ocean Park Corporation announced
22.6.2018

The Government announced today (June 22) that the Chief Executive has made the following re-appointments to the Board of the Ocean Park Corporation (OPC) for a period of two years from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020: Chairman --------- Mr Leo Kung Lin-cheng Deputy Chairman ---------------- Mr Lau Ming-wai Non-official members -------------------- Mr Jason Wong Chun-tat Ms Michelle Cheng Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi Mr Vincent Ng Wing-shun Mr Matthias Li Sing-chung "We are grateful to all OPC board members for their hard work in pursuing the development of the Ocean Park. With board members' devotion and wide ranging expertise, Ocean Park will continue to grow as a world-class leading marine-themed attraction," 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 the Ocean Park as a public recreational and educational park. Ends/Friday, June 22, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:31 NNNN
Appointment of Ombudsman Selection Board
19.6.2018

In response to media enquiry regarding a news report on the decision of The Ombudsman, Ms Connie Lau, not to renew her contract upon its expiry next year, a spokesman for the Administration Wing made the following statement: The Ombudsman, Ms Connie Lau, informed the Government in February 2018 that she would not renew her contract upon its expiry in March 2019. The Chief Executive respected Ms Lau's decision, which was due to personal reasons. The Government thanked Ms Lau for her outstanding leadership over the years in providing an effective channel of redress for members of the public. The Ombudsman offers fitting recommendations to help government departments and public organisations improve their governance as well as enhance the efficiency of their operation and responsiveness to public needs. The Government will certainly continue to render its staunch support to Ms Lau and the work of the Office of the Ombudsman. The Chief Executive has agreed to identify the next Ombudsman through open recruitment, and has established a Selection Board for the exercise. The Selection Board for the new Ombudsman will be chaired by Mr Chow Chung-kong, with Mrs Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, Dr Simon Ip Sik-on and the Director of Administration as members. The Administration Wing will invite executive search consultants to submit proposals for the open recruitment exercise in July. The consultant engaged for the exercise will publish recruitment advertisements in August to invite potential candidates to apply for the post. Ends/Tuesday, June 19, 2018 Issued at HKT 19:15 NNNN
Transcript of remarks by Acting CE at media session before ExCo meeting
19.6.2018

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 (June 19): Reporter: Mr Cheung, do you think the MTR has failed to submit its report yesterday? Is the Government going to penalise the MTR for that? And also, there are two further incidents coming out in the past week over the MTR saga - will the judge-led inquiry also investigate into these two incidents in the To Kwa Wan station as well as the exhibition centre? Acting Chief Executive: The delay in submitting the report by MTR certainly is not satisfactory. In fact, the Director of Highways has already expressed our disappointment yesterday. And MTR promised to submit the report this morning, and apart from the To Kwa Wan report, they will also submit a report on the Exhibition station problem, involving underground support work. So we’re expecting two reports today from MTR. On whether to extend the terms of reference on the Commission of Inquiry, I already responded yesterday at my function at the Tuen Mun Dragon Boat Festival. I said that the Chief Executive, Mrs Lam, when she announced the news of setting up the Commission of Inquiry last Tuesday, made it quite clear that we want, we really wish the terms of reference to be more focused on problems of the Hung Hom station, rather than spreading it too thin. The reason is very simple, the Hung Hom case is far more complex. We have other ways of tackling the other two issues, the so-called To Kwa Wan problem as well as the Exhibition station problem. There are ways and means of tackling it. It does not necessarily involve expanding the Commission of Inquiry's terms of reference. We don't want the Commission of Inquiry to overextend or overstretch itself. We want it more focus on the more complex problems. And in fact in the course of investigation, there will be certain issues common to all MTR contracts. I am sure that there will be some common denominators coming up in terms of, for example, work supervision. So, we'll certainly kick-start the Commission of Inquiry as quick as possible and at the same time keep a very close eye on the entire Shatin-Central line. In fact, the Chairman of the MTR, Professor Fred Ma, also undertook to launch a thorough Investigation into the whole Shatin Central line. Thank you very much. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, June 19, 2018 Issued at HKT 12:36 NNNN
CE starts her visit to France
17.6.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, ended her two-day visit to Brussels in Belgium and started her visit to France in Bordeaux yesterday (June 16, Bordeaux time). Accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, Mrs Lam visited Château Latour to learn about the history of the Chateau, which is over 600 years old, and the wine-making process. Mrs Lam and Mr Yau also visited La Cité du Vin, which is a cultural facility on wine opened in 2016, offering visitors various views of wine in different ages, cultures and places across the world with a unique presentation. Mrs Lam and the Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Stephan Delaux, then witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Convention and Tourism Office of Bordeaux Metropole on strengthening of collaboration in wine and food tourism promotion between the two places. In the evening, Mrs Lam and Mr Yau attended a cocktail reception organised by the HKTB, which was held on a tall ship on the river bank of Bordeaux decorated with the Hong Kong brand, to celebrate the friendship between the two cities established over years of collaboration. Mrs Lam said that several of the fine wine and food tourism promotions in Hong Kong have all along been well received by tourists and locals. She noted that Hong Kong is Bordeaux’s key wine market and France is Hong Kong’s largest wine trading partner, and that the trade volume has soared since Hong Kong abolished the duty on wine in 2008. She expressed the hope that the two cities will continue its close relationship, and encouraged the wine merchants from France and Bordeaux to participate actively in the Vinexpo Hong Kong, the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair and the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival that have all been held for years. Mrs Lam and Mr Yau then attended a dinner hosted by the Chairman of HKTB, Dr Peter Lam, and viewed lightshows and fireworks display. Mrs Lam will visit Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe today (June 17, Bordeaux time) before going to Marseille in the afternoon to continue her visit to France. Ends/Sunday, June 17, 2018 Issued at HKT 8:01 NNNN
CE continues Belgium visit
15.6.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to Belgium today (June 15, Brussels time). In the morning, Mrs Lam met with the President of the European Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Juncker. She said that the economic outlook of Hong Kong is positive with unemployment rate falling to a 20-year low and that the national Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development are set to inject new impetus to the city's economy. Noting that Hong Kong, which has been a staunch supporter of free trade, signed a Free Trade Agreement and a related Investment Agreement with the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations last year, she hoped to commence relevant discussion with the European Union (EU). She also hoped that youth exchanges with EU countries can be enhanced, including the launch of more working holiday schemes. Mrs Lam then visited the Belgian Parliament which has a history of more than 200 years and met with the President of the Chamber of Representatives, Mr Siegfried Bracke. She introduced to him Hong Kong's latest situation, including the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems", the independent judiciary, new initiatives rolled out by the new term Government to enhance competitiveness of the city, etc. Mrs Lam also attended a lunch hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, Mr Zhang Ming and knew from him the latest development of the bilateral relations between China and the EU. She thanked the Mission for its support for various exchanges between Hong Kong and the EU, and its help with the expansion of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's external relations. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam visited the GSK Vaccines' headquarters and received a briefing on the company's research and development operation as well as their experience of carrying out clinical trials in Hong Kong. Mrs Lam headed to Bordeaux in the evening and will start her visit to France tomorrow (June 16, Bordeaux time). Ends/Saturday, June 16, 2018 Issued at HKT 1:04 NNNN
Government announces appointments to Mental Health Review Tribunal
15.6.2018

The Government today (June 15) announced the Chief Executive's appointment of Mr Maurice Lee Wai-man as the Chairman of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for a term of two years from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020. Mr Lee is an experienced solicitor who has been practicing law in Hong Kong for over 30 years. He is currently the Vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Moreover, he has been actively involved in community, cultural and social services for many years. The Government expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Mr Lambert Lee Ka-chai, for his valuable contribution to the Tribunal in the past. The Tribunal comprises a Chairman, 15 medical members, 15 social work members and 15 other members with experience and knowledge of administration or clinical psychology or other suitable qualifications or experience. The membership list of the Tribunal is available at the webpage of the Food and Health Bureau ( www.fhb.gov.hk/en/committees/mhrt.htm ). The Tribunal was set up in 1989 pursuant to the enactment of the Mental Health (Amendment) Ordinance. The function of the Tribunal is to consider applications or cases of patients who are liable to be compulsorily detained in mental hospitals or to compulsory guardianship, as well as to determine whether these patients should be discharged in accordance with the Mental Health Ordinance (Cap.136). Ends/Friday, June 15, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN
Appointment of Managing Director of Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority and Deputy Chairperson of Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Advisory Committee
15.6.2018

The Chief Executive has appointed Ms Alice Law as Managing Director of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) and Deputy Chairperson of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Advisory Committee for a period of three years from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021. The appointment was made under sections 6A, 6B and 6R of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485). Ms Law was selected through an extensive search that commenced in October 2017 by a selection panel chaired by the Financial Secretary. She has been working with the MPFA since July 2012 as an Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. Announcing the appointment today (June 15), the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "Ms Law has extensive regulatory and public service experience. She has played a key role in the implementation of major initiatives to reform the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System. She has also spearheaded a range of initiatives to improve the corporate governance of trustees to protect the interests of scheme members. "I would like to thank members of the selection panel who have contributed to the successful completion of the selection exercise," he added. Members of the panel are Mr Joseph Yam, Mr Abraham Shek, Dr David Wong Yau-kar, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau. Mr Chan also took the opportunity to thank the outgoing Managing Director of the MPFA, Mrs Diana Chan, who has played a key role in leading and steering the MPFA in developing and improving the MPF System which includes the launch of the Default Investment Strategy, the implementation of the Employees' Choice Arrangement and the preparation for the development of eMPF. He wishes her well in her retirement. Profile of Ms Alice Law -------------------------- Aged 53. Ms Law graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1987, and obtained her Master of Laws degree from the University College London in 1989. After practising as a solicitor between 1991 and 1998, she served in the Securities and Futures Commission from 1998 to 2012, with her last position as Senior Director (Policy, China & Investment Products). She joined the MPFA in 2012 as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, and will assume the position of Managing Director of the MPFA on July 1, 2018. Ends/Friday, June 15, 2018 Issued at HKT 15:00 NNNN
CE welcomes passage of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill
14.6.2018

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, welcomed the passage of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill by the Legislative Council today (June 14), signifying a big step towards the target of the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) in September this year. "The passage of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill marks the basic completion of the 'Three-step Process' of the co-location arrangement at the XRL West Kowloon Station. It provides a sound legal basis for the co-location arrangement, fully unleashing the transport, economic and social benefits of the XRL. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the legislators who supported the passage of the bill, and to the Central Government and different sectors of the community for supporting the implementation of the co-location arrangement. "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the MTR Corporation Limited are pressing ahead at full speed with the preparatory work with a view to commissioning the Hong Kong Section of the XRL in September this year to connect with the 25 000-kilometre national high-speed rail network, enabling members of the public to enjoy the convenience of the XRL," Mrs Lam said. After the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL, people will be able to take direct trains to the four short-haul stations, namely Futian, Shenzhen North, Humen and Guangzhou South, realising the "one-hour living circle" in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. It will also connect to 14 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Fuzhou, Xiamen and Guilin by direct long-haul trains, bringing Hong Kong people greater convenience for business, visiting relatives, study and travel. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Ordinance will be gazetted on June 22 and come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Transport and Housing by notice published in the Gazette. Ends/Thursday, June 14, 2018 Issued at HKT 22:48 NNNN
Appointments to Board of Directors of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
14.6.2018

The Government today (June 14) announced the appointment of Dr Sunny Chai as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and the appointment/re-appointment of 11 members to the HKSTPC for two years starting from July 1, 2018. The appointment of the HKSTPC Chairman is made by the Chief Executive under section 1(1)(a) of Schedule 2 to the HKSTPC Ordinance (Cap. 565). Dr Chai is a seasoned industrialist with rich experience in public service. He will succeed the incumbent HKSTPC Chairman, Mrs Fanny Law, whose term of appointment will end on June 30, 2018. "I am deeply grateful to Mrs Law for her tremendous contribution to the work of the HKSTPC and the development of Hong Kong's innovation and technology ecosystem," the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said. "During the past four years, Mrs Law capably steered the work of the Hong Kong Science Park as the flagship innovation and technology institution of Hong Kong. Under her leadership, a number of new initiatives and important infrastructural projects, including the Science Park expansion programme, the Data Technology Hub and the Advanced Manufacturing Centre, have been making good progress," Mrs Lam added. The Government also announced the appointment of eight new members and re-appointment of three serving members by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan. Mr Herbert Chia, Mr Donald Choi, Mr Dennis Ho, Professor Mak Tak-wah, Mr Jimmy Ng, Mr Gavin Poon, Professor Sean Tang and Mr Denis Tse are appointed as new board members of the HKSTPC. Mr Theodore Ma, Mr Joseph Ngai and Professor Tsui Lap-chee are re-appointed as board members of the HKSTPC. A Government spokesman said, "The Corporation's board of directors is a repository of strong expertise from a wide variety of technology and professional areas. With the immense experience and knowledge of board directors, we believe that they can steer the Corporation to fulfil its public mission effectively and further enhance Hong Kong's position as a hub for innovation and technology." The tenure of four incumbent board members, Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Professor Shyy Wei, Mr Richard Sun and Mr Billy Wong, will expire on June 30 this year. "The outgoing members have contributed valuably to the Corporation and the betterment of the local innovation and technology ecosystem. The achievements of the Corporation are due in no small measure to their guidance and wise counsel," the spokesman added. The HKSTPC, which began operation in 2001, manages the Hong Kong Science Park, three industrial estates and an InnoCentre. It provides a comprehensive range of services to cater for the needs of industry at various stages, including nurturing technology start-ups through its incubation programme, providing premises and services for applied research and development activities, and providing developed land for production. Ends/Thursday, June 14, 2018 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN
2018-19 civil service pay adjustment
12.6.2018

The Civil Service Bureau announced today (June 12) that the Chief Executive-in-Council (CE-in-Council) has decided that civil service pay for 2018-19 should be adjusted as follows, taking retrospective effect from April 1 this year: (a) a pay increase of 4.06 per cent for civil servants in the upper salary band and the directorate (equal to the net pay trend indicator (PTI) for the upper salary band), subject to the pay points referred to in (i) and (ii) below, the dollar values of which should be as specified: (i) Master Pay Scale 34 at $70,590; and (ii) General Disciplined Services (Officer) Pay Scale (GDS(O)) 20 and Police Pay Scale (PPS) 36 at $70,470, and GDS(O) 21 and PPS 37 at $70,970; and (b) a pay increase of 4.51 per cent for civil servants in the lower and middle salary bands (equal to the net PTI for the middle salary band). In arriving at this decision, the CE-in-Council has thoroughly considered the staff side's response to the pay offers and all the relevant factors under the established annual civil service pay adjustment mechanism, including: * the net PTIs; * the state of Hong Kong's economy; * changes in the cost of living; * the Government's fiscal position; * the pay claims of the staff side; and * civil service morale. The Government will submit the 2018-19 civil service pay adjustment proposal to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for consideration as soon as possible. Ends/Tuesday, June 12, 2018 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN