kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
Transcript of remarks by SLW on heat stroke at work and OSH Amendments Bill at media session
24.3.2023

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on the proposed guidance notes on prevention of heat stroke at work and the Occupational Safety and Occupational Health Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2022 at a media session after officiating at the "Generations Connect" Sharing Session co-organised by Sino Group and Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation in collaboration with the School of Nursing of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong this afternoon (March 24): Reporter: Mr Sun, how would the Labour Department (LD) update the guidelines following the new extremely hot weather warning? The second question, one worker died in the Anderson Road accident. Apart from introducing the new Bill to the Legislative Council, are there any measures that the Bureau can do to prevent an increasing trend of work accidents? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The new version of the guidance notes on prevention of heat stroke at work will be issued (soon). By the time Hong Kong steps into summer, the guidance notes should be ready and promulgated. In drawing up the new guidance notes, the LD and the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) work together closely. We are aware that the HKO is about to provide yet more information about heat, so the two departments will work together closely and explore possible ways to integrate as far as possible any new information into the guidance notes on prevention of heat stroke at work soon to be published by the LD. On industrial accidents, the Government is extremely concerned about industrial safety. While we are about to resume the Second Reading of the Amendments Bill to increase the penalty levels as well as various measures over occupational safety, we are at the same time putting in as much effort as we could through inspection, education, publicity, etc. The key is to drive home the message of having a safe work site and encouraging workers to pay attention to occupational safety. We believe that, through a multi-pronged approach comprising education, publicity, inspection and of course lastly enforcement, it is the best way for us. The key is to keep it up and put in a sustained effort. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
SLW reinforces collaboration with Philippines on protection of domestic helpers working in Hong Kong (with photos)
10.1.2023

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (January 10) said that his three-day visit to Manila, the Philippines, has delivered fruitful results, strengthening collaboration with the Philippine Government on protection of Filipino domestic helpers working in Hong Kong. Mr Sun paid a courtesy call on the Secretary of Migrant Workers of the Philippines, Ms Susan Ople, yesterday (January 9). He welcomed the establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers which will fully operate this year as a one-stop executive arm on issues related to overseas Filipino workers. He called on the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr Enrique A. Manalo; the Officer-in-charge of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Mr Eduardo Punay; and the Secretary of Labor and Employment, Mr Bienvenido Laguesma, yesterday and today to exchange views and discuss issues of mutual interest. Mr Sun reaffirmed the great importance Hong Kong attaches to protecting foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and appreciated their contribution to Hong Kong families and society. On the courtesy calls, he updated the senior officials on initiatives to enhance protection of employment rights and welfare of FDHs as well as regulation of employment agencies, and explored areas to strengthen collaboration. A series of arrangements has been implemented since early 2020 to assist FDHs and their employers to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. The full relaxation of inbound control arrangements since December 29, 2022, will enable more FDHs to come to Hong Kong to work while some working in Hong Kong can return to their home countries for a break. This afternoon, Mr Sun and his delegation visited a training facility under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, where they took a closer look at the training of care workers in the Philippines and its scope of competencies, quality assurance and recruitment arrangements. While in the Philippines, Mr Sun met with representatives of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc., the Friends of the Philippines Foundation and Chinese business leaders in the Philippines and updated them on the latest situation of Hong Kong and the array of new measures to attract talents set out in the Chief Executive's Policy Address. He introduced the details of the Top Talent Pass Scheme to them and looked for their support in publicity to attract talents to Hong Kong for development. Before concluding his visit, Mr Sun had lunch with the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Mr Huang Xilian, this afternoon and updated him on the latest labour market and economic situation in Hong Kong. Mr Sun also gave interviews to international and local media agencies in Singapore and the Philippines on the achievements of the visit and the unique advantages of having the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world, telling the good stories of Hong Kong. Mr Sun will return to Hong Kong tonight.
SLW: Hong Kong forging ahead with global talent recruitment (with photos)
7.1.2023

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (January 7) concluded his visit to Singapore after getting a grasp on its experience of talent recruitment and manpower development with his team in the past two days. Mr Sun met with the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Ms Sun Haiyan, yesterday (January 6) and updated her on the latest labour market and economic situation in Hong Kong. He then called on the Minister for Manpower of Singapore, Dr Tan See Leng, and exchanged views on attracting talents amid the dual challenge of ageing population and shrinking labour force of the two places as exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discussed seizing the advantages of the role of Hong Kong and Singapore as part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations respectively, thereby boosting the attractiveness of Asia to talents around the world. Mr Sun's delegation visited the Institute of Technical Education yesterday to keep abreast of its vocational and professional education and training from pre-employment to in-service programmes, equipping post-secondary students for the digital economy. He visited an enterprise on life and health technology this morning, which has established foothold in Hong Kong, Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia, to take a closer look at facilitation measures needed for high potential enterprises to set up operations in major economies. While in Singapore, Mr Sun met with academics from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, including its Senior Vice President (Health and Life Sciences), Professor Joseph Sung, representatives of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association, and Hong Kong people working or studying in Singapore to learn about their living conditions and garner their views on enhanced talent admission initiatives. Mr Sun appealed to them to stay connected with and consider returning or coming to Hong Kong to pursue their businesses, professions and careers. Concluding his visit to Singapore, Mr Sun said that the three-year-long global pandemic had impeded the entry of outside talents to Hong Kong. Set out in the Chief Executive's maiden Policy Address, a package of new measures on talent attraction has been launched last week and open for application, including the Top Talent Pass Scheme designed to entice graduates from the world's top 100 universities (including National University of Singapore and NTU Singapore) or talents earning HK$2.5 million (or about S$430,000) a year to pursue their career in Hong Kong. The online platform of the Talents Service Unit "HK Talent Engage" ( www.hkengage.gov.hk ) also commenced operation to streamline and fast-track applications received under various talent admission schemes. He added that the experience of Singapore served as valuable reference for Hong Kong to trawl for quality talents and improve manpower projections in future. Mr Sun will depart for Manila, the Philippines, tomorrow (January 8) and proceed with his visit.
SLW taps continuing education initiatives and protection for gig workers in Singapore (with photos)
5.1.2023

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (January 5) started his visit in Singapore and took a closer look at the latest continuing education initiatives and protection of rights and benefits of digital platform workers. Mr Sun first paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Social and Family Development of Singapore, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, this morning. They exchanged views on welfare policy priorities for the rapidly ageing populations of the two places, including the current-term Government's vision in building a caring and inclusive Hong Kong, and challenges both places face along the path to normalcy after COVID-19 and how to assist the disadvantaged. In the afternoon, Mr Sun and his delegation visited SkillsFuture Singapore. They were briefed on its latest programmes to support lifelong learning, training and upskilling of employees in their early or mid-career, the middle-aged and the elderly, together with public-private partnerships with employers and training bodies. Mr Sun was also introduced to the Jobs-Skills Insights initiative, which regularly updates the community on the necessary skills and jobs in demand for the new economy. He said that Hong Kong would draw on the practical experience of other places with an aim of finding and nurturing talents for the needs of economic and social developments. Mr Sun and the other officials then met with representatives of the "Tripartite Workgroup on Representation for Platform Workers" co-chaired by the Singapore Government, the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation, to keep abreast of its work, including formulating a framework to engage platform workers in discussion with platform companies on labour relations amid the gig economy. Noting the emerging developments of digital platforms and variations in service models locally and abroad, Mr Sun said that the task force established by the Labour Department would study the policies of protecting rights and benefits of platform workers in various places and conduct statistical surveys to better understand the situation in Hong Kong, before mapping out the way forward and the strategy as appropriate. Mr Sun had a dinner gathering with Hong Kong people working in Singapore this evening to learn about their living and working conditions. He will continue his visit in Singapore tomorrow (January 6).
Hong Kong and Shanghai sign MOU to deepen talent exchanges and co-operation (with photos/video)
8.6.2024

Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) today (June 8) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Shanghai Municipal Talent Work Bureau in Hong Kong to deepen talent exchanges and co-operation between the two places. Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Mr Zhang Wei; the Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr Wang Weiming; and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, jointly witnessed the signing of the MOU by Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Talent Work Bureau Mr Tan Puzhen and the Director of HKTE, Mr Anthony Lau. The MOU aimed to deepen talent exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Shanghai by strengthening co-operation between the two places in global talent attraction, services, employment and development, with a view to jointly developing the two places into talent hubs. Mr Sun said, "Both places reached a consensus at the Sixth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference held in Hong Kong in April 2024 on talent co-operation and agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership between departments of the two places as well as a regular dialogue mechanism to promote collaboration on nurturing talent and talent services. In addition, from May 6, the Mainland authorities extended the period of stay for holders of an exit endorsement for business visit travelling to Hong Kong from seven days to 14 days and expanded the application of the exit endorsement for talent to Beijing and Shanghai. Together with the MOU signed today, such measures will further deepen talent exchanges between Hong Kong and Shanghai and promote the 'southbound and northbound' two-way flow of talent, which will facilitate talent in both places to pursue career, business and investment opportunities." At the exchange session this morning, both sides updated each other on the policy initiatives of attracting and supporting talent and exchanged views on areas for strengthened co-operation as well as collaboration with enterprises in Hong Kong and Shanghai to promote talent exchanges.
Hong Kong Talent Engage online job fair to offer over 500 professional job vacancies
6.6.2024

A spokesman for Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) today (June 6) said that the "Living the Dream in Hong Kong" online job fair will be held next Wednesday (June 12) with recruitment platforms in Hong Kong and the Mainland to engage talent in the Mainland and other areas in Asia who are interested in coming to Hong Kong to deepen their understanding of the development opportunities in various sectors across the city. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, will deliver opening remarks for the job fair. Six large-scale public and private organisations in Hong Kong will participate in the job fair, offering over 500 professional job vacancies in areas such as artificial intelligence, information technology and cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing technology, biomedical technology, aviation, banking, legal services and human resources. The job fair will be broadcast online at 2.30pm on June 12. Interested persons may watch and participate via xjh.zhaopin.com/live/15861 (Chinese only), or refer to HKTE's social media for details. In addition, they are invited to visit HKTE's website ( hkengage.gov.hk ), which provides information on Hong Kong's talent admission schemes and the support services offered by HKTE to incoming talent. HKTE held its first online job fair with the insurance industry last October, which was well received, attracting about 39 000 views and over 3 000 job applications.
Transcript of remarks by SLW on Social Workers Registration Board governance at media session
13.5.2024

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on the governance of the Social Workers Registration Board at a media session this afternoon (May 13) after attending a meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services: Reporter: Secretary, are there any plans to change the composition of the Social Workers Registration Board, by increasing the ratio of appointed members? Also, how would you respond to the Board Chairperson's comments that existing mechanism has been effective enough in handling registration regarding offenders of serious offences? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: I pointed out very clearly in the article I published earlier about my serious concerns that the Social Workers Registration Board is deviating from what it should be doing under the law and what it has been doing right now undermines public interest and also the credibility and professionalism of social workers. There is no misunderstanding. I have complete information about what is going on in the Board. Based on my clear understanding and my serious concerns about what is going on there, I have pointed out very clearly that we have to improve the governance of the Board, so that the Board will in future deal with issues concerning registration of social workers as well as disciplinary matters concerning social workers in a manner that is commensurate with the need to ensure that public interest is given priority and also the professionalism and credibility of social workers is being upheld. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Commendation ceremony held for home-based child carers of Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project (with photos)
10.5.2024

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) held a commendation ceremony for the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project today (May 10) to honour about 200 participating home-based child carers (HCCs) for the caring and neighbourhood spirit they displayed when taking care of needy children in the community. The SWD also took the opportunity to encourage people who have a drive to help others to become HCCs. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms Alice Lau, and the Director of Social Welfare, Miss Charmaine Lee, officiated at the ceremony. Representatives of 15 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) subsidised by the SWD in providing the service also attended. Addressing the ceremony, Mr Sun said that since its launch in 2008, the Project has been providing a flexible form of day child care service at the neighbourhood level to assist parents who cannot take care of their children temporarily because of work or other reasons. In the past 16 years, the Project has benefited about 150 000 children from needy families. Mr Sun pointed out that with a view to strengthening the support for working families in childbearing and incentivising more families to join the labour market, the Chief Executive announced in the 2023 Policy Address that the incentive payment for HCCs will be substantially increased in April this year, and the number of service places under the Project will be increased in the fourth quarter. Enhanced training for HCCs will also be in place in the fourth quarter. He encouraged participating HCCs to enrol in the training as well to enhance their child care skills, knowledge and confidence through revision and experience sharing. Mr Sun expressed his gratitude to the participating HCCs for the tireless contributions they have made for the needy children in addition to taking care of their own families. He also thanked the 15 NGOs for their wholehearted support for both the Project and the HCCs. He appealed to participating carers to actively introduce the Project to their families and friends and motivate more people with a drive to help to become HCCs to expand the caring network in the community. The SWD subsidies NGOs to operate the Project in 18 districts. There are now around 1 700 HCCs in the territory. The service operators have established mechanisms to recruit, assess, screen and train suitable HCCs, and arrange service matching. Members of the public interested to become HCCs may contact the operators in their respective districts. Details of the Project are available on the SWD website ( www.swd.gov.hk/en/pubsvc/family/cat_childcareservice/daychildcares/nsccp/index.html ).
Transcript of remarks by SLW at media session after Global Talent Summit Â· Hong Kong opening (with photos/videos)
7.5.2024

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at a media session after attending the opening of the Global Talent Summit . Hong Kong organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage this morning (May 7): Reporter: What kind of specialties or industries are the 120 000 people under the various talent admission schemes from? How many of them are from the Mainland? How would the Government further improve Hong Kong's competitiveness to attract talent? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Over the past one and a half years, various talent admission schemes have attracted around 120 000 talents who have already arrived here in Hong Kong. In terms of visas approved, it is 180 000. Of these, 120 000 talents have already arrived. More than 50 000 came to Hong Kong under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS). We have just conducted a first-round survey, asking questions and getting information from people coming to Hong Kong under the TTPS. Around one-third are engaged in the finance industry, around 18 per cent in innovation and the information technology industry. Again, around 17 per cent are engaged in commerce. Their average salaries for those coming to Hong Kong under the TTPS is around $50,000. That's a lot more than the median pay of Hong Kong wage earners. About a quarter are earning more than $100,000 a month and about 10 per cent are earning more than $200,000 a month. We have achieved quite a lot in the past one and a half years. We will keep on our good effort. We want to make use of this very good start to project Hong Kong and make sure that Hong Kong remains the talent hub in this part of the world. We are going to make good use of the various schemes to attract talent to Hong Kong to help grow our economy and drive the very growth of Hong Kong in various areas. Reporter: How would the Government attract talent from, as you said, Southeast Asia and Europe other than from the Mainland? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The first thing we have to do is to increase their awareness. We have a lot of information available online, but we also believe it is important for us to go there to conduct a lot of face-to-face meetings and also sessions, so that we can disseminate all the information about Hong Kong to them. We are very sure that once we have let them know all the growth prospects and all the very exciting opportunities here in Hong Kong, a lot of talent in Southeast Asia as well as Europe will be thinking about Hong Kong and they will really give Hong Kong a good shot. Thank you very much. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Transcript of remarks by SLW on enhancing review mechanism of Statutory Minimum Wage
4.5.2024

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at a media session after attending a radio programme to elaborate on enhancing the review mechanism of the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) this morning (May 4): Reporter: You said the new way to decide the minimum wage would not reduce the wage. How do you see some in the business sector worried that the new change would actually make more burden on employers? How many workers will be benefitted from the new change? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The improved mechanism just approved by the Chief Executive in Council consists of two parts. The first part is that we are going to review the SMW on an annual basis. In order to do that, the Minimum Wage Commission recommended and we agreed that we have to adopt a formula-based approach. With the formula-based approach, that will enable the Commission, also the Government, to adjust the SMW on a yearly basis. If you look at the composition of the formula, it has taken into account, on the one hand, the need to protect those earning the SMW that their wage is being protected; and also at the same time to ensure that the formula is affordable and acceptable to the business sector. It has already struck a balance between different needs and demands. So, we believe it shouldn't affect the overall competitiveness of our business sector and it should be affordable to them. Right now, around 0.6 per cent of our workforce are receiving the SMW and that translates into about 17 000. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)