kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
EDB and representatives of secondary and primary school heads meet on arrangements for school commencement
27.8.2020

The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung and the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li met representatives from secondary and primary school councils and school heads associations this afternoon (August 27) to exchange views on arrangements for the new school year. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, also attended the meeting to express her care and support to schools. For the prevention and control of COVID-19, all secondary and primary students will learn from home with the support of schools upon commencement of the new school year on September 1. The Chief Executive and the Secretary for Education thanked all principals and teachers for designing and arranging suitable teaching activities including online lessons for students. They also listened to the views from the school head representatives on resumption of face-to-face classes. The Education Bureau (EDB) is closely monitoring the development of the epidemic and seeking advice from medical experts. The bureau will make an announcement and inform schools early to allow them to make better preparation once a decision on resumption of face-to-face classes is made. Ends/Thursday, August 27, 2020 Issued at HKT 22:22 NNNN
CE continues Policy Address consultation
27.8.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued to hold consultation sessions for the 2020 Policy Address. She met with representatives of civil servant organisations today (August 27) to listen to their views on the upcoming Policy Address. The session was attended by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, as well as more than 10 representatives from the civil service central consultative councils and major service-wide staff unions. Expressing her gratitude to civil servant colleagues for standing fast at their posts and shouldering extra work in the course of the fight against COVID-19 in Hong Kong, Mrs Lam said civil servants also responded proactively to the soon-to-be-launched Universal Community Testing Programme, and that their commitment to serving the public and their professionalism is admirable. She said the fight against the disease is a long-lasting battle and that she hopes to overcome the virus together with civil servant colleagues to provide the best services to members of the public. Mrs Lam will hold other theme-based Policy Address consultation sessions in the month ahead. Apart from the one today, the rest of the sessions will be conducted via video conferencing. Ends/Thursday, August 27, 2020 Issued at HKT 21:22 NNNN
CE launches Policy Address consultation session
24.8.2020

The public consultation exercise for the 2020 Policy Address was launched on August 18. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 24) attended the first consultation session, held via video conferencing, to listen to the views of stakeholders of the aviation, maritime and logistics sectors on the upcoming Policy Address. The session was attended by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan. More than 20 stakeholders participated online, consisting of Legislative Council members and representatives of trade organisations, local aviation and maritime companies, and enterprises of the relevant industries. Mrs Lam said after the two-hour consultation session that she had held very meaningful exchanges of views with the stakeholders. Pointing out that despite the fact that the COVID-19 epidemic has dealt a heavy blow to the cross-boundary passenger service sector, she said the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is committed to maintaining Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub, an international maritime centre and a regional logistics hub, and that she would consider in full numerous valuable views raised by the stakeholders on related issues while she formulates the Policy Address. Mrs Lam will continue to hold the rest of the 11 theme-based consultation sessions via video conferencing in the month ahead. Areas to be covered range from people's livelihoods, finance, economy, innovation and technology, education, land and housing to medical and health services, sports, arts and culture and sustainable development. Ends/Monday, August 24, 2020 Issued at HKT 21:59 NNNN
CE to visit Shenzhen
24.8.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will lead a delegation of officials of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to visit Liantang Port in Shenzhen on Wednesday (August 26) to attend the opening ceremony of the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point. The delegates will include the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Commissioner of Police, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Hermes Tang; the Director of Immigration, Mr Au Ka-wang; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki. The cargo clearance facilities for use by cross-boundary goods vehicles at the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point will open first at 4pm on Wednesday. Clearance services will not be opened at this stage for private cars, cross-boundary coaches, cross-boundary hire cars and passengers. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on the same day. Ends/Monday, August 24, 2020 Issued at HKT 20:53 NNNN
Policy Address consultation launched
18.8.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 18) announced the commencement of the public consultation exercise for the 2020 Policy Address. Mrs Lam will conduct online consultation sessions with stakeholders from different sectors to listen to their views on the Policy Address. "Due to the need to focus on fighting the severe epidemic situation in Hong Kong, we have deferred the commencement of the public consultation exercise for the Policy Address this year. To maintain social distancing, I will conduct theme-based consultation sessions to listen to the views of stakeholders from the relevant sectors via video conferencing. Apart from fighting the epidemic, it is incumbent upon the Government to help the economy recover and relieve people's burdens. I sincerely invite members of the public to give their views on the 2020 Policy Address, so that we can formulate policy initiatives that meet the needs of our society," Mrs Lam said. Starting from today members of the public can give their views through the Policy Address website ( www.policyaddress.gov.hk ), the dedicated Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/PolicyAddress2020 ) or the Instagram account ( www.instagram.com/PolicyAddress2020 ) for the 2020 Policy Address public consultation, or by email ( [email protected] ), phone (2432 1899) or fax (2537 9083). Ends/Tuesday, August 18, 2020 Issued at HKT 11:14 NNNN
Executive Council to resume meeting next week
14.8.2020

The Executive Council will end its summer recess early and resume regular meetings starting next Tuesday (August 18) to handle anti-epidemic work and other matters. Given the severe situation of COVID-19, the arrangement for the Chief Executive to receive petitions outside the Chief Executive's Office before she convenes the Executive Council's meeting will continue to be suspended to avoid group gatherings. Members of the public can email their petitions to [email protected] or send them to the Chief Executive's Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Tamar, Hong Kong. The Chief Executive will meet the media before the Executive Council's meeting at the Auditorium, Ground Floor, Central Government Offices. Ends/Friday, August 14, 2020 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN
CE listens to legislators&apos; views regarding current-term LegCo continuing to discharge duties
12.8.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 12) met separately with the pro-establishment Legislative Council (LegCo) members from various political groups to listen to their views on the resumption of operation of the LegCo. The decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) yesterday (August 11) stipulates that the sixth-term LegCo of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will continue to discharge duties for no less than one year until the commencement of the seventh-term LegCo. Mrs Lam expressed gratitude for the understanding and support of the pro-establishment legislators for the Government to postpone the LegCo General Election for a year in the light of the severe epidemic situation, and welcomed the decision of the NPCSC for resolving the problem of a lacuna in the LegCo in the coming year. As regards the queries by some non-pro-establishment legislators on the NPCSC decision, Mrs Lam stressed that the decision of the NPCSC was made in accordance with the relevant provisions in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law, providing a constitutional basis and solid legal foundation for the normal governance of the HKSAR Government and the normal operation of society. The authority and necessity of the decision are beyond doubt. Mrs Lam was pleased to note that all the legislators she met shared the view that the most imminent task is for the whole community to fight the epidemic together. She told the legislators the latest anti-epidemic work and listened to their views on the detailed measures. On the plight of various sectors amid the epidemic mentioned by various legislators, Mrs Lam said the Government will definitely do its utmost to support the enterprises and members of the public to ride out the difficult times. She said she has already requested the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Financial Secretary to listen to views of various sectors to formulate concrete support proposals. Ends/Wednesday, August 12, 2020 Issued at HKT 22:01 NNNN
CE discusses with LegCo President arrangements for current-term LegCo to continue to discharge duties
11.8.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 11) met with the President of the Legislative Council (LegCo), Mr Andrew Leung, to relay to him the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) today for the sixth-term LegCo to continue to discharge duties and exchange initial views on the resumption of operation of the LegCo. Stressing that the postponement of the LegCo General Election was a very difficult decision, she told Mr Leung that it was a necessary decision in view of the COVID-19 epidemic, public safety and public health as well as to ensure the election can be conducted openly and fairly. She said she was pleased to note that the decision has been well received by the community, including pro-establishment LegCo members. "The current epidemic situation in Hong Kong remains severe and various sectors have been hard hit. Even after the epidemic has eased, there will still be plenty of work in relation to economic recovery and relieving people's burdens, which would require the sincere co-operation of the executive and the legislature. I hope that under the continued leadership of Mr Leung, LegCo members can set aside their differences and disputes, and rebuild mutual trust for the well-being of the Hong Kong people," Mrs Lam said. Mrs Lam said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is hammering out at full steam details of the anti-epidemic work supported by the Central People's Government and the Government is pleased to explain it to LegCo members later in detail. She will also meet the current-term LegCo members in batches gradually to listen to their views. Ends/Tuesday, August 11, 2020 Issued at HKT 19:15 NNNN
CE&apos;s Office expresses regret on individual misleading media reports
1.8.2020

A spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office today (August 1) expressed regret over misleading reports by individual media organisations on the communication between the Chief Executive and members of the government anti-epidemic expert advisory group. At the press conference yesterday (July 31), the Chief Executive explained in details the grounds for the postponement of the 2020 Legislative Council General Election. In addressing the questions raised by the media, the Chief Executive again explained the interaction and tacit understanding between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and its expert advisers developed in the past seven months over anti-epidemic work, noting that each anti-epidemic measure was rolled out by the Government after thorough consideration of all relevant factors. She also said clearly that she had not discussed the postponement of the election with any of the government expert advisers. All the expert opinions quoted by the Chief Executive at the press conference were related to the epidemic, including the concerns by one of the experts about the current situation given the large proportion of confirmed cases with unknown infection sources and the inadequacy in contact tracing. The Chief Executive's Office expressed regret over individual groundless media reports which attempted to mislead readers into believing that the views on elections quoted by the Chief Executive originated from the experts. To avoid unnecessary misunderstanding, the Chief Executive took the initiative to clarify with the four experts attending the anti-epidemic expert advisory group meeting this afternoon. The Chief Executive's Office stressed that amid the present severe epidemic, various sectors in the community should unite together to fight the disease. Any person who attempts to create division in society runs counter to the goal of combatting the virus together. Ends/Saturday, August 1, 2020 Issued at HKT 21:14 NNNN
CPG Office on National Security holds co-ordination meeting with HKSAR Committee on National Security
31.7.2020

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (CPG Office on National Security) held a co-ordination meeting with the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Committee on National Security) today (July 31). The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, who chairs the HKSAR Committee on National Security, led all the members of the HKSAR Committee on National Security to attend the meeting. Other attendees included the National Security Adviser to the HKSAR Committee on National Security appointed by the CPG, Mr Luo Huining; the head of the CPG Office on National Security, Mr Zheng Yanxiong; and the deputy heads of the CPG Office on National Security, Mr Li Jiangzhou and Mr Sun Qingye. The CPG Office on National Security and the HKSAR Committee on National Security were established at the beginning of this month in accordance with Article 48 and Article 12 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (National Security Law) respectively. As stipulated in Article 53 of the National Security Law, the CPG Office on National Security shall establish a mechanism of co-ordination with the HKSAR Committee on National Security and shall establish mechanisms for collaboration with the relevant authorities of the HKSAR responsible for safeguarding national security to enhance information sharing and operations co-ordination. At the meeting today, the two parties discussed the work on the implementation and enforcement of the National Security Law since it has come into effect, and exchanged views on relevant matters. The HKSAR Committee on National Security shall be responsible for affairs relating to and assume primary responsibility for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. It shall be under the supervision of and accountable to the CPG. The CPG Office on National Security shall establish a mechanism of co-ordination with the HKSAR Committee on National Security, and oversee and provide guidance on the work of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security. Ends/Friday, July 31, 2020 Issued at HKT 17:04 NNNN
CE appeals to public in fight against COVID-19
28.7.2020

Following is the appeal by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, to the public in the fight against COVID-19. The video will be released in the media as Announcements in the Public Interest from tomorrow (July 29): Fellow Citizens, Hong Kong is facing a new wave of COVID-19 infections, with an upsurge in locally infected cases, many with yet unknown sources. We are on the verge of a large-scale community outbreak, which may lead to a collapse of our hospital system and cost lives, especially of the elderly. The Government has put in place the most stringent measures ever in enforcing social distancing, our frontline staff are battling with the surge and the Central Government is helping us to enhance testing capability and set up a community treatment facility. What we need now is your co-operation. Anti-epidemic measures have caused difficulties and inconvenience, but in order to protect our loved ones, our healthcare staff and Hong Kong, I appeal to you to follow strictly the social distancing measures and stay at home as far as possible. If we stand united and work together, we can suppress this epidemic again. Ends/Tuesday, July 28, 2020 Issued at HKT 22:58 NNNN
Annual updating of declarations of interests by CE, politically appointed officials and ExCo Members
27.7.2020

A Government spokesman said today (July 27) that the Chief Executive (CE), politically appointed officials and Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) have updated their annual declarations of interests, and the updated declarations are available on government websites for public inspection. The updated declaration of interests of the CE has been uploaded to the website of the Chief Executive's Office ( www.ceo.gov.hk/eng/links.html ). The declarations of interests of politically appointed officials, made in accordance with the Code for Officials under the Political Appointment System (PAO Code), have also been updated and uploaded to the websites of the respective offices or bureaux. Information on the registrable interests for ExCo (including that of the President as well as Official and Non-official ExCo Members) has also been uploaded to the ExCo website after updating ( www.ceo.gov.hk/exco/eng/interests.html ). The PAO Code stipulates that politically appointed officials shall declare their investments and interests on appointment and annually thereafter. These declarations are uploaded to the websites of the respective offices or bureaux. The CE voluntarily observes the above declaration arrangement. ExCo Members are likewise required to declare their registrable interests on appointment and annually thereafter. These declarations are uploaded to the ExCo website. Ends/Monday, July 27, 2020 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN
CE inspects virus tests for staff of residential care home for the elderly
14.7.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited a residential care home for the elderly in Tsz Wan Shan today (July 14) to inspect COVID-19 tests arranged by the Government for staff members working at residential care homes for the elderly. At the residential care home for the elderly in Tsz Wan Shan, Mrs Lam was briefed by the person-in-charge of Sunrise Diagnostic Centre Limited, established by BGI Genomics, on the arrangements and procedures for collecting throat swab samples for COVID-19 tests for about 80 staff members of the elderly home. Today is the first day that the Government, together with the testing institution, conducted virus tests for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly, residential care homes for persons with disabilities and nursing homes. With the experience gained, the tests will be extended to all care institutions in Hong Kong as soon as possible. Noting that the epidemic in Hong Kong has become more severe at the beginning of this month, with soaring numbers of local infection cases and the emergence of confirmed cases in a residential care home for the elderly for the first time, Mrs Lam said that the Government has rolled out various measures to curb the disease in the past days. Among them, the Government will conduct virus tests for four high-risk groups, including staff members of residential care homes for the elderly, residential care homes for persons with disabilities as well as nursing homes; staff members of restaurants; taxi drivers and employees of property management. The goal is to strengthen detection in the community for identification of asymptomatic patients to achieve "early identification, early isolation and early treatment of the infected", thus reduce the risk of spreading the virus in society. "The Government has been striving to enhance the testing capabilities by various means. With the increase in equipment and manpower, the public sector may increase the number of tests to 8 000 next month, and if necessary, procure testing services directly from local private laboratories to cope with the needs of the Centre for Health Protection for epidemic management. Nevertheless, in order to enhance the testing capabilities in the community, while taking into account the demand for virus tests by cross-boundary travellers with the implementation of the health code system in the future, we have to extend the scale of private testing services in Hong Kong. I would like to express my gratitude for the participation of the private institutions, which contribute to the fight against the disease in Hong Kong," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Tuesday, July 14, 2020 Issued at HKT 23:14 NNNN