kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines and other medical supplies arrive in Hong Kong progressively (with photo)
2.3.2022

The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said today (March 2) that the task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED), Mr Edward Yau, has been working closely with their Mainland counterparts. A new batch of 100 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the nation is arriving in Hong Kong in batches. At a donation ceremony today, Mr Yau expressed gratitude to the Central Government for its care of Hong Kong's anti-epidemic work and the provision of a large quantity of proprietary Chinese medicines and other medical supplies for fighting the epidemic. Mr Yau said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is now distributing the proprietary Chinese medicines and other supplies, through the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link (the Link), to families and members of the public in need, in order to fight the virus together. The task force is receiving a total of 450 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines, including the new batch arriving in Hong Kong progressively. Among them, 170 000 boxes have been given to the Link and other local organisations for distribution to the community. The remaining proprietary Chinese medicines delivered to Hong Kong are being distributed through relevant departments to those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics under the Hospital Authority (HA) and people who had tested positive at isolation facilities, allowing citizens in need to obtain these proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government as soon as possible. The task force of ensuring medical supplies is working at full speed to co-ordinate the deliveries of the large number of medical supplies from the Mainland, including rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, masks, protective gear and medical products. The task force has so far received more than 18 million RAT kits. Except for those reserved for the Compulsory Universal Testing (CUT), more than 10 million RAT kits have been distributed through relevant departments and the Link to members of the public in various districts, specified high-risk and target groups. More than 320 000 pulse oximeters received by the task force have all been distributed to the Department of Health (DH) and the HA for patient use. Meanwhile, the task force has received about 31.8 million N95 and KN95 masks. While the masks are reserved mainly for public use during the CUT for enhancing protection, about 1 million of them have been delivered to frontline staff of the DH and the disciplined services. The task force will continue to co-ordinate with various government departments and agencies on the medical supplies needed to ensure that resources can be expeditiously supplied to Hong Kong to cope with the epidemic.
Update on anti-epidemic medical supplies from Mainland
1.3.2022

The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said today (March 1) that the task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, has been working closely with their Mainland counterparts. Various kinds of medical supplies are arriving in Hong Kong in batches. The task force has so far received more than 18 million rapid antigen test (RAT) kits. Except those reserved for the Compulsory Universal Testing (CUT), more than 10 million RAT kits have been distributed through relevant departments and the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link (the Link) to members of the public in various districts, specified high-risk and target groups. More than 320 000 pulse oximeters so far received by the task force have all been distributed to the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA) for patient use. Also, the task force so far has received about 31.8 million N95 and KN95 masks. While the masks are reserved mainly for public use during the CUT for enhancing protection, about 1 million of them have been delivered to frontline staff of the DH and the disciplined services. Meanwhile, the task force is receiving a total of 350 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines, including a batch arriving in Hong Kong soon. Among them, 70 000 boxes and 50 000 boxes have been given to the Link and other local organisations respectively for distribution to the community. The remaining 230 000 boxes of the proprietary Chinese medicines are being distributed through relevant departments to those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics under the HA and people who had tested positive at isolation facilities, allowing citizens in need to obtain these proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government in the soonest manner, in order to fight the virus together. The task force will continue to co-ordinate with various Government departments and agencies on the medical supplies needed to ensure that resources can be expeditiously supplied to Hong Kong to cope with the epidemic.
Update on anti-epidemic medical supplies from Mainland
28.2.2022

The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said today (February 28) that the task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, has been working closely with their Mainland counterparts. Various kinds of medical supplies are arriving in Hong Kong in batches. To date, the task force has received more than 16 million rapid antigen test (RAT) kits. Except those reserved for the Compulsory Universal Testing (CUT), about 9 million RAT kits have been distributed through relevant departments to specified high-risk and target groups. Meanwhile, 1.8 million RAT kits have been sent to the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link (the Link) by the Home Affairs Department for distribution to members of the public in various districts. About 300 000 pulse oximeters received from the Mainland have all been distributed to the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA) for patient use. Also, the task force so far has received more than 29 million N95 and KN95 masks. While the masks are reserved mainly for public use during the CUT for enhancing protection, 500 000 of them have been delivered to frontline staff of the DH and the disciplined services. Meanwhile, the task force is receiving a total of 350 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines, including a batch arriving in Hong Kong soon. Among them, 70 000 boxes and 50 000 boxes have been given to the Link and other local organisations respectively for distribution to the community. The remaining 230 000 boxes of the proprietary Chinese medicines are being distributed through relevant departments to those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics under the HA and people who had tested positive at isolation facilities, allowing citizens in need to obtain these proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government in the soonest manner, in order to fight the virus together. The task force will continue to co-ordinate with various Government departments and agencies on the medical supplies needed to ensure that resources can be expeditiously supplied to Hong Kong to cope with the epidemic.
CEDB distributes anti-epidemic medical supplies from Mainland at full speed
27.2.2022

A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said today (February 27) that the task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, has swiftly distributed medical supplies from the Mainland to frontline staff and individuals receiving treatment or those in need in the past week. The spokesman said that with the staunch support of the Central Government, the task force has been working closely with their Mainland counterparts and gained fruitful results. Various kinds of medical supplies, including rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, masks, proprietary Chinese medicines, protective gear and medical products as requested by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government are arriving in Hong Kong in batches. To date, the task force has received about 14 million RAT kits. Except those reserved for the Compulsory Universal Testing (CUT), about 7 million kits have been distributed through relevant departments to specified high-risk and target groups, such as staff and residents of residential care homes for the elderly and the disabled, medical staff, cleaning staff and cross-boundary truck drivers. Meanwhile, 1.8 million kits have been sent to the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link (The Link) by the Home Affairs Department for distribution to members of the public in various districts. The task force so far has also received about 11 million N95 and KN95 masks. While the masks are reserved mainly for public use during the CUT, 500 000 of them have been delivered to frontline staff of the Department of Health (DH) and the disciplined services. About 200 000 pulse oximeters received from the Mainland have all been distributed to the DH and the Hospital Authority (HA) for patient use. Meanwhile, the task force has received a total of 350 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines so far, including the batch arriving in Hong Kong on coming Monday. Among them, 70 000 boxes and 50 000 boxes have been given to the Link and other local organisations respectively for distribution to the community. The remaining 230 000 boxes of the proprietary Chinese medicines will be distributed through relevant departments to those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics under the HA and people who had tested positive at isolation facilities. The task force will continue to co-ordinate with various Government departments and agencies on the medical supplies needed to ensure that resources can be expeditiously supplied to Hong Kong to cope with the epidemic.
Swift distribution of Chinese medicines and medical supplies donated by our nation and continued communication with Mainland experts
26.2.2022

A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government said today (February 26) that the Government is distributing anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by our nation to individuals receiving treatment or in need through relevant departments and organisations. Together with the batch arriving Hong Kong next Monday, the HKSAR Government has received a total of 350 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government. Amongst them, 70 000 boxes and 50 000 boxes of the proprietary Chinese medicines have respectively been given to the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link and other local organisations respectively for distribution to the community. The remaining 230 000 boxes will be distributed through relevant departments to those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics under the Hospital Authority, people who had tested positive at isolation facilities and others, so that those in need would be able to receive these proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government as soon as possible and fight the virus together. As for the various kinds of medical supplies required, the task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, has been working closely with the corresponding task forces of the Mainland. The medical supplies have been arriving Hong Kong in batches, including some 10 million N95 and KN95 masks, and some 10 million rapid antigen test (RAT) kits. The RAT kits have already been distributed for use by relevant departments and organisations, and to members of the public, especially high-exposure personnel, staff of residential care homes for the elderly, cleansing and security staff, etc, through the Home Affairs Department. The task forces between the two places continued to closely communicate with each other on Hong Kong's anti-epidemic work with the support of the Central Government. The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, held a video conference today with experts of the National Health Commission, the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Guangdong Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to exchange views and analyse the latest epidemic development in Hong Kong. In respect of the Compulsory Universal Testing Scheme, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, also had a video conference today with experts of the National Health Commission to exchange and gauge their views for drawing up the implementation plan and making preparations.
London ETO celebrates Chinese New Year amid pandemic (with photos)
26.2.2022

The Economic and Trade Office in London (London ETO) held a number of Chinese New Year celebration events virtually amid the pandemic. The Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law sent his Chinese New Year greetings to over 4 500 interlocutors of the London ETO in the United Kingdom, Russia, Baltics and Nordic countries through video message. Riding on this opportunity, Mr Law highlighted that this year marks the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and expressed his wish to welcome them in person for the London ETO's series of celebration events under the theme of "A New Era &ndash; Stability &bull; Prosperity &bull; Opportunity" and in recognition of the promising opportunities of Hong Kong under the framework of "one country, two systems". On February 15, the London ETO co-organised a Chinese New Year webinar with the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Sweden (HKCCSE), the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau delivered a keynote speech and provided a comprehensive update on the business environment in Hong Kong. On February 23, the London ETO partnered with the Denmark-Hong Kong Trade Association, the Finland-Hong Kong Trade Association, the Norway-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, the HKCCSE and the HKTDC to host an online Pan-Nordic Chinese New Year reception. In addition to outlining Hong Kong's economic performance and business opportunities, Mr Law promoted the initiatives announced in the 2022-23 Budget to the Nordic business leaders. In end-January, Mr Law also attended Chinese New Year celebration events organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association and greeted the UK community with souvenirs featuring the theme of the Year of the Tiger.
CEDB co-ordinates anti-epidemic medical supplies from Mainland in full steam (with photos/video)
20.2.2022

To follow up the second Mainland-Hong Kong thematic meeting on COVID-19 epidemic, the task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, is proactively co-ordinating medical supplies from the Mainland to Hong Kong. The first batch of 150 000 boxes of anti-epidemic Chinese medicines donated by our nation, and some previously ordered supplies have arrived at Hong Kong today (February 20). Mr Yau said, "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is grateful to the Central Government for its care of the people of Hong Kong and its strong support for the city's anti-epidemic efforts. Leveraging the Central Authorities' guidance based on their experience in fighting the epidemic, as well as their manpower and resource support, the HKSAR Government will spare no efforts in combating the fifth wave of the epidemic." Mr Yau said that the task force is working at full speed to co-ordinate the deliveries, ensuring that the large number of medical supplies including rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, masks, medicines, protective gear and medical products from the Mainland are delivered to Hong Kong and distributed to relevant departments, organisations and residents in an orderly manner. To enhance the capability of "early identification, early isolation and early treatment of the infected", the HKSAR Government is procuring over 100 million RAT kits to substantially ramp up our capacity for rapid testing. The kits will be distributed as a priority to specified high-risk and target groups, such as staff and residents of residential care homes for the elderly and the disabled, medical staff, cleaning staff, property management staff and individuals under home quarantine. The first batch of 10 million RAT kits provided by the Mainland has arrived in batches since yesterday (February 19). The rest of the kits ordered from around the globe including the Mainland will arrive progressively. Apart from the 150 000 boxes of Chinese medicines donated by our nation today, more than 300 000 boxes of different types of Chinese medicines will be delivered from the Mainland to Hong Kong in batches. The first batch of 25 million KN95 masks provided by the Mainland has also arrived in batches recently. The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau will continue to co-ordinate with departments and agencies to procure and distribute urgently needed medical supplies to fight the epidemic, and will request for assistance from the Mainland when necessary. The task force will discuss with the corresponding task forces of the Mainland to ensure that resources can be expeditiously supplied to Hong Kong to cope with the aggravating fifth wave of the epidemic.
SCED-led business delegation of enterprises of Belt and Road countries operating in Hong Kong continues visit to GBA (with photos/video)
5.12.2023

The business delegation of enterprises of Belt and Road countries operating in Hong Kong, led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, continued the visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) today (December 5) and visited renowned technology companies and organisations in Shenzhen and Guangzhou to learn about the business ecosystem and development potential of the GBA. In the morning, Mr Yau led the delegation to visit the Huawei Headquarters in Shenzhen. They were briefed by representatives of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd on the company's latest developments, including new innovative applications and services in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and 5G solutions. Mr Yau and the delegation then arrived in Guangzhou and attended a meeting and luncheon with the Director General of Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhang Jinsong. Mr Yau said that the visit aims to capitalise on Hong Kong's unique role under the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI) and the long-standing close partnership with GBA cities to enable enterprises to gain an in-depth understanding of the vast business opportunities in the GBA, with a view to promoting Hong Kong as a service base for enterprises to tap the Mainland market. He hoped that maximum synergy could be created through this visit for achieving a win-win situation and fruitful outcomes of multipartite collaboration. Mr Yau added that there are currently about 210 000 Hong Kong enterprises in Guangdong, accounting for 70 per cent of enterprises of foreign direct investment in Guangdong Province. Among them, some are offices established by overseas enterprises in Hong Kong. These enterprises leverage Hong Kong's distinctive advantage of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world for entering the Guangdong market via Hong Kong. He said that Guangdong and Hong Kong can offer staunch support to the high-quality development of the B&RI by making full use of the opportunities brought about by the GBA development in taking forward the relevant work. In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Nansha Planning Exhibition Hall in Nansha District to learn about the district's development and achievements in recent years, as well as the blueprint for its future development. The delegation later visited Pony.ai, an autonomous driving start-up in the district, to learn about the company's latest developments and experienced first-hand its self-developed autonomous saloon cars. The delegation returned to Hong Kong in the evening upon completion of the two-day visit to the GBA.
SCED to lead business delegation of enterprises of Belt and Road countries operating in Hong Kong to visit GBA
3.12.2023

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, tomorrow (December 4) will lead a business delegation of enterprises of Belt and Road countries operating in Hong Kong to depart for Shenzhen to kick-start a two-day visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with a view to promoting Hong Kong as a service hub in assisting enterprises to tap the Mainland market. The visit is the first business networking event organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for enterprises of Belt and Road countries operating in Hong Kong. Members of the delegation include 20 representatives from these enterprises, the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, as well as representatives from the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Invest Hong Kong. The delegation, under the themes of "green development" and "innovation and technology", will visit a number of renowned enterprises and organisations in Shenzhen and Guangzhou to learn about the latest development of the relevant high-quality industries. They will also meet and exchange views with local senior government officials. Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on December 5. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.
SCED calls on leaders of trade and industrial organisations to support District Council election
24.11.2023

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, today (November 24) wrote to about 400 trade and industrial organisations in Hong Kong, including district trade and industrial organisations, government funded/statutory organisations as well as associations of small and medium enterprises, to call on business leaders to lead by example and cast their votes in the 2023 District Council (DC) Ordinary Election to be held on December 10. He also appealed to them to motivate their members to actively participate in the election and jointly fulfil civic duty. Mr Yau also called on business leaders and management personnel to put in place flexible arrangements for employees at work on the polling day to release them to cast their votes at their designated polling stations, so as to elect aspiring and capable DC members to serve the community. "As the first large-scale territory-wide election after reforming the DCs and improving the district governance system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the election is of great significance. The new district governance structure and the DCs are closely connected to the happiness and well-being of every citizen; they also relate to the good governance, as well as the stability and prosperity of the HKSAR," Mr Yau said. Information on the 2023 DC Ordinary Election and the candidates is available at www.elections.gov.hk .