Month: April 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):

Question:

     According to a research publication released by the Legislative Council Secretariat in October last year, the number of student deaths by suicide in Hong Kong has almost tripled in 10 years to reach at least a decade high of 32 cases in 2023. In addition, it has been reported that from the beginning of the current school year until last month, there have been nearly 20 fatal suicide cases involving students under the age of 19. Regarding the promotion of mental health among students, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of primary, secondary and university students who planned or attempted suicide in the past three years, and among them, the respective numbers of those with special educational needs or a history of mental health issues; whether it has studied the reasons behind these students’ suicide plans or attempts, with a breakdown by primary, secondary and university students;

(2) whether, in response to the reasons behind the suicide plans or attempts mentioned in (1), the Government will strengthen relevant targeted measures or support services to reduce the likelihood of student suicide; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) given that in the reply to a question from a Member of this Council on June 5 last year, the Government indicated that it would engage a consultant to evaluate the effectiveness of the Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism, of the results of the evaluation; given that the mechanism is set to expire at the end of this year, whether the Government will explore regularising the mechanism; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) as there are views that “schooling problems”, “family relationships” and “interpersonal relationships” are the main reasons for student suicides, (i) whether the Government will study promoting education reform or developing quantifiable indicators for schools to formulate appropriate school-based assignment policies, so as to reduce the learning pressure on students in the long term; and (ii) what targeted measures the Government has in place to combat bullying in schools, in order to safeguard the mental health of students;

(5) whether it will conduct studies to improve the Three-tier Support Model (i.e. the three levels of “Universal”, “Selective” and “Indicated”) which the Education Bureau has encouraged schools to adopt to promote student mental health, including organising an off-campus support network through cross-departmental, cross-professional and cross-sectoral co-operation to enhance support for schools; and

(6) whether it will deploy additional school-based professional counsellors to provide immediate consultation and referral services, and encourage community members, parents and other stakeholders to show greater concern for the issue of student suicide, thereby widening the support available to schools?

Reply:

President,

     The Education Bureau (EDB) attaches great importance to the mental health of students, and has been proactively providing support for schools in adopting the Whole School Approach at three levels, namely “Universal”, “Selective” and “Indicated” (Three-tier Support Model), to promote student mental health and enhance support for those with mental health needs (including those with suicidal risks). The EDB also collaborates with other bureaux/departments and different stakeholders to take care of students with mental health needs and provide them with support in different aspects through cross-departmental, multi-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. In consultation with the Health Bureau, our reply to the question raised by the Hon Elizabeth Quat is as follows:

(1) As indicated in relevant international and local studies, suicide (including suicidal attempts) is a complicated issue caused by the interplay of multiple factors which are interconnected. These factors are mainly related to interpersonal relationships (including family, social and relationship problems) and personal issues (such as learning and school adjustment, depressed mood and mental illness). Therefore, suicide should not be attributed to any one single factor (such as special educational need or mental illness). The EDB has all along been requiring primary and secondary schools to report suspected fatal suicide cases of students in order to provide appropriate professional support to the schools concerned. However, it is not mandatory for schools to report attempted or planned suicide cases of students, and the EDB does not collect information on cases involving university students.

(2) to (6) Cross-departmental, multi-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration

     The Government has been supporting student mental health through cross-departmental and cross-sector collaboration, and established the Advisory Committee on Mental Health (ACMH) in December 2017 to advise the Government on mental health policies. Among others, the EDB, the Department of Health (DH) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) have also appointed representatives as ex-officio members of the ACMH to enhance cross-departmental collaboration and facilitate information sharing and co-ordination among departments, with a view to enhancing synergy.

     At school level, based on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Student Suicides, the EDB adopts the Three-tier Support Model through the Whole School Approach and multi-disciplinary collaboration to promote mental health and provide support for students with mental health needs. The Government continues to allocate additional resources to enhance the guidance services in schools. Apart from strengthening teachers’ training, schools have also set up multi-disciplinary teams (including school-based educational psychologists, guidance personnel and school social workers) to provide appropriate support for students with mental health needs. If students are found to be emotionally disturbed, teachers will refer them to professionals in a timely manner. Starting from the 2016/17 school year, the School-based Educational Psychology Service has covered all public sector ordinary primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. In addition, the EDB and the SWD have been implementing the “one school social worker for each school” and “two school social workers for each school ” measures in primary and secondary schools respectively. Each school may, according to its circumstances and students’ needs, flexibly deploy related resources, pool together other school resources, or make better use of community resources and professional support, to employ qualified student guidance personnel or procure related services from organisations to enhance the support for students.

     Implemented in all secondary schools in Hong Kong since December 2023, the Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism (the Mechanism) is one of the Government’s measures to promote cross-departmental, multi-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. The Mechanism aims to, through collaboration among schools, parents and other stakeholders in society, pool together the schools’ multi-disciplinary teams, the off-campus support network and medical services to achieve early identification and offer support to students at higher suicidal risk. After reviewing relevant circumstances and gauging the views of the sector, the Government decided to extend the implementation period of the Mechanism to the end of 2025 and enhance the related arrangements including strengthening cross-departmental collaboration. The Government has commissioned a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mechanism, and would closely monitor the overall operation and sustainability of the Mechanism by making reference to the evaluation results.

Three-tier Support Model

     Under the Three-tier Support Model, the EDB continues to enhance the curriculum, information dissemination, activities, training and professional support on an ongoing basis to promote student mental health. Measures being implemented in the 2024/25 school year include:
 

• Implementing the 4Rs Mental Health Charter (the Charter) to promote mental health in schools in a more comprehensive and systematic manner. As at the end of March 2025, more than 690 schools have participated in the Charter, with a number of partner organisations providing various activities. Schools participating in the Charter also make a pledge to join the Whole School Health Programme taken forward by the DH, thereby taking care of the health of students and school personnel in a comprehensive manner. 
• Launching the Mental Health Literacy resource packages for students at different learning stages, as well as the one-stop student mental health information website, “Mental Health@School” (mentalhealth.edb.gov.hk), to facilitate teachers, students, parents and the general public to select appropriate resources and strategies. 
• Collaborating with the SWD to arrange for non-government organisations to visit secondary schools in need to organise mental health-related activities since February 2024, with a view to enhancing students’ awareness of mental health and help-seeking. In addition, the EDB has collaborated with the Shall We Talk Initiative to arrange athletes to visit secondary schools to share the themes of positive thinking and perseverance so as to promote students’ resilience.
• Organising about 40 additional thematic teacher training workshops to introduce practical skills, counselling techniques and intervention strategies in supporting students with mental health needs. The EDB also regularly shares the latest information and relevant resources through the “Mental Health@School” Teacher Professional Network, as well as organises thematic workshops for the Teacher Professional Network.
• Promoting parent education through organising the “Caring for Their Heart and Soul, Growing along with Your Children” Parent Education Talk Series for parents of primary and secondary school students in the 2024/25 school year, so as to assist parents to acquire the knowledge and skills in supporting the healthy development of their children and taking care of their children’s mental health.

School curriculum and assignments

     The aim of education is to foster proper values and positive attitude in students, while leading a healthy lifestyle is one of the learning goals of school curriculum. The EDB released the Primary Education Curriculum Guide (PECG) in 2024, in which clear guidelines and recommended measures for optimising the school assignment policy are provided. The PECG emphasises that schools should adopt the principle of “quality rather than the quantity that matters” in the design and arrangement of homework. Schools should formulate a school-based mechanism to avoid assigning excessive homework to students and monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the mechanism, with a view to creating more space for students. Schools should also arrange a tutorial session in the afternoon as far as possible for students to finish some or all of their homework under teachers’ guidance. The Secondary Education Curriculum Guide (2017) also stresses the importance of prioritising quality over quantity in homework, suggesting that balanced development and healthy lifestyle of students should be schools’ major concerns in setting their homework policy. Excessive homework should be avoided so that students could have enough time for rest, play and leisure. The EDB also reminds schools to review their prevailing assessment policies, including the frequency of dictations, tests and examinations, as well as the contents, scopes and modes of assessment. Measures include replacing traditional written tests and examinations with flexible and diversified modes of assessment; arranging less dictations, tests and examinations, or cancelling term examinations for individual year levels, particularly Primary One, where diversified modes of assessment instead of tests and examinations should be adopted in the first school term. Assessment at different key stages should be planned and arranged in a progressive manner to alleviate the academic pressure on students.

     Apart from the enhanced School Development and Accountability framework to promote self-improvement of schools in related areas, the EDB has also been promulgating the above messages and good practices to schools with a view to creating space for students and promote their physical and psychological well-being through various channels, such as the Charter, circulars, letters, featured articles, video and comic series, and onsite workshops for teachers.

School bullying

     The EDB has all along been adopting a “zero tolerance” policy on school bullying and has been promoting a caring and harmonious school culture. In addition, we adopt a multi-pronged approach to implement the policy of preventing and handling school bullying, which includes providing schools with resource packages and teaching materials on the prevention of school bullying, helping schools develop school-based Peer Support networks, as well as launching the Peer Mediation Training Project for Peace Ambassadors and the Harmonious School Net. To further support students and parents in handling student peer conflicts or school bullying issues, the EDB has been providing the “Harmonious School: One-Stop Hotline and Counselling Services” since May 2024, for which registered social workers provide advice, counselling and case referral services for students and parents through the hotline and instant messaging software, as well as on-site support services for primary and secondary schools in need.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that new public toilets built by the Government generally adhere to the requirements of the Buildings Department’s “Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008” and include accessible toilets. However, some wheelchair users have relayed that some of these toilets are not equipped with power-operated doors and significant physical strength are required to open the doors, thereby causing inconvenience to users. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of public toilets and accessible toilets currently managed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and, among them, the number of accessible toilets equipped with power-operated doors;
 
(2) of the expenditures/estimates involved for constructing public toilets (including modification and refurbishment works) by various government departments in the past year and the coming year;
 
(3) of the Government’s specific considerations in respect of the installation of power-operated doors in accessible toilets, and the average cost of installing each power-operated door;
 
(4) whether the Government will increase the number of accessible toilets equipped with power-operated doors; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(5) of the following information on the accessible toilets managed by various government departments which have been suspended due to repair or other reasons in the past three years: the names and addresses of the public toilets in which they are located, and the total number of days suspended;
 
(6) of the respective average daily usage of various public toilets of the Government that have been installed with the Smart Public Toilet System and the accessible toilets in these public toilets in the past three years; and
 
(7) of the number of complaints received by various government departments about the use of accessible toilets in public toilets under their management in the past three years, as well as the major subject matters of such complaints; whether the Government has formulated clear guidelines and provided relevant training for frontline cleaning staff to improve the management of these public toilets; if so, of the details of the relevant training (including the training contents as well as the number of training and participants); if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities, so as to enable them to have a barrier-free access to premises and make use of the facilities and services on an equal basis with others, thereby enabling them to live independently and fully integrate into the community.
 
     At present, the provision of accessible toilets is a statutory requirement under the Third Schedule to Regulation 72 of the Building (Planning) Regulations (Cap. 123F), while the provision of power-operated doors for accessible toilets is a recommended best practice under Division 11 of Chapter 4 of the Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008 (2024 edition) (Design Manual). The Buildings Department commissioned a consultant in February 2024 to review the Design Manual (including the design requirements for accessible toilets) with the objective of enhancing the standards of barrier-free facilities in private buildings by integrating universal design concepts to meet the latest needs and international trends, and ensuring that the standards are feasible and pragmatic for implementation in the local context. The consultancy study is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
 
     The Government does not maintain a consolidated list of public toilets and accessible toilets managed by various bureaux and departments. That said, the vast majority of public toilets and toilet facilities (including accessible toilets) provided for public use in public venues are managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Home Affairs Department (HAD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). Having consulted the relevant bureaux/departments, I set out below a consolidated reply to the Member’s question:
 
(1) At present, the numbers of public toilets, accessible toilets and the latter equipped with power-operated doors managed by the AFCD and the FEHD are as follows:
 

Department	Number of public toilets under its management	Number of public toilets with accessible toilets (number of those equipped with power-operated doors)
AFCD	64	54 (0)
FEHD	812	402 (7)

     The LCSD also provides about 1 100 toilets in its leisure, sports and cultural facilities for use by service users. The vast majority of which are furnished with accessible toilets, and among these accessible toilets, about 40 are equipped with power-operated doors.
 
(2) The expenditure and estimates of the construction of public toilets (including conversion and refurbishment projects) under the AFCD and the FEHD in 2024-25 and 2025-26 are as follows:
 

Department	Expenditure on the construction of public toilets (including conversion and refurbishment projects) ($ million)
	2024-25 (Revised estimate)	2025-26 (Estimate)
AFCD	20.35	83.00
FEHD	88.81	173.77

     When developing new or renovating existing leisure, sports and cultural facilities, the LCSD will provide barrier-free ancillary facilities as appropriate, including accessible toilets. The relevant construction costs are part of the overall project estimates, and the LCSD does not maintain breakdown figures.
 
(3) and (4) According to the Design Manual, the installation of power-operated doors in accessible toilets is a recommended best practice rather than a mandatory requirement. That said, it is the established policy of the Government to follow the recommended best practices in the Design Manual, and where practicable, achieve a higher standard than the statutory requirements in the provision of barrier-free facilities. When considering whether to install power-operated doors in accessible toilets, the departments concerned will take into account a basket of factors, including the usage rate of public toilets, power supply and whether the physical environment (such as location in the suburbs) allows stable operation of power-operated doors. The departments concerned will continue to timely review the usage of accessible toilets and the needs of users, and install power-operated doors in accessible toilets as appropriate. In general, the existing cost of installing each power-operated door is about $50,000 to $60,000.
 
(5) Information on the accessible toilets managed by the AFCD, the FEHD and the HAD that had been temporarily suspended for maintenance in the past three years are at Annexes 1 to 3 respectively.

     Regarding the accessible toilets provided by the LCSD in its leisure, sports and cultural facilities, being part of the facilities/venues, they will not be available for use when the facilities/venues concerned are undergoing repair, renovation and maintenance, etc. The LCSD does not maintain information on the temporary suspension of accessible toilets due to maintenance.
 
(6) The average daily usage of public toilets installed with the Smart Public Toilet System and the accessible toilets in these public toilets managed by the FEHD in the past three years are at Annex 4.
 
​Besides, the LCSD has also installed smart systems in the toilets provided in its leisure, sports and cultural facilities, of which seven are located in Kowloon Park and two in Tsuen Wan Sports Centre and Hong Kong Cultural Centre respectively. The LCSD does not maintain information on the average daily usage of these toilets.

(7) In the past three years, the number of complaints about accessible toilets received by the AFCD, the FEHD, the HAD and the LCSD are as follows:
 

Department	Number of complaints about accessible toilets received between 2022 and 2024
AFCD	About 20
FEHD	About 480
HAD	2
LCSD	About 10

     The complaints were mainly about damaged facilities, insufficient facilities, cleanliness, etc. The departments concerned will follow up the complaints and urge cleansing service contractors to deliver the services, and arrange and provide relevant training for their frontline cleansing staff in accordance with the contractual requirements (including the level of cleanliness and service frequency). Site inspections and surprise checks will also be conducted by the departments concerned from time to time to better monitor the contractors’ service performance and ensure service quality. Besides, the FEHD has added new clauses in the dedicated contract for cleansing and management services for public toilets, requiring contractors’ toilet attendants to have received relevant vocational training and possess recognised qualifications.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 16 APR 2025 1:33PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today shared an article by Union Minister Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal on how Dr. Ambedkar shaped some of India’s earliest and most impactful economic ideas rooted in justice, dignity and self-reliance.

The Prime Minister’s Office handle on X posted:

“Union Minister Shri @arjunrammeghwal elaborates on how Dr. Ambedkar shaped some of India’s earliest and most impactful economic ideas rooted in justice, dignity and self-reliance.
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/arjun-ram-meghwal-writes-ambedkar-the-economist-9946393/ 

via NaMo App”

 

 

***

MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2122045) Visitor Counter : 140

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Pui-leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
 
Question:
 
     There are views pointing out that patients with depression and treatment-resistant depression (i.e. those who have not shown significant improvement despite two trials of antidepressants at adequate doses, duration and adherence) face higher suicide rates if their condition cannot be controlled, and this will also have far-reaching and adverse impacts on the quality of life for both the patients as well as their families. Therefore, in order to render more effective support for patients with depression and promote mental health for all, it is crucial to provide appropriate treatments for depression and keep track of patients’ data. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it knows the respective numbers of people admitted to public hospitals in each of the past three years due to depression and treatment-resistant depression, and their respective average numbers of days of hospitalisation; if there are no relevant statistics, whether the authorities will track such data in a systematic manner in the future; and
 
(2) given that in the reply to a question from a Member of this Council on March 13 last year, the authorities indicated that in 2023-2024 (as at the end of February 2024), only 17 patients had been prescribed the nasal spray medication, Esketamine, for treatment of depression, representing a significant disparity compared to the number of patients with depression and potential treatment-resistant depression in Hong Kong, whether the authorities know the reasons for the low usage rate of such medication by the Hospital Authority (HA), and whether the HA will increase the use of nasal spray antidepressants in the future?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Pui-leung is as follows:
 
(1) The Hospital Authority (HA) adopts an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach in providing mental health services. A team comprising psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and medical social workers provides a comprehensive range of medical services, including inpatient services, outpatient services, day rehabilitation training and community support services, to patients with mental health needs (including patients with depression) according to their medical conditions and clinical needs. 
 
     The table below sets out the number of discharges and deaths of hospitalised patients with principal diagnosis of depression (including treatment-resistant depression) from 2022-23 to 2024-25 (up to December 31, 2024) and their average length of stay in hospitals:
 

Year	Inpatients with principal diagnosis of depression (including treatment-resistant depression)
	No. of discharges and death of inpatients	Average length of stay in hospitals of inpatients (day)
2022-23	3 279	19.9
2023-24	3 589	21.0
2024-25 (up to December 31, 2024)	2 708	21.8

Note 1: In the HA, day inpatients refer to those who are admitted to hospitals for non-emergency treatment and discharged within the same day. Inpatients are those who are admitted to hospitals via Accident and Emergency Departments or those who have stayed for more than one day. The calculation of inpatient average length of stay does not include that of day patients.
Note 2: The HA does not maintain statistics relating to treatment-resistant depression. 
Note 3: In view of the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in Hong Kong in early 2020, the HA adjusted its services to cope with the outbreak. This should therefore be taken into consideration when comparing the service capacity of the HA in the respective years. With the subsiding of local COVID-19 epidemic situation and cessation of anti-epidemic measures in early 2023, the HA has been gradually resuming provision of all of its public healthcare services to tie in with the Government’s normalcy measures.
 
(2) A number of drugs can be used for treatment of depression and different drugs have their efficacy and limitations. Nasal spray antidepressant (Esketamine) is one of the drugs. The nasal spray antidepressant (Esketamine) has been included in the HA Drug Formulary since July 2023.The respective numbers of patients prescribed with nasal spray antidepressant (Esketamine) in the HA in 2023-24 and 2024-25 (projection as at December 31, 2024) were approximately 20.

     The HA currently provides drugs, Electroconvulsive Therapy and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the treatment of depression. Healthcare professionals will arrange appropriate treatment to patients with depression according to their medical conditions, clinical needs and risks, as well as taking into the consideration the patients’ preferences. The HA has been expanding the coverage of its Drug Formulary through an established mechanism to provide long-term sustainable, affordable and appropriate support to patients with mental health needs.
 
     The HA will continue to review its mental health services and treatment options (including treatment of depression) according to latest scientific evidence and clinical needs to provide appropriate support to patients in need.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (April 16) that it anticipates a large number of passengers and vehicles travelling to and from the Mainland or Macao via various land-based boundary control points (BCPs) during the long weekend of the Easter holidays, especially on the first day (April 18) and the last day (April 21). The TD particularly urges members of the public to plan their trips in advance and allow sufficient travelling time.
 
     For public transport services, the TD has liaised with local and cross-boundary public transport operators to strengthen their services during the long weekend. The waiting time for public transport services, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus), may be longer. Passengers are encouraged to make their journeys during non-peak hours, maintain order, and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of the public transport operators concerned. Passengers of cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.
 
     Motorists are advised that, subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Port from April 18 to 21 to allow smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above control points. Cross-boundary private cars may need to queue to cross the BCPs. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. They are also requested to be patient in case of traffic congestion and follow the instructions of on-site Police.
 
     For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, the public can make use of the TD’s HKeMobility mobile application to access snapshots of traffic conditions at the inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations at the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts “hzmbzhport” or “zhuhaifabu” (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only), and check the forecast of peak hours of inbound and outbound vehicles at the HZMB Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official account of the HZMB integrated information dissemination platform (mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mT9D9et-FybKKXDw9nJ9Dg) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles shall not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.
 
     The TD’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to operate 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of different districts, including various BCPs and major stations. The TD will disseminate the latest traffic information through various channels. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio, television broadcasts, and HKeMobility.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Adrian Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):

Question:

     The Chief Executive announced in the 2022 Policy Address the establishment of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC) to be responsible for managing $62 billion of investments. It has been reported that as at March this year, HKIC has invested in about 100 projects at different stages of development. There are views that while HKIC has been in operation for more than two years, there is a lack of transparency as it has yet to disclose detailed information on, among others, the progress of its investments and the remuneration levels of its various senior management staff. This has also aroused concern about whether HKIC can really do a good job in vetting its investments in cutting-edge industries, such as biotechnology, financial technology and big data. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

(1) the total amount of investments currently managed by HKIC; the respective total expenditure (other than staff remuneration) and total income of HKIC in the past year;

(2) the establishment (including staff at all levels) approved by the Board of Directors of HKIC since its establishment; the total expenditure on the remuneration of its staff and the expenditure on the remuneration of its various senior management staff in the past year;

(3) the composition of the Investment Committee under the Board of Directors of HKIC, the investment experience of its members (e.g. the direct or indirect investment and merger and acquisition projects in which they have taken part, and the corresponding amounts of investments made in such projects), and the respective investment decision-making process of the Investment Committee;

(4) the number of days HKIC has operated since its establishment, the total number of investment projects vetted and screened, and the average number of hours required for vetting and screening an investment project;

(5) among the 100 or so investments made by HKIC, of the names of the enterprises in each investment, industries to which they belong, their nature (that is, whether they are direct or indirect investments), the percentage of shareholding, the projected rate of return on the investments, the investment period, and whether there is any exit mechanism;

(6) given that HKIC will organise the Roundtable for International Sovereign Wealth Funds and the Summit on Start-up Investment and Development in Hong Kong, of the respective estimated expenditure and objectives of these two events; and

(7) whether HKIC has formulated various performance indicators or quantifiable standards (including but not limited to the number of enterprises facilitated to be listed in Hong Kong, the number of new job opportunities, the share of the industries in the Gross Domestic Product, and the definition of reasonable medium-to-long-term financial returns, etc.), so as to achieve the objective of enhancing Hong Kong’s long-term competitiveness and economic vitality?

Reply:

President,

     In consultation with the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), the reply to the seven parts of the question is as follows:

     In the 2022 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the establishment of the HKIC to manage a total of HK$62 billion under the Hong Kong Growth Portfolio, Greater Bay Area Investment Fund, Strategic Tech Fund, and Co-Investment Fund. The positioning of the HKIC is to capitalise the power of “Patient Capital” to channel market capital and leverage market resources, with a view to attracting technology enterprises to set up and continue their operations in Hong Kong, thereby accelerating the development of a vibrant strategic industry ecosystem, while seeking a reasonable financial return over the medium to long term.

Investment Work Progress and Due Diligence

     Since its establishment, the HKIC has invested in more than 100 projects, including enterprises with cutting-edge technologies or in key industries. These projects are medium-to-long-term investments. Key themes include Hard & Core Technology, Biotechnology and New Energy & Green Technology, with the proportions being 56 per cent, 16 per cent and 11 per cent respectively based on the invested amount.

     With the further implementation of the HKIC’s investment, the relevant impact has become increasingly apparent, including (1) further activating the relevant innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem in Hong Kong, attracting more cutting-edge technology enterprises to set up their operations in Hong Kong or expand their scientific research teams in Hong Kong, enabling Hong Kong-based start-ups to explore and expand into Asian and international markets, and facilitating more cross-sector and cross-industry exchanges between the technology and industry segments; and (2) leveraging market capital to support the development of local technology enterprises.

     The HKIC actively collaborates with different investment institutions, jointly making investment with them, and promoting the continuous development and application of cutting-edge technologies in Hong Kong. As of March 2025, every Hong Kong dollar invested by the HKIC has attracted over four Hong Kong dollars from long-term capital in the market for investment. Each of the above projects has on average investment participation from two to three investment institutions.

     The HKIC has clear requirements for investee companies to contribute to Hong Kong’s development in a sustainable manner, such as requiring the companies to establish offices in Hong Kong, nurture and attract talents, establish research and development departments and/or corporate venture capital (corporate VC) departments in Hong Kong, and prioritise Hong Kong for their listing. Many investee companies have made good progress in attracting capital and talents as well as exploring new markets, which has accelerated their planning for business development with Hong Kong as the platform. Certain investee companies have submitted their listing applications to the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited.

     In order to maximise the contribution of each investment to Hong Kong and to fully leverage the channelling force of the HKIC’s capital, the HKIC currently focuses on making direct and co-investments. Notwithstanding, having regard to the specific circumstances of each project (including geographical locations, investment themes, financing rounds, legal and compliance considerations), the HKIC will flexibly adopt different strategies, including but not limited to modes of investment such as equity, debt, or a combination of both, as well as different holding arrangements (including structure, holding period, and design of exit clauses).

     The HKIC has a robust due diligence and risk assessment mechanism. Drawing reference from the approach adopted by other long-term capital and institutional investors in the market, in addition to its internal team, the HKIC will hire external experts and institutions to support its relevant work when necessary. The time required for reviewing and screening varies for each project having regard to the differences in the specific circumstances of the project. Moreover, all investment projects are reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors (Board) or the Investment Committee under the Board.

Organisational Structure and Governance and Operational Arrangements

     The HKIC’s organisational structure and operational arrangements (including budget) are reviewed and approved by the Board. Currently, the HKIC has four major departments, namely the Investment Department, Risk and Compliance Department, Legal Department and Corporate Affairs Department, with a total headcount of 53. With the full commencement of the HKIC’s work, the organisational structure is expected to be further strengthened, particularly on post-investment monitoring and legal areas.

     The HKIC reports to its Board on matters relating to its operations and investments. Apart from officials from the relevant government bureaux, the Board also comprises industry leaders from non-official backgrounds, including experts, academics and professionals with specialised technological backgrounds and extensive start-up experience. All investment projects are reviewed and approved by the Board or the Investment Committee under the Board. The Board will continue to review the governance and operational arrangements of the HKIC as and when appropriate, taking into account the direction of investment and the development needs of Hong Kong.

     With a view to allowing the public to have a more comprehensive understanding of the HKIC’s operation and business outcomes, the HKIC plans to publish its inaugural annual report in the second half of this year to present the progress of its operation and investment.

Events to Promote Investment

     The HKIC is pressing ahead with the organisation of the 2025 Hong Kong Start-up Investment and Development Summit and the International Forum for Patient Capital (Forum). These two events will bring together key stakeholders from I&T field spanning government, industry, academic, research and investment sectors, providing them with a platform to exchange multi-dimensional views regarding topics on I&T, entrepreneurship and venture investment of Hong Kong, with a view to joining hands in building a vibrant ecosystem. In addition, the Forum will invite international “Patient Capital” investment organisations, including sovereign wealth funds, to attend, and encourage them to actively engage in Hong Kong’s financial market and I&T ecosystem. The HKIC is taking forward the preparatory work and will announce the details of the events in due course.

Source: Government of India

In a first, ECI trains Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to strengthen grassroot participation by political parties

Around 280 BLAs from Bihar of 10 recognised political parties take part in the 2-day training programme

Posted On: 16 APR 2025 1:17PM by PIB Delhi

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has commenced the training of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from Bihar in view of the forthcoming elections in the State. Around 280 BLAs from the State associated with 10 recognised political parties are taking part in the 2-day training programme being organised at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management, IIIDEM, New Delhi.

Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi addressed the BLAs in a first of its kind training programme.  The training was conceptualised during the Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) conference held on the 4^th of March, 2025. The Commission underscored the importance of BLAs in the election processes and asserted that the training programme would help them fulfil their responsibilities as delineated in the Representation of People act, 1950 and 1951, Registration of Elector Rules 1960, Conduct of Election Rules 1961 and the manuals, guidelines and instructions issued by ECI from time to time.

The BLAs were given an overview of their appointment, roles, and responsibilities as per the legal framework. The training programme familiarised them with various aspects of the election processes including the preparation, updation and revision of electoral rolls and the associated forms and formats associated. BLAs are appointed by recognised political parties and play an important role in ensuring error-free electoral rolls as per the provisions of the RP act, 1950. The BLAs were also trained in the use of the provision of first and second appeals under sections 24(a) and 24(b) of the RP Act 1950 in case they are aggrieved of the final electoral rolls as published.

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PK/GDH/RP

(Release ID: 2122044) Visitor Counter : 14

Source: Government of India

‘Dalit Chetna’ Programme Organized by Sahitya Akademi

Six Eminent Writers Read Out from their Literature

Posted On: 16 APR 2025 1:08PM by PIB Delhi

Six eminent writers read out from their works in the ‘Dalit Chetna’ programme organized by Sahitya Akademi on the occasion of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary.  Mahendra Singh Beniwal, Mamta Jayant, Namdev and Neelam recited poems and Puran Singh and Tekchand read out short stories.  In their presentations, all highlighted the basic teachings of Dr Ambedkar and his vision with the help of which a discrimination-free society could be created.  First of all, Mamta Jayant presented her five poems, titled “Sabhi Ne Chhua Tha”, “Jeevit Imaraten”, “Ishwar”, “Nahi Chahiye” and “Baheliyon Ke Naam”.  Namdev read out his poems titled “Baba Bhim”, “Gaadiwaan”, “Kuan” and “Pehchaan”, which reflected the current status of Dr Ambedkar’s dreams.  The titles of Neelam’s poems were “Sabse Buri Ladki”, “Nayi Duniya Ke Rachhayita”, “Tumhari Umeedon Pe Khare Utrenge Hum” and “Utho Sangharsh Karo”. The poem “Sabse Buri Ladki” inspired the struggle for women’s rights and equality.  Mahendra Singh Beniwal read out poems titled “Tasveer”, “Aur Kab Tak Mare Jaoge”, “Bhediya” and “Aag”, which very accurately brought out the dual mentality of modern society.  The story presented by Tekchand was titled “Gubaar”.  In this, the deep roots of ignorance among some communities of the Dalits were shown in a very simple way. Puran Singh read out his story “Hawa Ka Rukh”, which focused on the irony of a writer having to compromise as a result of various pressures.  The programme was conducted by Sri Anupam Tiwari, Editor (Hindi).  A large number of writers, journalists and students were present at the programme.

 

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2122040) Visitor Counter : 76

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region