Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, attended the 13th Nanjing Academic Symposium on Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation in Nanjing today (July 12) to share with liver transplant experts from around the world Hong Kong’s latest developments in organ transplantation, and the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in co-operation with the Mainland on organ donation and transplantation.
 
     In his address at the opening ceremony, Professor Lo said, “Hong Kong and the Mainland have a long-standing collaboration in hepatobiliary surgery. I have personally witnessed experts from both places jointly performing a number of complex liver transplant surgeries, achieving in-depth integration of technology and resources, which is an exemplary model of medical co-operation under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework. In recent years, Hong Kong and the Mainland have also made breakthroughs in organ donation and transplantation. In December 2022 and February this year, two cases of cross-boundary heart donation successfully saved the lives of two infants, exemplifying to the fullest the inseparable ties between the Mainland and Hong Kong as well as our shared principle and mission in protecting and saving lives. With the accumulation of experience, the channels and procedures for handling urgent cross-boundary organ transplant requests have now been streamlined and standardised. The HKSAR Government will continue to explore arrangements for regularising this mechanism.”
 
     He also shared the latest developments in the prevention and control of liver disease in Hong Kong. He said, “Since 1988, Hong Kong has provided universal hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns, significantly reducing infection rates among younger generations. As outlined in last year’s Policy Address, the Chief Executive also proposed to implement hepatitis B screening to prevent liver cancer. If patients can be identified at an early stage, it will facilitate ‘early identification and early treatment’, thereby effectively reducing risks of developing complications including cirrhosis and liver cancer.”
 
     The conference was jointly organised by the Jiangsu Anti-cancer Association, the Jiangsu Medical Doctor Association, and the Jiangsu Medical Association. The conference brought together international experts and scholars in liver disease, as well as senior health officials from around the world.
 
     Professor Lo then visited the Jiangsu Province Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University), where he exchanged views and shared experiences on enhancing hospital management and services with the President of Jiangsu Province Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University), Professor Liu Yun. He said, “The Hospital Authority (HA) is adopting China’s International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version) developed by the Shenzhen Hospital Accreditation Research Centre to resume the hospital accreditation programme at its public hospitals. Through independent professional hospital accreditation organisations, various aspects of hospital performance are assessed in an objective manner, with a view to enhancing the quality of healthcare institutions and safeguarding patient safety. Moreover, the HA seeks to optimise the diagnosis process of the relevant specialties and improve the treatment outcomes through the establishment of the first stroke centre at Tuen Mun Hospital, as well as chest pain centres at both Queen Mary Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital in accordance with national accreditation standards, thereby enhancing the survival rate of patients.”
 
     Professor Lo added, “The HKSAR Government will continue to promote the accreditation programme under the Standards as well as the establishment of chest pain centres and stroke centres. These initiatives will not only improve healthcare integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and support Hong Kong’s integration into national development, but also leverage Hong Kong’s advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, so as to demonstrate the excellence of the national hospital accreditation standards to the international community.”
 
     The Assistant Director of Health (Drug), Mr Frank Chan; the Director (Quality and Safety) of the HA, Dr Michael Wong, and the Cluster Chief Executive of Hong Kong West Cluster of the HA, Dr Theresa Li, accompanied Professor Lo to attend today’s functions. They will return to Hong Kong this afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers (CECA), chaired by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, held luncheon meetings for three consecutive days this week (July 9 to 11) to listen to the views expressed by CECA members for the forthcoming Policy Address and the overall development of Hong Kong.
 
     Mr Lee said, “This is the first meeting for the new term (second term) of CECA members. I warmly welcomed the three new members of the CECA, namely Dr Zhu Min, who served as the Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and the Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, along with two enterprises of Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons” – the founder of BrainCo, Mr Han Bi-cheng, and the founder of Unitree Robotics, Mr Wang Xing-xing, for attending the meetings in Hong Kong. During the meeting, they emphasised that Hong Kong is bestowed with its unique advantages of connecting with both the Mainland and the world, excellent education and research capabilities, and advantageous geographical location, and it is also an international financial centre with free flow of capital. These advantages would greatly attract Mainland enterprises to list in Hong Kong and use Hong Kong as the gateway to go global. “
 
     The CECA conducted in-depth discussions on a range of important issues under three major themes:
 

1. Economic advancement and sustainability – including how to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as the international financial, shipping and trade centres amid geopolitical changes and economic restructuring.
2. Innovation and entrepreneurship – including how to promote the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries, proactively nurture emerging industries, expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis, and proactively attract capital and talents to assist in the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong. 
3. Regional and global collaborations – including how to leverage the opportunities of our motherland and deepen international exchanges and co-operation, strengthen ties with countries along the Belt and Road and explore emerging markets such as the Middle East, the ASEAN, South America, and Central Asia in order to seek new opportunities, and to provide high quality professional services to Mainland and international enterprises, amid an ever‑changing geopolitical landscape and constantly increasing uncertainties.

 
     Mr Lee said members of the Council are all distinguished and eminent leaders in their respective fields or internationally renowned scholars, experts or entrepreneurs. He thanks all members for actively providing him with valuable insights and wise counsel regarding the current situation and vision for future developments of Hong Kong. These contributions have provided important references for the overall development strategies of Hong Kong and the upcoming Policy Address.
 
     The three meeting sessions were chaired by the Chief Executive. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Acting Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip, and the Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU), Dr Stephen Wong, attended the three sessions respectively.
 
     The Chief Executive will deliver his fourth Policy Address this September, for which the public consultation commenced on June 16.
 
     The Chief Executive established the CECA in 2023 to seek advice on the strategic developments of Hong Kong with a view to leveraging the opportunities from national and global developments. The second term of the CECA took effect on July 1. For the membership of the CECA, please refer to the website of the CEPU (www.cepu.gov.hk/en/CECA/membership.html), which serves as the secretariat of the CECA.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, continued his European visit in Rome, Italy, on July 10 (Rome time) to promote and strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and to promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems” to the local legal and business sectors.

     Mr Lam first visited UNIDROIT and had lunch with the Secretary-General of UNIDROIT, Professor Ignacio Tirado. Mr Lam thanked UNIDROIT for its support of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the secondment of local legal professionals to UNIDROIT. They also discussed opportunities for UNIDROIT to participate in the Academy’s capacity-building programme and the relevant work of organising the 2026 Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit in Hong Kong. During his visit to UNIDROIT, Mr Lam also officiated at the opening ceremony of the Asian Transnational Law Centre.

     Mr Lam then attended a seminar co-organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and UNIDROIT entitled “Hong Kong as a Gateway to the Asia Pacific” and delivered a keynote speech. Mr Lam said that, as Hong Kong is a legal hub, the DoJ has been strengthening co-operation with renowned international legal and dispute resolution organisations and securing their presence in Hong Kong. Recently, in addition to the International Organization for Mediation that will be headquartered in Hong Kong, the DoJ, with the support of the Central Government, has also been exploring with the UNIDROIT Secretariat the proposal to set up a liaison office in Hong Kong. The DoJ thanked the UNIDROIT Governing Council for their support of the proposal to be considered by the UNIDROIT General Assembly. The proposal, if passed by the General Assembly, will help promote the work of UNIDROIT in the Asia-Pacific region and further enhance Hong Kong’s position as a regional centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, Mr Lam added.
 
     In the evening, Mr Lam had dinner with the former Minister of Justice of Italy and recipient of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, Professor Oliviero Diliberto, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
 
     Mr Lam attended a networking lunch and meeting hosted by the Italy China Council Foundation and supported by the Italian confederation of small and medium private industries today (July 11, Rome time) and elaborated to local legal and business sectors Hong Kong’s unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle. He also learned more about the developments in local enterprises and legal services and explained to them how Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services are conducive to international investment and trade.
 
     In the evening, Mr Lam will call on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Italy, Mr Jia Guide, to brief him on the exchanges and co-operation between the DoJ and UNIDROIT, and the latest work progress on dispute resolution services.

     Mr Lam will leave Rome tomorrow (July 12, Rome time) and arrive in Hong Kong on the morning of July 13.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned the US Government for wantonly smearing the work of Hong Kong in preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for activities endangering national security in accordance with the law under the pretext of extending the so-called “national emergency”.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the US has blatantly and repeatedly breached international law and the basic norms underpinning international relations, and vainly interfered with the internal affairs of the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong matters by extending again the so-called “national emergency with respect to Hong Kong”.

Such an act is arbitrary and unreasonable, the statement said, noting that the US has time and again made skewed remarks about Hong Kong’s situation and imposed the so-called “sanctions” on Hong Kong, attempting to interfere with its law-based governance and undermine the city’s rule of law as well as its prosperity and stability.

“Endangering national security is a very serious offence. No country will watch with folded arms on acts and activities that endanger national security.

“With at least 21 pieces of laws safeguarding national security in the US, the US exposed their double standards as they pointed fingers at Hong Kong’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security, while totally disregarding the constitutional duty and practical needs of the city to legislate, and the positive effects brought by the enactment of the national security legislation on economic development and the protection of human rights.”

In over five years of the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), the law enforcement agencies of Hong Kong have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, which has nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation.

The Department of Justice is in charge of criminal prosecutions under Article 63 of the Basic Law, with all its prosecutorial decisions made on an objective analysis of all admissible evidence and applicable laws.

Everyone charged with a criminal offence will receive fair trial strictly in accordance with laws applicable to Hong Kong, including the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) and as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, human rights in the city have been robustly guaranteed constitutionally by both the Constitution and the Basic Law. The legal framework in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong SAR is in line with relevant international human rights standards, the statement stressed.

The HKNSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by the residents under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong are protected in accordance with the law, it added.

The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that it will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the HKNSL, the SNSO and relevant laws safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law, whilst upholding the people’s rights and freedoms in accordance with the law, to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle.

It strongly demanded the US to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in Hong Kong matters which are purely China’s internal affairs.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam continued his European visit by promoting Hong Kong’s unique legal advantages in Rome today.

Mr Lam attended a networking lunch and meeting hosted by the Italy China Council Foundation and elaborated to the participants Hong Kong’s advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle.

He also explained to them how Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services are conducive to international investment and trade.

His itinerary in Rome also included calling on Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Italy Jia Guide to brief him on the co-operation between the Department of Justice and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and the latest work progress on dispute resolution services.

Mr Lam yesterday visited UNIDROIT and discussed its possible participation in the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy’s capacity-building programme and the work of organising the 2026 Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit in Hong Kong.

The justice chief also attended a seminar with UNIDROIT as the co-organiser and had dinner with former Minister of Justice of Italy and recipient of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award Prof Oliviero Diliberto.

He will leave Rome tomorrow and return to Hong Kong on July 13.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (July 11) strongly condemned the government of the United States (US) for, under the pretext of extending the so-called “national emergency”, once again overriding the rule of law with politics, and wantonly smearing, by despicable political maneuvers, the work of the HKSAR in preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for activities endangering national security in accordance with the law.
 
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, “The US has blatantly and repeatedly breached the international law and the basic norms underpinning international relations, and vainly interfered with the internal affairs of the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong matters by extending again the so-called ‘national emergency with respect to Hong Kong’. Such act is arbitrary and unreasonable. The US has time and again made skewed remarks about Hong Kong’s situation and imposed the so-called ‘sanctions’ on Hong Kong, attempting to interfere with Hong Kong’s law-based governance and undermine the city’s rule of law as well as its prosperity and stability. Their despicable plots are doomed to fail.
 
“Endangering national security is a very serious offence. No country will watch with folded arms on acts and activities that endanger national security. With at least 21 pieces of laws safeguarding national security in the US, the US exposed their double standards as they pointed fingers at the HKSAR’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security, while totally disregarding the constitutional duty and practical needs of the HKSAR to legislate, and the positive effects brought by the enactment of the relevant national security legislation on economic development and the protection of human rights.”
 
The spokesman said, “In over five years of the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), the HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, which have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. The Department of Justice of the HKSAR is in charge of criminal prosecutions under Article 63 of the Basic Law, with all its prosecutorial decisions made on an objective analysis of all admissible evidence and applicable laws. Everyone charged with a criminal offence will receive fair trial strictly in accordance with laws applicable to Hong Kong (including the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO)) and as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.”
 
“Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, human rights in the city have been robustly guaranteed constitutionally by both the Constitution and the Basic Law. The legal framework in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is in line with relevant international human rights standards. The HKNSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to the HKSAR are protected in accordance with the law.”
 
The spokesman reiterated, “The HKSAR Government will, as always, resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the HKNSL, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law, whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’. The HKSAR Government strongly demands the US to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in Hong Kong matters which are purely China’s internal affairs.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn today announced that the Government will put up for tender a residential site in Tsuen Wan that can provide about 780 flats.

Unveiling the Land Sale Programme for the second quarter of this financial year, Ms Linn said the site is situated in a mature neighbourhood with comprehensive surrounding facilities and traffic network.

“It is relatively still small in scale and located in a mature urban area with good transport connections. So we think this kind of site will be of interest to the developers in the current climate of the property market.”

Additionally, residential land supply will stem from private development and redevelopment projects requiring lease modification, of which six cases are expected to complete the land administration procedures in the second quarter, providing a total supply of around 4,170 flats.

“Regarding the overall supply for the second quarter, taking into account this Tsuen Wan site, together with six other cases involving lease modifications, we should be able to turn out land capable of supplying (about) 4,950 units in this quarter.”

She pointed out that one is a land exchange case at Hung Shui Kiu Area 34B in an area of high development potential in the Northern Metropolis and would foster the development of the area along with the planning of Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area.

The development chief also said that taking into account the supply from the first quarter, the total private housing land supply of the first half of this financial year will reach about 6,000 units, which is around 45% of the annual supply target.

“I think it suggests that we are moving in a stable manner towards our annual target,” Ms Linn added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau arrived in Nanjing this afternoon to meet Commissioner of the Jiangsu Commission of Health Tan Ying and visit the Simcere Pharmaceutical Group.

Prof Lo introduced Ms Tan to the efforts made by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting the international inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine, and the high-quality development of public hospitals.

He noted that Jiangsu and Hong Kong have established a solid foundation in Chinese medicine academic inheritance and talent exchange.

Prof Lo highlighted that by the end of this year, two flagship projects – the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong and the permanent building for the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute – will provide services in phases.

This will further strengthen the co-operation between the two places in the areas of Chinese medicine services, talent development and testing research, he added.

On the high-quality development of public hospitals, Prof Lo emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to promote the accreditation of more public hospitals under “China’s International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version)”, with a view to maintaining the high standard of hospital management and services in Hong Kong while aligning with the national healthcare service system.

Both sides also explored ways to further encourage more hospitals in the two places to pursue accreditation under the relevant standards to amplify the impact of national standards.

At the Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, which is headquartered in Nanjing, Prof Lo briefed the company’s senior management on the Hong Kong SAR Government’s initiatives in developing the city into an international health and medical innovation hub.

Such initiatives include strengthening the approval regimes for drugs and medical devices as well as promoting the clinical trial industry’s development.

The health chief welcomed Mainland pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong, fully leveraging the multiple unique advantages of the Hong Kong SAR to facilitate the translation and clinical application of advanced biomedical technologies.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region