Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

October 1, 2024 – One year ago, Taipower inaugurated the Renze Geothermal Power Plant in Yilan, which generates nearly 4.7 GWh of green electricity annually. Now, Taipower is partnering with Taiwan Cogeneration Corporation, international geothermal developer Baseload Power Taiwan, and geothermal technology service provider GreenFire Energy to establish a geothermal team. This collaboration aims to jointly develop the geothermal resources in the Datun Mountain region of northern Taiwan. Geothermal energy is unaffected by weather conditions, capable of providing stable power generation 24 hours a day, and has high operational efficiency. Taiwan’s location in the Pacific Ring of Fire offers abundant geothermal potential; therefore, Taipower plans to continue collaborating with various sectors to accelerate the development of geothermal energy in Taiwan.

This afternoon, Taipower held the signing ceremony for the Datun Mountain Geothermal Collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The joint signing was attended by Taipower Chairman Tseng Wen-Sheng, Taiwan Cogeneration Corporation Chairman Huang Shun-I, Baseload Capital Chairman Magnus Brandberg, representatives from GreenFire Energy, and other distinguished members of the international geothermal team.

The initial stages of geothermal development involve uncertainties in resource availability, as well as relatively high exploration costs and technical barriers. Collaboration helps split the upfront costs and introduces foreign exploration expertise and innovative technologies.

This geothermal exploration integrates the expertise and experience of renowned domestic and international companies in the geothermal and energy sectors. Baseload Power operates geothermal power plants in the United States, Japan, and Iceland and is currently conducting exploration and development in Taiwan’s Hualien and Nantou counties; GreenFire Energy brings innovative Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) technology to the project; and Taiwan Cogeneration Corporation previously participated in the development of the Qingshui Geothermal Plant in Yilan.

Magnus Brandberg, Chairman of Baseload Capital, stated that as Taiwan’s first international geothermal developer, the company is committed to providing clean, round-the-clock energy while connecting local and global strategic partners to promote the development of Taiwan’s geothermal industry. This collaboration between public and private sectors aims to expand Taiwan’s geothermal potential, accelerate the deployment of geothermal energy, support local energy self-sufficiency, and contribute to achieving the 2050 net-zero goal.

A Taipower representative explained that, according to estimates from the Geological Survey and Mining Management Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the geothermal potential of the Datun Volcano Group accounts for approximately 20% of Taiwan’s total geothermal resources. Relatively comprehensive regional geothermal geological exploration data for the area also exists. Therefore, the Datun Mountain region has been designated as the primary focus of Phase I of this collaboration. Following today’s MOU signing, the project will formally commence with analysis of existing geological data, 3G (geology, geochemistry, and geophysics) exploration, establishment of conceptual models; and identification of drilling targets. Subsequent phases will involve drilling execution and testing. The project will also prioritize the adoption of AGS technology that enables heat extraction without water extraction.

The Renze Geothermal Plant, which began operations in October of last year, has an installed capacity of 0.84 MW (megawatts) and generates approximately 4.7 GWh of renewable energy annually, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of nearly 1,200 households. This collaboration with domestic and international geothermal experts represents the early exploration phase of geothermal development. Based on the exploration results, further assessments will be conducted for plant development and construction. The goal is to continue expanding the developmental scale and efficiency of geothermal potential, and position geothermal energy as a key strategic support for Taiwan’s energy transition and progress toward net-zero carbon emissions.

Spokesperson: Vice President Tsai Chih-Meng
Phone: (02) 2366-6271; 0958-749-333
E-mail: u910707@taipower.com.tw
Contact Person: Director of Renewable Energy Department Tsai Ying-Sheng
Phone: (02) 2366-8650; 0988-980-032
E-mail: u746723@taipower.com.tw

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Water Supplies Department (WSD) announced that a WSD-registered consumer of a subdivided flat in To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, was convicted today (March 26) of failing to comply with the Water Authority’s request to provide relevant information or documents for a suspected case of overcharging for water, in contravention of regulation 47A of the Waterworks Regulations. The consumer pleaded guilty to the offence at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts.
 
A spokesman for the WSD said that the Waterworks (Amendment) Ordinance (amended WWO) 2024 has strengthened the power of the Water Authority in evidence collection and information disclosure during the investigation of suspected cases of overcharging for water. The Water Authority can request the landlords, their agents, etc, to provide the tenancy agreement, receipt or payment record for charges for water. Failure to comply with such a request can be an offence and the offender is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and a further fine of up to $1,000 for each day the offence continues. It is anticipated that there will be more prosecution cases. The maximum penalty for overcharging tenants of subdivided units (SDUs) for water has been raised to $25,000 to deter this illegal act. Moreover, providing false or misleading information to the Water Authority is also an offence with a maximum penalty of a $25,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment. 
 
The WSD spokesman strongly appealed to landlords to apply for the installation of separate water meters for their SDUs, which can greatly reduce the risk of contravening the amended WWO. The WSD encourages the public to report any illegal act of overcharging SDU tenants for water for follow up and investigation by the department. The public can call the WSD Hotline 3468 4963 or WhatsApp 5665 5517 to apply for the installation of separate water meters for SDUs. The WhatsApp hotline also handles matters relating to water overcharging in SDUs. Alternatively, the public can call the WSD Customer Enquiry Hotline 2824 5000 to report water overcharge cases. After calling the hotline and choosing a language, they can press “7” for reporting to staff directly.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Starry Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (March 26):
 
Question:
 
There are views that the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), being the most-recently completed key facility in the Kai Tak Development Area, is developed on a world class scale with multi-functional positioning. The community hopes that the authorities will make use of the KTSP as a starting point to drive development of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT), the “Youth Post” hostel and even the entire Kai Tak area, and transform Kai Tak into a hub featuring diversification and integrated development of sports, culture, tourism and youth, by consolidating resources and facilitating cross-domain collaboration. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the specific plans in place to drive the co-ordinated development of the KTCT, the “Youth Post” hostel and the entire Kai Tak area centring around the KTSP, such as the specific measures in terms of policy formulation, resource allocation and cross-departmental collaboration;
 
(2) of the plans in place to improve the external ancillary transport facilities for the “Youth Post” hostel and the KTCT, so as to strengthen the connectivity of the two facilities with the KTSP, and facilitate the cross-district movement of tourists and members of the public;
 
(3) of the measures in place to promote business collaborations of the KTSP with the KTCT and the “Youth Post” hostel, so as to attract cross-location spending from tourists and members of the public, and foster the overall economic benefits to be brought to the Kai Tak area;
 
(4) of the plans in place to make use of technology to consolidate resources of the KTSP, the KTCT and the “Youth Post” hostel, so as to offer seamless guided tours and proposed itineraries to enhance the overall experience of tourists and members of the public, and to provide consolidated information on the activities to be held at the KTSP, thereby promoting cross-facility interactions; and
 
(5) of the strategies in place to build a distinctive cultural brand of Kai Tak, with the KTSP as the core, integrating the tourism flows of the KTCT and the creative energy of the “Youth Post” hostel, so as to enhance the cultural uniqueness and the international appeal of the district?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
The Kai Tak Development Area, spanning a total planning area of over 320 hectares, features a mix of community, housing, business, tourism and infrastructural uses. The Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) and “Youth Post” hostel are all situated in the area. The KTSP is the largest sports infrastructure project in Hong Kong’s history, which boosts sports development and injects impetus into related industries such as recreation, entertainment and tourism, and mega-event economy. The KTCT is an infrastructure built for berthing large cruise ships, bringing cruise passengers to Hong Kong from around the world. To expand spaces and network for youths, the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address announced that the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) will convert the Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility into a youth development facility, which includes setting up a “Youth Post” hostel and creating spaces for youth cultural, arts and sports exchanges, with a view to promoting mutual exchange among Mainland, overseas and local young people, and creating spaces to stimulate creativity.
 
In consultation with the Development Bureau (DEVB), the HYAB and the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Dr Hon Starry Lee is as follows:
 
(1) and (3) In preparing the work plans for the KTSP and the KTCT, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) will consider how the two major infrastructures could complement each other, with a view to creating synergies by fully leveraging the respective facilities.

The KTSP provides Hong Kong with diversified as well as the largest and state‑of-the-art venues for hosting various sports and entertainment events and offers a one-stop sports, leisure, catering and shopping experience for citizens and tourists. With its official commissioning on March 1, the KTSP will become a new hub for hosting major sports and entertainment events, creating favourable conditions for further promoting the mega-event economy. The KTSP will attract tourists to spend in Hong Kong by hosting various large-scale sports, culture or entertainment events, and provide cruise passengers with more options for onshore activities. Hotels in the vicinity of the KTSP will also offer an additional choice of accommodation for travellers (including cruise passengers before or after their voyages). The CSTB, in collaboration with the cruise industry through the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), has also developed a new shore excursion itinerary in Kowloon East covering the KTSP, the “Live out the Cinematic Charm of Hong Kong” Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In Exhibition being held at AIRSIDE shopping mall in Kai Tak, Kowloon Walled City Park, Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden, offering tourists with a greater variety of shore excursions.
 
On the other hand, the CSTB will further use the KTCT for other commercial purposes, such as conventions, exhibitions and activities. In particular, we hope to utilise spaces within the terminal during non-peak season when fewer cruise ships are at berth, with a view to elevating the function of the KTCT as a cruise terminal for all. Specifically and amongst others, through the HKTB, the terminal has been selected as the venue of the prestigious global cocktail award ceremony “The World’s 50 Best Bars” scheduled to be held in October this year.
 
In respect of “Youth Post” hostel, the HYAB issued a tender document on December 20, 2024, to select, through open tender, a suitable organisation for operating the youth facility under a short-term tenancy. The HYAB is assessing the tenders received, including proposals from applicant organisations on how they will set up and operate the youth facility. The HYAB expects that the assessment and award of tender will be completed in the first half of 2025, and the concerned facility will progressively begin its operation within 2025. The HYAB has required the applicant organisations to submit, in their tenders, proposals on how to operate and utilise “Youth Post” hostel. Upon the award of tender, the HYAB will further discuss with the awarded tenderer on ways to better utilise “Youth Post” hostel and other relevant facilitation and publicity measures, including collaboration arrangements between the awarded tenderer and relevant government departments and/or organisations, with a view to promoting mutual exchange among Mainland, overseas and local young people as well as youth development. The CSTB is also in close communication with the HYAB regarding the collaboration between “Youth Post” hostel and the KTCT. After the tender is awarded, we will further connect the awarded tenderer of “Youth Post” hostel with the respective operators of the KTCT and the KTSP fully commissioned recently to explore further opportunities.
 
In addition to the KTSP, there are a few large retail facilities within the Kai Tak Development Area near Kai Tak MTR Station. A harbourfront promenade will also be constructed connecting the KTSP and the KTCT, not only providing a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour, but also clusters of retail and dining outlets. The CSTB will channel operators of the concerned facilities to explore ways to provide greater convenience and enhanced experience to cruise visitors, boost business opportunities of the KTCT, and attract citizens and tourists to the area. Seizing the opportunities brought by the gradual intake of nearby residential developments, the CSTB will invite expression of interest for the whole ancillary commercial area and rooftop park of the KTCT to revitalise the spaces in the KTCT. Interested vendors and organisations are welcome to submit feasible proposals including but not limited to conventional retail business.
 
(2) Currently, there are four franchised bus routes and one green minibus route servicing the KTCT, connecting Kai Tak MTR Station, a number of MTR stations in the vicinity, the West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station, as well as the Yau Tsim Mong area. The franchised bus services concerned also connect the KTCT with the KTSP, facilitating intra-district travel by tourists and citizens. “Youth Post” hostel under planning is adjacent to the KTCT. The Government will build a pedestrian crossing between the two facilities to facilitate the use of relevant public transport services by residents and visitors of “Youth Post” hostel.
 
The Transport Department has already planned to introduce two new franchised bus routes servicing the KTCT, i.e. Citybus Route 20X and Route 22S, providing express services to Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui direct and connecting services to and from the Kai Tak MTR Station respectively. They will come into service at an appropriate juncture subject to the progress of development and population intake of the Kai Tak Runway Area. The Government will continue to closely monitor the development progress of various projects in the Kai Tak Development Area and plan appropriate public transport services to meet the travelling needs of the public and tourists.
 
Moreover, the TLB is implementing the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak (the Project) in full swing for connecting the Kai Tak former runway area to the Kai Tak MTR Station, thereby strengthening connectivity of the residential and commercial developments, tourism, culture and recreation, sports and community facilities within the area, as well as the connection with the railway network. The Project proposes to have stations at the KTCT (adjacent to “Youth Post” hostel), Kai Tak Sky Garden, the proposed Kai Tak Metro Park, the KTSP and Kai Tak Station Square, etc, enabling the citizens and tourists to access various parts and facilities along the Kai Tak former runway area. The TLB targets to invite tender for the Project in the second half of 2025 for awarding the contract in 2026.

(4) As one of the four strategies set out in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0, the Government will strengthen the promotion of smart tourism through the use of information technology, such as electronic platforms, big data and artificial intelligence (AI), to further enhance the smart level of tourism services. More smart elements will also be added to tourist attractions to provide tourists with a more convenient, efficient and user-friendly travel experience. On integration of tourism resources, the HKTB will enhance the one-stop travel information platform, Discover Hong Kong, to provide tourists with more comprehensive, reliable, and up-to-date travel information, including attractions, dining, activities and merchant offers. The aim is to offer tourists a seamless digital experience throughout their journey from itinerary planning, visiting Hong Kong to returning to their place of residence. The HKTB will also develop a Live Travel Map on Discover Hong Kong. Tourists can access the website using a mobile device or desktop computer, and obtain real-time travel information and recommendations covering different parts of Hong Kong (including the vicinity of Kai Tak) by entering keywords or selecting the relevant categories of information. In addition, the HKTB will kick start preliminary development of the Smart Itinerary Planner. The first phase will include integration of travel information, development of a back-end system, and training of an AI model to verify the accuracy of its answers. In the long run, a customised itinerary planning tool based on age, interests and travel purposes will be developed to provide personalised itinerary suggestions.
 
On the other hand, the operator of the KTSP will provide visitors with one-stop services through its mobile app, including promotion information on leisure and catering options as well as various events. The CSTB will continue to work closely with the operator, relevant departments and the HKTB, with a view to further enhancing visitors’ experience.
 
 (5) The DEVB has adopted a series of visual identity elements to represent the Kai Tak Development Area, effectively conveying the design concept of the entire development. These elements include the slogan, logo, typography, colour scheme, and barcode pattern associated with the “Current of Vitality” theme. They are applied to construction site hoardings and integrated into the architectural designs of various projects to establish a clear connection with the Kai Tak Development Plan.
 
     These visual identity features have been implemented across various projects, such as the Kai Tak Fire Station at Cheung Yip Street, the sewage pumping station at Prince Edward Road East, as well as various public street facilities and recreational amenities, including rain shelters, roadside benches, trash bins, bicycle racks, and information poster stands.
 
     The DEVB has also established a set of design guidelines to ensure that relevant development projects can incorporate these elements into public facilities during the detailed design phase. This gradually brings the “Current of Vitality” design concept to life across the Kai Tak Development Area, creating a unified connection throughout the area. The goal is for residents or visitors to immediately sense this visual connection and develop a sense of belonging as soon as they enter Kai Tak. This aims to make the Kai Tak Development Area and its surroundings a visually cohesive space that embodies a consistent brand identity.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (March 26):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that a businessman has earlier on donated two non-‍invasive, no-radiation histotripsy medical devices specifically designed for liver cancer treatment (the Device) to two teaching hospitals. However, it is suspected that the Device has been left idle and failed to benefit patients as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has all along failed to include it in the scope of services available to members of the public. The Device has ended up being transferred to private hospitals, and only private hospitals can use it to treat liver cancer patients. There are views pointing out that the incident has deprived grass-roots patients of the opportunity to use cutting-edge technologies for low-cost cancer treatment in an efficient manner. A ‍Member of this Council has explicitly indicated that the situation has led to unfavourable perception among patients. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of new cases of liver cancer diagnosed and deaths from liver cancer in Hong Kong in each of the past three years;
 
(2) whether private hospitals are required to register with or report to the Government in respect of the introduction of cutting-edge technological medical devices and techniques; of the Government’s regulatory measures and system for the introduction or use of new technological medical devices by private hospitals, so as to ensure patient safety;
 
(3) as the private hospitals that have obtained the Device have already offered pricing packages for the use of the Device with coverage provided by insurance companies, and the Hospital Authority (HA) has pointed out that the Device is still at the clinical research/trial stage and is not yet qualified for use in clinical services, whether the Government has assessed if the aforesaid practice of the private hospitals is safe and whether it is contradictory to the public healthcare policy; and
 
(4) as a former Director of HA has pointed out in a newspaper that the length of time taken by HA to introduce a new technology depends on its complexity, and that six months’ time is a bit short in the case of histotripsy, which is a cutting-edge technology, whether the Government will review if the time taken to introduce new technological medical devices is too long; whether it has policies to shorten the time for introducing new technological medical devices, so as to develop a high-end healthcare service economy (especially in the light of the huge demand from a large number of Mainlanders who intend to come to Hong Kong for the use of new technologies in liver cancer treatment), and encourage more capable members of the community to invest in introducing and donate more cutting-edge technological medical devices, thereby benefiting patients (especially grass-‍roots patients); if it has, of the details; if not, whether a study can be conducted expeditiously?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is committed to complementing technological innovation with institutional innovation. Through a series of measures such as the setting up of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation for the purpose of implementing the “primary evaluation” and the establishment of the Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform, the Government has been enhancing Hong Kong’s drug and medical device approval and clinical trial capabilities on all fronts, facilitating the translation of biomedical research results into clinical applications, expediting patients’ access to advanced diagnostic and treatment services, and fostering new quality productive forces in biomedical technology, thereby promoting Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub.
 
     However, innovative medical products must be scientifically proven, including via clinical trials, with the support of reliable data to ascertain their safety and efficacy, and also compared with known standards before they may be approved for registration or made available for clinical application by healthcare professionals like medical practitioners. Clinical trials should be distinguished from clinical services – the former should not be arbitrarily marketed as clinical services before reaching their primary endpoints with analysed results. Currently, Hong Kong has implemented the Medical Device Administrative Control System, and the use of medical devices is subject to the clinical decisions of healthcare professionals like medical practitioners. The Health Bureau is expediting the study on legislating for the statutory regulation of medical devices for approval and registration purposes. Citizens who need to seek medical services due to illnesses should consult professionals including medical practitioners, and should not be influenced by other online advertisements or publicity through endorsements.
 
     Multiple effective treatment methods for liver cancer are now available, including surgical local liver resection, minimally invasive local treatment (such as radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT in short)), interventional therapy, anti-cancer drugs (such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy), or a combination of the above therapies, while some liver cancer patients may also need and are suitable for liver transplantation. All these therapies are available in the public healthcare system. Medical teams of the Hospital Authority (HA) will provide appropriate treatment options according to individual patients’ actual clinical conditions (such as cancer pathological classification and staging, tumour size and location, presence of extrahepatic metastasis, liver function grading, and the patient’s physical condition etc.).
 
     As for the histotripsy medical device in question, it is a new technology in minimally invasive local treatment which is now undergoing clinical trials for local treatment of liver cancer. Its scope of application under research is limited to early primary small liver cancer (such as hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours) and locally treatable metastatic liver tumours. Not all liver cancer patients are suitable for this new therapy. Moreover, the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval for this device as a new option for liver-directed therapy was based on animal model experiments as well as clinical trial data with postoperative complications and short-term (30-day) tumour ablation rate as primary endpoints to support the safety and efficacy of this therapy. The clinical trials have neither provided data on long-term local tumour recurrence/metastasis rates and patient survival rates, nor compared the therapy with existing standard minimally invasive local treatments. In this connection, this new therapy can be regarded as another new technological option for liver-directed minimally invasive local treatment at this very stage, yet its comparability or even superiority requires further clinical evidence. Attending medical practitioners have the responsibility to provide patients with recommendations on various appropriate treatment options including their benefits and risks in view of the best interests of the patients, especially when other existing standard treatment options that have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective are suitable for the patients’ conditions. Inappropriate use of new technologies that have not yet been proven to be more effective may result in patients missing the opportunity for adopting existing standard treatment options.
 
     The HA will be considering the safety and efficacy of the relevant device for the Asian population (especially for Hong Kong patients) subject to the evaluation of data to be obtained from clinical trials. The comparability and superiority of this new therapy in clinical use vis-à-vis existing standard treatment options still need to be ascertained through more clinical trials. Furthermore, the cost of consumables under this therapy is higher than that of existing standard minimally invasive local treatments (such as radiofrequency ablation). At this stage, there is no plan for the HA to introduce this therapy into its clinical service. The HA wishes to emphasise that this therapy is not the only option available to liver cancer patients, and thus there is no issue of public hospital patients “missing out treatment opportunities”. As for private hospitals which have introduced this device for research or services, the attending medical practitioners will need to make clinical decisions based on their professional judgment on whether or not to use this new technology as the most appropriate treatment for patients.
 
     In response to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Paul Tse, our reply in consultation with the Department of Health (DH) and the HA is as follows –
 
(1) Based on the available data from the DH and the Hong Kong Cancer Registry of the HA, the number of new cases and registered deaths for liver cancer in the past three years are tabulated below –
 

Year	Number of New Cases	Number of Registered Deaths
2020	1 735	1 530
2021	1 771	1 447
2022	1 612	1 412

 
(2) and (3) Whether in public or private hospitals, clinical trials carry a certain degree of risk to the participants and should be conducted by registered healthcare professionals after informing the participants of the associated risks and obtaining their explicit informed consent. At present, even though there is no statutory provision prohibiting healthcare professionals from using new medical devices on patients, healthcare professionals have the professional responsibility to act in the best interests of patients when providing treatment, and ensure that all clinical trials are conducted with the explicit informed consent of patients.
 
     At present, private hospitals must comply with a series of requirements including those under the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) (the Ordinance) and the Code of Practice for Private Hospitals (the Code of Practice) when conducting clinical research (including clinical trials).
 
     Pursuant to the Ordinance, the licensee of a private hospital must appoint a chief medical executive to take charge of the day-to-day administration of the facility, as well as establish and keep in operation a Medical Advisory Committee (MAC); on the other hand, the Code of Practice stipulates that the MAC provides advice to the licensee on whether to permit the introduction of new clinical techniques. Apart from the latest medical evidence on the safety and efficacy of the clinical technique concerned, factors including the equipment required as well as training and clinical experience of healthcare and other supporting clinical staff must also be considered. Both the licensee and the chief medical executive of a private hospital have the responsibility to ensure that the advice of the MAC is properly implemented.
 
     The Code of Practice also stipulates that equipment (including medical devices) used in private hospitals should be appropriately procured and properly installed, operated, maintained and calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Staff using the medical devices should receive training on the safe and proper use of the relevant devices. For conducting clinical research, private hospitals are required to establish relevant policies, set up ethics committees for monitoring, and comply with the requirements of the Code of Professional Conduct for the Guidance of Registered Medical Practitioners issued by the Medical Council of Hong Kong regarding clinical research and other applicable laws.
 
     Compliance with the Ordinance and the Code of Practice is a condition for issuance and renewal of licence for private hospitals. Private hospitals that fail to comply with the relevant requirements may face regulatory actions.
 
(4) The HA has established robust mechanisms for evaluating and deciding on the introduction of new drugs, devices and other innovative treatments for public healthcare services. The safety of the treatment methods, whether there is sufficient evidence supporting their therapeutic effectiveness, the cost-effectiveness of such introduction, as well as comprehensive comparisons with existing treatment services have to be considered. When making consideration according to these mechanisms, the HA must ensure fairness and objectivity as well as prudent use of public resources. Also, the consideration process will not and should not be influenced by whether the treatment method is provided or sponsored by individual pharmaceutical or device manufacturers.
 
     The HA will closely monitor medical technology developments, with experts regularly studying and reviewing treatment options for patients and the latest developments in clinical and scientific evidence of related technologies, while considering healthcare professionals’ opinions and overseas developments to plan for the introduction of medical technologies. Meanwhile, the availability of relevant expertise, manpower and facilities, as well as complementarity with government policy directions, will also be taken into account. The application in the public healthcare system of new drugs and medical devices, and methods for treatment that are still in the clinical trial phase without sufficient clinical data should be handled in a very careful and prudent manner.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Transport Department (TD) today (March 26) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on April 10 (Thursday) to noon on April 14 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 100 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with “HK” or “XX” as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles, and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
 
     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
 
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
 
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
 
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved the Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (March 26) that the Chief Executive has reappointed Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi as the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service (the Directorate Committee) and Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching, Mr Kevin Lam Sze-cay and Ms Jacqueline Ng Wai-kwan as members. The above appointments will be for a term of two years from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027.

     The Directorate Committee tenders advice to the Chief Executive on matters relating to the structure, pay and conditions of service of directorate ranks in the civil service. Other serving members are Mr Jack Chan Hoi and Ms Zabrina Lau Shing-yan.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Hong Kong Environmental Database (HKED) (hked.epd.gov.hk/), developed by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), has been awarded the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) 2025 “Corporate Initiative Award”. The recognition highlights the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s efforts and achievements in leveraging innovative technology to support the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

     The HKSAR Government implemented several measures in 2023 to optimise the EIA process, including the establishment of the HKED. The database utilises geographic information system and three dimensional mapping platforms to integrate over 100 types of environmental baseline survey data, significantly reducing the data collection time for preparing EIA reports. The HKED not only tracks changes in the environment over time and with development projects but also provides a range of online tools and datasets, such as air quality, water quality and traffic noise. These resources enable project proponents to effectively carry out project planning and simulation assessments, improving the accuracy and consistency of EIA studies.

     The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, said, “The database is a cornerstone of our efforts to optimise the EIA process by utilising advanced smart technology and a robust data system to support the entire EIA process and significantly shorten the time needed for EIA. The recognition from the IAIA reaffirmed the international community’s acknowledgement of the HKSAR Government’s innovative thinking and technological achievements. The EPD will remain committed to environmental protection and sustainable development, leveraging cutting-edge technology to contribute to environmental efforts in Hong Kong and globally.”

     Dr Chui added that the EPD will continue to enhance the HKED’s functions and integrate artificial intelligence to support EIA studies. The department is currently collaborating with the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI) to develop and integrate a new AI-powered application into the foundation of the HKED. This application will utilise large language models such as DeepSeek and HKGAI V1, combined with the HKED’s rich data, with a view to further boosting the efficiency and quality of the EIA process.

     Since its launch, the HKED has recorded over 20 000 users annually and has received positive feedback from various sectors, including government departments, industry stakeholders, consulting firms, and academia. To date, more than 100 EIA and planning projects have benefited from the application of the HKED.

     The IAIA’s Corporate Initiative Award honours outstanding individuals or institutions that have made significant contributions to EIA, management or policy practice. The award ceremony will be held on May 1, 2025, at the 44th IAIA’s Annual Conference in Bologna, Italy. An EPD delegation will attend the ceremony to accept the award and share insights on how the HKED’s spatial data and information technology support the EIA process, promoting transparency and efficiency in environmental governance.

     Last December, the EPD also won the Best Environmental Innovation Award at the 2024 Southeast Asia Forum International Conference for the HKED. In addition, EPD representatives will attend the 7th Ecological and Environmental Protection Industry Innovation and Development Conference in Beijing in mid-April to share the positive impact of smart technology on EIA with Mainland experts.

     The EPD continues to promote the application of innovative technology in environmental protection. One of the notable initiatives is the Territory-wide Sewage Surveillance Programme, which detects the viral concentration of the SARS-Co V-2 virus in the sewage network through a non-intrusive approach, assisting in effectively tracking the source of the virus in different anti-epidemic phases and serving a sentinel surveillance function. It has also received regional and international awards.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended a press conference for the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (ISTIF) of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) 2025 Hong Kong Conference in Hainan this morning (March 26), together with the Executive Chairman of the BFA ISTIF, Mr Leong Vai-tac, to provide more details on the Hong Kong Conference to be held in June.
 
The BFA initiated the ISTIF in 2019, with a mission to strengthen global science and technology governance, promote international science and technology innovation and co-operation, lead the direction in rule making of emerging technologies, and contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Since then, three editions have been held and the ISTIF has become a premier platform for exchanges, dialogues, and co-operation in the field of science and technology innovation.
 
The BFA and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will jointly host the ISTIF 2025 Hong Kong Conference at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 6 and 7. Under the theme of “Transitioning Towards the Future: Powered by Science and Technology Innovation”, the Conference is expected to attract around 800 participants from the Mainland and overseas, including top-notch experts, scholars, government and business leaders to exchange views on the latest trends in global innovation and technology (I&T) development, the development and emerging opportunities in frontier technological fields, and to inject new impetus into the I&T development of the country and the world at large.
 
Mr Leong said that the Conference will highlight the unique characteristics of the BFA, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Hong Kong, promote the transformation of research and development outcomes, foster pragmatic collaboration, and serve as an international platform bridging government, business, academic and research sectors, jointly contributing to Asia’s development and addressing global challenges through international exchanges and collaboration in the I&T field.
 
Professor Sun said that it is a great honour for the HKSAR Government to cohost the Hong Kong Conference with the BFA in Hong Kong. He said, “Hosting the Hong Kong Conference by the HKSAR Government does not only continue the ISTIF’s tradition of staging the event in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA cities, but also reaffirms Hong Kong’s advantages as a highly internationalised city and its pivotal role of bridging the country and the world as a dual platform.

​”Through the Hong Kong Conference, we endeavor to deepen regional and international I&T co-operation, further elevate Hong Kong’s profile in the international I&T arena, and accelerate the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. Hong Kong will fully leverage its strengths as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’, harnessing its advantages to create a high-quality international science and technology mega event.”
 
The Conference will comprise the opening ceremony, a Hong Kong forum, sub-forums, panel discussions and round tables, with internationally renowned speakers who will share their insights on a wide range of topics, including global science and technology governance, sustainable development, innovation clusters, life sciences, future mobility, AI, quantum technology, financial innovation and youth leadership, contributing to the enhancement of international co-operation and global governance in science, technology and innovation.
 
Professor Sun concluded his visit and returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Martin Liao and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (March 26):

Question:

     On developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as there are views pointing out that there is more than sufficient room for trial and error for start-ups in Hangzhou, including a failure-‍tolerant institutional design at the policy level, government subsidies for research and development (R&D) and a science and technology innovation fund on the funding front, and multi-capital in the market to patiently accompany their growth, whether the Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund set up by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will formulate reference guidelines to increase the weighting of multi-dimensional indicators, such as innovative capability, growth potential and R&D intensity of enterprises, when guiding patient capital investments;

(2) as there are views that Hangzhou’s continuous progress in implementing “one visit at most” service is a result of Mainland departments streamlining administration and delegating power, as well as deepening reforms of the administrative vetting and approval system, whether the SAR Government will draw on Hangzhou’s administrative and entrepreneurial experience to conduct a comprehensive review of the efficiency and quality of the services provided by government departments, including the speed of vetting and approving applications for supporting funds and the efficiency of resource docking, and urge the relevant government departments and public organisations to formulate guidelines to enhance efficiency; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) as the 2025-2026 Budget proposes to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute, with the expansion of application scenarios being one of its focuses, and as there are views that industry-specific vertical large models can promote “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Plus” and empower various industries on the condition of vertical large models being integrated with industry-‍specific data and knowledge, what plans the Government has put in place to mobilise the innovative power of enterprises and guide leading enterprises, small and medium enterprises, data service providers, etc. to step up the supply of high-quality industry-specific data elements; and

(4) as it is learnt that Hangzhou and its surrounding regions are able to provide start-ups with comprehensive industrial chain support (e.g.‍ Deepseek’s industrial chain is entirely based in Hangzhou, while Hangzhou Yushu Science And Technology Co., Ltd. relies on the resources of Hangzhou and two of its neighbouring cities, namely, Yiwu and Shanghai), what measures the SAR Government has put in place to promote co-operation with other Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in terms of resources for the AI industry in order to improve the AI industrial chain?

Reply:

President,

     In respect of the question raised by the Hon Martin Liao, my reply is as follows:
 
(1) The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and the Innovation and Technology Commission are currently preparing for setting up the $10 billion Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund (ITIF) to channel more market capital to invest in emerging and future industries of strategic importance. According to our current plan, the ITIF will cover five thematic areas, and one or more sub-fund(s) will be set up under each thematic area. Each sub-fund will have a fund duration of up to 12 years, fully realising the characteristics of patient capital which focuses on long-term investments with a higher risk tolerance. This will contribute to the on-going support for the growth, expansion and maturity of the innovation & technology (I&T) industry.

The Government will participate as a Limited Partner of the sub-funds and make contributions to each. Fund managers selected through an open application will become General Partners of the sub-funds and shall be responsible for setting up the sub-funds in the form of a limited partnership fund. They shall also raise market capital for the sub-funds, manage the daily operation of the sub-funds, as well as invest in suitable projects in accordance with the investment framework.
 
Based on a market-oriented operation, we hope that fund managers will leverage their professional investment capabilities to identify I&T enterprises of high potential, conduct comprehensive evaluations, and make reasonable investment decisions in compliance with relevant investment requirements. This will provide appropriate financial support to I&T enterprises and promote the long-term development of the related industries.
 
(2) The Digital Policy Office (DPO) is committed to driving various bureaux/departments (B/Ds) in the adoption of I&T to enhance operational efficiency and improve public services. The DPO also provides advice and consultancy services to various B/Ds in areas such as digital technology and innovative technology applications, data sharing, business process re-engineering, design thinking, change management, etc., with a view to accelerating the development of digital government, thereby continuously enhancing government efficiency and service quality.

In respect of promoting e-government services, all licences and government services involving application and approval (about 1 480 items in total) and forms (over 3 800) have been fully digitalised by mid-2024, i.e. enabling submission of application, payment and collection of documents by electronic means for relevant licences and services. If in-person submission or collection of documents is required by law or international practice, applicants will only need to visit relevant government offices no more than once.
     
In 2024-25, through the “Be the Smart Regulator” and “Streamlining of Government Services” programmes, the DPO worked with 47 B/Ds in proposing some 180 business facilitation and streamlining measures for about 400 licences and services, such as obviating the need for businesses and general public to submit information repeatedly for their licence and government service applications by leveraging cross-departmental data exchange, and shortening the time required for handling and approving applications by automating the verification processes, etc.

In addition, B/Ds are rolling out over a hundred of digital government and smart city initiatives progressively, including the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbot technologies to improve government hotline services; application of data analytics, geospatial analysis and visualisation dashboard technologies to improve service management; and adoption of video analytics to enhance security surveillance at public cargo working areas.

(3) High-quality data are essential for promoting the training of large language models (LLMs), research and development (R&D) of industry-specific vertical LLMs, and industry applications. The Government has all along been implementing the open data policy and actively encouraging public and private organisations to open up more data for innovative applications by the industries. Currently, the Open Data Portal has published over 5 500 datasets, covering various industries and sectors including finance, education, transportation, community and social welfare, law and security, etc. The Common Spatial Data Infrastructure has also published over 1 000 spatial datasets, covering different aspects such as planning, lands, buildings, transport. These two platforms help the industry develop more and better industry-specific vertical LLMs and innovative solutions by leveraging the datasets and integrating them with LLMs, industry data and technologies available in the market. Meanwhile, the facilitation measure on the “Standard Contract for the Cross-boundary Flow of Personal Information Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Mainland, Hong Kong)” has been extended to all industries to further promote more cross-boundary services to benefit the public and businesses, while facilitating data flow in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and expediting the development of digital economy and smart city.

In addition, the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute, to be established as announced by the 2025-26 Budget, will also spearhead and support Hong Kong’s innovative R&D and industrial application of AI, and facilitate upstream R&D, midstream and downstream transformation of R&D outcomes and application scenarios of AI.
 
(4) The Government has been co-ordinating and promoting the development and application of information and communications technology, including AI, with Guangdong through the Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation (EGCI). The EGCI will strengthen the co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong in AI R&D, outcome transformation and application development, and implement co-operation initiatives to complement the development of the GBA into an international technology innovation centre.
 
Besides, the two I&T flagships in Hong Kong (viz. the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Cyberport) have been actively expanding their partnership network in the GBA to assist enterprises in respective technology parks to expand their businesses in the GBA and attract enterprises in the region to set up operations in the parks. Taking Qianhai as an example, Cyberport signed a co-operation agreement with the Qianhai Authority in January 2021 and deepened the co-operation agreement in August 2024. So far, two enterprises from Qianhai have settled in Cyberport, including one focusing on AI animation production. In addition, about 10 Cyberport enterprises are exploring to set up businesses in Qianhai, and nearly half of them are related to AI including start-ups that apply AI in education technology, e-commerce and insurance technology. On the other hand, the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch commenced operation in 2023 to enable institutes and enterprises interested in starting their business in the GBA to establish a presence there. As of December 2024, a total of 58 enterprises and R&D centres were admitted, with approximately 40 of them involved in AI-related businesses.

The Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone is one of the major co-operation platforms in the GBA. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government promulgated the Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (the Development Outline) in November 2024, setting out the vision and mission, planning, development directions, strategies and targets of the Hong Kong Park. As set out in the Development Outline, the Hong Kong Park will focus on the development of core frontier technological fields including AI; strengthen the supporting infrastructure required for the development of AI technologies; and establish a cross-boundary data flow management mechanism, so as to attract Mainland and overseas enterprises engaging in AI to the Loop to set up and expand their businesses therein.