Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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LCQ3: Developing low-altitude economy

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):

Question:

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Professions urged to join eHealth

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Health Bureau’s Primary Healthcare Commission announced today that, starting from July 2, occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) participating in government-subsidised primary healthcare programmes must first be enlisted in the Primary Care Directory and join eHealth.

 

It explained that to allow sufficient time for the professions to complete the enrolment process, a two-month grace period until September 1 will be provided.

 

The commission encourages OTs and PTs to register as early as possible, so that they can continue to provide relevant government-subsidised services to members of the public.

 

The Primary Healthcare Blueprint recommended expanding the directory to cover more healthcare professionals and developing sub-directories for allied health professionals, including OTs and PTs, with a view to ensuring their participation in continuing medical education or professional development programmes relevant to their disciplines.

 

In addition, the blueprint recommended requiring all primary healthcare service providers to use eHealth to promote continuity of healthcare services and cross-sector collaboration.

 

Those OTs and PTs currently participating in relevant government-subsidised programmes but who are yet to be enlisted in the directory and join eHealth by the end of the grace period will no longer be able to offer those government-subsidised primary healthcare services to their patients.

 

The public may enquire with their OTs or PTs or visit the directory’s website to confirm whether they are enlisted, to ensure that they can continue receiving the relevant subsidised services from the same OT or PT after the grace period.

 

The directory enables people to look for service providers’ information, such as their practice addresses, telephone numbers, consultation hours, service provisions as well as their participation in various government-subsidised programmes.

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e-Channel service extended

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Immigration Department announced today that the Automated Immigration Clearance e-Channel service will be extended to eligible People’s Republic of China (PRC) passport holders from tomorrow.

Those aged 11 or above who hold a valid PRC electronic ordinary passport can use the e-Channel service, via face recognition technology, when transiting through Hong Kong to or from another country or territory without prior enrolment for the service. 

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Industrialisation scheme enhanced

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Innovation & Technology Commission stated today that it has introduced an enhancement to the New Industrialisation Funding Scheme (NIFS) that includes streamlined procedures to speed up the process of approving applications.

 

In addition to noting that the enhancement applies to those seeking funding support of no more than $2.8 million, the commission emphasised that the relevant applications will be processed according to the newly established streamlined procedures.

 

It also pointed out that the aim of the enhancement is to further support enterprises in adopting smart manufacturing and seize market opportunities.

 

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong said that the Government actively promotes the development of new industrialisation through the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (NIAS) and the NIFS, injecting new impetus into Hong Kong’s economy.

 

While indicating that enterprises are making use of the funding support from these two schemes to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong, Prof Sun highlighted that funded enterprises will bring to Hong Kong the relevant technologies and expertise of product manufacturing, driving the development of Hong Kong’s new industrialisation and diversified economy.

 

Moreover, the commission announced today that the New Industrialisation Vetting Committee has supported an application submitted by J Cube Semiconductor (Hong Kong) under the NIAS.

 

The project plans to set up third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide wafer production facilities, which fall under the advanced manufacturing technology sector.

 

The estimated total cost of the project is over $700 million, and the expected NIAS funding amount will be $200 million.

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Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point to close

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point to close 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
     The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (June 25) announced that as the Standby Signal No. 1 has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point will be closed at 4.20pm until further notice.
Issued at HKT 14:40

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Sport For All Day to be held on Aug 3

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today that it will hold this year’s Sport For All Day on August 3.

The event opens various recreation and sports activities to the public free of charge.

With Hong Kong set to co-hosting the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games with Guangdong Province and Macau, the theme of this iteration of Sport For All Day will be “Coalescing together for the National Games”.

Activities promoting various sports that will feature in the games – including golf, fencing, rugby sevens and triathlon – will be held from 2pm to 6pm on August 3 at designated sports centres in 18 districts.

There will also be fitness activities, health talks, sports demonstrations, and a fun day for families, children, youngsters, the elderly and people with disabilities.

LCSD facilities that will be open for free include indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, public swimming pools and water sports centres with craft for hire. Booking arrangements will be announced in mid-July.

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Algernon Yau attends forum in Paris

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau yesterday attended the China Forum, organised by Business France, in Paris, as he wrapped up a week-long visit to France.

Speaking at the forum, Mr Yau remarked that Asia is currently contributing 60% to global economic growth. He added that Asia, and in particular the Mainland market, presents a unique opportunity for businesses looking to expand their horizons globally.

He outlined that as a super connector between foreign investors and the Mainland, Hong Kong serves as a perfect springboard for French businesses to tap into the Mainland market.

Mr Yau said that in 2024 Hong Kong’s total trade amounted to US$1,350 billion, making the city the world’s fifth-largest trading entity. Each year, he added, Hong Kong channels a massive volume of trade between the Mainland and the rest of the world.

The commerce chief stated that under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the most liberal free trade agreement ever offered by the Mainland, Hong Kong enterprises and professionals enjoy the most preferential access to the Mainland market. CEPA is “nationality neutral” and does not impose any restrictions on the source of investments.

Mr Yau encouraged the French business sector to set up companies in Hong Kong as this would allow them to enjoy preferential treatment under CEPA in entering the Mainland market.

He added that Hong Kong has a simple and low tax system and has no restrictions on the flow of capital.

In addition to the Mainland market, Mr Yau explained that French businesses can access the Southeast Asian market by using Hong Kong as a base for their regional operations in Asia. He mentioned that Hong Kong is also deepening its trade ties with the Middle East and Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, and is reaching out to Central Asia to explore new markets.

Mr Yau stressed that Hong Kong already has strong links with France, adding that the French community is one of the largest and most successful in Hong Kong. He said he believes there is still significant trade potential between Hong Kong and France and that this can bring better synergy and mutual benefits.

During his stay in Paris, Mr Yau also paid a courtesy call on Minister of the Chinese Embassy in France Chen Dong and briefed him on Hong Kong’s economic and trade situation, including new initiatives such as the reduction of liquor duty.

Mr Yau also visited the headquarters of Elior Group SA to learn about the company’s operations and business development. He then hosted a dinner for representatives of the France Hong Kong Business Association to interact with local enterprises and exchange views on how to enhance co-operation between Hong Kong and France.

Before proceeding to Paris, Mr Yau visited a wine cellar in Armagnac and met Armagnac trade representatives to promote Hong Kong’s advantages as a liquor trading hub.

Mr Yau will depart for Hong Kong today.

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LCQ9: Preventing employees from suffering heat stroke at work

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ9: Preventing employees from suffering heat stroke at work 
Question:
 
     Hong Kong has become increasingly hot during summer in recent years, and workers who have to work in a hot environment for long hours are at risk of heat stroke at any time. In the reply to this Council on the Estimates of Expenditure 2025-2026, the Government has indicated that the number of heat stress-related work injury cases registered by the Labour Department (LD) from 2022 to 2024 has shown a rising trend. There are views that the existing Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work (GN) is still advisory in nature and there is no mandatory requirement for strict enforcement by employers, so the occurrence of heat stroke-related accidents may not be effectively minimised if there is a lack of compliance of enterprises with GN. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) among the cases of “Occupational Injuries in All Workplace – analysed by Type of Accident” in LD’s Occupational Safety and Health Statistics in each of the past three years, of the number of heat stroke-related cases under “Others” and, among them, the number of cases which deaths were caused by heat stroke, together with a breakdown by industry; whether heat stroke will be separated as a standalone type of accident;
 
(2) while the optimised Heat Stress at Work Warning (warning) is now linked with the “Extremely Hot” special alert of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), some members of the trade have relayed that HKO’s data relating to heat stress has deviated from the actual temperature at workplaces (i.e. the temperature may not be the same in different districts), coupled with the deviation between the actual temperature of construction site at height and the ground level monitoring data, whether the Government will lower the benchmark of the Hong Kong Heat Index which corresponds to the three warning levels of amber, red and black, and at the same time enhance the Smart Site Safety System by leveraging technologies for real-time monitoring of the temperatures in various districts, so as to give accurate advance warnings and reduce the risk of employees suffering from heat stroke; and
 
(3) as there are views that the existing GN is not legally binding and the warning mechanism not only lacks stability, but also fails to cover all working environments, whether the Government will further refine GN or consider mandating the implementation of the workplace heat stress risk assessment through legislative approach, so as to ensure that workers can work in a safe environment; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     My reply to the Hon Kwok’s question is as follows:
 
(1) The Labour Department (LD) has been keeping separate statistics and records on cases of heat stroke or work injury cases related to heat stress. The breakdown of such cases by industry in the past three years is as follows:
 

Industry^ The case is a fatal case

(2) To prevent employees from suffering heat stroke while working in hot weather, employers should, with reference to LD’s Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work (GN), conduct risk assessments on heat stress for employees at work, and implement corresponding preventive measures based on the assessment results. When the Heat Stress at Work Warning (HSWW) is issued, it indicates that employees working in hot weather generally face a high level of heat stress risk. Employers should, taking account of the principles and recommendations of the GN, assess whether further control measures are needed, including the arrangement of hourly rest periods to reduce the risk of heat stroke.
 
     The HSWW is a territory-wide alert system established on the basis of Hong Kong Heat Index (HKHI) of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). The HKHI announced by the HKO is calculated from meteorological data measured at the King’s Park Meteorological Station, which integrates factors affecting heat stress such as temperature, humidity, air movement, and solar thermal radiation. The calculation formula of the HKHI was derived from correlation analyses of past measurement data and the overall hospital admission figures in Hong Kong in the same period. Hence, the level of the HKHI can appropriately reflect the heat stress and health risks posed by weather to the general public in Hong Kong. The HSWW consists of three levels based on different values of the HKHI, namely Amber, Red, and Black, which indicate increasing heat stress risks. When the HSWW is in force, employers and employees implementing corresponding work and rest arrangements with reference to the recommendations in the GN can, in general, effectively reduce the risk of heat stroke posed to employees at work.
 
     However, if employers and employees, having regard to the specific circumstances of their workplaces (such as geographical location and work environment), believe that the HSWW cannot timely or adequately reflect the heat stress risk faced by employees at the concerned workplaces, employers can conduct their own assessments, such as seeking help from occupational health professionals to measure the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index at the work site to assess the heat stress faced by employees and take corresponding preventive measures based on the results to reduce their risk of sustaining heat stroke at work. In addition, depending on the resources and professional support available at individual sites, employers can, where feasible, connect relevant data to the established Smart Site Safety System for monitoring and risk management.
 
(3) In accordance with the general duty clauses of section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, every employer must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure the safety and health at work of all the employer’s employees, including the provision or maintenance of a working environment and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health of the employees. Therefore, employers are required to conduct heat stress risk assessments for employees working in hot environment, and take necessary risk control measures based on the assessment results to safeguard employees against heat stroke at work.
 
     To assist employers in fulfilling the above general duty provisions, the LD issued the GN and introduced the HSWW, enabling employers and employees to refer to the recommendations in the GN and develop appropriate, risk-based preventive measures according to the heat stress level, thereby reducing the risk of heat stroke at work. To enhance the stability of the HSWW system, the LD adjusted the cancellation mechanism of the warning system last year, effectively reducing the occurrence of re-issuing warning within a short time after cancellation, and avoiding the need for employers to adjust preventive measures repeatedly.
 
     We believe that the GN and the HSWW can raise the awareness and capacity of employers and employees in preventing heat stroke at work, and we will continue our efforts in organising various publicity and promotional activities as well as providing education and training to remind and assist them to take appropriate heat stroke preventive measures in accordance with the GN.
 
     Moreover, the LD will continue to conduct inspection and law enforcement work. In particular, inspection of workplaces with a higher risk of heat stroke will be stepped up during summer time to ensure that employers have taken appropriate measures to safeguard employees against heat stroke at work. If irregularities are found during inspection, suitable law enforcement actions will be taken based on the seriousness of the circumstances and the evidence available.
Issued at HKT 12:17

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LCQ18: Licence for billiard establishment

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ18: Licence for billiard establishment 
Question:
 
Under the Places of Amusement Regulation (Chapter 132BA), Places of Amusement Licence must be obtained for the operation of billiard establishment with four tables or more. However, it is learnt that some billiard establishments without the required licence are operating inside industrial buildings, evading the licensing requirement by adopting such operating practices as providing three or fewer tables in subdivided or sub-‍let units. There are views that such practices may contravene the deeds of mutual covenant of the buildings and create an unfair advantage over other billiard establishments that are licensed. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it has compiled the following information on billiard establishments that currently provide three or fewer tables but have not obtained the licence: (i) the number of billiard establishments, (ii) ‍the number of units involved, (iii) the duration of operation, and (iv) whether the deeds of mutual covenant of the buildings occupied by such establishments have been contravened, together with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory; if not, whether it has plans to start compiling and maintaining such information from now on;
 
(2) of the following information on complaints received by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) regarding illegal operation of billiard establishments each year over the past five years: (i) the number of complaints received, (ii) the number of complaints found to be substantiated, (iii) the number of prosecutions initiated, (iv) the number of successful prosecutions, (v) the number of persons prosecuted, (vi) the offences involved, and (vii) the number of billiard establishments involved;
 
(3) whether it has plans to step up efforts in combatting billiard establishments operating illegally, and those adopting the aforesaid practices to evade the licensing requirement, such as stepping up law enforcement actions, amending relevant laws, and imposing harsher penalties; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(4) as some members of the industry have relayed that currently applications for the licence for billiard establishments need to be vetted and approved by different government departments such as the LCSD, the Fire Services Department, and the Buildings Department, and it has taken over nine months for some cases to be processed (meaning that the applicants have to pay nine months’ rent for premises not yet placed in service but intended for operating the billiard establishment, amounting to several million dollars), whether the Government has plans to expedite the vetting and approval process for the licence; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
My reply to the Hon Yung Hoi-yan’s questions are set out below:
 
(1) The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is responsible for the licensing of billiard establishments with four or more billiard tables pursuant to the Places of Amusement Regulation (Cap. 132BA) under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (the Ordinance). It maintains a register of licensed billiard establishments to ensure that the licensees comply with, among others, the requirements in respect of fire safety, building safety and health. It does not keep any information on venues with three or fewer billiard tables.
 
(2) Over the past five years (from January 2021 to June 2025), the number of complaints and prosecutions related to suspected unlicensed operation of billiard establishments handled by the LCSD is tabulated below:
 

  
The LCSD will take immediate follow-up actions upon receiving complaints about suspected unlicensed billiard establishments (including evasion of the need to obtain licences by any means) or case referrals from other departments. The LCSD may, depending on actual circumstances, launch joint operations with other law enforcement departments. If unlicensed operation is confirmed after investigation, the LCSD will prosecute the operator in accordance with the law. Any person operating a regulated billiard establishment without a licence issued under the Ordinance, upon conviction, may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to six months and a maximum fine of $25,000. In addition, if other irregularities (such as violation of lease conditions) are found at the premises, the LCSD will refer such cases to relevant departments for follow-up. The LCSD will continue to monitor the operation of billiard establishments and review the enforcement action and penalties under the existing legislation from time to time. The LCSD will step up efforts to combat the operation of unlicensed billiard establishments as and when necessary.
 
(4) The dedicated page on Places of Amusement Licences on the LCSD’s website sets out the general licensing requirements, application guidelines and frequently asked questions to assist applicants interested in operating billiard establishments in preparing the necessary documents and layout plans for their licence applications.
 
The time required to vet each application depends on whether the individual applicant meets the licensing conditions, as well as the time needed by relevant departments (including the Fire Services Department and the Buildings Department) to examine the information submitted by the applicant and approve the relevant works for the premises concerned. If the applicant responds to and follows up on the advice of relevant departments in a timely manner, the approval process can generally be completed in about four to seven months upon receipt of the application and all required information.
 
The LCSD is committed to simplifying the application procedures for Places of Amusement Licences all along, and will continue to review and refine relevant procedures, including simplifying the application forms and providing online submission channel. Furthermore, the LCSD will continue to work closely with various departments concerned to process applications as quickly as practicable upon receipt of the required information from applicants with a view to expediting the vetting process.
Issued at HKT 12:10

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Lancement du fonds de co-investissement « Territoires d’Innovation Nouvelle-Calédonie », doté de 10 M€

Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie

Le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie annonce le lancement du fonds de co-investissement Territoire d’Innovation Nouvelle-Calédonie entre la Banque des Territoires et Invest In Pacific, la plateforme d’investissement participatif spécialisée dans les Outremers.

Doté de 10 M€, ce fonds de co-investissement a pour objectif d’accompagner le développement des jeunes entreprises innovantes de la Nouvelle-Calédonie qui mettent au centre de leur modèle économique la valorisation de la biodiversité calédonienne.

 

La mise en place de ce fonds sera matérialisée par la signature d’une convention de coopération ce jeudi 26 juin à 14 heures en salle des délibérations du gouvernement (Ex CHT Gaston-Bourret) par l’ensemble des acteurs concernés : un représentant de l’État, Alcide Ponga, président du gouvernement, Jérémie Katidjo-Monnier – Pétélo Sao et Samuel Hnepeune, membres du gouvernement respectivement chargés de la biodiversité, de l’innovation technologique, de la valorisation des ressources naturelles, Vincent Boursier pour la Banque des Territoires et Nicolas Laurent pour Invest In Pacific.