Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Hong Kong Judiciary is hosting the Eighth Seminar of Senior Judges from across the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao today and tomorrow (October 13 and 14), under the theme of “The Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in Judicial Work”.
 
     The President of the China Association of Judges, Mr Zhang Jun; the President of the Court of Final Appeal of Macao, Ms Song Man-lei; and the Chairman of the Chinese Society of Law of Taiwan, Mr Chen Tzung-chen, are attending this high-level seminar with their official delegations. The seminar was officially launched today upon the delivery of opening speeches by the Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, and other heads of delegations.
 
     Addressing the seminar, Chief Justice Cheung said that in a rapidly changing world, the Hong Kong Judiciary faces both challenges and opportunities. While steadfastly upholding the rule of law and judicial independence, the Hong Kong Judiciary has been taking a clear-eyed view of the times and responding proactively. He highlighted four key strategic directions of the Hong Kong Judiciary: streamlining procedures and strengthening case management; advancing alternative dispute resolution; strengthening co-operation with the Mainland and other jurisdictions; and accelerating judicial technology with prudent application, seizing opportunities for institutional and technological innovation. He remarked that today’s seminar was not only an occasion for exchanging experiences; it was also a moment for identifying solutions together and grasping new opportunities. “Courts across the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao would inspire one another, pool our wisdom, and together enhance the efficiency and capability of courts in their respective jurisdictions, thereby advancing the rule of law,” Chief Justice Cheung said.
 
     In her address at the seminar, Ms Song said that practitioners of judicial work bear a significant responsibility for upholding social fairness and justice, as well as safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people. In the face of challenges and opportunities of the new era, it is essential to maintain an open attitude, proactively explore innovation, and continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of judicial work. She expressed her wish that the seminar would inject new strength into the judicial co-operation and exchange among the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, making new contributions towards the advancement of the judicial quality of the Chinese people.
 
     Meanwhile, Mr Chen remarked that this judicial seminar would facilitate mutual exchange and collaborations seeking to draw up more pragmatic and appropriate mechanisms and regulations for effectively addressing judicial issues, adapt to changing times and societal needs, and collectively foster the progress and prosperity of the Chinese people. 
     During the seminar, the delegates have been discussing and exchanging views on four topics, namely “Building Alternative Civil and Commercial Dispute Resolution Mechanisms”, “Enhancement of Civil and Commercial Court Procedure”, “Application of Artificial Intelligence”, and “Practice and Development of the Doctrine of Precedent”. About 160 representatives from the judicial and legal sectors of the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao will be attending the seminar.
 
     The closing ceremony will be held tomorrow.
 
     The seminar is a regular exchange forum among the judicial and legal sectors of the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao. It has been held every two years since 2011. Following the success of the fourth seminar in 2017, Hong Kong is once again hosting the seminar this year.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the HKGCC x FHKI Forum – Understanding the Halal Market: Strategies for Unlocking Opportunities today (October 13):

Agnes (Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), Ms Agnes Chan), Anthony (Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI), Mr Anthony Lam), Jeffrey (Member, Legislative Council – Commercial (First) and HKGCC’s LegCo Representative, Mr Jeffrey Lam), Mr Saeed Uddin (Chairman of the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning.  

     It is a real pleasure to join you today at this important forum as we explore how Hong Kong can tap into the vast and growing opportunities presented by the global Halal economy. My sincere thanks to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries for bringing us together for this timely and meaningful dialogue.

The global Halal economy

     The global Halal economy is expanding at an impressive pace. The 57 member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, or the OIC, currently account for around 8 per cent of the world’s GDP. Yet, their contribution to global growth is striking, reaching 15 per cent last year and projected to surpass 20 per cent by 2030.

     These economies are undergoing deep structural transformation. In the Middle East, governments are diversifying beyond oil into sectors such as finance, technology, tourism and real estate. In Asia, countries like Indonesia and Malaysia are accelerating industrial development, capturing opportunities from shifting global supply chains. Foreign direct investment into OIC countries has risen substantially, now making up around 14 per cent of global inflows, nearly three times the level a decade ago.

     At the same time, consumer markets in Muslim economies are expanding rapidly. According to the World Bank, household consumption in OIC countries has already surpassed US$5 trillion. Notably, this growth is driven by three key forces.

     First, demographics. The Muslim world is home to over 2 billion people, with nearly 60 per cent under the age of 30. This represents a vibrant, young and increasingly affluent consumer base.  

     Second, the rise of ethical consumerism. Halal-certified products are valued for their safety, hygiene, and ethical standards. They are gaining popularity not only among Muslim consumers but also across global markets.

     Third, digital transformation. E-commerce and online platforms are making it easier for Halal products to reach international audiences, further fuelling demand and opening new channels for trade.

     These developments are unfolding as China strengthens its commitment to high-level two-way opening up, and deepens its engagement with Belt and Road partners as well as the Global South. Over the past decade, exports from the Chinese Mainland to OIC countries have grown by more than 80 per cent, reaching nearly US$600 billion. Imports from these countries have increased by around 60 per cent to US$450 billion. At the same time, outbound investment to OIC markets has surged by over 130 per cent, reaching US$100 billion.

Hong Kong’s role and strategic advantage

     Ladies and gentlemen, the changing landscape is presenting new opportunities for us.

     Under the “one country, two systems” framework, Hong Kong offers unparalleled connectivity with, and understanding of, both the Chinese Mainland and the international market. We serve as a trusted two-way platform for Mainland and Hong Kong enterprises looking to expand into Muslim economies, and for investors and entrepreneurs from these economies to access opportunities in China and beyond.

     Looking ahead, our strategy centres on three fronts: strengthening trade and investment, advancing financial collaboration and enhancing cultural exchanges.

Strengthening trade and investment ties

     First, about boosting two-way trade and investment. We are adopting a two-pronged approach: proactively reaching out to Muslim markets and bringing investors and business delegations from there to Hong Kong.

     Over the past three years, the Chief Executive, my colleagues and I have led a number of high-level delegations to the Middle East as well as Indonesia and Malaysia. From my own experience, I am encouraged by their strong recognition of the “Hong Kong” brand, which is widely seen as a symbol of quality, good value and professionalism. As more Mainland enterprises look to go global, Hong Kong is in the best position to serve as a launchpad for them. That is why we have been inviting leading Mainland companies to join our overseas delegations, helping them explore the international market through Hong Kong.

     Later this month, I will lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia, bringing together a strong team of Hong Kong and Mainland companies in sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotech, fintech, green energy and more.

     Meanwhile, we are also expanding our presence in Muslim markets. A new Economic and Trade Office will open in Kuala Lumpur later this year, and we are pressing ahead with the plan to establish another office in Riyadh.

     Here in Hong Kong, we are seeing a growth of bilateral investment events. The Investopia Summit with the UAE is a recent example. In July next year, we will welcome Saudi Arabia’s LEAP innovation conference to Hong Kong, its first edition outside the Middle East.

     The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is featuring more Halal products and services in our trade shows and exhibitions, such as Halal food and logistics. We look forward to scaling up these efforts.

Advancing financial collaboration

     The second focus is financial collaboration. As a leading international financial centre, Hong Kong is well positioned to support the growth of Islamic finance and cross-border financial products.

     We already have the legal and regulatory frameworks in place to support Sharia-compliant instruments like sukuk. To date, the HKSAR Government has issued over US$3 billion in sukuk. In recent years, we have also made progress in ETFs with the Islamic markets, particularly Saudi Arabia. In 2023, Hong Kong launched Asia’s first ETF tracking the Saudi market. This was followed by the listing of two Hong Kong ETFs in Saudi Arabia last year. Earlier this year, Asia’s first investment-grade government sukuk ETF was launched in Hong Kong.

     To support the long-term development in this space, we are also investing in talent. Professionals with experience in Islamic finance have been added to our city’s Talent List. 

Deepening cultural exchanges

     The third focus is cultural exchange. Tourism is an important pillar. Indeed, in the first eight months of this year, Hong Kong welcomed nearly 500 000 visitors from Indonesia and Malaysia, a 10 per cent increase year on year. Visitors from the Middle East were about 54 000, up nearly 40 per cent. 

     We are working to ensure that our tourism and hospitality sector is increasingly welcoming to Muslim travellers. Today, Hong Kong has over 190 Halal-certified restaurants and more than 60 Muslim-friendly hotels and attractions. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has introduced funding schemes to support Halal-certification processes and more dining options. I’m also pleased to note that in August, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and the Islamic Community Fund launched the Hong Kong Q-Mark Halal Scheme, which will further strengthen the service quality and recognition of restaurants.

     These efforts are already gaining international recognition. Hong Kong was recently named the “Most Promising Muslim-Friendly Destination” by the Global Muslim Travel Index. Our next step is to scale up our international promotion, so that more Muslim travellers will discover what Hong Kong has to offer. This will further reinforce our mutual business, investment and people-to-people relationships.

     Of course, beyond tourism, we look forward to deepening cultural exchange with the Muslim world through mutual participation in each other’s festivals and programmes, ranging from film and music to the performing arts.

A shared opportunity

     Ladies and gentlemen, the rise of the Halal economy reflects a broader shift that signals the growing economic influence of the Global South.

     Hong Kong’s engagement with this region is not only commercially strategic. It is also in alignment with our national development strategy and our role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between China and the world.

     The path ahead is clear: to deepen engagement, to build new partnerships and friendships, and to co-create high-quality products and services that cater to the needs of the Muslim communities.

     This is an endeavour that requires collaboration across sectors, industries and borders. Let’s work together to unlock new opportunities and bring benefits for our businesses and people.

     On this note, let me once again thank the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries for convening this forum, and I look forward to the insights from our distinguished panellists. I wish you all a productive discussion and a very successful future.

     Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department today reminded members of the public to guard against recent fake messages in social media and messaging groups which purported to be an extension of the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (NBT) to other boundary control points (BCPs) and the scheme details of the future Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles.

The incident will be referred to Police for follow-up.

The Transport Department clarified that while the Shenzhen Bay Ad Hoc Quotas for Cross Boundary Private Cars and NBT are two different schemes, private cars will not be approved concurrently for both schemes.

Moreover, NBT is currently applicable to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) only, but not other BCPs. The NBT arrangements for travelling without the need for advance bookings, which took effect from September, only cover Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except specified dates.

Separately, eligible private car owners who wish to enter Guangdong under the Shenzhen Bay Ad Hoc Quotas for Cross Boundary Private Cars should submit an application for each trip. Upon approval, the cars can then enter Guangdong via Shenzhen Bay Port within the five-day quota validity period and stay for not more than seven days. They must return to Hong Kong via Shenzhen Bay Port.

As for Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles, the Government will update the Legislative Council Panel on Transport on October 17.

The department also stressed that implementation details of cross-boundary driving schemes and operational arrangements of BCPs are serious issues which must be considered holistically. The Government will issue press releases as official announcements if there are new arrangements of such schemes.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The bustling kitchen of Kowloon Hospital serves approximately 1,400 inpatients per meal.

The menus are designed to take into consideration not only taste and texture but the nutritional needs and swallowing abilities of the patients.

All-encompassing menu

In addition to providing meals for inpatients at Kowloon Hospital, the kitchen also supplies catering services to two nearby facilities: the Buddhist Hospital and the Eye Hospital.

Hospital Authority Kowloon Central Cluster Catering Manager Cora Wong explained that the kitchen’s menu is designed to meet the diverse clinical needs of patients.

“We have a four-week cycle menu that takes care of the nutrient content and also the texture requirement of the patients. We also pay extra attention to the food allergy and the food preference issue of the patients.”

Taste variety

The main kitchen prepares approximately 1,400 meals per mealtime for the inpatients of the three hospitals, serving around 4,200 meals daily.

“To cater for patients with a different therapeutic diet and different texture, we have to prepare 13 different dishes for the entree, including 10 different vegetables and 15 kinds of starchy foods to make the meals for the patients. So, it would be around more than 200 combinations.”

While the chefs are preparing the meals, other staff sort the cooked items, placing them into containers then distributing different dishes onto trays according to each patient’s meal ticket before loading them onto meal trolleys for delivery to inpatients at Kowloon Hospital and to the other two hospitals.

Sustainable changes

This year marks Kowloon Hospital‘s 100th anniversary. Ms Wong, who joined the hospital in 2018, has witnessed the evolution of catering services over the years.

She noted that the kitchen previously prepared meals in “family-style” i.e. cooking in bulk and serving directly to the wards, often including congee or minced meat for patients with special dietary needs.

Today, meal plans for diabetics, and high-protein or low-salt options have been introduced to meet different medical requirements. Additionally, various textures, such as minced and pureed diets, are provided to accommodate the clinical conditions of different patients.

To enhance dietary quality, the hospital gathers patient feedback on meals and replaces 20% of the menu annually to maintain variety. However, before any menu changes, professional input has been sought from various departments, including nutritionists and speech therapists.

Dietary assessments

Speech therapists will assess the food texture, size and the patient’s oral function, co-ordination, swallowing ability and mental state necessary for managing the new dish. Based on this evaluation, they will recommend appropriate diet types that can include the new dish.

During festive periods, the hospital prepares special dishes for inpatients, which also require assessment by speech therapists.

Kowloon Hospital Speech Therapist Himmy Chow cited an example of one festive meal: “The custard bun we prepared for our Mid-Autumn Festival requires a certain level of chewing and oromotor co-ordination, therefore it is only suitable for patients who are on regular diets and soft diets.

“And for the sago pudding, it is softer in texture and requires less chewing, therefore in addition to regular and soft diets, it can also be included in shredded, minced and smooth soft diets.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Commission on Children held the Child Protection Harmony Fun Day at the Kowloon Masjid & Islamic Centre today to enhance public awareness of the upcoming Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance and promote child protection among members of the public and ethnic minority communities.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare and Commission on Children Vice-chairperson Chris Sun, Commissioner of Police Joe Chow and Director of Social Welfare Edward To officiated at the event’s opening ceremony which also marked the 100-day countdown to the ordinance’s enactment on January 20 next year.

In his opening remarks, Mr Sun said that the Government has launched the Child Protection Campaign to dovetail with the implementation of the ordinance, as well as to better citizens’ understanding of the mandatory reporting regime among specified professionals and members of the public.

He added that today’s public engagement event could strengthen collaboration between the Government and ethnic minority communities to jointly create a safe and inclusive environment for the growth of children.

The event featured interactive game booths which highlighted the content of the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance and the message of child protection, helping parents and carers learn how the mandatory reporting regime could protect children from abuse. Children’s health check stations were also set up to encourage parents and carers to pay closer attention to youth health and development, thereby promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Haven of Hope Hospital (HHH) made the following announcement today (October 11):

An 82-year-old male patient in a medicine and geriatrics ward in HHH has been confirmed to be a carrier of Candida auris. In accordance with the prevailing guideline, the hospital conducted contact tracing and found four more patients, aged 68 to 94, carrying Candida auris. One patient passed away today due to his own underlying disease. Three of them are being treated in isolation at HHH and are in stable condition. The remaining patient has been discharged to an old age home and is being treated in isolation.

     The ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
 

1. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
2. Continued application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection for the environment and facilities of the ward.

     The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation in the ward concerned. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region