MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the HKU Business School 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner today (March 15):

Professor Zhang Xiang (Vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU)), Professor Richard Wong (Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong), Professor Cai Hongbin (Dean and Chair of Economics, the University of Hong Kong Business School), Ms Guo Jingjing (Olympic gold medalist), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     It is my great pleasure and honour to join you this evening at the HKU Business School’s 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner. First of all, allow me to extend my warmest congratulations to the School on this much-celebrated silver jubilee.
      
     Over the past 25 years, HKU Business School has grown into a globally prominent institution in business education, earning strong recognition both internationally and locally. More importantly, you have nurtured generations of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs – people who have gone on to shape policy, finance and commerce, and who continue to drive our city forward as an international financial, trade and business centre.
 
The tech-driven economy ahead 
 
     Tonight, as we celebrate the School’s achievements, I would like to speak about the wider context in which the future will unfold. 
      
     AI is advancing at a breathtaking pace, faster than many of us anticipated. It is already reshaping virtually every industry and every walk of life: from personal applications to business operations and public services; from retail and financial services to logistics, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.
      
     While we witnessed the Deep Seek Moment just a little over a year ago, a new wave is emerging: agentic AI. If earlier generations of AI focused mainly on dialogue and content, AI agents have moved from conversation to execution. They can plan, co-ordinate tasks and act across systems. They enhance productivity, expand processing capacity and enable new kinds of services.
      
     We must admit that these developments bring new risks. Risks relating to cybersecurity, privacy, misinformation, operational resilience and, ultimately, the risk of losing human oversight and mastery over important decisions.
      
     Yet we never stop sailing the seas simply because of storms. New technologies inevitably carry risks, but they also bring immense opportunities. The key question is not whether we should embrace technology, but whether we can manage the risks well, so that we can unlock the growth potential in a responsible and sustainable manner. 
      
     Compare this wave of AI development to the personal computer, the Internet or smart mobile devices when they first emerged. Each of those breakthroughs brought profound changes: hardware upgrades, new software applications, new management practices, and shifts in consumer behaviour and expectations. AI is similarly transformative, and possibly even faster in its diffusion.
      
     That is why businesses, regulators, educators and citizens all need a clearer and more informed understanding of the AI trend. The pace of change will be rapid, and the winners will be those who adapt early, learn quickly and execute decisively. Hong Kong must stay ahead of the curve. That is why we have put AI+ at the core of this year’s Budget, including an initiative on “AI Training for All”. 
      
Three levels of change
 
     Against this backdrop, I would like to suggest three levels at which, in my view, AI and technological innovation are reshaping our economy.
      
     First, the market level. Technological change reshapes market structure and market behaviour, on both the supply side and the demand side. We have seen this before. For instance, as e-commerce platforms rose and online shopping became mainstream, products and services evolved quickly. Entire industries adjusted accordingly: logistics networks expanded, digital payments flourished, last-mile delivery transformed customer expectations, and even new forms of marketing, such as livestream commerce, became major channels.
      
     AI will likely trigger a similar dynamic. It can reduce search and transaction costs, personalise services at scale, and create entirely new categories of products and experiences. At the same time, it may also concentrate market power in certain segments, intensify competition in others, and test existing regulatory frameworks. Understanding these shifts is essential for businesses seeking opportunities, and for policymakers safeguarding fair, open and competitive markets.
      
     Second, the enterprise level. When markets, products, and customer habits change, firms must adapt internally. Or growth will suffer. Technology adoption is not merely an IT project; it is an operating model transformation. It requires changes in workflow, talent strategy, governance, risk management and corporate culture.
      
     In times of rapid change, a company’s ability to foster exploration and innovation becomes a decisive factor for resilience, competitiveness and long-term success. That includes creating room for experimentation, learning quickly from setbacks, and scaling what works, while maintaining strong controls, ethical standards and accountability.
      
     Third, the business model level. The effective use of technology to create new business models and new services is, quite simply, the key to value creation. Over the past decade, many fast-rising and well-performing brands succeeded not only because they had strong products, but because they built smarter models: using data, platforms and new forms of customer engagement to scale efficiently and differentiate from others successfully.
      
     AI will open the door to a new generation of business models: more predictive, more customised, more automated and potentially global from day one. Those who succeed will combine technological capability with strategic clarity, sound governance, and a commitment to responsible innovation.
 
New expectations
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, in this new era of technological progress and business innovation, I believe business schools has new roles to play. Business management education matters more than ever, because the challenge is not just about knowing what technology can do, but about leading people through change.
 
     HKU Business School is exceptionally well placed to play this role.
 
     You bring together outstanding talent across the business community and beyond. Your alumni and students come from business, technology, finance and public administration. The School is a place where ideas are translated into real-world impact for companies, markets and the wider community.
      
     And you are also a good curator of Hong Kong stories. I trust you will continue to articulate Hong Kong’s perspective to the world: a perspective shaped by our role as a global financial centre, a bridge between East and West, a city that values openness, free trade, the rule of law, and international connectivity. Through research, global exchange, and partnerships with institutions and industry worldwide, I trust you will continue to help ensure that Hong Kong’s uniqueness is understood, and our strengths are recognised. That our views are heard in the conversations that shape the future of business and policy.
 
Concluding remarks
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, anniversaries are for celebrating the achievements you have made and the dreams you are yet to build. 
      
     Hong Kong’s continued success depends on our ability to navigate transformation, be it economic, technological and geopolitical. It requires us to keep moving forward: to attract and develop the best talent, to generate and apply the best ideas, and to build an economy that is innovative, competitive and resilient. Above all, it requires us to constantly rediscover ourselves and unleash our new potential.
      
     For all these endeavours, we look to the HKU Business School for your unfailing support. 
      
     I wish the School every success in the years ahead, and all of you the best of health and business in the time to come. 
      
     Thank you very much. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Department of Health (DH) today (March 14) urged members of the public to remain vigilant against tuberculosis (TB) and adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and alcohol, exercising, getting adequate rest, and maintaining good personal hygiene. These will help prevent TB infection and support the World TB Day, which has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 24.

     The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, today served as the officiating guest at the launch ceremony cum awards presentation for the World TB Day 2026, an event organised by the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association and co-organised by the DH. In his speech, he said, “TB is an important infectious disease globally and in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, notified cases have ranged from 3 000 to 4 500 annually. Although there is a downward trend, the incidence rate is more than 10 times higher than that of other advanced economies. Approximate one out of 10 people infected with tubercle bacilli develop TB disease weeks or even decades later. Those with weaker immune systems are at greater risk. Over a lifetime, one out of every 20 persons in Hong Kong will develop TB. Everyone is at risk of being affected by TB. Hence, we must not take it lightly under any circumstances. The notification rate of TB in Hong Kong has declined from approximately 150 cases per 100 000 members of the population in the early 1980s to about 40 cases per 100 000 members of the population today, a reduction of over 70 per cent. Hong Kong is densely populated with high population mobility and an ageing population. Despite these challenges, Hong Kong’s effective control of tuberculosis can be attributed to the close collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals in achieving ‘early identification and early treatment’, as well as their full co-operation with the directly observed treatment service proactively provided by the DH’s chest clinics.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 16) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Eure Department in France, the District of Harz of the State of Sachsen-Anhalt in Germany, the Province of Perugia of Umbria Region in Italy and the Nowy Tomyśl District of Wielkopolskie Region in Poland, and an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Bolivar Partido of the Province of Buenos Aires in Argentina, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1 050 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 290 000 poultry eggs from France; about 180 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Germany; about 90 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 10 000 poultry eggs from Italy; about 2 890 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland; and about 2 080 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Argentina last year.

“The CFS has contacted the French, German, Italian, Polish and Argentinian authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) 35th Anniversary Launch Ceremony today (March 16):

尊敬的羅永綱副主任 (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Luo Yonggang), Dr Chan (the Pro-Chancellor of the HKUST, Dr John Chan), Professor Shum (the Council Chairman of the HKUST, Professor Harry Shum), Dr Liao (the Chairman of the HKUST Court, Dr Andrew Liao), Professor Ip (the President of the HKUST, Professor Nancy Ip), Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure and honour to join you today at the launch ceremony of the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The theme for this year-long celebration, “Where Miracles Happen”, is truly fitting.

     In just 35 years, the HKUST has transformed from a bold, brand-new institution, to become one of the world’s most respected universities.  

     But this was not simply a miracle. It came from visionary leadership, dedicated faculty and a continuing flow of talented students, all driven by an unwavering commitment to innovative education, research excellence and impactful knowledge transfer.

     The HKUST ranked sixth in the 2026 QS Asia University Rankings, and 19th globally in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. These numbers clearly show the HKUST’s proud place on the global stage.   

     Beyond rankings, the HKUST’s entrepreneurial spirit is just as impressive. Its members have started more than 1 900 active start-ups, including 10 unicorns. These achievements show how the HKUST’s research and discoveries make a real difference in the world.  

     The Government is committed to strengthening Hong Kong’s status as an international education hub. We are determined to attract talent from every corner of the world, while nurturing our own home-grown talent. And I am proud to say that the HKUST is a shining example of this vision in action.   

     In the 2025 Policy Address, the Government introduced concrete measures to advance this goal. That includes raising the enrolment ceiling for self-financing, non-local students at publicly funded universities, from 40 per cent to 50 per cent of local student places, and increasing the over-enrolment ceiling for self-financing research postgraduate programmes to 120 per cent. Both take effect in the coming academic year.   

     We also established a dedicated Task Force on “Study in Hong Kong” to deepen our role as an international hub for post-secondary education.  

     The HKUST has responded so well to these initiatives. In the current academic year, the University has attracted more than 20 000 undergraduate applications worldwide. It now has a highly diverse non-local student community, with students from over 80 countries and regions. This is exactly how we enrich our talent pool and strengthen global connections.

     Looking ahead, the University’s contributions fit very well with the country’s strategic priorities under the 15th Five-Year Plan: high-quality development, greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, industrial modernisation, as well as advances in original innovation and breakthroughs in core technologies.   

     The HKUST is a great example of how our universities can support national priorities. It’s already making good progress in areas like AI, data science, life and health sciences, advanced materials and sustainable energy.  

     And the future looks equally promising. The HKUST School of Medicine will admit its first cohort in the 2028/29 academic year.  

     This will be Hong Kong’s third medical school, combining medical education with the HKUST’s renowned strengths in research and technology.  

     The medical school’s future campus will be strategically located – right next to the new integrated hospital in the Northern Metropolis’ Ngau Tam Mei Development Area. That will ensure its close collaboration with the San Tin Technopole and the Northern Metropolis University Town, and strong connectivity with the Greater Bay Area. This will put Hong Kong, and the HKUST, at the forefront of medical innovation.

     I know the University is organising many major events this anniversary year, including the Asia Universities Summit in April, as well as the World Top University Presidents Forum in November. In short, there is much to look forward to.

     Once again, congratulations to the HKUST on its milestone 35th anniversary. And my sincere thanks to everyone who has played a part in the University’s remarkable rise and shine.  

     Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 16) reported the latest number of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) cases, and reminded the public of the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

     From March 8 to 14, the CHP recorded one community-acquired LD case, involving a 61-year-old male patient with underlying illnesses living in Kwun Tong District.

​​The CHP is conducting epidemiological investigations to identify the potential source of infection and high-risk exposure. An initial investigation revealed that this is a sporadic case. No epidemiological linkages have been established between this case and other confirmed cases previously recorded in Hong Kong.

     As of March 14, 14 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2025 and 2024, there were 167 and 135 LD cases respectively.

Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpool spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or ships.

Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpool spas, water fountains, humidifiers and home respiratory devices that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

Immunocompromised persons should:
 

• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers’ instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

​The public should observe the health advice below:
 

• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) or less and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer’s recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors’ professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:

1. Wear gloves and a face mask;
2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

​The public may visit the CHP’s LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP’s risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.

Additionally, as smokers and alcoholics are more susceptible to LD, the Government urges members of the public to quit smoking and avoid drinking. Members of the public may call the DH Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline at 1833 183, which is answered by registered nurses who provide professional counselling and referral to a wide range of free smoking cessation services. The public may also visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on smoking cessation. The DH has also launched the Pilot Alcohol Cessation Counselling Service, which provides free counselling to people identified as having probable alcohol dependence, through a subvented non-governmental organisation, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs). Information on the service has been uploaded to the DH’s Change for Health website. Eligible persons who are interested can call the enquiry hotline of the TWGHs (2884 9876).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region