MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to Washington, DC, the United States (US) yesterday (October 17, Washington time), attending the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group. He also participated in various events, meeting with leaders in the financial sector, major business representatives and think tank figures to brief them on the latest developments and business environment in Hong Kong.

In the morning, Mr Chan attended the plenary session of the Annual Meetings. Later, he joined an in-conversation session organised by the Institute of International Finance, a high-level forum attended by senior executives of various international financial institutions. During the session, Mr Chan shared insights on the current state of Hong Kong’s economy, its strategy of development as a financial centre, opportunities in innovation and technology—particularly artificial intelligence—the development of digital assets, and the building of a patient capital ecosystem.

Mr Chan highlighted Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” arrangement, including free flow of capital, a freely convertible currency pegged to the US dollar, a highly internationalised market, and close alignment with international best practices. He also emphasised Hong Kong’s encouragement of financial innovation. Despite rising global economic uncertainties in recent months, Hong Kong has continued to see capital inflows, reflecting international investors’ confidence in the city’s investment environment and opportunities.

He noted that Hong Kong is continuously reforming its capital markets to facilitate corporate fundraising and enhance market liquidity, thereby attracting high-quality issuers and investors from both local and overseas markets. At the same time, Hong Kong is embracing financial innovation with a prudent approach, promoting the development of digital assets including stablecoins. He also shared initiatives in nurturing patient capital, including the establishment of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), which invests early, in smaller-sized enterprises, and with a long-term perspective. The HKIC also mobilises private capital to support innovation and technology industries. Mr Chan said that the HKIC has so far invested in over 130 projects, and for every $1 invested, it has attracted around $6 in co-investment from the market.

At noon, Mr Chan attended a business luncheon co-hosted by the US-China Business Council and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington, with over 40 American business leaders in attendance. He delivered a keynote speech, updating participants on Hong Kong’s latest economic situation and future development directions, and exchanged views with guests on topics including opportunities in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

He stressed that the “one country, two systems” arrangement is a significant advantage for Hong Kong and that the Central Government has made it clear that this good system will be upheld in the long run. For example, Hong Kong continues to practise the common law system, and its judiciary exercises judicial power independently. The rule of law in Hong Kong remains highly ranked internationally. In terms of financial innovation, under the “one country, two systems” arrangement, Hong Kong is also prudently exploring areas such as digital assets. Regarding innovation and technology development, Hong Kong benefits from access to both Mainland and international data, which is advantageous for research and development activities in sectors like healthcare. This makes Hong Kong particularly attractive to overseas biomedical enterprises.

Mr Chan reaffirmed that Hong Kong will continue to welcome American businesses and talent to invest and develop their careers in the city.

Later, Mr Chan attended a roundtable discussion hosted by the US think tank Atlantic Council, where he exchanged views with representatives from multinational corporations, financial institutions, and local think tanks. He briefed them on Hong Kong’s current economic and financial conditions, its innovation and technology development, and discussed topics including trade, finance, digital assets and innovation.

Mr Chan has departed for Hong Kong and will arrive tomorrow morning (October 19).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Informatisation convened its 20th meeting in Hong Kong today (October 20) to deepen sustained co-operation in informatisation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Guangdong Province.
 
     Officials from the Digital Policy Office (DPO), together with relevant departments including the Office of the Communications Authority, the Innovation and Technology Commission, and Hong Kong Customs, attended the meeting on behalf of the HKSAR Government. Representatives from the Chinese Mainland who attended the meeting included officials from the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province (GDDIIT), the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, the Radio and Television Administration of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Communications Administration, and the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission. Members of the HKSAR delegation comprised representatives from research institutions and industry organisations, including the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, and GS1 Hong Kong.
 
     The Convenors of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group, the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, and the Deputy Director-General of the GDDIIT, Mr Qu Xiaojie, reviewed the work progress and achievements of the Expert Group over the past year. They discussed and exchanged views on the work plan for the coming year. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening co-operation in the following five areas of informatisation:
 
1. accelerating the development of a Guangdong-Hong Kong smart city cluster;
2. deepening collaboration on cross-boundary e-commerce between Hong Kong and Guangdong;
3. enhancing informatisation for cross-boundary customs clearance;
4. continuing to deepen innovation and technology (I&T) co-operation; and
5. expediting co-operation in telecommunications business and infrastructure between Hong Kong and Guangdong.
 
     Mr Wong said at the meeting that the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments have introduced a number of measures this year respectively to promote the development of AI in order to thoroughly implement the national strategy on AI development. The HKSAR Government announced the setup of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team to co-ordinate and steer government departments in the effective use of AI technology, implement AI government services, and facilitate the widespread application and development of AI across different sectors. Under the leadership of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, the DPO will provide the AI Toolbox to promote the popular use of AI technologies and tools by departments in day-to-day administrative tasks such as data analysis, customer service and document processing. He stated that the cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area should leverage their respective strengths in the field of AI to collaboratively advance the development of AI and robotics industry clusters in the Greater Bay Area. Additionally, he pointed out that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster leapt to first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025 top 100 innovation clusters published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. This ranking fully reflects the outstanding innovation capability of the Greater Bay Area, which has been highly recognised worldwide. This achievement highlights the dedicated efforts of all member units of the task force. He expressed hope that the task force would engage in deeper and broader collaboration in promoting AI development in Hong Kong and Guangdong in the future.
 
     Arranged by the DPO, the Guangdong delegation visited Cyberport’s Digital Tech Centre after the meeting to learn how Hong Kong’s I&T enterprises apply the latest cutting-edge technology solutions, such as AI, blockchain and Web3.0, and to understand their business applications.
 
     In the afternoon, Cyberport, in collaboration with the Guangdong Software Industry Association, held the Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Enterprises Go Global Exchange Meeting. Representatives from the DPO, the GDDIIT, relevant departments, and some Guangdong-Hong Kong I&T enterprises attended. The Guangdong Software Industry Association introduced the newly established Guangdong-Hong Kong Software Go Global Service Alliance at the meeting, while Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council introduced the newly launched Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, which is proactively attracting Chinese Mainland enterprises seeking to expand their overseas business to go global via Hong Kong. Organisations in Hong Kong offering services for enterprises to go global, including the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and Cyberport, also introduced their relevant services respectively. Two Chinese Mainland enterprises focused on AI and electronic signatures also shared their experiences on how they leveraged Hong Kong to raise funds and list, and successfully expanded their businesses into overseas markets.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

An accident occurred at Hong Kong International Airport at around 3.50am today (October 20). A B744 cargo aircraft (flight number UAE9788), arriving from Al Maktoum International Airport, United Arab Emirates, had deviated from the North Runway after landing and ditched into the sea. Air traffic control personnel immediately notified the Airport Authority and other rescue units according to the established procedures. Preliminary information indicates that the four crew members on board were rescued and sent to hospital, while two ground staff were affected and fell into the sea, and their conditions are pending confirmation. The North Runway is closed due to the accident, while the South and Centre Runways will remain operational.

The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) attaches great importance to the accident and is following up with the relevant parties at the airport, including the airline involved. CAD has also reported the incident to the Air Accident Investigation Authority in accordance with the established mechanism and is sparing no effort to support the investigation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Junior Police Call (JPC) Anti-Narcotics and Fight Crime 3×3 Basketball Tournament and Carnival, organised by the Hong Kong Police Force, took place today (October 19) at Southorn Playground in Wan Chai.
 
At the award presentation ceremony for the basketball competition, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Teens and Elderly Mission Committee for their support of this programme, as well as all participating teams for giving their best. He encouraged young people to develop teamwork skills through sports, and more importantly, to stay away from the temptation of drugs and illegal activities. He mentioned that the winning teams will engage in a series of volunteer services to contribute to society and will have the opportunity to visit the Mainland for competitions and exchange programmes. They will gain valuable experience of our country’s development and deepen their understanding of our country.
 
Youth are now growing up in an increasingly complex environment, shaped by rapid advancements in cyber technology and fraught with various temptations and traps, including the emerging drug etomidate and constantly evolving scam tactics. The success of youth crime prevention efforts is attributed to the sustained deepening of collaboration among all societal stakeholders and the Police. By combining insights and leveraging synergies, crime prevention messages and proper values can be instilled into the moral virtues of communities and young individuals, more broadly and profoundly.
 
Sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and launched in June, the JPC Anti-Narcotics and Fight Crime 3×3 Basketball Training Programme 2025 engaged nearly 6 000 teachers and students from 66 secondary and primary schools. This year-long initiative delivers anti-drug and crime prevention messages through diverse activities, including basketball training and school talks, fostering positive mindsets among participants.
 
The basketball competition under the programme attracted 216 teams, comprising around 900 players from nearly 100 secondary and primary schools. The participating teams encompassed diverse ethnic backgrounds and included students from a Greater Bay Area school. Forty-eight elite teams progressed to today’s finals, vying for the championship, runner-up, and third-place positions in four men’s and four women’s divisions, along with accolades for Top Scorer and Most Valuable Player.
 
Today’s carnival featured 20 game booths on crime prevention themes, providing participants with opportunities to learn about the dangers of drug abuse and the latest scam tactics. The NSpeed National Security Express Promotional Truck was also on site, promoting national security awareness among the public through interactive displays.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Civil Aid Service (CAS) held the 76th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China and Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day 2025 with various government departments and mountaineering organisations today (October 19) at Quarry Bay Park with a view to enhancing public awareness of hiking safety and reducing accidents arising from mountaineering activities.
 
     Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, thanked the various disciplined services, auxiliary services and mountaineering organisations for establishing a solid safety net for Hong Kong’s outdoor activities. He especially reminded the public that when choosing to hike on dangerous terrain, any accident not only endangers the hiker but also puts rescuers at risk. Therefore, when participating in such high-risk activities, safety must be the primary consideration to ensure the safety of oneself and others.
 
     Mr Cheuk also stressed that, with the development of the low‑altitude economy, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the CAS have been studying the use of drones for efficient search and rescue operations. This not only improves rescue efficiency but also reduces the risk to rescuers.
 
     Then, Mr Cheuk presented certificates of completion to those who had finished the Mountain Casualty Handling Course as well as the Hiking Safety and Mountain Rescue Course.
 
The Chief Staff Officer of the CAS, Mr Leung Kwun-hong, also expressed his gratitude to various government departments and organisations for their joint efforts in promoting mountain safety and ensuring the safety of citizens. He said that the FSD, the HKPF, and the Government Flying Service (GFS) have always been important partners of the CAS in mountain search and rescue operations. They have fought side by side with the CAS, successfully rescuing trapped persons and demonstrating a high level of professionalism and selfless dedication.
 
     Other attending guests included the Director of Operations of the HKPF, Mr Lui Kam-ho; the Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations), Mr Derek Chan; and the Controller of GFS, Mr Eddie Liu, as well as representatives from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Office of the Communications Authority, the Hong Kong Observatory, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Lands Department, and various mountaineering organisations.
 
     The promotion day featured booth games designed to raise awareness about mountain activity safety. It also showcased a variety of mountain activity equipment and demonstrated techniques for mountain search and rescue as well as handling injured individuals, allowing the public to gain a better understanding of the work involved in mountain rescue operations.
 
     A special highlight of the event was the opportunity for citizens to take photos with working dogs from the various disciplined forces, sharing a fun experience together.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) hosted the Award Presentation Ceremony of the Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards today (October 19) to recognise 15 winning families and promote good family values and traditional virtues to the community and the younger generations. The Deputy Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, officiated at the ceremony.
 
In his speech, Mr Cheuk noted that China’s long-standing culture and society have always emphasised family harmony and valued good family values and virtues. As President Xi Jinping said, “The family is the basic cell of society. Family harmony leads to social stability. Family happiness creates social harmony.” The National 14th Five-Year Plan clearly states the need to strengthen family building. The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Family Education Promotion, implemented by the State in 2022, elevates family education from a “family matter” to a “national matter,” fully reflecting our country’s focus on family education and the promotion of the fine Chinese traditions. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively responding to national policies, and strives to promote the building of a family-friendly society and the healthy development of families in Hong Kong.
 
Miss Mak expressed her gratitude to the general public for their active participation and support by sharing their family life and insights on nurturing family relationships. She noted that each participant’s story is unique, which allows the others to deeply appreciate the family values and virtues of excellent families. She hoped that the event would facilitate the passing down of genuine bonds of family to the next generation, highlighting the significance of family.
 
She said, “Hong Kong is our big family. Harmony in the family will bring prosperity for all. Family harmony is not only the source of personal happiness, but also a vital foundation for social prosperity and steady progress. I look forward to continuing to work hand in hand with everyone to enhance society’s recognition of family values and promote positive family values and virtues.”
 
Also officiating at the ceremony were the members of the Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards adjudication panel, including the President of Legislative Council, Mr Andrew Leung; the Vice-Chairperson of the Connecting Hearts, Professor Annie Tam; the Chairperson of the Family Council, Ms Melissa Pang; the Convenor of the Family Council Sub-committee on Promotion of Family Core Values and Family Education, Mr Felix Law; and the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung.
 
The HYAB and Family Council co-organised the Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards in April this year. The event is open to all Hong Kong citizens. With the focus on “Fostering Stable Family Relationships for Building Good Family Values and Virtues”, the event promotes the importance of good family values and passing down good family traditions and virtues to the community and the younger generations by recognising families that show mutual respect, care, love and support for one another. The event received an enthusiastic response, attracting approximately 1 200 families to participate. The adjudication panel, comprising community representatives as well as representatives from the HYAB and the Family Council, have selected 15 winning families after careful assessment and deliberation. These included 10 recipients of the “Excellent Families Award” and five recipients of the “Passage of Good Family Values and Virtues Award”. At the Award Presentation Ceremony, the winning families shared their experiences and insights on fostering strong family relationships, promoting positive family culture and values, as well as fine family traditions and virtues to the public.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The fourth edition of “Making Waves – Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema” (Making Waves) touring film programme, sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, was launched in Seoul, Korea, yesterday (October 17) and will run until October 20. As part of Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul, the programme features screenings of productions by emerging Hong Kong filmmakers, restored versions of Hong Kong classics and a series of industry exchange activities to reflect the city’s diverse cinematic representations to Korean filmmakers and audiences, thereby fostering cultural exchanges between the two places.

Speaking at the opening reception on October 17, the Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Miss Drew Lai, expressed her gratitude to the Korean film industry and audiences for their support of Hong Kong film. She said, “Film is a universal language that plays a vital role in strengthening cultural exchanges. In the past few years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has supported the screening of Hong Kong films in Korea for several times. “Montages of a Modern Motherhood” and “Measure in Love” (funded by the Film Development Fund (FDF)) were selected for the Busan International Film Festival last year and this year respectively. We are delighted to see that Hong Kong films are gaining increasing recognition at film festivals in Korea and beyond.” Miss Lai added that the films selected for Making Waves combine the old and new with multiple themes from Hong Kong cinema, showcasing the captivating cityscapes and rich and nuanced culture of Hong Kong. She hoped that the film choices will resonate deeply with audiences.

The film list for Making Waves includes “Last Song For You”, as well as “My First of May”, “The Last Dance”, “Papa”, “Stuntman”, “Peg O’ My Heart”, “Four Trails”, “Mad Fate”, and restored classics “A Moment of Romance” and “Shanghai Blues”. Over half of the 10 titles were directed by emerging filmmakers. Four of the 10 were supported by the FDF, namely, “Last Song for You”, “Papa”, “Stuntman” and “Peg O’ My Heart”. With support from the FDF, the CCIDA works hand in hand with the industry to nurture local film talent and drive innovation in Hong Kong’s filmmaking.

Making Waves also sponsors the in-person participation of emerging Hong Kong directors and actors. The Director of the opening film, “Last Song for You”, Jill Leung, and actor Natalie Hsu attended a sharing session after the screening to engage with some 300 Korean filmmakers and audiences. The Director of “My First of May”, James Hung; actor of “Papa” Dylan So; Co-directors of “Stuntman” Albert Leung and Herbert Leung; and the Director of “Four Trails”, Robin Lee, will all have interaction sessions with audiences that will take place after screenings of their respective films.

Making Waves is sponsored by the CCIDA and presented by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society. Since its launch in 2022, the programme has visited 24 cities worldwide, bringing Hong Kong’s unique cinematic representations to film practitioners and audiences in those places. By showcasing productions of new-generation Hong Kong filmmakers, the programme enhances their exposure to the international market, forging more business opportunities for Hong Kong’s film industry.

The CCIDA also held discussions in Korea with several Korean cultural and creative industry organisations, including the Korea Creative Content Agency, the Busan International Film Festival, the Producers Guild of Korea, and the Korean Film Archive, to explore future collaboration opportunities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), InnoCarnival 2025 (IC 2025) is being held from today (October 18) to October 26 at the Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin. Under the theme “I&T Unlocks Your Dream”, this year’s Carnival features a number of exhibits of local innovation and technology (I&T) achievements.
 
     The Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, officiated at the opening ceremony of IC 2025. He said that the Government will continue to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to promote I&T development through policy guidance, financial support and talent cultivation, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international I&T centre. He expressed hope that the public will be encouraged to explore and experience the many benefits that I&T brings to society through the InnoCarnival, and offer greater support for Hong Kong’s I&T development.
   
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation are campaign partners of IC 2025. The event is receiving support from about 50 programme partners, including local universities, R&D centres and platforms, government departments and other organisations, which have set up booths at the Hong Kong Science Park, showcasing a series of I&T achievements and interactive games. Also, a diverse lineup of about 150 workshops and more than 10 webinars across various popular subjects including artificial intelligence and ecological environment will be available during the Carnival, with the aim of showing the public the close interface between I&T and people’s daily lives.

In addition, the second City I&T Grand Challenge: The Showcase will also be staged during IC 2025. Prototypes of the winning solutions will be showcased to the public for trial through real-life scenarios. The second City I&T Grand Challenge was launched under the theme “Hong Kong’s Got I&T” to promote an I&T culture and enhance the application of I&T in the community. It invited submissions from different sectors of the community to develop I&T solutions focusing on two subjects, namely “I&T for Nature (Yama)” (improving the operation and management of country parks and campsites, and enhancing hikers’ experiences in nature) and “I&T for Community (Community Wellness)” (enhancing support for carers). Twenty winners from the University/Tertiary Institute and Open Groups received support from the ITC. Upon training and refinement of I&T solutions for over half a year, teams have transformed their ideas from the competition into prototypes for trials at over 50 designated venues, including government departments and social communities, involving nearly 5 000 end users.
 
All IC 2025 activities are free of charge. Some of the activities require pre-registration. Details are available on the thematic webpage (innocarnival.hk). Members of the public are most welcome to join.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2025 held in Beijing today (October 18) to share Hong Kong’s experiences in green innovation and directions of promoting environmental protection co-operation with the Belt and Road (B&R) counterparts.
 
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference, Mr Tse said that the world is facing severe challenges such as climate change in recent years. All parties must adhere to the green development concept, ramp up green transition of the society, and collaboratively reduce carbon emissions and pollution, as well as restore and expand ecology. Green innovation has hence become an important driving force for sustainable development in Hong Kong. It not only promotes new areas of economic growth but also creates job opportunities, fostering social prosperity and development.
 
“Under the ‘one country, two systems’, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world, fully leveraging our role as a ‘super-connector’ and promoting green development for our country and B&R countries,” Mr Tse said.
 
Mr Tse highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will set up a B&R sustainable green development training centre next year to cultivate international environmental protection talent. The centre will serve as a base to connect the HKSAR with the international sustainable green development co-operation network, creating an environment that promotes technological exchange and outcome transfer for B&R counterparts.
 
Mr Tse added that the HKSAR Government is proactively preparing for the setup of a B&R Green Development Co-operation Platform in Hong Kong with the B&R Initiative International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC). The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will establish a regular communication and collaboration mechanism with the BRIGC to facilitate exchanges and discussions with environmental authorities, related organisations and enterprises of the B&R countries, strengthening the international environmental protection co-operation network.
 
The HKSAR Government holds the Eco Expo Asia at the end of October every year and utilises it as a platform to arrange environmental technology forums and site visits to Chinese Mainland, as well as to strengthen exchange and co-operation. Mr Tse introduced that the 20th Eco Expo Asia to be held in October this year will arrange for representatives from B&R countries to visit outstanding environmental enterprises and facilities in Changsha of Hunan Province. The aim is to more effectively promote green international exchanges and to seek opportunities for high-quality green enterprises from Chinese Mainland to “go global”.
 
The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, also attended the conference. He delivered a keynote speech at a sub-forum titled “Jointly Building Beautiful Cities, Empowering Green Infrastructure with a New Future” in the afternoon. He introduced the Hong Kong Environmental Database developed by the EPD, showcasing how to enhance environmental assessment and improve efficiency through digital empowerment.
 
The Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2025 was hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and organised by the BRIGC and the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The theme for this year is “Driving Green Development Together”, aligning with the core agenda of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference focuses on the achievements of the Green Silk Road building, building of platforms for exchange and co-operation in green finance, green and low-carbon development, as well as green technology and innovation, which aims to facilitate the integration of green industries with technologies.
 
Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong this evening.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the 13th Hong Kong Allergy Convention Opening Ceremony today (October 18):
 
Dr Philip Li (President of Hong Kong Institute of Allergy), Professor Gary Wong (President-Elect of World Allergy Organization), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to join the opening ceremony of the 13th Hong Kong Allergy Convention.
 
This biennial medical gathering has become a highly anticipated event, locally, regionally and internationally. Since it began over two decades ago, the Convention has brought together world experts in allergy. It helps advance knowledge, share best practices and inspire innovation in allergy and immunology. 
 
For that, my thanks to the Hong Kong Institute of Allergy, and its invaluable work over these past 29 years, promoting allergy as a specialty, supporting research and organising events like this two-day international gathering.
 
This year’s Convention theme, “Allergy Beyond Borders”, reminds us of our shared mission – to cross geographical and institutional barriers for better allergy care worldwide.
 
Allergic diseases have become among the most common health problems in the world. In Hong Kong, some 400 000 patients are being treated for food allergies alone. 
 
And, as you are well aware, allergies know no borders. But allow me to touch on a few of the research areas we’re working on in Hong Kong.
 
In 2021, we established the Hong Kong Genome Institute. Its first major project, the Hong Kong Genome Project, has recruited more than 47 000 participants to build a genomic database focused on the South China population, establishing a collaborative platform for researchers, academics and businesses, accelerating clinical trials and drug developments.
 
We are also speeding up clinical trials and new drug approvals.
 
The Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, supporting the coordinated I&T development of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, promotes biomedical technology.
 
It accelerates the evaluation, inspection and clinical trials of drugs and medical devices in alignment with international standards.
 
We’ve also established the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, providing one-stop clinical trial support. 
 
Before year’s end, we will establish a new collaboration platform with Shenzhen to provide consultation, matching and referral services for medical research organisations conducting clinical trials in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. 
 
We’re reforming drug approvals, too. Through the “1+” mechanism, drug companies only need approval from one reference drug authority to apply for registration in Hong Kong. That is, of course, if they are supported by local clinical data and their scope of application is recognised by relevant local experts.
 
Last month’s Policy Address pledged to speed up the “1+” mechanism, piloting priority evaluation of innovative drugs recommended by the Hospital Authority for severe or rare diseases.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, there’s much to look forward to over these next two days. And my thanks, once again, to the Hong Kong Institute of Allergy for organising this year’s Allergy Convention. I’m also grateful to various organisations supporting the Convention.
 
I wish you a rewarding Convention and the best of medical research and health in the coming year. And for those joining us from abroad, enjoy a memorable stay in Hong Kong, Asia’s world city.
 
Thank you.