MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Speech by CE at World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit (English only) (with photo) 
Honourable Wang Yong (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), Honourable Zhuang Rongwen (Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China), Honourable Zheng Yanxiong (Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Honourable Ren Xianliang (Secretary General of the World Internet Conference), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
Good morning. I’m delighted to welcome you to Hong Kong, and the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit.
 
And I am honoured to say that the Asia-Pacific Summit, taking place over these next two days in Hong Kong, marks the first time the World Internet Conference has held an international summit outside Mainland China.
 
That, ladies and gentlemen, is a testament to Hong Kong’s rising role as an international innovation and technology hub. It also reflects our deepening integration with our country’s national development.   
 
That will become abundantly clear over these next two days. Like the World Internet Conference itself, this Summit offers high-level dialogue for the global internet community – for you – the nearly 1 000 professionals here from 30 countries and regions.
 
You are senior government officials and business leaders, industry association heads, academics and researchers and professionals from different disciplines. And you’re here to expand your international connections, create business opportunities and help build the interconnected digital future.
 
Hong Kong’s rise as an I&T hub has been fast-tracked by our vibrant economy, which is powered by free trade and boasts the world’s third-largest financial centre. It helps, too, that Hong Kong has long been a key business conduit between the Mainland and the rest of the world.
 
And it all comes together under our unique “one country, two systems” framework.
 
This cardinal governing principle gives Hong Kong the best of both worlds: access to the vast opportunities of the Mainland market, while maintaining the advantages of our unmatched connectivity of our common law system, free flow of information, capital, goods and people. This unmatched connectivity has brought you here.
 
There are many good examples. A shining example is the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster, which ranks second, globally, in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index. It shows how, with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, we can converge Hong Kong’s excellent research and development and world-class, international business environment, with the innovative prowess of the Mainland’s technology industry.
 
We are building Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, which straddles the small river that separates Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The Hong Kong Park within this Co-operation Zone smartly embodies the virtues of the “one country, two systems” principle and cross-boundary co-operation.
 
Last month, I attended the topping-out ceremony for the Park’s first three buildings – two wet laboratories and a talent accommodation complex. The Park will enter its operational phase this year, with the first tenants – from life and health technology, artificial intelligence, to data science and other pillar industries – moving in.
 
The development of another five buildings is in full swing. We have earmarked some US$500 million to expedite the Park’s two-phase development.
 
We need, of course, strategic companies and talent to take full advantage of the Park’s opportunities – and other of Hong Kong’s far-reaching prospects. And we’re getting them. Under the enhanced talent admission regime we rolled out in 2022, we have already approved more than 300 000 talent admission applications. Over 200 000 of them, i.e. two-thirds, have already arrived here.
 
Meanwhile, over 80 strategic enterprises from around the world in the booming industries of life and health technology, AI and data science, fintech and more, have joined us. They will invest over US$6 million and create over 20 000 jobs here in the coming years.
 
The Park is situated in the Northern Metropolis, an entirely new economic engine for Hong Kong. The Northern Metropolis, which makes up one-third of Hong Kong’s area, straddles our land boundary with Shenzhen.
 
I’m confident that our collaborative efforts with Shenzhen, and throughout the Greater Bay Area, will see the rise of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone as a world-class I&T hub, creating a critical source of new quality productive forces for the country.
 
AI is central to Hong Kong Park’s research and development. It’s no less central to Hong Kong’s future.
 
In December last year, the first phase of Cyberport’s AI Supercomputing Centre became operational. Hong Kong’s digital technology flagship, Cyberport is home to more than 330 start-ups specialising in AI and big data.
 
Hong Kong is determined to maximise AI’s immense potential for new industrialisation, and to further society’s digital transformation.
 
We have, for example, set up funding schemes to help local manufacturers switch to smart manufacturing and strategic industries to establish smart production facilities here in Hong Kong. 
 
And our HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, amounting to nearly US$1.3 billion, channels market capital to invest in industries of strategic importance, including AI and robotics. 
 
There’s more.  We aim to establish, by the next financial year, the Hong Kong AI R&D Institute, having reserved nearly US$130 million to get it up and running. The Institute will spearhead Hong Kong’s R&D and drive AI-based industrial applications.
 
AI will also promote smart government. Not only driving document digitalisation and automation, and payments and business processes, but, more important, how we go about making policy and delivering public services.
 
All that, and much more, will fuel discussion and debate at today’s main forum and the three sub-forums taking place tomorrow.
 
This Summit matters. Co-operation matters. Especially during these challenging times to geopolitics and trade relations. Hong Kong champions free trade and multilateralism. We believe in teamwork and offer a range of welcoming programmes for investors, companies, researchers and other strategic talent. Hong Kong welcomes all business interests from those who are keen to pursue development with us. In this global city, we will make a decided difference for you, and your future.
 
I am grateful to the World Internet Conference for hosting the Asia-Pacific Summit here in Hong Kong. Grateful, too, to our Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and other government offices for organising this high-profile global event.
 
I wish you all an inspiring Summit, and the best of business, and health, through this endlessly challenging, but promising, year.
 
Thank you.
Issued at HKT 12:00

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Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Library 3 services 
     The affected service points are Prime View Garden, Siu Hong Court, Shan King Estate, Sam Shing Estate, Leung King Estate and Fu Tai Estate in Tuen Mun; Kingswood Country Club and Tin Ching Estate in Tin Shui Wai; and Sheung Tsuen Park, Wang Chau, San Tin, Long Shin Estate and Fairview Park in Yuen Long. For enquiries about Mobile Library 3 services, please call 2450 1857.
 
     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension period. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:00

Cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for Easter festive period 
The ImmD estimates that the passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 225 000, 202 000 and 164 000 passengers respectively.
 
To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has minimised leave for frontline officers for flexible deployment and the operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks.
 
Furthermore, the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point to make necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with Mainland authorities, including the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. To ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary.
 
To avoid congestion and longer-than-usual waiting times for immigration clearance, the ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The busy times at boundary control points are available on the website of the ImmD at www.immd.gov.hk 
For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
 
Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to the reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
 
About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. To further enhance the clearance efficiency of control points and allow more Hong Kong residents to use the fast and convenient e-Channel service, starting from March 31, the ImmD has adjusted the applicable age for e-Channel service for holders of smart identity cards. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents aged 7 to 10 years old, who are at least 1.1 metres tall and hold a smart identity card and a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, can use the e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via face recognition technology at all control points. Moreover, the Contactless e-Channel service is available at all control points now. All eligible Hong Kong residents, after enrolment, can generate an encrypted QR code through the Contactless e-Channel mobile application to enter the e-Channel and then verify their identity with the facial verification technology for automated immigration clearance.
 
In addition, all control points have introduced self-service departures for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure), which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment.
 
Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile App, send a message to 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form.
Issued at HKT 10:00

Music Office’s Instrumental Music Training Scheme intermediate and advanced year-one courses start recruitment 
     The IMTS provides training in a wide variety of Chinese, string and wind musical instruments including dizi, sheng, suona, liuqin, yangqin, pipa, zhongruan, zheng, sanxian, erhu, cello, double bass, percussion, violin, viola, harp, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, alto-saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba. Courses on musicianship and music theory are also included.
 
     One-hour group lessons, conducted in Cantonese, will be held once a week at the Music Office’s five music centres in Wan Chai, Kwun Tong, Mong Kok, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Annual tuition fees of $4,554 for the intermediate level and $5,830 for the advanced level are payable in four instalments.
 
     Interested persons who have attained the required music qualifications can visit the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/training/instrumentalmusictrainingscheme.html 
     For enquiries, please call the Music Office’s music centres at 2802 0657 (Wan Chai), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan).
Issued at HKT 15:00