MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Speech by CE at Opening Ceremony of 2nd Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2025 (English only) (with video) 
Deputy Director Liu Guangyuan (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Ms Li Ran (President of the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities), academics and scientists, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
I am pleased to join you, virtually, at the opening ceremony of this year’s Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and Xiangjiang Nobel Forum. For those speakers, academics, scientists and guests coming from abroad, a very warm welcome to Hong Kong.
 
I am glad to note that many brilliant minds are brought together by the event today, from Nobel laureates, Turing laureates, and some 50 internationally renowned academics and scientists, to more than 600 leaders of innovation and technology enterprises from around the world.
 
You come from a wide scope of disciplines in frontier technologies and strategically important industries, such as life and health technology and artificial intelligence. We look forward to your insights at the upcoming conference and forum, bringing us inspiration and enlightenment for our innovation and technology (I&T) journey ahead.
 
You gather today in Hong Kong, a vibrant metropolis dedicated to innovation and technology. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to promoting scientific progress, technological breakthroughs, and realising the boundless potential of talent like yourselves.
 
Innovation and technology form an important engine for economic development. And Hong Kong provides the ideal environment for I&T growth. Hong Kong is proud to be home to five of the world’s top 100 universities, with many academic subjects within the world’s top 10. Our universities and research institutions attract some of the world’s top scholars. Beyond our scientific excellence, Hong Kong’s world-class business environment also makes it easy for us to foster a vibrant I&T ecosystem here, where research and development, entrepreneurship, and I&T collaboration flourish.
 
Hong Kong is dedicated to develop into an international I&T centre. We will set up an Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund, worth HK$10 billion, or over US$1.2 billion, to channel more market capital into emerging and future industries of strategic importance.
 
We will also launch an I&T Accelerator Pilot Scheme, which will provide nearly US$4 million in funding, on a one-to-two matching basis, to each professional start-up service agency joining the Scheme. It will help to enrich our start-up ecosystem and widen their business network. These efforts bring together our prowess as an international financial and trade centre, and build the momentum for the future growth of our vibrant I&T scene.

Innovation does not exist in isolation. It thrives through exchange, dialogue, and collaboration – precisely the spirit of this conference. Over the next few days, Hong Kong will usher in a rich line-up of I&T activities to foster exchanges on various strategic areas.
 
Tomorrow, the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit will take place, for the first time, in Hong Kong. InnoEx, our flagship marketing-oriented event that showcases smart solutions, will be held this coming week. All these, during our Business of Innovation and Technology Week led by the Government’s Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau.
 
I look forward to the exchange of innovative ideas among scientists, academics, industry experts, and more. While you’re here, rejoicing in these intellectually stimulating events, also enjoy all that our world city has to offer, from natural scenery, to wine and dine.
 
I wish you all the best in your scientific endeavours and business, and an extraordinary stay in Hong Kong. Thank you.     
Issued at HKT 16:00

NNNN

Kai Tak Sports Park concertgoers should use public transport and stay alert to unstable weather
MTR:     Special bus routes:Hong Kong Island: Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty, Central, Tai Koo, Shau Kei Wan, Siu Sai Wan;
Kowloon: Mong Kok, Kwun Tong;
New Territories East: Tai Po, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Tseung Kwan O;
New Territories West: Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai, Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi;
      Taxis:     Spectators are advised to take heed of the real-time information via the on-site broadcast and the “Easy Leave” platform (easyleave.police.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:06

SLW attends GBA Talent Development Showcase in Kuala Lumpur to promote Hong Kong’s opportunities and unique advantages  
     Delivering his opening remarks at the symposium of the showcase, Mr Sun said that Hong Kong is uniquely positioned in the GBA area to serve dual roles as Mainland China’s gateway to Southeast Asia and as Malaysia’s springboard to the vast opportunities in Mainland China’s domestic markets. He stressed that the multilingual nature of the two places, being fluent in Cantonese, English and Putonghua, ensures the smooth integration of Malaysian talent in Hong Kong. Mr Sun added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government had earlier established the Committee on Education, Technology and Talents chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, which builds on Hong Kong’s strategic positioning of “eight centres”, with a view to flexibly attracting and gathering specialised talent in various sectors to build an international hub for high-calibre talent to contribute to the high-quality development of Hong Kong and the country.
 
     Following the symposium, Mr Sun and the delegation toured the career fair concurrently held at the showcase and visited multiple booths to learn more about the jobs offered by exhibitors as well as different companies’ demand for international talent. Numerous students studying at Malaysian universities as well as professionals attended the fair to explore career prospects in Hong Kong and Mainland cities of the GBA.
 
     The showcase, organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and HKTE to be held today and tomorrow (April 13) in JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur, is expected to attract a combined attendance of over 4 000. It consists of two main components: a symposium and a career fair. The symposium featured experts from various fields discussing the GBA’s latest developments and opportunities, while the career fair attracted nearly 40 leading GBA enterprises from industries including technology, I&T, engineering, finance, accounting, legal services, insurance and real estate, providing international talent from Southeast Asia with a wide range of career options and opportunities for professional growth.
 
     Mr Sun said, “Hosting the showcase in Malaysia, a dynamic emerging economy with strategic development potential, the LWB and HKTE aimed at implementing the strategy of joining hands to attract international high-calibre talent under the Memorandum of Understanding on promoting talent services co-operation in the GBA signed last year by nine municipalities in Guangdong Province as well as the Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. HKTE will continue to intensify global promotion efforts with a view to attracting more outstanding talent worldwide to pursue their careers in Hong Kong.”

Yesterday morning (April 11), Mr Sun first visited Universiti Malaya and met with Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Hasniza Zaman Huri and other senior management of the university. Mr Sun said that as the top-notch institution of Malaysia, Universiti Malaya is an eligible university under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS). He said he was pleased to note that since the implementation of the TTPS, over 60 applications from graduates of Universiti Malaya have been approved, adding that he looked forward to more outstanding graduates of the university to pursue their careers in Hong Kong. Mr Sun then led the delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, Mr Zheng Xuefang, in the afternoon and briefed him on the efforts made by Hong Kong in building the GBA into an international hub for high-calibre talent.
 
     Afterwards, Mr Sun called on the Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia, YB Steven Sim during which they exchanged views on strengthening regional collaboration. Mr Sun stressed that the two-way flow of talent fosters enhanced co-operation between the two places, thereby achieving beneficial all-win situations. At the meeting, Mr Sun also elaborated on Hong Kong’s work done on improving occupational safety and health, as well as boosting manpower skills through engaging the Employees Retraining Board.
 
     While in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Sun also met with representatives of the Hong Kong-Malaysia Business Association and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia to understand more on the local business environment and manpower situation. Mr Sun invited them to visit Hong Kong more often to explore development opportunities.
 
     Mr Sun concluded his three-day visit this afternoon and will arrive in Hong Kong tonight.
Issued at HKT 18:15

NNNN

Hong Kong Museum of History’s exhibition on Qin and Han Dynasties to launch next week Issued at HKT 17:18

NNNN

Speech by SCMA at Equal Opportunities Commission’s 15th Anniversary Celebration on Implementation of Race Discrimination Ordinance cum Celebration of International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Appreciation Event with Community Stakeholders (English only) 
To effectively perform our roles and functions as “super connector” and “super value-adder”, we always seek to ensure people of all ethnicities enjoy equal opportunities in different aspects of life. First and foremost, the Government leads by example. As the largest employer in Hong Kong, the civil service has strived to enhance employment opportunities for ethnic minorities; over fifty civil service grades have reviewed and adjusted their Chinese-language proficiency requirements to give more opportunities to non-ethnic Chinese applicants to join the civil service. 
 
     The Government also strives to promote equal opportunities in the private sectors and the community. To name a few, the Labour Department’s Racial Diversity Employment Programme provide customised employment support services to ethnic minority job seekers. The Education Bureau works with educational establishments at all levels to step up learning support for non-Chinese speaking students, to enhance their proficiency in Chinese, to provide them with a better learning experience, and to smoothen their transition from school to the workplace.??? In addition, ten Ethnic Minority Care Teams and two new support service centres were set up under the Home Affairs Department’s new Care Teams programme. They enhance support and provide holistic services to ethnic minorities, including language tutorials and community integration workshops. All these underline the Government’s commitment to building an equal, inclusive, and harmonious society.Issued at HKT 17:13

NNNN