Hong Kong – Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo (with video)
Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo (with video)
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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (September 26):
Reporter: I’m wondering, has Hong Kong received an invitation to attend APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)? And will you be attending APEC in November? And if not, who will the city send as a representative? And then secondly, what are the lessons you’ve learned from the JPEX and whether crypto is simply too dangerous to use for retail?
Chief Executive: According to APEC guidelines and protocol, the organiser should send an invitation to the leader of the respective economies. I am still waiting for the invitation letter to be sent to me. We will attend in accordance with standard protocol.
In regard to the incident of JPEX, I have explained very clearly the Government position, which is first of all, investors must invest on platforms which are licensed so as to ensure that they are properly protected. The second is we have to ensure that information we disseminate should be transparent and as clear as possible. The third is we should promote investors’ education, so that they will understand how the products work, and also how they can assess the risk that they have to face. I have seen that SFC (Securities and Futures Commission) has already published information regarding platforms that are licensed, that are deemed to be licensed, or platforms that have been closed down, or platforms which have made applications. This clear information will assist investors to make a decision as to what they should do when they consider making investments.
But I must repeat, their interest will be best protected if they invest on platforms which have been licensed. That means these platforms will be properly regulated. There will be proper risk control and proper standards that they must fulfil. If investors choose to invest on platforms that are not licensed, they have to face their own risk. I advise them not to do so. That is why the Government is so concerned about enforcing an effective licensing regime, and I urge everyone to try to understand the products and the risks as much as possible if they choose to invest in virtual assets. The Government, the responsible authorities, and I think also people engage in this business, should all try to promote education in this regard.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
2023 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Standards open for applications now
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Open auctions for market stalls in Aberdeen Market to be held on October 4
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A spokesman for the FEHD said, “The Aberdeen Market is the first overhauled market under the Market Modernisation Programme, with multiple modernised facilities and management arrangements introduced. In the coming auction, there will be a number of stalls for selling ready-to-eat food and for the provision of haircutting, manicures, beauty and Chinese medicine services, as well as spacious adjoining stalls. We believe that the Aberdeen Market will offer more diversified products and services to members of the public in future.”
The types of the stalls to be auctioned cover fresh meat (pork), chilled pork, vegetables, cooked food, food-related dry goods and wet goods, fruits, ready-to-eat food, service trades (including barber (haircutting only), manicures, beauty and Chinese medicine practitioners), etc. The first and second floors are provided with adjoining stalls with a larger area for vegetables, fruits, ready-to-eat food and service trades. The tenancy agreement is a three-year fixed term from November 1, with no right of renewal upon expiry of the tenancy agreement. However, a signing of a new tenancy agreement can be arranged upon mutual agreement. The upset prices of the monthly rent of the stalls vary depending on the sizes and locations of the individual stalls, starting from $4,300. Related information is available on the FEHD website.
Bidders for the market stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. To allow more people to bid for the stalls and increase customer choices by enhancing diversity in terms of the variety of stalls, any person shall only be allowed to bid for one stall in the Aberdeen Market. Any person who is currently a stall tenant of the Aberdeen Market is allowed to bid in the auction, but shall deliver vacant possession of the current stall to the FEHD before the effective date of commencement of the tenancy agreement. The terms and conditions of the auctions have been uploaded on the FEHD website, with details of qualifications of the bidders listed.
The open auctions will be held at the Youth Square at 238 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The admission tickets will be issued 30 minutes prior to the commencement of auction. Persons who want to attend the auctions must wait at the waiting area of the auction venue and produce their Hong Kong identity card or passport for registration. The registered person will then be provided with an admission ticket for the auctions. In addition, eligible bidders after verification will be issued with a bidding paddle for the auction. The FEHD has also invited representatives of the Police, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Competition Commission to monitor the auctions at the auction venue in order to ensure that the open auctions are conducted in an orderly and fair manner.
Details of the open auctions, ready-to-eat food that can be sold as well as of the public market stalls concerned in the Aberdeen Market have been uploaded to the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pleasant_environment/tidy_market/open_auction_coming.html). Bidders interested in the auctions may visit the department’s website or contact the Southern District Environmental Hygiene Office.
Appeal for information on missing girl in Tai Po (with photo)
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Lau Sze-nga, aged 13, went missing after she was last seen at Ngau Tau Kok MTR Station on August 15 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on August 17.
She is about 1.6 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a pointed face with yellow complexion and long straight brown hair.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing girl or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3112 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
SCST congratulates Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, Tam Hoi-lam, Camille Cheng and Stephanie Au on winning two bronze medals in Asian Games
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CE watches Asian Games in Hangzhou to cheer for Hong Kong athletes (with photos)
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In the morning, Mr Lee also visited the Zhejiang Liaison Unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to learn more about its work in promoting closer economic and trade relations between Zhejiang and Hong Kong and fostering cultural exchanges between the two places. He also encouraged colleagues to strive to serve Hong Kong people and enterprises in Zhejiang, and attract businesses and talents to Hong Kong.
In the afternoon, Mr Lee attended a lunch with the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC). He said that the SF&OC has provided necessary arrangements and assistance to the Hong Kong, China Delegation for participating in the Asian Games. He appreciated the work of the SF&OC.
Hong Kong – 2023 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Standards open for applications now
The Governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are working proactively to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Standards for different products and services. The Governments of the three places signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on jointly promoting the development of the GBA Standards on April 24, 2023, to drive the harmonisation of rules in relevant sectors in the region and improve product and service quality. The list of GBA Standards announced on the same day of signing the MOU covers a total of 110 items in the fields of food quality and safety, Cantonese cuisine, transportation, mechanical and electrical products, as well as medical care, nursing care, education, e-sports, etc. The Trade and Industry Department (TID) is responsible for co-ordinating the participation of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) in the work on the GBA Standards, and has invited relevant bureaux/departments to promote their use by industrial, commercial and professional organisations and enterprises within their purview.
For the formulation of a new batch of GBA Standards, the Standardization Research Center for the GBA (GBA Standardization Research Center), which was established jointly by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the nation’s Standardization Administration, recently issued the Guidelines on the Common Needs of GBA Standards in 2023 (Guidelines on the Common Needs) and the Guidelines on Applications for GBA Standards (Guidelines on Applications) respectively to invite applications for GBA Standards from the trade in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Full texts of the two Guidelines (available in Chinese only) are published on the GBA Standard Information Public Service Platform (GBA Standard Platform) (www.gbsrc.org.cn/newsInfo/).
The Guidelines on the Common Needs set out eight priority sectors for formulating GBA Standards (i.e. new technologies, new energy industries, service industries, consumer goods and food products, talents and employment, healthcare and hygiene, public services, and green industries), while the Guidelines on Applications set out the application requirements and channels as well as the list of application documents. The trades concerned are welcome to submit applications through the GBA Standard Platform (www.gbsrc.org.cn/applicationDevelopment) or by email to the GBA Standardization Research Center (gbsrc@gdis.org.cn) in accordance with the specific requirements set out in the two Guidelines, for the GBA Standardization Research Center’s assessment and examination. The two channels mentioned above accept applications all year round.
The development of the GBA Standards can promote the interconnectivity and integrated development of the three places, deepening Hong Kong’s economic and trade exchanges and co-operation with the Mainland and Macao. The GBA Standards and related information are available on the GBA Standard Platform (www.gbsrc.org.cn) for public access and voluntary adoption by the trade.
The TID will continue to liaise with relevant authorities of Guangdong Province and Macao, and co-ordinate within the HKSARG to jointly take the relevant work forward. Upon issuance of the Guidelines on the Common Needs and the Guidelines on Applications, the TID has encouraged the trade to submit applications for the GBA Standards, and will invite the relevant bureaux/departments to encourage organisations and enterprises within their purview to submit applications.Hong Kong – Open auctions for market stalls in Aberdeen Market to be held on October 4
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (September 26) that open auctions for a total of 23 stalls in the Aberdeen Market will be held on October 4 (Wednesday).Hong Kong – Appeal for information on missing girl in Tai Po (with photo)
Police today (September 26) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Tai Po.Hong Kong – SCST congratulates Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, Tam Hoi-lam, Camille Cheng and Stephanie Au on winning two bronze medals in Asian Games
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (September 24) congratulated swimming athlete Siobhan Bernadette Haughey on winning a bronze medal in Women’s 50m Breaststroke at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou (Asian Games), as well as Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, Tam Hoi-lam, Camille Cheng and Stephanie Au on winning a bronze medal in Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay at the Asian Games.
Mr Yeung said, “We are thrilled by Haughey’s well deserved and popular victory. It is exhilarating that Haughey, Tam, Cheng and Au demonstrated remarkable team spirit in the competition and achieved outstanding result. I wish the swimming athletes the best in upcoming events.”Hong Kong – CE watches Asian Games in Hangzhou to cheer for Hong Kong athletes (with photos)
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (September 24) watched various competitions at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou (Asian Games) to cheer for Hong Kong athletes.
The delegation led by Mr Lee went to various event venues to watch the competitions with Hong Kong athletes’ participation, including swimming, Wushu and fencing. Mr Lee extended his warmest congratulations to athletes who won medals in today’s competition.
Mr Lee said that the Asian Games held in Hangzhou is of great importance to Hong Kong athletes as they are competing in our country. He was pleased to have the opportunity to watch the races in person with the participation of Hong Kong athletes, who were striving for excellence and demonstrating extraordinary capability. He expressed his hope that Hong Kong athletes will continue to go beyond themselves and unleash their potentials in achieving outstanding results in various events.
Mr Lee will continue his visit tomorrow (September 25).
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