Hong Kong – SCST continues visit to Shanghai (with photos)
SCST continues visit to Shanghai (with photos)
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The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, continued his visit to Shanghai today (January 9). Together with the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Joe Wong, he met with the Director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, Mr Xu Bin, and introduced Hong Kong as a destination for major sports events. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government encourages and supports Hong Kong athletes and national sports associations to drive more exchanges with the Mainland sports sector. Athletes and citizens from Shanghai are welcome to join sports events in Hong Kong.
Mr Yeung and Mr Wong visited M50, which was a textile factory compound, to understand how local factories and old architecture were renovated and upgraded, in order to nurture and attract talent, and bring Chinese and overseas artists together, thereby promoting the arts and cultural development in the area. They also visited Shanghai Stadium.
Mr Yeung will tomorrow (January 10) visit the Shanghai Disney Resort. He will return to Hong Kong in the evening.
Cary, NC – WEBWIRE – Monday, December 4, 2023
SAS has received the top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), earning the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion. As the nations foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality, the CEI recognition deems SAS as anadvocate of inclusive workplace policiesfor LGBTQ+ employees in the US and globally. SAS has always taken pride in fostering an inclusive workplace culture where employees are encouraged to be their authentic selves, said Danielle Pavliv, SAS Chief Diversity Officer. We believe that providing a safe and inclusive environment for all employees and consistently seeking opportunities to improve our efforts are simply the right things to do. Receiving the Equality 100 Award validates the SAS commitment to inclusion and equality for all employees at work and in life. For more than 45 years, SAS has earned a reputation of prioritizing employee well-being and providing supportive resources for its workforce, including equitable rewards and an inclusive work environment for LGBTQ+ employees. In fact, SAS was one of the first to offer US same-sex domestic partners benefits as early as 1997, when there were limited legal protections or requirements for LGBTQ+ workers. Since then, SAS has continued to grow its programs and benefits for LGBTQ+ employees with a focus on ensuring that all employees feel supported to bring their full selves to work. Bennett McAuley, SAS Human Resources Program Manager, says these efforts help empower and inspire employees like him. Being gender-divergent in the workplace may not feel like a safe option at some companies, but SAS nurtures an environment where it can be, said McAuley. In recent years, SAS has introduced new trans-specific programming and initiatives that our employee base has proudly embraced, including yearly events for Trans Day of Visibility and Trans Awareness Week, a gender transition guide, a Gender Queeries support group and more. As a trans man, it has been deeply rewarding and meaningful to be a part of this platform and space for my fellow trans and non-binary colleagues. TheCEIrates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million US workers and an additional 18 million outside of the US. The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion, said RaShawn Shawnie Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion. Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families. In addition to being named a Best Workplace for Innovators by Fast Company this year and securing a top score on the Disability Equality Index, SAS also regularlyreceives distinctionsas a top place to work for parents and families, women, millennials and more. Learn what makes SAS agreat place to work. About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Americas largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the publics understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work. About SAS SAS is a global leader in AI and analyticssoftware,including industry-specific solutions. SAS helps organizations transform data intotrusteddecisionsfasterby providing knowledge in the moments that matter. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.
SCST continues visit to Thailand (with photos)
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FS continues visit in Shanghai (with photos/video)
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Mr Chan met with the President of the New Development Bank and former President of Brazil, Ms Dilma Rousseff, today and exchanged views on topics including the global economic situation, financial services development, and Hong Kong’s assistance to the New Development Bank on its businesses and development.
Mr Chan also met with the President of the China Foreign Exchange Trade System, Ms Zhang Yi, and exchanged views on continuously enhancing the connection of financial infrastructure between the Mainland and Hong Kong. He then visited a leading Mainland pharmaceutical company and discussed the development of the biomedicine industry.
Mr Chan delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference Satellite Conference – A New Chapter of Hong Kong-Shanghai Collaboration this morning. He said that the maritime industry is crucial to the development of the national economy and the building of a great maritime country. The country supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international maritime centre. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will promulgate an action plan on the development of a high value-added maritime services industry this year, and will strive to promote the development of digital ports and green ports, with the development of a high value-added maritime services industry, so as to further expand the maritime cluster and lead the maritime industry toward a high value-added development direction. The HKSAR Government will also make full use of the advantages of Hong Kong’s common law system to develop maritime arbitration. Mr Chan said that Shanghai and Hong Kong are the world-class ports of the Yangtze River Delta Region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area respectively. Both places can join hands and leverage their strengths to explore more areas of co-operation, so as to enhance the efficiency of cargo delivery to places all over the world.
The Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference has been held in Hong Kong since 2011. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a co-operation mechanism between Hong Kong and Shanghai, and to strengthen and promote co-operation in the maritime, aviation and logistics industry between the two places, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai and the Shanghai Lingang Group have organised a satellite conference in Shanghai this year.
Mr Chan also attended and spoke at a luncheon jointly organised by Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong and Economic Trade Office in Shanghai and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, to promote Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages to leaders of Shanghai’s commercial and industrial sectors, and encourage them to make use of Hong Kong for international expansion.
Mr Chan met with Hong Kong people and enterprises in Shanghai in the evening. He will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (July 8).
BD continues to follow up on incident of fallen canopy at Po On Building
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The subject building is 57 years old. The BD issued a statutory notice under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) to the owners’ corporation (OC) in respect of the common parts of the building in 2014. The BD learnt that the OC had applied for the building maintenance subsidy schemes from the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and the applications were approved by the URA in March 2021. The registered inspector appointed by the OC submitted a prescribed inspection report to the BD in March 2023, which recommended that prescribed repair works would be required. The consultant concerned is now preparing tender documents for the repair works and is expected to discuss with the OC on the tendering for a contractor in late July.
Although the concerned building has been inspected, the statutory notice under the MBIS will not be considered as complied with until the repair works have been completed. Pursuant to section 40(1BC) of the Buildings Ordinance, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory notice served on him or her, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 5 ($50,000 at present) and to imprisonment for one year, as well as a further fine of $5,000 for each day that the offence has continued. The BD will continue to follow up with the OC and urge for their commencement of repair works as soon as possible. The BD will also consider taking enforcement action if necessary so as to ensure due compliance with the statutory notice and the safety of the occupants and the public.
The BD emphasised that it is the responsibility of owners to ensure their buildings are free of UBWs and no UBWs will be carried out. Timely repair and maintenance of private buildings is the basic responsibility of owners and building safety problems could not be sustainably and effectively resolved by the BD’s enforcement action alone. Without receiving statutory notices under the MBIS, owners may also arrange prescribed inspections and repair as well as removal of UBWs for their buildings/premises at any time on voluntary basis in accordance with the standards and procedures of the MBIS. The Government will offer assistance and support to responsible owners and take enforcement actions to tackle dilapidation of buildings.
SAS continues top score ranking in Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion
AI and analytics leader once again secures score of 100 on Human Rights Campaign Foundations assessment of LGBTQ+ workplace equality
Hong Kong – SCST continues visit to Thailand (with photos)
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, continued his visit in Thailand today (October 22). In the morning, he visited the “Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Carnival” exhibition in Bangkok. The exhibition is organised by the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), introducing Hong Kong’s ICH items through exhibits, photos, short videos and interactive games. Mr Yeung then visited the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre to learn more about art and cultural development in Thailand and appreciate the artworks created by artists of different styles. He also visited the “Immersive Hong Kong” roving exhibition organised by the Information Services Department in Bangkok.
In the afternoon, Mr Yeung attended the opening ceremony of the “Next Generation: Emerging Directors Exhibition & Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation” organised by Create Hong Kong and funded by the Hong Kong Film Development Fund (FDF). Seven Hong Kong films, including those by budding directors, such as “A Guilty Conscience” and “A Light Never Goes Out”, were screened and the promotional materials and film sets of the films supported by the FDF were showcased in the exhibition. Mr Yeung also visited the “JUXTAPOSED 2023 Hong Kong Fashion in Bangkok” opening ceremony organised by the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association and sponsored by Create Hong Kong and attended the opening fashion presentation.
Mr Yeung attended the Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok opening ceremony and opening programme organised by the LCSD yesterday (October 21). Held in Bangkok, Thailand from October 21 to November 12, the Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok is an overseas cultural exchange extravaganza organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, with the support from the Ministry of Culture, Kingdom of Thailand.
Mr Yeung also visited the Thai Film Archive, which presents “Movies to GO – Border Crossings in Hong Kong Cinema – Thailand” in collaboration with the Hong Kong Film Archive at the Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok. Co-productions of the two places and three Hong Kong film classics in the 1980s and 1990s that had inspired some Thai film directors, namely “Police Story”, “An Autumn’s Tale” and “Once a Thief” are screened.
Mr Yeung will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (October 23) morning.Hong Kong – FS continues visit in Shanghai (with photos/video)
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit in Shanghai today (July 7).Hong Kong – BD continues to follow up on incident of fallen canopy at Po On Building
Upon notification by the Police yesterday (July 2) of fallen concrete from Po On Building on 30-36 Mong Kok Road, the Buildings Department (BD) officers were immediately deployed to carry out a site inspection in the afternoon of the same day. Officers at the scene found that a canopy had fallen from the external wall on the 16th floor of the building. Some individual canopies and projections on the external wall were also found to be loose. No obvious danger to the overall building structure was noted. With the assistance from the Fire Services Department, the loose items on the external walls were removed. After checking the records, the BD confirmed today (July 3) that the subject canopy was unauthorised building works (UBWs) belonging to a domestic unit on the 16th floor of the building.Ads
