AFCD signs contract for Pilot Project on Urban Farming in Ma On Shan Sai Sha Road Garden (with photos)
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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) signed a contract today (May 24) with Farm66 Investment Limited for the Pilot Project on Urban Farming in Ma On Shan Sai Sha Road Garden (MOSSSRG).
An AFCD spokesman said, “The Pilot Project on Urban Farming is one of the key measures of the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries. The overall concept of urban farming is to integrate agriculture into the city and provide urban dwellers with high-quality, fresh and low-carbon food, as well as green landscapes and modernised farming experience, while improving the quality of urban life and liveability.”
Under the five-year pilot project, a modernised indoor crop farm with a land area of around 500 square metres will be set up in the MOSSSRG. The farm is expected to start production in the fourth quarter this year, with a view to providing the public with fresh agricultural products from farm to table with low-carbon footprints, as well as offering venues within easy reach for leisure, education and parent-child activities. The AFCD will continue to search for suitable venues to conduct similar pilot projects.
The Government will continue to implement measures related to urban farming through a multipronged approach, including introducing urban farming elements into the planning stage of New Development Areas (NDAs), making effective use of urban spaces in the Northern Metropolis and other NDAs. The Government will also set up modernised hydroponic farms and stalls on suitable rooftops of public markets. The concept of “harvest-to-sale” will first be adopted in Tin Shui Wai Public Market, which is under construction.
Additionally, the Government will encourage business enterprises to develop modern urban farms, and explore the possibility of setting urban farming as one of the indicators of green buildings through working with public bodies or non-profit making organisations related to green buildings. At present, the urban farms of some projects are recognised by Building Environmental Assessment Method Plus (BEAM Plus) as innovative measures and rated. The Government will also explore officially incorporating urban farming facilities into the assessment scheme of BEAM Plus to encourage business enterprises to integrate elements of urban farming when planning property development projects, so as to blend agriculture into urban life, promote the physical and mental well-being of users of the building, and enhance Hong Kong’s development and standards in sustainable architecture.
Apr 23, 2024 | International
Hong Kong Customs signs Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement with Bahrain Customs Affairs (with photos)
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The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, led a delegation of Hong Kong Customs to visit the Bahrain Customs Affairs (BCA) to discuss matters on Customs co-operation and sign the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with the President of the BCA, Mr Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in Al Hidd today (April 22) to strengthen mutual trade relationship and foster greater security in the global supply chain. The Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Oscar Chow, and the Chairman of Asia, Africa and Middle East Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), Mr Jonathan Lamport, were present to witness the signing ceremony.
During the trip, Ms Ho and the delegation also visited the Khalifa bin Salman Port and joined the delegation of the HKGCC and the Hong Kong Bahrain Business Association to visit the Bahrain International Investment Park with an aim to enhancing the trade and cultural ties between Hong Kong and Bahrain.
The signing of the MRA is a milestone of fostering the connection and collaboration between Hong Kong and Bahrain. The MRA will reinforce international cargo security while facilitating legitimate cross-boundary cargo movements of the two places and bringing significant benefits to AEOs in both sides, as well as enhancing their competitiveness in the international market.
The Hong Kong AEO Programme was launched in 2012. The signing of the MRA with Bahrain brings the number of MRAs ratified between Hong Kong Customs and other Customs administrations to 15 in total. The other 14 Customs administrations which Hong Kong has signed MRAs with are the Mainland, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia and Macao, China. Under the MRA, AEOs from the signatory countries or regions can enjoy reciprocal trade facilitations including reduced inspection rate and prioritised clearance.
Hong Kong Customs is dedicated to extending the MRA networks, in particular with Belt and Road economies including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States in the Middle East region. The AEO MRA Action Plan with Saudi Arabia was signed last year, marking a significant step towards the conclusion of the MRA in the near future. Hong Kong Customs will continue to take active steps to reach MRAs with major trading partners so as to bring more trade facilitation benefits to AEOs.
Apr 10, 2024 | Business
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SEOUL, S.KOREA, Apr 9, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – WizMedi Bio Co., Ltd. (WizMedi Bio) today announced that it has reached a formal agreement with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), established by the University of Wisconsin, for the patent and technical licensing of the A6 botulinum neurotoxin strain. This agreement enables WizMedi Bio to prove the origin of the strain, which has been the primary hurdle to the botulinum toxin business, and paves a pathway to develop a stable new business in the market.
The A1 botulinum toxin currently dominates the market and as a novel subtype, A6 presents itself as a challenger. Therefore, the future course of the A6 strain as a BOTULINUM TOXIN provides a new opportunity in the botulinum field. According to research published by Dr. Eric A. Johnson and colleagues, the A6 strain is known to have high potency and long duration of action in animal models. Evidence indicates the toxin is also known to stay long in local areas. Due to its high potency with fewer side effects, the A6 strain is expected to bring a new perspective to the market.
WizMedi Bio has signed consulting agreements with world-renowned scholars in this field and announced that it will actively target not only the Korean domestic market but also the U.S. market, which is a challenging market to enter. To bring A6 to commerce, the company has also signed an agreement for a strategic alliance with BNC Korea, Inc. (http://bnckorea.co.kr/), utilizing their GMP botulinum toxin facility, for joint research and development. Moreover, the company will actively work in tandem with the FDA to secure a production facility in the U.S.
WizMedi Bio was co-founded by two medical doctors based on their expertise and know-how gained at WizMedi Co., Ltd., a company dedicated to the research and development of products targeted at the beauty and medical aesthetic markets. The company aims to capture the botulinum toxin market based on maximized utilization of its distribution network and experience. In particular, it will actively target the U.S. market, which accounts for more than 60% of the global market.
“We will enhance the global market, especially the U.S., with novel botulinum toxin products,” said Choi Yong-hoon, the CEO of WizMedi Bio.
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Company: Wizmedi Co., Ltd.
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SOURCE: Wizmedi Co., Ltd.
Topic: Press release summary
Mar 23, 2024 | International
CE signs Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (with photos)
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The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (March 22) signed, in accordance with Article 48(3) of the Basic Law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council. The Ordinance will take effect upon gazettal tomorrow (March 23).
“The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance will officially take effect on March 23, 2024, ensuring the effective protection of national security. It signifies that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility as stipulated in Article 23 of the Basic Law to enact local legislation to safeguard national security, and accomplished a historic mission, living up to the trust placed in us by the Central Authorities and the country,” Mr Lee said.
“The completion of the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law is essential to the implementation of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, ensuring the effective protection of national security of ‘one country’ and the long-term prosperity and stability of the HKSAR under ‘two systems’.
“The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance will bring safety to society. With safety comes stability; with stability comes prosperity. A safe and stable environment is crucial to the success of business activities and enterprises, without which businesses might suffer financial losses, and their investments and operations could be sabotaged or come under attack. Therefore, a safe and stable environment will make Hong Kong an attractive place for enterprises and investments.”
“While safeguarding security, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance ensures human rights and freedoms are protected, and the principles of protecting human rights and freedoms have already been clearly and explicitly stipulated in the legal provisions, indicating that, under the Ordinance, human rights are to be respected and protected, and the rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press and of publication, the freedoms of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, enjoyed under the Basic Law and the provisions of two international covenants as applied to the HKSAR, namely the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, are to be protected in accordance with the law. The Ordinance also, as stipulated, ensures the property and investment in the HKSAR are protected by the law.
“The Ordinance fully implements the requirements set out in Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Decision of the National People’s Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the HKSAR to Safeguard National Security (5.28 Decision), and the Hong Kong National Security Law for improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, ensuring the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the protection of national security. The HKSAR Government will effectively discharge its responsibilities and carry out the work under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. It will also continue to enhance public education and publicity to deepen public understanding of the necessity of safeguarding national security and its pivotal role in maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
“From tomorrow on, the national security of the HKSAR will be more effectively safeguarded, allowing Hong Kong to move forward without worries or burden. The HKSAR Government will continue to lead Hong Kong in fully focusing on economic development, improving people’s livelihoods, and maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of the city, with a view to creating a brighter and more abundant future together.”
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