Latest news with #PolicyAddress
RTHK
6 days ago
- Health
- RTHK
Third medical school recommendation to come soon
Third medical school recommendation to come soon Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau says the recommendations will be made before September's Policy Address. File photo: RTHK Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau says a working group will submit its recommendation on the establishment of the city's third medical school to the Chief Executive before the Policy Address in September. Three universities - Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - had earlier submitted proposals to operate the new medical school. Lo said the working group, which comprises six experts, has already met with representatives from all three universities twice. 'We will summarise the proposals from the three universities. The working group will hold another meeting to discuss them. In the short term, we will provide our recommendations to the Chief Executive, who will decide whether to establish a third medical school and which university will run it,' Lo said during a HOY TV programme aired on Saturday. Separately, Lo also mentioned the government's plans to expand no-smoking areas beyond schools and hospitals to include tourist hotspots. Under the '10 tobacco-control measures' unveiled by the Health Bureau in April, one proposal is to extend no-smoking zones to within three metres of entrances to schools and hospitals. It would also empower the Secretary for Health to designate no-smoking areas 'with specific time limits, conditions, or exemptions'. 'We are considering smoking bans in places with many children or students, such as school zones; hospitals and other areas with more elderly people; and also crowded tourist spots,' he said. Lo pointed out that, since March, Shanghai had enforced stricter outdoor smoking regulations at eight popular tourist sites, saying such a move was beneficial to tourism. 'Many tourists dislike being exposed to second-hand smoke... Banning smoking in tourist hotspots could boost tourism,' he said. Lawmakers will resume the second reading of the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill on September 10.
RTHK
7 days ago
- Business
- RTHK
Hong Kong sees a 12pc rise in visitor arrivals in H1
Hong Kong sees a 12pc rise in visitor arrivals in H1 Chief Executive John Lee said the figures were remarkable given the intense competition from neighbouring regions. Screenshot from John Lee's Facebook Chief Executive John Lee on Saturday said Hong Kong saw a 12 percent rise in visitor arrivals during the first half of the year, when compared to the same period last year. Speaking in a social media video address, Lee said 24 million people visited Hong Kong, with non-mainland arrivals up 17 per cent to almost 6 million. He said his administration would continue to make the SAR an attractive destination for tourists and that he welcomed ideas for September's Policy Address. "We will keep creating tourist hotspots and organising large-scale events, offering different activities every day to attract visitors from around the world to Hong Kong. We aim to provide quality travel packages and services to leave tourists with happy memories," he said. "The government has started consulting on the Policy Address. We welcome your feedback." Lee said the figures were remarkable given the intense competition from neighbouring regions. The first Policy Address district consultation session will be held in To Kwa Wan on Sunday, with online and TV live broadcasts.
RTHK
7 days ago
- Business
- RTHK
Hong Kong sees a 12pc rise in visitor arrivals in H1
Hong Kong sees a 12pc rise in visitor arrivals in H1 Chief Executive John Lee said the figures were remarkable given the intense competition from neighbouring regions.. Screenshot from John Lee's Facebook Chief Executive John Lee on Saturday said Hong Kong saw a 12 percent rise in visitor arrivals during the first half of the year, when compared to the same period last year. Speaking in a social media video address, Lee said 24 million people visited Hong Kong, with non-mainland arrivals up 17 per cent to almost 6 million. He said his administration would continue to make the SAR an attractive destination for tourists and that he welcomed ideas for September's Policy Address. "We will keep creating tourist hotspots and organising large-scale events, offering different activities every day to attract visitors from around the world to Hong Kong. We aim to provide quality travel packages and services to leave tourists with happy memories," he said. "The government has started consulting on the Policy Address. We welcome your feedback." Lee said the figures were remarkable given the intense competition from neighbouring regions. The first Policy Address district consultation session will be held in To Kwa Wan on Sunday, with online and TV live broadcasts.
RTHK
13-07-2025
- Health
- RTHK
Govt seeks to reassure caregivers over trial scheme
Govt seeks to reassure caregivers over trial scheme Chris Sun says caregivers will retain their eligibility for government subsidies when they are hospitalised. Photo: RTHK Welfare chief Chris Sun said low-income caregivers don't need to worry about their subsidy being cut when a trial scheme offering help to them begins on Monday. The trial is part of the government's efforts to build a database for carers, which was first announced in last year's Policy Address. From Monday morning, the Hospital Authority will notify the Social Welfare Department when a caregiver receiving a low-income subsidy needs to spend time in hospital, to see what help they need. Officials will give the family a call or pay a visit, to see if services such as food delivery or respite services are needed. Sun said on a TVB programme on Sunday that while low-income carers need to give at least 80 hours of care a month to receive the subsidy, that requirement will be waived in the case of hospitalisation. "We will handle such cases with discretion - nobody's subsidy will be docked," the minister said. "So for carers, please do not refuse to go to hospital because you worry about the hourly counts affecting your income." Sun added that under the trial scheme, officials will check the address of the caregiver, but not the reason why he or she is hospitalised, or for how many days. The secretary for labour and welfare also said in the long run, the government aims to build a wider net to support caregivers by extending the trial to cover recipients of other government subsidies.
RTHK
07-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Bane of tariffs 'boon for HK investment promotions'
Bane of tariffs 'boon for HK investment promotions' InvestHK chief Alpha Lau says around 1,300 enterprises have come to Hong Kong since 2023, with almost half of them made up of mainland companies. Photo: RTHK Invest Hong Kong director-general Alpha Lau said on Monday the disruption caused by US tariffs is an opportunity for the SAR to attract more business. She made the comment as the government's investment promotion agency said that over the past two years it had attracted more than HK$168 billion in investments to the city, more than twice the target laid out in the 2022 Policy Address. "We do not want to see the world being affected by new tariffs, or the US changing the established trade rules that we've been using for decades," Lau said. "But having said that, since it's happening anyway, we believe that Hong Kong is an ideal platform to turn these dangers into opportunities because most companies around the world require stability to do business," she added. Around 1,300 enterprises have entered Hong Kong since 2023, with almost half of them made up of mainland companies, followed by those from the United States, United Kingdom and Singapore. More than half of the enterprises were from the finance, technology and innovation and family offices. Meanwhile, more than 670 applications have been approved through the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme introduced in March last year, bringing in HK$21 billion. The scheme grants longer-term visitor's visas to applicants who will invest a minimum of HK$30 million into the city's technology and innovation sectors and permanent residency after they have stayed here for seven years. Lau said the agency has assisted more than 7,700 enterprises to set up offices in Hong Kong, bringing in more than HK$440 billion. She said InvestHK would continue to promote the SAR in both traditional and new markets and be in line with policies such as the low-altitude economy, liquor trade and the Northern Metropolis.
