Merger of Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute and Nano and Advanced Materials Institute
The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) today (November5) briefed the respective Boards of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) on the proposal to merge the two research and development (R&D) centres.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, remarked that, "To implement the development plans set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, and to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, the Government needs to deepen the reform of the arrangement of public R&D institutions in Hong Kong. Having reviewed the positioning and focus areas of our R&D institutions, as well as the technology domains that Hong Kong will focus on, we propose merging ASTRI and NAMI."
He continued that, "ASTRI and NAMI respectively drive and co-ordinate applied R&D in the areas of information and communications technologies, and nanotechnology and new materials. Merging the two centres through organic integration will enhance their complementary advantages on applied R&D and create synergies, thereby boosting the capability for conducting high value-added applied R&D work, strengthening the support for industry development, and fostering new industrialisation."
An ITC spokesman said, "After merging the two centres, overall savings in operating costs are expected to be achieved through rationalisation and consolidation in the medium to long run. Regarding the staff establishment, appropriate arrangements would be manifested through redeployment and natural wastage."
The ITC will commission an independent consultant to make suggestions on the transitional arrangements and implementation plan on the merger. The Government expects to commence the transition process in 2025-26.
The Chairpersons of the Boards of ASTRI and NAMI have also briefed their centres' staff respectively on the merger, as well as the relevant follow ups and arrangements today.
ASTRI was established in 2000 and designated as the R&D centre for information and communications technologies in 2006. NAMI was established and designated as the R&D centre for nanotechnology and new materials in 2006.
GREEN@COMMUNITY has taken over recycling service of waste plastics
The "Pilot Scheme on Collection and Recycling Services of Plastic Recyclable Materials" (Pilot Scheme) of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) concluded yesterday (January 18). The collection service of waste plastics in all 18 districts of Hong Kong has been taken over by the operators of GREEN@COMMUNITY.
A spokesman for the EPD said: "After the conclusion of the Pilot Scheme, the recycling service of plastics has been handed over to the GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling network in the respective districts, and the door-to-door collection service of waste plastics provided by the GREEN@COMMUNITY operators to relevant housing estates has also been successfully extended across the territory. The EPD conducted site inspections across districts yesterday and today (January 19) and found that the situation of plastic recycling of residents and housing estates is in order and the operation of GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling stations is generally smooth. The department did not receive any complaint regarding collection service of waste plastics from the relevant housing estates, nor were there any cases observed of certain types of waste plastics not being collected or left unattended. The EPD will continue to monitor the situation."
"After the taking over of waste plastic collection services by GREEN@COMMUNITY, the operators may pass the collected plastics freely to any EPD-approved recyclers for handling, from merely the three designated recyclers under the Pilot Scheme to the current 10 downstream recyclers for processing. The EPD is expediting the approval process and will gradually add more qualified downstream recyclers to the list, further opening up market competition to reduce the cost of collection and recycling of waste plastics," the spokesman added.
The EPD stressed that it will strive to ensure that the plastic collection services for housing estates will remain unaffected after the conclusion of the Pilot Scheme. GREEN@COMMUNITY operators will continue to liaise with the housing estates for more flexible collection services for plastics, as well as other recyclables, with a view to enhancing the cost-effectiveness.
The EPD will continue to strengthen collaboration with GREEN@COMMUNITY operators, downstream recyclers, and relevant housing estates to provide the required plastic recycling services, ensuring that the recycling situation of residents and housing estates remains as usual. The EPD will also step up monitoring of the work of downstream recyclers, including conducting more frequent spot checks, to ensure that all collected waste plastics are properly processed and converted from waste into valuable resources.
