Hong Kong Hosts International Infrastructure Leaders Summit to Enhance Global Project Collaboration and Innovation

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit

The Development Bureau (DEVB) today (November 15) hosted the International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit, bringing together more than 500 major infrastructure project leaders and experts in infrastructure from over 20 countries and economies around the globe, including senior government officials from Mainland and overseas countries, and representatives of renowned international organisations such as the World Economic Forum and International Institute for Management Development, to delve into the strategies and policies of infrastructure delivery plans, and addressed the challenges and opportunities in implementing mega infrastructure projects under the theme of Strategic Leadership in Managing Complexity and Uncertainty in Infrastructure Delivery.

Addressing the Summit, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that the Hong Kong Special Adminstrative Region Government is committed to investing in infrastructure and advancing land development projects to promote social and economic development. Despite many challenges, Hong Kong's infrastructure development has remained robust with world-class infrastructure recognised internationally. The Government has taken proactive stances to spearhead the transformation of the construction industry over the past few years, promoting advanced construction methods and materials, integrated digital technologies, as well as adopting new project delivery model. Through exchanges that transcend geographical and sectoral boundaries at the Summit, the Government hopes to pool wisdom on the delivery of projects with enhanced efficiency and quality. She also mentioned that under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong would continue to capitalise on the privilege of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, and consolidate its position as an international infrastructure centre, uniting the world's best talent, knowledge and investment to address upcoming challenges and promote quality infrastructure development.

Speaking at the Summit, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China, Mr Li Liangsheng, said that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China stressed the need to establish a system for the planning and standardisation of new infrastructure facilities, optimise the mechanism for the integration and utilisation of new infrastructure facilities, promote the digital transformation of conventional infrastructure, expand the diversity of investment and financing channels, and enhance the co-ordination mechanism for major infrastructure development. The Summit will inject impetus generated in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into the national development of new quality productive forces. It will further promote international infrastructural co-operation and bring far-reaching significance.

In his keynote presentation, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau, said that the Government is taking forward the Northern Metropolis, the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands project as well as a number of major transport infrastructure projects. He stressed the Government's commitment to be an "enabler" fostering innovation and industrialisation to drive industry enhancement, and added that Hong Kong's diverse talent pool is also one of its most significant advantages, allowing the city to play a leading role in the construction industry.

The presentation and plenary sessions of the Summit gathered prominent infrastructure leaders and experts from various sectors worldwide, including government, academia, construction and finance, to share the latest initiatives and challenges facing infrastructure development. The first plenary session "The Next Growth Curve" highlighted the critical role of infrastructure in driving the city development and the next wave of global economic growth. The second session "Powerful Partnerships" explored effective financing and procurement strategies essential for advancing infrastructure projects within a culture of collaboration. The last session "Building Tomorrow" focused on how innovation and digital technologies are reshaping infrastructure development, promoting greater efficiency and sustainability.

At the Summit, the Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi) which was established by the DEVB in August this year to drive innovative applications in the construction industry, signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Mainland and overseas organisations, namely Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research and the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore, as well as three local universities, namely the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. These MoU would expand the collaboration network of the BTRi for the promotion of innovative application in the construction industry. The major development directions of the BTRi are to promote applied research and development (R&D), review and uplift standards ,as well as to provide accreditation, certification and testing.

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEVB hosts International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government strongly condemns anti-China organisation and foreign media for misleading public and whitewashing Lai Chee-ying

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (May 1) strongly condemned the attempts by an anti-China organisation and foreign media to sugarcoat the criminal acts of national security offender Lai Chee-ying and to slander, smear, as well as attack the HKSAR by releasing a so-called press freedom index and presenting a so-called "award". Such despicable behaviours totally disregarded the rule of law and twisted the facts, which must be strongly condemned.

A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all defendants charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to a fair trial by the Judiciary exercising independent judicial power. The courts of the HKSAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. In the Lai Chee-ying case, the court has conducted 156 days of public hearings, considered up to 2 220 pieces of evidence, over 80 000 pages of documents, and a total of over 1 000 pages of written submissions from all parties, etc. Lai Chee-ying himself even testified in court for 52 days. These are the testaments to the fact that Lai Chee-ying and other defendants were found guilty only after a fair trial. The suggestion that any persons or organisations with certain backgrounds should be immune from legal sanctions for their illegal acts and activities is tantamount to granting such persons privileges to break the law and is totally contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.

"Some media organisations and organisations that claim to represent journalists have conflated the criminal acts in the Lai Chee-Ying case with freedom of the press, and have even played up different cases to vilify the HKSAR, with the purpose of misleading the public and defaming the HKSAR's human rights and rule of law. In fact, the Lai Chee-ying case has nothing to do with freedom of the press at all. Over the years, the defendants were using journalism as a guise to commit acts that brought harm to our country and Hong Kong. The public trial of this case revealed Lai Chee-ying's close management and hands-on control of the editorial direction of Apple Daily. He had also repeatedly colluded with foreign forces to beg for sanctions and engaged in hostile activities against the Central Government and the HKSAR Government. The court clearly pointed out that Lai Chee-ying's only intent, whether pre or post Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), was to seek the downfall of the Communist Party of China, even though the ultimate cost was the sacrifice of the interests of the people of the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR.

"The court clearly pointed out in the reasons for verdict that Lai Chee-ying was not on trial for his political views or beliefs. The court's publicly released reasons for verdict and sentence have meticulously explained the court's analysis of the relevant legal principles and evidence, as well as the reasons of the conviction and sentencing of Lai Chee-ying and the three defendant companies, which are well-founded and reasoned, fully demonstrating that the court has made its decision on the case strictly in accordance with the law and evidence, free from any interference, and absolutely free of any political considerations. External forces with ulterior motives, when being faced with these ironclad facts, continue to distort the truth and launch maliciously attack. The HKSAR Government must again firmly refute these claims to set the record straight."

The spokesman stressed, "Hong Kong citizens enjoy freedom of the press and freedom of speech as protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. In fact, the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of the press, of speech and of publication, enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to the HKSAR, are protected in accordance with the law.

"Since the implementation of the HKNSL and the SNSO, the media landscape in Hong Kong has remained vibrant. However, some people with ulterior motives deliberately fabricated facts about freedom of the press and speech in Hong Kong. As the funding of Reporters Without Borders' funding has largely come from the European Union, the United States (US) State Department and other European governments, it serves as a tool for anti-China forces for the US and some western countries. The so-called "rankings" lack credibility which the HKSAR Government disregards."

The spokesperson reiterated, "The HKSAR Government will, as always, resolutely and strictly adhere to the principle of the rule of law to ensure that 'laws are observed and strictly enforced to bring offenders to account', so as to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security while protecting the lawful rights and interests of Hong Kong residents and other people in Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government urges all sides to recognise the objective facts and stop any baseless malicious attacks."

Source: AI-found images