RGC Workshop Boosts Research Funding for Hong Kong's Self-Financing Degree Institutions

Research Grants Council hosts Workshop on Competitive Research Funding Schemes for Local Self-financing Degree Sector

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

The Research Grants Council (RGC) today (November 20) held a Workshop on the Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-financing (SF) Degree Sector at the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, covering the RGC Faculty Development Scheme (FDS), the Inter-Institutional Development Scheme (IIDS), the Institutional Development Scheme (IDS) Collaborative Research Grant, and the IDS Research Infrastructure Grant. The event attracted close to 200 academics from 10 institutions in the SF education institution sector.

Organised mainly for teaching and research staff from the SF education institution sector, the Workshop invited faculty members who had successfully obtained research grants to share their stories. The achievements of completed FDS projects were also featured at a poster session organised for the first time in parallel with the Workshop. The Chairman of the Assessment Panel of the Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local SF Degree Sector, Professor Julie Li, together with members of the Panel, also shared their observations on proposals in the latest round of exercise.

The Chairman of the RGC, Professor Timothy W. Tong, said, "Being an important part of the Hong Kong academic research community, the SF education institution sector has been making noticeable contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the past decade. I am pleased to see that many of the funded projects have brought about remarkable research outputs and achievements, in particular in benefitting the progress and development of Hong Kong society.

"The IDS Research Infrastructure Grant has catalysed capacity building within the SF education institutions by supporting various research infrastructure and facilities, such as research centres on healthcare, green business as well as children and youth. This year, for example, the RGC has supported a proposal for an education institution to set up a Caregiving Research and Development Centre, which was timely and relevant to Hong Kong's current social development. In addition, the IDS Collaborative Research Grant has encouraged and supported SF education institutions to conduct high-quality cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional collaborative research projects. Funded projects this year included research on the monitoring of construction tower cranes by artificial intelligence and detection of antibiotics in wastewater, which had high novelty and societal relevance.

"Looking forward, the RGC will continue working alongside institutions and colleagues of the SF degree sector to promote excellence in Hong Kong's research culture and vibrancy of our research ecosystem."

The Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local SF Degree Sector aim at developing the research capability of institutions and faculty members in the sector. Since the launch of the research funding schemes in 2013, the RGC has funded more than 800 projects with a total amount of more than $830 million.

Details of the funding schemes are available on the RGC website:

FDS:

www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/fds/index.html;

IDS Collaborative Research Grant:

ww.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/ids_crg/index.html;

IDS Research Infrastructure Grant:

ww.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/ids_rig/index.html; and

IIDS:

www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/iids/index.html

Research Grants Council hosts Workshop on Competitive Research Funding Schemes for Local Self-financing Degree Sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Research Grants Council hosts Workshop on Competitive Research Funding Schemes for Local Self-financing Degree Sector Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Kai Tak today

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Kai Tak this afternoon (January 12). While a male worker was detaching the lifting gear connected to the top of a water tank, the water tank displaced suddenly, trapping the worker between the water tank and a bored pile casing nearby. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the use of mobile cranes for lifting operation at site concerned. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."

The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."

To prevent workers from being struck or trapped by loads when engaged in unrigging process, the LD reminds employers to (i) ensure that the place supporting the loads is secure; and (ii) formulate proper unrigging methods for detaching lifting gear so as to prevent displacement of the objects in the course of unrigging operations.

The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: AI-found images