Speech by FS at Awards Presentation Ceremony and Dinner of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2024 (with photos/video)
Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Awards Presentation Ceremony and Dinner of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2024 today (November 22):
Professor Qin (Chairman of the Grand Judging Panel of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2024 and the President of Lingnan University, Professor Joe Qin), 萬寧副部長 (the Deputy Director-General of the Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ms Wan Ning), Dong (Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong), ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I am pleased to join you tonight, for the annual, and much anticipated, Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology Awards Presentation Ceremony. Let me first congratulate the winners, and finalists of this prestigious award. Your dedicationandachievementsare an inspiration to practitioners, entrepreneurs and students, to the innovation and technology industries, and to us all.
For 18 years now, the HKICT Awards has celebrated the exceptional achievements of individuals and organisations in a diversity of sectors and businesses.They put a deserved spotlight on the remarkable talent, creativity and dedication of people seeking to harness technology to reinvent products and services, to improve efficiency, to offer better care to the needy, and ultimately to make our lives and the world better.
In just a few minutes, we'll know all about those elite achievers - and their innovative applications and solutions.
This year's award, I'm pleased to note, introducesa new "Best Use of AI Award" in all eightcategories,to recognise and honourthe efforts of those harnessing the power of AI (artificial intelligence) to transformourbusinesses andways of living.
The HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government, too, believes in the vast potential of AI. It is a sweeping force in boosting productivity and enhancing the competitiveness of the economy. We believe AI can become a strategic pillar of our innovation and technology sector. Andwe have been working on multiple fronts to make it thrive.That includessupporting R&D (research and development), nurturing start-ups, fostering cross-boundary and cross-industry collaboration, attracting strategic enterprises,and building the related infrastructure, includinga supercomputing centre.
But above all, it is people and talent thatmatter,if we are to realise this vision. We mustraise the AI literacy and preparedness of ourcommunity. That has to take a whole-of-society approach,starting withchildren’s education,integrating AI into school and university curricula, and supporting the training of professionals and continuous learning.
My thanks to the organisers of the Hong Kong ICT Awards,andto the high-profile judges of the eight award categories. Your expertise and commitment to excellence can only inspire the continuing growth and success of our innovation and technology industry - and the economy, and community, of Hong Kong.
Ladies and gentlemen, I know you will enjoy this very special evening and the good company all about you.
Thank you.
Speech by FS at Awards Presentation Ceremony and Dinner of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by FS at Awards Presentation Ceremony and Dinner of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by FS at Awards Presentation Ceremony and Dinner of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Working Group on Patriotic Education holds fourth meeting
The Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (CBLPSC) held its fourth meeting today (August 26) to discuss the achievements and progress of the work on patriotic education.
The Chairman of the CBLPSC and Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has always attached great importance to promoting patriotic education and endeavours to building mainstream values characterised by patriotism with affection for our country and Hong Kong and in conformity with the principle of "one country, two systems" in the HKSAR. It seeks to strengthen education on our country's history, culture and current affairs on different fronts, thereby promoting patriotism and ensuring its continuity from generation to generation, fostering a sense of patriotism among the public and enhancing national confidence and pride.
"Over the past two years, the HKSAR Government has worked in close collaboration with the Working Group, successfully bringing together patriotic forces from the Government and various sectors of society. The Government and the Working Group have worked hand in hand to carry out a great deal of solid work on patriotic education and achieved fruitful results. I am delighted to see that the spirit of patriotism has now taken root in society and people's hearts, and that the patriotic and Hong Kong-loving atmosphere within the community has also improved significantly."
Mr Chan said that in the past year, relevant government bureaux and departments, on the one hand, made good use of special festive and commemorative occasions such as the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang's water supply to Hong Kong and the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, to organise various commemorative and celebration events which were very positive and well received by all sectors of society. On the other hand, the Government has taken forward a number of medium and long-term measures for comprehensive patriotic education in different aspects, namely school education, local community, history, politics, economy and culture, as well as publicity in the media.
"From the second half of this year, there will be a number of special festive occasions, commemorative dates and events, including the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March and the 160th anniversary of the birthday of Dr Sun Yat-sen, and Hong Kong will also mark the 30th anniversary of its return to the motherland next year. Hong Kong's first payload expert is currently participating in the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceflight mission. The HKSAR Government will seize and make good use of these opportunities to launch a series of patriotic education activities. It aims to let Hong Kong citizens gain a deeper understanding of the country's history and present achievements, as well as how Hong Kong can fully integrate into and serve the overall national development, thereby enhancing their sense of national identity and affection for and sense of belonging to the country," Mr Chan added.
At the meeting, Mr Chan welcomed the new Convenor of the Working Group, Dr Eliza Chan, and the four new members. He also expressed thanks to the former Convenor, Dr Starry Lee, for her contributions to the Working Group. He said, "I look forward to continuing to work closely with all members to deepen discussions and explore more innovative, diverse and practical proposals for patriotic education that are tailored to Hong Kong's actual circumstances, and to promote the Working Group's efforts to bring together the strengths of the Government and all sectors of society to strengthen patriotic education at various levels and across different fields."
The Working Group is responsible for advising the Government on the overall programme and strategy for promoting patriotic education, the implementation of related work, co-ordination and collaboration between government departments and non-governmental organisations, as well as other relevant matters. The Working Group comprises the relevant Directors of Bureaux and Heads of Departments and leaders from the relevant sectors of society. In May this year, the Government appointed Dr Eliza Chan as the new Convenor of the Working Group and the four new members, which further strengthened the power of the Working Group and enhanced the connectivity between the Government and all sectors of society.
Working Group on Patriotic Education holds fourth meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Working Group on Patriotic Education holds fourth meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Working Group on Patriotic Education holds fourth meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
