Hong Kong and CAST Sign Agreement to Boost International Talent and Science Cooperation

HKSAR Government and CAST sign co-operation framework agreement

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the President of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), Mr Wan Gang, witnessed today (December 3) the signing of the Co-operation Framework Agreement on Supporting Hong Kong in Becoming an International Hub for High-calibre Talents and Jointly Serving High-level Self-reliance in Science and Technology between CAST and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and the Director of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Exchange Office of CAST, Ms Luo Hui, represented the HKSAR Government and CAST respectively to sign the Agreement. The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, and the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee, were also present at the signing ceremony.

Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to CAST for its efforts in promoting people-to-people exchanges in science and technology between the Mainland and Hong Kong over the years. He said, "The Agreement signed today helps strengthen the co-operation between the two places in various areas, such as strengthening exchanges between scientific research and academic organisations, nurturing scientific and technological talent, promoting popular science, and facilitating technological integration and development in the Greater Bay Area."

He added that the HKSAR Government would continue to play well Hong Kong's important role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", and deepen co-operation with CAST with a view to building Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre and an international hub for high-calibre talent, thereby serving the country's realisation of high-level self-reliance in science and technology.

Mr Lee, accompanied by Professor Sun, met with Mr Wan before the ceremony. Professor Sun also met with Mr Wan and representatives of CAST this afternoon to exchange views on the latest developments and opportunities for I&T co-operation between the two places.

In addition, Mr Wan and the CAST delegation visited the Hong Kong Science Park this morning to understand its work in promoting I&T development in Hong Kong. The delegation then visited two InnoHK laboratories in the park, and was briefed by representatives of the laboratories on their research and development work.

HKSAR Government and CAST sign co-operation framework agreement Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government and CAST sign co-operation framework agreement Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government and CAST sign co-operation framework agreement Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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.