LegCo to consider Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2025
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting tomorrow (July 16) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2025 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
The Second Reading debates on the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 and the Supplementary Medical Professions (Amendment) Bill 2025 will also resume. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bills and their reports are adopted by the Council, the Bills will be set down for the Third Reading.
Meanwhile, the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
On Member's Bill, the Hong Kong Baptist University (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
On Members' motions, Mr Chan Hak-kan will move a motion on reviewing the priorities for public works to ensure enhanced speed and efficiency of key projects. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Mr Gary Zhang, Mr Adrian Ho, Mr Tony Tse and Mr Dennis Leung will move separate amendments to Mr Chan Hak-kan's motion.
Mr Frankie Yick will also move a motion on building an elderly-friendly living environment. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Tang Ka-piu, Mr Stanley Li and Mr Tommy Cheung will move separate amendments to Mr Frankie Yick's motion.
During the meeting, Mr Chan Kin-por and Mr Steven Ho will present the "Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China Annual Report 2024 and Reports of ICAC Advisory Committees" and the "ICAC Complaints Committee Annual Report 2024" respectively, and address the Council.
Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.
Source: AI-found images
Speech by CS at Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future today (January 12):
Dr Wong (Chairman of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Council, Dr Peter Wong), Professor Zhang (President and Vice-Chancellor of the HKU, Professor Zhang Xiang), Mr Turner (Executive Director of Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, Mr Nikolaus Turner), distinguished Nobel Laureates, esteemed scientists,ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today for the Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future.
To our Nobel Laureates – we are truly privileged to have you with us. You represent the very best of human curiosity and perseverance. Your ground-breaking work expands our understanding of the universe, lights the path for future discovery, and inspires generations. Thank you for joining this extraordinary gathering.
And to all our distinguished guests from around the world – a very warm welcome to Hong Kong.
Today's dialogue is more than an academic event. It is a powerful convergence of the world's finest scientific minds, right here in a city that is determined to play its part in global innovation.
Hong Kong's mission is clear and unwavering: to become a premier international innovation and technology centre. A hub where top scientists, scholars and entrepreneurs can thrive, collaborate and serve the world.
To achieve this, the Government is fully committed. We are building a world-class ecosystem and nurturing the talent to power it.
First, we are building the infrastructure for greatness.
We have established a strategic I&T framework centred on three major I&T (innovation and technology) parks and five key research and development institutions.
Building on the success of the Science Park and Cyberport, we officially launched the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone last month.
The Hetao Co-operation Zone is a major co-operation platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. The Hong Kong Park is envisioned as a world-class hub for technological innovation, connecting the Chinese Mainland with the international community, and serving as an important source for fostering new quality productive forces.
Together with our five key R&D (research and development) institutions focus on frontier technologies, these developments will create more favourable conditions for Hong Kong to attract global I&T resources and talent.
Second, we are investing decisively.
We back our words with resources. We have launched significant funding schemes across the entire innovation chain.
To support excellent and impactful research, the Research Grants Council (RGC) under the University Grants Committee administers more than 20 competitive research grant and fellowship schemes.
Furthermore, last year we launched the 3 billion HK dollars Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme to empower ground-breaking basic research led by world-class researchers and academics.
To accelerate the midstream and downstream development, we rolled out three separate 10 billion HK dollars initiatives to drive the commercialisation of R&D outcomes and new industrialisation.
Third, and most crucially, we are nurturing and attracting top talent.
Talent is our ultimate driving force. We are expanding our talent pool through multiple strategies.
On nurturing young research talent, the Government has launched the Young Collaborative Research Grant to support early-stage researchers in leading and managing collaborative research. We are also actively fostering research collaboration between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas research funding agencies through operating various Joint Research Schemes. These partnerships not only foster academic exchange but also provide opportunities to nurture researchers in exploring new frontiers in their respective fields.
On attracting global talent, the RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme has supported some 300 doctoral graduates from Hong Kong and around the world to pursue research careers at our universities.
Our international research flagship, the InnoHK research clusters, is also there to bring together brilliant minds from all over the world to conduct world-class scientific research. To date, our two existing InnoHK research clusters – one focusing on healthcare technology and another on AI and robotics – have successfully built links with over 30 world-class universities and research institutes from 12 economies, pooling together around 3 000 researchers locally and across the globe.
To go further, the Government is now expediting the development of the third InnoHK research cluster, with the focus on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing and materials.
Our strategy follows a powerful cycle: promoting technology with talent, leading industries with technology, and attracting talent with industries.
And we are seeing results. Hong Kong ranks third globally in "Technology" in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster ranks first in the 2025 Global Innovation Index Ranking of the World's Top 100 innovation clusters.
Our startup community has grown nearly fivefold in the past decade, producing homegrown unicorns.
This progress is no accident. It is built on Hong Kong's unique strengths. Under "one country, two systems", we enjoy unwavering national support and unparalleled global connectivity. Our robust rule of law, free-flowing capital and vibrant multicultural society make Hong Kong the perfect incubator for scientific exploration and technological breakthroughs.
To every scientist, researcher and innovator here today: Hong Kong is open for you. We provide the platform, the funding, the freedom and the connections to turn visionary ideas into reality.
We invite you to build your legacy here. To join us in shaping not just the future of Hong Kong, but the future of science for humanity.
On this note, let the dialogue begin. I look forward to the fruitful and inspirational exchanges. Thank you.
Source: AI-found images
