Hong Kong Delegation Completes Beijing Visit, Explores Digital Urban Development and Collaborative Opportunities.

HKSAR delegation concludes visit to Beijing and Hebei (with photos/video)

The delegation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, led by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (October 24) concluded its three-day visit to Beijing and Hebei.

In the morning, the delegation visited the Xiong'an Urban Computing (Supercomputing Cloud) Center to learn how the Xiong'an New Area is enhancing urban development and management through digitalisation. They then toured the Zhongguancun Science Park in Xiong'an, where they were briefed on the park's overall planning and development, operational management, investment promotion strategies and the status of enterprise settlement.

The delegation was also invited to attend a seminar. There, the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, delivered remarks. The seminar was hosted by member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice-Governor of the People's Government of Hebei Province, Mr Zhao Dachun. At the seminar, Mr Chan and other delegation members shared their observations and insights from their visits to the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and the Xiong'an New Area. They discussed how Hong Kong can draw inspiration from the integration of above-ground and underground spatial planning, the alignment of spatial and industrial layouts, industry development policies, investment incentives, smart city initiatives, and innovative institutional mechanisms - in order to accelerate the development of Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis.

Mr Chan remarked that under the "one country, two systems" framework, Hong Kong's international advantages - including its capital, talent and professional services - can offer strong support to the industries and enterprises of both the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and the Xiong'an New Area as they expand globally. He added that there is great potential for mutual learning, exchange and collaborative development in areas such as finance, innovation and technology, trade and urban management.

In the afternoon, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, met with Mr Chan and other delegation officials in Beijing. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Kevin Choi, etc.

The Principal Officials of the delegation will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (October 25).

HKSAR delegation concludes visit to Beijing and Hebei (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR delegation concludes visit to Beijing and Hebei (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR delegation concludes visit to Beijing and Hebei (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR delegation concludes visit to Beijing and Hebei (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR delegation concludes visit to Beijing and Hebei (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR delegation concludes visit to Beijing and Hebei (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR delegation concludes visit to Beijing and Hebei (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government welcomes court's decision to dismiss Chow Hang Tung's application for judicial review on clothing policy for persons in custody

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomes the judgment handed down by the Court of First Instance of the High Court today (January 13) to dismiss Chow Hang Tung's application for judicial review on the clothing policy for persons in custody (PICs).

The court judgment pointed out that the current clothing policy for PICs, including the requirement for female PICs to wear trousers in summer daytime, was formulated by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) as authorised by the Prison Rules. The Court was satisfied that the CSD had the expertise and experience in the relevant context, and that it had carefully considered various factors, taken into account of professional opinion when making the decision, as well as reviewed the policy continuously. The Court ruled that Chow Hang Tung had failed to demonstrate that the current policy constituted less favourable treatment of a particular gender. The Court pointed out that there was currently no factual evidence to support any assertion that there was widespread concern about the health effects of wearing trousers in summer. In addition, the rule was not absolute, but instead allowed individual PICs to apply for exceptional arrangements in special circumstances. At the same time, the Court also rejected Chow Hang Tung's assertion that she had requested to the CSD in July and August 2024 to wear shorts and had been refused.

A spokesman for the Security Bureau said, "The ruling of the Court of First Instance confirmed that the CSD's approach is reasonable, justified and lawful. According to Rule 26 of the Prison Rules, the CSD must provide every PIC with a uniform that meets a scale imposed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services. Over the years, the CSD had appointed task groups from time to time to review the clothing arrangements of PICs. These reviews gave ample consideration to numerous factors, including the type of correctional institutions, PICs' varying daily routines and activities involved, the need for thermal, physical and psychological comfort for PICs of different genders, privacy and decency of PICs and the security, good order and discipline of the prison, so as to continuously refine clothing arrangements according to the prevailing circumstances."

The spokesman stated, "Chow Hang Tung's assertion that she requested to wear shorts in summer and was rejected by the CSD is entirely inconsistent with the facts and was rejected by the Court. Besides, the current clothing policy for PICs already provides a degree of flexibility. For example, a PIC may make an application to wear other clothing on medical or non-medical grounds to the CSD, and the CSD would make appropriate arrangements having considered the actual circumstances and relevant factors."

The CSD will continue to impartially implement the relevant rules of the Prison Rules in accordance with the law and commit to providing a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment.

Source: AI-found images