Hong Kong Launches Manufacturing+ Scheme to Boost Smart Production and Support Local Enterprises

Government launches Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme and enhances existing New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme

The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) today (November 18) launched the Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme (Manufacturing+) under the New Industrialisation Support Scheme of the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) and enhanced the existing New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (NIAS) to further drive the development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong.

"By launching Manufacturing+ and enhancing the existing NIAS, the Government aims to promote new industrialisation and foster diversified economic development. Announced in this year's Budget, Manufacturing+ seeks to encourage local manufacturing enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises with no prior experience in smart production investment, to adopt smart production technologies and upgrade their production lines, thereby driving the development of new quality productive forces. As well, the Chief Executive announced in this year's Policy Address that the application threshold for the NIAS will be relaxed and funding would be provided on a matching basis for enterprises to employ relevant technical personnel. This will help attract more enterprises engaging in strategic industries to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong, driving high value-added advanced manufacturing," a spokesman for the Commission said.

The spokesperson continued, "The Government will proactively leverage innovation and technology to drive high value‑added manufacturing, promote new industrialisation, and remain committed to providing timely and appropriate support to relevant enterprises."

Under Manufacturing+, the Government will provide funding of up to $250,000 per eligible enterprise on a 1 (Government): 2 (enterprise) matching basis to enterprises operating production lines in Hong Kong to assist them to formulate smart production strategies and introduce advanced technologies into existing production lines. The funding scope covers relevant consultancy fees, costs for purchasing equipment and integrating smart technologies into existing production lines, as well as training and development expenses. To ensure effective use of resources, Manufacturing+ will be overseen by the Committee on Technology Adoption and Production Line Upgrade, with the Hong Kong Productivity Council serving as its Secretariat.

In addition, the application threshold for the NIAS will also be relaxed, with the minimum total project cost lowered from $300 million to $150 million. Enterprises shall contribute no less than $100 million while the matching ratio of 1(Government) to 2 (enterprise) remains unchanged. Moreover, the ITC will also provide funding on a 1(Government) to 1 (enterprise) basis for companies approved under the NIAS to employ up to 10 technical personnel required for setting up or operating smart production facilities.

Manufacturing+ and the NIAS accept applications year-round. Details are available on the Innovation and Technology Fund website (www.itf.gov.hk). For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the schemes (Tel: 35435904; email:enquiry@itf.gov.hk).

Source: AI-found images

Police National Security Department arrests one man

The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force (NSD) took enforcement actions in Sheung Shui today (December 6) and arrested a 71-year-old local man, for being suspected of "prejudicing of investigation of offences endangering national security" and "doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention" in contravention of Section 88 and 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance respectively.

Investigation revealed that the arrested man was suspected of disclosing details of a case endangering national security, after assisting with the investigation conducted earlier by NSD officers. He was also suspected of publishing multiple videos with seditious intention online, with content provoking hatred towards the Central Authorities, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Judiciary.

The man is being detained for further enquiries.

Police took law enforcement actions based on evidence and in accordance with the actual circumstances, and applied Section 88 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance for the first time. The article stipulated that if a person knows or suspects that an investigation of an offence endangering national security is being conducted, the person with intent to prejudice the investigation; or being reckless as to whether the investigation will be prejudiced, without reasonable excuse or lawful authority, makes any disclosure; or the person knowing or suspecting that any material is likely to be relevant to the investigation; and with intent to conceal the facts disclosed by the material from persons conducting the investigation, without reasonable excuse, falsifies, conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of the material, or causes or permits the material to be falsified, concealed, destroyed or otherwise disposed of, commits an offence. Offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Police remind members of the public that "doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention" is also a serious offence. Offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for seven years on first conviction.

Source: AI-found images