Professor Sun Dong Celebrates Engineering Heritage and Future Innovations at Canadian Conference in Hong Kong

Speech by SITI at Canadian Engineering Asia-Pacific Conference - A Centennial Celebration of Engineering Excellence

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Canadian Engineering Asia-Pacific Conference -A Centennial Celebration of Engineering Excellencetoday (January 24):

Chairman Kan (Chairman of the Iron Ring 100 Organising Committee, Mr Fred Kan), Charles (Consul General of Canada to Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Charles Edwin Reeves), deans, distinguished guests and speakers, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join all of you here at the Canadian Engineering Asia-Pacific Conference.

Today, we mark a milestone of profound significance as we celebrate the centennial of the Iron Ring, a symbol that has guided generations of Canadian engineers in their commitment to integrity, humility and service to society. As a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, today's gathering in Hong Kong bears especial meaning to me. Like many of you, my studies and work experience in Canada have shaped my teaching and research journey in Hong Kong, and continue to inspire my work until this day.

For one hundred years, the Iron Ring has not only reminded engineers of their professional obligations, but also borne witness to the passage of time and the progress of civilisation. As we honour this century-long legacy, we must also look ahead and recognise that engineering is undergoing unprecedented transformation. The next hundred years of engineering, like the whole world, will be defined, and redefined, by innovation and technology (I&T).

Hong Kong is embracing this transformation with ambition and determination. Guided by the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint promulgated in 2022, the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionGovernment is investing heavily to build a fast-growing, globally-connected I&T ecosystem powered by solid R&D (research and development) capability, world-class talents, and an increasingly vibrant startup community.

Home to five of the world's top 100 universities, Hong Kong has a rich pool of top-tier scientists, engineers, and tech talents, and possesses exceptional strengths in scientific research. Our flagship global research collaboration initiative, the InnoHK Clusters, which hosts 31 research centres, pools together over 30 world-renowned non-local universities and research institutes from 12 economies to collaborate with our local universities. The University of Waterloo and the University Health Network stand among our most valued partners, contributing Canadian excellence to Hong Kong's research landscape. To welcome more top-notch talent to Hong Kong, we have launched the Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme.

In recent years, Hong Kong has also taken decisive steps to strengthen its position in frontier technologies. Notably, we have established the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute in 2024 to drive third-generation semiconductor research and accelerate the transformation of R&D outcomes into industry applications. And we will also set up the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute within this year.

Furthermore, the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone formally commenced operation last month, housing more than 60 enterprises at the moment. The Park signals our commitment to building world-class innovative platform and deepening cross-boundary collaboration. We welcome I&T talent and enterprises from around the world to join us in our I&T journey.

Over the years, Hong Kong and Canadashare many similarities and a wide range of common interests. We both thrive on engineering ingenuity, education aspiration, and a bold vision for I&T development. As we navigate an era defined by AI, robotics, and rapid technological transformation, the I&T partnership between the two economies will become ever more vital.

The presence of eight distinguished Canadian engineering deans at this conference speaks to the strength of our academic ties and the shared vision we hold for the future. Let us further strengthen the ties between Hong Kong and Canada, between engineering, innovation, and beyond.

Finally, I congratulate the organising committee on this remarkable milestone and wish you all a rewarding conference. Thank you.

Speech by SITI at Canadian Engineering Asia-Pacific Conference - A Centennial Celebration of Engineering Excellence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs

The 2026 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs are being held at 14 locations across the territory. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has arranged for staff to inspect the fast food stalls at LNY fairs and distribute booklets to remind stall operators of food safety.

A spokesman for the CFS said today (February 14) that, to safeguard food safety and public health, CFS officers have provided health education on food safety and hygiene and distributed booklets to person-in-charge of fast food stalls at various LNY fairs, reminding them to pay more attention to food safety and environmental hygiene and take food safety measures in their operations for producing and supplying wholesome and safe food.

Moreover, the CFS has collected food samples, including mock sharks-fin soup, stinky tofu, curry fish ball and Shanghai style steamed pork dumpling, from the fast food stalls at LNY fairs for microbiological tests.

The CFS urges food business operators and food handlers to adopt the following measures to ensure food safety:

order food ingredients from reliable suppliers;

keep hands and utensils clean, and food handlers should wash or sanitise their hands thoroughly before preparing food;

separate raw and cooked food, such as using separate knives and chopping boards to handle raw and cooked food;

cook food thoroughly with the core temperature of all ingredients reaching 75 degrees Celsius or above for at least 30 seconds;

keep food at safe temperatures that hot food should be kept at above 60 degrees C while cold food should be properly covered and neatly stored at 4 degrees C or below in the refrigerator; and

avoid keeping food under room temperature for prolonged period, and follow the "two-hour/four-hour rule" in cases without temperature control, i.e. if cooked food is kept at room temperature for less than two hours, it can be refrigerated for later use or consumed within four-hour time limit; if cooked food has been kept at room temperature for more than two hours and less than four hours, it should be consumed within the four-hour time limit but cannot be refrigerated again. Cooked food that has been held at room temperature for more than four hours should be discarded.

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases