Bastille's Report: C15+ Strengthens Professional Collaboration to Integrate Education, Technology, and Innovation in Line with the 15th Five-Year Plan

The new Legislative Council’s “C15+” group comprises 13 LegCo Members without party affiliation. Continuing the characteristics of professional collaboration, Deputy Convenor Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong, stated in the interview with Bastille Post that members from diverse professional backgrounds can complement each other in political participation and bill discussions. The group this year has brought together professionals from the education and innovation sectors, with a focus on integrating education, technology, and talent to align with the 15th Five-Year Plan and the development of the Northern Metropolis.

"C15+" was established by Members of the previous Legislative Council. At the time, the members worked in CITIC Tower, with many of them on the 15th floor.  Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong explained that the "+" stands for "synergy", symbolizing "1+1 greater than 2", which reflects the hope that members can support one another and complement each other's strengths—hence the name.

Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong, Photo by Bastille Post

The current "C15+" is convened by Ir Hon Chan Siu-hung and comprises 13 members: Ir Hon Chan Siu-hung, Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo, Hon Yang Wing-kit, Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong, Prof Hon Lau Chi-pang, Prof Hon William Wong Kam-fai, Hon Leung Man-kwong, Hon Tang Fei, Hon Ng Wun-kit, Hon Ken Wong Kam-leung, Dr Hon Thomas So Shiu-tsung, Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah and Hon Christine Fong Kwok-shan. The majority of its members come from Election Committee constituency, while others are from Functional constituencies and Geographical constituencies.

Deputy Convenor Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo stated that members from Election Committee constituency would have professional backgrounds. In contrast, members from Geographical constituencies would be grounded and practical when considering livelihood issues—they truly understand the public's pain points. The interaction of different viewpoints allows the group to position itself, refine, and promote government policies through discussion. When scrutinizing legislation, we would have a more open perspective." He pointed out that Ir Hon Chan Siu-hung, who was previously hospitalized in Australia due to a sudden illness, has returned to Hong Kong to recuperate and will resume his council duties as soon as possible.

Dr Hon Thomas So Shiu-tsung pointed out that since the current C15+ members all work on the same floor, it is easy for them to communicate on issues of common interest. "For instance, I have a project underway—an online pro bono legal consultation service. Many members have suggested collaborating since our goals are aligned for serving the public." He described that members would reach consensus through "communication, respect, and collaboration," and the exchange of expertise across different sectors would generate new ideas.

Dr Hon Thomas So Shiu-tsung, Photo by Bastille Post

No Binding Vote Amid Diverse Views

Regarding whether C15+ would impose binding votes on its members, members stated that C15+ is not a political group, much less a political party. They enjoy a high degree of freedom when voting on bills—there is no culture of binding votes, nor are they required to propose uniform legislation. "It's possible that on the same issue, both supportive and opposing views may emerge simultaneously."

Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo pointed out, "We do have discussions, and of course, there is a chance that we might influence each other's decisions during the process, but there will definitely not be a so-called political group meeting to decide how to vote."

C15+ has raised proposal deliberations of The Budget. Photo source: reference image

Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah noted that C15+ members come from diverse backgrounds, each reflecting the views of their respective sectors. He cited an example from the earlier proposal deliberations of The Budget, where the members held differing opinions on the property value cap for HKD$100 stamp duty. "Actually, there's no problem with that," he said, "because there are different professional perspectives and their own insights; we should seek common ground while reserving differences."

Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah, Photo by Bastille Post

He described that meeting with officials on a given issue would make it easier to integrate perspectives from different sectors. "In Geographical constituencies, each region has its own issues. As I come from the accountancy functional constituency, I might focus on accounting or financial concerns." Besides, Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong also stated that the assembly of C15+ increases their chances of joining committees. "When meeting with officials to express our views, we can participate together—this is its greatest strength."

Pooling Education and I&T Talents, No Joint Bill Plans Yet

Currently, C15+ has no plans to jointly propose bills as a collective. Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo  pointed out, "We also need to consider the current and future priorities of society, and what aspects we can help drive progress."

Since the current C15+ includes a large number of members specializing in education and technology, covering four Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW) LegCo Members, as well as innovation and technology professionals such as Prof Hon William Wong Kam-fai and Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong, the group has reached a consensus to focus on the organic integration of education, talent, and technology to promote economic and social development. Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong stated that the integration of "education, technology, and talent" is a key development priority for both the nation and Hong Kong. The 15th Five-Year Plan also places strong emphasis on emerging and future industries. "Our network includes NPC deputies and Members of the CPPCC. In addition to supporting the integration of education and technology development within the Legislative Council to cultivate and attract innovation and technology talent for Hong Kong, and cooperating with the HKSAR Government in attracting investment and helping businesses expand overseas, we can also provide substantial advice and support at the national level."

Prof Hon Lau Chi-pang, Photo by Bastille Post

Prof Hon Lau Chi-pang, President of HKFEW, stated that he hopes to further expand the capacity of Hong Kong's education industry and consolidate its position as an international hub for higher education during his tenure. This includes continuing to promote open access to basic education and increasing the proportion of non-local students. He revealed that the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) and relevant government departments have prepared preliminary work on the "International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination" and expressed hope for a breakthrough in primary and secondary school student admissions. Lau noted that C15+ provides a platform for communication and cooperation, where he will collaborate with other HKFEW members on joint initiatives and exchange ideas with Prof Hon William Wong Kam-fai, who also comes from the higher education sector. Previously, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, the Secretary for Education, indicated that, to support the development of "Study in Hong Kong" and "Study in China", the government is working with mainland authorities to develop an "international version of the DSE curriculum" as a university entrance examination for non-local students.

Future Key Focuses: Northern Metropolis & AI, Push for Big Data Bureau

The 15th Five-Year Plan emphasizes accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis. Prof Hon Lau Chi-pang stated that the Northern Metropolis can integrate resources from both the education and technology sectors. Therefore, he will continue to focus on the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, promoting the integration of education, technology, and talent, as well as the implementation of industry-academia-research-investment collaboration.

As a LegCo Member with a background in construction, surveying, planning, and industrial development, Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo also focuses on the region's macroeconomic development. He pointed out that the Northern Metropolis can drive economic and innovation industry transformation, preserve the natural environment, and attract talent, allowing the social and natural ecosystems to complement each other. He will continue to push the government to establish a "Big Data Bureau" to ensure the coordinated development of hardware and software in the Northern Metropolis.

Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo, Photo by Bastille Post

With the rapid development of emerging technology applications, the impact and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technology on various industries are also a key focus for C15+ members. Previously, Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong and 14 other LegCo Members established the "Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics" under the Legislative Council's House Committee, which includes six C15+ members. He stated, "This was a collaborative effort by many colleagues from C15+. We're discussing talent—how will AI impact human resource needs? What should the government do to provide those affected with higher-end career opportunities? The subcommittee, comprised of members from C15+, is researching this issue to help the government prepare early for the arrival of the AI and robotics era."

As the former President of The Law Society of Hong Kong, Dr Hon Thomas So Shiu-tsung is also actively promoting legal technology development and is currently developing an online platform to provide free legal consultation services to the public, aiming to enhance the accessibility of legal services. He indicated that he will initially focus on livelihood issues as a pilot, with plans to be launched this year, and will then expand to other areas depending on the results. Meanwhile, Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah stated that he will focus mainly on the most pressing issues facing the industry, such as the operational challenges of regulatory agencies, enabling the industry to better align with the 15th Five-Year Plan under effective regulation. He highlighted efforts to provide professional services, including assisting companies in overseas expansion and listings, as well as relaunching research and reviving the limited liability reform initiative.

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong International Airport respectively yesterday (May 21) and today (May 22), and seized a total of about 21.8 kilograms of assorted drugs with a total estimated market value of about $7.95 million. Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 49, were arrested.

In the first case, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Tseung Kwan O during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon. About 3.8kg of suspected drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, etomidate capsules, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were found in their residence in the same district. They were then arrested.

In the second case, a 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 33 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 23), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases