HKETO Kuala Lumpur Supports Joint Forum on Industrial Collaboration Between Hong Kong and Malaysia

HKETO Kuala Lumpur supports joint forum on industrial collaboration between Hong Kong and Malaysia

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur (HKETO Kuala Lumpur) participated in the Malaysia-Hong Kong Industrial Partnership Forum held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (April 20). The Forum aims to explore opportunities for strengthening industrial collaboration between Hong Kong and Malaysia.

It featured a panel session titled "Building Competitive Manufacturing through Productivity, Technology and Industry Linkages", and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two co-organisers of the Forum, namely the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing. The MOU marks an important milestone in fostering industrial collaborations between Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Addressing the Forum, the Director of the HKETO Kuala Lumpur, Mr Owin Fung, highlighted the complementary nature of the two economies, and shared Hong Kong's advantages and new developments including the Northern Metropolis, the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, the Economic and Trade Express and the AI+ Initiative that would help drive bilateral investments and collaborations on innovation and technology, stimulating industrial partnerships between the two places.

He also highlighted new industrialisation and smart manufacturing as emerging areas of common interest between Hong Kong and Malaysia, and encouraged collaborations between industries of the two economies. "By fostering industry collaborations, we are cocreating value through technology adoption and innovative business models," Mr Fung said.

Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Mr Sim Tze Tzin, noted the close economic relations between Hong Kong and Malaysia, and the potential of industrial partnerships between the two economies in addressing challenges brought by supply chain disruption.

The Forum brought together about 100 industry leaders, policymakers, technology experts, and academia from both Hong Kong and Malaysia. Focusing on enhancing productivity, accelerating technology adoption, and fostering innovation-driven growth within the manufacturing sector, it provided a robust platform for participants to discuss opportunities for industrial collaboration and practical approaches to enhance competitiveness.

After the Forum, the HKPC delegation and representatives from Hong Kong media proceeded to Penang for visits to several Hong Kong-owned manufacturing facilities that serve to showcase success stories of Hong Kong enterprises in Malaysia.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur (HKETO Kuala Lumpur) participated in the Malaysia-Hong Kong Industrial Partnership Forum held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (April 20). Photo shows the Director of the HKETO Kuala Lumpur, Mr Owin Fung (first right); the Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Mr Sim Tze Tzin (third right); the Chairman of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Mr Sunny Tan (second right); the President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing, Mr Jacob Lee (third left), and other guests at the Forum. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing jointly organised the Malaysia-Hong Kong Industrial Partnership Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (April 20), which brought together about 100 industry leaders, policymakers, technology experts, and academia from both Hong Kong and Malaysia. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Owin Fung, delivers a keynote address at the Malaysia-Hong Kong Industrial Partnership Forum held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (April 20). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Employers and employees should make reasonable work arrangements after tropical cyclones or rainstorms

The Labour Department (LD) today (June 8) reminded employers to make practical and reasonable work arrangements for employees after the cancellation of tropical cyclone warnings or rainstorm warnings, with due consideration to the road and traffic conditions and other factors, and make flexible arrangements for staff to resume work or work remotely (if applicable). This will help maintain good labour-management relations, and ensure the safety of employees as well as the smooth operation of organisations.

"For staff who have genuine difficulties in resuming work on time upon cancellation of a tropical cyclone or rainstorm warning, employers should be sympathetic and handle each case flexibly. For example, employers may allow employees to resume work in stages, permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work remotely (if applicable) or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work," an LD spokesman said.

The spokesman reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and Minimum Wage Ordinance.

"As natural calamities cannot be avoided, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume duty on time due to adverse weather or extreme conditions, employers should neither deduct their wages, good attendance bonus or allowances, nor reduce employees' entitlement to annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days under the Employment Ordinance, or ask for additional hours of work from employees to compensate for the loss of working hours when they are unable to report for duty," the spokesman said.

Employers should note that they have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. Moreover, under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for injuries or deaths incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher, a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or extreme conditions are in force.

The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'", which provides the major principles, reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation on making work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).

Source: AI-found images