Speech by SCED at Juventus Business Reception
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the Juventus Business Reception today (August 4):
Chairman Ferrero (Chairman of Juventus Football Club, Mr Gianluca Ferrero), Deputy Consul General Gubert (Deputy Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong, Mr Giulio Gubert), distinguished Juventus players, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Buonasera. It is a great pleasure to join you this evening at the Juventus Business Reception. My sincere thanks to Juventus Football Club for bringing together business leaders, partners and friends from Hong Kong, Italy and across Asia.
Hong Kong is a vibrant and dynamic city where East meets West. It is a place where different cultures come together, where ideas are exchanged, and where people and businesses from around the world can connect and create new opportunities. From the bustling streets of Central and the iconic atmosphere of Lan Kwai Fong to our world-class cultural, sporting and entertainment events, Hong Kong offers a unique blend of energy, diversity and international experiences.
At the same time, Hong Kong is an international business and commercial hub. With our strategic location, world-class infrastructure and highly open business environment, we connect the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world and provide a gateway to opportunities across Asia. We offer the free flow of capital, goods, information and talent, a simple and competitive tax regime, and a robust legal system based on common law.
These strengths continue to attract businesses from around the world. The number of companies in Hong Kong with Chinese Mainland or overseas parent companies, as well as the number of start-ups, have both reached record highs in 2025, demonstrating strong international confidence in Hong Kong as a place to establish, expand and grow businesses. Many multinational enterprises have also chosen Hong Kong as the location for their regional headquarters, recognising our unique advantages as an international business hub.
Italy has long been an important economic partner of Hong Kong. We look forward to strengthening collaboration with Italian businesses and welcoming more enterprises to establish or expand their presence in Hong Kong. We are also delighted that Juventus chose Hong Kong as the home of its Asia Pacific headquarters in 2019, leveraging Hong Kong's connectivity to the Chinese Mainland, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Last year, my bureau established the GoGlobal Task Force (Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global) to provide one-stop support to help Mainland enterprises leverage Hong Kong's unique strengths in expanding overseas. At the same time, this creates new opportunities for international businesses and professional services providers to work with Mainland enterprises through Hong Kong.
To our friends from Italy and around the world who are with us this evening, I warmly invite you to make use of Hong Kong's unique advantages and international connectivity to explore new opportunities, build new partnerships and grow your business in Asia. Whether you are looking to access the Chinese Mainland market or collaborate with Mainland enterprises in going global, Hong Kong is ready to be your partner.
Football, like business, has the power to bring people together. It connects communities, creates shared experiences and builds partnerships across borders. Beyond the excitement on the pitch, sport also serves as an important driver of economic activity.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is actively developing the mega-event economy by attracting more world-class sporting, cultural and entertainment events to our city. The opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park marks a new chapter for Hong Kong's sporting and entertainment landscape. As a world-class integrated sports and entertainment venue, it provides an exciting platform for fans to enjoy international events, while creating new opportunities for businesses, visitors and the wider community.
The Hong Kong Football Festival kicked off last Saturday, bringing together renowned football clubs, players and fans from Hong Kong and around the world. We are delighted to welcome Juventus to Hong Kong as part of this exciting Festival. Together with other participating clubs, Juventus is helping to showcase Hong Kong's ability to host major international sporting events and bring people, businesses and communities closer together.
I am sure many of you here this evening, as well as football fans across the city, are looking forward to tomorrow's match at the Kai Tak Sports Park. I hope you will enjoy not only the excitement of the game, but also the energy, diversity and hospitality that Hong Kong has to offer.
Ladies and gentlemen, football teaches us that success is built on teamwork, trust and a shared vision. The same principles apply to business. Hong Kong will continue to connect people, businesses and markets, serving as a platform where partnerships are forged, opportunities are created, and businesses from around the world can grow together.
On that note, I wish Juventus every success during its stay in Hong Kong. I also wish all of you an enjoyable evening, fruitful discussions and continued success in your future endeavours. Grazie.
Source: AI-found images
DH continue to actively follow up on hospital-acquired case of Legionnaires' disease
Regarding a patient contracted Legionnaires' disease (LD) during hospitalisation at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (HKSH), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 4) announced that water samples taken from devices dispensing cooled boiled water within the hospital had tested positive for Legionella pneumophila (non-serogroup 1) at a concentration exceeding the action level for water supply systems in high-risk areas of hospitals. Sequence-based typing showed that the strain was the same as that found in the patient's respiratory specimen. The CHP considered that it is highly likely that the patient contracted LD by drinking water supplied by the affected water dispensing device. HKSH has completely discontinued the use of the water dispensing devices in question. A total of 137 patients who were hospitalised on the same floor as the patient has been put under medical surveillance. So far, none of them have contracted LD.
The water dispensing device in question was supplied by Aqua Vital Water Filtration Systems Ltd. The product is named the "BC-Tap Classic BA-Heat Exchange". According to the information provided by the supplier, this specific model was supplied exclusively to HKSH but not other hospitals. As a precaution, the DH today issued another letter reminding all private hospitals in Hong Kong to strictly adhere to the "Code of Practice for Prevention of LD" when providing drinking water to patients.
Upon receiving notification of the abovementioned nosocomial LD case last month, the CHP immediately sent personnel to the hospital to conduct an environmental investigation to identify the source of the infection. During the investigation, 10 water samples and six environmental samples were collected from the water tanks of the hospital building and the floor where the patient had been admitted. Test results from the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) revealed that two water samples from the outlet of the device dispensing cooled boiled water in the pantry on that floor tested positive for Legionella pneumophila (non-serogroup 1) at levels ranging from 3 to 16.6 colony-forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml), far exceeding the action level for water supply systems in high-risk areas of hospitals (i.e. 0.1 cfu/ml or above). Sequence-based typing showed that the Legionella pneumophila (non-serogroup 1) isolated from the water samples and the patient's respiratory specimen belonged to the same sequence type. The remaining samples, including two water samples collected from the water tanks, six water samples collected from the single room where the patient had been admitted and six environmental samples, tested negative for Legionella pneumophila.
HKSH has since disinfected the relevant ward's water supply system according to the CHPs instructions. HKSH has also suspended the use of the water dispensing devices and is now providing bottled water for patients' consumption.
To assist in assessing the risk posed by the water dispensing device in question, the CHP collected 19 water samples and one environmental sample from the same model of water dispensing devices within the hospital for further testing. The PHLSB's testing results revealed that one environmental sample and four water samples tested positive for Legionella pneumophila at levels ranging from 0.3 to 12.9 cfu/ml. Testing is still underway for two additional water samples.
An in-depth investigation by the CHP and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department found that the water dispensing device contains a built-in cooling system with a long, coiled metallic water conduit. When the device is not in use, stagnant warm water accumulates inside it. The temperature remains within a range conducive to the growth of Legionella bacteria for an extended period. This stagnant water, which may be contaminated with Legionella, is dispensed for direct consumption. Additionally, the metallic water conduit was not regularly disinfected or cleaned. HKSH has agreed to suspend use of the devices entirely and is currently providing patients with bottled water as a temporary measure.
The CHP will continue to investigate and follow up on the case. A meeting of the Prevention of Legionnaires' Disease Committee (PLDC) will be convened to report on the epidemiological investigation and the cause of the infection.
The PLDC was set up in 1985 to advise the Government from the public health, microbiology and engineering services perspectives on the minimisation of the risk of LD, and the promotion of good practices to building owners and associated practitioners to prevent the outbreak of LD.
Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpool spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or ships.
Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpool spas, water fountains, humidifiers and home respiratory devices that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.
The public may visit the CHP's LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP's risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.
Additionally, as smokers and alcoholics are more susceptible to LD, the Government urges members of the public to quit smoking and avoid drinking. Members of the public may call the DH Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline at 1833 183, which is answered by registered nurses who provide professional counselling and referral to a wide range of free smoking cessation services. The public may also visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on smoking cessation. The DH has also developed and promulgated the Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention tool to primary healthcare service providers to facilitate the early identification and management of at-risk drinkers. For information on alcohol-related harm, please visi the DH's Change for Health website.
Source: AI-found images
