Commissioner for Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Promotes GBA Opportunities and Hong Kong's Strengths in London

Commissioner for Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area promotes GBA opportunities and Hong Kong's strengths in London

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, concluded a four-day visit to London, the United Kingdom (UK) on October 17 (London time). During her visit, Miss Lam took part in a series of events covering talent recruitment, economic and trade promotion, cultural industries and youth development to promote Hong Kong's strengths and the development opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), as well as Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan.

During the visit, Miss Lam attended the "Hong Kong • Global Talent & Career Showcase" organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage to introduce GBA opportunities and Hong Kong's strengths. In her keynote speech, she said that Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan clearly states that Hong Kong will continue to participate in the development of the GBA into an international first-class bay area with global influence. Among the initiatives, the Northern Metropolis serves as the main platform for Hong Kong to deeply engage in the development of the GBA, and to actively integrate into and serve overall national development. The Hong Kong Park in the Hetao ShenzhenHong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone is a cross-boundary co-operation platform that is a key national development priority, where enterprises and international professionals can leverage Hong Kong's internationalised innovation and technology (I&T) research and business environment to gain easy access to the industrial chains and markets of Shenzhen and other GBA cities, bringing unprecedented opportunities for global talent.

Miss Lam also attended a business luncheon jointly organised by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office (GBA Office) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. She briefed representatives from the business sector, including the China-Britain Business Council and the Hong Kong Association, on Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, as well as Hong Kong's outstanding performance in economic freedom, competitiveness and financial markets. She stressed that over the next five years, Hong Kong will consolidate and enhance its traditional strengths, strengthen I&T co-operation and prioritise the Northern Metropolis for future development to open a new chapter for I&T. She encouraged enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's advantage of being closely connected to both the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world, and to establish a presence in the city to tap into the huge GBA market .

On the youth and cultural front, Miss Lam met with Hong Kong students studying in the UK, and introduced the diverse opportunities available for young people across various sectors under the GBA development as set out in Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan. She also attended a cocktail reception to promote culture and the arts in the GBA. In her speech, she highlighted that during the National 15th Five-Year Plan period, Hong Kong will continue in its important role as an East-meets-West centre for cultural and artistic exchange. Hong Kong is among the world's top three arts trading centres. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will further expand the scale of Hong Kong's cultural and creative industries. She encouraged collectors, museums, and arts and cultural institutions around the world to make good use of Hong Kong's role as the "super connector" and "super value-adder" to connect with the vast cultural and arts markets and resources in the GBA.

While in London, Miss Lam also called on the Minister and Chief of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, Mr Yu Benlin, and briefed him on Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the work of the HKSAR Government in taking forward GBA development.

The GBA Office will continue to step up promotion of the opportunities in GBA development and Hong Kong's strengths through overseas visits and by leveraging the international connections of overseas Economic and Trade Offices and partner organisations.

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, concluded a four-day visit to London, the United Kingdom on October 17 (London time). Photo shows Miss Lam (seventh left, front row) with the Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage, Mr Felix Chan (sixth left, front row); the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, Miss Fiona Chau (fifth left, front row); Assistant Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Cathy Li (first left, front row); and other guests at the "Hong Kong • Global Talent & Career Showcase" on October 17 (London time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, concluded a four-day visit to London, the United Kingdom on October 17 (London time). Photo shows Miss Lam delivering a speech at a cocktail reception to promote culture and arts in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on October 16 (London time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, concluded a four-day visit to London, the United Kingdom on October 17 (London time). Photo shows Miss Lam introducing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area opportunities and Hong Kong's strengths at the "Hong Kong • Global Talent & Career Showcase" on October 17 (London time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam (left), called on the Minister and Chief of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom, Mr Yu Benlin (right), on October 16 (London time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, concluded a four-day visit to London, the United Kingdom (UK) on October 17 (London time). Photo shows Miss Lam introducing to Hong Kong students studying in the UK the diverse development opportunities available for young people across various sectors under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development on October 15 (London time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, concluded a four-day visit to London, the United Kingdom on October 17 (London time). Photo shows Miss Lam (centre); the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, Miss Fiona Chau (third left); and Assistant Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Cathy Li (second left), with the Chief Executive of the China-Britain Business Council, Mr Peter Burnett (third right), at a business luncheon on October 15 (London time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, concluded a four-day visit to London, the United Kingdom on October 17 (London time). Photo shows Miss Lam speaking at a business luncheon jointly organised by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London on October 15 (London time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD reminds public to comply with regulations when dining out with dogs during Halloween

With Halloween approaching, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (October18) reminded members of the public who plan to bring their dogs along when dining out to confirm in advance whether the restaurant concerned is permitted to admit dogs and to comply with the relevant law and regulations. At present, over 990 restaurants hold permits allowing dogs to enter. Persons-in-charge of these restaurants must ensure that their premises comply with the relevant licensing conditions and statutory requirements, step up staff supervision and remind customers bringing dogs of the relevant requirements, so as to safeguard public safety and hygiene.

A spokesman for the FEHD stressed that both restaurant operators and dog owners have the responsibility to comply with the relevant regulations. Restaurants without permission must observe the law and must not allow customers to bring dogs onto their premises. Members of the public who bring dogs into non-permitted restaurants also commit an offence. The department will continue to conduct risk-based inspections and take enforcement action against any irregularities.

The spokesman added that, since the measure of allowing dogs to enter permitted restaurants was implementedon July 9, the FEHD has assisted the trade and members of the public in complying with the relevant requirements through ongoing inspections, publicity and education. Following the initial one-month adaptation period, the department has adopted a pragmatic and flexible enforcement strategy, conducting risk-based inspections to strike an appropriate balance between promoting pet inclusivity and safeguarding food safety and public hygiene.

Regarding restaurants which unlawfully allow dogs to enter, the FEHD has, to date, initiated 20 prosecutions against offending restaurants and seven prosecutions against persons who unlawfully brought dogs into such restaurants. In addition, the FEHD has taken stringent enforcement action against serious breaches committed by customers bringing dogs to permitted restaurants, including four prosecutions for failing to keep dogs securely on a leash.

The spokesman reiterated that permitted restaurants must strictly comply with the law and licensing conditions. These include prohibiting open-flame cooking at dining tables; refusing entry of fighting dogs or known dangerous dogs; and forbidding dogs access to food rooms.At all times while in a restaurant, a dog must be securely held by an adult on a leash not exceeding 1.5 metres in length, or securely tethered to a fixture. Dog owners must also ensure that their dogs are properly controlled at all times. The FEHD will take decisive enforcement action against any violations.

The FEHD again appealed to restaurants and customers to comply with the law and the relevant requirements, fulfil their respective responsibilities and help maintain a pleasant dining environment and public hygiene, thereby promoting pet inclusivity. Members of the public may visit the FEHD's dedicated webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/dog_restaurants/dog_restaurants_list.html) for relevant information and the full list of permitted restaurants.

With Halloween approaching, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (October 18) reminded members of the public who plan to bring their dogs along when dining out to confirm in advance whether the restaurant concerned is permitted to admit dogs and to comply with the relevant law and regulations. Photo shows an FEHD officer distributing leaflets to customers with dogs at a permitted restaurant, reminding them to comply with the law and relevant requirements when dining out with their dogs. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

With Halloween approaching, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (October 18) reminded members of the public who plan to bring their dogs along when dining out to confirm in advance whether the restaurant concerned is permitted to admit dogs and to comply with the relevant law and regulations. Photo shows an FEHD officer distributing leaflets to customers with dogs at a permitted restaurant, reminding them to comply with the law and relevant requirements when dining out with their dogs. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases