1.RYAN HAMILTON (National—HamiltonEast) to the Minister ofFinance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy?
Hon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance): Today, Statistics New Zealand released its labour market statistics for the September quarter. This release includes information from the household labour force survey, which looks at people’s labour force status, and the quarterly employment survey, which captures earnings, paid hours, and jobs. The household labour force survey showed that the unemployment rate increased from 4.6 to 4.8 percent in the quarter, and the quarterly employment survey showed that average hourly earnings increased 3.9 percent over the previous year.
Ryan Hamilton: Why is unemployment rising?
Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Unemployment is rising and has been rising since 2001 because New Zealand has been in a prolonged recession, with monetary tightening used to drive high inflation out of the economy. Sadly, recessions have a human cost. My heart goes out to people who’ve lost their jobs and who are struggling to enter the labour market. Rising unemployment is a reminder of how letting inflation get a grip on the economy is so damaging.
Ryan Hamilton: Was the increase in the unemployment rate as much as expected?
Hon NICOLA WILLIS: No. The increase from 4.6 percent to 4.8 percent was lower than forecasters had been predicting. In its August Monetary Policy Statement, the Reserve Bank had forecast 5 percent unemployment and the Treasury had forecast 5.2 percent in the Budget update in May. To give some historical context, I would also point out to members that over the last 15 years, the average unemployment rate in New Zealand has been 5 percent.
Ryan Hamilton: What is the outlook for unemployment?
Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Today’s results reflect where we are in the economic cycle. Typically, when the economy starts underperforming, the unemployment rate is slow to rise. Then when the economy starts to pick up, it can be slow to fall. In other words, unemployment is a lagging indicator. Now, there are clear indications that the economy has turned upwards, but even so, I would expect the unemployment rate to rise a bit further before beginning to fall. In the August Monetary Policy Statement, for example, the Reserve Bank was forecasting the unemployment rate to rise to a peak of 5.4 percent early next year, then steadily decline.
Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs
Many Australians are understandably traumatised by the past year in the Middle East. Every day, we see more unbearable scenes. The terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023: the worst loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, and almost 100 hostages still held. And in Israel’s response: 42,000 Palestinians killed – including more than 13,000 children. About 2 million facing starvation.
While this conflict might be far away, it is close to many in Australia. Some have lost family – or have loved ones in danger. Communities connect with different sides in this conflict.
The Middle East’s contested history helps explain these divergent perspectives. Those who know the imperative of Israel for the Jewish people’s survival. Who feel October 7 as part of the long shadow of antisemitism; the abomination of the Holocaust and millennia of Jewish persecution. And those who know the dispossession of the Palestinian people; the failure of the international community to honour the 1947 promise made for a Palestinian state when Israel was established. Who feel that the loss of Muslim and Arab lives has been too easily dismissed.
These two experiences seem less reconciled than ever – and they are intensified in a debate often framed by incorrect information.
For example, people continue to demand Australia call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Yet, it’s nearly 11 months since Australia voted for a ceasefire with 152 other countries at the United Nations General Assembly. While some don’t hear our condemnation of Israel Defence Forces’ attacks on civilians or aid workers, others wrongly claim we enable Hamas by insisting Israel follow the rules of war.
As the conflict spread to Lebanon, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Australia was isolated by calling for a ceasefire there – when we did so with dozens of other countries. And despite that call, I am asked when Australia will stop bombing Lebanon. We never started.
These examples show what happens when certain politicians and media make false claims in bad faith – and when people shout over each other rather than listen to each other. I understand people want their government to make this war end. But this isn’t Vietnam or Iraq – Australia is not contributing to the war. Nor are we supplying weapons for it.
There is a big difference between Australia wanting to end this war and being able to do it on our own. Our only hope is in being active in the international community. As long as this war goes on, we will keep partnering to deliver aid, uphold international law and drive towards peace.
As well as our co-ordinated calls for ceasefire and the release of hostages, we act in concert with other donors to provide lifesaving aid. Australia has committed more than $90 million in humanitarian assistance to support civilians impacted by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. We have also doubled our annual funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
I’m leading an influential group of countries to create a global Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. We are building a coalition for the safety of aid workers who provide the food, water and medicine that civilians need to survive.
Australia works with Canada, New Zealand and other supporters of international law, including by backing the independence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. International law includes the UN Charter that allows countries to defend themselves – and the Geneva Conventions that protect civilians during wars. Palestinian civilians cannot pay the price of defeating Hamas.
Australia has joined a large number of countries in condemning and sanctioning Hamas, Hizballah and others for their terrorism. Just as we have partnered in sanctioning Israeli extremist settlers for their violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
We work with others because going it alone gets us nowhere in the Middle East. But you wouldn’t think that listening to somepoliticians. Peter Dutton demands I do what no other country has done: say the rules don’t apply to Israel. And the Greens demand I apply sanctions to Israel that no other country has applied. When Australia applies sanctions, we co-ordinate with partners. That’s what makes them effective.
These two ends of the political spectrum repeat absolutist positions we see overseas in order to recklessly reproduce the conflict in our diverse society and exploit distressed Australians. All-or-nothing demands do nothing to end the Middle East cycle of violence.
That can only happen when the promise of two states is fulfilled. Frustratingly, this seems a distant prospect. It is bitterly opposed by Hamas, which seeks to end the Jewish state. It is also not supported by many in the Netanyahu government. But Israel’s own long-term security requires it, and Palestinians have a right to self-determination.
Australia was one of 143 countries to vote in support of Palestinian aspirations for full membership of the UN – where we have also called for a timeline for the international declaration of Palestinian statehood.
On our own, we have little leverage to move the dial in the Middle East. That’s why our approach centres on building international support with other countries that want to end this war.
Soldiers from Eighth Army’s 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade participated in Keen Sword 25, which concluded Nov. 1.
Keen Sword is a joint bilateral exercise designed to increase readiness and interoperability between the U.S. and Japan.
Seventeen service members from E Battery, 6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion participated in a joint field training exercise with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade (Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington) in Japan. Two Avengers and one Sentinel Radar were part of a support package that provided base defense assets during the exercise.
Additional training was accomplished when the units were able to network with the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade based in Japan via a tactical datalink network. Mobility training was also accomplished as Echo Battery utilized port operations to ship and receive their equipment. The team deployed to one of Japan’s islands for the 10-day exercise.
Keen Sword 25 participants included military units from the U.S. and Japan, Australia and Canada, which all took part in integrated training across the island nation. They honed their skills to maintain warfighting readiness. Bilateral and multilateral events undertaken as part of Keen Sword 25 included joint live fire training, medical mass casualty exercises, installation security forces training and simulated airfield damage repair, among others.
The 35th ADA Brigade is one of Eighth Army’s six major subordinate commands based at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
SINGAPORE, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AvePoint (Nasdaq: AVPT), the global leader in data management and data governance, today announced the launch of its AI Lab, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), to advance AI-driven research and innovation in the cutting-edge domains of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. The AI Lab is set to address global industry challenges by fostering new research and embedding AI across the AvePoint Confidence Platform.
The AI Lab will serve as a central hub for high-impact research in AI, focusing on spurring industry-relevant R&D while having a global reach. Researchers, drawn from both local and international talent pools, will have the opportunity to work with AvePoint’s global teams on use cases from different countries, ensuring an international exchange of knowledge and insights.
The lab will hire over 25 AI researchers and program specialists in the next three years to support these initiatives, driving AI innovation not only in Singapore but also across the globe. It will enable local PhD-qualified researchers to work with top foreign researchers via a global rotational program to AvePoint’s HQ. Additionally, the lab will provide collaboration with a network of universities, and with AvePoint’s global product teams.
“We are excited to launch the AvePoint AI Lab, which will be instrumental in advancing AI-driven research and addressing industry needs,” said Wei Chen, Head of R&D, AvePoint. “With this lab, we aim to develop impactful solutions that benefit industries globally while enhancing our SaaS products.”
Global Focus on AI Innovation
With its international exchange element, the AvePoint AI Lab will develop AI-driven solutions for key sectors including:
Education: AI technologies will be harnessed to transform learning and assessments, offering personalized, AI-driven academic advisors tailored to students’ levels of study.
FinTech: AI will streamline banking processes through advanced data aggregation and fraud detection, as well as automating Know Your Customer (KYC) services for improved financial product recommendations.
The AI Lab will also develop solutions that cut across various sectors, such as enhancing collaboration and knowledge management through AI, and creating innovative recommendation systems for career development and lifelong learning, applicable to a global audience.
Philbert Gomez, Executive Director & Head, Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) said, “EDB is committed to fostering AI innovation that addresses real-world industry challenges. We are pleased to support AvePoint’s AI Lab in Singapore, which will not only advance cutting-edge AI research but also translate these innovations into practical solutions for global markets. This initiative aligns with our goal of positioning Singapore as a hub for AI talent and innovation, creating high-value job opportunities and driving the development of AI applications that can enhance productivity and competitiveness across various sectors worldwide.”
Commercialization and Global Business Impact
The AI Lab’s primary goal is to commercialize its research into AvePoint’s SaaS products, creating new business opportunities while enhancing existing product offerings to address evolving global market needs.
“As we explore new areas of AI applications, our focus remains on translating these breakthroughs into practical applications for our customers worldwide,” added Wei Chen. “This lab enables us to collaborate on a global scale, ensuring that the innovations we develop here in Singapore can impact industries around the world.”
About AvePoint
Securing the Future. AvePoint is the global leader in data management and data governance, and over 21,000 customers worldwide rely on our solutions to secure the digital workplace across Microsoft, Google, Salesforce and other cloud environments. AvePoint’s global partner program includes over 3,500 managed service providers, value-added resellers, and systems integrators, with our solutions available in more than 100 cloud marketplaces.
Disclosure Information
AvePoint uses the https://ir.avepoint.com/ website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws including statements regarding the future performance of and market opportunities for AvePoint. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: changes in the competitive and regulated industries in which AvePoint operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting AvePoint’s business and changes in AvePoint’s ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and ability to identify and realize additional opportunities, and the risk of downturns in the market and the technology industry. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of AvePoint’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its registration statement on Form S-3 and related prospectus and prospectus supplements filed with the SEC. Copies of these and other documents filed by AvePoint from time to time are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and AvePoint does not assume any obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. AvePoint does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.
This year’s Adelaide Film Festival (AFF2024) had something truly exciting laying in wait: a spotlight on Indian cinema.
While many people are familiar with Bollywood, most don’t know about the vast film industry that exists beyond it. And this is no small market; India is currently the most populated country in the world.
This year’s festival delivered a variety of Indian films from regions and directors that remain underrepresented. From award-winning tales, to a poetic nature documentary, to a sweet coming-of-age story from the North East, the program promises to challenge and expand our understanding of what Indian cinema can offer.
Of all the films I saw, these five spoke to me the most.
All We Imagine As Light
Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix winner, All We Imagine as Light, was the film that I’d most looked forward to – and it turned out to be as dreamlike as its title promised.
It’s an ode to the city of Mumbai, also known as India’s “dream-making factory” (and where Bollywood is based). Mumbai is where Indians from all states and of all languages come to fulfil their dreams.
The story follows three female nurses, Prabha (Kani Kusruti), Anu (Divya Prabha) and Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam), who come to Mumbai looking for a better life. Yet they find themselves struggling to belong in a city that refuses to embrace them.
As Kapadia explains: “The film is about not being able to see a way out when one is surrounded by darkness […] that hope doesn’t exist if you have never seen it.”
Kapadia’s storytelling brings a kind of realism rarely seen in popular Indian cinema – not through larger-than-life spectacle or the resplendent city skyline, but through the quiet intimacy of shared apartments, poetry booklets, dinner dates, and small joys and defeats. It is simply soulful.
The film blends themes of female solidarity and friendship with heavier topics such as religious differences, migrant struggles, language barriers and class divides – yet it feels as gentle as rain on skin.
While some have critiqued the film for being too slow (and I admittedly felt this at times), this is exactly how Kapadia managed to turn a city with more than 21 million people into a place that feels completely lonely.
Second Chance
Unlike the vibrant image of India we’re so used to – full of colour, song and lively dances – Subhadra Mahajan’s black-and-white film Second Chance is nothing short of breathtaking.
Set in the snowy peaks of Himachal Pradesh, the film follows 25-year-old Nia (Dheera Johnson) as she retreats to her family’s Himalayan holiday home after a painful breakup and the emotional toll of taking abortion pills. Mahajan captures the stark, quiet beauty of the Himalayan landscape, where time slows down and silence seems to heal.
The film is shot among the snow-covered Himalayan mountains. Adelaide Film Festival
There, she finds unexpected companions through Bhemi and Sunny. Bhemi, the gentle 70-year-old mother-in-law of the home’s caretaker, is played with a captivating authenticity by Thakra Devi, a local resident and non-professional actress. Sunny (Kanav Thakur) is Bhemi’s playful and curious 8-year-old grandson.
At the top of the world, Second Chance crafts a beautiful and intimate space where we are invited to see that there’s always another chance to find oneself – a chance as infinite and expansive as the snow-capped peaks themselves.
Nocturnes
It’s rare to see films such as Second Chance, which are made in the Himalayas. But it’s even rarer to see an Indian nature documentary such as Nocturnes. The film follows a scientist named Mansi and her indigenous assistants as they chase down thousands of Himalayan moths (particularly Hawk moths).
Directed by Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan, Nocturnes captures the hypnotic rhythms of field study (something that particularly resonates with me as a researcher).
Fluttering wings and insect trills create a serene soundscape. The close-ups of the moths – their textures, patterns and slight vibrating movements – are fascinating to observe – as the the wider shots of the scientists’ glowing setup in the darkened forest, which drew me in like a moth to light.
Nocturnes is a thoughtful, meditative film that reminds us of how our destruction of the climate can impact these ancient residents of Earth. As the voiceover reminds is, “we most likely cannot survive what the moths have been through.”
Boong
Right from the opening scene, Boong pulled me in with unexpected laughs. The titular character Boong (Gugun Kipgen) is a schoolboy who, along with his best friend Raju (Angom Sanamatum), embarks on a risky journey along India’s militarised eastern border to bring Boong’s absent father back home.
In one scene, the playful prankster, Boong, aims his slingshot at his school’s entryway sign. IMDB
As they make their way, we’re treated to views from Manipur, India’s North East state near Myanmar, which we rarely see in mainstream Indian cinema. Boong itself tips its hat to Bollywood a few times, such as when Raju shows his excitement upon hearing the song Lungi Dance from the Bollywood blockbuster Chennai Express (2013), or when the the chief villager’s secret home cinema is adorned with Hindi film posters.
Director Lakshmipriya Devi does a fantastic job showcasing the region’s vibrant yet complex culture. All the while, she highlights some surprising lesser-known facts, such as how Hindi films were banned in Manipur for years in the name of protecting local culture, language and the regional film industry.
While Manipur’s cinematic potential is still largely untapped, Boong is a brilliant step.
In the Belly of a Tiger
Of the 23 films I saw at AFF2024, In the Belly of a Tiger was a precious gem that stayed with me.
This multinational production (which just won the festival’s Feature Fiction Award) tells a heart-wrenching story of an elderly and desperately poor couple faced with an impossible choice: which one of them will go into the forest to be eaten by a tiger so the other can receive government compensation?
It’s a deeply spiritual and painfully pragmatic exploration of power, sacrifice, love and hope.
The symbolism of the film’s poster hints at its larger themes. Just as Hindu mythology posits the universe emerged from Lord Vishnu’s navel, unfolding like the petals of a lotus, we see how fate, too, blossoms unevenly.
The film’s poster signposts some of its larger themes. IMDB
In the film, a poor family in a remote village longs for a better life in the next world, holding tightly to memories of young, innocent love.
Shooting in Hindi, and featuring mostly non-professional actors, In the Belly of a Tiger is both authentic and ambitious. Indian director and cinematographer Jatla Siddhartha collaborated with some of the biggest names in cinema to bring the story to life, including multiple Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty (who also worked on Slumdog Millionaire).
The music is composed by Japan’s Umebayashi Shigeru, known for his work on Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love (2000) and The Grandmaster (2013). Shigeru’s melodies bring an emotional and magical tone to what is, at its heart, a truly Indian story.
More dreams to share
The films I’ve highlighted here represent some of the most exciting and thought-provoking works coming out of India today.
While the Mumbai-based Bollywood industry is undeniably a huge part of Indian culture, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. These films paint a far richer and more diverse portrait of India, its people, its struggles and its beauty.
They also showcase a glorious future for Indian cinema – one which promises to carry the dreams of a nation eager to share its stories with the world.
Yanyan Hong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Hong Kong’s average daily turnover of ETFs reached 13 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 1.67 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of 2024, up 10 percent from the 2023 full-year average, local data showed on Tuesday.
The increase widens to 32 percent when compared to the average in full year 2022, said Joseph Chan, acting secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, at the ETF Summit 2024 hosted by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX).
Since launching the first ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) in 1999, HKEX has become one of the largest and most active ETF exchanges in Asia, said Chan.
The listing of Asia’s first ETF tracking the Saudi Arabian market in Hong Kong in November 2023 as well as the listing of two ETFs tracking Hong Kong stocks in Saudi Arabia last month will help diversify Hong Kong’s capital sources while boosting market liquidity, he said.
About 200 ETF products are now listed in Hong Kong with a total market capitalization of 60 billion U.S. dollars, according to Wilfred Yiu, deputy chief executive officer of the HKEX Group.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged to open the country’s huge market further to share more growth opportunities with the rest of the world on Tuesday as the seventh edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the seventh China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The business exhibition of the world’s first national-level exposition dedicated to imports has attracted about 3,500 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions this year. Notably, a record high of 297 Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders are attending the six-day expo. And more than 400 new products, new technologies and new services are unveiled.
Experts believe the large scale of the expo highlighted the global companies’ confidence in the Chinese market and their commitment to further development in China despite the sluggish global economic recovery.
Enormous market
China is willing to open up its enormous market further and will continue to expand market access to sectors including telecommunications, the internet, education, culture and healthcare in an orderly fashion, Premier Li said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th CIIE.
The sound fundamentals of the Chinese economy remain unchanged, according to Li, adding that the country’s new growth drivers are fast-growing, with double-digit investment growth in high-tech industries and development booms in emerging industries including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and the green economy.
During a meeting on Monday with select exhibitors and buyers attending the expo, Li said that China is able to sustain steady economic recovery, improve the quality and capacity of its market, and provide more extensive growth space for global businesses in terms of trade, investment and innovation. He added that the Chinese market is still one of the best choices for companies worldwide.
The keen interest from global participants has shown the growing influence of the CIIE and the charm of the Chinese market and also highlighted China’s determination to push forward the building of an open world economy, said Zhao Fujun, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council.
In 2018, China inaugurated the CIIE to build an open platform for international trade cooperation and to support free trade and economic globalization, making it a “golden gateway” to the world’s second-largest consumer market.
This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows the Tanzania Pavilion during the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]
More than 420 billion U.S. dollars worth of tentative deals were signed at the CIIE’s earlier six editions since 2018. Beyond the event, global companies can reach a larger customer base and make further investments in the country.
Toshinobu Umetsu, president and CEO of Shiseido China, said he is very inspired and encouraged by Premier Li’s emphasis on China’s commitment to continuing high-level opening-up and to sharing development opportunities with the rest of the world.
The Japanese cosmetics giant will continue to strengthen its long-term investment in China. It has never wavered in its confidence and determination to invest in China, as the incredible vitality and resilience of the Chinese market make it a very important international market, Umetsu said.
German healthcare and agribusiness giant Bayer AG is among more than 180 companies and institutions that have attended all seven editions of the CIIE since 2018.
Bayer’s participation at the expo demonstrates its unwavering commitment to this important market, said Bill Anderson, chairman of Bayer AG Management Board.
“International cooperation and economic globalization are important factors in the world’s development. That’s why Bayer is glad to be part of the expo for the seventh consecutive year,” said Anderson.
New opportunities
The CIIE unlocks new opportunities for the world, Bayer said, adding that it will actively leverage this vital platform to continuously unleash its innovative potential while looking forward to forging partnerships with global collaborators.
A visitor learns about a bronchoscope robot at the exhibition area of Intuitive Fosun during the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Penne Kehl, Asia Pacific Group president of Cargill Agriculture and Trading, expects a very busy schedule at the import expo, including meeting with customers and partners and signing a few important deals and partnerships. U.S. food giant Cargill has participated in CIIE for seven consecutive years.
As its influence grows, the expo is attracting new foreign enterprises over the years. Canadian sportswear giant Lululemon is among the first-time participants.
The Chinese mainland is Lululemon’s largest market outside of North America and is also one of the most dynamic and exciting ones, which is key to driving the company’s international business, said Calvin McDonald, CEO of Lululemon.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to showcase the brand, drive awareness to our growth story and what we have planned for the future,” said McDonald. He added that Lululemon will continue to open more stores in the country, adding to its current 137 stores in 41 cities.
China offers free booths and other support measures to 37 least-developed countries to help them showcase their products at the import expo. It also expanded the exhibition area for African agricultural products.
China has been opening up its market to Africa, enabling transformation on the African continent, said Peter Kagwanja, founder and president of the Africa Policy Institute.
Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala delivers a video speech during the opening ceremony of the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Leaders from various countries and global organizations speak highly of the China International Import Expo’s (CIIE) role in promoting multilateral trade and common development.
The seventh CIIE, running from Tuesday to Sunday in Shanghai, hosts 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions, as a world business gala.
World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted that since joining the WTO in 2001, China has been a strong supporter of the organization and played a key role in building capacity for least-developed countries.
“As geopolitical tensions intensify and signs of fracturing and fragmentation emerge in global trade and investment, it is crucial for political and business leaders around the world to collaborate on preserving and reforming the multilateral trading system to reflect the changing economic landscape,” she said.
Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, said China’s export and import activities have dramatic effects “even very far from its shores.”
The expo sent a message of openness that businesses worldwide can connect, forge partnerships, and contribute to a more prosperous and interconnected global economy, she said.
The CIIE offers companies worldwide, regardless of their sizes, a platform to showcase their capabilities and attract new investments, said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Multinational cooperation for free trade and sustainability should serve as a tool to actively advance global progress, rather than as a means to suppress competition, promote unfair advantages, or create conflict, he said.
Calling the CIIE a platform to support international trade development, cooperation, and new types of global partnerships, Denisa Sakova, deputy prime minister and minister of economy of the Slovak Republic, said her country has benefited greatly from participating in the expo, a place to showcase best and latest products and innovations to Chinese consumers.
The CIIE has become an important platform for strengthening international economic integration, said Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. For Kazakhstan, the expo helps to expand international cooperation with foreign partners and offers new opportunities for distributing Kazakh goods in international markets.
Uzbekistan is taking advantage of opportunities such as the CIIE and striving to promote its position in the rapidly growing and attractive Chinese market, which will definitely deepen cooperation and development in trade, economy, investment, and other areas, said Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov.
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said that as a platform for enterprises, people, and cultures to come together from around the world, the CIIE fosters not only business and commerce but also friendship and mutual understanding.
An international passenger train from Kunming of China to Vientiane of Laos arrives at Mohan port in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, April 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The China-Laos Railway’s Lao section has transported a total of 3 million passenger trips in 10 months of 2024, an increase of 44.4 percent from the same period last year.
From Jan. 1 to Nov. 4, the railway carried 3 million passengers from 101 countries, according to a report issued on Tuesday by the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. (LCRC).
More than 2,800,000 passengers traveled within the Southeast Asian country, while over 108,000 passengers were transported by cross-border passenger trains.
The significant increase in the number of passengers on the Lao section of the China-Laos Railway is due to Laos’ role as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Visit Laos Year 2024 tourism promotion campaign, and the implementation of a visa-free policy for Chinese visitors.
Since the beginning of this year, the LCRC has predicted passenger flow in advance, adjusted train operation plans promptly, and responded to passenger flow peaks by adding trains. The company also constantly optimizes ticket sale services and provides a variety of convenience services.
Since its operation on Dec. 3, 2021, the China-Laos Railway has become a preferred mode of transport for travelers due to its affordability, convenience, and comfort.
The Government is leaving small businesses high and dry in difficult economic times, by letting big business get away with not paying their bills.
Data from Xero shows there has been an 81 percent increase in the cost of late payments to Kiwi small businesses, now costing firms more than $827 million a year.
“That’s a huge jump from $456 million in 2021, and shows this Government is failing our small businesses. This is effectively theft and bullying by big businesses,” Labour’s small business and manufacturing spokesperson Helen White said.
“Andrew Bayly repealed Labour’s Business Payment Practices Act, which required large businesses to report how long they took to pay invoices.
“The Minister is simply out of touch if he thinks by telling Government departments to pay their bills on time that this large problem will go away.
“Removing the requirement to report now means big multinational companies can do what they want and take as long as they want to pay without any consequences.
“It’s unfair. Big businesses are forcing the little guy to carry their debt, hindering their ability to pay their own bills and wages.
“Small business represents almost 30 percent of employment and contributes more than a quarter of New Zealand’s gross domestic product. It is critical the Government supports them to thrive and grow New Zealand’s economy.
“Liquidations are at an all-time high. With the first eight months of 2024 seeing liquidations 40 percent higher than last year, the Minister should be taking urgent action to support small businesses,” Helen White said.
Ethical gifts from World Vision’s Gift Catalogue offer a meaningful alternative to traditional gifts
This festive season, World Vision is inviting compassionate Kiwis to consider the millions of children around the globe who will go hungry while we celebrate the festive season.
As we approach Christmas this year, more children are facing hunger, starvation, and conflict than ever before.
World Vision is determined to change this narrative by inspiring New Zealanders to give gifts that make a genuine difference. Instead of opting for novelty items or extravagant gadgets, we’re inviting Kiwis to consider the impact of a truly meaningful gift this year. A gift that will not only bring joy to a child or a family in need, but that has the power to truly transform lives.
Imagine providing a child with clean water for just $45, a chicken to provide eggs for a family at $12, or emergency food for $60.
With options like a beehive ($350), cooking classes to combat malnutrition ($54), a veggie garden ($28), reviving a forest ($215), or enabling a girl to get an education for $80, each gift not only brings hope but also paves the way for a brighter future.
Each gift purchased comes with a printed card or e-card so the giver can personalise and explain the life-changing impact that has been made on the recipient’s behalf. By sharing a gift with a loved one that carries a powerful message of compassion and change, you make a difference in the lives of children and their families.
World Vision Associate National Director TJ Grant says: “We know that small acts of compassion, kindness, and love over the festive season and beyond make a massive difference in the lives of children who are living with hunger and are in extreme poverty. By giving a life-changing gift from our Christmas Gift Catalogue, or even making a simple text donation, New Zealanders can help children and families who are facing extreme hunger this Christmas.”
Not sure what to give this festive season? Here are some suggestions from our most popular gifts:
Gifts for $10
Fast-growing seeds
Immunise a child.
Gifts under $25
Chicken ($12)
Tree seedlings ($18)
Mosquito nets ($22)
Back to school pack ($25)
Gifts under $50
A family vegetable garden ($28)
Garden tools ($35)
A duck ($40)
Clean water for a child ($45)
Cooking classes to fight malnutrition ($54)
This holiday season, World Vision encourages everyone to come together to spread joy and compassion. Choose a gift that transforms lives and makes a lasting impact and be part of the change you want to see in the world.
To purchase a life-changing gift, visit worldvision.org.nz/gifts, text SUPPORT to 5055 and donate $3 to gift emergency food to a hungry child or call 0800-245-000 and share what gift you’d like to purchase. Together change IS possible.
Upgrades to Nesbitt’s Dip on State Highway 2 (SH2) and Rototahe on State Highway 35 (SH35) will go ahead as a result of improved efficiencies in the Government’s North Island Weather Event recovery programme, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
“Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods. As part of Budget 2024, our Government committed $609.25 million for state highway recovery to restore roads back to their previous condition, and in July I announced that $250 million of this would be allocated to the East Coast.
“Work to remedy flooding at SH2 Nesbitt’s Dip and SH35 Rototahe was listed but would only advance into delivery if efficiencies in the programme were found. I’m pleased that with a strong focus on achieving value for money and improving efficiency across the recovery programme, these two important projects can now proceed within existing funding.
“These two sections of highway that connect communities on the East Coast have been closed many times due to flooding, most recently at the end of June. These closures create safety risks for emergency services responding to emergencies, and cause significant disruption for communities, businesses, and the flow of freight and goods.
“To enable people and freight to get where they want to go quickly and safely, crews will raise the height of SH2 Nesbitt’s Dip and SH35 Rototahe above the flood level and improve drainage at both sites. By addressing the root causes of flooding and road closures, NZTA will provide a safer and more reliable route for the region.
“Our Government is committed to ensuring our state highway corridors impacted by the NIWE are returned to the standard that Kiwis need and expect. I look forward to these works progressing and being completed.”
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will participate in the 11th CLMV Summit to be held in Kunming, China, on 7 November 2024. The Summit is a significant gathering to provide a great opportunity to review the progress, exchange views and further explore ways and means for CLMV cooperation that complement the Initiative for ASEAN Integration. The Summit underscores the importance of subregional cooperation arrangement, which covers a wide range of cooperation, such as trade, investment and human resource development in supporting and contributing to ASEAN integration and community-building efforts.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN to participate in the 11th CLMV Summit in Kunming, the People’s Republic of China appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament.
“Parliament has standards, and Winston Peters fell well short of those,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.
“The Speaker has today ruled that the Deputy Prime Minister’s use of a personal statement misused the rules of the House.
“Yesterday, the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had to apologise for again bringing a public servant into the debate, despite that person having done nothing wrong. Christopher Luxon should be ashamed of the position he has taken on this.
“Winston Peters has no evidence of wrongdoing, because there isn’t any. The person he has accused of wrongdoing cannot speak back, is part of a politically neutral public service and has declared the conflict of interest.
“Winston Peters should personally apologise to them, and to the House,” Chris Hipkins said.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Speech by SJ at Hong Kong Legal Week 2024: Beyond Litigation: The Vibrant Landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Hong Kong (English only) Speech by SJ at Hong Kong Legal Week 2024: Beyond Litigation: The Vibrant Landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Hong Kong (English only) ******************************************************************************************
Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at Hong Kong Legal Week 2024: Beyond Litigation: The Vibrant Landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Hong Kong today (November 6): Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is a great pleasure to see you all again on day three of Hong Kong Legal Week 2024. After two days of fruitful discussions on issues relating to international law, today we will put our focus back on Hong Kong, in particular, our alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services. Today’s theme is “Beyond Litigation: The Vibrant Landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Hong Kong”. Hong Kong takes pride in our world-class ADR services and legal talents. It is immensely encouraging that in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024, Hong Kong ranks fifth globally as the most competitive economy, and, most importantly, ranks first in the sub-topics of “Business Legislation” and “International Trade”. In the recent “Business Ready 2024 Report” published by the World Bank Group, Hong Kong ranks eighth in the topic of “Dispute Resolution” among the 50 economies covered. In recent years, the Government has formulated a comprehensive set of policy initiatives, which aim at deepening the mediation culture in Hong Kong. At present, mediation clauses are not mandatory in government contracts but various forms of such clauses can be found in some of them. Resolving disputes through mediation can save public funds, achieve early resolution of disputes and lessen the burden on our courts. There have been a multitude of successful instances of mediation involving the Government, from personal injuries cases, construction works disputes, adverse possession claims to medical negligence cases. Against such a background, it was first mentioned in the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address and repeated in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” that the Government will take the lead, and incorporate mediation clauses in government contracts, while encouraging private organisations to incorporate similar clauses in their contracts. The key effect of including such clauses is that, if any dispute arises, the parties are obliged to try to resolve it by mediation first, and will resort to arbitration or litigation if, but only if, mediation fails. Taking the opportunity of today’s event with a strong emphasis on mediation, I am very pleased to announce that today, the Government will formally issue a policy statement on the incorporation of mediation clauses in all government contracts. The policy statement is a confirmation of the Government’s commitment to use mediation to resolve contractual disputes. Upon the taking effect of the policy, the Government will incorporate mediation clauses in all future government contracts; and departure from that policy will need to be justified by exceptional circumstances, for example, the existence of an inconsistent statutory provision. Supporting and monitoring mechanisms to be provided by the Department of Justice to other policy bureaux and departments will be put in place to ensure the smooth implementation of this policy. Through this policy, we do not only aim at ensuring that contractual disputes involving the Government may be resolved in a flexible, economical and time-saving manner. We also hope that, with the Government taking the lead, the policy will also encourage the private sectors to follow suit, contributing to the cultivation of a mediation culture in Hong Kong and bringing more harmony and peace to society. With this policy initiative in mind, I would like to introduce our three panels and distinguished speakers for today’s event. The first panel discussion this morning, entitled “Mediation in Action: Harmony and Peace for All”, will cover how mediation can be used effectively in various sectors of the community, for instance, in areas of family disputes, civil claims, improving relations between citizens and government departments, and not simply for resolving the disputes but, more importantly, to foster a culture that embraces mutual respect, harmony and inclusiveness. The Government has always been a staunch supporter of mediation for the community. Since 2009, we have launched the Mediate First Pledge campaign to encourage the use of mediation as the first step to resolve disputes. The Mediate First Pledge is a non-legally binding commitment by pledgees to first explore the use of mediation to resolve disputes before resorting to other means of dispute resolution. At present, over 900 companies, organisations and individuals coming from different sectors have signed the pledge. The biennial Mediation Week and Mediation Conference, coupled with the Mediate First Pledge Event, are our flagship events to explore and promote wider use of mediation to resolve disputes in Hong Kong. The last one was just held a few months ago in May this year. A very significant event about mediation with global significance took place in Hong Kong on October 17, less than a month ago. On that day, the four-day Fifth Session of the Elaboration of the Convention on the Establishment of The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) was concluded. Representatives from various countries completed negotiations on the Convention at that session and decided that the signing ceremony for the Convention will be held in Hong Kong in 2025. The IOMed is the first intergovernmental international legal body dedicated to settling international disputes by mediation. With the support of our motherland China and the agreement of other state parties, it was agreed that the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation will be established in Hong Kong in 2025. This represents a strong vote of confidence in Hong Kong and a clear acknowledgement from the international community of Hong Kong’s status as an international dispute resolution centre. I am delighted that Dr Sun Jin, Director-General of the International Organization for Mediation Preparatory Office, will deliver a keynote speech before lunch today. Later this afternoon, we will discuss ADR in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). While there is no doubt that the use of AI may enhance the efficiency in resolving disputes, it is vital to ensure that the integrity of the dispute resolution process will not be compromised by the misuse of AI, whether intentionally, negligently or even inadvertently. Our distinguished speakers will consider the opportunities and risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence in ADR. They will also discuss the adoption of lawtech by Hong Kong practitioners, the benefits of lawtech in improving legal services and enhancing access to justice. Our last panel of today’s event is on sports disputes. As stated in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”, with our thriving development of sports activities and the industry, sports disputes have become increasing complicated. Hence, Hong Kong will explore establishing a sports dispute resolution system and promoting sports arbitration. In this session, our speakers will share their experiences and insights regarding the demand, application, effectiveness and challenges of sports ADR. To round up today’s events, we will have the 2024 Hong Kong Mediation Lecture at the office of Herbert Smith Freehills this evening. Professor Shahla Ali, through her perspective as a mediator with the World Bank and the Energy Community Panel, would explore the unique challenges and opportunities involved in the use of mediation in deals relating to natural resources, particularly in the Belt and Road Initiative, and how mediation can contribute to ensure that energy and natural resources agreements are environmentally sustainable and foster collaborative approaches. While today’s programmes are focused on mediation, we must not forget that Hong Kong has always been promoting and expanding our arbitration services proactively not just in Hong Kong but also the Mainland and other countries. Two examples would suffice. First, the Hong Kong Arbitration Week was just been held between October 21 and 25. Second, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre has recently announced its imminent opening of a Beijing office, being its second office in the Mainland since the opening of its Shanghai office back in 2015. As I mentioned on different occasions previously, Hong Kong is an international legal dispute resolution centre in which numerous options, all of top quality, are made available to the parties to disputes. On this note, let me conclude by wishing you very fruitful exchanges and discussions in today’s sessions to come. Thank you very much.
Ends/Wednesday, November 6, 2024Issued at HKT 11:15
China’s economy showed early signs of having bottomed out across the board in October, indicating that the country’s ramped-up efforts to revitalize domestic spending against external uncertainties are starting to yield effects, analysts said on Tuesday.
They commented as data from media group Caixin pointed to the fastest expansion of services activity in three months while manufacturing activity resumed upward momentum, matching the improvements of official indicators.
David Chao, global market strategist for the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) at Invesco, said: “China’s leading economic indicators improved across the board for October, suggesting that the economy continues to regain momentum. This should translate into improving economic conditions and activity for the rest of the year.”
A privately surveyed purchasing managers index for the services sector came in at 52 in October, up from 50.3 in September and marking the highest reading in three months, a Caixin report said on Tuesday. Any PMI reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity.
The reading fared better than 50.3 which many analysts had expected as the rate of expansion in new business inflows rose for the first time in four months following the launch of a series of policies to shore up the economy since late September.
In October, the level of confidence among service providers rose to the highest since May, while selling prices stabilized after falling for two successive months. Service providers raised staffing levels for a second consecutive month, albeit marginally, the report said.
The uptick in services activity came along with manufacturing activity resuming expansion in October, driven by renewed new business growth. The Caixin China General Composite PMI, covering both manufacturing and services activity, came in at 51.9 in October, up from 50.3 the previous month, marking the highest showing in four months.
Also indicative of momentum recovery, the official composite PMI came in at 50.8 in October, up from 50.4 a month earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.
Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group, said that the PMI surveys showed that market demand stabilized and optimism improved, which are early signs of the new policies’ impact, though the labor market remained under pressure while prices were still subdued.
China is expected to further consolidate its policy support as the country’s top legislature is expected to approve additional fiscal support this week.
Zhang Bin, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of World Economics and Politics, said China’s current round of countercyclical adjustments is ultimately aimed at promoting a robust recovery in overall income levels, which is key to further lifting consumption.
The task of convincing consumers to spend more is deemed by analysts to be of particular importance against elevated external political and trade uncertainties and amid China’s pursuit of a more consumption-oriented growth model.
While services providers polled by Caixin reported a solid increase in exports in October, export orders in the manufacturing sector remained in decline, though the rate of reduction eased. The official PMI survey showed that manufacturers’ new export orders contracted at a faster rate in October.
This photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the automobile exhibition area of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in Shanghai, east China. [Photo/Xinhua]
With the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in full swing in Shanghai, global companies are unveiling their latest technological innovations, capitalizing on the opportunities arising from China’s commitment to further opening up both its market and manufacturing industry.
GE Healthcare, a regular exhibitor at the CIIE, has brought an unprecedented lineup to Shanghai this year. The U.S. medical technology company is showcasing multiple products either making their global or Chinese debut.
Eyeing China’s growing demand for advanced medical technology, GE Healthcare is exhibiting its largest collection of new products ever at this year’s expo, where it has been participating since 2018, said Zhong Luyin, the company’s China communications executive.
“Our goal extends beyond mere participation in the expo. More importantly, we look forward to engaging in China,” Zhong said.
A stage for all
At the ongoing CIIE, over 400 new products, technologies and services from around the world are being showcased, spanning sectors such as artificial intelligence, new materials, autonomous systems and energy transition technologies.
During a meeting on Monday with select exhibitors and buyers attending the expo, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that China is able to sustain steady economic recovery, improve the quality and capacity of its market, and provide more extensive growth space for global businesses in terms of trade, investment and innovation. He added that the Chinese market is still one of the best choices for companies worldwide.
Just days ago, China removed all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector, with the country’s new edition of its national negative list for foreign investment having taken effect on Nov. 1. This significant move marked the latest effort of the world’s second-largest economy to open its doors even wider.
“Benefiting from the ‘spillover effect’ of the expo, many of our showcased products are now in use across Chinese hospitals,” said Lu Yi, MRI marketing manager of Siemens Healthineers. At this year’s CIIE, the German medical technology company is unveiling the MAGNETOM Terra.X, its latest generation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment — the first time this new equipment is being displayed in Asia.
Lu revealed that Siemens Healthineers is advancing its localization strategy for cutting-edge product manufacturing. Notably, the MAGNETOM Terra.X is slated for future production at the company’s base in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province.
Apart from traditional technological sectors, the ongoing expo showcases an array of futuristic exhibits that seem straight out of the world of science fiction, including tires designed for lunar exploration vehicles, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and innovative motor-powered shoes.
French tire maker Michelin, which is attending the expo for a fourth year, is exhibiting a futuristic prototype wheel for lunar exploration vehicles, among other products including car tires containing 71 percent sustainable materials and a new generation aircraft tire.
Serge Godefroid, research and development director of Michelin China, said Michelin has been innovating for the future of mobility and is even thinking about mobility beyond the Earth for future lunar or Mars exploration projects.
Michelin is already extensively testing tires in very rough conditions and with exposure to the range of temperatures that exist on the moon, Godefroid said. “You don’t have somebody to help you inflate a tire on the moon, so you need to find a wheel that can sustain very difficult conditions.”
Rising innovation landscape
A number of eVTOL aircraft are proving eye-catching at this year’s CIIE. Vertaxi, an eVTOL startup which is attending the expo jointly with Ampaire, a global leader in hybrid electric aircraft systems, has brought three autonomous eVTOL drones to the 2024 expo.
Yue Tingting, vice president of Vertaxi, said the company’s smaller eVTOL aircraft have been well received by the market and are being widely used for police, emergency and fire-fighting patrols, public and oil infrastructure inspections, and island logistics.
Yue admitted that it will take longer for the company’s eVTOL aircraft to obtain the airworthiness certification needed for passenger transport. She, however, is very bullish about China’s low-altitude economy and even envisions a future where people will be able to board eVTOL aircraft for daily commuting, much like taking a taxi or bus.
Shift Robotics, attending the expo for the first time, is exhibiting its new generation of motor-powered shoes, called Moonwalkers Aero, that allow people to walk at speeds of up to 11 km per hour.
Moonwalkers deliver smooth power when people who wear them speed up, while they offer very little assistance if the person wearing them walks very slowly. These motor-powered shoes can be used in virtually any environment, even on the subway, in a lift or on stairs, and people can move around in these Moonwalkers without taking off their normal shoes, according to Zhang Xunjie, CEO of Shift Robotics.
From industry giants to rising startups, the dedication shown to China by global tech companies is well-timed, as the country’s prominence in the global innovation landscape continues to increase. According to the Global Innovation Index 2024 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization, China has moved up one spot to 11th place in the latest rankings of the world’s most innovative economies — becoming one of the fastest risers over the past decade.
“China’s growth pattern has shifted from quantity-oriented to quality-oriented,” said Tetsuro Homma, executive vice president of Panasonic Holdings Corporation. “To keep pace with this change, we are setting up more research and development teams in China to quickly adapt to the evolving Chinese market.”
Over the past four years, this Japanese manufacturing company has steadily expanded its investment in China. Home to over 60 Panasonic subsidiaries, China now accounts for nearly a quarter of the company’s business worldwide. “We are innovating for China, and we aspire to innovate in China for the whole world,” Homma said.
Singapore firms take a long-term view towards China, a market with huge potential and growing sophistication, and regard investing in the country as a long game, according to the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) CEO.
“The number that I have been told many times is that China is home to over 400 million middle-income population. Market growth might not always be in a rocketing state. However, the world’s second-largest consumer market will still grow,” SBF CEO Kok Ping Soon told Xinhua during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE).
Led by the SBF, a delegation of nearly 400 representatives from 44 Singaporean businesses are attending the CIIE held from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10 this year, which marks the seventh year for the SBF’s delegation to participate in the world’s first national-level expo on import.
“Some of the previous delegation participants have ‘graduated’ from the delegation by outgrowing the Singapore Pavilion and setting up their own booths at other exhibition areas of CIIE,” Kok said.
With a total exhibition area of close to 912 square meters, the Singapore Pavilion spans the Consumer Goods Hall, Food & Agricultural Products Hall, and Trade in Services Hall.
“We are very encouraged to see some of those companies are no longer just in the food and beverage sector. We are starting to see companies responding to China’s call for more high-quality investment in fields like biotech,” he noted.
China has been Singapore’s largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years. Singapore is China’s second-largest foreign investment source and the top destination for Chinese overseas investment.
Kok said there are broad areas of collaboration between the two countries, such as green transformation, AI security and governance, and smart city development.
According to the SBF National Business Survey 2023/2024, China is one of the top three countries that Singapore businesses have a presence in and is among the top three countries in Asia that Singapore businesses are looking to expand into.
China has intensified its opening up in the medical sector to meet the growing healthcare demands of the population. The country announced in September that it would give the green light to establishing wholly foreign-owned hospitals in some cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
“The opening up of the healthcare sector in China presents tremendous opportunity for us,” Kok said, citing the case of Mirxes, a CIIE participant seeking local partnerships such as promoting its solution to screen early-stage stomach cancer, drawn by China’s huge market potential and enhanced intellectual property protection.
RMA Contracts, a Singapore business process outsourcing company, will be using the CIIE platform to tap into the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, a representative cooperation project between the two countries, according to Kok.
Another interesting thing Kok observed is that Singapore companies are looking beyond penetrating the Chinese market via the CIIE, citing examples of participating companies seeking cooperation with non-Chinese firms.
Kok said CIIE is an important platform for reaching the global market. “You don’t just come in thinking to connect with China. If you broaden your mind, you can look for partners in your home country or even outside of China, which is the charm of a platform like CIIE.”
A south Canterbury community group has looped in help from an unlikely source to improve water and soil quality in their catchment, with four shipments of dung beetles coming to their aid.
While most people actively avoid creepy crawlies, Barkers Creek Catchment Group is shipping them in by the hundreds.
The local community group was allocated funding by the Ōrāri Temuka Ōpihi Pareora (OTOP) Water Zone Committee to support their project, a catchment-wide release of dung beetles which aims to bring long-term soil and water quality improvements to the Barkers Creek area, a sub-catchment of South Canterbury’s Waihī River. The next shipment of beetles is set to be released in coming weeks.
Dung beetles and their role in agriculture
Dung beetles dine on the manure of grazing animals, including cows, sheep, alpacas and horses. The adults feed on dung before tunneling beneath the manure, then filling their tunnels with balls of dung, in which they lay their eggs. The piles of dung quickly disappear, broken down into the soils below.
By reducing run-off from paddocks into waterways, and with the nutrients being recycled back into the soil, water and soil quality is greatly improved, along with plant and animal health.
In most parts of the world, the beetles are strongly connected to livestock, but not here in New Zealand. Although we have native beetles, they have adapted to a forest environment and don’t provide any support in processing manure in our pastoral system.
Group Chair Danette McKeown said the beetles are a novel approach to an age-old problem for the small 34 sq km catchment, which is largely rolling terrain with heavy clay soils.
“Research shows they’re great on sloping land; they tunnel down so you have less dung to run off in a rainfall event, and they improve the structure of hard clays,” she said.
It’s a long-term project, as it can take five to seven years to know if the colony has become established, but Danette said the benefits are wide-reaching for the greater catchment.
“It was a no-brainer for us. Water quality was one of our priority issues as a catchment, with sediment and nutrient run-off issues because of our rolling clay terrain,” she said. “We’re also aware the closer to the source, the cheaper and more effective the remediation. So, we were looking for ‘close to the source’ mitigations.
“Dung beetles are a passive solution, they keep working for us and we can then focus our attention and funds on other things, like riparian planting and fencing off waterways.”
Community group bringing catchment-wide benefits
The dung beetle project is the latest in a long raft of successful initiatives undertaken by the Barkers Creek Catchment Group.
Made up of local farmers, they initially came together seven years ago to collaborate with us and the OTOP water zone about Plan Change 7of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan.
Today their work is driving landscape-scale improvements to the wider catchment, with current and future projects that include:
pest control
trapping
bat monitoring
regenerating native bush blocks
and creating corridors of native riparian planting.
“We’re focused on actions with good value,” Danette said.
“If we’re going to spend money undertaking work, we want to get the widest benefits we can, so we’re focused on projects that have more than one singular outcome.”
As part of ongoing work to ensure Rotorua’s community feels safer within the CBD, 13 people were arrested and 45 shopping trolleys have been returned to their respective stores, following a three-day Police operation.
From Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 January, Police executed Operation Trolley focusing on engaging and educating managers of local businesses and enforcing the illegal actions of people using or having possession of shopping trolleys outside the boundaries of their respective stores.
While being homeless is not a crime in and of itself, Police has recently received complaints in regard to homeless people in possession of trolleys intimidating members of the public and workers as they walk through the CBD.
Any antisocial or unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated, and Police is committed to ensuring anyone going about their lawful business in the CBD are safe and feel safe.
Upon speaking with local retail store and business managers, Police identified several people using retail store owned shopping trolleys for their personal use without lawful authority.
Police arrested seven people in possession of shopping trolleys for receiving an item worth less than $500. They were all given verbal warnings.
Six other people were arrested for historical offences including theft, assault, arrest warrants, bail breaches, and trespassing.
Police also issued 19 trespass notices, trespassing individuals in possession of a trolley from the trolley’s respective store.
In total, 45 trolleys were returned to their businesses at the end of the three-day operation.
Homelessness is a social problem which requires a joint effort to address the underlying issues. Police works with a number of agencies to understand these issues, support the homeless, and collectively find homeless people long-term solutions.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Seminar on Life Science and Global Health “Innovation ·Inclusion · Impact” on November 5 (Ottawa time):
Ms Wu (Board Director of Hong Kong Canada Business Association, Ottawa, and Department Chair of Algonquin College School of Business and Hospitality, Ms Sandra Wu), Mr Eng (President of Hong Kong Canada Business Association, Ottawa, Mr Frank Eng), Senator Woo (Senator of Canada, Mr Woo Yuen-pau), Mr McLean (Member of the House of Commons of Canada, Mr Greg McLean), Mr Arya (Member of the House of Commons of Canada, Mr Chandra Arya), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It is my great pleasure to join you all here today in Ottawa and in such a historic building for the Seminar of Life Science and Global Health, to explore the vital intersection of life science and global health, through the lenses of innovation, inclusion, and impact.
Over the years, Hong Kong has established close ties with Canada in many façades, say economically, culturally and people-to-people bond. We share many similarities and a wide range of common interests. While Canada has long been recognised as a powerhouse in the field of life and health science, Hong Kong is emerging as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, as well as a health and medical innovation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. Taking this opportunity, I would like to give you a brief update on Hong Kong’s I&T landscape and the opportunities that lie ahead in the field of life and health technology.
Promoting I&T development is of top priority on the policy agenda of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government. Back in December 2022, we promulgated the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint, which clearly indicated our development direction to perfect the I&T ecosystem by promoting positive interaction between upstream for basic research, midstream for technology transfer, and downstream for all industries development. We greatly support the development of technology industries with an edge and of strategic importance.
Life and health technology is one of our focuses.
Hong Kong possesses professional medical services and a well-established healthcare system. Supported by five top 100 universities and two top 40 medical schools in the world, together with a multitude of world-class experts in the life and health disciplines, Hong Kong enjoys significant advantages in developing life and health technology.
To capitalise on our strength in basic research and foster global I&T collaboration, Hong Kong’s flagship R&D (research and development) initiative, namely InnoHK, has built collaboration with more than 30 world-renowned universities and research institutes from 12 economies, including Canada of course, and set up a total of 29 InnoHK research laboratories. Of these, 16 of them focus on healthcare-related technologies and have brought notable scientific achievements and benefits to society. For example, the Centre for Eye and Vision Research, which was jointly established by the University of Waterloo and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is one of them.
Furthermore, we will launch a HK$6 billion subsidy programme, roughly $1.1 billion Canadian dollars, to support setting up cross-institutional and multidisciplinary life and health technology research institutes in Hong Kong. We have also earmarked HK$3 billion, that is approximately $540 million Canadian dollars, for the Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme to accelerate cross-disciplinary researches in various frontier technology fields, including clinical medicine and health, gene and biotechnology, spearheaded by the local funded universities and renowned scholars from around the world. These initiatives will empower us to create a vibrant research atmosphere with the participation of global talent, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s capability for forward-looking and disruptive scientific researches.
A few weeks ago, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government announced his 2024 Policy Address, in which a series of new initiatives are introduced to accelerate the pace of the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. Among them, we will launch a new HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, which is equivalent to around $1.8 billion Canadian dollars, to form a fund-of-funds to channel more market capital to invest in specified emerging and future industries of strategic importance, including life and health technology. Indeed, we launched a HK$10 billion Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme last year to accelerate the transformation and commercialisation of outstanding research outcomes from universities, and another HK$10 billion New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme this year to encourage industries of strategic importance, including life and health technology, to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong. Just these three funding schemes alone, totalling HK$30 billion, almost $5.4 billion Canadian dollars in financial commitment, demonstrates our strong commitment to promoting industry development and placing a strong emphasis on investment in the I&T sector.
Adequate sites and sophisticated infrastructure are equally important for the long-term I&T development. Located in the border area between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the Hetao Hong Kong Park, or the Loop in short, will serve as an I&T hub of strategic value connecting Mainland China and the international community. We will set up the InnoLife Healthtech Hub in the Loop to attract top-notch research teams and talent from around the world. We will allocate another HK$2 billion to support the InnoHK research clusters to establish presence in the Loop, and HK$200 million to support start-ups in the Loop engaging in life and health technology in the form of incubation and acceleration programmes.
Besides, new I&T land will be available in San Tin Technopole in the northern part of Hong Kong to support I&T industry development, creating synergy with the nearby Shenzhen I&T Zone. With the new I&T platform in the Loop and new I&T land in San Tin Technopole, coupling with the gigantic market of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, there are indeed many I&T opportunities and possibilities lying ahead in Hong Kong.
While the global economic and political situation is becoming more complicated, Asia will still play a pivotal role in the technological revolution. Under the principle of “one country, two systems” and with a strategic geographical location on the doorstep of Mainland China, Hong Kong is the best platform to connect I&T talent and companies from Mainland China and around the world. Whether you are looking for job opportunities, capital or investment, there is always a place for you in Hong Kong. I strongly believe that apart from life and health technology, there is a lot of room for bilateral collaboration between Hong Kong and Canada, say, in green technology, renewable energy, environmental protection and sustainability, where Canada has an edge.
Ladies and gentlemen, the challenges we face in global health are complex and multifaceted. By fostering global I&T collaboration, we amplify the impact brought by innovation and inclusion, from zero to one, from one to many, to unlock new possibilities and drive the next wave of technological advancement for the betterment of the mankind. Hong Kong stands ready to play the promising role as a “super-connector” and a “super value-adder” to create value and impact to the world.
In closing, I would like to express my gratitude to Hong Kong – Canada Business Association (Ottawa) and Invest Hong Kong for organising today’s seminar. I look forward to the fruitful collaborations that will arise from this seminar. Thank you very much.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Department of Justice (DoJ) issued a Policy Statement on the Incorporation of Mediation Clauses in Government Contracts today (November 6) to set out the Government’s policy stance and approach on promoting the use of mediation to resolve conflicts in an amicable way, and to implement the policy initiative under the 2023 Policy Address on deepening mediation culture, consolidating the strategic positioning of Hong Kong as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region under the national policies.
The Government has been committed to promoting the development of mediation in Hong Kong, encouraging a wider use of mediation by all sectors as a flexible and constructive approach in resolving disputes outside the courts to produce mutually acceptable settlements while keeping the risks, costs and time in control. It can help build a harmonious and stable society and foster a culture that embraces mutual support, respect, harmony and inclusiveness.
To further promote mediation culture, the Mediation Clause Policy requires all government departments to incorporate mediation clauses in future government contracts, so as to further promote the use of mediation to resolve disputes first before resorting to arbitration or litigation.
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said, “By taking the lead to incorporate mediation clauses in government contracts, the Government hopes to encourage private companies to include similar mediation clauses in their contracts, further promoting a ‘mediate first’ culture.
“In conjunction with the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation’s headquarters in Hong Kong, the DoJ will continue to implement policy measures of deepening the mediation culture to build Hong Kong as the capital for international mediation.”
The full policy statement can be found in the Annex to this press release.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH invites proposals for Community Dental Support Programme DH invites proposals for Community Dental Support Programme ***********************************************************
The Department of Health (DH) today (November 6) invited interested organisations to submit proposals for providing services under the Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP). Organisational applicants interested in participating in the CDSP must meet all of the following requirements:
Be a non-profit-making entity exempted from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) on or before the application closing date; Have established at least one clinic providing dental services to the public on or before the application closing date; Ensure that the registered dentists providing services are registered with eHealth and enrolled in the Primary Care Directory; and Be registered under Section 12 of the Dentists Registration Ordinance (Cap. 156) on or before the application closing date.
In evaluating the submitted proposals, the DH will consider the requirements specified in the invitation documents. The Working Group on Oral Health and Dental Care of the Health Bureau indicated in its Interim Report that in order to address the high demand for dental service provided through General Public (GP) Sessions under the DH, a new service model should be developed in collaboration with non-governmental organisations to supplement the GP Sessions. In response, the Government will pilot a Community Dental Support Programme in 2025 to increase service capacity, add service points and expand service scope, targeting designated underprivileged groups with financial difficulties requiring GP Session services. ???Interested applicants can collect invitation documents from the DH’s Community Dental Service at Unit 01-P03, P08-09, 26/F, One Kowloon, 1 Wang Yuen Street, Kowloon Bay, or via email (aa1a_cds@dh.gov.hk). Applications must be submitted to the DH’s Community Dental Service at Unit 01-P03, P08-09, 26/F, One Kowloon, 1 Wang Yuen Street, Kowloon Bay, by 9.30 am on December 2, 2024. Late applications will not be accepted. For enquiries, please call the Community Dental Service (2111 3465).
Ends/Wednesday, November 6, 2024Issued at HKT 11:30
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has finalised election funding payments to political parties and candidates for the 2024 Cook by-election.
Parties and candidates who received at least 4 per cent of the formal first preference vote at the 2024 Cook by-election received an automatic payment of election funding of $12,039. This initial payment amount was provided pursuant to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and is an indexed figure.
To receive election funding greater than the automatic payment, agents of eligible political parties and candidates were required to lodge a claim with the AEC setting out electoral expenditure incurred. For the cook by-election, the period for lodging a claim for election funding was Friday 03 May 2024 to Monday 14 October 2024. Four political parties and one independent candidate were eligible for election funding. The AEC received and finalised 3 final claims for election funding between Friday 03 May 2024 to Tuesday 27 August 2024. The final claim was not received from one eligible political party and independent candidate.
Total election funding paid by the AEC in relation to the Cook by-election was $260,700.41. This amount includes $60,195.00 in automatic payments and $200,505.41 in claims accepted. The following table is a breakdown of total election funding paid by the AEC.
COOK BY-ELECTION – ELECTION FUNDING PAYMENT
Political Party/Independent Candidate
Total Election Funding Paid ($)
Liberal Party of Australia
177,160.11
Animal Justice Party
12,039.00
The Greens NSW
42,612.02
Libertarian Party
16,850.28
Roger Charles Woodward
12,039.00
Total election funding paid:
$260,700.41
The determinations for claims for election funding are published on the Transparency Register.
Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
The Fifth U.S.-ASEAN Cyber Policy Dialogue was held in Singapore on October 17, 2024. The Dialogue was a demonstration of strong partnerships and a shared vision of an open, peaceful, interoperable, reliable, and secure cyberspace that supports international trade and commerce, strengthens international security, and fosters economic prosperity, free expression, and innovation. The United States and Cambodia co-chaired the dialogue.
Reaffirming the U.S.-ASEAN. Leaders’ Statement on Promoting Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence adopted at the 12th U.S.-ASEAN Summit in October 2024, participants discussed how states can enhance the positive, collaborative nature of the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance a shared, affirmative vision for cyberspace, digital technologies, and the digital economy.
Download the full statement here.
The post Co-Chairs’ Statement on Fifth U.S.-ASEAN Cyber Policy Dialogue appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Today Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) finalised the much-awaited elevation of our trade relationship with the signing of our Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
To mark this important event, I was joined by the Minister for Foreign Trade, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Canberra, to officially sign our new trade agreement.
Alongside the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, we also signed an Investment Agreement and five Investment Memoranda of Understanding.
Our deal delivers for Australian farmers, producers, manufacturers, services providers, exporters and Australian workers, giving them unprecedented access and preferential treatment when they do business with the UAE.
The UAE is already Australia’s largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East with over $9.9 billion in two-way trade and $20.7 billion in two-way investment in 2023. This new trade and investment package will strengthen these relationships and provide a platform for growth in critical sectors of our economy.
The trade agreement will eliminate tariffs on over 99 per cent of Australia’s exports to the UAE, making this the most liberalising trade agreement the UAE has signed to date.
Independent modelling estimates a potential annual increase in Australian goods exports to the UAE of around $678 million.
The agreementwill create greater certainty for Australian services providers in over 120 sectors such as professional services, financial services and education wanting to do business in the UAE, who will benefit from clearer transparency in the way the industry is regulated.
This agreement will also strengthen cooperation for Australia and the UAE to address shared environmental challenges, including commitments to work together on transitioning to net zero, addressing climate change, promoting the circular economy, reducing pollution, improving air quality, and preventing overfishing and illegal wildlife trade.
Investment provisions will provide a framework to support an increase in two-way investment. Importantly, the Australian Government’s right to regulate is protected, which means an Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism is not included in the package of outcomes.
Additional commitments for anti-corruption and transparency, digital trade and skilled labour mobility, as well as outcomes on intellectual property will mean Australian enterprises of all sizes can confidently do business with the UAE. The package also includes cooperation and exchange of information to advance women’s economic empowerment in trade and investment.
Importantly, for the first time in our history, this agreement also includes a standalone chapter covering First Nations trade. The chapter will give First Nations businesses seeking to export their goods to the UAE preferential market access which will result in meaningful new commercial opportunities for First Nations businesses.
Details on the full package and independent modelling as well as key benefits to Australia are published on the DFAT website.
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, spoke to cadets from the Korea Military Academy during their visit to USINDOPACOM headquarters on Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Nov. 5, 2024.
Paparo emphasized the importance of leadership, morale and the strategic alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States to future leaders who will uphold the linchpin of security for mutual shared interests in the Indo-Pacific. The visit was a continuation from last month, when Paparo spoke at the KMA in the Republic of Korea and invited them to visit USINDOPACOM.
USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ22: Diverting the flow of visitors travelling to and from land boundary control points LCQ22: Diverting the flow of visitors travelling to and from land boundary control points *****************************************************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, in the Legislative Council today (November 6): Question: According to government information, there were about 1.38 million inbound visitors during the National Day Golden Week this year, with the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (LMC SL) Control Point being the boundary control point (BCP) used by the majority of Mainland visitors during the period. There are views pointing out that the BCP has become one of the most frequently used BCPs for the public and visitors, with an average number of inbound and outbound visitors comparable to that of the Lo Wu Control Point, and the MTR East Rail Line (ERL), which is connected to these two BCPs, is often overcrowded with passengers during the holiday. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) given that at present, the service hours of the Lo Wu Control Point are from 6.30am to 12.00 midnight, while those of the LMC SL Control Point are from 6.30am to 10.30pm, whether the Government will, in the light of visitors’ demand, discuss with the relevant Mainland authorities the extension of service hours of the LMC SL Control Point; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; (2) as it is learnt that the current ratio of train frequency to MTR Lo Wu Station and to MTR Lok Ma Chau Station is 2:1, whether the Government will discuss with the MTR Corporation Limited to increase the ratio of train frequency to 1:1, so as to better meet the needs of passengers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; (3) whether the Government has compiled statistics on the patronage and occupancy rate of ERL during the peak hours (i.e. from 8am to 10am and from 5pm to 7pm) during the National Day Golden Week this year, and whether there was any overloading situation; if it has compiled such statistics, of the details; (4) whether it will consider further enhancing the cross-boundary coach services to divert visitors on days with a higher number of visitors, including bus services plying between the LMC SL Control Point and districts such as Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai and Central; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and (5) whether the Government has plans to construct new cross-boundary railways to connect the Man Kam To BCP, the Heung Yuen Wai BCP and the new Huanggang Port after redevelopment, etc., so as to increase the carrying capacity of the traffic to and from the land BCPs as soon as possible; if so, of the timetable, and the measures in place to expedite the implementation of the relevant plans? Reply: President, With the commissioning of the East Rail Line (ERL) cross-harbour extension in 2022, passengers can travel directly from the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point to various districts in the New Territories East, Kowloon and even on Hong Kong Island by using the convenient, fast and efficient railway service. Having consulted the Security Bureau, the Transport Department (TD), and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Hak-kan is as follows: (1) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been closely monitoring the demand for clearance services at various land boundary control points (BCPs). On the basis of the 24-hour passenger clearance services currently provided in Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Control Point and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, the HKSAR Government will liaise with the Mainland authorities on extending the operating hours of the passenger clearance service at respective BCPs as and when necessary to further facilitate the flow of people between the two sides. (2) The MTRCL reviews and adjusts the frequency of trains, including those of the ERL to/from Lo Wu Station and to/from Lok Ma Chau Station from time to time, in the light of the changes in passenger demand. To cope with the passenger demand for railway service to/from the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point, the MTRCL enhanced the ERL train service for two times in March and August this year respectively, by increasing the train frequencies to/from Lok Ma Chau Station during various periods on weekdays, weekends and/or public holidays. Regarding the distribution of passengers of the ERL, as the overall patronage of trains to/from Lo Wu Station is still higher than that of Lok Ma Chau Station, overall speaking, the frequency of trains travelling to/from Lo Wu Station is higher than that to/from Lok Ma Chau Station. The TD will continue to maintain close liaison with the MTRCL to review and adjust the ERL train service in a timely manner, having regard to the travel pattern and demand of passengers. (3) To facilitate the travel of the public and visitors on the National Day, the days before and after that as well as during the Chung Yeung Festival long weekend, the MTRCL enhanced the train service of eight railway lines, including the ERL, between September 28 and October 13, 2024 with a total of about 950 train trips added. In particular, the ERL ran more frequent train trips to/from Lo Wu Station or Lok Ma Chau Station in the mornings and evenings. From the National Day Golden Week to Chung Yeung Festival, the weekday patronage was about 70 100 and loading was about 83 per cent for the critical link of the ERL (Tai Wai to Kowloon Tong) from 8am to 10am; for the critical link (Kowloon Tong to Tai Wai) from 5pm to 7pm, the patronage was about 65 600 and the loading was about 83 per cent. As for weekends or public holidays, during which passengers travel at relatively scattered times unlike on weekdays, the loading was about 70 per cent during the peak hours for critical links, and under 70 per cent for the majority of the rest of the day. According to the MTRCL’s observations, despite having a higher passenger flow on the National Day (October 1) and Chung Yeung Festival (October 11), the overall operation of the ERL was largely smooth and orderly. On the whole, train service of the ERL was able to meet passenger needs between the National Day Golden Week and Chung Yeung Festival. (4) The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point is a rail-based BCP. Passengers travel to and from the BCP mainly by the ERL of the MTR. During festive periods, the MTRCL will maintain close liaison with relevant departments at the BCP to flexibly adjust the ERL train service in a timely manner according to the situation at the BCP. Additional staff will also be deployed to the busier stations to facilitate passenger flow and assist passengers. To facilitate travel for those in the New Territories West, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point is also connected by KMB Route No. B1 to/from Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, providing services at a minimum frequency of eight-minute intervals during hours with high demand. In practice, during periods of particularly strong passenger demand such as weekends and public holidays, the KMB will flexibly enhance the service to operate more departures than scheduled. Apart from KMB Route No. B1, Green Minibus Route No. 75 also provides supplementary transport service between Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and Yuen Long. As for cross-boundary coach services, the current short-haul cross-boundary coach services through the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Control Point provide services for travellers to travel to/from various destinations, including Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai (via Central), Tsuen Wan, the Disneyland. The TD has worked with relevant operators to draw up plans ahead of each peak cross-boundary travel period, including issuing ad-hoc quotas and arranging stand-by coaches when necessary, with a view to facilitating the operators’ arrangement for additional trips having regard to the actual situation. (5) The Government is pressing ahead with cross-boundary railway projects to further promote close collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland, thereby assisting Hong Kong in seizing the opportunities and advantages arising from the development of the Greater Bay Area and the Northern Metropolis. The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (Hung Shui Kiu – Qianhai) (HSWRL) and the Northern Link (NOL) Spur Line projects provide direct cross-boundary railway connection to the Shenzhen Bay Port and the new Huanggang Port from the New Territories Northwest and New Territories Central respectively, thus providing additional commuting options for residents and visitors travelling to/from the Greater Bay Area. Meanwhile, residents and visitors can also travel to Man Kam To Port and Heung Yuen Wai Port by the proposed NOL Eastern Extension and Northeast New Territories Line. After the commissioning of the relevant railway lines, the number of land-based BCPs covered by railways in the Northern Metropolis will substantially increase from two at present (i.e. Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau) to six, which is expected to effectively divert residents and tourists to different BCPs, and promote cross-boundary integration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The HKSAR Government will continue to take forward the two cross-boundary railway projects, namely the HSWRL and the NOL Spur Line, through the Task Force for Hong Kong-Shenzhen Co-operation on Cross-Boundary Railway Infrastructure. We are working to reach consensus with the Shenzhen authorities on the implementation arrangement of the NOL Spur Line within this year for the MTRCL to commence the detailed planning and design of the project early next year. Meanwhile, we are preparing for the next stage of implementation of the proposed NOL Eastern Extension and Northeast New Territories Line, including formulating the implementation approaches, financial arrangements, etc. The layout and commissioning target of the projects were holistically outlined in the Hong Kong Major Transport Infrastructure Development Blueprint promulgated at the end of last year. We will consider different implementation arrangements and explore various innovative engineering technologies based on the construction and operation details of each new railway project with a view to enhancing the cost-effectiveness and expediting the delivery of new railway projects.
Ends/Wednesday, November 6, 2024Issued at HKT 11:34
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCSD to offer free music programme “Busking Go Round 2024” in November (with photos) LCSD to offer free music programme “Busking Go Round 2024” in November (with photos) ******************************************************************************************
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present free music programme “Busking Go Round 2024” at Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre and Sha Tin Town Hall from 2.30pm to 5.15pm on November 9, 16 and 17 respectively. Young music enthusiasts will deliver vibrant and distinctive music performances. In addition to reinterpreting an array of popular songs, some performers will also present their original works, demonstrating different musical charm and bringing a refreshing experience to audiences. Each performance will be presented by three different singers or music groups with details as follows:
Date Venue Performers
November 9 (Saturday) Foyer, Kwai Tsing Theatre – Independent pop singer Kyra- Busking group “PaperJet”- Boyband “Last Minute”
November 16 (Saturday) Foyer, Yuen Long Theatre – Funk band “Melonyea”- Music group “Station”- Independent singer NamNam
November 17 (Sunday) Foyer, Sha Tin Town Hall – Singer-songwriter Candy Ng- Rock band “Andy is Typing…”- Rock band “Gimagband”
For more information, please visit the following webpages of the venues:Kwai Tsing Theatre: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ktt/programmes/buskinggoround2024.htmlYuen Long Theatre: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ylt/programmehighlights/buskinggoround2024.htmlSha Tin Town Hall: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/stth/programmes/buskinggoround2024.html
Ends/Wednesday, November 6, 2024Issued at HKT 12:00
