This is the 1615th issue of "Hong Kong in a Day"
Li Jiachao: The negotiation with the mainland to extend the port time is going smoothly. The sooner the Article 23 legislation is enacted, the better.
Today (16th) morning, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao, accepted the news at the press conference of the Executive Council. When reporters asked questions, they mentioned that Hong Kong is actively discussing with the mainland about adding 24-hour customs clearance ports, and said that the work is progressing smoothly, everyone has a positive attitude, and details will be announced in real time.
At the same time, Li Jiachao also mentioned that many parties in Hong Kong society recently hope to restore the "one visa, multiple travels" policy to increase individual travel to Hong Kong. The SAR government will continue to discuss the possibility and practicality with relevant mainland units, and any results will be announced as soon as possible.
Li Jiachao pointed out that the government is also studying extending some service hours in Hong Kong, such as some railways, to cope with the extension of customs clearance time in the mainland. He said that we attach great importance to the integration of the two places. Now, both Hong Kong residents and mainland residents will actively travel between the two places. This is the result of years of promoting integration. Lee Ka-chiu also pointed out that no matter when Hong Kong holds large-scale events, or when the government assesses that it is necessary, the Chief Secretary for Administration will coordinate the customs clearance details and announce them as soon as possible.
Li Jiachao also talked about the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, saying that when the relevant departments have prepared the overall plan, they should start the legislative work as soon as possible. Li Jiachao pointed out that Hong Kong citizens have experienced threats to national security and have to face different risks and harms, especially the harm caused by the turmoil over the amendment bill and the black violence incident in 2019. Everyone fully understands the importance of safeguarding national security. In Article 23 of the legislation, There is a consensus. If national security is threatened, the damage to Hong Kong will be unbearable. He believes that when the relevant departments have prepared the overall plan, they should start legislative work as soon as possible.
Li Jiachao emphasized that we attach great importance to foreign practices and relevant legal provisions. Many of them have been implemented and accepted internationally, and various national security risks have been fully considered. We must ensure that Article 23 legislation is forward-looking and flexible to cope with ever-changing and emerging risks, as well as future risks caused by new technologies or new methods. We will fully refer to foreign experience and practices. Some countries have just recently enacted relevant laws, which are worth learning from. . He said that he would carry out legislative work in the most effective way, fully listen to opinions, and put forward the SAR government's ideas.
Paul Chan: Looking forward to more two-way financial and business cooperation with Saudi Arabia
Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan arrived in Davos, Switzerland on January 15, local time, to start his trip to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. Accompanied by Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Yau Ying-wak, he held bilateral meetings with political and business leaders attending the annual meeting, introducing them to Hong Kong's latest situation and prospects, and promoting Hong Kong's new advantages and development opportunities.
Chen Maobo met with Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan, and the two sides discussed how to further promote cooperation in the financial field between Hong Kong and the Middle East. Chan Mo-po pointed out that since his visit to the Middle East the year before last, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia have made encouraging progress in financial cooperation, including last year when the Hong Kong Exchange included the Saudi Arabian Exchange in its list of recognized stock exchanges and the first Saudi Arabian exchange in the Asia-Pacific region. Trading funds were listed in Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia's Future Investment Initiative Institute successfully held the first Priority Asia Summit in Hong Kong. He pointed out that under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is an international financial center connecting the country and the world. He welcomed Saudi funds and enterprises to use Hong Kong as a high-quality platform to expand the mainland and even the entire Asian market. He looked forward to more two-way relationships with Saudi Arabia. financial and business cooperation.
In the evening, Chen Maobo attended the welcome reception held at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. He will continue his trip in Davos today (January 16th, Davos time).
Cathay Pacific recruits the first batch of flight attendants from the mainland for its first flight this month
According to Hong Kong media reports, Cathay Pacific recruited flight attendants for the first time in the mainland in August last year. So far, more than 100 people have been hired, and they have all completed a seven-year period in Hong Kong. weeks of training. Currently, this batch of flight attendants has completed emergency and safety training and service skills training.
Cathay Pacific Director of Services Wu Jiewen said that Cathay Pacific has always been committed to strengthening the connection between Hong Kong and the mainland and around the world, and continues to leverage its unique advantages of being "rooted in Hong Kong, backed by the motherland, and connected to the world". She believes that recruiting mainland flight attendants is a very important measure to improve services and strengthen team diversity.
Mr. Wu, who is from Nanjing and has worked for a European airline, said that he took a Cathay Pacific flight when he was in college and was deeply impressed by it. Since then, joining Cathay Pacific has become his dream. Mr. Wu recommended himself to Cathay Pacific after graduation, but unfortunately he was not hired at that time. Now that he has the opportunity, he will apply without hesitation. He believes that becoming a flight attendant will give him the opportunity to visit more different corners of the world.
Ms. Wang from Xi'an is also one of Cathay Pacific's first mainland flight attendants. She believes that her experience working in hotels will allow her to better understand the needs of mainland passengers so that she can provide them with better services.
A Cathay Pacific passenger plane collided with a Korean Air passenger plane in Japan. No one was injured.
16, Japan's Fuji TV News (fnn) reported that a Korean Air plane and a Cathay Pacific plane collided at New Chitose Airport. The Civil Aviation Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said the incident took place on the international flight tarmac.
Cathay Pacific Airways confirmed that a Cathay Pacific aircraft was involved in a ground accident while parked at Sapporo New Chitose Airport today. At that time, the Cathay Pacific aircraft was parked at the aircraft berth with no customers or crew on board. It was hit by a taxiing Korean Air A330 aircraft. As can be seen from online photos, it is suspected that the wing of the aircraft collided with the tail of the Cathay Pacific aircraft.
Cathay Pacific stated that flight cx583 from Sapporo to Hong Kong will not depart as scheduled. Most passengers on this flight will take another Cathay Pacific flight back to Hong Kong from Sapporo today, and the remaining passengers will depart tomorrow. We would like to apologize to the affected passengers for this.
Regarding this accident, Korean Air announced the cause of the accident, saying that on the afternoon of January 16 (Tuesday), Hokkaido local time, a flight ke766 scheduled to fly from New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan to Seoul Incheon International Airport in South Korea, completed the flight at the parking bay. During the push-out process after the de-icing operation, which was towed by the tractor of the ground service company, due to the slippery ground and improper operation of the tractor, the left wing of the aircraft was scratched against a Cathay Pacific flight CX583 in the adjacent parking bay. There were no injuries to the 13 crew members and 276 passengers. After the incident, the company has released delay information to passengers in accordance with standard procedures and communicated with the airport authorities to arrange for passengers to disembark. The company will make every effort to ensure the proper placement of affected passengers.
Lu Chongmao met with the Guangdong Provincial Hospital Association delegation to deepen cross-border medical cooperation
Today (16th), Lu Chongmao, Director of the Medical and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and a delegation led by Huang Li, President of the Guangdong Provincial Hospital Association, met at An exchange meeting was held in Hong Kong to conduct discussions and in-depth exchanges on deepening medical cooperation between the mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Lu Chongmao introduced at the meeting the latest policies and measures for cross-border medical collaboration. These include expanding the scope of use of Hong Kong Elderly Health Care Vouchers in the mainland, cross-border medical services, and how to conduct high-quality medical talent training and exchanges.
Lu Chongmao also mentioned that the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Lee Ka-chiu, in the 2023 "Policy Address", for the first time used "cross-border medical collaboration" as one of the subtitles and proposed a number of specific measures, including the establishment of the "Greater Bay Area" "International Clinical Trial Institute" collaborates with the mainland to develop clinical trials, participates in and supports the internationalization of national hospital accreditation standards, etc. The SAR government has also always adhered to the principle of "complementary advantages, mutual benefit and win-win", and on the premise of being conducive to the medical development of the mainland and Hong Kong, it has strengthened cooperation with various mainland units in the development of medical services to jointly improve medical standards. He pointed out that in the future, the SAR government will continue to work hard to promote cross-border medical cooperation and work together to promote the important national strategy of "Healthy China".
Author丨Zhong Qianwei, chief writer of Shenzhen Satellite TV Direct News
