SUCCESS Activities

Latest Trend of Self-media Marketing: Application of Artificial Intelligence (Seminar)

(This seminar will be held by SUCCESS on 29 March 2023 at Trade and Industry Tower)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been widely adopted around the world in recent years and become a helpful assistant to self-media.  In this seminar, an online marketing expert will explain the trend and application of AI in self-media production, including automatic generation of copywriting for short films using ChatGPT, creation of promotional graphic images using AI drawing software, as well as production of virtual anchor short videos using AI software, with a view to assisting SMEs in making good use of AI in formulating marketing strategies and keeping pace with the latest market developments.  (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details
 

SUCCESS-supported Activities

I. New Phase of Cleaner Production Partnership Programme (2020-2025) : Promotion of Organic Waste and Food Waste Treatment Technologies (Webinar)

(This webinar will be live-streamed on 29 March 2023)

This webinar is organised by the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme Secretariat.  SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  This webinar will introduce the Partnership Programme and share the technologies of organic waste and food waste treatments, with a view to assisting the manufacturing and relevant industries to better understand the local cleaner production technologies.  (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese)

More Details (in Chinese only)
 

II. Cross-border and GBA Business Embracing Unlimited Business Opportunities (Event)

(This event will be held at the Hong Kong Retail Management Association on 14 April 2023)

This event is organised by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association.  SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  This event will share the market opportunities and marketing strategies of electronic commerce in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the application of fintech, etc. with a view to assisting SMEs in exploring cross-border opportunities and expanding businesses in the GBA.  (This event will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details (in Chinese only)

Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 will come into effect from 1 May 2023

The Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 updates the Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528) to strengthen copyright protection in the digital environment, including introducing:

• an exclusive technology-neutral communication right for copyright owners and criminal sanctions against infringements of the concerned new right
• several new and expanded copyright exceptions to maintain an appropriate balance between copyright protection and reasonable use of copyright works
• a "safe harbour regime" for incentivising online service providers to co-operate with copyright owners in combating online piracy

Government to retain five testing points for providing self-paid nucleic acid testing service starting from 22 March 2023

The Government announced on 15 March 2023 that the demand for nucleic acid testing service has significantly decreased recently following the gradual lifting of pre-departure COVID-19 nucleic acid testing requirements around the world.  Therefore, the Government will retain the operation of five community testing centres and community testing stations (CTC/CTSs) only to continue the provision of self-paid nucleic acid testing service starting from 22 March 2023, whereas the remaining 16 existing CTC/CTSs will cease operation from the same day.

Having reviewed the recent service situation, the demand for nucleic acid testing service is expected to keep on lowering.  For better utilisation of resources, the Government will retain the following five CTC/CTSs with higher usage (see Annex for details) to continue the provision of self-paid nucleic acid testing service for citizens who need to obtain test results (e.g. certifications for work or travelling purposes) from 22 March 2023.

1. Edinburgh Place, Central
2. Leighton Hill Community Hall, Causeway Bay
3. Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
4. Lek Yuen Community Hall, Sha Tin
5. Yuen Long Town East Community Hall

New round of innovative programmes launched upon appointment of third batch of SIE Fund intermediaries

The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) Task Force announced on 17 March 2023 the successful appointment of four organisations as the third batch of intermediaries.  A new round of initiatives under innovative programmes will be launched to provide support for more social entrepreneurs, thereby fostering the continuous development of the social innovation ecosystem.

The four intermediaries appointed are Fullness Social Enterprises Society Ltd (FSES), the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), MakerBay Foundation Limited (MakerBay) and Oxfam Hong Kong (Oxfam).  They are knowledgeable and experienced organisations in promoting social innovation.  The new round of innovative programmes is expected to be launched in the second quarter of 2023.  More information can be found on the SIE Fund website (https://www.sie.gov.hk/en/intermediaries/programme.page).

The SIE Fund looks forward to working with the intermediaries closely on promoting social innovation and entrepreneurship, which can in turn enable more social entrepreneurs to address social needs with their innovative ideas, products and services, and assist the Government in formulating targeted poverty alleviation initiatives.  It is expected that the four intermediaries will fund and incubate more than 240 innovative projects during the three-year engagement period.

The SIE Fund was inaugurated in 2013 and is overseen by the SIE Fund Task Force under the Commission on Poverty.  The Task Force Secretariat is established in the Efficiency Office under the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau.  By facilitating social innovation and cultivating social entrepreneurship, the SIE Fund aims to have an impact in alleviating poverty and social exclusion, promote social integration as well as enhance the well-being and cohesion of society.  The Fund engaged two batches of intermediaries in 2015 and 2020 respectively to provide incubation and support for individuals and organisations to take forward innovative projects of a different nature that create a social impact, and further enhance the development of the social innovation ecosystem.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202303/17/P2023031700213.htm.
 

2023 Award Scheme for Learning Experiences under Qualifications Framework opens for applications until 31 May

The 2023 Award Scheme for Learning Experiences under the Qualifications Framework (QF) opens for applications from 17 March until 31 May 2023.  Practitioners from 23 industries implementing the QF (see Annex) are welcome to apply.

The Award Scheme aims to encourage practitioners who have excelled themselves in continuous learning to broaden their horizons through engaging in learning activities held locally or around the world, enabling them to keep abreast of the latest developments of the industry and extend their exposure and networks, thereby realising their personal and career goals.  The theme for the Award Scheme this year is "Equipping you and me for 15 years.  Take off!", coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the Hong Kong QF.

Since its inception in 2013, the Award Scheme has attracted more than 2 000 applicants from different industries, over 630 of whom were awarded.  Nearly 60 per cent of the awardees participated in overseas learning activities, while some 40 per cent were engaged in local learning activities.  The Award Scheme subsidises practitioners to participate in learning activities and helps reinforce their conviction in lifelong learning.  Through continuous learning, they are able to upgrade their knowledge and skills, become lifelong-learning role models for their respective industries, and help promote the QF.

The learning activities in which practitioners can participate under the Award Scheme include competitions, seminars, sharing sessions, exhibitions, and study tours.  Awardees engaging in local learning activities will receive an award of $10,000 while those engaging in learning activities outside Hong Kong will receive an award of $30,000.  In view of the full resumption to normalcy of society, large-scale industry events are being resumed locally and overseas.  Practitioners are encouraged to seize the opportunity to apply for the Award Scheme.

For details, please visit the website (https://www.hkqf.gov.hk/en/award_scheme/index.html) and the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/QFAwardScheme) of the Award Scheme.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202303/16/P2023031500330.htm.
 

Government introduced Bill into Legislative Council for regulation of disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products

The Government submitted on 15 March 2023 the Product Eco-responsibility (Amendment) Bill 2023 (Amendment Bill) to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for the regulation of disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products.  Major proposals include:

1. Phased regulation of disposable plastic tableware

The Amendment Bill proposes prohibiting the local sale and provision of any disposable plastic tableware for both dine-in and takeaway customers, with implementation carried out in two phases.  In the first phase regulation, the sale of expanded polystyrene (EPS) tableware and other disposable plastic tableware that are small in size and difficult to recycle or to which there are mature alternatives will be prohibited, and so will the provision of such tableware to takeaway customers.  Moreover, the provision of any disposable plastic tableware to dine-in customers at catering premises will be prohibited.  The regulation will be fully implemented in the second phase.

2. Phased regulation of other plastic products

The Amendment Bill also proposes regulating the manufacturing, selling and distributing of a series of disposable plastic products, which will also be implemented in two phases.  In the first phase, it is proposed to ban the sale and provision of those products that either have established non-plastic alternatives or are not necessities.  Moreover, hotels and guesthouses are banned from providing disposable toiletries and in-room plastic-bottled water for free.  It is also proposed that the manufacturing, selling and free distribution of oxo-degradable plastics products be banned.

Subject to the progress of the scrutiny by the LegCo, the Government proposes that the first phase regulation commence six months after the passage of the Amendment Bill (in late 2023 or early 2024 at the earliest).  The timing of the second phase regulation will depend on the availability and affordability of the non-plastic or reusable alternatives.  The Government encourages the trade to get prepared for the relevant control measures, and jointly build a 'plastic-free' culture.  The Government will also promote the regulation to the trade and the general public to facilitate their understanding of it.

In order to encourage early adoption by the trade of more environmentally friendly non-plastic tableware in lieu of disposable plastic ones, and facilitate their better understanding of alternatives that can meet the requirements of the regulation, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has appointed the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency to set up an online information platform for reference by the trade, tableware suppliers and the public.  The platform (https://www.greentableware.hk/en-us/) has been accepting applications from tableware suppliers since November 2022, and the information of the first batch of non-plastic disposable tableware products was listed on the platform in early March 2023.  The EPD will also establish an information platform on disposable plastics to share with the public the characteristics and pros and cons of different alternatives for the public to make well-informed choices.

Meanwhile, the Amendment Bill also proposes expanding the coverage of the producer responsibility scheme (PRS) on waste electrical and electronic equipment and optimising its operation and that of the PRS on glass beverage containers.  For details and the progress of the Amendment Bill, please visit https://www.legco.gov.hk/en/legco-business/council/bills.html?bill_key=10010&session=2023.

For details of the phased regulation of disposable plastic tableware and the phased regulation on various types of plastic products, please visit relevant press release at https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202303/15/P2023031500554.htm.

Support service for real-name registration for SIM cards in post offices to continue until 31 March 2023

The Government said on 20 March 2023 that support service for real-name registration for SIM cards at the 18 designated post offices (see Annex) would continue until 31 March 2023.  Users of old pre-paid SIM cards (PPS cards) in need of such support service for reactivating their PPS cards which were deactivated for not having completed real-name registration by the registration deadline may visit the designated post offices to complete the registration in a timely manner.

Telecommunications service providers will continue to provide support to their customers by assisting PPS card users in need to complete real-name registration before service activation.  With the full implementation of the real-name registration programme for SIM cards on 24 February 2023, all SIM cards issued and used locally (including SIM service plans and PPS cards) must have their real-name registration completed before activation of service.  To date, more than 12 million SIM cards (including SIM service plans and PPS cards) have completed the registration.  The real-name registration programme provided a transitional period of around one year since March 2022 to allow sufficient time for users wishing to continue using their existing PPS cards to complete registration with their respective telecommunications service providers.  The Government, together with telecommunications service providers and social welfare organisations, provided various forms of support services for users in need during the transitional period.

Apart from visiting the retail outlets of their respective telecommunications service providers, users can also complete real-name registration through the respective electronic registration platforms.  Users who have successfully completed registration will receive an SMS notification from their telecommunications service providers.  Telecommunications service providers will not call (especially in the form of pre-recorded messages) their users and ask them to provide personal information for completing the registration.  They will not ask users to disclose information on their bank accounts, online bank account and password, credit card details, etc.  If in doubt, members of the public should contact their respective telecommunications service providers for enquiries and clarification.

The Government reminded members of the public that providing false information and/or false documents under the real-name registration programme may constitute a criminal offence.  Any person who knowingly provides another party with a SIM card registered in the name of others to facilitate the commission of an offense may be charged with aiding and abetting the commission of the related offence.  The Government urges the public not to defy the law by using PPS cards registered with other people's personal information, or by buying PPS cards that claim to have completed real-name registration from unknown sources in the market.  They should report to the Police immediately if they are aware of anyone selling others' identity information and registering PPS cards on one's behalf.

The Government will strengthen relevant public education and continue to undertake a series of monitoring and enforcement actions to ensure the effective implementation of the real-name registration programme.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202303/20/P2023032000245.htm.