II. How to Transform ESG into an Engine of Business Growth? (Webinar)

(This seminar will be live-streamed on 21 June 2024)

This seminar is held by the "SUCCESS" of the TID. In this webinar, an expert is invited to analyse the research findings on the promotion of ESG by Hong Kong SMEs in 2024 and explain the major challenges encountered by enterprises in implementing ESG. The expert will also share how to leverage ESG as a catalyst for business growth, with a view to assisting enterprises in benefiting from the ESG trend. (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details and Registration

How to Spot Phishing Attacks and Protect Personal Information (Seminar)

(This seminar will be held at Trade and Industry Tower on 19 June 2024)

In this seminar, cybersecurity experts are invited to introduce common types of phishing, analyse why ordinary users and enterprises become the targets, and discuss the values of personal information from the perspective of hackers. A Police representative will also share the latest phishing cases, including attack methods and real-life situation of victims, with a view to assisting SMEs in understanding the dangers and preventive measures of phishing. (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details and Registration

II. Leveraging on Xiaohongshu to Tap into Mainland Market (Seminar)

(This seminar will be held at the CMA Building on 19 June 2024)

This seminar is organised by the Hong Kong Brand Development Council. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations. This seminar will introduce content ecosystem and user characteristics of the Xiaohongshu platform in the Mainland of China, explain content marketing and advertising strategies with case studies, and share free operating tools, with a view to assisting Hong Kong brands making good use of the Xiaohongshu to expand into the Mainland market and e-commerce opportunities. (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details (in Chinese only)

III. New Climate Disclosure Requirements and Climate Risk Assessment (Seminar)

(This seminar will be held at the CMA Building on 26 June 2024)

This seminar is organised by the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMA) and the Hong Kong Brand Development Council. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations. This seminar will introduce major international sustainability standards and, with reference to the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited’s New Climate Requirements, explain the climate-related disclosure requirements under ESG framework and the importance of conducting climate risk assessments, with a view to assisting SMEs in planning and reporting ESG work as early as possible to comply with relevant requirements. (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details (in Chinese only)

Intellectual Property Department: IP Training Programmes “IP102 IP Management and Protection in the Mainland” and “IP201 Generative AI - IP concept and legal considerations”

Employment Guidelines on Wage Reductions and Retrenchments

BAS Casebook

The Department of Health (DH) announced on 5 June 2024 the establishment of the Preparatory Office for the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) to put forward proposals and steps for the formal establishment of the CMPR, and to study the potential restructuring and strengthening of the regulatory and approval regimes for drugs and medical devices.

The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address (Policy Address) announced that the Government will leverage the medical strengths of the HKSAR with the long-term objective of establishing an authority that registers drugs and medical devices (medical products) under the "primary evaluation" approach, i.e. to directly approve applications for registration of medical products in Hong Kong based on clinical trial data, without relying on registration approval from other drug regulatory authorities. This will help accelerate the clinical use of new drugs and medical devices, and foster the development of industries relating to the research and development (R&D) and clinical trials of medical products, developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.

Hong Kong would become an internationally renowned regulatory authority and implement the "primary evaluation" approach for medical products in six major steps (see Annex). In more than six months following the announcement of the Policy Address, the HKSAR Government has implemented measures in all respects and achieved results.

Firstly, with the support and guidance of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), Hong Kong, China has officially become an observer of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) (Note 1) on 31 October 2023. This allows Hong Kong to familiarise itself with the latest developments in the drug regulation regime, to further align Hong Kong with the World Health Organization (WHO)-Listed Authority.

Secondly, the HKSAR Government implemented a new mechanism for the approval of new drugs (the "1+" mechanism) on 1 November 2023. Under the "1+" mechanism, holders of registration from one of the recognised drug regulatory authorities (instead of two) for drugs containing new chemical or biological entities could apply for registration in Hong Kong, on the condition that they could provide local clinical data that complies with the requirements and information recognised by local experts. Since the implementation of the "1+" mechanism, the DH has received more than 210 inquiries from about 70 pharmaceutical companies, including many pharmaceutical companies from overseas and the Mainland. Under the "1+" mechanism, two new drugs for cancer treatment have already been approved for registration, bringing new hopes of treatment to patients.

Considering the establishment of the Preparatory Office for the CMPR under the DH on 5 June 2024, the HKSAR Government has completed the first three of six major steps. The specific work of the Preparatory Office includes:

(i) comprehensively studying and planning a regulatory and approval regime for drugs and medical devices suitable for Hong Kong;

(ii) putting forward proposals and steps for the establishment of the CMPR;

(iii) conducting a review on the need for amending existing legislation to promote the development of medical products regulation; and

(iv) making recommendations to the Steering Committee on Health and Medical Innovation and Development (Note 2) as well as maintaining close communication with various stakeholders.

The HKSAR Government will continue to actively follow up on the remaining major steps, including the establishment of the CMPR and the implementation of the "primary evaluation" approach for medical products. Based on international experience, it usually takes about eight to 10 years from initial engagement with the ICH to becoming an ICH regulatory member.

In May 2024, the Commissioner of the NMPA led a delegation to visit Hong Kong and signed the Co-operation Agreement on Regulation of Drugs with the Health Bureau of the HKSAR Government. The Agreement underpinned the liaison and co-ordination arrangements among the NMPA, the DH, and the CMPR to be set up. In the same month, the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, along with the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam Man-kin, led a Hong Kong, China delegation to attend the 77th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland, as members of the Chinese delegation. They had then visited multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare enterprises, and a clinical trial centre. During the visit, they highlighted Hong Kong's unique advantages and the latest developments in health and medical innovation to various WHO and other government officials and organisations responsible for healthcare, as well as international scientific research and medical experts (including the Director for Regulation and Prequalification of the WHO and personnel from the Clinical Trials Center of the University Hospital Zurich). Multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare enterprises which were visited welcomed the HKSAR Government's plan to establish the CMPR and the initiatives to develop a health and medical innovation hub.

The HKSAR Government will continue to attract more pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises, both locally and from around the world, to conduct R&D and clinical trials in Hong Kong, and build the capacity, recognition and status to ensure that the eventual approval mechanism of medical products in Hong Kong would be widely recognised internationally and by the Mainland, and develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.

Note 1: The ICH is an international recognised association. The mission of the ICH is to harmonise the technical requirements for drug registration among its members and to promulgate various guidelines on safety, efficacy and quality that are recognised as the highest global standards for the protection of public health.

Note 2: The Steering Committee on Health and Medical Innovation and Development (SCHMID) is chaired by the Secretary for Health and comprises members from the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, relevant bureaux, departments, institutions, and local medical schools. SCHMID is tasked with co-ordinating and advancing the work related to health and medical innovation, and advising the Government on the direction and policy initiatives for driving medical innovation, including measures to enhance the regulation of drugs and medical devices, and clinical trial development.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202406/05/P2024060500165.htm.

The Assistant Commissioner (Excise and Strategic Support) of Customs and Excise, Mr Rudy Hui, on 3 to 4 June 2024 visited the General Administration of Customs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE Customs), and signed the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) Action Plan with the Director of International Customs Relations of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security of the United Arab Emirates, Mr Suoud Salem AlAgroobi, in Dubai, signifying the commencement of negotiation of the AEO MRA and marking an important step towards implementing the MRA in the near future. Also, the Customs Co-operative Arrangement (CCA) was discussed by both sides during their meeting with an aim to strengthening co-operation and exploring more collaboration opportunities.

During the visit, Mr Hui also toured the Zayed International Airport to understand the customs clearance on passengers of the UAE Customs.

Currently, Hong Kong Customs has signed 31 CCAs with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Macao Customs Service, and 29 overseas customs administrations. At the same time, the department has ratified AEO MRAs with 15 economies, namely Mainland China, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Macao, China, and Bahrain, nine of which are Belt and Road economies.

Hong Kong Customs has always been committed to maintaining a close co-operation with customs administrations around the world, and is dedicated to extending the CCA and AEO MRA networks to strengthen intelligence exchanges and information sharing, enhance customs clearance efficiency and establish a more seamless and convenient international link for various enterprises.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202406/04/P2024060400393.htm.

Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme invites new round of applications

The Main Programme under the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications for project proposals starting from 1 June 2024 from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes.

PASS, with a total allocation of $200 million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong's professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services.

The maximum grant for each approved project under the Main Programme of PASS is $3 million or 90 per cent of the total eligible project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services, such as accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, are eligible for the Main Programme. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome. Expenses directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower costs, venue and set-up costs, production and promotion costs, and the project team and active participants' travel and accommodation costs outside Hong Kong are typically eligible for funding support under the Scheme. Funding support may also be provided for travel and accommodation costs incurred by participants of relatively longer professional internships or attachment programmes outside Hong Kong which are funded by the Main Programme.

Up to early May 2024, over 100 projects had been funded under the Main Programme, including project deliverables in and outside Hong Kong. The deliverables include capacity-building programmes for enhancing the standards of local professionals, such as training programmes, workshops and study tours; outreach and promotional activities for showcasing the strengths of Hong Kong's professional services, such as roadshows, promotional seminars and participation in exhibitions outside Hong Kong; exchange activities for deepening interaction between Hong Kong professionals and their external counterparts, such as visits to other economies and international conferences and seminars held in Hong Kong; and research projects on potential external markets for Hong Kong professional services and development of best practice guidelines and manuals for professionals. Details about the Main Programme and its funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk/main/en/home/index.html.

Furthermore, with a view to stepping up the promotion of Hong Kong's competitive edges and professional services to Mainland cities (including those in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) and overseas markets, $50 million has been set aside for the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme (PSP) under PASS to subsidise Hong Kong major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government (such as Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council after the pandemic situation has stabilised. Details of the PSP and its latest list of eligible activities are available at www.pass.gov.hk/psp. Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional sectors under PASS may make use of the PSP subsidy to join the relevant activities.

The Main Programme and the PSP receive applications for project and activity proposals all year round and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the new round of applications is 31 August 2024. A briefing session will be held in June 2024 for organisations interested in applying for PASS funding. For registration for the briefing session or other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 3655 5418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202406/01/P2024060100349.htm.

Revised Code of Practice for Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces gazetted

The LD published a revised Code of Practice for Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces (CoP) in the Gazette on 31 May 2024 to enhance the safety and health in confined spaces work.

The major revisions of the CoP include the enhancement of requirements for proprietors' or contractors' supervision on confined space work; highlighting the factors for assessing whether a particular job constitutes underground pipework; adding a detailed template of the risk assessment form and listing out the setting of an air-monitoring alarm; and the update on the Permit-to-work Certificate template.

A spokesperson for the LD said, "The revised CoP requires proprietors or contractors to adopt technology to record videos at the entrance and exit of the confined space throughout the entire work period to monitor relevant personnel's compliance with the safety precautions and to keep the record. Considering the time required for the industry to furnish suitable equipment and make necessary arrangements for implementing all safety precautions, there will be a six-month grace period. It will take effect on 30 November to allow the industry to have sufficient time for preparation."

The spokesperson said that the CoP provides proprietors, contractors, competent persons and certified workers with practical guidance and technical information to comply with the requirements set out in the occupational safety and health legislation regarding confined space work for safeguarding the safety and health of workers.

The spokesperson added, "This CoP has a special legal status. In criminal proceedings, if a relevant person fails to observe any provision of this Code, that failure may be taken by the court as a relevant factor in determining whether or not a person has breached the relevant safety and health legislation."

The revised CoP can be downloaded from the LD website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8b.htm). Enquiries about the CoP can be made at 2559 2297.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202405/31/P2024053000259.htm.

OFCA launches Labelling Scheme for Buildings with 5G Indoor Coverage to enhance 5G indoor coverage

The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) launched on 30 May 2024 the Labelling Scheme for Buildings with 5G Indoor Coverage to encourage mobile network operators (MNOs) to enhance the network coverage of fifth generation (5G) mobile services in indoor areas of buildings, providing the public with more stable and high-speed mobile communications services.

The Labelling Scheme aims to encourage collaboration between MNOs and building managers to install 5G communications facilities and enhance indoor mobile network coverage in the indoor common areas of buildings such as lobbies, lifts, carparks, shopping centres and basements. If a building has already installed 5G indoor base stations, a designated label (see Annex) can be posted at relevant locations as a certification of 5G network coverage, indicating that users can enjoy the advantages of high speed, low latency and massive capacity of 5G services in these indoor areas. At present, the four MNOs have registered over 600 buildings including residential, commercial and industrial buildings with OFCA. OFCA will regularly update the Databases for Broadcasting & Telecommunications Infrastructures to allow the public to check the list of registered buildings with indoor 5G equipment installed.

"As 5G services continue to evolve, comprehensive 5G network coverage will not only satisfy the public's demand for high-speed and reliable mobile services, but also facilitate the development of various innovative and smart city applications in Hong Kong. We encourage more buildings to participate in the Labelling Scheme and collaborate with MNOs to enhance indoor mobile network coverage and capacity through installation of 5G base stations inside buildings, which will also enhance the overall image of the participating buildings," the OFCA spokesman said.

Following the passage of the Telecommunications (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 in the Legislative Council after the third reading on 21 February 2024, which implements the proposed initiative in the 2022 Policy Address to promote 5G development, specified new and redeveloped buildings (including commercial, industrial, residential and hotel buildings) will reserve appropriate space for MNOs to install and maintain mobile communications facilities. New government buildings and public housing estates will also follow the same arrangements to install mobile communications facilities. The relevant Code of Practice will require MNOs to install 5G communications facilities in indoor common areas as far as practicable. These arrangements will facilitate further expansion of mobile network coverage and capacity in Hong Kong.

OFCA has set up a dedicated thematic webpage (www.ofca.gov.hk/Indoor5G/en) for the Labelling Scheme. Building managers interested in participating in the scheme may contact the MNOs or call OFCA's hotline (2961 6333) for enquiries.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202405/30/P2024053000461.htm.

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