SFST speaks after first meeting of Task Force on Review of Government Procurement Regime (with video)

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), Mr Andrew Lai; and the Director of Government Logistics, Mr Carlson Chan, met the media after the first meeting of the Task Force on Review of Government Procurement Regime today (August 21). Following are the remarks:

Reporter: Secretary, first of all, looking back at the tendering process so far, can you tell us what specific red flags do you think were missed and how many of those have been caught earlier? And you mentioned that there will be some improvement measures to be carried out in the mid-term of the review by the Task Force. Can you specify what do you mean by mid-term and what kind of measures will be carried out? And finally, you mentioned that the GLD is the primary party to be held responsible for the matter. Have any officials in the department been carried out any sort of disciplinary action?

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: That’s exactly the purpose of my chairing the task force this morning, to make reference to this incident and to identify any systemic issues that we need to deal with at the system and also at the process level. In particular, as you highlighted in your second question, we will look at areas like in terms of the due diligence required and the issues on the contract management and also quality control. These are the relevant aspects that will be covered in our interim result, because what we would expect is that before we make the final announcement, we hopefully would like to get the result earlier than the three months that we said earlier.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

CS visits Beijing

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, arrived in Beijing yesterday afternoon (August 20) to begin his visit.

Mr Chan first called on the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, and briefed Mr Xu on the latest developments in advancing patriotic education and the progress of organising the 15th National Games in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, also attended the meeting.

Mr Chan stated that since the establishment of the Working Group on Patriotic Education last year, it has formulated short-, medium-, and long-term objectives and policy measures tailored to Hong Kong’s specific circumstances. The group has actively carried out extensive work and achieved remarkable results. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the Central Government for its continued care and support of the HKSAR Government’s promotion of patriotic education. On the other hand, the HKSAR Government is collaborating closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government on preparations for the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, contributing to the country’s efforts to become a sporting powerhouse. The Government will also leverage this opportunity to deepen co-operation with cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and jointly build a world-class bay area.

This morning (August 21), Mr Chan attended the establishment ceremony of the Patriotic Education Base for Hong Kong and Macao Youth. With the support of the Central Government, the first Patriotism Education Base for Hong Kong and Macao Youth has been established at the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, located by the Lugou Bridge. The base aims to provide young students and teachers from Hong Kong and Macao with enhanced first-hand experience, enabling them to study and understand the country’s development, helping them develop a sense of nationhood and national identity, and inspiring patriotic sentiments. The establishment of the first education base holds particular significance as it coincides with the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

At the establishment ceremony, Mr Chan said that the establishment of the Education Base marks an important milestone in Hong Kong’s implementation of patriotic education. The Education Base will serve as a crucial platform for deepening Hong Kong and Macao youth’s affection for their home and country, and their understanding of the country’s history, as well as enhancing their sense of patriotism, which is highly significant in nurturing a new generation devoted to the country and ready to shoulder their mission. He expressed his hope to develop more patriotic education resources nationwide in the future, enabling more Hong Kong and Macao youth to strengthen their national and ethnic identity through site visits and cultural exchange, gain a deeper understanding of the history and achievements of the country, and work together to create a brilliant future for the motherland.

Officials attending the ceremony today included Mr Xu; Vice Mayor of Beijing, Mr Xia Linmao; Mr Chan; Mr Tsang; and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Ms O Lam. The Convenor of the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, Dr Starry Lee, also attended the ceremony.

Mr Chan and the delegation concluded their visit and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.