Secretary Sun Dong Visits Toronto, Promotes Innovation and Technology Collaboration with Local Institutions

SITI commences visit to Canada

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, began his visit to Toronto, Canada, on November 4 (Toronto time).

In the morning, Professor Sun visited MaRS Discovery District, an innovation hub, and met with its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Alison Nankivell, to receive a briefing on the hub's successful experience in nurturing an innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. Located close to major universities and hospitals in downtown Toronto, MaRS focuses on nourishing deep technology industries including clean technology and life science. As the largest urban innovation centre in North America, MaRS Discovery District supports 1 200 enterprises and renders direct assistance to enterprises in the hub with a view to building communities of innovators and promoting the adoption of new solutions.

Professor Sun then visited the University of Toronto, and toured the Centre for Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Engineering of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering of the University. Professor Sun met with the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Christopher Yip, and the Acting Associate Vice-President International Partnerships, Professor David Wolfe, and was briefed on the latest developments and research and development (R&D) achievements of the Centre. The Centre brings together universities and industries to translate the latest advances of artificial intelligence and data analytics into technologies in areas ranging from advanced manufacturing to human health. Its team also delivers ongoing guidance for advanced analytics projects in industry settings. Professor Sun encouraged the University to co-operate with universities in Hong Kong to participate in the InnoHK research clusters to strengthen global R&D collaboration.

In the afternoon, Professor Sun visited a start-up that provides storage and delivery services in North America. The start-up adopts a smart platform that automatically processes orders and updates inventory levels in real time. It also utilises robotic shuttles to manage inventories automatically, thereby reducing the overall cost for logistics and delivery services.

Professor Sun attended a networking dinner organised by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Toronto Chapter) in the evening, and had an exchange with Hong Kong young people studying and working in Toronto to learn more about their study and work lives in Canada. Professor Sun shared with them Hong Kong's efforts to develop as an international I&T centre and build an international hub for high-calibre talent. He noted that it is of paramount importance to enlarge the talent pool for the I&T development in Hong Kong, adding that the city is an ideal destination for young people to develop their careers and that Hong Kong youngsters are encouraged to seize the myriad opportunities there.

Professor Sun will proceed to Ottawa and continue his visit on November 5 (Ottawa time).

SITI commences visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Authorized person disciplined for professional negligence

​The Authorized Persons', Registered Structural Engineers' and Registered Geotechnical Engineers' Disciplinary Board has completed a disciplinary inquiry and decided that an authorized person (AP) should be disciplined for professional negligence under section 7(1A)(b) of the Buildings Ordinance (BO).

The Board ordered the AP to be reprimanded and to pay $131,800, being the costs of the Board for conducting the inquiry.

The Board's written decision and order issued on December 20, 2024, was published in the Gazette today (January 3). Details are available at the following link: www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20252901/egn2025290131.pdf.

The case involved a building construction project on Tai Shu Ha Road West in Yuen Long. Upon investigation by the Buildings Department (BD), it was found that the layout of the clubhouse in the project differed from the approved plans, as an additional floor slab was found between G/F and 1/F of the clubhouse. The AP advised in a letter to the BD in 2018 that one of the reasons for altering the layout of the clubhouse was a request from the Water Supplies Department to enlarge the water meter room, which turned out to be inaccurate. In view of the investigation results, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the AP under the provision of section 13(1) of the BO.

A spokesperson for the BD emphasised that persons registered under the BO may be disciplined if they are negligent or engage in misconduct.