Professor Sun Dong Visits University of Waterloo to Enhance Innovation and Technology Collaboration

SITI continues visit to Canada

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit to Canada on November 6 (Toronto time).

Professor Sun visited the University of Waterloo and met with the University's President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Vivek Goel; the Dean of Arts, Professor Alexie Tcheuyap; the Dean of Engineering, Professor Mary Wells; the Dean of Faculty of Health, Professor Lili Liu; the Dean of Mathematics, Professor Mark Giesbrecht; the Dean of Science, Professor Chris Houser; and Associate Vice-President Professor Bernard Duncker. The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive and research-intensive university. It ranked 21st in computer science and information systems and 40th in engineering and technology in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

Professor Sun was briefed on the University's work in transforming research outcomes. He noted that Hong Kong attaches great importance to the co-ordinated development among upstream, midstream and downstream in innovation and technology development. An array of measures have specifically been launched in recent years to provide support to start-ups, including the I&T Accelerator Pilot Scheme, which provides subsidies to attract professional start-up service providers with proven track records in and beyond Hong Kong to set up accelerator bases in Hong Kong.

The University of Waterloo is one of the top quantum computing universities in the world. Professor Sun visited the Institute for Quantum Computing to learn more about the frontier technology developed by this cross-disciplinary Institute in the field of quantum computing, which consolidates Canada's leading position in the quantum research area through promoting research and innovation. The Institute also serves as a strategic partner for the emerging quantum industry and nurtures talent in the research area.

Professor Sun said that to further enhance research on frontier technology in Hong Kong, HK$3 billion has been allocated in the 2023-24 Budget to launch a scheme in support of the relevant development of frontier technology fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, with a view to better realising basic technology research capabilities for making breakthroughs out of the blue.

Moreover, Professor Sun toured the University's School of Optometry and Vision Science and was briefed on the latest developments, research projects and advanced research equipment of the School by Professor of the School of Optometry and Vision Science and CEO and Scientific Director of the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) under InnoHK Clusters, Professor Ben Thompson. The University of Waterloo is one of the non-local partners of InnoHK Clusters. It established the CEVR with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to promote vision health by making use of clinical, basic and applied research.

Professor Sun noted that InnoHK is committed to fostering global research and development collaboration, while the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government strongly encourages strengthening academic exchanges to advance translational research and innovative applications, pooling together outstanding researchers from around the globe for the benefit of innovation and technology development in Hong Kong and worldwide.

Professor Sun concluded his visit to Canada in the evening and will return to Hong Kong in the morning on November 8 (Hong Kong time).

SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Public market stalls for rent at upset prices from November 14 to 18

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (November 7) that 96 market stalls in 22 public markets which were not taken at open auctions held earlier would be available to the public for renting at their upset prices from November 14 to 18 (except Saturday and Sunday), on a trial first-come, first-served basis.

The rent of the 96 stalls will be set at the upset price of the most recent open auction. In open auctions, the upset prices for the stalls will be initially fixed at 80 per cent of the open market rent (OMR) if the stalls have been vacant for over six months, and at 60 per cent of the OMR if the vacancy has been over eight months.

The retail commodities allowed for sale in these stalls cover frozen meat, fresh meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, ready-to-eat food, food-related dry goods and wet goods, non-food related dry goods and wet goods, etc. The tenancy agreement is a three-year fixed term starting from January 1, 2025, with no right of renewal upon expiry. The monthly rent of the stalls varies depending on their sizes, locations, vacancy periods and the reduced upset prices from the last open auction of the individual stalls. Relevant information is available on the FEHD website.

Members of the public who are interested in renting a market stall should approach the following FEHD offices, as appropriate, to apply in person from 9.30am to 12.30pm or 2.30pm to 4.30pm during the abovementioned renting period:

Districts in which the market stalls are located

Venues for selection of market stalls

Hong Kong Island and Islands District

Hawkers and Markets Section (Hong Kong and Islands) Office,

8/F, Lockhart Road Municipal Services Building, 225 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Kowloon

Hawkers and Markets Section (Kowloon) Office,

Room 301-302, 3/F, FEHD Nam Cheong Offices and Vehicle Depot, 87 Yen Chow Street West, Kowloon

A spokesman for the FEHD said, "Applicants for the market stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. To allow more people to select the stalls and increase customer choices by enhancing the diversity in terms of the variety of stalls, there will be a restriction on the number of stalls that can be rented in the same market by a single tenant. Any person who is currently a stall tenant is allowed to select one stall in the same market. The existing tenants under the new three-year fixed term tenancy scheme (i.e. those persons who became stall tenants through the market open auctions after August 2022) are allowed to select a stall in the same market, but must vacate and return the current stall to the FEHD before the effective date of commencement of the new tenancy agreement. The terms and conditions of renting market stalls on a first-come, first-served basis have been uploaded to the FEHD website, detailing qualifications of the applicants."

​Details of renting public market stalls on a first-come, first-served basis have been uploaded to the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pleasant_environment/tidy_market/FCFS/index.html). Interested applicants may visit the department website or contact the respective District Environmental Hygiene Office.