John Lee Celebrates Shaw Prize Laureates and Hong Kong's Commitment to Science and Technology

Speech by CE at Shaw Prize 2024 Award Presentation Ceremony (with photos/video)

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Shaw Prize 2024 Award Presentation Ceremony today (November 12):

Dr Raymond Chan (Chair of the Shaw Prize Foundation), Professor Kenneth Young (Chair of the Shaw Prize Council), Professor Reinhard Genzel (Chair of the Board of Adjudicators of the Shaw Prize Foundation), esteemed laureates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. And such a special evening this is, with the Shaw Prize now into its third decade of bestowing annual awards, for internationally distinguished achievement and significant advances in three scientific disciplines: astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences.

This evening, we honour, and celebrate, the far-reaching accomplishments of five Shaw Prize laureates – four of them recipients of this year's Prize and one here with us to accept his award from 2021.

My congratulations to all of you. The outstanding contributions you have made, and continue to make, advance your respective fields of specialisation - and much more. Your remarkable insights and innovation open the doors of scientific possibility - of human possibilities - that much wider. For that, for your commitment both to science, and to civilisation, we are all grateful.

In addition to our laureates, I would also like to pay tribute to the late Sir Run Run Shaw and the Shaw Prize Foundation, for the vision in creating this internationally renowned celebration of science.

Thanks to the Shaw Prize, the youth of Hong Kong can see for themselves the promise, and the possibilities, of science. As a career. As a way of life.

The Hong Kong SAR Government is determined to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre, and an international hub for post-secondary education. It helps that Hong Kong is the only Asian city that has as many as five universities in the world's top 100. The people of Hong Kong are energetic, enterprising and perseverant.

In my Policy Address delivered last month, I announced that the preparatory work of our third InnoHK research cluster is underway. It will focus on advanced manufacturing, materials, energy and sustainable development.

The first two InnoHK research clusters target healthcare technology, along with artificial intelligence and robotics. Together, they pool more than 2 500 research personnel from over 30 notable universities and research institutes, and 12 economies.

I also announced the establishment of the Committee on Education, Technology and Talents. It will co-ordinate the integrated development of education, technology and talent policies, and promote Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent.

We are putting a priority on science and technology in our education system. By the 2026/27 academic year, students studying STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) disciplines will reach some 35 per cent of all students in our publicly funded universities.

Like the Shaw Prize Foundation, and the laureates they honour, Hong Kong is determined to thrive in this ever-changing world. And making good progress, too.

On that note, I wish you all the best in the world of science. Enjoy this memorable evening. Thank you.

Speech by CE at Shaw Prize 2024 Award Presentation Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CE at Shaw Prize 2024 Award Presentation Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Employers and employees should make reasonable work arrangements after tropical cyclones or rainstorms

The Labour Department (LD) today (November 14) reminded employers to make practical and reasonable work arrangements for employees after the cancellation of tropical cyclone warnings or rainstorm warnings, with due consideration to the road and traffic conditions and other factors, and make flexible arrangements for staff to resume work or work remotely (if applicable). This will help maintain good labour-management relations, and ensure the safety of employees as well as the smooth operation of organisations.

"For staff who have genuine difficulties in resuming work on time upon cancellation of a tropical cyclone or rainstorm warning, employers should be sympathetic and handle each case flexibly. For example, employers may allow employees to resume work in stages, permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work remotely (if applicable) or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work," an LD spokesman said.

The spokesman reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and Minimum Wage Ordinance.

"As natural calamities cannot be avoided, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume duty on time due to adverse weather or 'extreme conditions', employers should neither deduct their wages, good attendance bonus or allowances, nor reduce employees' entitlement to annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days under the Employment Ordinance, or ask for additional hours of work from employees to compensate for the loss of working hours when they are unable to report for duty," the spokesman said.

Employers should note that they have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. Moreover, under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for injuries or deaths incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher, a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or "extreme conditions" is in force.

The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'", which provides the major principles, reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation on making work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).