Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Policy Address by Hong Kong SAR’s Chief Executive John Lee: Improving People’s Livelihood in Pursuit of Happiness

Published

on

Policy Address

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 October 2024 – John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, announced his annual Policy Address (October 16), with the overarching priority of improving people’s livelihood and promoting a caring community.

“Over the past two years, my team and I have focused on economic growth and on improving people’s livelihood through development, with the well‑being of the people of Hong Kong close to our hearts,” Mr Lee said.

Noting that housing is an issue of great public concern, the Chief Executive announced various measures, including those to support home ownership, provide more public rental housing units and improve the quality of residential spaces.
To assist homebuyers, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will relax the maximum loan-to-value ratio of property mortgage loans to 70%. The Government will also give young family applicants and one‑person applicants aged below 40 greater chance in applying for subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats. Mr Lee also announced detailed plans for the Government to legislate for a regulatory regime on the renting of subdivided units.

Meanwhile, the total supply of public housing units in the next five years will reach 189,000 units, and the waiting time for Public Rental Housing units will be reduced from the current 5.5 years to 4.5 years in 2026‑27.

“I attach great importance to building a harmonious and stable community, one that is caring and inclusive, providing targeted assistance to the underprivileged and families in need,” Mr Lee said.

The Chief Executive announced that the total number of vouchers under the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly will be increased by 20% to 6,000. This will allow more frail elderly persons to be admitted to Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs) of their choice and receive subsidised care services without waiting.

For people choosing to retire in Mainland China, the Government will enhance the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong Province to provide more choices and support for elderly persons who opt to stay in care homes in the province, including sharing part of the medical expenses of the participants. A three-year pilot scheme will be launched next year to subsidise elderly recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance to reside in designated residential care homes in Guangdong. Under the scheme, each eligible elderly person will receive a monthly subsidy of HK$5,000, subject to a quota of 1,000.

On poverty alleviation, Mr Lee announced that the Strive and Rise Programme would be expanded with the launch of the third cohort of the programme this year to recruit 4,000 mentees. The Government will also extend the Pilot Programme on Community Living Room by setting up three additional ones next year, making it a total of seven. To support families in need, the School‑based After‑School Care Service Scheme will be enhanced by increasing the number of primary schools covered by the Scheme from 50 to over 110.

In addition, services for persons with disabilities will be further enhanced through the establishment of 14 Integrated Community Rehabilitation Centres across the city, providing some 1,280 additional service places. Also, about 1,040 additional places will be provided for day, residential and pre‑school rehabilitation services.

To support and encourage women to excel at work, the Chief Executive announced that the Government would launch a mentorship programme, “She Inspires”, and establish a network run by women leaders from all occupations, which would enable female university students to be paired with mentors from the senior management of different sectors.

The Government will also establish one more support service centre for ethnic minorities to provide interpretation and translation services, and strengthen support for non-Chinese speaking students in learning Chinese.

“We must seize every opportunity to make progress and renew ourselves. I am confident that Hong Kong will continue to go from strength to strength and attain new heights, and our people will lead a better life,” Mr Lee said.

More information about the Policy Address is available from www.policyaddress.gov.hk.
 



 

Energy

Venezuela Energy Week Confirms 19 August Date for Houston Industry Showcase

Published

on

Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August, convening U.S. energy leaders ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The organizers of Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) have confirmed that the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August 2026 at The Post Oak Hotel. Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the event will bring together U.S. energy companies, investors and policymakers to explore commercial opportunities ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas in February.

The showcase will feature Minister of Hydrocarbons Paula Henao as a keynote speaker, providing an update on Venezuela’s energy priorities, investment agenda and opportunities for international partnership. Her participation underscores the country’s commitment to strengthening engagement with global industry as it seeks to expand production and unlock new upstream investment.

Bringing together exploration and production companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers, engineering firms, technology companies and financial institutions, the Houston Industry Showcase will examine opportunities across exploration, production optimization, infrastructure rehabilitation and field development.

As Venezuela works to increase oil and gas production, demand is expected to grow for the technical expertise of U.S. service providers in drilling, well intervention, completion services, production optimization, artificial lift, digital oilfield technologies and infrastructure rehabilitation. Houston-based industry leaders – including SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford and a broad network of EPC contractors, equipment manufacturers and specialized service companies – are well positioned to support the modernization of mature fields, improve operational efficiency and deliver the technologies and services needed for future upstream projects.

The Houston event follows a successful Industry Showcase in London, which brought together international investors, operators and energy service companies to explore Venezuela’s evolving investment landscape. Building on that momentum, the Houston edition will deepen engagement with the U.S. energy industry and strengthen commercial dialogue ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027.

Venezuela Energy Week – the country’s largest energy investment platform to date – has been confirmed for 22–25 February 2027 in Caracas. Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the event will bring together government leaders, investors and industry stakeholders from across the global energy value chain.

To register for the Houston Industry Showcase on August 19, visit https://apo-opa.co/4g0TncR. To learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the showcase or to secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery
Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4hkvteE).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Continue Reading

Business

Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) Secures New Patent for Smart Stabilization System from Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

Published

on

IsDBI

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) is pleased to announce that the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has granted a new patent for its innovative Smart Stabilization System.

 

The patent was granted on 10 July 2026 under Singapore Patent No. 10202250873B for the invention titled “A Computer Network Stabilization System and Method.” The patent application was filed on 1 September 2022 and was formally granted following a comprehensive review process.

This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms and advanced simulation models, the system is designed to anticipate supply and demand imbalances and implement programmable stabilization measures before they escalate into market disruptions.

Unlike traditional stabilization mechanisms that rely on capital reserves, buffer funds, or external interventions, the Smart Stabilization System introduces a next-generation framework for achieving autonomous market stabilization through proactive and programmed stabilization mechanisms. By incorporating distributed ledger technology and cryptographic trust mechanisms, the platform enhances transparency, trust, and operational resilience for digital asset and commodity markets.

The successful patent grant reflects IsDBI’s growing contribution to technological innovation and its commitment to developing knowledge-based solutions that address contemporary economic and development challenges.

Since filing the patent application back in 2022, the Institute has continued to advance the Smart Stabilization System through ongoing development and testing, aimed to expand its practical applications and support future capitalization opportunities. These advancements have positioned the system as a potentially transformative solution for enhancing stability and resilience in increasingly digital and interconnected economies.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI, said, “The grant of this patent by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore further strengthens the Institute’s position as a leader in developing innovative knowledge-based solutions that leverage modern technologies to address complex development challenges. This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

Continue Reading

Business

Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

Published

on

The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

Continue Reading

Trending