Jean-Francois Chassagneux and Camilo A. Garcia Trillos
Math. Comp. 89 (2020), 1895-1932.
Abstract, references and article information

Wolfgang Dahmen, Felix Gruber and Olga Mula
Math. Comp. 89 (2020), 1605-1646.
Abstract, references and article information

A lone developer from the company that provided aerodynamic analysis for the cars in the PlayStation game Gran Turismo has applied the tooling to demonstrate the spread of germs with and without wearing a mask

The London-headquartered fintech startup Soldo has repurposed its spend management tools for local authorities in Italy to support its COVID-19 emergency response measures

Changfeng Gui, Kelei Wang and Jucheng Wei
Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 373 (2020), 3649-3668.
Abstract, references and article information

Cătălin I. Cârstea, Gen Nakamura and Lauri Oksanen
Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 373 (2020), 3423-3443.
Abstract, references and article information

V. M. Radchenko and N. O. Stefans’ka
Theor. Probability and Math. Statist. 99 (2020), 229-238.
Abstract, references and article information

A. Seesanea and I. E. Verbitsky
St. Petersburg Math. J. 31 (2020), 557-572.
Abstract, references and article information

G. Kresin and V. Maz'ya
St. Petersburg Math. J. 31 (2020), 495-507.
Abstract, references and article information

C. Tintarev
St. Petersburg Math. J. 31 (2020), 421-434.
Abstract, references and article information

N. G. Kuznetsov
St. Petersburg Math. J. 31 (2020), 395-399.
Abstract, references and article information

Maciej Bocheński and Aleksy Tralle
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2743-2744.
Abstract, references and article information

Phạm Tiến Sơn
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2739-2741.
Abstract, references and article information

Gregory J. Galloway and Hyun Chul Jang
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2617-2629.
Abstract, references and article information

Jorge Lauret and Cynthia E. Will
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2601-2607.
Abstract, references and article information

Xiaodong Cao, Bennett Chow and Yongjia Zhang
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2595-2600.
Abstract, references and article information

Bin Li and Jieqiong Shen
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2565-2578.
Abstract, references and article information

Quanlei Fang and Jingbo Xia
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2497-2507.
Abstract, references and article information

Michiya Mori
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2477-2485.
Abstract, references and article information

Qingying Bu
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2459-2467.
Abstract, references and article information

Naoya Hiramatsu and Ryo Takahashi
Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 148 (2020), 2359-2369.
Abstract, references and article information

In view of the severe economic repercussions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic globally and locally, the Government announced another package of measures to support the affected individuals and businesses last Wednesday. Two of which are particularly relevant to the legal and dispute resolution sector - the LawTech Fund and the COVID-19 Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Scheme. The LawTech Fund was briefly introduced in this blog a few days ago. Today, I would like to give an online explanation of the COVID-19 ODR.

In anticipation of an upsurge of disputes arising from or relating to COVID-19, the scheme aims to provide speedy and cost-effective means to resolve such disputes, especially for those involving micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that may be adversely affected or hard hit by the pandemic. The scheme will engage eBRAM (electronic Business Related Arbitration & Mediation system) to provide ODR services to the general public and businesses, in particular MSMEs, involved in low value disputes.

The scheme plans to cover COVID-19 related disputes with the claim amount for each case to be capped at $500,000. Either one of the parties (claimant or respondent) must be a Hong Kong resident or company and they will only be required to each pay $200 registration fees. Under the scheme, the parties are required to enter into a dispute resolution agreement to record their consent.

The process to be adopted is a multi-tiered dispute resolution mechanism where the parties will first attempt to negotiate their disputes, followed by mediation and if that does not result in settlement, then subsequently to arbitration for a final and binding award. This is in line with the "Mediate First" policy that we have been advocating under our "Mediate First" Pledge Programmes.

The scheme aims to offer a fast and effective means to resolve disputes among parties. Each tier of dispute resolution will be conducted within a limited time. The tiers are devised with a view to avoiding disputes and differences from being entrenched. If the disputes can be resolved successfully and amicably through negotiation or mediation, we hope it will help build and reinforce a harmonious society and enable the parties to preserve their long term business relationship.

We also hope the scheme will have the benefit of job creation and job advancement for mediators and arbitrators (including their pupils). Parties are at liberty to appoint the third party neutral of their choice and if no agreement is reached, there will be a mechanism for appointment. The third party neutrals and the parties or their representatives can still handle cases under the social distancing measures online and indeed to practice on the handling of cases online. We would like the scheme to be launched in June if funding is provided in April.

It is a global trend to develop and use ODR to provide reliable and efficient platform to facilitate alternative dispute resolution. The scheme is in line with the development under Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's Collaborative Framework on ODR (APEC Framework), with MSMEs as the major beneficiary. The mechanism of adopting negotiation and mediation in the first stage under the APEC Framework is also to prevent entrenched views on the conflicts, thereby helping to create harmony in society.

Some forms of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, are a more cost-effective way to resolve disputes. The costs of mediation are almost always lower than the disputed amounts, making it an economical way to resolve disputes. Mediation can save time too. Some cases may be resolved following just one day of mediation.

LawTech has greatly helped the development of dispute resolution services. The establishment of a safe, reliable and credible platform to provide enterprises with convenient and cost-effective online dispute resolution will become a new trend.

It is one of the major long-term policy objectives of the Department of Justice (DoJ) in recent years to enhance and promote Hong Kong's status as an international legal hub for deal-making and dispute resolution. A further promotion of the use of ODR will help consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international business and financial centre.

The social media accounts of the DoJ's IDAR Office have been introducing the procedure, characteristics and benefits of mediation and arbitration. You may wish to visit the dedicated pages of the IDAR Office to keep abreast of the dispute resolution services.

In addition to the relief measures announced by the Government, the DoJ has also taken the initiative to speed up payment of fees to counsel. Counsel engaged by the DoJ could submit their interim fee notes together with the interim case reports after certain work has been completed. Each case will be considered individually on a case-by-case basis and interim payments could be made. I have enquired and am also glad to learn from the Legal Aid Department and the Duty Lawyer Service that they made similar arrangements.

We are confident that Hong Kong can weather the storm with our fundamental strengths and resilience. We also trust that we would overcome this unprecedented challenge by standing in solidarity.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng wrote this article and posted it on her blog on April 13.

An extraordinary strings crossover performance by erhu master Xu Ke and the Tokyo String Quintet will be held in December.

Heralded as the Paganini of the erhu world, Mr Xu is currently a guest professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Japan.

Presented by the Leisure & Cultural Services Department as part of the Music Delight Series, the concert will be held at Tsuen Wan Town Hall on December 14.

Tickets are available at URBTIX.

Click here for details.

We as mathematicians seem practically hell-bent on removing the phrase “I’m just not a math person” from students’ vocabularies. Maybe that’s why they scream it so loudly and defiantly? Math has so many tactical advantages over sports and the arts. … Continue reading →

An Ap Lei Chau site in the 2020-21 Land Sale Programme will be sold by public tender, the Lands Department announced today.

Ap Lei Chau Inland Lot No. 137 at Ap Lei Chau Praya Road is designated for non-industrial purposes, excluding godown, hotel and petrol filling station.

It has a site area of about 1,128.8 sq m with a minimum gross floor area of 4,921 sq m.

The maximum gross floor area for private residential purposes is 8,201.6 sq m, while that for other designated purposes is computed according to the relevant special sale condition.

The tender invitation for the lot will open on April 24 and close on May 22.

The tender for a Mong Kok site has been awarded on a 50-year land grant at a premium of $467.18 million, the Lands Department announced today.

Kowloon Inland Lot No. 11240 at the junction of Soy Street and Shanghai Street was awarded to Worth Forever, a subsidiary of Bring Bright.

It has a site area of about 625.5 sq m with a minimum gross floor area of 3,751.75 sq m.

The maximum gross floor area for private residential purposes is 4,691.25 sq m.

The maximum gross floor area for non-industrial purposes is computed according to the relevant special condition in the conditions of sale.

The Minimum Wage Commission today launched an eight-week public consultation to review the statutory minimum wage rate.

The commission said it adopts an evidence-based approach in conducting the minimum wage rate review and will consider the community's views.

Views can be sent by email before June 16.

Click here for information.

A group of technologists has led crowdsourcing efforts to create a single repository of information for specialists fighting the Coronavirus outbreak. Techworld speaks with founder Edward Saperia to hear more about how collaboration tools can help the efforts

The Development Bureau today briefed the Land & Development Advisory Committee on the major recommendations of the Planning & Urban Design Review for Developments at Kai Tak Runway Tip (KTRT).

Members noted the planning objectives, design principles and key study recommendations for the KTRT developments, including the existing and planned public open spaces as well as the Tourism Node site included in the 2020-21 Land Sale Programme.

They generally supported the recommendations of the KTRT study and provided comments on various aspects, such as ways to attract people to KTRT, the connectivity to and within the area, and promotion of healthy city and kid-friendly concepts.

The committee was also briefed on the proposed two-envelope tender arrangement, which refers to evaluation of both design and price proposals, for disposal of Site 3 of the New Central Harbourfront.

With a total area of 4.75 hectares, the site will comprise a commercial development in separate blocks mainly for office and retail, with a total gross floor area not exceeding 150,000 sq m, to be built alongside a spacious public open space of no less than 25,000 sq m to be opened round-the-clock.

There will be a continuous landscaped deck spanning across the site in a north-south direction, allowing visitors to walk all the way from the hinterland of the Central Business District to the harbourfront.

While noting that the two-envelope approach was rather unconventional for government land sale, members agreed that the approach would allow both quality and price considerations to be taken into account, and the setting of a reserve price would ensure reasonable protection to public revenue.

(Rice University) Rice University researchers have integrated high-efficiency solar cells and electrode catalysts into an efficient, low-cost device that splits water to produce hydrogen fuel.

(University of Science and Technology of China) Researchers from University of science and technology of China has shed new lights on the topic of solid-phase ion migration. Researchers demonstrated a unique in-situ strategy for visualizing the dynamic solid-phase ion migration between nanostructures with nanogap at the atomic scale. The research article entitled "Real-Time Visualization of Solid-Phase Ion Migration Kinetics on Nanowire Monolayer" was published in Journal of the American Chemical Society on April 29th.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said because Hong Kong has not reported a local COVID-19 case for over two weeks and imported cases are low, some anti-epidemic measures can be lifted.

During a press conference, Mrs Lam outlined that unlike some European countries, Hong Kong did not need to go into lockdown to contain the spread of the disease.

“Hong Kong has never gone into a stage of a complete city lockdown. In some of the European countries where they practise a city lockdown, residents are simply not allowed to leave their homes, except for some very essential purposes. But we have never adopted that practice.

“And in fact, many renowned experts are now trying to study our situation - why does Hong Kong succeed in keeping the confirmed cases at a low level without drastic measures like a complete city lockdown. And I do think that is a very interesting topic for further research.”

Mrs Lam noted that the Government had adopted the “suppress and lift” strategy under which restrictions are implemented and lifted in accordance with the infection situation.

“The strategy that Hong Kong has been adopting - and advocated by some of our experts - is what we call a ‘suppress and lift strategy’.

“So in light of the number of confirmed cases and likelihood of the spread of the disease in the community, we will have to suppress in order to make sure that there will be no surge in the number of confirmed cases as we have seen in some neighbouring regions.

“When the situation of the infection stabilises, that is the time for lifting, that is, loosening a bit so that society can operate more normally, especially for the businesses and for individuals’ behaviour.”

The Chief Executive said the Government still needed to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely, even though it was in the stage of lifting restrictions.

“We are now right in the stage of lifting because we have not had a local case for 16 days already and the number of imported cases is very, very low.

“We are now quite confident that the system of testing and holding that we have put in place for all arrivals from overseas would enable us to control the number of imported cases. So this is a time for lifting and this afternoon we have announced a number of lifting measures.

“If the situation continues to stay at the current level - no local cases, very few imported cases - then at the end of the 14-day period, that is May 22, of course that would be the time for more relaxation.”

Mrs Lam added that if a local case suddenly surfaced, Hong Kong may have to go back to some suppression measures, which was why the Government had to monitor the situation closely so it could take the necessary and pertinent response measures.

Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui visited the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China today to inspect its work in implementing the Fitness Centre Subsidy Scheme launched under the second phase of the Anti-epidemic Fund.

Mr Tsui said the scheme aims to provide a one-off subsidy of $100,000 to fitness centres to tide businesses over financial difficulties arising from anti-epidemic measures.

He thanked the association for handling the scheme’s applications.

Mr Tsui also expressed gratitude to the fitness industry for complying with the Government’s preventive measures, including suspension of business, in the fight against the virus.

Given the stabilising epidemic situation, the Government has conducted a health risk assessment and will allow premises, including fitness centres, to resume operations, Mr Tsui said, adding that he hopes the fitness industry will soon regain vitality.

The Home Affairs Bureau commissioned the association to assist in implementing the scheme, which opened for applications on May 4.

As of May 7, the association received 397 applications, of which more than half of them have been initially found to be eligible, involving subsidies of about $20 million.

The application period for the scheme will end on June 3.

Call 2302 9089 or send an email for enquiries.