Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CCIDA sponsors trade’s participation in 36th Hong Kong Book Fair to promote reading culture in Hong Kong
The book fair events sponsored by CCIDA include the World of Art and Culture exhibition, the booth and workshops of the 3rd Go! Illustrators – Hong Kong Picture Book Illustrators at International Book Fairs Promotion Scheme, the kick-off ceremony of the 4th Next Writer Publication Funding Scheme, the International Publishing Forum, the IP Roundtable and the press conference of the inaugural edition of World Chinese Literature Convention and World Chinese Literary Awards.
The World of Art and Culture exhibition is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council under the theme “World in Words, A Voyage of the Heart” this year. Collaborating with different consulates-general in Hong Kong, the exhibition showcases over 200 books and items from around the world, with some 35 author-sharing sessions, workshops and performances, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international arts and cultural exchanges while providing more choices of publications for readers.
The Go! Illustrators scheme
The current edition of the Next Writer Publication Funding Scheme
This year, the International Publishing Forum and the IP Roundtable, under the respective themes “Reading for All in the Age of AI: Reshaping and Co-evolution” and “Copyright in Transition: Reshaping Rights, Challenges & Opportunities in the Age of AI”, invite the trade to participate in discussion to explore business opportunities.
The inaugural edition of the World Chinese Literature Convention and the World Chinese Literary Awards seek to provide a global platform for Chinese literature creation and exchange, acknowledge outstanding works in the Chinese literature, while encouraging the expansion of the influence and reach of Chinese literature through adaptation into films and TV programmes and operation of IPs. The Convention establishes its presence in Hong Kong signifies Hong Kong’s unique position in the Chinese literature community. The World Chinese Literary Awards is open for submission of entries on the same day of the press conference on July 17, with the award presentation ceremony scheduled for February next year.
As an annual signature cultural event, the Hong Kong Book Fair gathers the publishing industry, authors and readers. CCIDA will continue to support the trade’s participation in the book fair to jointly promote reading and publishing culture. For the timetable of the above mentioned book fair events, please visit https://www.ccidahk.gov.hk/en/whatsnew_detail.php?id=2026071017125749566Issued at HKT 21:30
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Police National Security Department arrests two men and three women
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force (NSD) received a referral from the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, that a batch of books with seditious intention was intercepted inside a consignment shipped to Hong Kong from overseas.
Following investigations, the NSD conducted an operation today (July 15). Officers searched two shops in Mong Kok and arrested two men aged 37 and 57 respectively, and three women aged between 30 and 59. They were suspected of contravening the offence of “doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention” under Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.
Police investigations revealed that the five arrestees are suspected of displaying items with seditious intent and selling publications with seditious content inside the shops. The contents of these publications involved inciting hatred against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. A batch of books with seditious intention was seized from the shops.
The five arrested persons are being detained for investigation.
Police remind members of the public that “doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention” is a serious offence. Upon first conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for seven years. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law.
DH investigates case of severe paediatric influenza A infection
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH investigates case of severe paediatric influenza A infection
The case involves a 9-month-old boy with good past health. Starting from July 13, his general condition deteriorated, with decreased activity and oral intake. He developed a fever and cough on July 14 and was taken to a clinic. His condition worsened in the afternoon on the same day. He developed shortness of breath, followed by a loss of consciousness and sudden cardiac arrest. He was then sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital. The patient’s heartbeat was restored after active resuscitation and he was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit for treatment. His respiratory specimen collected by the hospital on July 14 tested positive for influenza A virus. His clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia and shock. He remains hospitalised and is in critical condition.
The CHP’s preliminary investigation revealed that the boy had not received the 2025/26 seasonal influenza vaccination. His household contacts remain asymptomatic. The CHP will continue to investigate the case.
Since Hong Kong entered the influenza season in late June, the influenza activity has continued to increase. Based on historical surveillance data, the CHP expects the influenza activity to rise steadily for some time after the start of the influenza season before reaching its peak and is expected to increase further in the coming weeks.
The CHP reminded members of the public, especially children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, to seek medical advice promptly for early treatment if they present with fever and respiratory symptoms. As the health condition of children with influenza can deteriorate rapidly, parents must pay close attention to their condition, and visit an accident and emergency department immediately if the child’s condition deteriorates with symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, blue lips, chest pain, confusion, a persistent fever or convulsions.
In addition, the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent contracting influenza and other respiratory illnesses. Given that Hong Kong is currently in the influenza season and the COVID-19 activity has significantly increased, high-risk individuals should wear surgical masks when staying in crowded places; the general public is also advised to wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. People with respiratory symptoms, even if mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly. They should also consider whether to attend work or school.
Members of the public may refer to the CHP’s COVID-19 & Flu ExpressIssued at HKT 20:23
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LCQ22: Enhancing services of 1823 Contact Centre
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Joephy Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (July 15):
Question:
The Government is actively aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and promoting the development of “Artificial Intelligence Plus”, and is continuously promoting the application of AI in government affairs to support economic and social transformation and upgrading. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that the 1823 Contact Centre currently adopts AI technology mainly for handling public enquiries, complaints or service requests, whether the Government will consider utilising AI for post-case compilation, consolidation and analysis of data, for example, by introducing a “one issue per month” system to regularly focus on high-frequency complaints, as well as a “one issue per district” system to focus on high-frequency district-level feedback, and regularly reporting key public concerns in each district to the respective District Councils and District Offices, so as to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues and put forward targeted solutions; if so, of the details; if not, whether the Government will consider implementing the relevant proposals;
(2) as chapter 13, section 3 of the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China mentions enhancing the level of digital and intelligent governance, whether the Government will draw on the experience of the Mainland’s “12345 government service hotline” to proactively identify issues of long-standing public concern through 1823’s big data, and incorporate this into Hong Kong’s first five-year plan to formulate reform targets;
(3) during the period from January to May this year, among the cases handled by 1823 relating to “Service Request/Complaint Handling”, those involving multiple departments accounted for three per cent; of the following information regarding such cases: (i) the shortest and longest time from receipt to completion of handling and responding to the customer; (ii) the main government departments involved; (iii) the types and contents of the cases; and (iv) the level of customer satisfaction (with a full score of five); regarding case follow-up, whether the Government will strengthen on-site verification and conduct ongoing monitoring; if so, of the details;
(4) in response to a Member’s question in this Council on June 11 last year, the Government indicated that it would further strengthen the 1823 mechanisms for case classification, triage and referral, further expand the use or trial of AI technology in different service areas and interfaces, and enhance the chatbot’s question-answering capabilities; of the areas of improvement in the relevant technology, the effectiveness of implementation and the changes in the number of cases handled to date;
(5) as the Mainland’s “12345 government service hotline” offers a wide range of services, including the provision of sign language video services to cater for people with hearing impairment, consultancy services for enterprises, and foreign language services to assist in answering enquiries from foreigners, whether the Government will refer to the service scope of this hotline to enhance 1823 services so as to cater for the needs of different groups; if so, of the detailed plans and directions; if not, the reasons for that; and
(6) as Hong Kong occasionally encounters emergency incidents, and members of the public need various types of emergency support, such as temporary cold shelters and supplies replenishment, whether the Government will consider enhancing the logistical support capability of 1823 in handling emergency cases, such as integrating the hotlines of various government departments into 1823 and utilising AI to shorten handling time and speed up the dissemination of information; if so, of the detailed plans and directions; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Operated by the Digital Policy Office (DPO), 1823 handles enquiries, compliments and suggestions for 23 participating policy bureaux/departments (B/Ds), and receives all requests for government services/complaints about government services. For requests for government services/complaints, 1823 will record the case details and refer them to the appropriate B/Ds for handling. The responsible B/Ds will determine how to follow up and respond. 1823 will track the progress of the B/Ds’ replies and, upon request from the respective B/Ds, convey their reply to the service requestor/complainant.
Regarding the question raised by the Hon Joephy Chan, our reply is as follows.
(1), (2) and (4) In 2025, 1823 launched a number of service enhancement initiatives, including enabling intelligent interoperability between the 1823 chatbot “Tammy” and the GovHK chatbot “Bonny”; providing 1823 services on the “iAM Smart” platform; enhancing the Geographic Information System and the business rule engine to improve the referral efficiency of cases in rural areas; and launching a digital self-service enquiry platform. These measures have effectively enhanced user experience and operational efficiency, enabling staff to focus on handling more complex cases, thereby alleviating the manpower pressure arising from the increase in complaint cases.
In addition, 1823 is now expanding the application of AI+ technology across various operational areas. This includes piloting the use of AI to analyse unstructured data from citizens’ calls and emails, automatically extracting information from service requests/complaints on specific topics and populating to the respective fields in the Customer Relationship Management System; using AI to analyse departments’ email replies to cases referred by 1823 to automatically identify cases for priority handling; and developing a Web App that allows citizens to use 1823 service directly through the “iAM Smart” platform without downloading the 1823 mobile application.
Regarding the proposals of “one issue per month” and “one issue per district”, 1823, as a data provider, will submit monthly reports to participating departments that categorise service requests/complaints by type and/or district. This enables departments to conduct comprehensive analysis by combining with their own data, thereby gaining a better understanding of public needs. In addition, 1823 will provide additional information upon request from individual B/Ds to facilitate in-depth analysis on specific topics or regional hot topics, and formulation of targeted improvement measures.
(3) From January to May 2026, 1823 received over 300 000 service requests/complaints, with an average referral time of approximately one hour. About three per cent of these cases required referral to multiple departments. These cases were mainly related to issues such as environmental hygiene, noise nuisance, or street obstructions, and usually involved more than one department. Upon receiving a referral from 1823, the relevant departments will determine the follow-up action and how to address the citizen’s request, and provides a substantive reply according to its performance pledge. If the citizen has any opinions on the department’s reply or follow-up actions, 1823 will relay them to the department concerned for further review and action. The overall user satisfaction rating for 1823 service was 4.6 (out of five). 1823 does not maintain separate user satisfaction levels for cases involving multiple departments.
(5) 1823 offers a variety of communication channels, including telephone, mobile application, web forms, and email, to facilitate use by citizens with different needs (including persons with disabilities). In addition to providing citizens with contact centre services, 1823 also handles enquiries from businesses regarding company registration, labour laws, etc. Apart from the existing biliteral and trilingual (Cantonese, Putonghua and English) services, 1823 also collaborates with the Centre for Harmony and Enhancement of Ethnic Minority Residents to support calls in eight ethnic minority languages.
(6) 1823 has an emergency response mechanism in place and maintains close communication with various emergency departments and hotlines (such as the 999 Report Centre, the Highways Department, the Drainage Services Department, and the Civil Engineering and Development Department). For instance, when inclement weather-related emergencies occur (e.g. fallen trees, flooding, landslides and road blockages), 1823 will activate the mechanism to prioritise the handling and referral of urgent cases. In addition, 1823 will provide hotline support for major incidents upon request from departments.
The DPO will continue to actively explore technologies such as AI and will draw on the experiences of different places to continuously enhance the 1823 service.
Issued at HKT 11:40
Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity campaigns in Tai Po
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs today (July 15) conducted joint anti-illicit cigarette publicity campaigns with members of the District Council, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Housing Department (HD) at Tai Yuen Estate and Fu Heng Estate in Tai Po. Customs also publicised the Duty Stamp System.
Customs officers patrolled the housing estates, introduced to residents Customs’ enforcement actions against illicit cigarettes, and reminded them that the maximum penalty for offences related to duty-not-paid cigarettes had been increased to a fine of $2 million and seven-years’ imprisonment. Customs also explained to estate security personnel how to deal with suspected illicit cigarette activities.
Customs officers also introduced to the members of the District Council, residents and cigarette retailers the Duty Stamp System to be implemented in Hong Kong. The three-month Pilot Run for the Duty Stamp System launched by Customs concluded early this year. The department will continue to maintain close communication with all stakeholders and optimise the design and implementation details of the system. Customs expects the Duty Stamp System to achieve the ultimate goal of effective distinguishing of duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones, and to combat “cheap whites”.
Customs will continue to strengthen publicity and education to raise the public awareness of anti-illicit cigarettes. If public rental housing units are found to be involved in illicit cigarette crimes, Customs will notify the HD for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings. Customs reminds members of the public not to buy or sell illicit cigarettes or distribute illicit cigarette leaflets to avoid creating a criminal record that could affect their future.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Members of the public are urged to report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
In accordance with the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), no person shall distribute any smoking product advertisement (including any promotional leaflet). Any person who contravenes the regulation is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000. Members of the public are also urged to report any suspected activities of illicit cigarette leaflet distribution to TACO’s hotline 2961 8823.
Members of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards visit GCMTI, endorse reference standards for 16 types of commonly used Chinese Materia Medica
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Members of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards visit GCMTI, endorse reference standards for 16 types of commonly used Chinese Materia Medica
Equipped with advanced technologies and state-of-the-art equipment, the permanent GCMTI building will further enhance capabilities in developing CMs testing methods and standards, fostering comprehensive, high-quality, and high-level development of CM in Hong Kong. The GCMTI will leverage frontier testing technology and indicators, explore the feasibility of further developing HKCMMS into an international quality evaluation standard for Chinese materia medica (CMM), thereby fostering cross-regional and international trade development for CMM, bringing benefits to related CMs enterprises and the testing and certification industry.
The IAB members commended the GCMTI for conducting numerous rigorous research projects on CM based on the technical foundation of the HKCMMS project. These efforts have made a significant contribution to the scientific identification of CM, and have led to the development of several innovative testing methods. Furthermore, through technology transfer, the GCMTI has strengthened the capabilities of CM and testing industries in quality control and identification.
To date the GCMTI has completed multiple globally leading thematic projects utilising cutting-edge technologies, such as versatile testing methods for chemical markers in proprietary CM, micro-morphological identifications of CM, and the establishment of a three-dimensional image database for traceable CMM through photogrammetry, etc. The results of GCMTI projects have been uploaded to the website
Meanwhile, the 14th Meeting of the IAB on HKCMMS, organised by the DH, concluded successfully today. Experts from various countries completed a review of the safety and quality standards for 16 types of CMM, as well as an examination of the safety testing requirements for CMM.
During the two-day meeting, the IAB reviewed the standards for a total of 16 CMM, namely Bambusae Caulis in Taenias, Pyrolae Herba, Natrii Sulfas, Dichroae Radix, Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma, Cynanchi Atrati Radix et Rhizoma, Jasmini Flos, Tinosporae Caulis, Inulae Flos, Haematitum, Lasiosphaera seu Calvatia, Vespae Nidus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Aconiti Kusnezoffii Folium, Meliae Cortex and Tripterygii Wilfordii Radix. Following deliberations, the IAB selected 32 CMM as targets for the next phase of standard development.
At the meeting, the experts also reviewed the safety testing requirements for CMM, covering the maximum residue limits for heavy metals, pesticide residues, aflatoxins and sulphur dioxide. The experts are from the Chinese Mainland, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States, etc.
The GCMTI will continue to integrate into and serve the overall development of the country, promote the internationalisation and standardisation of CM through the HKCMMS, thereby further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international CM testing and quality control centre.
Issued at HKT 18:35
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HKPL introduces e-resources at book fair
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKPL introduces e-resources at book fair
The booth is located at B28 in Hall 1C on 1/F. Touchscreen displays and tablets are available for visitors to experience the online services and e-resources of the HKPL, including listening to e-audiobooks, the HKPL podcast channel “24/7 Story Pavilion”, and selected narrated articles from the “Total Wellness” e-book collection. The narrated articles form part of the online reading activity titled “Happiness with Words”, which is a collaboration with Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 5. The booth also features a designated “photo spot” where visitors can take pictures. After uploading the photos to social media and following the HKPL’s “Reading in Joyful” social media page, they can redeem souvenirs on-site, while stocks last.
Diverse e-resources are provided by the HKPL for the public to enjoy the happiness of reading and listening to books anytime, including “Jin Yong Martial Arts Novels Audio Collection”, which immerses patrons in the world of martial arts, as well as “Naxos Spoken Word Library”, which provides e-audiobooks of literature, drama, philosophy, history and more.
Readers of different ages can also read various kinds of Chinese e-books through the SUEP e-Book platform, including the novels, comics, children e-books and others in the SUEP “Hong Kong Renowned Writers” series, and the trending works recommended in the “Popular Good Reads@SUEP”. Other locally published e-book collections include “JoyReadClub”, which features works of popular authors, “Total Wellness”, which includes titles on lifestyle and health, and “Scholar World”, which provides scholarly e-books.
In addition, there are a trove of English e-books on information technology and business-related subjects in the e-book collection “O’Reilly for Public Libraries”. Readers can also search through extensive collections of journals and scholarly dissertations on business and economics in the e-database “ProQuest Business Collection”, or read e-magazines or e-books of wide-ranging subjects through “Kono Libraries”, “Flipster” and “OverDrive”. Specifically for children, the Chinese e-book collection “FunPark” enables parents to enjoy fun-filled reading time with them through its interactive interfaces and games, nurturing their reading interest and language skills.
With selections updated every quarter, the Pop-up e-Book page of the HKPL website (www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/collections/pop-up-e-book.html
The HKPL provides over 600 000 e-books and over 70 e-databases. Members of the public can log into their library accounts to read online or download them to computers and mobile devices for e-reading. Hong Kong residents who have never applied for a library card or HKPL e-account can visit the HKPL’s website to apply for an e-account to enjoy immediate access to the diverse e-resources.
Please visit the HKPL’s booth at the book fair or visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/e-resources/index.htmlIssued at HKT 18:02
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Young persons in custody sit for HKDSE Examination for self-enhancement
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The results of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination were released today (July 15). Young persons in custody (PICs) obtained satisfactory results in the examination this year.
A total of 14 young PICs from Sha Tsui Correctional Institution (STCI), Pik Uk Correctional Institution and Lai King Correctional Institution enrolled in the HKDSE Examination this year. They took a total of 83 examination papers and obtained level 2/”Attained” or above in 66 papers, or 79.5 per cent of all papers taken. Four of them met the general entrance requirements for local universities, among whom one candidate at STCI scored the highest 22 marks in the best five subjects and obtained an “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, with level 5* in Chinese Language and Tourism and Hospitality Studies.
The examinations sat included the four core subjects of Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics, and Citizenship and Social Development, as well as two electives of Economics and Tourism and Hospitality Studies.
The Superintendent of STCI, Mr Poon Ho-lam, said, “The Correctional Services Department (CSD) has been committed to providing up-to-date and diversified rehabilitation programmes, supporting PICs to turn over a new leaf. The Department assists young PICs to pursue educational courses and sit for public examinations, enabling them to achieve self-enhancement and make contributions to the society in the future.”
Mr Poon added that taking the HKDSE Examination not only enabled young PICs to regain their self-confidence, but also helped them to find a clear direction in life. He encouraged PICs to maintain a proactive and earnest attitude to determinedly meet various challenges ahead. He called on the public to give rehabilitated persons fair opportunities and accept and support their reintegration into society.
The CSD has provided education to help young PICs below 21 years of age to gain accredited qualifications and develop positive values, hoping that they can further their studies, take up employment and reintegrate into society after release.
LCQ16: Creation of a commodity trading ecosystem
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ16: Creation of a commodity trading ecosystem
Question:
The Outline of the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly states, for the first time, that it supports the creation of a commodity trading ecosystem in Hong Kong. While Hong Kong currently has 15 approved warehouses by the London Metal Exchange (LME), a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), with a total storage capacity of 25 000 tonnes, this is reportedly only one-tenth of the average storage capacity of similar warehouses in other parts of Asia. There are views suggesting that the Government should further expand the commodity market to enhance its competitiveness comprehensively. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of (i) the locations, (ii) the storage capacity and (iii) the types of metals currently stored at each of the 15 LME-approved warehouses;
(2) as it has been reported that LME permits the delivery of seven metals (copper, aluminium, zinc, lead, tin, nickel and aluminium alloys) in Hong Kong, whether the Government has compiled statistics on (i) the respective stockpiles of the aforesaid seven metals in Hong Kong; if it has, set out the relevant figures; (ii) which of these metals is the most actively delivered in Hong Kong, and the relevant details; (iii) whether the Government will co-ordinate further with HKEX and LME to regularly publish commodity storage and trading data to help the industry accurately gauge market demand and developments in the industrial chain;
(3) as it has been reported that LME may approve the establishment of warehouses at any location within Hong Kong, not limited to sites near the port, whether the Government will proactively identify and plan for the use of more non-port land for storing commodities; whether the Government is aware of the specific requirements for warehousing facilities, including security, floor space, and transport and logistics infrastructure; if so, of the details;
(4) given the extremely high demands placed on warehouse loading capacity by commodities (particularly non-ferrous metals), and the current restrictions on land use, whether the Government will remove barriers to the provision of land for commodity warehouses, relax lease conditions, and streamline the approval process;
(5) as it has been reported that the authorities plan to earmark approximately 32 hectares of land south of the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park for the development of a modern logistics cluster, and this land may also be considered for use as commodities warehouses, whether the authorities will set phased targets for establishing commodities warehouses in the Northern Metropolis and assisting the industry in expanding other high-value precious metals businesses (such as silver and platinum); and
(6) of the progress of the Government’s efforts to attract relevant leading enterprises engaged in commodities (such as state-owned enterprises and central enterprises, as well as international metal industry giants) to establish their headquarters or offices in Hong Kong; and the specific measures the authorities have put in place to support and assist warehouse operators?
Reply:
President,
The Outline of the National 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Hong Kong in developing a commodity trading ecosystem. As an international financial, trade and shipping centre, Hong Kong will leverage its unique advantages of connecting the Chinese Mainland and the world under “one country, two systems” and proactively align with the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan to develop an efficient and internationally competitive commodity trading ecosystem, seizing the opportunities arising from our country being the largest consumer of industrial metals in the world.
In consultation with the Development Bureau (DEVB), the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the reply to the six parts of the question is as follows:
(1) and (2) Since January 2025, the London Metal Exchange (LME), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HKEX, has included Hong Kong as an LME-approved delivery location and begun accepting applications from warehouse operators. As of end-June 2026, a total warehousing area of over 52 000 square metres has commenced operation in Hong Kong, with storage exceeding 24 000 tonnes. The locations, total storage areas, and types of metals permitted for storage across the 18 approved warehouses are set out in Annex.
Among the seven types of metals currently permitted by the LME for delivery in Hong Kong, copper and zinc are the most actively traded in terms of physical delivery. Their inventory levels in Hong Kong stand at 10 700 tonnes and 8 650 tonnes, accounting for 44 per cent and 35 per cent of the total storage respectively.
In accordance with international market practice, the LME publishes daily to the global market, through its official channels and designated financial information platforms, detailed inventory reports and trading data, including specific warrant and data categorised by delivery location (including Hong Kong) and metal type, enabling the industry and market participants to monitor physical metal dynamics and supply chain trends in Hong Kong and global markets. The Government and HKEX will continue to maintain close communication with the LME to ensure the transparent flow of relevant market information, thereby assisting the commodity industry in capitalising the development opportunities.
(3) to (5) The Government is leveraging the development of an international gold trading market as an entry point to develop a commodity trading ecosystem. Relevant efforts have yielded phased achievements, including the commencement of the trial operation of the central clearing and settlement system for gold in July this year. The Airport Authority Hong Kong has also launched a thousand-tonne-class warehousing facility project. At the same time, several private institutions (including banks) are actively expanding their storage capacity. Building on the foundation of strengthening our advantages in the gold trading market, we will progressively extend the relevant trading and warehousing infrastructure experience to other precious metals businesses, with a view to establishing a complete a commodity industry chain.
With the continuous development of the commodity trading ecosystem, we anticipate that the demand for relevant warehousing facilities and logistics land will continue to rise. Adopting an industry-led planning approach, the Government has reserved industry land including those for industrial, logistics, and storage uses across various New Development Areas (NDAs) in the Northern Metropolis, which can satisfy the demand for commodity warehousing land. For example, to meet the logistics sector’s demand for land, the Government has reserved 32 hectares of land in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen NDA within the Northern Metropolis for the development of a modern logistics cluster. The Government plans to invite expressions of interest within this year from the logistics industry (including operators interested in developing commodity warehousing facilities in Hong Kong) for the first parcel of land within the cluster, thereby enabling the Government to formulate a development model that meets with industry needs.
As another example, the permissible land uses of the 23-hectare Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park have been widened to encompass various industries, and can accommodate the development of commodity warehouses or ancillary facilities, and the statutory plot ratio restrictions have been removed to afford greater development flexibility. The Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company Limited has commenced operations and is formulating concrete development plans and approaching enterprises that might be keen to establish their operations in the Industry Park with a view to accelerating industry introduction. In addition, the Northern Metropolis Development Bill, which was introduced into the Legislative Council for First Reading on July 8 this year, will facilitate the planning and construction of commodity warehouses or ancillary facilities. This includes facilitating the adoption of innovative designs, materials, and construction techniques in relevant projects, or enhancing the quality, functionality, or sustainability of their design and construction. Should rezoning be required to accommodate commodity trading, streamlined town planning procedures can be applied, effectively shortening the processing time from at least nine months to two months. The DEVB has also introduced administrative measures to facilitate industry development, setting time limits for critical approval processes and strengthening internal monitoring and co-ordination. These measures will accelerate the approval and construction of industry structures.
(6) The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), in collaboration with the OASES and InvestHK, has been promoting Hong Kong’s strategic direction and specific measures for developing a commodity trading ecosystem through various meetings, visits and major events (such as industry conferences, exhibitions, and seminars) to attract relevant leading enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong. With the support of InvestHK, a number of commodity warehousing and logistics companies have established delivery warehouses for the LME and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in Hong Kong, actively integrating into the city’s commodity ecosystem.
In selecting suitable sites for the warehouses, the operators have to hold in-depth discussions with the relevant warehousing industry players and landowners, which mainly involve the circumstances of individual facilities (such as loading capacity and infrastructure requirements) and other business considerations. In the course of discussion, technical issues involving planning permissions, lease conditions, etc, may also arise. The FSTB, in collaboration with relevant bureaux and departments, has been maintaining communication with relevant industry players, and held meetings to provide relevant information and guidance.
Issued at HKT 12:30
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Hongkong Post to issue “Biodiversity II” special stamps
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hongkong Post to issue “Biodiversity II” special stamps
Located in a subtropical region, Hong Kong enjoys notable geographical features – mountainous terrain and extensive coastline – and distinct seasons. They together nurture a rich variety of natural habitats, providing homes for a wide range of flora and fauna. Hong Kong’s abundant biodiversity not only stems from its unique natural environment but also relies on relentless conservation efforts from all walks of life. Following the release of the “Biodiversity” special stamps in 2010, Hongkong Post will issue a set of four stamps on the theme of “Biodiversity II” to showcase the city’s distinctive biodiversity, with a view to raising the public’s awareness of ecological conservation and inspiring their collaboration in protecting Hong Kong’s natural treasures.
Official first day covers for “Biodiversity II” will be on sale at all post offices and on Hongkong Post’s online shopping platform ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk
A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on July 30 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.
Information about this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hkIssued at HKT 12:28
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