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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Passing, jumping and shooting. Anticipating, catching and counter-attacking. In a flash of lightning-fast movement, players surge across the court in a high-octane battle of reflexes, trading plays around neutral rebound frames where every second counts.

Known as the “gentleman’s sport”, tchoukball is rapidly capturing attention across Hong Kong with its unique blend of relentless pace and strict no-contact rules.

Behind this growing sporting phenomenon, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has made its funding scheme for new sports a permanent initiative, ensuring sustained support for organisations promoting emerging sports across Hong Kong.

Unique gameplay

Unlike conventional ball games, tchoukball teams share neutral rebound frames at both ends of the court, meaning either target can be attacked.

To score, players hurl the ball at a frame; it must rebound outside the “forbidden zone” and hit the court before a defender catches it. A caught rebound instantly sparks a counter-attack, which can be at either end of the court.

With no pass interceptions, shot-blocking or physical contact allowed, this strict code of fair play keeps action clean, earning tchoukball its reputation as a gentleman’s sport.

Teamwork focus

For player Thomas Lui, who first encountered the sport during a physical education lesson at primary school, tchoukball’s magic lies in its unique rules and absolute demand for collective trust.

During an attack, rules restrict a player from holding the ball for more than three seconds and taking more than three steps. A team is also allowed a maximum of three passes before taking a shot.

“We cannot dribble when we attack, and defenders cannot obstruct their opponents,” Mr Lui explained.

For him, the sport’s greatest appeal lies in its emphasis on teamwork.

Winning requires more than just one star player. Everyone has to pull their weight and trust that their teammates will deliver.

“This naturally creates a cohesive and supportive environment,” Mr Lui said.

Financial backing

To support the development of emerging sports, the LCSD launched the Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports in 2021, providing eligible sports organisations with funding on an individual project basis to promote new sports.

Following positive results, the initiative was regularised starting from 2025-26.

Among the beneficiaries is the Tchoukball Association of Hong Kong, China, which received about $100,000 in funding for the 2026-27 term.

Association committee member Chen Shut said the funding will mainly support promotional training courses and two major local showcases: the Inter-school Tchoukball Competition and the Hong Kong Tchoukball League.

“The resources provided under the scheme allow the league to be organised more systematically, as part of the venue rental costs can be subsidised,” Ms Chen said.

Following the scheme’s regularisation, the association is also exploring sustainable promotional initiatives, including inter-district training courses.

“The funding provides more opportunities for Hong Kong citizens to experience new sports,” she said. “At the same time, it allows us to promote tchoukball and make the sport more widely known.”

Broad growth

LCSD figures show that 23 sports organisations received funding in 2025-26 following the scheme’s regularisation, with that figure rising to 28 in 2026-27.

Financial support has also grown from the pilot stage.

LCSD Leisure Manager (Sports Funding) Jasmine Choi noted that the funding ceiling for each successful organisation rose from $180,000 in 2024-25 to $200,000 in 2025-26.

The department will continue to earmark $5 million annually to back eligible sports bodies on an individual project basis.

“Through the Subvention Scheme for New Sports, the department hopes to provide sustained support for sports organisations committed to developing and promoting new sports in Hong Kong,” Ms Choi said.

“We also wish to give members of the public more opportunities to learn about and try different new sports, broaden their choices in sports participation and ultimately encourage more people to exercise regularly and lead an active lifestyle.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan concluded his visit to Bangkok, Thailand this morning after meeting with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

During the meeting in the morning, Mr Chan and  Ekniti Nitithanprapas exchanged views on further strengthening economic, trade and financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Thailand.

The two sides explored ways to deepen co-operation and connect foreign direct investment in Thailand with Hong Kong’s capital market to further support enterprises investing and expanding their businesses in Thailand.

Mr Chan said that Hong Kong could leverage its strengths as an international financial centre to provide comprehensive investment and financing support for enterprises in Thailand. Hong Kong also welcomed closer regulatory co-operation between the two securities markets to encourage dual listings by enterprises from both places and strengthen capital market ties.

He added that with Mainland enterprises accelerating their international expansion and increasing investment in Thailand and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong could further enhance its bridging role by matching the Mainland’s technological strengths with Thailand’s industrial development needs, thereby fostering investment and industrial co-operation.

Mr Chan thanked Mr Ekniti for visiting Hong Kong to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers’ Meeting, and invited him to attend the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong in January next year to further strengthen economic, trade and financial ties between the two places and across the region, and jointly explore new opportunities for co-operation.

The Financial Secretary also met with the chief executive officer and senior management of a major French bank with extensive operations in Hong Kong this morning.

They exchanged views on developments in the fixed income and currency markets in Hong Kong and the region, green and sustainable finance, tokenised financial products, and asset and wealth management.

Mr Chan welcomed the group’s continued expansion in Hong Kong and its use of the city as a key hub for developing its regional business, tapping into the opportunities offered by Hong Kong as an international financial centre.

Having concluded his morning programme, Mr Chan departed for Hong Kong and returned this afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Hong Kong Customs mounted a special operation yesterday (October 15) in Tuen Mun to combat processing workshops and storages of suspected counterfeit hard disks, and seized about 6 800 items of suspected counterfeit hard disks with a total estimated market value of about $50 million. Six persons were arrested.

After an in-depth investigation by Customs officers and with the assistance of trademark owners, Customs took special operation yesterday and raided five industrial units in Tuen Mun. Five men and one woman were arrested, including five Mainland persons and one local person aged between 31 and 59. Large batches of suspected counterfeit hard disks, packaging materials and tools were seized.

In addition, Customs seized approximately 20 000 second-hand hard disks suspected of awaiting processing in the industrial units. It is believed that the arrested persons first purchased large quantities of second-hand hard disks and used items such as adhesive removers to remove the original labels from the second-hand hard disks. They then used specialised hard disk electronic equipment to format the hard disks, and affixed labels of various major brands, sealed them in anti-static bags, and offered them for sale.

The arrested persons have been detained for investigation. The investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat the sale of different kinds of counterfeit goods.

Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should also be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who forges a trademark, sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to six to nine months’ imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (October 16) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming Mainland male passenger, aged 40, and two incoming Mainland female passengers, aged 42 and 38, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 15) and seized 146 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 6 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $680,000 and a duty potential of about $480,000, from their personal baggage. The three passengers were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to Bangkok, Thailand, today (October 16). As a member of the Chinese delegation, he attended the plenary session of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group (WBG). He also took part in discussions organised by financial media and a think tank, met with senior executives of international financial institutions and enterprises, and hosted a dinner for financial sector leaders to highlight Hong Kong’s development opportunities and promote financial and investment co-operation.

At a fireside chat organised by Bloomberg, Mr Chan outlined how Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, providing clear development directions and goals for the public and businesses. He said that Hong Kong would focus on developing the “four centres and one hub”, reinforcing and enhancing its status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre. Hong Kong would also leverage its strengths and work in tandem with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to advance its development as an innovation and technology (I&T) centre.

Mr Chan stressed that financial development must serve the real economy. Hong Kong would deepen its “Finance+” strategy to empower different industries, support enterprises in upgrading and transformation, and provide venture capital, patient capital and long-term funding for I&T to accelerate the development of emerging industries. Hong Kong would also continue to broaden its financial products and services, develop commodities trading, enhance its listing regime and further facilitate financing for technology enterprises. To meet the needs of Mainland enterprises expanding overseas and reorganising their production and supply chains, Hong Kong would provide comprehensive support covering logistics, supply chain management, trade finance, risk management and professional services. The Government would also proactively address enterprises’ needs through cross-departmental collaboration.

He said that Hong Kong’s international character is a core strength that must be continuously reinforced and enhanced. While strengthening ties with mature markets such as Europe and the United States and attracting international capital, Hong Kong would deepen co-operation with emerging markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia. It would open up two-way investment opportunities by bringing together capital and industries to meet development needs across these markets. Beyond promoting business and trade exchanges, Hong Kong would leverage its financial and professional services strengths, including green and sustainable finance and trade finance, to support infrastructure, supply chain and industrial development in the region, growing together with its regional partners.

On offshore Renminbi business, Hong Kong is expanding its range of investment products, enhancing custody and collateral management infrastructure, and increasing liquidity to add depth and breadth to the market. Hong Kong would also develop gold storage, clearing and settlement services and related financial products, and explore closer connectivity with the Mainland gold market. These efforts would build a more comprehensive gold trading ecosystem and offer international investors more choices.

Mr Chan said that “one country, two systems” provides Hong Kong with an institutional advantage for its long-term development, while talent is a key driving force for its future growth. Hong Kong would remain free, open, diverse and inclusive, welcoming enterprises and talent from around the world to establish and pursue careers in the city, as well as young people to study here, and encouraging them to become part of its future. Hong Kong would continue to attract international talent, promote exchanges across regions and cultures, and further strengthen its role in connecting the Mainland with the world.

Mr Chan also took part in a broadcast fireside chat hosted by the Atlantic Council, a US think tank. He outlined the latest developments in Hong Kong’s financial markets and how its first five-year plan would advance I&T, promote the integrated development of education, technology, talent and industries in the Northern Metropolis, and deepen co-operation with other GBA cities in I&T industries. On digital assets, he said that Hong Kong embraces financial innovation with an open mind. With equal emphasis on regulation and development, Hong Kong would take a prudent and measured approach to developing areas such as digital asset exchanges and stablecoins to better serve the real economy.

Mr Chan also met with the Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the WBG, Mr Zhang Wencai, today. They exchanged views on the global and regional economic outlook and deepening co-operation between Hong Kong and the WBG. Mr Chan said that Hong Kong could combine its strengths in capital markets and professional services with the project experiences and networks of multilateral development institutions to channel more private market capital and philanthropic funding into infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the region. A range of financial instruments could also be used to enhance project financing and risk management.

Mr Chan also met with the management of a major European digital bank to discuss fintech development, digital banking services and cross-boundary payments, and outlined opportunities in Hong Kong’s financial markets. He welcomed the bank to establish a presence in Hong Kong and leverage the city’s vibrant financial services ecosystem, well-established financial infrastructure, professional talent and international networks to explore innovative financial services and expand its regional business.

In the evening, Mr Chan attended a dinner organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, where he met with senior executives of major Thai banks and other financial institutions. He shared the latest developments in Hong Kong’s economy and financial services sector and explored opportunities to further strengthen financial co-operation between the two places.

Mr Chan will continue his visit to Bangkok tomorrow morning (October 17) before departing for Hong Kong, arriving in the afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region