Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Frankie Yick and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
Question:
It has been reported that from time to time, the Police conduct enforcement actions against specific vehicles to combat offences under the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374A). However, some commercial vehicle drivers have indicated that the Police’s enforcement actions in recent years have been too stringent (e.g. vehicles which have just passed the annual examination of the Transport Department are still subject to the issuance of vehicle examination orders or towed away for examination), thus affecting the normal operation of the trade and the livelihood of drivers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the following information on the enforcement actions taken by the Police against various types of commercial vehicles in contravention of Cap. 374A in the past two years: the number of such actions, the number of days, the locations and the police resources involved;
(2) of the following information on the offences involving contravention of Cap. 374A in each of the past two years: (i) the number of vehicle examination orders issued, (ii) the number of vehicles towed away for examination and (iii) the number of vehicles which were not found to have contravened the regulations after examination, and set out in the table below a breakdown by vehicle class (i.e. (a) taxi, (b) public light bus, (c) student service vehicle, (d) tourist coach and (e) goods vehicle);
Vehicle class
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
2023
2024
2023
2024
2023
2024
(a)
……
(e)
(3) of the most commonly contravened offences under Cap. 374A in the past two years; whether the authorities will step up publicity and education efforts targeting at offences relating to Cap. 374A, so as to ensure road safety; and
(4) as there are views that the Police’s enforcement actions in respect of traffic offences and contraventions “take the easy way out”, focusing only on unlawful acts relating to the construction of vehicles but neglecting the harm brought about by vehicles used for illegal carriage of passengers for reward (commonly known as “white licence cars”), whether the authorities will step up enforcement actions against white licence cars; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In respect of the questions about traffic enforcement raised by the Hon Frankie Yick, having consulted the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Transport Department (TD), my reply is as follows:
(1) Taking enforcement action against contraventions of the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374A) is a regular duty of the HKPF. The HKPF does not keep a breakdown of the statistics being enquired.
(2) and (3) The HKPF takes enforcement actions against vehicles which do not comply with the requirements of the Regulations or are unfit for use on road from time to time, including requiring the vehicles concerned to undergo examination to ensure road safety. The vehicle examination dates specified in the vehicle examination orders issued by the TD are normally set at three weeks after the date of issue to allow sufficient time for the vehicle owners to rectify the situation.
The number of vehicles detained and examined by the HKPF for suspected non-compliance with the Regulations or being unfit for road use, the number of vehicle examination orders issued by the TD in respect of referrals made by the HKPF (excluding those which were towed away by the HKPF for examination), and the number of such vehicles which have passed the examination on the first time in the past two years are set out at the Annex. The HKPF does not keep statistics on the most commonly contravened offences under the Regulations.
Based on the number of licensed vehicles in Hong Kong in 2023 and 2024, the number of vehicles detained and inspected by the HKPF (including all types of vehicles such as private cars and commercial vehicles) only accounted for 0.3 per cent of the licensed vehicles. As regards the number of vehicle examination orders issued by the TD in response to the HKPF’s referrals, the number of taxi, light buses, buses and goods vehicles issued with examination orders only accounted for 0 per cent to 0.5 per cent of the licensed vehicles of the respective types. Most of the taxis and light buses subject to examination were able to pass the inspection on the first time.
(4) The Government has been paying close attention to the use of vehicles for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. In taking traffic enforcement actions, apart from following the established guidelines, the HKPF will also consider each case on its own merits and deploy resources flexibly to take appropriate regulatory and enforcement actions. The HKPF has been taking targeted enforcement actions and gathering intelligence through various channels, with a view to combating illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. Where sufficient evidence is found indicating that a vehicle without a valid hire car permit is suspected to be used for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, enforcement actions will be taken accordingly.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ14: Immigration clearance service at Hong Kong International Airport It has been reported that passenger throughput at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) reached 53.1 million last year, representing an increase of more than 30 per cent compared to 2023. However, it is learnt that many overseas visitors have to wait for a long time before they could complete immigration clearance procedures at HKIA, which has adversely affected the reputation of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the annual number of inbound and outbound passenger trips at the HKIA control point in the past three years, their average waiting time for immigration clearance (including for those using the Automated Passenger Clearance System (e-Channel) service), and the proportion of cases where the waiting time exceeded the standard of the Immigration Department’s performance pledge;
(2) whether it has conducted a survey on the specific difference in the average time taken to clear visitors between HKIA and other major international airports, including those in Japan, Korea, Thailand and Singapore; if not, whether it has plans to conduct such a survey with a view to improving the standard of Hong Kong’s immigration clearance service; and
(3) of the total annual number of visitors who used the e-Channel service at HKIA in the past three years, with a breakdown by the country and place of origin; whether it has plans to consider adjusting the eligibility criteria for visitors to register for the e-Channel service (e.g. lowering the requirement for the number of visits to Hong Kong by a visitor), thereby broadening the coverage of the service; whether it will allow visitors to opt to use facial recognition technology for self-service immigration clearance so that more visitors who meet the basic eligibility criteria can enjoy the convenience of the automated immigration clearance service; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In 2024, a total of around 298 million passengers passed through Hong Kong’s control points, representing an increase of about 41 per cent over 2023 and a return to the level in 2019. The total number of visitor arrivals was about 44.5 million, representing an increase of about 31 per cent compared to 2023. Among them, around 9.86 million visitors travelled through the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) control point, representing an increase of about 42 per cent over 2023. In response to the significant volume of passenger traffic and adhering to the spirit of striving for excellence and innovation, the Immigration Department (ImmD) keeps leveraging innovative technologies to continuously improve its immigration clearance services. Various facilitation measures have been implemented at control points in order to provide visitors with a more convenient clearance experience.
The reply to the Hon Rock Chen’s question is as follows:
(1) In the past three years, the annual number of inbound and outbound passenger trips at the HKIA control point was as follows:
Year Regarding the clearance services at the HKIA control point, the ImmD pledges to clear 95 per cent of visitors within a 15-minute waiting time. Over the past three years, an average of over 99 per cent of visitors were cleared within a 15-minute waiting time each year. During peak passenger traffic periods at the HKIA, the ImmD would flexibly deploy manpower and optimise workflows, including operating additional counters and e-Channels when necessary, to ensure smooth passenger flow.
(2) According to the open information from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, in December 2024, the rate at which the major airports in Japan (including New Chitose Airport, Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, Chubu Airport, Kansai Airport, Fukuoka Airport and Naha Airport) cleared inbound visitors within 20 minutes was 66 per cent. As for other major international airports mentioned in the question (i.e. those in Korea, Thailand and Singapore), the respective authorities have not disclosed data on the average immigration waiting time. Meanwhile, in a recent World Passenger Survey commissioned by Skytrax, an international specialist research agent in the air transport industry, the ImmD won the 2025 Skytrax Award for Best Airport Immigration Service. This marks another accomplishment of the ImmD following previous awards in 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020, reflecting the global recognition of the services provided by the ImmD. The ImmD will continue to maintain close ties with immigration authorities worldwide, engaging in exchanges and sharing, as well as learning from their experiences and practices, with a view to introducing further visitor-friendly measures to enhance the level of clearance facilitation, thereby supporting the overall development of Hong Kong.
(3) In the past three years, the annual number of inbound and outbound passenger trips using the e-Channel service at the HKIA control point was as follows:
Year The ImmD does not maintain a breakdown of other visitors by country or place of origin.
To enhance the level of convenience for immigration clearance, the ImmD has been leveraging innovative technologies to boost the efficiency of e-Channels and broaden the service to cover more target groups.
Currently, frequent visitors to Hong Kong (typically those who have made visits to Hong Kong via the HKIA for no fewer than three times in the past 12 months) and eligible passport holders from countries that have entered into an agreement with Hong Kong for mutual use of automated clearance services (including Korea, Singapore, Germany, Australia and Thailand) can enrol for the e-Channel service. Eligible visitors to Hong Kong holding Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Travel Passes, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards or Frequent Flyer Programme membership cards issued by relevant airlines can even enrol for the e-Channel service right upon their first arrival in Hong Kong. In addition, the ImmD launched the Smart Departure e-Channels in October 2017 which utilise facial recognition technology to verify visitors’ identities, thereby enabling eligible visitors from over 100 locations to complete self-service departure clearance without prior enrolment. Also, the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons has been launched since March 18, 2025 to provide automated clearance services for invited persons from the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
For visitors from the Mainland and Macao, the ImmD lowered the eligible age from 16 to 11 years old or above for holders of the Mainland’s electronic Exit-Entry Permits for travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao to use the e-Channel service in April 2023. The ImmD also launched the “Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR and Macao SAR Clearance Service” jointly with the Macao authorities in July last year, allowing eligible residents of both places to use QR Codes to pass through the automated clearance channels.
To further reduce waiting time for inbound visitors, the ImmD is actively exploring ways to enhance the e-Channel service arrangements for visitors to Hong Kong, including relaxing application requirements for frequent visitors to Hong Kong and streamlining enrolment procedures. The ImmD will also step up publicity to boost the e-Channel service enrolment rate among visitors. Additionally, the ImmD and the Airport Authority Hong Kong are exploring the feasibility of installing additional e-Channels in the HKIA arrivals hall to cater for the trend that more visitors will use automated clearance service and the increase in demand in the longer term. Taking into account the practical and unique operational needs of immigration clearance at the HKIA, the ImmD is also looking into other measures, such as optimising staff deployment, to flexibly meet service demands while ensuring quality and efficiency of service.
The ImmD will regularly review existing policies and measures, striving to balance effective immigration control with facilitating inbound visitors. Furthermore, the ImmD will continuously strive for innovation in enhancing clearance efficiency as well as broadening the e-Channel service to cover more target groups. Issued at HKT 11:58
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Public welcome to watch 15th National Games Beach Volleyball test event Nine men’s teams and eight women’s teams will participate in the three-day test event. In both the men’s and women’s tournaments, participating teams will be divided into two groups with each playing a single round robin before they reach the knockout stage. There will be two sessions on the first day, which are from 9.30am to 2.30pm, and from 4pm to 8.30pm. For the other two days, matches will be held from noon to 8.30pm on the second day and from noon to 8pm on the last day.
The test event is organised by the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) and co-organised by the Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China, with the China Volleyball Association as advisor. Tickets have been distributed to the public through the Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China. Those who possess a ticket will undergo a security check at the public entrance located at a soccer pitch of Victoria Park and watch the event in the public viewing area. The public entrance is accessible from MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit E via Great George Street (please refer to the annex for the location). A small number of tickets have been reserved for distribution on-site. Members of the public who are interested may obtain a ticket at the public entrance for admission while stocks last.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Siu-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
Question:
It is learnt that there are different organisations in Hong Kong (e.g. research and development centres, research institutes and statutory bodies) which are responsible for promoting and co-ordinating the development of innovation and technology (I&T), and among them, some are wholly owned by or established with funding support from the Government, while some others are established as independent legal entities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the following information on the aforesaid organisations, which are wholly owned by, established or operated with funding support from the Government, and statutory bodies (such as the Cyberport and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation) (including the existing ones and those under formation): (i) objectives of the organisations, (ii) positioning of the organisations, and (iii) their responsibilities, together with a breakdown by their respective sectors (i.e. upstream, midstream and downstream) in the I&T ecosystem;
(2) whether it has examined if the organisations mentioned in (1) have overlapping or similar functions; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) whether it will adopt a “zero-based mindset” (i.e. a mindset of getting rid of the existing framework and thinking from scratch) in planning afresh the resources currently allocated to I&T development, such as by reorganising or merging organisations with similar functions, so as to better dovetail with the development strategies put forward in the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint?
Reply:
President,
The consolidated reply in response to the questions raised by the Hon Chan Siu-hung is as follows:
Infrastructure is the cornerstone of innovation and technology (I&T) development, while the foundation of such development is research and development (R&D). In the past years, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has devoted substantial resources to implement a series of infrastructural projects and established various R&D institutes and platforms, with a view to enhancing our local I&T ecosystem continuously. Such organisations include the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), Cyberport, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the R&D Centres under the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC).
Established in 2001, the HKSTPC is a statutory body wholly owned by the Government. As an I&T flagship in Hong Kong, the HKSTPC is committed to providing infrastructure facilities, incubation programmes and one-stop support services for I&T enterprises, thereby promoting the development of a comprehensive I&T ecological chain encompassing the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors in Hong Kong. The HKSTPC is responsible for managing and operating the Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, the InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong, and the three InnoParks in Tai Po, Yuen Long and Tseung Kwan O, supporting around 1 700 enterprises, covering various technology areas including biomedical technology, electronics, green technology, information and communications technology, and material and precision engineering.
Cyberport, a company wholly-owned by the Government, has been in operation since 2004. As Hong Kong’s digital technology flagship, Cyberport comprises more than 2 200 enterprises including over 900 onsite companies and nine Hong Kong unicorns, covering areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, smart living, financial technology and blockchain. It endeavours to promote the development of the digital technology ecosystem in Hong Kong through a series of incubation programmes and support measures targeting the development needs of digital technology start-ups at different stages. Cyberport also supports R&D and application projects of different I&T institutes and companies through its digital and computing power facilities including the AI Supercomputing Centre.
As for the HKPC which was established in 1967, it is a statutory organisation dedicated to promoting the productivity excellence of Hong Kong’s enterprises through advanced technologies and innovative services. The HKPC has set out development priorities focusing on, among other areas, “Intelligent Manufacturing”, “New Industrialisation – Made in Hong Kong”, “Smart and Green Living” and “FutureSkills”, to serve small and medium enterprises and start-ups and promote commercialisation in the downstream.
Meanwhile, the R&D Centres under the ITC (including the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre and the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI)) have been taking forward industry-driven applied R&D work that suits market needs and transferring technologies to the industries through contract researches, licensing arrangements, etc, to commercialise their R&D outcomes.
To expedite Hong Kong’s progress of developing into an international I&T centre, the current-term Government announced the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint (Blueprint) in end-2022. The Blueprint provides a systematic strategic plan to promote the development of I&T in Hong Kong. Alongside consolidating our strengths in upstream basic R&D, the mid-to-downstream transformation and commercialisation of the R&D outcomes would also be strengthened, with a view to further enhancing our I&T ecosystem and accelerating the development of Hong Kong’s new real economy. In the past two years or so, following the development directions and strategies set out in the Blueprint, the current-term Government has been making meticulous preparation in policy formulation and resource allocation. Layout of Hong Kong’s I&T system’s structural framework has been set, which is crucial to pooling international I&T resources and talents. The objective is to promote the innovation and diversification of industries through I&T to achieve Hong Kong’s high-quality development.
On the basis of the two existing major I&T parks, the HKSAR Government is taking forward the construction of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (the Hong Kong Park) with enhanced speed and efficiency. The Hong Kong Park is developed in two phases from west to east, and focuses on the development of frontier technological fields, such as life and health technology, AI and data science, as well as new technologies and advanced manufacturing. It mainly engages in R&D, pilot production and small-scale production. Batch 1 of Phase 1 of the Hong Kong Park comprises eight buildings. The first three buildings are all about to complete and the Hong Kong Park will officially enter into its operational phase later this year. The Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park Limited, vested with the responsibility to build the superstructure of, as well as to operate, maintain and manage the Hong Kong Park, is pressing ahead with the work on attracting tenants as well as the construction of the other five buildings. With the official opening of the Hong Kong Park this year, the “north, central, south” layout plan for the three major I&T parks in Hong Kong will essentially be realised. For the Hong Kong Park to the north of Hong Kong, which connects to Shenzhen in the north and the San Tin Technopole in the south, it will become a key hub for R&D as well as pilot production and transformation in Hong Kong in future. The Science Park in the central part of Hong Kong will continue to support the R&D of deep technology and nurture more local technology start-ups. As for Cyberport to the south of Hong Kong, it will continue to focus on promoting the development of the local digital technology and AI ecosystem, as well as incubating more relevant start-ups and talents.
Besides, taking into account the technological development and in line with the development strategies set out in the Blueprint, we will restructure the overall layout of Hong Kong’s public research institutes with a focus on frontier technological fields at the forefront of the country’s and Hong Kong’s development priorities, including life and health technology, AI and robotics and microelectronics technology. Apart from incorporating the Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre into the HKPC earlier and our plans to merge the ASTRI and the NAMI, we established the Hong Kong Microelectronics R&D Institute last year to provide targeted support for the R&D of third-generation semiconductor core technology. We are also pressing ahead at full steam to set up two third-generation semiconductor pilot lines (Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN)), striving to put them into operation next year to promote the transformation of R&D outcomes and industry development.
In addition, the HKSAR Government has already allocated $6 billion from the $10 billion earmarked for the promotion of life and health technology to launch the Subsidy Programme for the Setup of Life and Health Technology Research Institute(s) (the Subsidy Programme), thereby supporting local universities to set up life and health technology research institute(s). Institutions have been invited to submit proposals for the Subsidy Programme to foster cross university/institutional and multi-disciplinary collaboration.
Furthermore, the 2025-26 Budget announced that $1 billion has been set aside for the establishment of the Hong Kong AI R&D Institute (AIRDI), which will spearhead and support Hong Kong’s innovative R&D and industry applications of AI, facilitating upstream R&D, midstream and downstream transformation of R&D outcomes, and expanding application scenarios. The Digital Policy Office is formulating a detailed plan for the establishment of AIRDI, including drawing up its public mission, implementation strategy and work objectives.
We believe that, upon establishing the new I&T system with three major I&T parks and five key R&D institutes, it will create an important platform and more favourable conditions to attract international I&T resources and talents to Hong Kong, providing key support to Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
With the approach of the Easter holidays, the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui, today (April 16) appealed to members of the public who intend to travel to stay alert to the situation of infectious diseases at their destinations and to prevent various infectious diseases, in particular measles, dengue fever (DF) and norovirus infection.
Measles
Recently, the number of measles cases in some overseas countries has been increasing. The outbreaks in North America (including the United States and Canada), Europe and neighbouring areas (including Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines) are ongoing due to the relatively low vaccination rate. Furthermore, an increasing number of measles cases have also been recorded in Japan and Australia this year. Overseas cases mainly affected people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. This shows the importance of maintaining a high vaccination rate and herd immunity within the community.
Vaccination is the safest and most effective preventive measure against measles. For those who plan to travel to measles-endemic areas, they should check their vaccination records and medical history as early as possible. If they have not been diagnosed with measles through laboratory tests and have never received two doses of the measles vaccine or are not sure if they have received the measles vaccine, they should consult a doctor at least two weeks prior to their trip for vaccination. Healthy people in general can enjoy long-term, even lifelong protection after receiving the measles vaccination as recommended. Two doses of the measles-containing vaccine can confer protection of up to 97 per cent.
The incubation period of measles is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If such symptoms appear after returning from measles-endemic areas, people should wear surgical masks, stay home from work or school, avoid crowded places and contact with unvaccinated people, especially those with weak immune systems, pregnant women and children under 1 year old, and should consult their doctors as soon as possible.
Dengue fever
During their travels, members of the public are urged to stay vigilant against mosquito-borne diseases, including DF, Japanese encephalitis, zika virus infection, and malaria, with DF being a particular concern, and to carry out stringent anti-mosquito measures. In 2024, the World Health Organization recorded over 14 million cases of DF, which was a record number of cases. Some popular travel destinations for Hong Kong citizens, such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, are also endemic areas for DF.
​
Members of the public should follow these anti-mosquito measures when travelling to areas affected by DF to reduce the chance of acquiring mosquito-borne diseases during travels and spreading the diseases to others through mosquitoes:
Wear loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved tops and trousers;
Use DEET-containing insect repellent on exposed parts of the body and clothing. For details about the use of insect repellents and key points to be observed, please refer to Tips for using insect repellents;
When engaging in outdoor activities, avoid using fragrant cosmetics or skincare products, reapply insect repellents according to instructions, and apply insect repellents after sunscreen if both are used; and
Apply insect repellent for 14 days upon returning to Hong Kong from areas affected by DF.
Norovirus infection
Norovirus is more active in winter, and the virus can be transmitted through various means, such as eating contaminated food, contacting with the vomit or excreta of infected persons, and touching contaminated objects. It may lead to an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE). With the current AGE activities in popular travel destinations for Hong Kong citizens, such as Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, being higher than during the same period last year, and with temperatures in some areas remaining low, members of the public are still at risk of infection during travels.
Norovirus is also a common cause of food poisoning and is often related to consumption of undercooked or raw shellfish. Therefore, the following points on food safety should be observed during travels:
Patronise reliable and licensed restaurants;
Avoid raw food or undercooked food, especially raw seafood or meat;
Be careful in choosing cold cuts, including sashimi, sushi and oysters in buffets;
When having hotpots or barbecuing, make sure the food is thoroughly cooked before eating;
Drink boiled water; and
Wash hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water before eating and after using the toilet.
Dr Tsui reminded returned travellers to consult a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms such as fever, respiratory symptoms, rash or gastroenteritis symptoms, and to inform the doctor of their travel history for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
“The CHP will continue to monitor the situation of infectious diseases locally and abroad and provide timely updates to members of the public to keep them informed about the development of infectious diseases and help them prepare for precautionary measures,” Dr Tsui said.
The public may visit the DH’s Travel Health Service webpage for the latest information on infectious disease outbreaks in various parts of the world and the preventive measures.
The cumulative value of merchandise exports during FY 2024-25 (April-March) was US$ 437.42 Billion, registering a positive growth of 0.08%, as compared to US$ 437.07 Billion during FY 2023-24 (April-March).
The cumulative Non-Petroleum exports in FY 2024-25 (April-March) valued at US$ 374.08 Billion registered an increase of 6.0% as compared to US$ 352.92 Billion in FY 2023-24
Major drivers of merchandise exports growth in FY 2024-25 (April-March) include Coffee, Tobacco, Electronic Goods, Rice, Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering, Meat, dairy & poultry products, Tea, Carpet, Plastic & Linoleum, RMG of all Textiles, Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items, Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals, Engineering Goods and Fruits & Vegetables.
Coffee exports increased by 40.37% from US$ 1.29 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 1.81 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Tobacco exports increased by 36.53% from US$ 1.45 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 1.98 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Electronic Goods exports increased by 32.47% from US$ 29.12 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 38.58 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Rice exports increased by 19.73% from US$ 10.42 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 12.47 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering exports increased by 13.35% from US$ 0.34 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 0.38 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Meat, dairy & poultry products exports increased by 12.57% from US$ 4.53 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 5.1 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Tea exports increased by 11.84% from US$ 0.83 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 0.92 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Carpet exports increased by 10.46% from US$ 1.4 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 1.54 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Plastic & Linoleum exports increased by 10.23% from US$ 8.09 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 8.92 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
RMG of all Textiles exports increased by 10.03% from US$ 14.53 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 15.99 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Drugs & Pharmaceuticals exports increased by 9.39% from US$ 27.85 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 30.47 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items exports increased by 8.71% from US$ 2.85 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 3.1 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals exports increased by 6.95% from US$ 4.68 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 5.01 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Engineering Goods exports increased by 6.74% from US$ 109.3 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 116.67 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
Fruits & Vegetables exports increased by 5.67% from US$ 3.66 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 3.87 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).
India’s total exports (Merchandise and Services combined) for March 2025* is estimated at US$ 73.61 Billion, registering a positive growth of 2.65 percent vis-à-vis March 2024. Total imports (Merchandise and Services combined) for March 2025* is estimated at US$ 77.23 Billion, registering a positive growth of 4.90 percent vis-à-vis March 2024.
Table 1: Trade during March 2025*
March 2025
(US$ Billion)
March 2024
(US$ Billion)
Merchandise
Exports
41.97
41.69
Imports
63.51
57.03
Services*
Exports
31.64
30.01
Imports
13.73
16.60
Total Trade
(Merchandise +Services) *
Exports
73.61
71.71
Imports
77.23
73.63
Trade Balance
-3.63
-1.92
* Note: The latest data for services sector released by RBI is for February 2025. The data for March 2025 is an estimation, which will be revised based on RBI’s subsequent release. (ii) Data for FY 2023-24 (April-March) and April-December 2024 has been revised on pro-rata basis using quarterly balance of payments data.
Fig 1: Total Trade during March 2025*
India’s total exports during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is estimated at US$ 820.93 Billion registering a positive growth of 5.50 percent. Total imports during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is estimated at US$ 915.19 Billion registering a growth of 6.85 percent.
Table 2: Trade during FY 2024-25 (April-March)*
FY 2024-25
(US$ Billion)
FY 2023-24
(US$ Billion)
Merchandise
Exports
437.42
437.07
Imports
720.24
678.21
Services*
Exports
383.51
341.06
Imports
194.95
178.31
Total Trade
(Merchandise +Services) *
Exports
820.93
778.13
Imports
915.19
856.52
Trade Balance
-94.26
-78.39
Fig 2: Total Trade during FY 2024-25 (April-March)*
MERCHANDISE TRADE
Merchandise exports during March 2025 were US$ 41.97 Billion as compared to US$ 41.69 Billion in March 2024.
Merchandise imports during March 2025 were US$ 63.51 Billion as compared to US$ 57.03 Billion in March 2024.
Fig 3: Merchandise Trade during March 2025
Merchandise exports during FY 2024-25 (April-March) were US$ 437.42 Billion as compared to US$ 437.07 Billion during FY 2023-24 (April-March).
Merchandise imports during FY 2024-25 (April-March) were US$ 720.24 Billion as compared to US$ 678.21 Billion during FY 2023-24 (April-March).
Merchandise trade deficit during FY 2024-25 (April-March) was US$ 282.83 Billion as compared to US$ 241.14 Billion during FY 2023-24 (April-March).
Fig 4: Merchandise Trade during FY 2024-25 (April-March)
Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in March 2025 were US$ 34.17 Billion compared to US$ 33.66 Billion in March 2024.
Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery (gold, silver & precious metals) imports in March 2025 were US$ 37.76 Billion compared to US$ 35.85 Billion in March 2024.
Table 3: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during March 2025
Fig 5: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during March 2025
Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in FY 2024-25 (April-March) were US$ 344.26 Billion, compared to US$ 320.21 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).
Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery (gold, silver & precious metals) imports in FY 2024-25 (April-March) were US$ 453.62 Billion, compared to US$ 424.67 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).
Table 4: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during FY 2024-25 (April-March)
Fig 6: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during FY 2024-25 (April-March)
SERVICES TRADE
The estimated value of services export for March 2025* is US$ 31.64 Billion as compared to US$ 30.01 Billion in March 2024.
The estimated value of services imports for March 2025* is US$ 13.73 Billion as compared to US$ 16.60 Billion in March 2024.
Fig 7: Services Trade during March 2025*
The estimated value of service exports during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is US$ 383.51 Billion as compared to US$ 341.06 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).
The estimated value of service imports during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is US$ 194.95 Billion as compared to US$ 178.31 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).
The services trade surplus for FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is US$ 188.57 Billion as compared to US$ 162.75 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).
Fig 8: Services Trade during FY 2024-25 (April-March)*
Exports of Coffee (39.2%), Drugs & Pharmaceuticals (31.21%), Electronic Goods (29.57%), Marine Products (28.56%), Jute Mfg. Including Floor Covering (21.67%), Meat, Dairy & Poultry Products (16.62%), Tobacco (13.95%), Tea (11.25%), Gems & Jewellery (10.62%), Fruits & Vegetables (8.57%), Rice (7.62%), Carpet (6.52%), Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals Including Processed Minerals (6.35%), Rmg Of All Textiles (3.97%), Leather & Leather Products (3.48%), Cereal Preparations & Miscellaneous Processed Items (3.35%), Cotton Yarn/Fabs./Made-Ups, Handloom Products Etc. (2.16%), and Plastic & Linoleum (1.56%) record positive growth during March 2025 over the corresponding month of last year.
Exports of Tea (11.84%), Coffee (40.37%), Rice (19.73%), Tobacco (36.53%), Spices (4.78%), Fruits & vegetables (5.67%), Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items (8.71%), Marine products (0.45%), Meat, dairy & poultry products (12.57%), Mica, coal & other ores, minerals including processed minerals (6.95%), Leather and leather products (2.06%), Drugs and pharmaceuticals (9.39%), engineering goods (6.74%), Electronics goods (32.47%), Cotton yarn/fabs/makeups etc (3.19%), Man-made/ yarn/Fabs/made ups etc (4.07%), RMG of Textiles (10.03%), Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering (13.35%), Carpet (10.46%), and Plastic & Linoleum (10.23%) registered positive growth during FY 2024-25 over the previous FY 2023-24.
Imports of Project Goods (-87.25%), Silver (-85.39%), Coal, Coke & Briquettes, Etc. (-30.18%), Transport Equipment (-25.53%), Pulses (-23.45%), Newsprint (-17.99%), Pearls, Precious & Semi-Precious Stones (-13.77%) and Pulp and Waste Paper (-11.8%) record negative growth during March 2025 over the corresponding month of last year.
Imports of Fertilisers, Crude & Manufactured (-2.21%), Coal, coke & briquettes (20.03%), Dyeing/tanning/colouring materials (-13.42%), Newsprint (-2.71%), Pearls, precious & semi-precious stones (-24.41%), Iron & Steel (-4.61%), Project goods (-18.45%), and Silver (-11.24%) registered negative growth during FY 2024-25 over the previous year FY 2023-24.
Services exports is estimated to grow by 12.45 percent during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* over FY 2023-24 (April-March).
Top 5 export destinations, in terms of change in value, exhibiting positive growth in March 2025 vis a vis March 2024 are U S A (35.06%), Australia (70.81%), Kenya (98.46%), Togo (46.52%) and U K (8.43%).
Top 5 export destinations, in terms of change in value, exhibiting positive growth in FY 2024-25 (April-March) vis a vis FY 2023-24 (April-March) are U S A (11.59%), U K (12.08%), Japan (21.12%), U Arab Emts (2.84%) and France (11.42%).
Top 5 import sources, in terms of change in value, exhibiting growth in March 2025 vis a vis March 2024 are U Arab Emts (57.25%), China P Rp (25.02%), Saudi Arab (44.03%), Kuwait (93.8%) and Ireland (208.09%).
Top 5 import sources, in terms of change in value, exhibiting growth in FY 2024-25 (April-March) vis a vis FY 2023-24 (April-March) are U Arab Emts (32.06%), China P Rp (11.52%), Thailand (43.99%), U S A (7.44%) and Russia (4.39%).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:
The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (April 16) announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the Government’s regulation of occupational safety and health (OSH) in the construction industry, with 40 major recommendations for improvement made to the Labour Department (LD), the Buildings Department (BD) and the Development Bureau (DEVB).
In recent years, from large-scale public works, housing development and building repairs to small-scale flat renovation works, fatal industrial accidents in the construction industry have occurred frequently. The situation has attracted widespread public concern. During the six-year period from 2018 to 2023, the construction industry recorded a total of 108 fatal industrial accidents, accounting for more than 80 per cent of fatal industrial accidents in all industries.
Mr Chan said, “This direct investigation operation is by far our largest and most comprehensive direct investigation operation in many years. During the investigation, investigation staff of the Office has scrutinised over 90 000 pages of documents, including about 70 individual cases in 40 boxes, and conducted multiple in-depth site visits of different types to examine the issue thoroughly and from different perspectives.
“The construction industry undoubtedly makes significant contributions to the economic development of society and people’s living environment. All lives are priceless. Indeed, one life lost to an industrial accident is one too many. The problem must be dealt with seriously and vigorously. During our direct investigation operation, the current-term Government has proactively introduced an array of targeted improvement measures to enhance OSH in the construction industry, which include amending the relevant OSH legislation to significantly increase the level of penalties to provide greater deterrent; revising various codes of practice to enhance technical requirements; conducting a number of special enforcement operations to curb unsafe operations; updating the content of mandatory safety training courses to raise workers’ safety awareness; improving the mechanism for processing renewal of contractors’ registration; formulating proposed amendments to the Buildings Ordinance to tighten the regulation of contractors; strengthening the regulation of contractors on the approved lists with unsatisfactory safety performance; and making great efforts to promote the application of the Smart Site Safety System. While the current-term Government’s endeavours are highly commendable, heart-wrenching fatal industrial accidents still happen from time to time. The Government must continue to step up its efforts to safeguard the safety of workers at every step of work. Based on our findings, the Office considers that there is still room for improvement in different areas on the part of the three relevant departments.”
From the analysis of previous fatal accidents, complaints handled by the LD and site visits conducted by the Office, the Office found that in a number of cases concerning high-risk operations such as bamboo scaffolds, lifting appliances and lifting operations, the “competent persons” and “competent examiners” (collectively referred to as “competent persons”) had failed to properly inspect the plant or machinery before signing a prescribed form to certify its safety, or even signed multiple forms in advance. For example, a “competent person” has to sign a “Form 5” to certify that a bamboo scaffold is safe before it can be used by workers. In a site inspection, the Office found that a “competent person” had signed a “Form 5” certifying that a scaffold had been inspected and was in safe working order, but the inspection date mentioned in the form was two days after the date of the Office’s inspection. The Office even found a case where a “competent person” had already signed a form to certify the safety of a scaffold before the scaffold was actually completed.
Moreover, in its investigation into a fatal industrial accident concerning a lifting appliance, the LD found that two registered professional engineers acting in the capacity of “competent examiners” signed a few prescribed forms on different dates, one of which was after a storm, certifying that the lifting appliance was in safe working condition, but they actually had not carried out the required tests and examination.
Mr Chan said, “These ‘competent persons’ failed to carry out inspections properly or even did not carry out any inspections at all, yet irresponsibly signed forms to certify the safety of equipment. Such reckless acts pose a serious risk to the safety of workers and the public. These persons failed to uphold their obligations and meet public expectations, and they must face legal consequences and criticisms from all.” The Office considers that the LD must step up monitoring under a multipronged approach, including exploring the formulation of inspection checklist templates for different types of high-risk operations, requiring “competent persons” to maintain inspection records, and implementing a system of random checks. In the long run, the LD should explore the development of an electronic platform for contractors and “competent persons” to upload inspection records and forms to facilitate monitoring and surprise checking to curb unprofessional or even fraudulent criminal conduct, such as predating inspection forms.
The average amounts of penalty imposed on offenders of OSH legislation in the construction industry between 2018 and 2023 ranged from merely some $8,000 to some $10,500 per year. Comparing to the enormous fees and profits of construction projects, such penalty levels are obviously inadequate to have a deterrent effect. Among those offenders, the two contractors with the highest and the second-highest numbers of convictions during the six years had been convicted 77 and 56 times respectively. This shows that some disobedient contractors in the construction industry are repeat offenders, and their blatant defiance of the law and disregard for OSH are indeed staggering. The Office is pleased to learn that the current-term Government has completed amendments to the relevant OSH legislation, and the Occupational Safety and Occupational Health Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2023, which took effect on April 28, 2023, has significantly increased the penalties for contravention of OSH legislation and extended the time limit for prosecution. Since the new penalties have been in effect for only a short time, the LD should, after the new penalties have been in force for a period, conduct a systemic analysis to review the effectiveness of its prosecution work and the penalties imposed by the Court in convicted cases.
The Office’s investigation also revealed that the BD had long failed to handle cases referred by the LD for determining whether disciplinary action should be taken against contractors convicted of OSH offences. During the decade from 2011 to 2021, the BD has taken disciplinary action against only one contractor on one occasion. The Office has thoroughly examined the reason for the BD’s omission throughout the years. Under the disciplinary system, the BD may take disciplinary action against a contractor when either one of the following two criteria is met: the contractor has been convicted of five or more site safety offences relating to building works in the same construction site in six consecutive months (“Criterion 1”); or the contractor has been convicted of site safety offences relating to building works which involved fatal accidents (“Criterion 2”). The Office found that, in the past decade or so, the BD, upon receiving the monthly summary list of conviction records from the LD, only focused on handling contractors meeting Criterion 1 for consideration of disciplinary action. As regards contractors meeting Criterion 2, the BD admitted omission of follow-up action due to a mistaken belief that, in addition to a monthly summary list of conviction records, the LD would proactively provide details of individual cases for its consideration of disciplinary action.
Furthermore, in the only disciplinary case mentioned above, it took more than six years from the occurrence of the fatal accident in 2009 to the BD’s completion of disciplinary action against the contractor in 2015. The Office has examined the sequence of events of this case and found delays in different time points. For example, it took the BD a year after receiving the LD’s referral to complete analysis and seek detailed case information from the LD. And, after receiving information from the LD, the BD sought legal advice only a year later. This reflects the cumbersome and inefficient procedures for disciplinary action. The Office is glad to see that in response to its observations, the BD has implemented time indicators for handling cases of disciplinary action before the Office’s completion of this report and is striving to process previously omitted cases.
Meanwhile, relevant data shows that site safety has obviously been better maintained in public works than in the construction industry as a whole. While this is not due to luck but to effective regulation by relevant government departments, the Office considers that there is still room for improvement. The Office has selected 12 public works projects involving fatal industrial accidents between 2020 and 2023 and examined the scores that the contractors concerned (i.e. the successful tenderers) received regarding their site safety performance in the tender evaluation. The Office found in many contracts that the successful tenderer was given a rather low score regarding site safety performance, and some were even given the lowest score among all the tenderers. Yet, these successful tenderers still managed to win the bid because of their higher scores in tender price or other technical parts. Although the Office found no systemic occurrence of “the lowest bid wins” situation in the tender evaluation of public works, the case studies showed that adequate consideration had not been given to tenderers’ previous performance of site safety. This is because items relating to site safety did not weigh much, and the score gaps between tenderers were narrow, resulting in only an insignificant impact on the overall outcome.
Mr Chan said, “The Office is glad to learn that, during this direct investigation operation, the DEVB introduced in November 2023 a new tender evaluation system whereby a merit or demerit point would be applied having regard to the tenderer’s previous performance of site safety. The DEVB should continue to review the tender evaluation system for public works in a timely manner to ensure that only contractors whose performance meets the safety standards are awarded contracts.”
Another noteworthy point is that, during the six-year period from 2018 to 2023, there were 45 fatal accidents relating to renovation and repair works in total, accounting for a significant 42 per cent of all fatal accidents in the construction industry. Based on case studies and site inspections, the Office found serious inadequacies in safety measures for renovation and repair works and a lack of basic safety awareness among workers and even property management companies, property owners and residents. The Office recognises the sheer volume of renovation and repair works under way throughout the territory. The LD alone can hardly ensure the safety of this kind of small-scale works, and property management companies, owners’ corporations, property owners and residents should also take part in monitoring. In fact, property management companies, owners’ corporations, property owners and residents have clear legal responsibilities under OSH legislation and may face civil claims or even criminal liability in the event of accidents. The Office considers that the LD should step up publicity and education among these stakeholders, stressing in particular their legal liability in relation to renovation and repair works and the legal consequence (whether criminal or civil) and loss in case of accidents. This is to ensure that these stakeholders understand it is in their own interest to protect the safety of workers, and at the same time incentivise them to engage contractors and workers with a good safety record.
On the whole, the Office has made 40 recommendations for improvement in nine major areas, including the LD’s regulation of high-risk operations; the LD’s inspections; the LD’s enforcement and prosecution; the LD’s monitoring of registered safety auditors and registered safety officers; the BD’s regulation of registered contractors; the DEVB’s monitoring of public works and contractors; the use of innovation and technology; safety education and training; as well as publicity and promotion. The Office is pleased to learn that the LD, the BD and the DEVB have accepted all of its recommendations.
Mr Chan said, “To enhance OSH in the construction industry, the Government is duty bound to carry out effective regulation. However, stakeholders within or outside the industry, including contractors, workers, trade unions, various types of safety personnel, as well as owners’ corporations, property owners, residents and property management companies who are involved in renovation and repair works, all have a role to play. I hope all stakeholders will work together to safeguard site and worker safety, eradicate undesirable habits, and prevent accidents from happening for the benefit of society as a whole.”
The Office’s major recommendations for improvement to the LD are:
• explore formulating templates of inspection checklist for different types of high-risk operations and attach them to the relevant codes of practice for use by “competent persons” during inspections or examinations to tighten control;
• conduct a comprehensive review of the existing requirements for maintenance of inspection records by “competent persons” regarding different types of high-risk operations, specifying the inspection records to be maintained and the need to produce such records upon the instruction of the LD officers;
• in the long run, explore the development of an electronic platform for contractors and “competent persons” to upload inspection records and forms to facilitate monitoring and random checking to curb unprofessional or even fraudulent conduct, such as predating inspection forms;
• review the operational guidelines on the conduct of in-depth surprise inspections for more precise selection of high-risk construction sites and proper follow-up on sites inspected to ensure systemic improvement of site safety;
• continue to pursue legislative amendment work to enhance the statutory notification mechanism for construction works;
• after the new penalties for OSH offences have been in force for a period of time, conduct a systemic analysis to review its prosecution work and the penalties imposed by the Court in convicted cases;
• take more proactive steps to follow up on the performance of registered safety auditors and registered safety officers on the monitoring list by, for example, making close observations of their actual performance on the site and careful examination of the reports they submit to enhance the quality of their work;
• drawing on the painful lessons from previous fatal accidents, remind site personnel including registered safety officers and registered safety auditors of the issues to which they should pay attention during their routine inspections or safety audit to strengthen their ability to detect irregularities in site operations and enhance the quality of their work;
• step up the monitoring of course providers and trainers engaging in mandatory safety training courses and carry out surprise checks in a timely manner to ensure their quality. In case of irregularities, the Department should be decisive in taking regulatory action;
• consider co-ordinating efforts of relevant departments and organisations to set up a thematic website on OSH in the construction industry to provide a convenient platform for various stakeholders and the public to look for information they need;
• step up publicity and education among property owners, owners’ corporations, property management companies and residents through mass media and the platform of property management companies, stressing in particular their legal liability in relation to renovation and repair works and the legal consequence and loss in case of accidents; and
• enrich the content of the publications and information on analysis of accidents, adding the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders and how they can avoid accidents.
The Office’s major recommendations for improvement to the BD are:
• speed up processing of previously omitted cases and promptly refer those warranting disciplinary action to the Registered Contractors’ Disciplinary Board to bring non-compliant contractors to account; and
• set up a mechanism for internal monitoring to ensure timely follow-up on all referrals from the LD for consideration of disciplinary action against convicted contractors.
The Office’s major recommendations for improvement to the DEVB are:
• continue to review the tender evaluation system for public works in a timely manner to ensure that only contractors whose performance meets the safety standards are awarded contracts;
• continue to review the regulating requirement regarding contravention of legislation related to site safety for more effective prevention of accidents;
• after various promotional measures have been implemented for a period of time, review the adoption of the Smart Site Safety System and, with reference to the feedback from the industry, step up efforts to encourage and support wider use of the system in private development sites to enhance site safety by means of technology; and
• share with the Construction Industry Council the experience of safety training in public works for its consideration of offering subsidies as incentive, with a view to extending such safety training to private works projects to enhance site safety.
The full investigation report is available on the website of the Office of The Ombudsman at www.ombudsman.hk for public information.
National Technical Textile Mission in association with M/s SYSTEM 5S Pvt. Ltd developing an innovative Firefighting Suit The specialized Firefighting Suit is developed using aluminised coated glass fabrics
Posted On: 16 APR 2025 3:14PM by PIB Delhi
The National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM), an initiative by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, has supported an innovative project titled “Development of Specialized Fire fighting Suit.” These specialized fire fighter suits are used by Firefighting & Emergency services, Defence forces, Oil & Gas industry, Aerospace & Aviation, Power Plants & Thermal Industry, etc. Manufacturing of firefighting suits in India is in its nascent stage and currently, in India, specialized firefighting suits (also known as fire entry suits) are imported mostly from Europe, the USA, and China. The NTTM project is implemented by Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA), in collaboration with its industrial partner, M/s System 5S Private Ltd.
The annual current consumption would be approximately 1000 sets by various End Users in India. However, with the introduction of an Indian Certified Aluminized suit, the consumption could go up exponentially. M/s SYSTEM 5S Pvt. Ltd has an annual production capacity of 1000 suits with this commercialisation.
According to EN 1486 (a European Standard that specifies the requirements and test methods for protective clothing for fire fighters), protective clothing for specialized fire fighting must protect the full body, including the head, hands, and feet, against radiant heat and flame impingement. This protective gear includes a garment, a hood (integrated or separate), gloves, and over boots. Additionally, the design of such suits is intended for use with respiratory protection, with designs varying on whether the breathing apparatus is worn inside or outside the protective clothing.
M/s System 5S Private Ltd, has developed an indigenous Specialized Fire Fighting Suit, designed to meet the EN 1486 or ISO 15538 standards. The development process prioritised the safety, comfort, and ease of donning and doffing for fire fighters. The suit is developed using aluminised coated glass fabrics, OPAN (Oxidized Polyacrylonitrile) Nonwoven battings and FR (Flame Resistant) viscose fabric. All the inner layers are quilted together. The industrial partner has already begun manufacturing these suits for trial purposes, and commercial manufacturing will commence once the fire manikin test is completed successfully, as per the EN ISO 13506 (a standard that defines a test method for evaluating the performance of protective clothing against heat and flame) standard, to ensure the suit meets all necessary performance requirements.
Over 1.3 Crore Persons Insured through GeM in FY 2024-25 GeM facilitates hiring of 1 million people in FY 2024-25
Posted On: 16 APR 2025 10:53AM by PIB Delhi
Government e Marketplace (GeM), India’s largest e-marketplace for public procurement, sets yet another milestone in services delivery in the FY 24-25. Apart from facilitating hiring of 1 million manpower resources in FY 24-25, GeM has successfully facilitated insurance of more than 1.3 crore individuals covering Health, Life and Personal Accident Insurance policies.
The Insurance Services category was introduced on GeM in January 2022 to bring greater efficiency, transparency and cost-effectiveness in procuring insurance policies. By ensuring that only Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) -approved service providers are onboarded. GeM has established a reliable and trusted mechanism for availing insurance services. Through this platform, buyer organizations can seamlessly procure Group Mediclaim, Personal Accident and Term Insurance policies, thereby offering financial security to a vast number of beneficiaries.
While commenting on this milestone, CEO-GeM Shri Ajay Bhadoo said, “GeM remains committed to continuously enhancing its platform to provide seamless, secure and cost-effective procurement solutions. The milestone of 1.3 crore insured persons reflects the growing confidence of government organizations in leveraging GeM for their insurance needs, reaffirming its role as a transformative force in public procurement.”
A key advantage of GeM’s insurance services is that it facilitates direct transactions between government buyers and insurance providers without intermediaries. This streamlined approach has significantly expedited the process while also reducing insurance premiums thereby ensuring cost savings for government organisations.
Beyond Life and Health insurance, the platform has expanded its insurance offerings to include a comprehensive range of insurance services such as Asset Insurance, Transit and Marine Insurance, Liability Insurance, Livestock Insurance, Motor Insurance, Crop Insurance and Cyber Insurance. Such broad spectrum of services ensures that various insurance needs are met through a single, transparent and efficient platform to enhance accessibility and cost-effectiveness in availing Insurance services by Government Buyers.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Justice today (April 16) gave notice to the Legislative Council (LegCo) that he will move a resolution at the LegCo sitting on May 14 to increase the statutory sum to be awarded as damages for bereavement (bereavement sum) under the Fatal Accidents Ordinance (Cap 22) to $253,500.
The Government is committed to reviewing the bereavement sum biennially to reflect inflation. The proposed increase reflects the inflation experienced over the period from 2022 to 2024 by making reference to the Consumer Price Index (A).
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said that the Ordinance was enacted in 1986. It allows an action for damages to be brought against a person for the benefit of the dependants of the deceased in respect of that person’s wrongful act, neglect or default which has caused the death of the deceased. An action under the Ordinance may include a claim for damages for bereavement in the sum as prescribed in section 4(3). Section 4(5) of the Ordinance provides that the LegCo may by resolution vary the sum.
Since the enactment of the Ordinance, the bereavement sum was adjusted in 1991, 1997, 2018, 2020 and 2023. The current sum is set at $242,500.
The LegCo Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services, the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers have been informed of the outcome of the present biennial review and the Government’s intention to make the proposed adjustments by making reference to the Consumer Price Index (A).