Month: May 2025

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Labour Department to hold briefing on abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Labour Department will hold a briefing on the abolition of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) offsetting arrangement on June 26 (Thursday) at 3.30pm at the Hall, North Point Community Hall, 123 Java Road, North Point. Participants may also join the briefing online in real time via Zoom. Employers, employees and human resources practitioners are welcome to attend.
 
The abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement took effect on May 1 to improve the retirement protection of employees. To tie in with the abolition, the Government on the same day launched the 25-year Subsidy Scheme for Abolition of MPF Offsetting Arrangement (SSA) to share out the severance payment/long service payment expenses of employers after the abolition. The key features of the abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement, the calculation of severance payment/long service payment after the abolition, and the main points of the SSA will be introduced in the briefing.
 
The briefing will be conducted in Cantonese, and admission is free. Quotas will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and the enrolment deadline is June 18 (Wednesday). The enrolment form can be downloaded from the thematic website of the abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement (www.op.labour.gov.hk/en/pdf/Enrolment Form_June_(e).pdf). For enquiries, please call 2852 3921.

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Speech by CS at Hospital Authority Convention 2025 (English only)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Hospital Authority Convention 2025 today (May 26):

Vice-minister Cao Xuetao (Vice-minister of the National Health Commission), Henry (Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Mr Henry Fan), Tony (Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Tony Ko), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

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SFST to visit Canada

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

SFST to visit Canada 
A key event Mr Hui will attend during his visit is the premier Web Summit Vancouver, where he will share with thousands of tech entrepreneurs, investors and leaders the latest developments and opportunities with fintech in Hong Kong. Mr Hui will also join several business networking events organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) and Invest Hong Kong (Canada) to introduce Hong Kong’s advantages in areas such as the financial market, wealth management and fintech, along with the policy support and concessions offered to boost relevant developments and applications.
 
During the trip, Mr Hui will meet government financial officials of Canada, as well as representatives from trade associations and think tanks. He will also visit a number of banks and insurance companies.
 
Mr Hui will return to Hong Kong on May 31 (Vancouver time). During his absence, the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury.
Issued at HKT 9:00

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Lancement de l’appel à projets CCR 2025

Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie

Dans le cadre de la convention de coopération régionale entre la France, la Nouvelle-Calédonie et le Vanuatu, un appel à projets est lancé pour l’année 2025. Les dossiers de candidatures doivent être envoyés le 29 juin 2025 au plus tard.

Depuis 2002, la France, la Nouvelle-Calédonie et le Vanuatu sont liés par une convention de coopération régionale. Elle a pour objectif de renforcer les liens qui unissent la Nouvelle-Calédonie et le Vanuatu du fait de leur histoire, leur géographie et leur culture similaires. Cette convention permet notamment le financement de projets de développement dans l’archipel voisin, grâce à un fonds alimenté par le Fonds Pacifique, géré directement par l’ambassade de France à Port-Vila et par le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Les domaines d’action éligibles en 2025 concernent principalement les secteurs de l’éducation, de la promotion de la langue française, de la formation professionnelle et du renforcement de capacité, de l’insertion professionnelle des jeunes, de la santé, de l’agriculture, de la protection/sécurité civile et la gestion des risques de catastrophes naturelles ainsi que des médias

Une attention particulière sera portée sur les projets oeuvrant à l’autonomisation des communautés isolées.

Infos pratiques

Peuvent bénéficier des crédits alloués dans le cadre de cet appel à projets, les provinces, les établissements publics, les directions et services du gouvernement, les organisations non gouvernementales et les groupements associatifs, ainsi que les entreprises du secteur privé.

Les candidatures doivent être présentées selon la fiche projet téléchargeable ci-dessous. La fiche projet, dûment remplie et accompagnée de ses annexes, doit être adressée par mail, au plus tard le 05 juillet 2025, au service de la coopération régionale et des relations extérieures (SCRRE) du gouvernement à : marie-paule.caruso@gouv

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Immigration Department holds Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps Parade cum Promotion Ceremony 2025 (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Immigration Department holds Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps Parade cum Promotion Ceremony 2025  
      A total of 117 IDYL members participated in the parade including students studying in tertiary institutes and Form 1 to Form 6 students from 21 secondary schools. The Commissioner of the IDYL, Dr Cheng Kam-chung served as the reviewing officer of the parade and presided the promotion ceremony for the IDYL members. The ceremony was witnessed by the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok, members of the IDYL Advisory Committee, and representatives of the 25 member schools attended. 
 
      In the parade, the IDYL Guard of Honour debuted their brand-new uniform and was responsible for conducting the flag-raising ceremony. They also performed a silent foot drill with the IDYL parade for the first time and assembled to form the words “IDYL 2025” on the parade ground. To mark the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), the Guard of Honour also formed a shield pattern and the Arabic numeral “5”, symbolising that the HKNSL has been effectively safeguarding the country and Hong Kong like a shield, laying a solid foundation and also bringing new hopes for future development. IDYL members would also lead by example with a law-abiding spirit.
 
      In his speech, the Commissioner of IDYL and Reviewing Officer, Dr Cheng said that young people were the future pillars of our society and had unlimited potential. He encouraged IDYL members to care more about the country and society while challenging their own limits, so as to thrive and shine in different roles in the future, giving back to society as well as the country. Reflecting on the development of the IDYL, Dr Cheng recalled that there were only around 100 members when it was established in 2013. Today, the number of members has exceeded 1 000, and the IDYL has established long-term partnership with 25 member schools. He expressed his hope for IDYL members to cherish what they have learnt from the training, set examples for their peers with good moral character and proper values, and demonstrate their leadership skills, thereby exerting a positive influence on and contributing to society.
 
      This year, 10 members were promoted to Advanced Members, and 59 were promoted to Leading Members. To be promoted to Leading Members or Advanced Members, IDYL members must complete training and assessment in various areas, including national education, immigration knowledge, foot drill, community service, for etc., as well as a two-day, one-night or a three-day, two-night expedition assessment journey respectively, in addition to passing a promotion interview. 
 
      The Immigration Department formed its youth uniform group in 2013, which was officially renamed the “Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps” in 2021 to provide disciplinary and leadership training for young people in Hong Kong. Through diversified training and group activities, it helps develop members’ affection for the country and Hong Kong, while raising their law-abiding awareness. It also aims to nurture IDYL members to become a new generation of young people with good moral character, strong leadership skills, positive thinking, and enthusiasm for serving the community.
Issued at HKT 22:00

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DENGUE OUTBREAKS AVERTED IN 2023 AND 2024; VIGILANCE NEEDED TO PREVENT DENGUE SURGE IN 2025

Source: Government of Singapore

The National Environment Agency (NEA) launched the National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2025 today, as Singapore enters the traditional peak dengue season of May to October. At the launch event at Pasir Ris Sport Centre, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Janil Puthucheary, urged members of the public to stay vigilant and eradicate mosquito breeding sources to minimise the risk of dengue and Zika transmission in the community.

Dengue Outlook in 2025: Continued vigilance required as dengue risk factors remain high.

2             Close to 2,000 dengue cases were reported to date, a decrease of 74 per cent as compared to the same period last year. This is significantly lower than the number of cases reported in the same period in 2023 and 2024. Two dengue deaths due to local dengue infection have been notified this year as of 15 May 2025. Singapore’s low population immunity and the rise in dengue cases globally1, makes the local population vulnerable to dengue transmission. The continued presence of these dengue risk factors may lead to a potential increase in dengue cases, if insufficient action is taken.

3          The same Aedes mosquitoes that transmit dengue, is able to transmit Zika2 as well. While Zika is generally a mild and self-limiting disease for most people, the consequences can be more serious if a pregnant woman is infected. Although rare, Zika virus infection of a pregnant women can cause birth defects such as microcephaly in the babies.

4          The warmer months from May to October usually see higher dengue transmission in Singapore, due to accelerated development of the Aedes mosquito vector and faster multiplication of the dengue virus in mosquitoes. Therefore, it is critical that residents and stakeholders regularly practice the ‘B-L-O-C-K’ steps to suppress the Aedes mosquito population and ‘S-A-W’ actions to prevent mosquitoes bites and minimise risk of disease transmission.

Large Outbreaks Averted in 2023 and 2024 due to Strong and Sustained Community Vigilance

5          In 2023 and 2024, the surge in dengue cases was largely subdued3 despite a high baseline of dengue cases. Strong and sustained community vigilance against breeding and innovations like Project Wolbachia have helped to avert large outbreaks.

6          In 2024, over 13,600 dengue cases were reported, an increase of 37 per cent compared to 2023. 13 isolated Zika cases were also reported. NEA conducted about 686,000 mosquito inspections islandwide and uncovered about 23,900 mosquito breeding habitats. At dengue cluster areas, about 67 per cent of Aedes mosquito breeding detected were in homes, 27 per cent in public areas, 1 per cent at construction sites and 5 per cent in other premises type. During the same period, over 11,900 enforcement actions4 were taken against owners and occupiers of premises for mosquito breeding. About 748 fines and 61 Stop Work Orders were issued to construction sites, and 79 contractors were charged in court for repeat offences.

7             Studies on NEA’s Project Wolbachia showed that risk of contracting dengue was lowered by about 75 per cent at the Aedes-Wolbachia release sites and 45 per cent at adjacent areas. By the end of 2026, 800,000 households or about 50 per cent of all households in Singapore (from 580,000 today), will benefit from Project Wolbachia. NEA will also trial the use of Wolbachia-Aedes mosquitoes at dengue clusters to supplement traditional control operations.

8          NEA would like to thank all stakeholders, including premises operators, partners of the Inter-Agency Dengue Taskforce, Town Councils, grassroots leaders, community partners and volunteers, for their efforts in the fight against dengue.

Collective Action Remains Key to Fighting Dengue and Zika

9          The National Dengue Prevention Campaign 20255 emphasises that dengue prevention is a social responsibility, and will continue to rally the community to remain vigilant and reduce the risk of dengue infection.

10        Everyone has a critical role to play in dengue prevention and control. NEA urges all stakeholders to take immediate action to suppress the Aedes mosquito population and break disease transmission at their premises, by regularly practising the following ‘B-L-O-C-K’ steps.

  • Break up hardened soil
  • Lift and empty flowerpot plates
  • Overturn pails and wipe their rims
  • Change water in vases
  • Keep roof gutters clear and place BTI insecticide inside

11        Residents, especially those residing at dengue cluster areas, or those diagnosed with or suspected to have dengue or Zika, should carry out the ‘S-A-W’ actions to prevent mosquitoes bites, which is how the disease spreads to more mosquitoes and people.

  • Spray insecticide in dark corners around the house
  • Apply insect repellent regularly
  • Wear long-sleeve tops and long pants

12        Residents and premises owners can check the NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg) regularly for dengue updates, and use the myENV mobile app to set alerts on areas with dengue clusters and high Aedes aegypti mosquito populations.

– End –


3 Dengue cases reported over the years in Annex A

4 Enforcement figures provisional as of 8 May 2025.

5 Details of NEA’s National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2025 are available in Annex B.

ANNEX A

Seasonal Trendline of Dengue Cases

ANNEX B

NEA’s National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2025

  • The National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2025 emphasises that dengue prevention is a social responsibility, and continues to rally the community to remain vigilant and reduce dengue cases. This year’s campaign tagline “This is no small matter”, emphasises the serious health risks posed by the Aedes mosquito. Despite its small size, this vector can transmit deadly viruses including dengue and Zika. The campaign will be amplified across various media touchpoints to educate and engage residents on dengue prevention.
  • Ground outreach efforts will be led by local Grassroots Advisers and Leaders, with support from NEA’s volunteers, to intensify dengue prevention outreach through community activities and house visits at dengue cluster areas and areas with high Aedes aegypti mosquito population. Nationwide outreach will be conducted over at least three months, to sustain awareness throughout the traditional peak dengue season.
  • Additionally, in collaboration with the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), Zika prevention outreach materials have been produced and distributed to Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G) clinics. These materials include the B-L-O-C-K and S-A-W messages to urge pregnant women and couples on their pregnancy journey to reduce mosquito breeding at source and prevent disease transmission.

Zika Brochure, developed in collaboration with CDA, to be distributed by O&G doctors to their patients​, emphasises the B-L-O-C-K and S-A-W actions as well.

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First-year review of New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme reports over 1 200 applications, expected to bring over HK$ 37 Billion to Hong Kong (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

First-year review of New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme reports over 1 200 applications, expected to bring over HK$ 37 Billion to Hong Kong  

 8 900Applications verified as having fulfilled the Net Asset Requirement
(i.e. applicant has demonstrated that he/she has net assets of not less than HK$30 million for a specified period preceding his/her application)Applications verified as having fulfilled the investment requirements
(i.e. applicant has already made investment of HK$30 million in Hong Kong)
 As of April 30, 2025, the distribution of the investment amount in respect of the applications verified as having fulfilled the Investment Requirements is as follows:
 

 (HK$ Million)(%)EquitiesDebt securitiesOthers 
Head of Hong Kong, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), Ms Elizabeth Chan, said, “We are pleased to see the strong pipeline of applications following the enhancement measures introduced in March 2025, reflecting Hong Kong’s enduring appeal as a global investment hub. The Scheme is also creating new business opportunities for the industry. As a professional body representing the accounting sector, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of due diligence, compliance, and transparency in supporting the Scheme. Hong Kong’s dynamic economy, rule of law, and world-class financial infrastructure continue to offer the predictability and confidence that high-net-worth individuals look for when seeking long-term growth and stability.”Issued at HKT 9:00

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Businesses go global via HK

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

At Hong Kong International Airport, a driverless bus smoothly navigates turns, avoiding obstacles and stopping automatically.

What could be a scene straight from a science fiction movie is in fact a demonstration of autonomous driving technology developed by a tech company from Beijing. The technology has been deployed at the airport since 2019.

The “AI driver” not only drives shuttle buses transporting staff, but also operates electric tractors for delivering luggage and cargo, as well as patrol cars that enhance security in restricted areas.

In recent years, the company’s technology has successfully reached overseas markets, with Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar as its latest pilot site.

 

Real-world verification

“Hong Kong is our ideal launchpad to go global,” said Xu Shu, the tech company’s Overseas Business Division & Hong Kong General Manager.

Mr Xu noted that the clients in Hong Kong are eager to adopt new technologies, and that the city offers a rich pool of tech talent and various scenarios to enhance their technology.

“Hong Kong is highly internationalised and standardised. For the same luggage or cargo transport tasks, we must align with the strict regulations here in Hong Kong. Having gone through the intense processes for such scenarios here, we have full confidence that we can do the same in other countries.”

He added that their successful collaboration with Hong Kong International Airport has played a pivotal role in attracting international clients.

“Another key aspect is that Hong Kong is a gateway to the world. Successfully launching aviation-related unmanned operations at a leading airport such as Hong Kong International Airport significantly boosts client confidence.”

One-stop support

The driving force behind the tech company’s journey to go global through Hong Kong was the Productivity Council.

As one of the earliest institutions in Hong Kong to develop autonomous driving technology, the council fully understands client needs. It helped the company to evaluate the feasibility of its technology, optimised the software and hardware, and ensured compliance with international standards.

Noting that there has been a strong demand from Hong Kong and Mainland companies for global presence, the Government has introduced various supporting measures in recent years. To align with the government’s policy directives and respond to such growing demand, the Productivity Council officially launched The Cradle – Going Global Service Centre in April.

Supported by three Mainland innovation centres, namely the Zhongguancun Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation Centre, the National Innovation Centre par Excellence and the Greater Bay Area National Centre of Technology Innovation, the Cradle offers one-stop support tailored to businesses, including intellectual property management, consultation on government funding schemes, and more.

The Cradle also helps enterprises to build overseas networks and gain market insights through trade visits, exhibitions and exchange activities.

Tailored solutions

“Exporting to Southeast Asia, the Middle East or Europe involves different requirements. User demands, laws, regulations, standards, and levels of acceptance all vary,” Productivity Council Chief Innovation Officer Du Yonghai explained.

“We categorise the needs for going global into four levels: product exports, technology exports, manufacturing exports, and a broader level of management exports, which means the international operation of businesses.”

He pointed out that the challenges and timelines for overseas expansion vary for each company.

To enhance the efficiency of its support, the council is developing an online assessment tool to quickly evaluate a company’s needs for going global, identify its capability gaps, and determine which services the council can provide or which services they can refer to their partners.

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Hospital Authority First Major Medical Conference in Shenzhen (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hospital Authority First Major Medical Conference in Shenzhen  
The 2025 International Conference on International Hospital Accreditation and Quality-Safety, which is being held today and tomorrow, will focus on various topics including international hospital accreditation, healthcare service quality improvement, and patient safety. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Vice-Minister of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Professor Cao Xuetao; the Director-General of the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission, Dr Liu Liqun; the Director General of the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission, Ms Wu Hongyan; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Chairman of the HA, Mr Henry Fan, and approximately 700 medical experts from Hong Kong, Mainland, and various countries. Under the theme “Belt and Road Collaboration in Development of Optimal Healthcare Accreditation System to Improve Quality & Safety”, representatives from Belt and Road countries including Cambodia, Egypt, Malaysia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan attended and participated in discussions, playing a crucial role in promoting high-quality development and international exchange in healthcare among Belt and Road countries.
 
The conference features multiple plenary sessions and keynote speeches, where medical experts engage in in-depth discussions on various topics, aiming to achieve mutual learning and improvement in healthcare service quality for patients’ benefit.
 
The Chairman of the HA, Mr Henry Fan said, “The HA has committed to strengthening exchanges between Hong Kong and Mainland and international medical sectors. Hosting our first major medical conference outside Hong Kong in Shenzhen is highly significant, demonstrating our close connection with Greater Bay Area cities as we are reaching out to the world together, exploring new knowledge in international medicine and enhancing healthcare quality.”
 
The HA Convention – Shenzhen Session to be held tomorrow afternoon is also the first pre-convention activity held in Shenzhen. It will feature in-depth discussions on translating knowledge into practice in future healthcare and topics such as artificial intelligence and big data in healthcare, serving as a prelude to the HA Convention at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre next Monday to Wednesday.
 
Mr Fan added that besides strengthening exchanges between Hong Kong’s medical sector with Mainland and international communities, the HA has actively promoted various talent exchange programmes and recruited non-locally trained doctors in recent years. To date, over 300 non-locally trained doctors work in Hong Kong’s public hospitals, many of them are experienced medical experts with extensive expertise in various specialties, playing a vital role in enhancing Hong Kong’s healthcare quality.
Issued at HKT 18:15

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