Month: May 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department today announced that it will cease accepting paper applications for the renewal of Full Driving Licences (FDL) via the drop-in boxes at designated post offices from June 1 to enhance service efficiency.

At present, an FDL holder should renew the licence within four months before its expiry date or within three years after it has expired. An online renewal application can be submitted via GovHK, using an “iAM Smart+” account with the digital signing function or a valid personal digital certificate.

To remind and enable the public to renew their licence in time, the department will send by post the “FDL Renewal Notice & Application Form” (form TD 578) to licence holders around three months prior to its expiry, and a reminder (form TD 601) to those whose FDLs have expired for nearly three years and are yet to be renewed. Both forms are printed with a renewal password.

People may submit an online application using the renewal password and other personal information, including their identification document number, for authentication to complete renewal procedures.

If the applicant’s address has not changed within three months upon receipt of the Renewal Password, submission of address proof is not required during the online application process.

As of end-April, nearly half of FDL applicants have opted for online renewal, making it the most popular local e-licensing service after the International Driving Permit. The department therefore implements the service adjustment to make better use of public resources.

As for paper applications, the current arrangements for submission through the counters and drop-in boxes at the Transport Department’s Licensing Offices and by post remain unchanged.

Click here for details of renewing the Full Driving Licence.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met CPC Jilin Provincial Committee Secretary Huang Qiang at Government House to discuss co-operation and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and Jilin.

Mr Huang and his delegation were in Hong Kong promoting Jilin’s industries and Jilin-Hong Kong economic and trade ties.

Welcoming them, Mr Lee said Jilin serves as an important gateway for the country’s northward opening-up under the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). He also highlighted that Jilin boasts a robust industrial and manufacturing sector, and that its expertise in manufacturing automobiles and high-speed trains is unmatched nationally.

As a functional BRI platform, Mr Lee said Hong Kong will continue to function as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to assist Jilin and other Mainland provinces and cities in expanding to global markets, while also attracting more external investment to the country.

Following the launch of direct flights between Hong Kong and Changchun, Jilin in December, Mr Lee said economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two places will be further enhanced, fostering people-to-people bonds.

The Chief Executive stressed that Hong Kong will continue to deepen its multifaceted exchanges and co-operation with Jilin, leveraging complementary strengths so that the two places can jointly make greater contributions to the country’s development.

Acting Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Clement Woo and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip also attended the meeting.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (May 19) the composite interest rate at the end of April 2025 (Note 1).

The composite interest rate, which is a measure of the average cost of funds of banks, decreased by 5 basis points to 2.02 per cent at the end of April 2025, from 2.07 per cent at the end of March 2025 (see Chart 1 in the Annex). The decrease in composite interest rate reflected the decreases in the weighted funding cost for deposits during the month (see Chart 2 in the Annex) (Note 2).

The historical data of the composite interest rate from the end of the fourth quarter of 2003 to the end of April 2025 are available in the Monthly Statistical Bulletin on the HKMA website (www.hkma.gov.hk).

Note 1: The composite interest rate is a weighted average interest rate of all Hong Kong dollar interest-rate-sensitive liabilities, which include deposits from customers, amounts due to banks, negotiable certificates of deposit and other debt instruments, and all other liabilities that do not involve any formal payment of interest but the values of which are sensitive to interest rate movements (such as Hong Kong dollar non-interest bearing demand deposits) on the books of banks. Data from retail banks, which account for about 90 per cent of the total customers’ deposits in the banking sector, are used in the calculation. It should be noted that the composite interest rate represents only average interest expenses. There are various other costs involved in the making of a loan, such as operating costs (e.g. staff and rental expenses), credit cost and hedging cost, which are not covered by the composite interest rate.

Note 2: Since June 2019, the composite interest rate and weighted deposit rate have been calculated based on the new local “Interest rate risk in the banking book” (IRRBB) framework. As such, these figures are not strictly comparable with those of previous months.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 19) that, in view of the persistently low usage of drop-in boxes at designated post offices and the convenience of streamlined online services, it will cease accepting paper applications for Full Driving Licence (FDL) renewal via these drop-in boxes at post offices from June 1 to consolidate resources and enhance service efficiency. The TD encourages the public to make good use of the more convenient and expeditious online renewal services.

     At present, an FDL holder should renew the FDL within four months before its expiry date or within three years after it has expired. Members of the public may submit an online renewal application via GovHK using their “iAM Smart+” account with the digital signing function or a valid personal digital certificate.

     In addition, to remind and enable the public to renew the FDL in time, the TD will send by post the “FDL Renewal Notice cum Application Form” (form TD 578) to FDL holders around three months prior to its expiry, and another reminder (form TD 601) to those whose FDLs have expired for nearly three years and are yet to be renewed. Both are printed with a Renewal Password. Members of the public may submit an online application using the Renewal Password and other personal information including their identification document number for authentication to complete renewal procedures conveniently. If the applicant’s address has not changed within three months upon receipt of the Renewal Password, submission of address proof is not needed during the online application process, further streamlining the procedures.

     As of end-April 2025, nearly half of the FDL applicants had opted for online renewal, making it the most popular local e-licensing service after the International Driving Permit, showing the public’s gradual shift from paper to online applications. The TD therefore implements the above service adjustment to make better use of public resources.

     The TD encourages the public to make good use of online applications to enjoy the convenience of e-services. As for paper applications, the current arrangements for submission through the counters and drop-in boxes at the TD’s Licensing Offices as well as by post remain unchanged. The public may refer to the TD’s website for details of FDL renewal.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Ms Sun Meijun, at Government House today (May 19) to exchange views on strengthening enforcement and co-operation between Hong Kong and Mainland Customs. Also attending the meeting were the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip; and the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat.
 
Mr Lee welcomed Ms Sun and her delegation to Hong Kong to attend the World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia/Pacific Regional Heads of Customs Administrations Conference. He expressed his gratitude to the General Administration of Customs for supporting the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department in its bid for the Vice-Chairperson for the Asia/Pacific region of the WCO (2024-2026), which was elected in June last year. Such an election not only reflects the support of the country and the Asia-Pacific region for Hong Kong but also consolidates Hong Kong’s role as a “super-connector”.
 
Mr Lee also mentioned Ms Sun’s presence at the signing ceremonies of co-operation documents between the General Administration of Customs and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, which aim to promote the safety and seamless flow of people and goods between the Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as co-operation on exporting Hong Kong dairy and meat products to the Mainland. These initiatives will enhance Hong Kong’s position as an international trade and shipping centre, laying a solid foundation for further co-operation between Hong Kong and Mainland Customs.
 
On enforcement co-operation, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong and Mainland Customs have been working together to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities and prevent and detect smuggling of contraband through various measures, including the exchange of intelligence and conducting joint operations. He said he hopes that Hong Kong and Mainland Customs in future can continue to maintain close co-operation on immigration and customs clearance, anti-smuggling and anti-drug trafficking, as well as trade facilitation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 19) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Municipality of Montenegro of the State of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and Aurora County of the State of South Dakota and Douglas County of the State of Illinois in the United States (US) respectively, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 9 400 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Brazil; and about 12 290 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 1.19 million poultry eggs from the US in the first three months of this year.

“The CFS has contacted the Brazilian and American authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 19) that Mui Wo Swimming Pool in Islands District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 4.30pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Secretary of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee, Mr Huang Qiang, at Government House today (May 19) to exchange views on co-operation and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and Jilin. Also attending the meeting were the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Clement Woo, and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip.
 
Mr Lee welcomed Mr Huang and his delegation to Hong Kong for promotion activities on Jilin-Hong Kong economic and trade exchanges and Jilin’s industries. Noting that Jilin serves as an important gateway for the country’s northward opening-up under the Belt and Road Initiative, Mr Lee highlighted that Jilin boasts a robust industrial and manufacturing sector, particularly excelling in the manufacturing of automobiles and high-speed trains, of which Jilin’s expertise is unmatched nationally. As a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong will continue to play its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, fostering international exchanges and co-operation to assist Jilin and other Mainland provinces and cities in expanding to global markets, while attracting more external investment to the country.
 
Mr Lee said that Hong Kong has long been the largest source of external investment in Jilin, with cumulative investments exceeding US$9 billion as of 2024. Additionally, Hong Kong’s arts and youth groups have frequently visited Jilin in recent years for exchange activities, reflecting the close ties and deep friendship between the two places in areas such as economic and trade, culture and arts, and youth exchanges.
 
He added that the launch of direct flights between Hong Kong and Changchun, Jilin Province, in December last year will further enhance economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two places, fostering people-to-people bonds. Hong Kong will continue to deepen its multifaceted exchanges and co-operation with Jilin, leveraging complementary strengths so the two places can jointly make greater contributions to the country’s development.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Buildings Department approved 15 building plans in March, with three on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories.
 
     Of the approved plans, eight were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, one was for commercial development, one was for factory and industrial development, and five were for community services developments.
 
     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on 10 building projects which, when completed, will provide 74 150 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 794 units, and 28 202 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for six building projects.
 
     The department also issued 23 occupation permits, with 10 on Hong Kong Island, eight in Kowloon and five in the New Territories.
 
     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 147 050 sq m involving 2 577 units, and 70 865 sq m was for non-domestic use.
 
     The declared cost of new buildings completed in March totalled about $8.6 billion.
 
     In addition, nine demolition consents were issued.
 
     The department received 3 299 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in March and issued 676 removal orders on UBWs.
 
     The full version of the Monthly Digest for March can be viewed on the Buildings Department’s homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).