Month: June 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Committee on Education, Technology & Talents (CETT), led by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki met the presidents of eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities today to exchange views on the work of promoting integrated development of education, technology and talent.

At the meeting, Mr Chan introduced the CETT’s work plan to the university presidents.

He noted that the Government attracts quality talent from around the world and nurtures local talent through various measures, such as scholarship programmes and increasing the non-local student quota.

Starting from the 2024-25 academic year (AY), the non-local student quota for UGC-funded institutions has been doubled from 20% to 40%, while non-local undergraduate enrolment has increased from 19.9% in 2023-24 AY to 23.2% in 2024-25 AY.

In light of the sudden policy changes regarding higher education overseas, Mr Chan thanked the UGC-funded universities for providing comprehensive support measures for affected students in a holistic approach as well as seizing the opportunity to attract more top talent to pursue their studies in Hong Kong so as to give full play to Hong Kong’s role as an international post-secondary education hub.

Mr Chan stressed that the Government will do its utmost to provide assistance and convenience for overseas talent interested in studying or conducting research in Hong Kong’s higher education institutions, including striving to further expand the non-local student quota based on actual needs.

As at the date of the meeting, the UGC-funded universities have received about 850 transfer enquiries related to the sudden policy changes regarding higher education overseas. In addition, many UGC-funded universities have recorded a double-digit year-on-year increase in the number of applications from non-local students for the new AY.

The meeting also introduced to the presidents the scheme – which will be officially launched in mid-July – jointly implemented by the Education Bureau and the Development Bureau to facilitate the market to increase the supply of student hostels on a self-financing and privately-funded basis.

The presidents of the eight UGC-funded universities expressed their continued full support for the CETT’s work, and will work closely with the Government to attract talent from all over the world and nurture local talent to build a quality talent pool for the future development of Hong Kong and the country.

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong and Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun also attended the meeting.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) today announced that the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) will receive a $450 million sponsorship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) to support the hosting of these events in Hong Kong.

Chief Executive John Lee witnessed the signing ceremony held at the Central Government Offices today, in which Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law and HKJC Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges represented the Government and the HKJC respectively.

The HKJC will be the exclusive partner sponsor for the Hong Kong competition region of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG.

Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Law emphasised that the successful hosting of the Games is a major priority for Hong Kong this year.

She highlighted that the HKJC’s staunch support and sponsorship would significantly boost event preparations in Hong Kong, particularly in supporting volunteer service programmes, citywide community and school promotional activities, and initiatives enabling underprivileged groups and youth to attend the events as spectators.

The sports chief also expressed gratitude for the HKJC’s contribution and reaffirmed Hong Kong’s commitment to co-hosting with Guangdong and Macao a simple, safe and wonderful Games.

The Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government looks forward to collaborating with the HKJC to further promote sports development in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho attended the Asia-Pacific Network for Housing Research (APNHR) 2025 Conference at Tsinghua University and visited the Qingtangwan public rental housing project in Beijing today.

The APNHR is an international organisation focusing on housing issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The conference was held at Tsinghua University this year with the theme “Towards Resilience and Inclusivity: Adapting to Multifaceted Challenges in the Asia-Pacific Region”.

The conference convened experts and scholars in the fields of architecture, urban planning, sociology, environmental studies, and others from the Asia-Pacific region to have in-depth exchanges on the housing development and challenges in the region, and to jointly explore ways to promote innovative housing construction and development directions.

At the conference’s roundtable session this morning, Ms Ho shared the opportunities and challenges in housing development faced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Housing Bureau (HB) and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA).

She said that the current-term Hong Kong SAR Government has actively addressed Hong Kong’s housing problems since taking office, overcoming livelihood issues and addressing people’s concerns by identifying sites and enhancing the quantity, speed, efficiency and quality of public housing construction.

The HB is working full steam ahead on implementing groundbreaking innovative policy initiatives, such as Light Public Housing (LPH) and Basic Housing Units, to tackle the long-standing, big and difficult issue that has plagued Hong Kong for many years and to provide the grassroots with options to improve their living environment and quality of life.

Ms Ho highlighted that the HB and the HKHA have been making use of various innovative construction technologies, such as Modular Integrated Construction, construction robots and smart project management platforms, to enhance construction efficiency and build LPH expeditiously, so as to improve the living conditions of those who are inadequately housed as soon as possible.

She also introduced at the conference the “well-being design” guide launched by the HB and the HKHA last year, which serves as a reference for the future design of new public housing and the improvement works of existing public rental housing estates.

Apart from housing construction, the HKHA has also continued to enhance the management efficiency and service quality of its nearly 200 public rental housing estates by actively promoting smart estate management and introducing new technologies to optimise estate management and building maintenance services, to provide a better living environment for its residents.

In the afternoon, Ms Ho visited the Qingtangwan public rental housing project in Beijing. This project is a green residential area that adopted the use of prefabricated components and environmental monitoring platforms. It also implements smart community management through community apps.

Afterwards, Ms Ho met Deputy Director-General of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission of the State Council Xie Hui to exchange views on housing design and planning.

She also shared the adoption of advanced construction technologies from the Mainland in Hong Kong and the outcomes.

Yesterday, Ms Ho visited the Better House Living Tech Lab and was briefed on the practice of combining housing design concepts of quality homes and technologies on the Mainland.

The housing chief will continue her Beijing visit tomorrow before returning to Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Commissioner for Belt & Road Nicholas Ho this week led a delegation to Indonesia and Malaysia to promote Hong Kong’s professional services in the fields of infrastructure and construction and to explore opportunities for co-operation.

The delegates visited Jakarta, Indonesia on Monday and Tuesday, then proceeded to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday and today. They met government officials, business leaders and representatives of professional organisations and enterprises in both places. The trip concluded today.

Mr Ho and his delegation visited the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency and the Investment Coordinating Board in Indonesia, as well as the Public Private Partnership Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in Malaysia, to learn about economic and infrastructural developments in the two places.

While in Malaysia, they also met the country’s Minister of Transport Loke Siew Fook to learn about the planning and development of Malaysia’s transportation system, with a view to exploring opportunities for Hong Kong’s professional services to participate and contribute.

In addition, they attended presentations on signature projects in both countries, directly connecting with representatives of local enterprises to explore opportunities for investment and co-operation.

They also attended business lunch events to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages to local business leaders.

During the visits, Hong Kong representatives signed 21 Memoranda of Understanding with partners in Indonesia and Malaysia, covering such areas as business collaboration and professional services exchanges.

While in Jakarta, Mr Ho also visited a data centre, an investment development project led by a Hong Kong company, and heard about the centre’s contribution to the development of the Digital Silk Road.

Mr Ho highlighted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner and a key link in the Belt & Road Initiative.

“Indonesia and Malaysia are both undergoing rapid infrastructure development, and there is huge demand for professional services in large-scale projects such as the new capital city of Nusantara in Indonesia and the mass rapid transit system in Malaysia.”

He stressed that Hong Kong, as a super connector and a super value-adder, upholds international standards in fields such as financing, law, construction engineering, project management, logistics, transportation, and technological innovation.

“We also have a deep pool of professionals with experience especially in taking forward public-private partnerships in infrastructure projects, presenting extensive room for collaboration with Indonesia and Malaysia to seize the opportunities brought by the Belt & Road Initiative.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan attended the 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing today. He also held separate meetings with Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an and AIIB President Jin Liqun.

Mr Chan participated in the opening ceremony of the annual meeting and joined the subsequent Governors’ Official Session.

During the meeting, he witnessed the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the AIIB. Under the partnership agreement, the HKMA will collaborate closely with the AIIB to support venture capital in emerging Asia to jointly support the emerging economies in the region to drive green transformation and development of infrastructure through scientific and commercial innovation.

Speaking about the agreement, Mr Chan said that this collaboration combines and leverages the knowledge, experience, networks and strengths of the HKMA and the AIIB.

He said: “It supports emerging Asian economies in accelerating their development towards more prosperous and inclusive growth through innovation and technology. Additionally, it aids in building a more vibrant venture capital and innovation ecosystem within the region and further reinforces Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, innovation and technology centre.”

Mr Chan later met AIIB President Jin Liqun. He expressed Hong Kong’s willingness to further enhance collaboration with the AIIB amid the ongoing reshaping of the global economic landscape and the development challenges faced by emerging economies.

Such initiatives can include issuing bonds in more currencies and of various tenors, advancing investment co-operation in infrastructure loan securitisation and catastrophe bonds, and mobilising private capital to support Asia’s green and sustainable development projects and relevant technological proposals.

The Financial Secretary also reiterated Hong Kong’s support for the AIIB to establish an office in Hong Kong and said he looks forward to the proposal’s early implementation.

He also called on Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an, where both parties exchanged in-depth views on the economic and social development of the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Mr Chan highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to fully support the issuance of renminbi (RMB) sovereign bonds in Hong Kong. Efforts will also be made to enrich investment products and risk management tools, enhance RMB liquidity, and improve financial infrastructure to build a more prosperous offshore RMB business ecosystem.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department today announced reforms to its hiring policy and performance venues, aiming to provide more performance slots for use by different arts groups and to establish clearer venue identities.

Measures include repositioning the Hong Kong Coliseum. Having previously been accorded priority for sports events, it will in future be accorded priority for concerts, with more slots being provided to concert organisers in order to promote the development of a concert economy.

Meanwhile, the East Kowloon Cultural Centre will be established as the city’s prime venue for long-running performances and arts technology. This new major venue is expected to be in full operation by the end of this year, and will be equipped with advanced equipment for hosting multimedia programmes. Special booking arrangements will be announced in July.

The Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium will accord priority to Cantonese opera. Professional troupes meeting specified criteria can make special bookings throughout the year for such performances. Priority booking arrangements will be announced in July.

The Venue Partnership Scheme will also be enhanced. A sixth round of the scheme will operate for three years from April 1, 2026, providing more performance slots and deepening partnerships between venues and performing arts groups or organisations. The sixth round of the scheme will aim to strengthen venue identities, broaden the audience base, and select the best and suitable arts groups as venue partners.

Interested local performing arts groups and organisations are invited to submit proposals by 5.30pm on August 20, 2025. The Invitation for Proposals document is available at Sha Tin Town Hall and Sheung Wan Civic Centre, and can also be downloaded online.

The department will conduct two briefing sessions at the Cultural Centre – one at 10.30am on July 4 and another at 11.30am on July 14. The briefing sessions will be conducted in Cantonese. Call 2450 5692 for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The provisions of the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) regulating clinics and small practice clinics (SPCs), where registered medical practitioners and/or registered dentists practise, will come into effect on October 13. Operators of clinics and SPCs must obtain a clinic licence or a letter of exemption to continue their operations. Starting from that day, the Department of Health (DH) will begin accepting applications for clinic licences as well as requests for letters of exemption for SPCs. To help the industry fully understand the legal requirements, the DH today (June 26) held the first in-person briefing session, which was well attended by nearly 200 participants.
 
The Ordinance provides for transitional arrangements for clinics that were already in operation on or before November 30, 2018. Operators of such clinics must submit applications for clinic licences to the Director of Health (DoH) between October 13, 2025, and April 13, 2026. Depending on the circumstances, the DH may issue a provisional licence to allow these clinics to continue their operation before a full licence is issued. This allows operators to make the necessary modifications to their clinics for complying with licensing requirements. The provisional licence will expire on any of the following: the date specified by the Secretary for Health for the expiry of provisions pertaining to provisional licences; the issuance of a full licence to the licensee; or the withdrawal or rejection of the full licence application.
 
For clinics that commenced operation after November 30, 2018 (including new establishments or those relocated to new premises), operators may apply directly to the DoH for a full licence from October 13 onwards.
 
For SPCs (i.e. clinics with no more than five registered medical practitioners and/or registered dentists that meet specific conditions under the Ordinance), operators may submit request for a letter of exemption to the DoH starting from October 13 for continued operation without obtaining a licence. The DH will issue letters of exemption to those meeting the requirements of the Ordinance.
 
To help the industry fully understand the regulations, the DH has launched a publicity campaign on its website since the first quarter of this year and will progressively step up these efforts through various channels, including professional organisations, press releases, television announcements, and radio broadcasts. The DH will also arrange multiple briefing sessions for stakeholders from July to September to explain the application details and points to note. Please visit the website of the Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities (www.orphf.gov.hk) for details.