Month: June 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau continued his visit to Bordeaux in France to promote Hong Kong’s advantages as a wine and liquor trading hub to the trade.

Mr Yau held a business roundtable with representatives of the trade of Bordeaux wine, Cognac and Armagnac to discuss the latest developments of the trade and enhance co-operation on promoting wine and liquor trading.

He highlighted the business opportunities brought about by the strong growth in the demand of wine in the vast Asia-Pacific market, noting that market research revealed China’s wine market generated approximately US$31 billion in revenue in 2024 and is projected to reach US$54 billion in 2030, an annual growth rate of almost 10%.

With Hong Kong’s wine duty abolished in 2008, the city is now an international wine trading hub and one of the world’s top three wine auction centres, Mr Yau added.

As regards liquor, the commerce chief said that France remains one of Hong Kong’s top liquor trading partners.

In 2024, Hong Kong imported US$831 million worth of liquor, and France was its second-largest import market, accounting for 30% of the total. Brandy continued to be a leading category, particularly through high-end retail channels catering to the Mainland market.

Mr Yau outlined that Hong Kong took introduced a two-tier liquor duty system last October, under which the duty rate was reduced from 100% to 10% for the portion above $200.

“As a ‘super connector’, linking the East and West, Hong Kong with its strategic location and unique advantages plays a pivotal role in the global liquor trade as a gateway to the fast-growing Asia and Mainland markets.”

Between 2013 and 2023, imports of spirits in Asia grew 79.3%, a significantly faster rate than the global increase of 42% in the same period. The Mainland is now the third-largest importer of Cognac.

Mr Yau pointed out that Hong Kong’s signature events such as the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair and the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, along with biennial events such as ProWine Hong Kong and Vinexpo Asia, provide French producers with unparalleled platforms to promote their brands to international buyers, distributors and liquor enthusiasts.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart tomorrow for visits to Tianjin and Beijing, and return to Hong Kong on Thursday.

Mr Chan will lead a delegation from the innovation and technology sector to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 in Tianjin. He will participate in several thematic sessions to deliver speeches and engage in discussions.

The delegation includes senior executives from the Science & Technology Parks Corporation, Cyberport and the Hong Kong Investment Corporation as well as leaders of startups under their umbrella specialising in artificial intelligence, biomedicine technologies, green and new energy technologies and aerospace technologies.

The Annual Meeting of the New Champions gathers leaders from governments, businesses, think tanks, academia and representatives from international organisations. Around 1,700 participants from over 90 countries and regions will discuss how entrepreneurship and innovation can drive economic growth in rapidly changing geopolitical and economic landscapes.

Mr Chan will also meet officials from relevant central authorities, leaders of Tianjin as well as political and business leaders from other regions to brief them on Hong Kong’s latest developments and its new advantages and opportunities.

In Beijing, the Financial Secretary will attend the 10th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and meet other governors in addition to officials from relevant central authorities.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui will depart for Beijing today. He will attend some activities of the AIIB’s Board of Governors annual meeting.

During Mr Chan and Mr Hui’s absence, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong and Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Joseph Chan will be acting secretaries respectively.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Security Bureau today held a flag-raising ceremony at the Fire & Ambulance Services Academy to mark the fifth anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.

The bureau led the disciplined services, the auxiliary services and disciplined services youth groups, and collaborated with youth uniformed groups subvented by the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau for the first time, to hold the ceremony.

The Police Band, disciplined services ceremonial guard and youth uniformed groups marched in with Chinese-style foot drill. The Fire Services Department’s flag party conducted the ceremony during the playing and singing of the national anthem, accompanied by a fly-past by a Government Flying Service helicopter, and concluded with a performance by the Police Band.

Officiating at the event, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki said the promulgation and implementation of the National Security Law have laid a solid legal foundation for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.

The security law is a solid shield protecting Hong Kong, safeguarding the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”, and protecting the fundamental well-being of Hong Kong people, he added.

Mr Chan also officiated at the award presentation for the literature and art creation competition to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the security law. The competition encouraged colleagues of the bureau and disciplined and auxiliary services to create artistic works on how the National Security Law fortifies national security and protects social stability.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

From the dunes, then into the jungle, and suddenly, an oasis comes into view. Strolling leisurely, the surroundings shift and transform before your eyes while the cheerful laughter of children playing echoes around. This is not a dream, it is a real life outdoor playground at Sham Shui Po Park, managed by the Leisure & Cultural Services Department.

Sham Shui Po Park, which has served the community for over 40 years, was recently revitalised as part of the Transformation of Public Play Spaces.

Prioritising inclusivity

Inspired by nature, the redesign features themes of water, sand, and plants, creating three zones: Sandy Bunker, Jungle Meadow and Oasis Spring. After consultation and design, which includes input from youngsters, the upgraded park has reopened, drawing many families and children to enjoy the new facilities.

 

The Sandy Bunker playground features a popular sand pit and a variety of slides. In addition to roller, group, and curved slides, visitors will also discover the longest spiral tube slide that exists at public playgrounds in Hong Kong. At over 6m high and 13m long, it offers a fun and interactive experience for visitors of all ages.

Nearby Jungle Meadow provides a natural play space with a face-to-face swing, rope swing, wheelchair-friendly carousel, percussion walls, and a play tunnel for hide-and-seek, fostering family fun and group play.

The Oasis Spring area offers climbing rope nets, trampolines, water play features, and sensory walls, creating a diverse adventure zone for children to explore.

Community-engaging playground

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department oversees over 680 outdoor playgrounds and by way of its Transformation of Public Play Spaces plan, the department aims to revitalise more than 170 play spaces across the city. So far, 11 projects have been completed and opened to the public.

Leisure & Cultural Services Department Senior Project Manager Vivian Ho said the department provides non-prescriptive and flexible playscapes according to the site topography, introducing natural or environmentally friendly elements, such as small climbing hills for toddlers, sand pits, water play facilities or small labyrinths that captivate children and enable them to unleash their creativity.

 

Architectural Services Department Senior Landscape Architect Grant Liu added that the design concept for the play space redevelopment project began with community engagement, embodying a “people-centred” design philosophy. He highlighted that the goal is to promote the idea of inclusive play in more playgrounds.

“The Spouting Whale and Octopus Fountain have water play basins and tables at different heights to allow children of all ages and those in wheelchairs to play together. As an added bonus, the tube slide is made of stainless steel, which is safe for children with hearing implants, and does not create static electricity like plastics or fiberglass slides do.”

Kid-friendly design

Tong Mei Road Children’s Playground, which was recently renovated, serves as a prime example of how children were treated as the protagonists of the playgrounds because their opinions are indispensable. The playground’s design consultant initiated a participatory design programme for the renovation. It included setting up street booths, questionnaires, parent-child workshops, and design workshops specifically for children, giving the consultant a lot of inspiration.

A workshop led by the playground’s design consultant Kevin Siu provided children with a unique opportunity to create their own playground. During the event, the young participants crafted models of imaginative play areas based on their ideas.

He explained that when sharing their designs for the playground, it was evident that different groups of children, despite being unfamiliar with each other, shared common features.

“Many expressed a desire for a high platform where they could escape from a pretend shark, which included hide-and-seek zones where they could feel temporarily protected.”

The organisers were surprised by the enthusiasm and creativity displayed. In a group of over 20 children who did not know each other beforehand, more than half raised their hands when asked if they knew certain games. The response highlighted how children naturally connect through play.

The workshop served as a compelling example of how children socialise and why public play spaces are vital platforms for engaging young minds. Such environments not only stimulate creativity but also help shape their collective memories and social interactions.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The 5th Anniversary of Promulgation & Implementation of Hong Kong National Security Law Forum was held today, inviting renowned legal experts and academics to review the legislative intent and background of the security law, and discuss its fruitful achievements.

CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong officiated at the forum’s opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Chief Executive and Hong Kong National Security Committee Chairman John Lee also delivered a keynote speech at the event.

Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and National Security Adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong SAR Zhou Ji, Vice-Chairperson of the Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhang Yong, Head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR Dong Jingwei, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR Cui Jianchun and Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison Peng Jingtang also delivered speeches at the ceremony.

Mr Xia said the implementation of the security law over the past five years has proven the law to be a “guardian” in defending the “one country, two systems” principle and in safeguarding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

He added that Hong Kong must safeguard national security in the full process of implementing the “one country, two systems” principle, ensure that the governance of the Hong Kong SAR is firmly in the hands of the patriots, be steadfast in safeguarding security and promoting development as well as effectively protect the human rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people and maintain the city’s unique position and advantages.

Looking to the future, Mr Xia said the security law will surely safeguard the steady and far-reaching journey of the “one country, two systems” principle, enabling Hong Kong to achieve new and greater accomplishments in the grand endeavour of building a strong nation and realising national rejuvenation.

The Chief Executive thanked Mr Xia for his heartfelt review of the positive significance of the security law in restoring Hong Kong’s stability and implementing the “one country, two systems” principle in the past five years, and for providing direction for Hong Kong’s future security and development.

Mr Lee put forward several main points, stressing that Hong Kong must fully and accurately implement the “one country, two systems” principle and thoroughly adopt a holistic approach to national security; adhere to the solid foundation of the rule of law and leverage Hong Kong’s international advantages; cherish the stable situation and seize development opportunities; and enhance traditional advantages, focusing on reform and innovation.

He also noted that Hong Kong should continue to safeguard national security and make use of the stable situation to develop a vibrant economy, achieving prosperous development and improving people’s livelihoods.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said in his welcome remarks that the most important direction for safeguarding national security in the future is to balance the relation between security and development, strictly adhering to the principle of rule of law and the requirements of respecting and protecting human rights and freedoms set out in Articles 4 and 5 of the security law.

This would enable people to study, work and live with peace of mind and unite to seek breakthroughs and changes, overcoming various challenges to consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international centre and encouraging people from abroad to come to Hong Kong for development, Mr Lam added.

There were two panel sessions in the forum, with the first session reviewing the legislative intent and background of the security law.

In the second session, Mr Lam engaged with young leaders from various sectors to explore the vital role of the youth in safeguarding national security, and envisage further joint endeavours between the Government and the community in enhancing legal literacy.

Concluding the forum, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan said that today’s event aimed to provide an in-depth and broad discussion loaded with insights and humour.