Month: June 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) today alerted the public to fraudulent SMS messages purportedly issued by the department which invite recipients to claim a profits tax subsidy via a hyperlink provided.

The IRD clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent SMS messages and has reported the case to Police for further investigation.

It reminded the public to stay alert to suspicious SMS messages and not visit the hyperlinks provided in such messages nor disclose any personal information.

The IRD is on the SMS Sender Registration Scheme under the Office of the Communications Authority, meaning all SMS messages issued by the department will bear “#HK IRD” in the SMS Sender ID to help people to verify the sender’s identity.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

In view of the ongoing protests and riots across the US recently, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today reminded Hong Kong residents who are already there or intend to visit the US to attend to their personal safety.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said residents who intend to visit the US or are already there should monitor the local situation, exercise caution, avoid large gatherings of people and pay attention to local announcements on the latest situation.

The Security Bureau has updated the outbound travel alerts webpage for the US and will continue to closely monitor the situation there. Any update will be issued through the media, the bureau’s mobile app, and the webpage.

Hong Kong residents in the US who need assistance can call the Immigration Department’s 24-hour hotline at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the department’s mobile app.

They can also send a message to the 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline, or submit an online assistance request form.

Alternatively, they may contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in the US by calling the Embassy at (1) 2024952216, the Consulate-General in New York at (1) 2126953125, the Consulate-General in San Francisco at (1) 4159296998, the Consulate-General in Los Angeles at (1) 2138078052, or the Consulate-General in Chicago at (1) 3123973015.

Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of Outbound Travel Information service to register their contact details and itinerary when outside Hong Kong.

The information provided allows the Immigration Department to disseminate practical information to them through appropriate means on a timely basis when necessary.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) today (June 9) alerted members of the public to fraudulent SMS messages purportedly issued by the IRD, which invite recipients to claim profits tax subsidy via a hyperlink provided.

     The IRD clarified that it has no connection with these SMS messages and has reported the case to the Police for further investigation.

     The IRD is registered in the SMS Sender Registration Scheme of the Office of the Communications Authority. All SMS messages issued by the IRD will bear “#HK IRD” in the SMS Sender ID to enable members of the public to verify the identity of the SMS sender. Members of the public should stay alert to suspicious SMS messages, not visit hyperlinks provided in such messages, and not disclose any personal information.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session after attending a radio programme today (June 8):

Reporter: Can you briefly recap in English how legalising the basketball betting could help combat illegal gambling and how can they support local sports development? And how much tax is expected to be generated? And also how will the government strike a balance between legalising basketball betting and also advert against gambling especially among young people in the city?

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: For the government, we don’t encourage any kind of gambling. When combating the illegal gambling problem, we have multipronged approach. The first and the most important one is law enforcement, so through law enforcement we will take serious actions against those illegal gambling organisations and people involved in illegal gambling is in fact a criminal offense and can be subject to a penalty of $50,000 and also nine months in jail.

The second one is public education, this is very important that we need to let Hong Kong people know the consequences of illegal gambling and we will encourage people to understand how to avoid illegal gambling and in fact gambling. We will take a series of measures and put in more efforts and resources in enhancing public education. Thirdly, for those who already have gambling problems, we will provide counselling services. Currently, we have four counselling centres carrying out these counselling services.  

The fourth and last one, we can see it as a last resort. When the illegal gambling problem is so serious, we need to channel the illegal gambling to a regulated gambling regime. With illegal basketball gambling, we are also taking these four approaches. I will attend the LegCo (Legislative Council) Panel Meeting tomorrow to report on the results of the public consultation that we have conducted months ago. And during the consultation process, 90 per cent of the people who submitted their proposals, they supported the regulated basketball gambling regime, and this will be modelling on the current football gambling regime. So, tomorrow I will introduce the consultation results and will also report to the LegCo on the next step that we are going to take. 

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Women Empowerment Fund is open for the first round of applications in 2025-26 from today until July 8.

The fund subsidises projects that support women in balancing their career and family commitments, raise awareness of women’s physical and mental health, and unlock their potential.

The 2025-26 thematic projects include the Greater Bay Area Exchange Programme and the Programme on Women’s Participation in Community Services.

The exchange programme will enable women to broaden their horizons, deepen their understanding of national affairs, and interact with local residents, thereby promoting women’s development. 

The community services programme aims to encourage women to make use of their own strengths to plan and launch community service projects, thereby promoting care and inclusion.

Each exchange project and community services project shall be completed within one year, with the funding capped at $120,000 and $400,000 respectively.

Set up in June 2023, the fund aims to empower women, regardless of their age, occupation or background, to realise their full potential in their respective roles, thereby promoting women’s development in Hong Kong.

Interested eligible women’s groups and non-governmental organisations may submit an electronic or paper application.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     In view of the rcently ongoing protests and riots across the United States, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government reminds Hong Kong residents who are already there or intend to visit the United States to attend to personal safety.

A Government spokesman said, “The Government reminds residents who intend to visit the United Stated or are already there to monitor the local situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety, avoid large gatherings of people, and pay attention to local announcements on the latest situation.”

In view of the latest developments, the Security Bureau has already updated the Outbound Travel Alerts (OTA) webpage regarding supplementary information for the United States and will continue to closely monitor the situation there. Any updates will be issued through the media, the bureau’s mobile app, and the OTA webpage (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota).
    
     Hong Kong residents in the United States who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department (ImmD) at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the Immigration Department Mobile Application, send a message to the 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline, or submit the Online Assistance Request Form, or contact the Chinese Embassy/Consulate-General in the United States of America at the consular protection hotline: (Embassy – (1) 2024952216, Consulate-General in New York – (1) 2126953125, Consulate-General in San Francisco – (1) 4159296998, Consulate-General in Los Angeles – (1) 2138078052, Consulate-General in Chicago – (1) 3123973015).
​
Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of Outbound Travel Information service (www.gov.hk/roti) of the ImmD to register their contact details and itinerary when outside Hong Kong. The information provided allows the ImmD to disseminate practical information to them through appropriate means, including SMS on mobile phones, on a timely basis when necessary.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The AI Self-Learning Fabric Inspecting System is a groundbreaking solution designed to modernize and automate the global textile inspection process. Traditionally, fabric inspection has relied heavily on manual labor, with a speed of just 10 yards per minute and only about 70% defect detection accuracy. It also demands experienced operators with at least three years of hands-on expertise and causes significant visual fatigue. Our system transforms this outdated method by offering a fully automated, 24/7 operation capable of inspecting fabric at 120 yards per minute-12 times faster than current market standards-while achieving up to 99% detection accuracy.

At its core, the system utilizes dual AI algorithms: one for automatic color temperature adjustment (ranging from 1000K to 11000K), and another for precise fabric tension control. These intelligent features allow it to outperform the human eye in detecting subtle defects. The system’s user-centric design enables a single operator to install fabric within five minutes (compared to at least 20 minutes in traditional setups) and to manage multiple machines simultaneously. Operator training requires only two days after AI engineers configure the system.

The system went through 30 rounds of prototyping and AI optimization to reach its current performance. It drastically reduces human error and reliance on skilled labor, and it minimizes workplace injuries due to its ergonomic, automated process.
In terms of business impact, the system offers clear advantages: over 50% labor cost savings per unit, more than 30% material waste reduction, and increased production efficiency. It marks defect locations with 99% accuracy and is capable of future updates that include automated defect pattern analysis, helping fabric suppliers improve quality control and manufacturing processes.

Environmentally, it reduces resource waste and improves logistics efficiency by lowering the rate of rejected or returned shipments. Socially, it lightens labor intensity by 40%, enhancing worker health and safety. From a strategic standpoint, it helps bridge the gap between fabric suppliers and global fashion brands by responding to digital transformation needs. This positions the system as a vital component of next-generation smart manufacturing.

By introducing automation, precision, and intelligence into fabric inspection, this system reshapes the textile industry’s production line, offering high-speed performance, scalable deployment, and sustainable benefits.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun concluded a six-day visit to Europe by arriving in Munich to start the final day of his visit to Germany, where he attended pitch event.

On June 8, Mr Sun officiated at the prize presentation ceremony of the pitch event co-organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) and a local youth entrepreneurship organisation.

In delivering his remarks, Mr Sun praised the candidates for their business proposals ingeniously integrating with Hong Kong’s strengths and targeting the Asian markets. He highlighted that technology as well as talent are key engines driving the economy and society towards high-quality development.

As Asia’s world city, Hong Kong is proactively attracting international high-calibre talent to tie in with the development under the strategic positioning of the “eight centres”, so as to inject new impetus into its high-quality development, he added.

Last November, HKTE visited Germany and established a partnership network with a student association from the Technische Universität München and a local youth entrepreneurship organisation.

Thereafter, the HKTE collaborated with the organisation to launch the pitch event targeting students from eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme and young entrepreneurs, inviting talent in Germany with entrepreneurial ambitions and intentions to develop in Asia.

Nearly 580 proposals for the pitch event were received across various fields, including artificial intelligence, deep tech, climate and sustainability. Twelve winners were selected and will be arranged to tour Hong Kong and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in September to explore the region’s innovation and technology ecosystem, industry support and entrepreneurial opportunities.

The HKTE delegation’s visit to Europe also encompasses Switzerland and France. In Switzerland, the delegation exchanged with representatives from three of the world’s top 100 universities, namely the Université de Genève, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and EHL Hospitality Business School, and invited two representatives from the hospitality sector in Hong Kong to share insights on the city’s tourism development and opportunities.

In France, the HKTE co-hosts an event with the Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires to proactively recruit talent in the finance and commerce sectors to pursue development in Hong Kong.

During his stay in Germany, Mr Sun also had lunch with the Junior Chamber International Germany and a group of foreign students. He learnt about their lives, introduced Hong Kong’s latest developments and invited them to consider pursuing their development in the city.