Month: July 2025

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Choi Yuk-lin returns from Japan

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin concluded a visit to Osaka, Japan and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.

 

Ms Choi paid a courtesy call on Consul-General of China in Osaka Xue Jian this morning and briefed him Hong Kong’s current education policies.

 

She also visited the Confucius Institute at Osaka Sangyo University and met teachers and students of the institute to learn about its work to promote Chinese language studies and Chinese culture in Japan.

 

Earlier in her trip, the education chief attended a seminar that formed part of the World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. She spoke at it of Hong Kong’s experience in delivering quality and equitable education and promoted Hong Kong’s advantages as an international hub for post-secondary education.

 

Ms Choi also met representatives from the UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization and officials from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology, as well as representatives from Japanese universities and from other places.

 

She also exchanged views with a Hong Kong citizen working in the foundational education in Japan and, together with Hong Kong secondary students participating in an exchange tour, visited the Sakai City Traditional Townhouse Museums.

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Import of poultry meat and products from Province of Toledo of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain suspended

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 29) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Province of Toledo of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area 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 50 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 50 000 poultry eggs from Spain in the first six months of this year.

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

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One more nomination form for Election Committee Subsector By-elections received today

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

One more nomination form for Election Committee Subsector By-elections received today 
     If there is a contested election for an EC subsector, a poll will be held on September 7.
 
     The By-elections will fill a total of 93 vacancies in the membership of the EC to be returned by election involving 28 subsectors. The breakdown of nomination forms received for the relevant subsectors is set out below:
 

First Sector     Besides, 10 vacancies involving five subsectors to be returned by nomination will be filled through supplementary nominations by designated bodies. The breakdown of nomination forms received for the relevant subsectors is set out below:
 

AccountancyParticulars of the nominated persons received today will be uploaded to the election website (www.elections.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:30

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Youth festival kicks off

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today unveiled a series of youth activities as he officiated at the “2025 youthfest@HK Kick-off Ceremony”.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan remarked that in 2022 the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released its Youth Development Blueprint, containing policies aimed at nurturing a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, and instilling in them global perspectives, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking.

Since then, the Government has implemented about 250 specific actions and measures, including youthfest@HK.

The theme of the festival is “Nurture Positive Thinking, Promote Innovation and Inspire Creativity”.

Mr Chan said the festival offers young people a great opportunity to develop their potential, enhance their knowledge, and share their experiences.

Involving tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, over the past two years the festival has presented more than 400 activities, attracting over 400,000 participants.

Mr Chan encouraged young people to participate in this year’s varied festival activities.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Mr Chan encouraged youth organisations to organise activities to commemorate the anniversary as partner events to the festival, with a view to deepening young people’s understanding of Hong Kong’s and China’s history, and fostering a sense of patriotism.

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SED shares Hong Kong’s experience in achieving quality and equitable education in Osaka

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

SED shares Hong Kong’s experience in achieving quality and equitable education in Osaka 
     The seminar, held on July 28, aimed at exploring how to guarantee equitable learning opportunities for all. In her speech titled “Provision of Quality and Equitable Education in Hong Kong”, Dr Choi outlined Hong Kong’s policy measures and achievements in providing quality and equitable education at the systemic levels.
 
     Dr Choi said that the Government is committed to investing in education and ensuring equitable distribution of educational resources. In addition to providing 12 years’ free primary and secondary education through public sector schools, it caters to individual differences and promotes whole-person development through diversified support mechanisms. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 results, Hong Kong ranked second in educational equity among countries or economies with high academic achievements, indicating that the family socio-economic status of students had minimal bearing on their performance. Moreover, the Government has launched the Kindergarten Education Scheme to provide good-quality and highly affordable kindergarten education, enabling all children aged from 3 to 6 to access different modes of kindergarten education based on their needs. Currently, about 90 per cent of half-day kindergarten programmes are free of charge, while school fees for whole-day programmes are maintained at a low level.  
 
     On primary and secondary education, the Education Bureau (EDB) has developed a broad and balanced school curriculum framework that helps students build a solid knowledge foundation, nurture proper values and attitudes, and develop generic skills. A diverse range of life-wide learning activities is also provided to enrich students’ horizons. Coupled with the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) as the university entrance examination, the curriculum features flexibility and diversity, offering not only traditional academic subjects but also applied learning subjects for selection, which demonstrates the concept of convergence of vocational and general education and helps students plan their careers. Adopting the standards-referenced reporting system to report candidates’ examination results, which is in line with the international standards, the HKDSE is widely recognised locally and abroad. 
 
     In the seminar, Dr Choi also talked about the EDB’s targeted support for non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students and students with special educational needs (SEN). It has been providing NCS students, from pre-primary to secondary levels, with all-encompassing learning support to facilitate their mastery of Chinese language for integration into the community. The EDB is also dedicated to promoting an inclusive learning environment. It has been encouraging schools to adopt the Whole School Approach in supporting students with SEN and implement integrated education based on the spirit of “equal opportunities and teaching students in accordance with their abilities”, enabling students with SEN to integrate into ordinary schools.
 
     Dr Choi said that Hong Kong’s post-secondary education is highly internationalised and diversified. The quality of teaching and learning is consistently ranked among the top in the international comparative studies, with five publicly funded universities ranking among the world’s top 100. In addition to the Government’s substantial subsidy for tuition fees (87 per cent), various universities provide scholarships, grants and loans to students to ensure that no qualified students will be denied access to higher education due to financial difficulties.
 
     The Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub to provide students with broader international perspectives and attract more outstanding talent from around the world. At present, around one out of five students and 70 per cent of academic staff of publicly funded universities come from outside Hong Kong. These universities have also signed over 2 600 student exchange agreements with institutions around the world. In the 2025 ranking of the world’s most international universities published by the Times Higher Education, Hong Kong’s publicly funded universities achieved encouraging results by claiming all top four spots.
 
     Furthermore, the Government has been actively promoting vocational and professional education and training. By developing universities of applied sciences, and supporting the Vocational Training Council and other post-secondary institutions’ provision of post-secondary programmes of applied nature that blend theory and practice, the Government fosters co-operation between industries and education and collaboration between schools and businesses, and provides young people with diversified learning and employment opportunities as well as multiple pathways, with a view to nurturing more high-quality talent with applied knowledge and skills.
 
     On July 27 and 28, Dr Choi met representatives from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, officials of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, representatives from several Japanese universities, and education representatives from other places attending the “Theme Weeks” of the Expo to discuss further education collaboration and exchanges.
 
     On July 27, she exchanged views with a Hong Kong person working in the field of basic education in Japan to learn about the latest developments in Japanese basic education. On the same day, she visited the Sakai City Traditional Townhouse Museums together with Hong Kong secondary students participating in an exchange tour in Japan and learned about the students’ experiential learning.
 
     This morning, Dr Choi paid a courtesy call on the Consul-General of China in Osaka, Mr Xue Jian, to introduce Hong Kong’s latest education policies. She also visited the Confucius Institute at Osaka Sangyo University and met its teachers and students to learn about the Institute’s experience in promoting Chinese language studies and Chinese culture in Japan. Dr Choi will conclude her visit this afternoon and return to Hong Kong.
Issued at HKT 18:43

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Implementation of regulatory regime for stablecoin issuers

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) published today (July 29) the following documents for the implementation of the regulatory regime for stablecoin issuers, which will come into effect on August 1, 2025: 
 

The two sets of guidelines will also be published in the Gazette on August 1, 2025. As the regulatory regime comes into effect, market participants are advised to observe the Stablecoins Ordinance and the relevant guidelines. 

Parties interested in applying for a licence are encouraged to contact the HKMA, via stablecoin_licensing@hkma.gov.hk by August 31, 2025 (Sunday), so that the HKMA may communicate regulatory expectations and provide feedback as appropriate.

While licensing will be an ongoing process, interested parties that consider themselves sufficiently ready and wish to be considered early should submit the application to the HKMA by September 30, 2025 (Tuesday).

The HKMA would like to remind market participants to exercise due caution in their public communications, as well as refrain from making statements that could be misinterpreted or create unrealistic expectations. Among other things, it is an offence under the Stablecoins Ordinance to falsely claim oneself as a licensee or an applicant.

As of today, no licence has been issued by the HKMA. In future, the public may refer to the register of licensed stablecoin issuers as shown on the HKMA’s website. Members of the public are advised to stay vigilant to any persons who claim to be regulated or licensed stablecoin issuers in Hong Kong, as well as those who claim to be applying for a licence. Members of the public who hold unlicensed stablecoins are at their own risk.

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Results of applications for 14th-round funding exercise of Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme announced

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau today (July 29) announced the application results of the 14th-round funding exercise of the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme (ACDFS). A total of 14 successful applications (two for Springboard Grant and 12 for Project Grant) will be funded, involving a total amount of around $38.93 million.

The successful applications of the 14th round are of a high standard, with a diverse representation covering arts education/appreciation/promotion, community arts, dance, media arts, multi-disciplinary arts, music and theatre. The successful applicants (categories and names of organisations in alphabetical order) are as follows:

Name of organisation Title of proposal Category
Springboard Grant
Hong Kong Open Printshop Limited Beyond Ordinary – The Contemporary Book Art Arts Education/Appreciation/ Promotion
The Hong Kong Virtuoso Chorus Limited Hong Kong Inter-School Choral Festival 2026 Arts Education/Appreciation/ Promotion
Project Grant
The Conservancy Association x Fragrant Village Creative Limited
(joint applicant)		 Polishing the Pearl: Shen Zhen Hong Kong Rural Arts Renewal Project at Kat O Community Arts
H.D. X International Festival Limited Hong Kong Dance Exchange Dance
HongkongDance-FLSH Limited Dynamic Dance Dialogue 2026 Dance
Passoverdance Limited Fleeting Moments – Stories of Cities and Bodies Dance
Dimension Plus Limited Unravelling A.I. Bias with Generative A.I. in Arts Media Arts
No Discipline Limited Whatever Wherever Expanded Multi-disciplinary Arts
King’s Harmonica Quintet Limited 2nd Hong Kong International Chromatic Harmonica Competition Music
Music Lab Company Limited Music Lab Projects 2026-2027 Music
Opera Box Limited Monteverdi: L’incoronazione di Poppea Music
Alice Theatre Laboratory Limited An Experimental Project on Symbolist Theatre Theatre
Hong Kong 3 Arts Musical Institute Limited GOTTA DANCE – Musical Theatre Project (tentative title) Theatre
Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio Limited The 2nd edition of the Hong Kong International Shakespeare Festival Theatre

The 14th-round funding exercise continues to implement the Incentive Matching Sum, an initiative introduced in the 13th round to encourage successful Project Grant applicants to seek non-government sponsorship and/or donations during project implementation, offering each successful applicant an extra matching sum up to a ceiling of $800,000.

Introduced by the Government in 2011, the ACDFS aims to provide funding support for innovative and impactful proposals that contribute to the objectives of capacity development of arts practitioners, arts groups, art forms and/or the arts sector; programme/content development; audience building and arts education. The funding scheme is administered on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Arts Development. Members of the Committee take part in the assessment of applications together with Expert Advisers. A total of 89 applications were assessed in the 14th-round funding exercise.

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2025 youthfest@HK programme officially kicks off

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (July 29) officiated at the 2025 youthfest@HK (festival) Kick-off Ceremony to unveil a series of exciting and diversified youth activities.
 
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan remarked that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released the Youth Development Blueprint in 2022, outlining the policy goals for the healthy growth and diversified development of young people. The Government continues to update the youth initiatives in view of the latest situation of society and young people. Since the release of the Blueprint, the Government has put forward about 250 specific actions and measures to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, to equip them with global perspectives, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking.

The theme of the festival is “Nurture Positive Thinking, Promote Innovation and Inspire Creativity”. Mr Chan said that the festival offered a great opportunity for young people to develop their potential, enhance their knowledge, and share their experiences. Under the tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, the festival has organised more than 400 all-encompassing activities and attracted over 400 000 participants in the past two years. Special appreciation goes to the principal funder, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, for its support. Mr Chan encouraged young people to participate in this year’s various festival activities and appealed to all sectors of the community to support and take part in the festival.
 
This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory of Chinese people’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (80A). Mr Chan encouraged youth organisations to organise youth activities to commemorate the 80A as partner events of the festival with a view to deepening young people’s understanding about the historical events of the Mainland and Hong Kong, and foster their sense of patriotism.

Also officiating at the Kick-off Ceremony were the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; the Commissioner for Youth, Mr Eric Chan; the Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission, Mr Kenneth Leung; the Convenor of the Action Group on Youth Festival, Youth Development Commission, Mr Victor Pang; and Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Lester Huang. Representatives from various festival participating organisations also attended the event.
 
Organisations may submit applications for partner events of youthfest@HK for inclusion of their events in the official event calendar and on the official webpage. For the latest updates of the events under the festival programme, please visit the HYAB homepage or the “HKYouth+” mobile application.