Month: July 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, arrived in Seoul, Korea,this afternoon (July 8) to begin his visit.
 
After his arrival, he visited the Bank of Korea, the country’s central bank, and met with its Governor, Mr Rhee Chang-yong, to exchange views on developments in finance, trade and economic landscapes of the two places, in the region and around the globe, as well as monetary and interest rate policies and investment trends. During the meeting, Mr Chan shared the latest developments in Hong Kong, particularly the continuous capital inflow to Hong Kong’s financial system, reflecting international investors’ confidence in Hong Kong in the current international environment. He stated that Hong Kong maintains a free and open economic and financial system and the Linked Exchange Rate System under the “one country, two systems” principle. Hong Kong’s unique advantage of being connected to the Mainland and the world, as well as its highly internationalised characteristics, is further attracting more international participants and capital to enjoy opportunities brought by developments in China. Hong Kong’s international ties are continuously deepening.
 
Thereafter, he visited the Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) and met with its President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Park Il-young. The KIC was established by the Korean government in 2005, responsible for managing part of the country’s foreign exchange reserves and other public funds for overseas investments. Currently, over US$200 billion of assets are under its management. During the meeting, both sides had an in-depth exchange of opinions on various issues of mutual concern, such as trends of investment markets, asset allocation strategies and digital asset developments.
 
Mr Chan shared recent developments in Hong Kong’s economic and financial markets and its important role in connecting capital and investors from China and around the globe. He said that Hong Kong’s capital market is closely connected to the Mainland’s innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. The recent stock market is vibrant, with many leading Mainland I&T enterprises having listed or planning to list in Hong Kong. To international investors, Hong Kong serves as a highly effective gateway to tap into I&T opportunities in Greater China. He welcomed Korean capital to better use the Hong Kong market to allocate international investments and jointly seize the vast business opportunities of I&T developments.
 
In the evening, Mr Chan had dinner with leaders in Korea’s digital asset industry, where he shared Hong Kong’s developments and opportunities in digital assets. He also encouraged the local industry to actively participate in the Hong Kong market and jointly explore and expand more applications and developments in digital assets.
 
Mr Chan will continue his visit to Seoul tomorrow (July 9), including attending a seminar on the capital markets of Hong Kong and Korea, as well as a business luncheon jointly organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he will introduce Hong Kong’s new advantages and opportunities to the Korean financial and business sectors.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

A press conference was held in Guangzhou today to introduce the details of preparation progress for the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG).
 
It also outlined the upcoming operational work plan among Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macau, which are co-hosting the games.
 
The press conference was hosted by the Guangdong Provincial Executive Committees for the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG; the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; and the Preparatory Office for the 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG in Macau (Preparatory Office in Macau).
 
Addressing the press conference, NGCO Head Yeung Tak-keung said that Hong Kong firmly adheres to the principles of “green, inclusive, open and clean” while implementing the requirement of organising a “simple, safe and wonderful” event.
 
“We maintain strict budget control, optimise resource allocation, and prudently scale events to ensure practical preparations.”
 
He highlighted that the cross-boundary athletics marathon and road cycling events, which will be co-organised by Hong Kong, are signature events of the 15th NG, requiring meticulous tripartite planning and co-ordination in route design and expedited clearance for athletes, spectators and vehicles.
 
This cross-boundary collaboration enhances the Greater Bay Area’s overall competitiveness and fosters people-to-people exchanges in the bay area, Mr Yeung added.
 
Also speaking at the press conference, Hong Kong cyclist Wong Kam-po said that with the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge as the race course, the cross-boundary road cycling race is an iconic event with beautiful scenery and a challenging course as well.
 
Director of the Office of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG, 12th NGD & 9th NSOG and Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province Huang Mingzhong also spoke at the press conference.
 
Mr Huang emphasised that the co-hosting of the 15th NG by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, under the steer of the central ministries including the General Administration of Sport of China, and the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, has built an innovative co-ordination mechanism.
 
Through close liaison and co-ordination, alignment has been reached in six key areas, namely cross-boundary events, port clearance, manpower and vehicle accreditation, food safety, green initiatives, and competition schedule.
 
The three places have pioneered a “three-place three-integration” co-hosting approach – integrated communication, direction, and operation, Mr Huang indicated.
 
Head of the Preparatory Office in Macau Pun Weng-kun told those gathered at the press conference that preparations for the 15th NG have entered the countdown phase. They will collaborate with different sectors of society to strengthen the organisational work for the events, enhancing the atmosphere of community-wide participation in the 15th NG.
 
This includes ongoing visits to communities and schools, connecting with promotional activities for culture, tourism, and sports, and launching franchised products in Macau, Mr Pun added.
 
Various franchised products were also showcased at the press conference, with designers explaining their creative concepts.
 
Hong Kong will soon set up sales points in various districts to sell a variety of franchised products related to the games, including products with unique Hong Kong features.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law visited two Bordeaux wineries in France today, exploring potential synergies to incorporate Bordeaux wines into Hong Kong’s wine tourism initiatives.

She toured Château L’if and Château Le Pin to deepen her understanding of Bordeaux’s winemaking traditions of the country. 

A day prior to the winery tour, she met President of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB) Allan Sichel. The CIVB is responsible for promoting Bordeaux wines globally.

Miss Law highlighted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s efforts to host signature mega events, including the annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, which provides unique experiences for visitors.

Miss Law also met Mayor of Bordeaux Pierre Hurmic, Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux Céline Papin, and President of the Bordeaux Tourism & Conventions Office Brigitte Bloch, indicating to them the wishes of Hong Kong to build on the unique brand of the Wine & Dine Festival to foster cultural exchanges and strengthen bilateral ties.

The meeting was followed by discussions with representatives of Great Wine Capitals Global Network, Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce & Industries etc. and another meeting with France’s Minister for Tourism Nathalie Delattre.

The itinerary yesterday also covered a guided tour of La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s iconic cultural centre and wine museum dedicated to promoting the universal culture of wine.

The culture chief will conclude the visit to France and depart for Hong Kong on July 9.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport & Logistics Bureau and the MTR Corporation have executed the Part 1 Project Agreement, subsequent to the approval of the financial arrangement for Part 1 of the Northern Link (NOL) Project by the Chief Executive in Council today.
 
Supported by an independent checking consultant, the Government critically examined the financial estimates provided by the corporation in relation to Part 1 of the NOL Project, and verified that the capital cost estimate is about $31.4 billion (in July prices).
 
Noting that the NOL Project embodies significant strategic value, the Government said that it has decided to make major breakthroughs to enhance the project’s speed and efficiency.
 
It explained that it would take forward the project through a holistic planning and staged implementation strategy, planning the NOL Spur Line in combination with the NOL Main Line as one project to achieve synergies and realise cost savings.
 
The project would be implemented under a two-part approach to expedite progress. The execution of the Part 1 Project Agreement at this juncture could propel the project forward immediately, and in parallel carry out the detailed planning and design as well as statutory procedures for the NOL Spur Line.
 
In the spirit of innovating continuously, the Government is pursuing various strategies for reducing cost and accelerating project delivery, which would be implemented as soon as possible.
 
Such strategies include leveraging Mainland approaches and capabilities in construction on account of the cross-boundary element of the project, and setting up a dedicated team in the Highways Department to handle building submissions in a manner to streamline the overall project workflow and expedite procedures.
 
These initiatives will not only improve the construction efficiency of the cross-boundary NOL Spur Line, but may also benefit the NOL Main Line to a certain extent, the Government said.
 
By adopting a result-oriented mindset, the construction efficiency will also be improved with railway-related Mainland standards, practices and resources, substantially bringing forward the planning of the NOL Spur Line.
 
The target is to commission the NOL Spur Line together with the NOL Main Line by 2034 or earlier, which is about two years earlier than what was originally envisaged, the Government added.
 
The Chief Executive in Council approved the grant of sites at Kam Sheung Road Station Phase 2; Fanling North Area 13 (East) and Area 16; Kwu Tung North Area 22 (East), Area 26 (West), Area 14 and Area 15; as well as San Tin Area 4D, Area 6A and Area 2A to the MTR Corporation for residential and commercial development under the “Rail-plus-Property” model.
 
A total fixed lump sum of $39.05 billion, in money-of-the-day prices, would be deducted from the full market value land premium of the sites assessed on a “with-railway” basis in the future as funding support to the corporation in implementing Part 1 of the NOL Project.
 
The execution of the Part 1 Project Agreement today would immediately kick-start works that are more ready and time-critical, including the civil and structural works of two sections of the NOL Main Line from the Kam Sheung Road Station to the intersection with the approach tunnels to Ngau Tam Mei Depot and from the San Tin Station to the Kwu Tung Station.
 
The MTR Corporation is required to carry out the detailed planning and design of the NOL Spur Line simultaneously, including statutory procedures relating to the environmental impact assessment and railway scheme gazettal, and strive for completion as early as possible.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan today began his visit to Seoul, Korea, by meeting Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong and Korea Investment Corporation President & Chief Executive Officer Park Il-young.

Upon arrival in the afternoon, Mr Chan visited the Bank of Korea, the country’s central bank, and met Governor Rhee Chang-yong to discuss the developments in finance, trade and economic landscapes of the two places, in the region and around the globe.

They also exchanged views on monetary and interest rate policies and investment trends.

During the meeting, Mr Chan shared the latest developments in Hong Kong, particularly the continuous capital inflow to Hong Kong’s financial system, reflecting international investors’ confidence in Hong Kong in the current international environment.

Mr Chan said that Hong Kong maintains a free and open economic and financial system as well as the Linked Exchange Rate System under the “one country, two systems” principle. He also highlighted that Hong Kong’s unique advantage of being connected to the Mainland and the world, as well as its highly internationalised characteristics, is further attracting more international participants and capital to enjoy opportunities brought by developments in China.

Hong Kong’s international ties are continuously deepening, Mr Chan added.

Thereafter, the finance chief visited the Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) and met its President & Chief Executive Officer Park Il-young to have an in-depth exchange of opinions on various issues of mutual concern, such as trends of investment markets, asset allocation strategies and digital asset developments.

The KIC was established by the Korean government in 2005, responsible for managing part of Korea’s foreign exchange reserves and other public funds for overseas investments. Currently, over US$200 billion of assets are under its management.

Mr Chan shared the recent developments in Hong Kong’s economic and financial markets, and its important role in connecting capital and investors from China and around the globe.

He pointed out that Hong Kong’s capital market is closely connected to the Mainland’s innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. The recent stock market is vibrant, with many leading Mainland I&T enterprises having listed or planning to list in Hong Kong. To international investors, Hong Kong serves as a highly effective gateway to tap into I&T opportunities in Greater China.

Mr Chan welcomed Korean capital to better use the Hong Kong market to allocate international investments and jointly seize the vast business opportunities of I&T developments.

In the evening, Mr Chan had dinner with leaders in Korea’s digital asset industry, where he shared Hong Kong’s developments and opportunities in digital assets.

He also encouraged the local industry to actively participate in the Hong Kong market and jointly explore and expand more applications and developments in digital assets.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, continued her visit to Bordeaux, France, in the company of the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Dr Peter Lam.

On the morning of July 7 (Bordeaux time), Miss Law met with the President of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB), Mr Allan Sichel. The CIVB, responsible for promoting Bordeaux wines globally, discussed opportunities to enhance collaboration with Hong Kong. Miss Law highlighted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG)’s efforts to host signature mega events, including the annual Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, which provides unique experiences for visitors. She invited the CIVB to make further, and even better, use of Hong Kong as a platform to promote Bordeaux wines to the Mainland of China and other markets in Asia. Both parties exchanged ideas on creative approaches to attract a global audience and elevate the event’s appeal.

Later, Miss Law met with the Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Pierre Hurmic; the Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux, Ms Céline Papin; and the President of the Bordeaux Tourism and Conventions Office, Ms Brigitte Bloch. During the meeting, Miss Law highlighted the HKSARG’s and the HKTB’s intention to build on the unique brand of the Wine and Dine Festival to make it a platform for fostering cultural exchanges and strengthening ties between Hong Kong and Bordeaux. Mr Hurmic expressed enthusiasm for increasing the presence of Bordeaux wines in the Chinese and Asian markets through a strong presence in the festival.

In the afternoon, Miss Law held discussions with the President of Great Wine Capitals Global Network, Mr Jacques Faurens; the Director General of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Mr Pascal Faugère; and the Chief Executive Officer of Vinexposium, Mr Rodolphne Lamseyse. They discussed the challenges of marketing Bordeaux wines during the current economic conditions and explored best practices for organising international trade shows and events. Miss Law emphasised the potential for Hong Kong and Bordeaux to collaborate in enhancing each other’s attractiveness as global tourism destinations.

Miss Law also met with France’s Minister for Tourism, Ms Nathalie Delattre, to explore ways to strengthen tourism connectivity between Hong Kong and France. She highlighted Hong Kong’s unique offerings, including its gastronomy, arts, sports, traditional festivals, mega events and stunning outdoors as key attractions for French audiences. Miss Law introduced the 2025 Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, scheduled for October, as an excellent opportunity for Bordeaux wines to gain greater visibility. Ms Delattre reaffirmed the strong relationship between Hong Kong and France with regards to wine and other fields, and expressed her commitment to fostering collaboration in bilateral tourism.

Miss Law was given a guided tour of La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s iconic cultural centre and wine museum dedicated to promoting the universal culture of wine. The immersive and sensory exhibits provided an inspirational exploration of wine’s journey from ancient civilisations to modern-day winemaking. Miss Law was impressed by its creative storytelling and remarked on the potential for similar initiatives to promote cultural heritage in Hong Kong.  

On July 8 (Bordeaux time), Miss Law visited two Bordeaux wineries, Château L’if and Château Le Pin, where she deepened her understanding of Bordeaux’s winemaking traditions and explored potential synergies to incorporate Bordeaux wines into Hong Kong’s wine tourism initiatives.  
 
Miss Law will conclude her visit to France and depart for Hong Kong on the morning of July 9 (Bordeaux time). 

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 – 4

The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (July 8) the appointment of 16 individuals as non-official members to the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel (UFAP) for a term of two years from July 1, 2025. 

The new non-official members are Ms Winnie Cheng Mee-kun, Professor Huang Songyi, Professor Jim Chi-yung, Professor Derrick Lai Yuk-fo, Dr Peter Yau and Dr Allen Zhang Hao. The reappointed non-official members are Mr Paul Chan Yuen-king, Professor Wendy Chen Yan, Professor Chu Lee-man, Dr Dong Hui, Professor Anthony Leung Kwan, Mr Hincent Ng Yu-hin, Dr Shi Shulin, Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet, Professor Charles Wong Man-sing and Mr Yiu Vor. 

A spokesman for the DEVB said, “The UFAP comprises local and overseas experts from different fields including urban forestry, plant science, engineering and landscape architecture related academics, professionals and experts, and provides advice on urban forestry policies and initiatives from multiple perspectives.”

Appointed by the Secretary for Development, members of the UFAP advise the DEVB on management strategies, applied research and development in respect of urban forestry, as well as positive capacity building initiatives for the urban forestry related industries. 
​
The membership of the new term of the UFAP is set out below:  

Chairman
————
Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, DEVB

Non-official members
—————————
Mr Paul Chan Yuen-king
Professor Wendy Chen Yan
Ms Winnie Cheng Mee-kun*
Professor Chu Lee-man
Dr Dong Hui
Professor Huang Songyi*
Professor Jim Chi-yung*
Professor Derrick Lai Yuk-fo*
Professor Anthony Leung Kwan
Mr Hincent Ng Yu-hin
Dr Shi Shulin
Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet
Professor Charles Wong Man-sing
Dr Peter Yau*
Mr Yiu Vor
Dr Allen Zhang Hao*

Official members
———————
Head of Tree Management Office, DEVB
Representative of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Representative of Highways Department
Representative of Housing Department
Representative of Leisure and Cultural Services Department

* New non-official members