Month: August 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The annual adjustment to consultation co-payment fees for screening and treatment under the Chronic Disease Co-care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) will take effect from September 1, the Health Bureau announced today.

Family doctors can determine consultation co-payment fees for screening, subject to a cap of $120.

As regards treatment, 874 of the 971 participating service points will keep their existing co-payment fees unchanged. Eight service points will lower their co-payment fees, and 89 service points will increase their fees, with increments ranging from $20 to $300.

Following the adjustment, 617 service points will charge the Government-recommended consultation co-payment fees at $150 or below. The median co-payment remains at $150. Overall, the rate of increase is 3.1% in the coming year.

Separately, the Health Bureau announced that the CDCC Pilot Scheme will be expanded in phases to cover suitable patients currently attending Hospital Authority General Out-patient Clinics (GOPCs), as well as participants in the General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership (GOPC PPP) Programme which is scheduled to conclude in 2028.

The bureau will send invitations to join the CDCC Pilot Scheme, by post, to suitable GOPC patients and existing GOPC PPP Programme participants, starting from next month and early next year respectively.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit (ICTU) conducted a large-scale counter-terrorism (CT) exercise at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal today.

 

The exercise simulated a scenario in which terrorists attempted to launch an attack upon arriving in Hong Kong via a cruise ship, staging a knife attack and shooting in the terminal lobby. Their accomplices subsequently took a passenger ship hostage, leading to a gunfight with Police onboard.

 

The Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre was activated during the exercise, overseen by Chief Executive John Lee, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki and Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung.

 

Mr Lee said that the global terrorism situation remains complex.

 

“As an international city, Hong Kong continues to enjoy overall safety and stability, but the threats posed by international and homegrown terrorism must not be neglected.

 

“Different policy bureaus and departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government must strengthen their co-ordination and response capabilities to address various forms of terrorist attacks.

 

“During this large-scale CT exercise, each department performed its respective duties, fully demonstrating its professional competence in responding to terrorist incidents. The relevant departments will consolidate the experience gained to further strengthen the overall CT work of the Hong Kong SAR Government.” 

 

About 500 personnel took part in the exercise. In addition to the Security Bureau and the six ICTU member departments, namely the Police Force, the Immigration Department, the Customs & Excise Department, the Correctional Services Department, the Fire Services Department and the Government Flying Service, staff from the Marine Department, the Government Laboratory, the Hospital Authority and the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal also actively participated and assisted in co-ordinating the exercise.

 

The ICTU attaches great importance to public engagement. For the first time, the exercise was broadcast live on television and online, enabling the public to observe in real time and further enhance their counter-terrorism awareness.

 

Nearly 200 volunteers from various community and youth organisations across different sectors and age groups were invited to participate in the exercise.

 

To strengthen CT preparedness, the CE’s 2024 Policy Address announced the establishment of the Three-tier Prevention Framework.

 

Mr Lee directed at the first Chief Executive Counter-terrorism Steering Group meeting that relevant bureaus and departments should conduct a large-scale interdepartmental CT exercise.

 

Under the co-ordination of the Three-tier Prevention Framework, relevant bureaus and departments will continue to strengthen their CT preparedness in various areas, including enhancing intelligence exchange, expanding community intelligence networks, preventing radicalisation, enhancing public education and organising diverse CT exercises.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Judiciary today (August 28) called on the public to stay vigilant against a phishing email sent from the email account “jeremypoonshiuchor107@gmail.com”. The email falsely claims that it was issued by the Chief Judge of the High Court. The Judiciary has reported the case to the Police.

Members of the public are reminded to stay alert to suspicious emails and refrain from opening them. Anyone who has provided personal information to the email sender is advised to contact the Police immediately.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Fintech Forum 2025: Envisioning the Future of Banking today (August 28):

(Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Xu Weigang), Mary (Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Banks, Ms Mary Huen), 孫總 (Chairman of the Chinese Banking Association of Hong Kong, Mr Sun Yu), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure to speak to you, today, at this luncheon. I know most of you have already had a full and rewarding morning, and are no doubt looking forward to a fortifying lunch. With that in mind, I will keep my remarks brief and focused.

I understand that Eddie (Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Mr Eddie Yue) shared his perspectives on fintech regulation this morning, including the progress of a number of regulatory initiatives. Allow me to take a step back, outlining the Government’s overarching vision for advancing financial innovation in Hong Kong.

Pro-innovation approach

First, the Hong Kong SAR Government is pro-innovation and pro-tech.

We all recognise that technologies are disrupting and reshaping the landscape of finance.  From blockchain to artificial intelligence, these innovations allow financial transactions and settlements to be delivered faster, cheaper and more transparently. Yet, as with all transformative technologies, they also come with risks, presenting challenges to investor protection, cybersecurity, even financial security. Around the world, governments and financial regulators face the same fundamental question: to what extent, and at what pace, should we embrace innovative technologies?

For Hong Kong, the answer is clear. As a leading international financial centre, embracing new technologies is not an option. It is a necessity. To stay ahead of the curve, we must be proactive.

Our regulators play a facilitating role in driving financial innovation. A good example is the “regulatory sandboxes” implemented by our financial regulators. They allow innovators to test new technologies in a controlled setting, receiving timely regulatory feedback and refining their solutions before wider adoption. Through sandboxes, regulators and innovators collaborate, even working together to create new solutions.

Consider Project Ensemble. It enables industry participants to work with regulators, exploring tokenised asset use, assessing interoperability across platforms and helping define common industry standards. And it involves not only local parties but also overseas partners for cross-border use cases. As technologies evolve, so too must our platforms for experimentation. Over the past year, for example, the HKMA has introduced a sandbox for generative AI applications, as well as an incubator for distributed ledger technology.

These initiatives send a clear message to the market: that we welcome disruptive innovation, while ensuring that risks are identified and managed responsibly. This enables their adoption at scale, and with confidence.

Regulators and market enablers

That brings me to my second point: the role of our financial regulators.

In Hong Kong, regulators are entrusted with a dual mandate. They are not only supervisors who ensure regulatory compliance, but also enablers helping to shape the future of finance. This dual role is a defining feature of our regulatory philosophy.

Take the SFC (Securities and Futures Commission) for example. More than a regulator, it has been instrumental in driving a series of reforms to our stock market – going back to 2018. In fintech, the SFC is the regulator of digital-asset trading platforms. But it also works to expand digital-asset products for trading and listing.

As for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which leads Project Ensemble, it has issued two batches of tokenised green bonds worth HK$6.8 billion over the past two years, making Hong Kong one of the first governments in the world to issue such bonds. I’m pleased to note that preparations for a third batch are already under way.

Together, the Government and regulators lead by example, demonstrating Hong Kong’s commitment to driving innovation in the financial sector.

Playing to our strengths

The third point I wish to emphasise is the importance of playing to our strengths.

Hong Kong is Asia’s leading international financial centre. We are home to 70 of the world’s top 100 banks and six of its top 10 insurers. And they are supported by a dynamic network of asset managers and professional service providers. Our regulatory standards align with the highest international benchmarks, and we contribute to global standard setting via international bodies such as the IOSCO (International Organization of Securities Commissions).

This combination of global connectivity, deep liquidity and world-class expertise makes Hong Kong an ideal environment for fintech development. For start-ups and innovators, launching here is effectively an international seal of approval: if a solution works in our sophisticated, well-regulated, globally connected market, it is far more likely to succeed elsewhere.

And it all comes together thanks to our “one country, two systems” framework, enabling Hong Kong to provide unparalleled connectivity between the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world. That singular advantage also allows Hong Kong to be a natural testing ground for new technologies looking to expand into this region.

The “Connect Schemes” perfectly illustrate innovative cross-border financial collaboration. Starting with equities and now including bonds, ETFs and derivatives, they allow international investors to participate in Mainland markets, and Mainland investors to access global opportunities, through a closed-loop system – an innovation only Hong Kong can deliver.

And I believe there is plenty of room for Hong Kong to serve as a two-way platform for fintech solutions as well.

On digital assets

Let me now turn to digital assets, where Hong Kong has emerged as a pioneer.

Over the past few years, we have been building regulatory regimes that encourage tech innovation with suitable guardrails. From the two policy statements on digital assets released over the past couple of years, to the enactment of the Stablecoin Ordinance, and our recent consultation on over-the-counter dealing and custodian service, our trajectory has been clear and consistent.

A few points are worth reiterating. First, we follow the “same activity, same risk, same regulation” principle, ensuring a transparent, fair and risk-based regime that adapts to innovation while protecting investors, consumers and financial security.

Second, we believe digital assets should serve the real economy. This is evident in the regulation of stablecoins, where licences will be granted only to applicants who can demonstrate real-world use cases with a convincing and sustainable business model.

Third, building a vibrant ecosystem. Over the years, we have put in a holistic and forward looking strategy for digital assets. It goes well beyond regulation to broadening product offerings, modernising infrastructure, advancing cross-boundary use and nurturing talent – all aimed at enabling the sustainable and responsible development of our digital-asset sector.

Looking ahead

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to share two more points about fintech development down the road.

First, artificial intelligence. When combined with blockchain and other emerging technologies, AI holds immense potential to transform financial services. Streamlining compliance, enhancing customer service, improving credit scoring and risk management are just a few examples of AI’s promise. We believe there is substantial potential for AI to go further, to make financial services more efficient, inclusive and accessible.

A survey conducted by the HKMA’s Academy of Finance last year revealed that 75 per cent of Hong Kong’s financial institutions are already using or planning to use generative AI in their operations. This is a compelling indicator of how quickly the technology is being adopted here.

The Government has prioritised AI as a core industry under a broader “AI+” strategy, which seeks to embed AI across every sector of the economy. We are working to attract enterprises and talent, and we encourage cross-sector collaboration between AI and the financial services industry.

As with any new technology, we also recognise the challenges AI may pose to financial services and the economy in general. That’s why, last October, we issued a policy statement on the responsible application of AI in financial markets. It sets out a “dual track” approach: promoting adoption while addressing risks such as cybersecurity, data privacy and intellectual property protection. We are also carefully assessing its impact in areas such as job displacement.

My second point is that our fintech solutions must look beyond Hong Kong’s borders.

Hong Kong is already home to more than 1 100 fintech companies, ranging from digital banks to regtech providers. Many of these firms are expanding into Southeast Asia and across the Global South, where demand for innovative financial solutions is accelerating.

The Government actively supports this process. For example, the Hong Kong Investment Corporation partners with fintech companies to support their overseas ventures. And an increasing number of Mainland fintech firms are using Hong Kong to showcase and export their technologies to the world.

By helping them expand globally, we strengthen our own fintech sector, while contributing to financial inclusion and the region’s economic development.

Concluding remarks

Ladies and gentlemen, innovation inevitably carries risks, but those risks must not deter us from the progress it presents. As the Chinese saying goes: 無�風光在險峰, or as translated: perilous peaks offer the best scenery.

Let us work together to ensure that Hong Kong continues to shine as a global beacon of financial innovation and the wide-ranging prosperity it promises.

Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, continued to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministerial Meeting (EMM) held in Busan, Korea, today (August 28).
 
     The discussion of the first thematic session of the meeting focused on expanding the energy mix. Mr Tse said in the meeting that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been stabilising energy prices and supply by measures such as regulating the electricity market, increasing the use of clean energy and strengthening regional co-operation. Related to these measures, Hong Kong’s first offshore liquefied natural gas receiving terminal commenced operation in 2023, which enables Hong Kong to procure natural gas at more competitive prices. Mr Tse stated that Hong Kong will continue to strengthen regional co-operation and explore ways to import more zero-carbon energy in line with the city’s sustainable development.
 
     In the second thematic session on strengthening grid resilience, Mr Tse said that to cope with increasing impacts brought by inclement weather caused by climate change, Hong Kong’s power companies have been adopting advanced technologies, such as AI-driven monitoring systems of critical power facilities and forecasting models on flooding projections to strengthen the grid’s resilience. He also shared the progress of fully covering Hong Kong with the Smart Metering System and how users can achieve energy conservation and convenient maintenance using the system.
 
     In the afternoon, Mr Tse attended the third thematic session and shared Hong Kong’s experiences in using AI technologies. He cited the example of the AI agent Engentica, launched this year in the building electrical and mechanical industry, which can optimise and adjust chillers through live weather data, automatically diagnose faults, and predict maintenance needs, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency and reliability of infrastructures. Mr Tse expressed his hope to continue collaborating with APEC member economies on AI projects to jointly drive AI development.
 
     During the EMM today, Mr Tse met with the Administrator of the National Energy Administration, Mr Wang Hongzhi, to discuss ways to strengthen regional co-operation and share the HKSAR’s progress towards achieving the targets of net-zero electricity generation and carbon neutrality. Mr Tse also had bilateral meetings with representatives from Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia to exchange views on energy issues.
 
     Mr Tse will meet with representatives of an energy company and visit a hydrogen energy facility tomorrow (August 29) to learn about the latest developments in hydrogen technology in Korea.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Peking University Shenzhen Hospital (PKUSZH) and Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University (SHSMU) today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme, as well as to receive briefings from the hospital staff on the treatment flow for Hong Kong elderly persons and to understand the latest services and facilities of the hospitals.

Professor Lo also took the opportunity to engage with Hong Kong elderly persons attending the clinics and was pleased to learn that they welcomed the Pilot Scheme and applauded the smooth provision of services. The elderly persons expressed gratitude to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government for implementing the scheme and considered that the expansion to 21 service points in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) has greatly enhanced convenience, providing them with more medical treatment options and sparing them the burden of lengthy journeys.

Professor Lo said, “Following the service launch of the three pilot medical institutions today, the goal of extending the Pilot Scheme to nine Mainland cities in the GBA as announced in ‘The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address’ has been fully achieved. The nine cities are fully covered under the Pilot Scheme. In just two years, the number of service points for using Elderly Health Care Vouchers (EHCVs) in the GBA has expanded from the two service points operated by the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital to tenfold with a total of 21 service points (see Annex). Additionally, the coverage has expanded from being applicable only in Shenzhen to full coverage of nine Mainland cities in the GBA. The Pilot Scheme marks a significant milestone for policy innovation and healthcare collaboration between the two places, fully demonstrating the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments’ commitment and dedication to cross-boundary medical collaboration. 

     “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude once again to the Health Commission of Guangdong Province and the health authorities of various cities for their strong support and assistance with the Pilot Scheme, benefitting more than 1.78 million eligible Hong Kong elderly persons. At the same time, I extend my sincere appreciation to the 19 pilot medical institutions under the Pilot Scheme for their wholehearted commitment and meticulous arrangements in providing high-quality healthcare services to Hong Kong elderly persons.”

He emphasised, “The HKSAR Government will stay committed to fulfilling the important role of safeguarding the well-being of Hong Kong citizens by continuing to provide them with quality healthcare services and will not shift the responsibility of taking care of Hong Kong citizens’ well-being to the Mainland healthcare system. The Pilot Scheme aims to offer elderly persons greater choices in using their EHCVs according to their individual circumstances. We will continue to assess and monitor the operation and usage of EHCVs in the pilot medical institutions and review the effectiveness of the Pilot Scheme in due course. Under the principle of complementarity and mutual benefits, we will continue to promote healthcare collaboration in different cities of the country to jointly build a ‘Healthy Bay Area’ and advance the strategy of ‘Healthy China’.”

PKUSZH is a modern comprehensive Tier III Class A public hospital, which is invested in and established by the Shenzhen Municipal Government and assigned to integrate medical services, scientific research and teaching. It is also a high-level hospital of Guangdong Province and a designated medical institution under the measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the GBA (Measure). 

SHSMU is a municipal-level comprehensive Tier III Class A public hospital jointly established by the Shenzhen Municipal Government and Southern Medical University. It also stands as the sole university-affiliated hospital within the Qianhai Free Trade Zone undertaking concurrent missions in healthcare provision, teaching and scientific research and is a designated medical institution under the Measure.

Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee; the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health’s Office), Dr Joe Fan; and officials of the Department of Health also participated in the visit.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit (ICTU) conducted a large-scale counter-terrorism (CT) exercise codenamed BRAVELIGHT at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal today (August 28). The exercise simulated a scenario in which terrorists attempted to launch an attack upon arriving in Hong Kong via a cruise ship, staging a knife attack and shooting in the terminal lobby. Their accomplices subsequently took a passenger ship hostage, leading to a gunfight with the Police onboard.
 
     The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre was activated during the exercise, overseen by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; and the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung.
 
     Mr Lee said, “The global terrorism situation remains complex. As an international city, Hong Kong continues to enjoy overall safety and stability, but the threats posed by international and homegrown terrorism must not be neglected. Different policy bureaux and departments (B/Ds) of the HKSAR Government must strengthen their co-ordination and response capabilities to address various forms of terrorist attacks.
 
     “During this large-scale CT exercise, each department performed its respective duties, fully demonstrating its professional competence in responding to terrorist incidents. The relevant departments will consolidate the experience gained to further strengthen the overall CT work of the HKSAR Government.” 
 
     About 500 personnel participated in the exercise. In addition to the Security Bureau and the six ICTU member departments, namely the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department, the Correctional Services Department, the Fire Services Department and the Government Flying Service, staff from the Marine Department, the Government Laboratory, the Hospital Authority and the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal also actively participated and assisted in co-ordinating the exercise.

     The ICTU attaches great importance to public engagement. For the first time, the exercise was broadcast live on television and online, enabling members of the public to observe in real time and further enhance their CT awareness. Nearly 200 volunteers from various community and youth organisations across different sectors and age groups were invited to participate in the exercise. Participants took on different roles in the exercise, gaining firsthand experience in applying the “Run, Hide, Report” emergency response advisory to protect themselves and others in critical situations.
 
     To strengthen CT preparedness, the CE’s 2024 Policy Address announced the establishment of the Three-tier Prevention Framework, comprising the Chief Executive Counter-terrorism Steering Group (CESG) at the first tier (top tier), which steers and formulates CT policies and directions; the Secretary for Security Counter-terrorism Co-ordinating Group at the second tier, which co-ordinates B/Ds’ co-operation on CT matters; and seven interdepartmental working groups at the third tier, which follow up on specific studies and carry out CT work. Mr Lee directed at the first CESG meeting that relevant B/Ds should conduct a large-scale interdepartmental CT exercise to further enhance the HKSAR Government’s CT preparedness and response capabilities. The HKSAR Government will also organise different types of CT exercise from time to time, based on risk assessments and various factors.
 
     Under the co-ordination of the Three-tier Prevention Framework, relevant B/Ds will continue to strengthen their CT preparedness in various areas, including enhancing intelligence exchange, expanding community intelligence networks, preventing radicalisation, enhancing public education and organising diverse CT exercises to foster collaboration between departments and private/public stakeholders, as well as bolster the overall defence capabilities of Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Mentorship Programme (Branding and E-commerce Development) organised by the Support and Consultation Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises (SUCCESS) of the Trade and Industry Department (TID) was officially launched today (August 28). The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, and the Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Aaron Liu, officiated at the inauguration ceremony.
 
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Yau said that the Government has been actively encouraging and supporting local enterprises, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to develop e-commerce business, while also promoting the development of Hong Kong brands, which have always been trusted and loved by consumers, and are very competitive in local, Mainland and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) markets.
 
He noted that the Mentorship Programme launched by the TID caters specifically for the needs of SMEs. By assigning a dedicated mentor who will offer specific advice to each mentee, the Programme will enhance support for SMEs in developing their own brands and leveraging the advantages of Hong Kong brands to seize business opportunities brought about by global cross-border e-commerce, in particular the vast domestic sales markets on the Mainland and in ASEAN markets.
 
With a view to promoting the continuous development of SMEs, the one-year Mentorship Programme (Branding and E-commerce Development) aims at encouraging and enhancing support for SMEs in branding and expanding e-commerce sales networks for developing Mainland and/or ASEAN markets. In addition to mentorships, the Programme comprises theoretical and practical components. Mentees will learn about the latest developments in branding and e-commerce through seminars/workshops and will have the opportunity to apply the theory learned in real-world practice.
 
The Mentorship Programme has received support from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ and Exporters’ Association, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Commerce and Industry Associations, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Small and Medium Business, the Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Association, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, “SME One” and “SME ReachOut” of the Hong Kong Productivity Council and “TecONE” of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, in nominating mentors and SME mentees, and providing activities for mentees.      

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Lands Department (LandsD) today (August 28) posted the second batch of land resumption notices in accordance with section 4 of the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124) for the Second Phase Development of Yuen Long South New Development Area (YLS NDA) to resume 68 private lots with a total area of about 4.1 hectares.
 
The private lots to be resumed this time are the sites with no application under the Enhanced Conventional New Town Approach received by the deadline in mid-May this year. The land concerned requires resumption to allow the Government to carry out works.
 
The above 68 private lots will revert to the Government upon the expiry of a period of three months from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. November 29, 2025). The Government will release the ex-gratia land compensation to the relevant land owners after land reversion.  
 
The land reversion date is the date of reversion of the ownership of the land in the Government. It is not the departure deadline of the affected households and business undertakings. Three months before the departure deadline of the affected households and business undertakings, the LandsD will post notices in the relevant areas. It is now estimated that the affected households and business undertakings will have to move out in March 2026. The LandsD is handling the compensation and rehousing matters of the affected persons at full steam. The LandsD and its appointed Community Liaison Service Team will maintain communication with the affected households and business undertakings, and provide them with updated information.
 
The first batch of land resumption notices involving about 56 hectares of land for the Second Phase Development of YLS NDA was posted on February 20 this year. The said land reverted to the Government on May 21, and is gradually being handed over to the Civil Engineering and Development Department for site formation and engineering infrastructure works.
 
Upon full development, the YLS NDA will provide about 32 900 additional housing units capable of accommodating a new population of about 98 700, and create about 13 700 job opportunities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, at “Thematic Session 2: Strengthening Grid Security and Reliability” of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministerial Meeting held in Busan, Korea, today (August 28):
 
     Thank you, Chair and fellow colleagues. Maintaining a robust grid infrastructure is essential to ensuring a reliable and stable electricity supply. In addition to the challenges related to ensuring adequate capital investment, competent management and timely adoption of latest technologies, we also face natural challenges. The impact of climate change on Hong Kong, China is increasing. To fight against possible damages by inclement weather, power companies in Hong Kong are using advanced technologies such as AI-driven live monitoring systems of our critical power facilities, as well as state-of-the-art forecasting models on flooding projections for targeted reinforcements of the grid.
 
     As to using technologies to make our grid more resilient, power companies in Hong Kong, China have been using smart grid technologies such as the Smart Metering System, grid automation and condition monitoring of transmission and distribution systems. Through real-time monitoring of electricity consumption patterns for households, providing energy consumption trends to users and warnings on unusual surges in power uses, the system enables individual households to identify rooms for energy conservation, contributing to the energy saving progress of our city. The system may also help detect early anomalies at the consumer end for the power companies’ early attention, which will make preventive maintenance more efficient and timely. As of now, the system has covered around more than 90 per cent of the meter population in the city and is expected to fully cover Hong Kong, China by the end of this year.
 
     To help suppress the peak demand and stabilise renewable energy connected to the power system, one of our power companies has connected to a pumped storage power station in our neighbouring province for more than three decades. The pumped storage power system, with installed capacity of 2 400 megawatts, serves an important role to store surplus energy generated and as backup electricity capacity.
 
     Power companies in Hong Kong are enhancing grid resilience by application of advanced technology in the power supply infrastructure. They have adopted advanced monitoring and management systems of the health conditions of the transmission cables and electricity substations, with a view to identifying abnormalities and carrying out maintenance at an early stage. The systems have made possible real-time monitoring of the health status of the transmission and distribution network, enhancing power companies’ capabilities against possible threats to the power networks and reducing the occurrence of voltage dips and power interruptions.
 
     We will continue to strengthen regional co-operation and work with the power companies to expand transmission capacity and modernise the power grids for better reliability, adaptability and resilience.
 
     Thank you, Chair.