Tropical Cyclone Ragasa situation report (6)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Hurricane Signal No. 10 issued by the Hong Kong Observatory earlier this morning (September 24) remains in force.
 
As at 4am, the Home Affairs Department opened 49 temporary shelters in various districts and 726 people sought refuge at the shelters.

Regarding reports of fallen trees, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received six and 24 reports respectively as at 4am.
 
In addition, as at 4am, the Civil Engineering and Development Department received one report of landslide. No report of flooding has been received so far.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 4am, five people (three males and two females) were injured during the typhoon period. They received medical treatments at the Accident and Emergency departments of public hospitals.

Tropical Cyclone Ragasa situation report (3)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The No. 8 Northwest Gale or Storm Signal issued by the Hong Kong Observatory this afternoon (September 23) remains in force.

As at 11pm, the Home Affairs Department has opened 49 temporary shelters in various districts and 684 people have sought refuge at the shelters.

Regarding reports of fallen trees, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received five and seven reports respectively as at 11pm.

In addition, as at 11pm, the Civil Engineering and Development Department received one report of landslide. No report of flooding has been received so far.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 10.50pm, four people (two males and two females) have been injured during the typhoon period. They received medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of public hospitals.

Tropical Cyclone Ragasa situation report (4)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No.9 at 1.40am today (September 24). It replaced the No. 8 Northwest Gale or Storm Signal.
 
As at 1am, the Home Affairs Department opened 49 temporary shelters in various districts and 711 people sought refuge at the shelters.

Regarding reports of fallen trees, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received five and 10 reports respectively as at 1am.
 
In addition, as at 1am, the Civil Engineering and Development Department received one report of landslide. No report of flooding has been received so far.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 1am, five people (three males and two females) were injured during the typhoon period. They received medical treatments at the Accident and Emergency departments of public hospitals.

SFST discusses with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister early commencement of CDTA negotiations (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, started his visit to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, on September 22 (Ljubljana time) and welcomed Slovenia’s recognition of the benefits that a Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) with Hong Kong would bring to both economies.
 
     On the invitation of the Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Klemen BoštjanÄ�iÄ�, Mr Hui will join a high-level roundtable conference hosted by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Slovenia for financial ministers and financial experts. At a welcome dinner hosted by Mr BoštjanÄ�iÄ� for panellists held on September 22, Mr Hui was greeted with the good news that the Slovenian Government and National Assembly are deliberating on the decision to prioritise the CDTA with Hong Kong.
 
     “It is reassuring to receive the encouraging response from the Slovenian Government soon after my initial proposal to Mr BoštjanÄ�iÄ� this June that both sides are attaching importance in reaching a CDTA so that our business communities would be able to reap the tremendous benefits as soon as possible. With a CDTA in place, the business communities and residents of the two places will better understand the potential tax liabilities from cross-border investments, and enjoy avoidance of double taxation. This will be conducive to creating a more favourable and attractive business environment for investors to establish or expand their businesses. With the commitment of both sides, the first round of CDTA negotiations should be possible in the near future,” he said.
 
     Earlier in the day, Mr Hui met with the Chairman of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) of Saudi Arabia, Mr Mohammed bin Abdullah Elkuwaiz, to update him on the situation of Hong Kong’s financial market and the various initiatives announced in “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address” to consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. The CMA is the regulator of the Saudi Arabian capital market, including the Saudi Stock Exchange, which is the only authorised entity allowed to carry out the trading of securities in Saudi Arabia.
 
     Mr Elkuwaiz has a great interest in Hong Kong’s financial market and its various advantages. Mr Hui suggested enhanced co-operation between the two parties to help build the Saudi capital market into one of the most important financial markets in the world. He noted that the co-operation between the two financial markets is not new and Saudi Arabia can take the city as a reliable partner for investment and financial development. Collaboration between the two financial markets include the first Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) investing in the Saudi market listed in Hong Kong since 2023, two ETFs tracking Hong Kong stock indices on the Saudi Exchange since last year and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding last year between the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to work jointly towards anchoring an investment fund of a target size of US$1 billion as well as the first Islamic bond (sukuk) ETF listed in Hong Kong this May.
 
     Mr Hui also paid a courtesy call on the Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Slovenia, Mr Zhao Binghui. They discussed the latest trend and opportunities of Mainland enterprises going global, and how Hong Kong can play its unique role to better serve the relevant needs.
 
     On September 23 (Ljubljana time), Mr Hui will attend a high-level roundtable conference hosted by the MoF of the Republic of Solvenia as well as a business event organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. He will also meet ministers of finance from other countries on the sidelines of the Slovenian MoF roundtable conference.

              

Some typhoon shelters are now full

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     The Marine Department has announced that To Kwa Wan and Tuen Mun typhoon shelters are now full.

     Local vessels are advised to use other typhoon shelters.

HAD opens additional temporary shelter (3)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Home Affairs Department has opened the following additional temporary shelter for people in need:
 

Region Name Address
New Territories
(except Islands District)
Luen Wo Hui Community Hall G/F, 9 Wo Mun Street, Luen Wo Hui, Fanling, New Territories

 
Please refer to the annex for the full list of temporary shelters that are now open. For enquiries, please contact the emergency hotline on 2572 8427.

Carbon markets pact signed

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui today welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEX), the Guangzhou Emissions Exchange, Shenzhen Green Exchange and Macao International Carbon Emission Exchange.

The MoU aims to further promote knowledge exchange and sharing, and strengthen collaboration in the development of carbon markets and the green finance ecosystem in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Mr Hui said the Government attaches great importance to carbon markets in the GBA and actively promotes co-operation with them.

“As the first quadripartite agreement among the carbon exchanges within the GBA, this MoU marks new heights in the orderly and healthy collaborative development of the GBA’s carbon markets.”

The 2025 Policy Address proposed deepening pilot co-operation with the GBA carbon market, jointly building a regional carbon market ecosystem.

Mr Hui said the signing of the MoU among HKEX and several GBA carbon exchanges fully demonstrates the determination of the Government and HKEX in the continuous active promotion of co-operation and joint development with Mainland carbon markets through various means, consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a leading sustainable finance centre in the region.

Core Climate, HKEX’s international carbon trading platform, is the only voluntary carbon credit trading platform in the world offering settlement in Hong Kong dollars and Renminbi.

In addition to deepening co-operation with the GBA carbon market, the 2025 Policy Address also announced that the Government will work with relevant Mainland regulatory departments and authorities to study issues surrounding the country’s participation in the international carbon market.

The Government and HKEX will continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders to jointly enhance the carbon market ecosystem.

Tropical Cyclone Ragasa situation report (2)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Hong Kong Observatory issued No. 8 Northwest Gale or Storm Signal at 2.20pm today (September 23).
 
The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 48 temporary shelters in various districts and 599 people have sought refuge at the shelters.
 
As at 8pm, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre received five reports of fallen trees, while the Civil Engineering and Development Department received one report of landslide. No report of flooding has been received so far.
 
According to the Hospital Authority, as at 7.50pm today, two males and one female have sought medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department at public hospitals during the typhoon period.

Murder in Tsuen Wan

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Police are investigating a murder case happened in Tsuen Wan today (September 23) in which a man died.

     At 1.58pm, Police received a report from a man who claimed that he had killed his father inside a village house in Sam Tung Uk Village.

     Police officers sped to the scene. The 70-year-old man was found lying in the unit. Sustaining injuries to his head, neck and body, he was rushed to Yan Chai Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 2.41pm.  

     After initial investigation, Police arrested the 39-year-old man for murder. He is being detained for further enquiries.

     A 20 centimeters long fruit knife in suspected connection with the case was seized inside the unit.
 
     Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

     Active investigation by the District Crime Squad of Tsuen Wan District is underway.

UGC Secretary-General visits Sweden, France and Germany

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

UGC Secretary-General visits Sweden, France and Germany 
The Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Professor James Tang, led a delegation to visit Sweden, France and Germany from September 9 (Gothenburg time) to 19 (Frankfurt time) as part of efforts to promote Hong Kong’s development into an international hub for post-secondary education.
 
Professor Tang, along with the delegation from all eight UGC-funded universities under the aegis of the Heads of Universities Committee’s Standing Committee on Internationalisation (HUCOMSCI), attended the European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference and Exhibition in Gothenburg, Sweden. During a dedicated session, Professor Tang presented the strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong’s internationalised and diversified higher education environment that welcomes academics and students from around the world to pursue their aspirations in Hong Kong. With the funding support from the UGC, the HUCOMSCI also set up the Hong Kong Pavilion to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, support the publicity for recruiting overseas students to study in Hong Kong, and expand the international collaboration network.
 
Speaking at the session at the EAIE Conference and Exhibition, Professor Tang pointed out, “The Government has been allocating abundant resources to propel the vibrant development of Hong Kong’s higher education sector, supporting universities to step up their efforts in nurturing talent and advancing scientific research, garnering the international reputation that we take pride in. Five of the UGC-funded universities are ranked among the world’s top 100, six within Asia’s top 50 and four among the most international universities in the world. Many programmes offered by our universities are among the best worldwide. This reflects Hong Kong’s solid foundation and unique strengths in becoming a premier international hub for post-secondary education. Meanwhile, the upcoming Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference and Exhibition in 2026, to be held in Hong Kong, will gather leaders and representatives from the higher education sector worldwide and offer local post-secondary institutions an opportunity to further enhance co-operation and exchanges with their counterparts around the world.”
 
At the Dinner Reception hosted by Hong Kong, the representative of the Hong Kong Teaching Excellence Alliance also shared some of the latest initiatives the Hong Kong higher education sector launched in the face of upcoming challenges, which showcased Hong Kong’s education sector’s commitment to teaching excellence.
 
During the duty visit, Professor Tang and representatives of the eight UGC-funded universities met with the delegation of French universities in Paris, France, at the France-Hong Kong Day. They exchanged views on the latest developments in the higher education sector and discussed how to deepen and consolidate the long-term France-Hong Kong collaboration.
 
Additionally, Professor Tang also engaged with senior management from prominent research funding and academic institutions in France and Germany to discuss emerging trends and collaboration opportunities in higher education and research. He highlighted that the remarkable research achievements of Hong Kong’s higher education sector are well recognised worldwide, with some 70 per cent of Hong Kong’s research outputs assessed as internationally excellent in the University Grants Committee’s Research Assessment Exercise 2020. The Research Grants Council under the UGC supports large-scale research projects and cutting-edge work through various schemes and in collaboration with other research funding agencies both nationally and internationally. There are over 7 000 active research collaborations with more than 70 countries and regions on the Mainland and overseas. These achievements underscore Hong Kong’s steadfast determination to advance research development. The first Research Summit organised by the Research Grants Council will take place at the end of 2025, showcasing Hong Kong’s research excellence and facilitating international exchanges among researchers.

“Hong Kong’s outstanding universities have been a welcoming academic home for top scholars and talented students from around the world. As an international hub for higher education, Hong Kong’s doors are always open to all who want to realise their academic pursuits and experience the learning and research opportunities offered by one of the world’s most dynamic cities,” said Professor Tang.
 
As announced in the 2025 Policy Address, the enrolment ceiling for self-financing non-local students in taught programmes at UGC-funded universities will be further raised from the current level equivalent to 40 per cent of local student places to 50 per cent, effective from the 2026/27 academic year. Universities may progressively increase their intake of non-local students based on their individual circumstances. Moreover, the over-enrolment ceiling of UGC-funded research postgraduate programmes will be further increased from 100 per cent to 120 per cent starting from the 2026/27 academic year. These two initiatives will help attract more talented students to pursue their studies and research in Hong Kong, thereby building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent.
Issued at HKT 19:58

NNNN