Month: September 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department today launched the electronic driving licence (eDL) to bring greater convenience and flexibility to some 2.5 million driving licence holders who can display the eDL through their smartphones.

From today, driving licence holders can download the department’s “Electronic Driving Licence” mobile application (eDL app) for free and authenticate with “iAM Smart” or the department’s e-Licensing Portal account to log in and access their eDLs, covering full, learner’s, probationary and temporary DLs, as well as the driving instructor’s licence.

The eDL is an alternative to the physical DL to fulfil the statutory requirements of carrying or producing a DL for examination or inspection by law enforcement officers.

The eDL provides data in sync with the information contained in the physical licence, including the holder’s name, the licence number, the classes of vehicle permitted to drive and the expiry dates.

The status of the eDL is indicated in blue, yellow or red, showing a valid, a partially valid or an expired licence respectively.

The eDL can only be displayed via the department’s eDL app in the specified form with multiple security features to avoid counterfeiting, including identity authentication, a dynamic department logo, the disabled screen capture function and an encrypted time-limited QR code.

Each licence holder can only register one eDL account, and each mobile phone can only be used to bind to one account at a time.

The department said that the current arrangement of issuing the physical licence remains unchanged and holders may use it at their preference.

If applicants submit licence applications online, they can immediately access their eDLs via the eDL app conveniently and swiftly upon approval and do not need to wait for the physical licence sent by post.

Since August, the department has been briefing representatives of the transport sector, comprising the goods vehicle, taxi, public light bus, non-franchised bus and cross-boundary coach trades, as well as driving schools, on the use of the eDL, and maintained close liaison with law enforcement agencies and relevant departments.

The department will also notify the relevant Mainland and overseas authorities or consulates in Hong Kong of the launch of the eDL.

The eDL app supports iOS and Android operating systems, and can be downloaded and used for free from the Apple App Store, Google Play or Huawei AppGallery.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) today announced that under the Government’s vigorous promotion, over 200 family offices have set up operations or expanded their business in Hong Kong with the facilitation of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK).

This also marks an achievement of completing the key performance indicator set in the 2022 Policy Address well ahead of schedule, signalling that the city’s standing as Asia’s leading cross-border private wealth management centre and hub for global family offices is firmly anchored to a greater extent.

To strengthen this key growth segment of the asset and wealth management industry, the Chief Executive in his first Policy Address put forward a clear target of facilitating no fewer than 200 family offices in establishing or expanding their operations in Hong Kong by the end of 2025.

Subsequently, the FSTB published in March 2023 a policy statement outlining eight policy measures in order to curate a conducive and competitive environment for the businesses of family offices.

Such measures involved offering tax concessions, introducing the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme and establishing the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy.

At the same time, InvestHK’s dedicated FamilyOfficeHK team expanded its role to provide comprehensive services and facilitation.

Since 2022 until now, more than 200 family offices have established or expanded their presence in Hong Kong with support from InvestHK. The reported figure does not cover family offices that have established themselves independently or through support from the city’s professional services network.

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said: “The fact that InvestHK has surpassed the milestone of attracting 200 family offices ahead of schedule is a testament to this city’s strong competitive advantage in private wealth and asset management.

“We will continue to refine our policy measures, such as further enhancing the preferential tax regimes for funds, single family offices and carried interest, to keep up the growth momentum of the family office sector.”

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

According to the statistics, 1,433 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total amount of US$8,474,731,000 were approved from January to August 2025. This indicates a decrease of 4.53% in the number of cases, but an increase of 59.73% in FDI amount compared to the same period of 2024.

With regard to inward investment from Mainland China, 14 cases were approved with an amount of US$101,525,000 from January to August 2025. This indicates a decrease of 41.67% in the number of cases, but an increase of 504.28% in the FDI amount compared to the same period of 2024.

In terms of Taiwan’s outbound investment (excluding Mainland China), 572 projects were registered from January to August 2025 with a total amount of US$31,450,753,000, indicating an increase of 16.73% in the number of cases, but an decrease of 6.41% in the amount, as compared to the same period of 2024.

As for Taiwan’s outward investment to Mainland China, 152 applications have been approved from January to August 2025, indicating a decrease of 39.2% compared to the same period of 2024. The approved investment amount is US$843,203,000, 73.30% less than the same period in 2024.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Government announced today (September 15) that the Chief Executive has appointed Professor Wong Sze-chun as Chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) for a two-year term commencing on October 1, 2025. Professor Wong will succeed the outgoing Chairman, Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung. The appointment will be gazetted on September 19.

The spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, “We are deeply grateful to Professor Cheung for his passionate commitment to transport matters and contributions to the TAC. Under his outstanding leadership, the TAC has addressed numerous important, innovative and forward-looking issues in recent years, including the regulation of ride-hailing services, time-varying tunnel tolls, and public transport fare adjustments, providing the Government with many valuable opinions and recommendations.”

The spokesperson added, “Professor Wong is a pre-eminent transport engineering expert and academic who proactively participates in the work of advisory bodies. We are confident that under his leadership, the TAC will continue to provide the Government with pertinent and visionary advice and recommendations.”

The TAC is a key advisory body to the Government on broad issues of transport policy and major transport-related proposals. Currently, the TAC comprises 16 non-official members, including the Chairman, and three ex-officio members. Its membership and terms of reference are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/boards/transport/land/tac.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) announced today (September 15) that under the vigorous promotion by the Government, over 200 family offices have set up operations or expanded their business in Hong Kong with the facilitation of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK). This also marks an achievement of early completion of the key performance indicator set in the 2022 Policy Address well ahead of schedule, signalling that the city’s standing as Asia’s leading cross-border private wealth management centre and hub for global family offices is firmly anchored to a greater extent.

     To strengthen this key growth segment of the asset and wealth management industry, the Chief Executive in his first Policy Address put forward a clear target of facilitating no fewer than 200 family offices in establishing or expanding their operations in Hong Kong by the end of 2025. Subsequently, the FSTB published in March 2023 a policy statement to demonstrate the Government’s commitment to enhancing the ecosystem for family offices and asset owners. The policy statement outlined eight policy measures, including offering tax concessions, introducing the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES), and establishing the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy, with a view to curating a conducive and competitive environment for the businesses of family offices. 
     Considering the positive response from the targeted client base to the New CIES, the Government made enhancements to the Scheme this March to further raise the city’s appeal to global high-net-worth individuals seeking to invest and settle in Hong Kong. Relevant enhancements include that investments in permissible investment assets made through a private company wholly owned by an applicant and managed by an eligible single family office can be counted towards the value of the applicant’s eligible investments. Subject to the fulfilment of other requirements of the scheme, an entrant may apply in accordance with the law to become a permanent resident of Hong Kong if he or she meets the requirement of having ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years and other relevant provisions of the Immigration Ordinance.  

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Kwun Tong yesterday (September 14), in which a man died.

     At 11.05pm yesterday, a private car driven by a 41-year-old man was travelling along Kwun Tong Bypass towards Yau Tong. It reportedly rammed into another private car driven by a 43-year old man. When the two drivers alighted from their vehicles for checking, a taxi driven by a 72year-old man suspectedly failed to stop in time and rammed into the two private cars.

     Sustaining serious multiple injuries, the taxi driver was rushed to United Christian Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 0.14am today (September 15). A 43-year-old taxi male passenger, the 41-year-old and 43-year-old private car male drivers, two female passengers and one male passenger on the two private cars, aged 4 to 45, sustained faces, shoulders, hands and legs injuries respectively. They were sent to United Christian Hospital in conscious state. A 3-year-old female passenger on the private car sustained no injury and no hospital treatment was required.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon East is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 0264.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a general restaurant in Mong Kok to suspend business for 21 days, as the licensee repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by extending the business area illegally.

The restaurant, located at Shop B, C and D on the ground floor of Skyline Tower on 18 Tong Mi Road, was ordered to suspend business from today (September 14) to October 4.

“Four convictions for the above-mentioned breaches were recorded against the restaurant licensee between March 2019 and May this year. A total fine of $13,500 was levied by the court, and 80 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department’s demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in a seven-day and a 14-day business suspension to be executed consecutively,” a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.

The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.

Licensed food premises are required to exhibit their licence and a sign at a conspicuous place of the premises, indicating that the premises has been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/licence-foodPremises-search.html).

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Over 16,000 volunteers have been appointed to serve for the Hong Kong competition region at the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG).
 
A pledging ceremony for the volunteers was held today, with Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law and Head of the National Games Coordination Office Yeung Tak-keung as officiating guests.
 
The participants form the largest-ever volunteer team in Hong Kong and their roles cover services for arrival, departure and hotel reception, spectator services, guest reception, anti-doping support, presentation ceremony support, etc.
     
Nearly 1,800 volunteer representatives took an oath at the ceremony, committing to uphold their services, and were presented with flags.
 
Gold medallist in the Women’s Individual Épée event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Vivian Kong and former Hong Kong athlete Leung Kwok-shing were appointed as the Volunteer Ambassadors.
     
Miss Law noted that the volunteer team comprises more than 1,000 youths aged 15 to 17, together with over 15,000 adult volunteers from diverse age groups and backgrounds, the eldest being over 80 years old.
 
The volunteers share the same philosophy and passion for services to support the two national mega sports events with devoted actions, she added.
 
The volunteer service slogan is “Be more wonderful for you”. While “you” represents the events of the games, as well as everyone who witnesses, participates in and supports the games, “wonderful” is one of the requirements for hosting them, and embodies athletes’ excellent performances and the volunteers’ contributions.
 
Today’s ceremony included a performance by Hong Kong wheelchair dancers Matthew Yu and Pandora Choi, the gold medal winners in the Combi Latin Dance 3-Dance and 5-Dance competitions at the mass participation para dance sport competition of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG.
 
Additionally, Hong Kong Dance Company performed a dance inspired by the elite sport of fencing.

Furthermore, Fencer Ryan Choi and table tennis athlete Doo Hoi-kam shared how volunteers assisted athletes during international competitions, enabling them to focus on their performance.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) today (September 14) held a pledging ceremony for the volunteers of the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) in Hong Kong, with over 16 000 volunteers officially appointed to serve for the Hong Kong competition region at the 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG. They will form the largest-ever volunteer team in Hong Kong, providing services across various roles for the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG. These roles cover services for arrival, departure and hotel reception, spectator services, guest reception, anti-doping support and presentation ceremony support etc.
 
The ceremony was held at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. The officiating guests included the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; the Head of the NGCO, Mr Yeung Tak-keung; the Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Raymond Tam; Vice-Chairman of the Agency for Volunteer Service Dr James Wong, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Volunteers Association, Mr Andy Kwok. At the ceremony, nearly 1 800 volunteer representatives took an oath under the witness of officiating guests, committing to upholding their services at the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG with dedication. They were presented with flags. The gold medallist in the Women’s Individual Épée event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and a member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Volunteer Team, Vivian Kong, and former Hong Kong athlete, Leung Kwok-shing, were appointed as the Volunteer Ambassadors at the ceremony.
 
Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Law said that the volunteer team comprises more than 1 000 youths aged 15 to 17, together with over 15 000 adult volunteers from diverse age groups and backgrounds, the eldest being over 80 years old. They share the same philosophy and passion for services to support the two national mega sports events with devoted actions. She also expressed gratitude to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for its sponsorship in supporting the organisation of the competition events, including volunteer training, development of the information management system, allowances, catering, and uniforms. She also thanked the Agency for Volunteer Service and the Hong Kong Volunteers Association for planning and implementing the entire volunteer programme, including recruitment and training, thereby providing solid support to the entire volunteer work. 
 
The first performance at the event was a Combi Latin Dance 3-Dance by Hong Kong wheelchair dancers Matthew Yu and Pandora Choi, who had just won gold medals in the Combi Latin Dance 3-Dance and 5-Dance competitions at the mass participation para dance sport competition of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG. The Hong Kong Dance Company performed “Fencing”, a dance inspired by the elite sport of fencing. Fencer Ryan Choi and table tennis athlete Doo Hoi-kam shared how volunteers assisted athletes during international competitions, enabling them to focus on their performance. Ryan Choi also sang live to encourage the volunteers who will be serving at the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG.
 
The volunteer nickname of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG is Little Dolphin, signifying that volunteers from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are friendly, lovely, motivated, intelligent and united like dolphins. The volunteer service slogan is “Be more wonderful for you”. While “you” represents the events of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, as well as everyone who witnesses, participates in and supports the Games, “wonderful” is one of the requirements for hosting the Games. It also embodies athletes’ excellent performances and volunteers’ contributions to the Games. 
 
The first batch of tickets for the Hong Kong competition region of the 15th NG, covering four competition events, namely beach volleyball, handball (men), basketball (men’s U22) and rugby sevens, went on sale late last month. The second batch of tickets, covering the remaining four competition events, namely track cycling, golf, triathlon and fencing, will be available for sale in late September. For ticket purchases and competition schedules, please visit the 15th NG official ticketing website (ticket.baygames.cn).
 
For more information on the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in Hong Kong, please visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/index.html), as well the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/2025nationalgames.hk) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/2025nationalgames.hk).