Month: October 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (October 30) that a pilot licence for autonomous vehicles (AVs) has been issued to approve a cross-district AV trial on Airportcity Link connecting the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port and SKYCITY at the airport, in accordance with section 4(1) of the Road Traffic (Autonomous Vehicles) Regulation (Cap. 374AA).

     The approved trial project involves seven public light buses operated by autonomous driving between the HZMB Hong Kong Port and SKYCITY. During the initial stage of the trial, a backup operator will be stationed in the vehicle at all times to take over control when necessary. The TD’s label for pilot AV shall be displayed on all pilot AVs for identification by other road users. Details of the pilot licence have been uploaded to the TD’s website on AV trials.

     A spokesman for the TD said that, as set out in the Policy Address 2025, three cross-district pilot projects will commence within this year, including the above Airportcity Link between the HZMB Hong Kong Port and the airport, and a project spanning Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Districts, encompassing the Kai Tak Development Area, also announced today. The Government aims to accelerate progress towards driverless and large-scale development and also aspires to achieve commercial operation, encouraging the industry to leverage Hong Kong as a platform to explore overseas markets, particularly those with right-hand drive systems. Driving and road safety remain the top priority, and the Government will draw on practical experience to refine technical standards, share research findings with the industry in a timely manner, and implement these initiatives in a prudent and orderly process.

     The TD welcomes interested organisations or enterprises to submit applications for a pilot licence. Upon receipt of an application, the TD will consider various factors, including the design operating range and functions of the autonomous system, relevant national or international standards/guidelines, and the road test situations, based on the Code of Practice for Trial and Pilot Use of Autonomous Vehicles before approval. Among them, the TD has been accepting submissions of the Guobiao (GB) to substantiate that the vehicles or their components comply with the relevant technical requirements and vehicle construction standards. In addition, the operation experience and performance of AV in areas outside Hong Kong (including the Mainland), such as test reports in accordance with the GB, will be taken into consideration by the TD in evaluating the performance of the vehicle automation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Five owners were convicted and fined $510,190 in total at the Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday (October 28) for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123). 
 
The first case involved three unauthorised structures with a total area of about 75 square metres on a flat roof and rooftop of a residential building on San Lok Street, Sheung Shui. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), three removal orders were served on the two concerned owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failure to comply with the removal orders, they were prosecuted by the BD and were fined $317,710 in total, of which $222,710 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts.
 
The second case involved a three-storey unauthorised structure with an area of about 100 sq m at Sheung Wo Hang, Sha Tau Kok. Since the Lands Department would not issue a certificate of exemption for the UBWs and they were also carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, a removal order was served on the two co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failure to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD and were fined $104,280 in total, of which $84,280 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts.
 
The third case involved unauthorised alterations at the basement of an industrial building at Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, including erection of a structure at the entrance of a staircase, replacement of fire-resisting concrete block walls by glazed walls of an inadequate fire rating and removal of fire-resisting concrete block walls and fire-resisting doors at cold-storage godowns. The alteration works affected the fire-resisting construction of the building and contravened the Building (Construction) Regulation. A removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failure to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and was fined $88,200 in total, of which $53,200 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts.
 
A spokesman for the BD said today (October 30), “UBWs, including unauthorised alterations affecting the fire-resisting construction of a building, may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety.”
 
Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     A delegation of 10 overseas government officials completed their visit to Hong Kong today (October 30), gaining a better understanding of the city’s strengths, potential and opportunities under the “one country, two systems” arrangement.
 
     The visit was arranged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which invited officials of foreign ministries from 10 Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
 
     The aim of the visit was to enhance exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and these countries, as well as expand the “circle of friends” of Hong Kong.
 
     During the delegation’s stay in Hong Kong, they met with the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; and the Acting Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, to exchange views and learn more about Hong Kong’s unique advantages of having connections to both the Mainland and the world under “one country, two systems”, as well as its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.
 
     They also met with the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, as well as representatives of a number of relevant institutions. The delegation also visited the Hong Kong Science Park and West Kowloon Cultural District to learn about the city’s latest developments and opportunities in finance, trade, innovation and technology, and arts and culture.

     The delegation also visited Shenzhen to learn more about the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Security Bureau today launched the “Andy & Bear KinderFest” school tour, which will involve workshops being organised in kindergartens to disseminate national security messages and help students to grow into law-abiding citizens with an affection for the country and Hong Kong.

Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said at the launch ceremony that Andy & Security Bear have received a good response as characters since the launch of national security comics featuring them.

Accompanied by volunteers from the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum, the two characters will visit kindergartens to interact with students. Through storytelling and games, the workshops are designed to teach children basic concepts of national security in a fun and engaging environment.

Together with Under Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai, Mr Tang appointed some 90 members of the leaders forum as “fest  leaders” and witnessed 30 representatives committing to the mission of national security promotion and education.

Mr Tang and Mr Sze were joined by Permanent Secretary for Security Patrick Li and Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk in launching the Andy & Bear KinderFest school tour.

Concluding the ceremony, Mr Tang appealed to the people to cast their votes in the 2025 Legislative Council General Election to be held on December 7.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Police announced today (October 30) that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Central from October 31 to November 1 to facilitate the celebration of Halloween.

Road closure
————
 
     The following roads will be closed from 2pm on October 31 to 5am on November 1:

– D’Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Wellington Street;
– Lan Kwai Fong;
– Wing Wah Lane;
– Wo On Lane;
– Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D’Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.

     Depending on the crowd situation, the following roads may be closed from 2pm on October 31 to 5am on November 1:

– Stanley Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
– Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen’s Road Central;
– D’Aguilar Street between Queen’s Road Central and Wellington Street;
– Wellington Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
– Cochrane Street between Wellington Street and Stanley Street;
– Lyndhurst Terrace; and
– Queen’s Road Central between Pedder Street and Pottinger Street.

Suspension of parking spaces
—————————-

     All parking spaces and motorcycle parking spaces on the following closed roads will be suspended from 1pm on October 31 to 5am on November 1:

– Stanley Street near D’Aguilar Street;
– On Lan Street; and
– Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.  

     The Police will implement appropriate arrangements subject to the prevailing traffic and crowd conditions. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience, and take heed of instructions of police officers on site.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

To promote national security education in kindergartens, the Security Bureau today (October 30) launched the Andy & Bear KinderFest school tour featuring workshops to be conducted in kindergartens themed around national security comics and Andy and Security Bear, with an aim of disseminating national security messages to young children to prepare them to grow into law-abiding citizens with an affection for the country and Hong Kong.
 
Addressing the ceremony, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, said that since the launch of the national security comics, Andy and Security Bear, these two main characters have been well received. The Andy & Bear KinderFest was therefore established to organise workshops in kindergartens. Accompanied by volunteers from the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum, the two adorable main characters will visit kindergartens to interact with students. Through storytelling and games, the workshops aim to teach young children basic concepts of national security in a fun and engaging environment, helping them understand the importance of safeguarding the homeland.
 
During the ceremony, Mr Tang and the other officiating guest, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, appointed some 90 members of the Leaders Forum as leaders of the Andy & Bear KinderFest and witnessed 30 representatives pledging to take on the mission of national security promotion and education by disseminating national security messages to schools. Mr Tang and Dr Sze were joined by the Permanent Secretary for Security, Mr Patrick Li, and the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, to launch the Andy & Bear KinderFest school tour during the ceremony.
 
     Afterwards, the Andy & Bear KinderFest held its first workshop. Members of the Leaders Forum told a story from the national security comics Andy and Security Bear, and interacted with the young children through a question-and-answer session, inculcating basic national security concepts in a relaxed atmosphere.
 
Before concluding the ceremony, Mr Tang reminded the audience that the 2025 Legislative Council General Election will be held on December 7 and appealed to the public to cast their votes. Holding promotional items showing election messages, the guests chanted the election slogan “Join the Election Together We Create the Future”.
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (October 30) that a tender of 10-year HKD institutional Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 10-year Government Bond issue 10GB3507001 under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, for settlement on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
 
An additional amount of HK$1.0 billion of the outstanding 10-year Bonds (issue no. 10GB3507001) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on July 24, 2035, and will carry interest at the rate of 3.17 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on October 30, 2025, are 102.81 with an annualised yield of 2.857 per cent.
 
Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.
 
Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK ) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3.00 pm on the tender day.
 
HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Information

Tender information of 10-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds: