Month: October 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Lai Tung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (October 22):

Question:

     It is learnt that in recent years, many countries or regions have strongly encouraged elderly persons and patients with chronic diseases to receive the herpes zoster (commonly known as shingles) vaccine (the vaccine). In its reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on the 8th of this month, the Government indicated that the Health Bureau had commissioned the University of Hong Kong to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the vaccine, and that the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) was expected to discuss matters relating to the administration of the vaccine next year at the earliest, upon completion of the analysis. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the details of various existing government-subsidised and free vaccination programmes, and the respective number of beneficiaries and expenditure for various programme over the past five years;

(2) whether it knows if any subsidised or free vaccination programmes for the vaccine are currently available in Macau and other neighbouring regions of Hong Kong; if it knows such subsidies are available, of the details; whether the authorities have introduced any other targeted measures to protect immunocompromised individuals from infection by highly transmissible epidemic diseases; if so, the details of those measures; if not, the reason for that;

(3) of the authorities’ estimate as to how long SCVPD will take, after commencing its discussions, to decide whether to include the vaccine in the Government Vaccination Programme; and

(4) given that it will take time for SCVPD to reach the decision mentioned in (3), whether the authorities have considered including the vaccine in the Hospital Authority Drug Formulary as a free or subsidised item, and administering it by injection to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and to patients with immune system diseases, in order to reduce their risk of contracting herpes zoster or alleviate the resultant suffering after contracting herpes zoster?

Reply:

President,

     Herpes Zoster (also known as Shingles) is caused by varicella-zoster virus, which is also responsible for Chickenpox. The virus remains latent in the nervous system of patients recovered from Chickenpox and may reactivate in times of weakened immune system many years later, inducing Herpes Zoster. Therefore, Herpes Zoster is not a disease caused by acute infection. Patients would develop painful, belt-like skin rash with blisters. Herpes Zoster is not serious in general and the risk of serious complications or death is not high. Early treatment with antiviral medications can speed up the healing of blisters, reduce the symptoms and the risk of complications.

     The position paper on Herpes Zoster vaccine published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in July this year pointed out that recombinant Herpes Zoster vaccine is effective in preventing Herpes Zoster, and its common side effects include pain, redness and swelling at injection site, headache, fever, chills, muscle ache, fatigue. For vaccines not included in the Government’s subsidised immunisation programmes, individuals can consult their family doctor for professional advice to understand the benefits, risks and need for vaccination. Based on a doctor’s assessment of health status, medical history, and other factors, individuals can make informed decisions on whether to proceed with vaccination under informed consent.

     In response to the Hon Lai Tung-kwok’s question, the reply after consultation with the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA) is as follows:

(1) The regularised vaccination programmes implemented by the DH, including Seasonal Influenza (SI) Vaccination Programme/Pneumococcal Vaccination Programme, provide free or subsidised SI vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination services to eligible persons. Besides, the DH provides free vaccination services for eligible children under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) for the prevention of 12 communicable diseases with public health significance, namely tuberculosis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, tetanus, pertussis, measles, diphtheria, mumps, rubella, varicella, pneumococcal disease and human papillomavirus infection.

     The vaccination statistics of the aforementioned regularised vaccination programmes, and the expenditure on the SI vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine in the past five years are provided at Annex. The expenditure on the HKCIP is dispersed across multiple cost components and hence cannot be separately identified.

(2) According to our understanding, neither the Chinese Mainland nor the Macao Special Administrative Region is offering subsidised or free Herpes Zoster vaccination programmes. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that if vaccination is needed, citizens can consult local vaccination clinics and get vaccinated voluntarily at own expense.

     The Government encourages the public, especially immunocompromised individuals to remain vigilant. Members of the public, who experience symptoms, should seek medical advice early and take medications according to doctors’ instructions. Antiviral drug can shorten the recovery time of Herpes Zoster patients with symptoms and it is optimal to take it within three to five days of the onset of the disease. At the same time, the Government is committed to enhancing district-based primary healthcare services to shift the emphasis of the present healthcare system and mindset from treatment-oriented to prevention-oriented. Initiatives include promoting the Life Course Preventive Care Plan through District Health Centres to formulate personalised health management plans that address the health needs of citizens across different life stages, based on personal factors such as their gender, age and family history. Through family doctors and primary healthcare professionals, the Government provides advice and education on chronic disease and cancer screenings, as well as on healthy lifestyle habits, to promote the overall health of citizens. The Government also reminds the public that maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, can help strengthen immunity and prevent Herpes Zoster.  

     Citizens should take primary responsibility for managing their own health and should consider whether to take a particular preventive measure from personal health angle thoroughly. From the perspective of healthcare policy, the use of public funds for subsidising such a measure must be based on public health grounds and a consideration of the pros and cons.

(3) The University of Hong Kong is conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis on the Herpes Zoster vaccine as commissioned by the Health Bureau, with the report expected to be completed by 2026. Upon receiving the report, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the Centre for Health Protection of the DH will review the findings. The SCVPD will make local vaccination recommendations on Herpes Zoster vaccine from a public health angle in accordance with scientific evidences, the local epidemiological situation, the latest recommendations of the WHO and overseas experiences, etc.

     Even if the SCVPD recommends the Herpes Zoster vaccine for specific high-risk groups in future, the Government will also have to carefully consider various factors, including the overall medical burden of the disease on the community, public acceptability, vaccine availability and procurement situation, and other public health factors. Therefore, it is premature at this stage to speculate on whether the vaccine will be included in the Government’s vaccination programme or to discuss the timeline of making such a decision.

     Individuals can consult their family doctors for professional advice on the benefits, risks and necessity of Herpes Zoster vaccine as personal protection. The Government is also committed to enhancing district-based primary healthcare services. Family doctors and primary healthcare professionals will closely collaborate to provide information and education on vaccinations (including the Herpes Zoster vaccine), to enhance public awareness of the Herpes Zoster vaccine and preventive consciousness.

(4) Currently, Herpes Zoster vaccination is not included in the HA’s treatment protocols for solid tumour cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The HA will continue to closely monitor the latest recommendations issued by the SCVPD and whether the Herpes Zoster vaccines are incorporated into the Government’s subsidised immunisation programme, in order to make appropriate arrangements.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Frankie Yick and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 22):

Question:

Some members of the transport industry anticipate that the problem of shortage of taxi drivers will aggravate as elderly taxi drivers retire and some drivers switch to driving ride-hailing vehicles following the legislation regulating ride-hailing vehicles comes into effect. Moreover, it has been reported that five taxi fleets are struggling to achieve scaled operation due to difficulties in recruiting drivers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as it is learnt that there are about 210 000 holders of valid taxi driving licences in Hong Kong, but only 20 per cent of them are active taxi drivers, whether the Government has investigated the reasons why holders of taxi driving licences do not join the taxi industry, and whether it has estimated the number of taxi drivers in shortfall in the market;

(2) of the specific measures in place to assist taxi fleets in recruiting drivers, so that they can achieve the target of having 3 500 taxis in service four months after obtaining their licenses (i.e. by the end of November this year); and

(3) whether it will consider introducing measures after the upcoming enhancement of the Taxi Written Test in November this year, to allow imported drivers to drive taxis in Hong Kong after meeting certain qualifications and examination requirements, and implement this on a trial basis in taxi fleets with a view to helping the trade achieve its targeted fleet size as early as possible; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that, and the other measures in place to increase the supply of taxi drivers?

Reply:

President,

The Government has all along been keeping in view the manpower situation of the taxi industry, and has introduced various measures to enhance the service quality of taxis and support the trade in improving the operating environment, with a view to promoting the healthy development of the industry in the long run and attracting more new blood to join the taxi industry.

Regarding the Hon Frankie Yick’s questions, my reply is as follows:

(1) In light of the continuously ageing population, all trades are compelled to cope with manpower-related challenges. In terms of the taxi industry, the Government has been taking a multi-pronged approach to expand the overall driver supply, including the enhancement of Taxi Written Test in 2020 by updating the test content and adjusting the number of questions, with a view to focusing more on the assessment of core knowledge regarding taxi services. Upon implementation of the measure, the number of candidates sitting the Test has increased significantly by 40 per cent in the past five years to around 14 000 candidates in 2024. To keep up with the times and better align the Taxi Written Test with the operational needs of the trade, the Transport Department (TD) will start from the next month, which is in November, further enhance the Test by substantially reducing and simplifying the questions on locations and routes, and adding new questions related to enhancement of taxi service quality, with the aim of maintaining assessment standards while attracting more aspiring individuals to join the taxi industry.

Apart from enhancing the Taxi Written Test, the Government has also relaxed the eligibility requirements for taxi driving licences in 2020. The period required for an applicant to hold a private car or light goods vehicle full driving licence has been shortened from a minimum of three years to at least one year. Besides, the Government has implemented a number of measures in recent years to enhance the service quality and overall image of the taxi industry, thereby bringing a positive impact on attracting new blood to join the industry. Such measures include introducing taxi fleets with systematic management, organising the Taxi Service Commendation Scheme, increasing the maximum passenger seating capacity of taxis, introducing a Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system, and relaxing no-stopping restrictions for taxis at designated restricted zones.

In addition, the Employees Retraining Board also offers taxi-driver-related training courses to assist participants to join the taxi driver industry. Eligible persons may even receive tuition reductions.

All these measures help attract more young new blood to apply for taxi driving licence. As of August this year, there were approximately 18 200 taxi driving licence holders aged 40 or below, representing an increase of over 50 per cent compared to 2019 (with around 11 800 taxi driving licence holders aged 40 or below).

The current number of active taxi drivers is about 46 000. Whether a taxi driving licence holder opt to become an active taxi driver depends on multiple factors and could not be generalised. These factors include individual career preferences, the overall economic situation as well as the operating environment, income and costs (e.g. taxi rental levels) of the industry. The Government will continue to implement various measures to promote the healthy development of the taxi industry, so as to attract new blood to join the industry and expand the overall driver supply.

(2) As for the taxi fleets, the Government has been actively co-ordinating and providing support to the fleets as needed, including facilitating each fleet to co-operate with third-party platform to provide centralised taxi-hailing service, facilitating vehicle examination arrangements for fleet taxis, co-ordinating fleet operators’ applications for Dedicated 100% Loan Guarantee Scheme for Battery Electric Taxis, and promoting fleet services to citizens and tourists. In addition, to facilitate fleet taxis’ picking up of passengers with pre-booked service, the TD has set up about 80 designated fleet taxi stopping places across 13 locations, such as the airport, certain boundary control points and the Express Rail Link Station.

With regard to driver recruitment, the Government has been arranging for fleet operators to participate in district and thematic job fairs organised by the Labour Department, enabling fleet operators to explain to job seekers the management, training and support provided to drivers, so as to attract existing drivers and new blood to join. In addition, the fleets have also put in place different measures to recruit taxi drivers, including placing advertisements on radio and social media platforms, offering new driver referral bonus and safe driving bonus, as well as flexible working hour arrangements.

We understand that the job fairs and various measures have attracted enquiries from job seekers outside the taxi industry, and have successfully recruited more than 100 newcomers to switch careers and join the fleets. The Government will continue to support the fleets in recruiting drivers, and urge the fleet operators to proactively enhance their services and expedite the recruitment of drivers and taxi owners, with a view to driving the fleets towards their committed scale and providing passengers with quality taxi services.

(3) With regard to the suggestion on labour importation, considering that taxi is a type of personalised point-to-point transport service, drivers should be familiar with the local road network and transport system, and should be able to select the most direct and practical routes to destinations having regard to real-time traffic conditions. Drivers also need to maintain communication with passengers, and adjust routes and drop-off points in accordance with their requests. In this connection, the nature of taxi services is different from that of public light buses or non-franchised buses which have fixed stopping points and routes. At present, the Government has no plan to import labour for the taxi industry.

As mentioned earlier, we will continue to closely monitor the latest manpower situation in the taxi industry, implement various measures to attract new blood to join the industry, and maintain communication with the trade, with a view to ensuring the stability of taxi services and the healthy development of the industry in the long run.

Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced that a Mainland Lanzhou beef noodle brand, Ma Ji Yong, officially opened its first store outside the Mainland in Hong Kong today (October 22), marking a significant milestone in the brand’s global expansion.

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, “We welcome Ma Ji Yong to choose Hong Kong as the first stop for its global expansion. As a bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland and the international market, Hong Kong is the best springboard for Mainland enterprises to go global. We believe that Ma Ji Yong will bring new vitality to Hong Kong’s catering industry and use Hong Kong as a stepping stone to the international market.”

Deputy General Manager of Hong Kong Market and Development Director for Hong Kong, Macao and Southeast Asia of Shanghai Huaqiao Catering Management Co Ltd, Ms Zenna Huang, said, “Hong Kong’s diverse food culture, highly sophisticated consumers, and status as an international financial centre provide an excellent platform for Ma Ji Yong to build its brand image and enter overseas markets. It is an ideal gateway for us to promote Lanzhou beef noodles globally.”

She explained, “Hong Kong has robust intellectual property protection, a business-friendly environment, and an international consumer base and is a hub for culinary innovation in Asia. The city is an important platform for the combination of global food cultures. We will leverage its diverse consumer base to widely promote Lanzhou beef noodles to the world, bringing the fusion and innovation of its flavours with various regional cuisines for our customers.”

She added that the Hong Kong office is part of the Hong Kong, Macao, and Overseas Business Unit of the headquarters of Shanghai Huaqiao Catering Management Co Ltd, responsible for co-ordinating and managing Ma Ji Yong’s business expansion, store operations, and strategic partnerships in Hong Kong, Macao, and Southeast Asia. The brand will use Hong Kong as a launchpad to expand into other markets in the region and introduce digital ordering systems and membership platforms tailored to international customers.

Established in 2019, Ma Ji Yong, under Shanghai Huaqiao Catering Management Co Ltd, is a modern Chinese noodle chain brand that inherits the tradition of Lanzhou beef noodles. The brand insists on using high-quality ingredients, handmade noodles, standardised operations, and a modern dining environment. Currently, it has over 360 directly operated stores on the Chinese Mainland, making it the Lanzhou beef noodle brand with the most directly operated stores in the country.

For more information about Ma Ji Yong, please visit www.majiyong.net.

To download photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720329779262.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A 58-year-old male remand person in custody who had been found unconscious in Tung Tau Correctional Institution died in a public hospital yesterday (October 21).

The remand person in custody suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He required continuous medical care and follow-up at the institution hospital. At 6.24pm yesterday, the remand person in custody was found unconscious in the dormitory by a correctional officer. The officer immediately called for reinforcement to provide first-aid treatment to him, and an ambulance was called at once to send him to a public hospital for further rescue. He remained unconscious after being sent to the public hospital. His condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 8.43pm yesterday.

The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court.

The person in custody was remanded for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug in June 2025.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Ma Chai Hang Sports Centre, managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will open for public use on October 31 (Friday), providing a variety of leisure and sports facilities.
 
     The new sports centre is located at 30 Ma Chai Hang Road and has a total area of about 6 570 square metres. Facilities include a multipurpose arena (which can serve as one basketball court, one volleyball court or four badminton courts), two multipurpose activity rooms, a fitness room, and a children’s play room. Separately, two rooftop tennis courts and a single-storey multipurpose activity room are planned to commence services within this year. The sports centre will be open from 7am to 11pm daily, closing on the first and third Mondays (from 9am to 3pm) of each month for regular maintenance.
 
     In addition to the above sports centre, Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground is also expected to open for public use within this year, providing an 11-a-side artificial turf soccer pitch, a jogging trail, and a natural turf open space. 
 
     Members of the public visiting Ma Chai Hang Sports Centre or Recreation Ground can walk from Exit B1 of Wong Tai Sin MTR Station, or take various bus and minibus routes.     
 
     Booking of the fee-charging facilities of Ma Chai Hang Sports Centre can be made from October 25 (Saturday) via the Internet Booking Service of SmartPLAY. For enquiries, please call the venue staff at 2321 0126, or visit the LCSD website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/index.html).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Lee Chun-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 22):

Question:

     It has been reported that as at late September this year, the Police have conducted 95 enforcement actions against vehicles without a valid hire car permit being used for illegal carriage of passengers for reward (commonly known as white licence cars). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) among the aforesaid 95 enforcement actions, (i) of the number of persons convicted by the court and the respective penalties (including fine amounts and whether the drivers involved were suspended from driving), and (ii) the number of subject vehicles which were detained and their respective detention periods;

(2) whether the Department of Justice has lodged appeals against any of the aforesaid cases in which the penalties were considered relatively low; if so, of the number of such appeal cases and their outcomes; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) whether, following the increase in penalties for offences relating to white licence cars under the Road Traffic Legislation (Enhancing Personalized Point-to-point Transport Services) (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, which came into operation in December 2023, the Government has compiled statistics on and compared the penalties imposed by the court for such offences before and after the commencement of the Ordinance (set out in a table); and

(4) as the Government expects that, after the passage of the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Bill 2025, the first batch of licensed ride-hailing platforms will only commence operation in the fourth quarter of 2026 at the earliest, of the plans of the law enforcement agencies to step up efforts to combat white licence cars in the coming year when licensed ride-hailing platforms are not yet available?

Reply:
 
President,

     In consultation with the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Transport Department (TD), a consolidated reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Lee Chun-keung is provided as follows:

(1) and (2) The Government is determined to combat illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward with a view to safeguarding the safety and interests of the public. To this end, enforcement efforts have been strengthened in recent years. The HKPF has continued to take enforcement actions in various districts, where 97 cases were detected in 2025 (by September), involving the provision of illegal services of carriage of passengers for reward by vehicles through different platforms, representing a doubling of the 47 cases detected in the whole year of 2024. Of the abovementioned cases, 39 cases involving 39 drivers have been convicted by the court. Seven cases have entered judicial proceedings, while the remaining 51 cases are under investigation.

     Of the convicted cases, fines ranging from $1,200 to $6,000 were imposed on the drivers involved. Individual drivers involved in breach of condition of stay were, in addition to fines, sentenced to imprisonment ranging from two weeks to two months. Moreover, 24 drivers have been disqualified from driving for 12 to 15 months.

     According to the Prosecution Code, the DoJ may apply to the court for the review of a sentence on the basis that it has proceeded on an error of law or of principle or that it is manifestly inadequate. Whether an application for the review of a sentence will be made is based upon the facts and circumstances of each and every case. The DoJ has not made any application to the court for a review of sentences in relation to the offences of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward.

     Under the existing Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) (the Ordinance), if a person is convicted of the offence under section 52(3) of the Ordinance (i.e. illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward), the Commissioner for Transport will, in accordance with the Ordinance, suspend the vehicle licence of the vehicle involved and instruct the vehicle owner to deliver the vehicle to the Commissioner’s custody (i.e. detention as referred to in the question). The suspension period is either six months (for first conviction) or 12 months (for subsequent conviction). Of the convicted cases in 2025, 20 vehicles have been impounded or scheduled for impoundment for six months, while the remaining cases are under process.

(3) To enhance the deterrent effect of the penalties for the offences of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, the Government in December 2023 increased the penalties for offences relating to illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by motor vehicles through the enactment of the Road Traffic Legislation (Enhancing Personalized Point-to-point Transport Services) (Amendment) Ordinance 2023. These included increasing the maximum fine and term of imprisonment, as well as lengthening the period of suspension of vehicle licences and impoundment of vehicles, with details as follows:

Table 1: Details of the legislative amendments made in December 2023

Penalty	Maximum penalty prior to the 2023 legislative amendments		Existing maximum penalty following the legislative amendments
	First conviction	Subsequent conviction	First conviction	Subsequent conviction
Maximum fine	$5,000 (Level 2)	$10,000 (Level 3)	$10,000 (Level 3)	$25,000 (Level 4)
Maximum term of imprisonment	Three months	Six months	Six months	12 months
Suspension of vehicle licences and impoundment of vehicles	Three months	Six months	Six months	12 months

Since the commencement of the legislative amendments on December 22, 2023, the average amount of fines imposed and the number of cases on which imprisonment was imposed for offences relating to illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by motor vehicles have increased, with details as follows:

Table 2: Comparison of penalties imposed before and after the legislative amendments in December 2023

Penalty	Before the legislative amendments (during 2023)	After the legislative amendments (by September 2025)
Fine	Ranging from $1,000 to $5,000	Ranging from $500 to $7,500
Imprisonment	No cases on which imprisonment was imposed	Imprisonment was imposed on five cases, the average of which was six weeks*
Suspension of vehicle licences and impoundment of vehicles	Impoundment of vehicle for three months was imposed on 29 cases	Impoundment of vehicle for six months was imposed on 58 cases

* In addition to the contravention of section 52(3) of the Ordinance, the cases also involved a contravention of section 4 of the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Ordinance (Cap. 272) and section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115).

(4) The Government will further strengthen the penalties against illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward through the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Bill 2025 (the Bill), which was just passed by the Legislative Council on October 15. The Bill specifies that convicted drivers should be disqualified from driving for not less than 12 months and not more than three years; and strengthens the arrangement for the suspension of vehicle licences and impoundment of vehicles, allowing a mechanism under which the Government may impound the vehicles involved even if the driver involved cannot be identified for the purpose of instituting criminal proceedings, thereby enhancing the deterrent effect.

     The aforementioned new provisions on enforcement will dovetail with the commencement date of other parts of the Bill and take effect when licensed ride-hailing vehicles commence service, so as to provide comprehensive protection for legally compliant point-to-point transport services and passengers.

     Meanwhile, the Government will continue to strengthen law enforcement across all districts to combat illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. The TD will also step up its publicity efforts in reminding drivers of the relevant penalties and the need to abide by the law, while alerting passengers to the potential risks of using illegal hire car services as the third party liability insurance for the vehicle providing illegal services may become invalid in the event of a traffic accident.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, at the Opening Ceremony of the Green Tech Summit 2025 today (October 22):
 
Helene (CEO & Co-Founder, GoImpact, Ms Helene Li), Clarence (Co-Founder, GoImpact, Mr Clarence T’ao), Andy (Co-Founder, GoImpact, Mr Andy Ann), Kevin (Chif Executive and Founder, Templaria and Advisory Board Member, GoImpact, Mr Kevin Angelini), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It is my pleasure to address you at the Opening Ceremony of the Green Tech Summit 2025. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the organiser GoImpact and all participants, including esteemed partners such as the World Bank and the Climate Bonds Initiative, for your unwavering support in advancing green technology and sustainability. Your collective efforts are instrumental in driving our shared green finance and ESG (environmental, social and governance) ambitions, paving the way for a transformative journey towards a greener future.
 
     Hong Kong is steadfast in our commitment to sustainability, guided by the Central People’s Government’s 14th Five-Year Plan, which sets goals of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Aligned with this vision, Hong Kong has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. These targets are not mere aspirations but a call to action, compelling us to leverage our position as a global financial centre to pioneer and drive innovative financing solutions that bridge environmental goals with financial expertise.
 
     Based on market research it is estimated that annual climate investments would have to reach US$9 trillion by 2030 and US$10 trillion by 2050. This demonstrates the immense demand for green and sustainable finance. As the leading international financial centre in Asia, Hong Kong is also rising as an international green and sustainable finance centre, playing our part in mobilising capital for green investments. In 2024, the total green and sustainable debt, including both bonds and loans, issued in Hong Kong exceeded US$84 billion, among which the volume of green and sustainable bonds arranged in Hong Kong amounted to around US$43 billion, capturing around 45 per cent of the regional total and ranking first in the Asian market for seven consecutive years since 2018. Our financial prowess enables us to fund transformative projects that align with our carbon neutrality objectives.
 
     The Government is also leading by example in the development of the green bond market. Under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme, we have issued green bonds totalling about HK$240 billion equivalent since May 2019. Notable milestones include the world’s largest retail green bond in 2022 and the largest ESG bond issuance in Asia in 2023. To further advance innovation, we introduced the world’s first tokenised government green bond of its kind in February 2023 and the world’s first multi-tranche digitally native green bonds in 2024. Using the capital raised from the issuances, so far we have supported 116 local green projects across six eligible categories to deliver transparent and measurable environmental benefits.
 
     Financing aside, Hong Kong is actively promoting green finance by developing policies and frameworks to support sustainable investments, including ESG-focused financial products. The Government and the financial sector are collaborating to position the city as a leading global hub for green finance, attracting international capital to fund environmentally friendly projects. Hong Kong’s status as a strategic nexus for green finance in Asia is central to advancing global sustainability objectives. As of June this year, there are more than 204 ESG funds in Hong Kong authorised by the SFC (Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong), with assets under management of around US$150 billion. This sizable market of ESG funds demonstrates Hong Kong’s role as the gateway to sustainable finance in Asia, gathering capital to empower green transformation.
 
     Complementing these efforts and achievements, the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme, extended to 2027, has disbursed around HK$380 million to over 600 green and sustainable debt instruments issued in Hong Kong, with a total underlying debt issuance exceeding HK$1.3 trillion as of September this year. This scheme provides subsidy for eligible bond issuers and loan borrowers to cover part of their expenses on bond issuance and external review services, driving decarbonisation and reinforcing Hong Kong’s leadership in transition financing.
 
     Technology application is another driving force for development, and Hong Kong is at the forefront of integrating financial technology with green finance. To accelerate the green transformation of our economy, we are expanding our green fintech ecosystem. In March 2024 and June 2025, the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group launched the Prototype Hong Kong Green Fintech Map and the Hong Kong Green Fintech Map 2025, respectively. Developed in collaboration with stakeholders, these platforms provide comprehensive information on green fintech companies and services in Hong Kong, elevating their visibility and impact and promoting business collaboration.
 
     To further support green fintech development, we launched the Green and Sustainable Fintech Proof-of-Concept Funding Support Scheme in June last year. This scheme provides early-stage funding to technology companies and research institutes collaborating with local enterprises to develop innovative green fintech solutions. A total of 39 applicants, involving 60 projects, were approved, each receiving a grant of HK$150,000 to facilitate commercialisation and proof-of-concept completion.
 
     On the journey towards green transformation, it is also important to empower our small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In partnership with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, our Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group launched the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculation and estimation tools in February last year. These tools, freely accessible on the Steering Group’s website, empower small and medium enterprises and financial institutions to manage their environmental footprint and enhance sustainability reporting. The Steering Group will continue to enhance these public utility tools, including the GHG emissions tools and the Climate and Environmental Risk Questionnaire for non-listed companies and SMEs, to improve data availability throughout this year.
 
     Furthermore, we are also exploring real-world asset tokenisation for green finance development. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), is studying the application of tokenisation technology in carbon trading. The HKEX is also deepening pilot co-operation with the Greater Bay Area carbon market to test cross-border trade settlement mechanisms and build a regional carbon market ecosystem. In collaboration with Mainland regulatory authorities, we are also studying issues surrounding the country’s participation in the international carbon market, including the formulation of voluntary carbon credit standards and methods, as well as the registration, trading and settlement of carbon emission reduction.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong’s leadership in green finance reflects our ability to unite vision, innovation, and collaboration. The Green Tech Summit 2025’s focus on green technology mirrors our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge solutions for a sustainable future. From our ambitious carbon neutrality targets to our pioneering green financing and fintech innovations, every step we take builds a resilient and inclusive ecosystem. I urge you to join us in harnessing innovation to create a greener, more sustainable Hong Kong and beyond. Thank you.