Month: October 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Lands Department announced today that it registered 22 lease modifications and three land exchanges in the Land Registry during the quarter ending September 2025, adding that four were technical changes involving no premium.

Of the land transactions, four are located on Hong Kong Island, 17 are in Kowloon and four are in the New Territories.

Another four lots were granted by private treaty during the period.

One was granted for office use in Sai Ying Pun, while another was granted to the Airport Authority for airport development in Chek Lap Kok.

The third lot was granted for the development of a non-profit-making school in Tin Shui Wai, and the remaining one was granted to the Urban Renewal Authority for residential development in Mong Kok.

The land transactions realised a total land premium of about $2.681 billion.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Vegetable Marketing Organization (VMO) announced today that it detected a ransomware attack on part of its computer systems on Monday.

Preliminary findings are that the incident involves the Cheung Sha Wan Vegetable Wholesale Market’s gate and accounting systems, which contain particulars of about 7,000 market users.

The VMO is conducting an investigation to assess whether any personal data has been leaked and it will promptly notify affected individuals as necessary.

The market is maintaining normal operations overall, with processes such as invoicing and payments being handled manually. The VMO has engaged an external contractor to expedite system restoration and assist with the investigation.

Upon discovery of the incident, the VMO immediately suspended the operation of its network systems and disconnected relevant computer servers from external connections to prevent further hacker intrusion.

The incident has been reported to the Police Force, the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.

The VMO said it will conduct a comprehensive review of the incident and strengthen its information and network protection measures to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.

Call 2710 0964 or 2710 0931 for enquiries.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Department of Industrial Technology (DOIT), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) showcased 42 groundbreaking textile innovations at the 2025 Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS) on October 14, in collaboration with six major research institutes-the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI), the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), the Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute (FTR), the Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC), and the Printing Technology Research Institute (PITRI). The exhibition highlighted Taiwan’s latest achievements in digital manufacturing, circular recycling, and product innovation, underscoring the nation’s strong technological capability and global competitiveness in the textile industry.

Director-General Chao-Chung Kuo of DoIT stated that although Taiwan commands more than 70% of the global functional fabric market, the industry must continue advancing toward digitalization, decarbonization, and high-value transformation to maintain its edge. The showcased innovations align with the government’s net-zero, AI, and sustainability policies, while addressing trade challenges and strengthening Taiwan’s position in global markets through technological breakthroughs and international collaboration.

Among the highlights was “A Slice of Shoe,” Taiwan’s first 3D one-piece formed shoe developed by the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI). Utilizing a proprietary melt-blown fiber forming process, the technology enables a shoe upper to be produced in just six minutes, reducing production time by more than 80% compared with traditional eight-step processes. Despite weighing less than 50 grams, the upper can withstand 5 kilograms of tensile strength and seamlessly bond with the sole, saving about 35% of assembly time.

The shoe’s mono-material design allows for easier recycling, while automated manufacturing significantly reduces both energy consumption and labor demand. The innovation has already been adopted by Japan’s leading sports brand Mizuno and received the 2025 iF Design Award. Future applications will expand to bicycle saddles and sports protective gear, demonstrating Taiwan’s leadership in intelligent footwear manufacturing and green innovation.

The DoIT Pavilion centered on three core themes-digitalization, low-carbon solutions, and value-added innovation-featuring several key technologies that are reshaping the future of Taiwan’s textile industry:

AI-enhanced Multispectral Imaging for Textile Recycling:

Developed by TTRI, this system can accurately identify blended fabrics within one second, with an error margin of plus or minus15%. It overcomes more than 70% of the challenges in textile waste sorting, reducing the conventional 1-2 hour process to just seconds. Each kilogram of textile recycled with this technology helps reduce 5.09-9.13 kilograms of Carbon Dioxide emissions, advancing the goals of circular sustainability.

Nonwoven Recycled Products:

Developed by the Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC), this low-shear physical recycling process transforms 100% of waste edge trims and offcuts-totaling 30,000 to 40,000 tons annually-into reusable products. Carbon emissions are reduced by more than 60%, with applications across furniture and lifestyle goods, generating an estimated NT$400-500 million in market value.

Auxetic Response Stress-relieving Protective Geary:

Developed by the Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute (FTIS), this innovation uses supercritical physical foaming combined with an expanded lattice structure to reduce joint pressure by 40% and improve footwear comfort, with an estimated market potential exceeding NT$200 million.

The DOIT Pavilion brought together technologies spanning fibers, fabrics, machinery, digital AI systems, testing, and end-product applications, showcasing Taiwan’s integrated R&D strength and innovation ecosystem.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung, led a delegation to Beijing yesterday (October 14) for a two-day visit. 

Upon arrival, the delegation first attended the 21st China International Fire Protection Equipment Technology Conference and Exposition organised by the China Fire Protection Association. They toured the exhibition, which showcased the latest rescue technologies, vehicles and equipment, and learned about developments in the emergency rescue industry from around the world.

On the sidelines of the exposition, Mr Yeung and the President of the China Academy of Building Research (CABR), Mr Fan Jinlong, witnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Institute of Building Fire Research under the CABR. Both sides will deepen collaboration in areas such as the development and application of building fire safety standards, as well as the benchmarking and transformation of fire-testing technologies. Regular exchanges and trainings will also be strengthened with a view to jointly promoting the development of firefighting professions.

In addition, the delegation visited the Ministry of Emergency Management today (October 15) and met with its Vice Minister Mr Xu Jiaai. During the meeting, Mr Yeung outlined the work of Hong Kong’s fire and ambulance services, and the FSD’s future development plans. Mr Yeung expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Emergency Management for its continuous support to the FSD in areas such as regional and international emergency rescue co-operation, as well as professional exchanges and personnel trainings. 

The FSD will continue to strengthen exchanges and collaboration with the country’s emergency departments, and proactively explore more opportunities for exchanges with global counterparts to jointly promote the high-quality development of the national and worldwide emergency response professions.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (October 15) that it registered 22 lease modifications and three land exchanges in the Land Registry during the quarter ending September 2025, of which four were modifications of a technical nature involving nil premium.

     Among these 25 land transactions, four are located on Hong Kong Island, 17 are in Kowloon and four are in the New Territories. The transactions exclude Small House cases.

A further four lots were granted by private treaty during the period. One was granted for office use in Sai Ying Pun; one was granted to the Airport Authority Hong Kong for airport development in Chek Lap Kok; one was granted for the development of a non-profit-making school in Tin Shui Wai; and the other one was granted to the Urban Renewal Authority for residential development in Mong Kok.

There were no lot extensions registered during the quarter.

The above land transactions realised a total land premium of about $2,680.686 million.

Transaction records of the lease modifications, land exchanges, private treaty grants and lot extensions, including those registered recently, are uploaded to the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/land-disposal-transaction/land-transaction.html) on a monthly basis. Details of the transactions may be obtained by searching the registered documents in the Land Registry.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Outreach vaccination services under the Civil Service Eligible Persons (CSEPs) Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Pilot Scheme are being provided at various government offices, with about 110 CSEPs being vaccinated at an outreach station at the Central Government Offices (CGO) this morning.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung and Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam spoke with civil servants receiving the influenza vaccines to listen to their views. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho also received vaccines at the outreach station.

Mrs Yeung said it was better to receive the vaccine sooner rather than later.

She highlighted that as civil servants frequently interact with members of the public, being vaccinated can better protect employees own health and that of those they serve, reduce the risk of workplace and community transmission of influenza, and minimise impacts on the delivery of public services due to illnesses in the civil service.

“I encourage more civil service colleagues to receive their vaccinations early, and I am pleased with the good response from colleagues today,” she added. “The outreach vaccination service is efficient and convenient, allowing colleagues to complete their vaccinations with only a brief absence from work.”

The pilot scheme is open to all CSEPs aged six months or above. Those who have made an appointment can receive free seasonal influenza vaccines at family clinics.

This year’s scheme provides vaccination services by appointment through the outreach stations, on a pilot basis, at specified government offices on various dates between now and November. The offices involved are the CGO, the Queensway Government Offices, the West Kowloon Government Offices and the North Point Government Offices.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today said that consent has been given to resume the socketed steel H-pile works of the proposed MTR Corporation (MTRCL) Oyster Bay Station project on Lantau Island.

Since the upheaving readings recorded on July 15 at five monitoring checkpoints installed on a section of the MTRCL’s Tung Chung Line ballasted railway tracks near Siu Ho Wan Depot had exceeded the preset trigger level of 20mm for works suspension, the socketed steel H-pile works were suspended that same day.

The situation occurred under the preset mechanism that aims to monitor the potential impact of construction works in the vicinity of railways under operation. Once the exceedance of the preset trigger level is observed, works will be suspended and mitigation measures will be explored to ensure railway safety.

The registered building professional of the Oyster Bay Station project had submitted to the Buildings Department an incident report. After review, the department agreed to the mitigation measures and the amendment plans as they can effectively minimise the potential risk of the upheaval and settlement of the tracks beyond the preset threshold upon the resumption of works. It also accepted the enhanced monitoring measures taken by the MTRCL.

Meanwhile, the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department has reviewed the monitoring data and assessment report submitted by the MTRCL in relation to the safe operation of the railway and confirmed that the condition of the railway and the corporation’s monitoring measures meet the operational safety requirements.

Additionally, the MTRCL has confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and the railway’s safe operation.

Staff of the two departments inspected the railway tracks on October 8 and confirmed again that the maintenance works completed and the reconditioned ballast track after the July incident had had no impact on the structural safety of the railway facilities and operational safety.

The two departments and the MTRCL will closely monitor the situation.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

According to the statistics, 1,644 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total amount of US$8,777,358,000 were approved from January to September 2025. This indicates a decrease of 2.84% in the number of cases, but an increase of 50.41% 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$101,604,000 from January to September 2025. This indicates a decrease of 48.15% in the number of cases, but an increase of 500.61% in the FDI amount compared to the same period of 2024.

In terms of Taiwan’s outbound investment (excluding Mainland China), 634 projects were registered from January to September 2025 with a total amount of US$32,580,798,000, indicating an increase of 17.63% in the number of cases, but an decrease of 21.61% in the amount, as compared to the same period of 2024.

As for Taiwan’s outward investment to Mainland China, 171 applications have been approved from January to September 2025, indicating a decrease of 37.59% compared to the same period of 2024. The approved investment amount is US$893,266,000, 73.23% less than the same period in 2024.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The annual marine pollution joint response exercises, codenamed “Oilex 2025” and “Maritime Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) 2025”, were conducted by various government departments this morning (October 15) at the waters off Ha Mei Wan of Lamma Island to test their marine pollution responses in the event of a spillage of oil and HNS in Hong Kong waters.

     In the test scenario, an oil tanker collided with a container vessel, leading to fuel oil spilling from the oil tanker and five containers loaded with Sodium Hydroxide falling overboard. Subsequently, an oil spill response team arrived at the scene and cleaned up the spilled oil on the sea surface. The Fire Services Department (FSD) and other response groups were also tasked at the scene to contain and handle the probable spilled Sodium Hydroxide as necessary to prevent threats to the nearby environment and facilities.

     In the exercises, various participating parties carried out a series of simulated response actions. After the simulated oil spill, the oil tanker anchored at the waters off Ha Mei Wan of Lamma Island, while a salvage team transferred the fuel oil from the damaged tank and patched the leak to stop further oil spillage at the source. Moreover, an oil pollution combat team deployed floating barrier booms to encircle the oil tanker and set up barrier booms in the vicinity to prevent the spill from spreading. The exercise also simulated the spraying of oil dispersant with water from pollution control vessels and a Government Flying Service (GFS) helicopter onto oil on the sea surface, as well as the use of oil skimmers and other equipment. Simultaneously, a shoreline cleaning team conducted a shoreline oil clean-up drill at Tai Wan To, a non-gazetted beach, on Lamma Island. In combating the simulated HNS spill, the response groups lifted the damaged containers out from the sea to stop the pollution at the source.

     The joint response exercises were co-ordinated by the Marine Department and the Environmental Protection Department. The participating government departments and organisations included the FSD, the GFS, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Government Laboratory and the Civil Aid Service, as well as several oil companies and a pollution control company jointly formed by them.

     The response exercises not only provided hands-on experience for response members but also helped relevant parties to adopt an effective emergency response strategy for preventing pollution according to the properties and extents of spilled substances.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Li and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 15):
 
Question:
 
     Two incidents occurred respectively last month, including a case in which a bus driver was injured while driving by a metal rod propelled into the air from the road surface after being run over by vehicles, and another where a bus was struck by road debris on its windscreen. These incidents have aroused grave public concern about the risks posed by obstructions on road surface to road users. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will take measures to step up clearance of obstructions on highways, such as by increasing inspection frequency, installing additional closed-circuit televisions along the roads, improving clearance procedures, etc, so as to effectively ensure the safety of all road users; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;  
President,
 
     The Government has consistently placed great importance on road safety and the requirement for moving vehicles to properly contain or secure their loads. Having consulted the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Highways Department (HyD) and the Transport Department (TD), my response to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Li is as follows: 
     The HyD has established a performance pledge for clearing obstacles on expressways, targeting to arrive at the scene within 1.5 hours of receiving a referral and immediately arrange for clearance work. All cases over the past three years have met this target.
 
     Additionally, the HyD actively applies innovative technologies in the maintenance of carriageways. For example, inspection vehicles equipped with laser scanning devices and global satellite positioning technology are deployed to swiftly identify potholes and other potential defects on road surfaces. This enables a comprehensive understanding of road conditions and allows for the precise prioritisation of repair works, thereby enhancing safety and maintenance efficiency. 
     Over the past three years, all departments have consistently strengthened enforcement efforts. Prosecution figures have declined which indicates that enforcement and penalties are effective. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and review the law as appropriate. Moreover, the HKPF continuously monitors data on serious and fatal traffic accidents and conducts territory-wide enforcement operations in response, particularly targeting non-compliance by lorries. These include the “Crackdown on Lorry Offences” operation conducted in September this year, with the aim of enhancing overall road safety.
 
     Relevant departments are proactively exploring the use of new technologies to enhance the enforcement efficiency and strengthen road safety. Recently, the HKPF conducted the first trial of drone-assisted traffic enforcement on non-urban road sections to combat dangerous driving. The HKPF will review the effectiveness of the trial and consider the feasibility of extending the initiative to other areas or offence types, including insecure vehicle loads and overloading. 
     Regarding the incident that members of the public were unable to contact the operator of Tai Lam Tunnel via the hotline from September 15 to the morning of September 16, 2025, the operator has submitted a report to the TD. The report indicates that at the time of the incident, the call transfer mechanism of the telephone conversation recording device malfunctioned, preventing external calls from being transferred to tunnel staff for answering. Following emergency repairs, the system resumed normal on September 16. Due to the operator’s failure to promptly respond to the hotline, the TD has instructed them to strengthen their preparedness and contingency measures for tunnel emergencies to ensure the smooth operation of the systems.
 
     We consider the operator’s failure to maintain effective 24-hour hotline operations unacceptable. The TD has issued a Notice of Default to the operator in accordance with the contract to pursue its liability, and the operator has provided compensation as contractually required. The Department will continue to follow up on this matter seriously and enhance monitoring of the hotline operations.
 
     Members of the public may report road conditions to government departments through multiple channels at present. To enhance incident management, the TD plans to introduce AI-based closed-circuit television systems for detecting road obstructions and incidents when replacing the traffic control and surveillance systems in tunnels and controlled areas.
 
     The TD has been conducting publicity and educational activities through various channels to enhance the goods vehicle trade’s awareness of safe loading. For example, a Code of Practice for the Loading of Vehicles is compiled in accordance with the law, which provides guidelines on safe loading. The TD also issues the Goods Vehicle Trade Newsletter and holds regular meetings with the goods vehicle trade. Reminder messages are affixed on traffic signal controllers and displayed on variable message signs in tunnel areas. The TD and the HKPF will continue to work with the Road Safety Council to conduct publicity and educational programmes, such as publishing and distributing the Road Safety Bulletin, and disseminating information through social media platforms, to enhance road users’ awareness of safety.