Month: October 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, arrived in New York, the United States (US), on October 14 (New York time) and began his visit. Upon arrival, he attended the annual Gala Dinner of the National Committee on United States-China Relations (NCUSCR) and met with the NCUSCR Chair and former US Trade Representative, Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky. During their meeting, they exchanged views on current China-US economic and trade relations, as well as issues relating to trade, investment and financial markets between Hong Kong and the US. Mr Chan also briefed Ambassador Barshefsky on the latest developments in Hong Kong.

During the meeting, Mr Chan expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to visit the US again and engage in face-to-face exchanges with leaders from the American political, business and academic communities, with a view to briefing them on the latest developments of Hong Kong. He noted the strong and close economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and the US. Despite the significant uncertainties currently facing the global economy, under the “one country, two systems” framework, Hong Kong will continue to maintain its status as a free port, uphold the common law system and rule of law, sustain a simple and low tax regime, and implement open, stable and predictable economic and trade policies. Hong Kong continues to welcome US businesses to invest and expand their presence in the city. Mr Chan recognised the important and active role the NCUSCR has long played in promoting Hong Kong-US economic and trade relations and expressed hope for continued close co-operation with the Committee to create more opportunities for the business communities of both places.

The Gala Dinner is a major annual event organised by the NCUSCR, bringing together prominent political, business and academic leaders from both China and the US, with a view to facilitating exchanges and co-operation between the two countries. This year’s event was attended by around 300 leaders and guests, including China’s Ambassador to the US, Mr Xie Feng, who gave a speech at the dinner.

Mr Chan will continue his visit to New York today (October 15, New York time), meeting with local political and business leaders to share the latest developments and opportunities in Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with more than 100 secondary students and teachers joining the first “Mainland Study Tour for the Three Gorges Culture and Urban Development in Chongqing” of the senior secondary subject of Citizenship and Social Development (CS) in 2025/26, attended the kick-off ceremony of the tour in Chongqing today (October 14).

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Choi said that since April 2023, with the assistance of various Mainland provinces and municipalities, the Education Bureau (EDB) has arranged for more than 140 000 students to participate in the CS Mainland study tours. She expressed hope that these “classrooms on the move” will inspire students’ curiosity, enabling them to constantly explore new knowledge and reflect on what they have learned through immersive learning experiences.

She thanked the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Education, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission for their thoughtful arrangements, enabling students to gain a deeper understanding of Chongqing’s urban development. Students were also offered an opportunity to visit wartime relics in this year of the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, commemorating the fallen heroes in defence of the nation and reflecting on the importance of peace.

At the same time, Dr Choi signed a Memorandum of Understanding on education co-operation between Chongqing and Hong Kong with representatives of the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission. She also witnessed the pairing up of Clementi Secondary School and Chongqing Yucai Secondary School as sister schools.

Yesterday (October 13) and today, Dr Choi and the delegation watched “Chongqing 1949”, a historical drama, and visited the Chongqing Historic Sites Museum of the War of Resistance Against Japan to learn more about wartime history.

To optimise the learning outcomes of the CS Mainland study tours, the EDB held a seminar on the tours in the morning with representatives from all the 11 participating provinces and cities to summarise work experiences and strengthen collaboration and exchanges. At the seminar, representatives from participating provinces and cities were enthusiastic to share their experiences and views, helping enrich the content of future study tours and provide students with excellent learning experiences.

Yesterday and today, Dr Choi visited Chongqing University and Chongqing Jiaotong University respectively. She said that higher education institutions in Hong Kong and Chongqing have been conducting professional exchanges through various means. Co-operation covers talent cultivation, student admissions and employment, and scientific research. The EDB will continue to support exchanges and co-operation between higher education institutions in the two places to nurture talent for the country’s development.

Dr Choi also met with Hong Kong students in Chongqing to learn about their studies and daily life. She said that Hong Kong students living in Chongqing have the opportunities to gain more in-depth knowledge about the country’s developments and cultivate affection for the country. She encouraged them to seize the learning opportunities and contribute to the country’s high-quality development.

Dr Choi met representatives of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Education, and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government over two days to exchange views on strengthening education collaboration between Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as Chongqing and Hong Kong.

Dr Choi will depart for Chengdu, Sichuan, tomorrow (October 15) to continue her visit. The delegation will tour other spots in Chongqing to understand the local history, culture and urban development.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs and the New Territories South Traffic Division of the Hong Kong Police Force mounted a joint anti-smuggling operation yesterday (October 13) at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port and detected two suspected illicit cigarette smuggling cases with about 270 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes seized. The total estimated market value was about $1.4 million and the duty potential was about $880,000. Four men, aged between 28 and 58, were arrested and two private cars involved in the cases were also seized.

Based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs and police officers intercepted two inbound private cars at the HZMB Hong Kong Port yesterday. Upon inspection of the first private car, Customs officers seized about 130 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes from the front and rear passenger seats, the boot and hollow spaces of the vehicle. A 36-year-old male driver and a 28-year-old male passenger were arrested. Subsequently, Customs officers seized about 140 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with a similar concealment in the second private car. A 51-year-old male driver and a 58-year-old male passenger were also arrested.

The four arrested men have each been charged with one count of importing goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) applies. The cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 15).

Members of the public are reminded that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving three incoming passengers at Hong Kong International Airport on October 12 and seized about 14 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $3 million.

A 26-year-old male passenger and a 22-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, on that day. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds disguised as food in their respective carry-on luggage. They were subsequently arrested. 

After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers further arrested a 32-year-old female passenger, who was also arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, and suspected to be connected with the case, at the airport on the same day.

After an investigation, the three persons involved in the case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 15).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 14) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the District of Dingolfing-Landau of the State of Bayern in Germany and Mountjoy Townland Area of Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom (UK) and an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Pas-de-Calais Department in France respectively, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 30 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Germany; about 390 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 830 000 poultry eggs from the UK; and about 400 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 20 000 poultry eggs from France in the first six months of this year. 

     “The CFS has contacted the German, British and French authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the President of the Supreme People’s Court, Mr Zhang Jun, at Government House today (October 14) to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
 
Mr Lee welcomed Mr Zhang and his delegation to Hong Kong to attend an exchange event among the judicial and legal sectors. He expressed his gratitude to the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) for its support of the Department of Justice, including establishing extensive mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, setting up a standing interface platform on judicial and legal co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and supporting Hong Kong to develop itself as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services.
 
Mr Lee noted that the current measures of allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law and allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose Hong Kong as the seat of arbitration have been incorporated into the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, reflecting the Central Government’s emphasis and support for Hong Kong’s legal system. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique advantages in its internationalised common law system and dispute resolution services to fully play its role as a two-way platform for enterprises to go global and attract external investment, serving the GBA in building a more internationalised business environment.
 
Mr Lee highlighted that Hong Kong boasts world-class legal and dispute resolution professionals, and is also the most preferred seat of arbitration in the Asia-Pacific region. With the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation’s (IOMed) headquarters in Hong Kong, the city will continue to actively deepen international exchanges and co-operation, and support the IOMed’s provision of friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services to consolidate its status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, and reinforce its positions as an international legal hub and the capital of mediation.
 
The Executive Vice-president of the SPC, Mr Deng Xiuming; Vice-president of the SPC Mr Mao Zhonghua; and the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, also attended the meeting.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The 15th National Games (NG) road cycling (men’s individual) event will be held on November 8. A press conference hosted by the Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO), Mr Yeung Tak-keung, was held jointly with representatives of relevant government departments and the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China today (October 14) to announce details of the event and the relevant arrangements, including temporary traffic control measures, clearance arrangements at the boundary control point (BCP), and emergency response and rescue arrangements.

     The road cycling (men’s individual) event this year is the only event that spans over Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in the 15th NG, and a tripartite test event was held last November. In addition, a pre-event comprehensive drill was conducted on September 30 and the process was generally smooth. The official race covers a total distance of 231.8 kilometres, comprising a 55.8km section in Hong Kong. The race will enter Hong Kong from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and go through the Hong Kong Port, North Lantau Highway and Penny’s Bay Highway. The athletes will return after passing by Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and head back to Zhuhai via the HZMB and Hengqin.

     The race is scheduled to start at 9am on November 8, and is expected to conclude at 2.30pm. The event will feature 25 representative teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, with a total of 104 athletes competing. It is anticipated that the race convoy will enter the Hong Kong section around 10.20am and spend about one and a half hours in the Hong Kong section.

     To facilitate better viewing experience, a public viewing zone will be set up on the footpath of Fantasy Road located outside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which can accommodate a few hundreds of spectators. Members of the public may come to cheer up the athletes and enjoy the race there. Implementation of crowd management measures will be made by the Police subject to conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to take heed of instructions of the Police and the staff on site. As temporary traffic control measures will be implemented on the race route at the North Lantau Highway, members of the public should take the MTR to the Disneyland Resort station as far as possible to reach the designated viewing zone. The Guangdong competition region has commissioned the China Central Television as the host broadcaster to provide live webcast of the event. All rights-holding broadcasters, including the three local free television broadcasters and Radio Television Hong Kong, will be conferred the live signal.

     To facilitate the holding of the race, temporarily control measures will be implemented on the HZMB Hong Kong Port, the HZMB and some roads on that day. Relevant arrangements are set out as below:

(1) Clearance service arrangement 

     On the event day, temporary control measures will be implemented on the HZMB eastbound from Zhuhai/Macao towards Hong Kong from 9am to 12.30pm, and on the HZMB westbound from Hong Kong towards Zhuhai/Macao from 7.30am to 12.30pm. During the temporary control period, all vehicles are prohibited from using the HZMB. Special arrangements will be implemented on the departure clearance services. Travellers or vehicles wishing to leave Hong Kong for Zhuhai or Macao before the implementation of the temporary control measures are required to arrive at the Departure Hall of Passenger Clearance Building or Outbound Vehicle Clearance Plaza of the HZMB Hong Kong Port before 6.30am on the event day in order to undergo departure and clearance procedures. The Departure Hall of Passenger Clearance Building and Outbound Vehicle Clearance Plaza of the HZMB Hong Kong Port will be closed at 6.30am.

     The departure and clearance services at the HZMB Hong Kong Port will resume after 12.30pm on that day. It is expected that traffic will be busy. Travellers and drivers who plan to use the bridge on that day are advised to plan their trips in advance and pay attention to the traffic control arrangements within Zhuhai.

(2) Public transport arrangements 

     Cross-boundary public transport services travelling on the HZMB between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao, including the HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus), cross-boundary coach and bus services of SkyPier Terminal Transfer Coach of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), will be suspended during the implementation of the temporary control on the HZMB Main Bridge and the HZMB Hong Kong Port on that day. As the roads within Zhuhai are still closed for the race until about 2.30pm, the Gold Bus from Hong Kong to Zhuhai is expected to provide limited service from 12.30pm to 1.30pm while the Gold Bus from Zhuhai to Hong Kong will resume service at 2.30pm. Meanwhile, Gold Bus services to/from Macao will resume at 12.30pm.

     In addition, during the temporary control period, local public transport services to and from the HZMB Hong Kong Port will implement temporary services adjustment, including airport bus A routes, shuttle bus B routes and Disneyland R routes. The A routes from the airport will not pass through the Hong Kong Port from 10am to 1pm and the A route from urban and New Territories to the airport will not pass through the Hong Kong Port from the first departure to 11.30am. The shuttle bus services B4 and B5 serving between Airport/Sunny Bay Station and HZMB Hong Kong port will be suspended during certain periods. Routes R8 and R33, serving between Disneyland and the Lantau Link Interchange and Tuen Mun Station will also be suspended for some periods. Meanwhile, to facilitate the smooth implementation of the event, Shun Long Road (both bounds) will be closed (see details under (3) below) and affected bus routes will be temporarily diverted. The bus companies will issue notices to inform affected passengers of the details of the above service adjustment.

     The Transport Department (TD) will notify affected operators of cross-boundary and local public transport services, while the Marine Department will liaise with cross-boundary ferry operators, to work out manpower and frequency arrangements. During the temporary control period, travellers should consider the use of land BCPs between Hong Kong and Shenzhen for their travel between Hong Kong and Zhuhai. They should also consider taking cross-boundary ferry services between Hong Kong and Macao.

     Booking for the time slot between 6am and noon for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles will be suspended. Subject to on-site traffic management arrangements on the event day, motorists who have made reservations in the afternoon on that day will only be allowed to enter the Vehicle Clearance Plaza of the Hong Kong Port after the temporary traffic control measures are lifted (estimated to be after around 12.30pm).

     Regarding passenger bus services of SkyPier Terminal Transfer Coach of the HKIA, the services between the HKIA and Zhuhai and Macao Port, will be suspended during the temporary control period at the Hong Kong Port of the HZMB. The Airport Authority Hong Kong will maintain close communication with all service operators and continuously monitor the situation to implement timely adjustments as needed.

     In addition, the 15th NG road cycling (women’s individual) event will be held on November 9. Though the race course will mainly be located in Zhuhai and will not affect the HZMB and clearance services at the port, some of the roads in Zhuhai will be closed due to the event. From 7.30am to 11.30am that day, only limited services for routes departing for Zhuhai will be provided by the Gold Bus. Members of the public are advised to avoid taking the Gold Bus to Zhuhai during the abovementioned periods. Moreover, some of the ferry services between Hong Kong and Zhuhai Jiuzhou Port will also be suspended on November 8 and 9.

(3) Road traffic control measures

     Temporary traffic control measures will be implemented on the North Lantau Highway and roads near the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort during the race period of Hong Kong section (exact time will depend on the actual progress of the race).

     Temporary traffic control measures will be implemented in the vicinity of the race route on the North Lantau Highway. The travel time to and from the airport via the North Lantau Highway is expected to increase by about 30 minutes. Members of the public and travellers who plan to travel to and from the airport should plan their trips in advance and allow sufficient travelling time. They are advised to use railway services, including the Airport Express, the Tung Chung line and the Disneyland Resort line, and avoid driving to the relevant area. Drivers who need to drive to the airport may consider using the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel.

     Temporary traffic control measures will be implemented on the race route near the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort during the race. Travelling time to and from the park, hotels and the Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre via Penny’s Bay Highway, Sunny Bay Road, Magic Road and Fantasy Road may be increased by about 30 minutes due to the traffic control measures. Members of the public who plan to travel to the vicinity of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort should consider using railway services as far as possible.

     In addition, as this road section connects to the North Lantau Highway, members of the public and travellers who need to travel between the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and the HKIA may also be affected by the temporary traffic control measures on the North Lantau Highway, and the travelling time required may be increased.

Shun Long Road (both bounds) will be closed starting from 6.30am and expected to reopen at about 2pm on that day after the related road section returns to normal. During the above road closure period, the TD will implement traffic diversion such that the original traffic of Shun Long Road (both bounds) will be diverted via Chek Lap Kok Island. The journey time is expected to increase by about 10 minutes. The bus companies will issue notices to inform passengers of the details of service adjustment.

     A spokesperson for the NGCO said as the NG is the country’s highest-level event, this event has to meet stringent requirements in terms of the selection of race course and the organisational arrangements to ensure the safety of athletes. Relevant departments will work together to facilitate the special traffic and transportation arrangements to minimise the impact on the public and travellers who usually use the HZMB and other related road sections. Members of the public and travellers who need to travel to and from Zhuhai or Macao are urged to plan their itineraries in advance, and use other control points and public transport as far as possible. The spokesperson thanked members of the public and travellers for their understanding, as well as the contributions of various organisations and departments to implementing the relevant arrangements.