Month: October 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Staged ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a lantern workshop organised by the Talent+ Volunteer Programme, run by Hong Kong Talent Engage, gives a flavour of the Government’s efforts to bring talented incomers and local residents together.

“Fa Ho Yuet Yuen” is a phrase that uses the full moon as a metaphor for family harmony. 

“It is festive and nice,” said 26-year-old Mahir Taher, who has a PhD in interdisciplinary biomedical research and came to Hong Kong from the UK last December via the Top Talent Pass Scheme.

During his first year in Hong Kong, Mahir has not only immersed himself in his research work but also taken the opportunity to explore the city and local culture.

“I always wanted to leave the UK because I want to try settling somewhere else different and also want to try a culture shock,” he revealed.

Community participation 

Ahead of his first Mid-Autumn Festival, Mahir painted a lantern at a workshop alongside Wan Chai residents as part of the Talent+ Volunteer Programme, run by Hong Kong Talent Engage. 

He wrote the Chinese words “Fa Ho Yuet Yuen” on the lantern after practising only a couple of times.

“My parents are Bangladeshi,” he said. “I came from an Asian culture growing up so a family-oriented culture is still quite nice to be surrounded by.” 

At the workshop, Mahir chatted with other volunteers and local residents. “It has been quite nice to paint lanterns and also see other locals and talk through how they feel about not only the festival and get to understand a bit better what the festival is about,” he reflected.     

The volunteers then collaborated to string hundreds of lanterns together and hang them around Wan Chai’s Blue House as a decoration.

Guided by a local resident, Mahir also had the chance to tour the Grade I historic building to learn about Hong Kong’s “tong lau” or traditional shophouses, and about neighbourhood life and the revitalisation of local heritage.      

“This is something I do not think I would regularly notice just by walking around in the area, but having actually taken part in today’s event, it has definitely opened my eyes on what the Government is trying to do to encourage community.”     

As he integrates into life in Hong Kong, Mahir is also settling into a new job.

Last month, he joined City University, where he is employed in the field of cancer therapy research.

“Hong Kong has a lot of funding opportunities going in research itself, as well as to commercialise research that you do. There are a lot of schemes and generally the mindset of a lot of colleagues here that I have met is to come up with a project that is innovative and can really do well in a commercial landscape. And so I think that is probably where the direction in biomedical engineering is going. 

“I do not have a formed long-term plan, but I do want to stay here.”

Fostering integration      

Since launching a year ago, the Talent+ Volunteer Programme has collaborated with the Agency for Volunteer Service and various non-governmental organisations to host a number of activities, such as a “fai chun” writing workshop and Putonghua classes. It will also arrange for participants of various talent admission schemes to volunteer in support of the upcoming National Games in November. 

Hong Kong Talent Engage Deputy Director Anna Au explained: “This can help participants to enhance their understanding of the community and also the history of Hong Kong and foster closer ties with the local people and other volunteers, so that they can enlarge their social network. This can foster their sense of belonging to Hong Kong and also bring them some satisfaction.”     

Since the Government launched a series of talent admission policies from end-2022, by August 2025, more than 230,000 individuals have come to Hong Kong to work and develop their careers. To enhance global talent recruitment, Hong Kong Talent Engage will visit Beijing, the UK and Switzerland this month to attract professionals across accounting, engineering, architecture, and hospitality management.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) concluded a groundbreaking trip to North America from September 16 to 27. Since InvestHK set up a dedicated sustainability team in 2022, this was the first time that InvestHK visited North America with a primary focus in green tech, green finance, and sustainability more broadly. The goal is to help leading companies from North America to expand to Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and Asia, a region with an unwavering commitment to embrace and foster sustainable development.

     The Global Head of Financial Services, Fintech & Sustainability at InvestHK, Mr King Leung, and the Senior Vice President (Sustainability) for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at InvestHK, Ms Olivia To, in partnership with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), visited Toronto, New York and San Francisco to promote Hong Kong’s strengths and opportunities, build new partnerships and kick-start two-way business engagements. 

     One highlight of the trip was the Scale for ClimateTech Innovation Showcase 2025 (S4C) event held on September 23 (New York time) during Climate Week NYC 2025, the largest climate and sustainability event in the United States (US). Organised by SecondMuse and supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Mr Leung of InvestHK spoke at a panel discussion with over 300 industry leaders, sharing insights on Hong Kong’s advantages as a springboard for scaling green-tech start-ups and scale-ups. He said, “Our engagements at Climate Week NYC highlighted Hong Kong’s commitment to be a leading green finance and green tech centre and the city’s contribution to global sustainable development. North American companies can tap into our world-class capital markets and vast family office and venture investor networks to explore fundraising and expand in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and Asia. Hong Kong is perfectly positioned to help innovators scale globally.”

     At the S4C event, 18 finalists of climate tech companies showcased their transformative solutions in clean energy, carbon capture, sensing technologies, etc. Mr Leung attended their business plan presentations and exchanged views with their executives on how Hong Kong can help them attract new clients and capital.

     The Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SecondMuse, Mr Todd Khozein, said, “We were delighted to welcome Invest Hong Kong as a partner for our Scale for ClimateTech Innovation Showcase, and help facilitate connections with high-impact climate solutions that can scale. Hong Kong has demonstrated real momentum in green finance – mobilising significant capital and building infrastructure to support sustainable innovation. Hong Kong’s evolving position as a hub for climate finance creates meaningful opportunities for continued collaboration to support entrepreneurs and innovations that can drive global impact.”

     To explore longer-term partnerships, the InvestHK team also held important discussions with VentureLAB, Canada’s dedicated incubator and lab for hardtech; MaRS Discovery District, Canada’s leading urban innovation hub with a strong focus in clean tech and life science; SOSA New York, a company that facilitates the US market entry and expansion for global start-ups; and Plug and Play, a global innovation platform and early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Silicon Valley.

     The Chief Executive Officer of VentureLAB, Mr Hugh Chow, stated, “As a leading innovation hub in Canada, we are eager to collaborate with InvestHK to connect Canadian firms with Hong Kong’s dynamic ecosystem. By leveraging Hong Kong’s access to the the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), cutting-edge research and development (R&D) infrastructure, and robust investment opportunities, Canadian green tech companies can accelerate their growth and make a significant impact in Asia’s sustainable markets.”

     Besides accelerators, the team further engaged with business and investment leaders to explore collaborative opportunities in green tech, green finance, financial services, and fintech through two business luncheons hosted in Toronto and New York respectively. Co-organised with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, these roundtables featured InvestHK in presenting the latest economic developments in sustainability and finance in Hong Kong. The discussions provided North American business leaders and potential investors with insights into Hong Kong’s strategic role in bridging North American innovation with Asia’s growing demand for sustainable solutions and other finance-related opportunities.

     To connect with the global investors interested in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland markets, extensive discussions were also made with Artesian, Cathay Innovation, Eminence Ventures, E.ON Group Innovation, and Olive Tech Ventures, etc.

     Besides inbound investment promotion, InvestHK also has a strategic mandate in supporting companies with a presence in Hong Kong to “go global”. InvestHK visited CSI Solar, one of the world’s largest solar technology and renewable energy companies with a presence in 23 countries that is expanding its operations in Hong Kong. During the visit, the team met with senior management from CSI Solar, as well as its subsidiaries EternalPlanet Energy and e-STORAGE.

     The President of CSI Solar, Mr Zhuang Yan, said, “InvestHK’s visit to our Global headquarters in North America has forged a robust foundation for strengthening ties between Hong Kong and North American sustainability and green technology. As global geopolitical challenges increase, Hong Kong’s strategic position will become even more significant. Thus, our residential storage subsidiary, EternalPlanet Energy, is planning to establish a Hong Kong branch as its international business hub, leveraging the GBA to access global markets.”

     “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address” highlights the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, focusing on the development of the new energy sector and green technologies. The city is implementing the Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050, the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong, and significantly investing in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. These efforts aim to develop Hong Kong into a demonstration base for green technology, accelerate innovation, create quality jobs, and foster a robust industry value chain.

     The Director of Sustainability of the HSITP, Mr Victor Cheng, said, “Participating in this North American trip reinforced the HSITP’s role in cross-boundary green tech collaboration. The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park offers unparalleled opportunities for North American firms to integrate with Asia’s innovation corridor, and I am confident that our strong partnership with InvestHK will further advance development, particularly in the space of new energy and new materials.”

     Hong Kong’s commitment as a global green finance and green tech hub is driven by its world-class R&D facilities and research institutes, fostering cutting-edge innovation. As the world’s third-largest financial centre, the city boasts a proven track record in initial public offering funds raised, supported by a robust capital market with international institutional and savvy family office investors, as well as a robust green finance ecosystem.

     This visit to North America underscores Hong Kong’s commitment to fostering international collaboration and contributing to the global transition to a sustainable future. By attracting more Canadian and US companies and investors in green tech, Hong Kong aims to cement its role as a premier destination for sustainable innovation and investment.

     For a copy of the photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720329436678.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Environment & Ecology Bureau said today it is pleased to note the direct import of hairy crabs from the Mainland in the current season.

The first two batches of hairy crabs from Jiangsu Province, weighing 300kg, arrived in Hong Kong via direct shipments from the Mainland.

In addition to noting that it has maintained communication with the General Administration of Customs of China on the import of hairy crabs to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government also thanked the central government for its assistance in streamlining the import arrangements.

The direct import of hairy crabs from the Mainland can shorten transit time, reduce the trade’s operating costs, as well as offer the public more choice, the bureau added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department today announced that starting from October 13, vehicles approved to participate in the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (NBT) will not be required to apply for a Closed Road Permit (CRP).

Additionally, with effect from October 20, the same arrangement applies to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Macao Port Park-and-Ride Scheme, as well as the Shenzhen Bay Ad Hoc Quotas for Cross Boundary Private Cars.

The department said the measures are expected to benefit over 100,000 eligible vehicles.

It further noted that the application eligibility and other conditions of the three schemes remain unchanged. An electronic approval letter will be issued to successful applicants.

Specifically, under the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and the HZMB Macao Port Park-and-Ride Scheme, vehicles will not be subject to closed road restrictions imposed (i) between Shun Long Road and HZMB Hong Kong Link Road; (ii) between Chek Lap Kok Road and HZMB Hong Kong Link Road; and (iii) between Tuen Mun Chek Lap Kok Tunnel Road and HZMB Hong Kong Link Road.

For Shenzhen Bay Ad Hoc Quotas for Cross Boundary Private Cars, relevant vehicles may be driven (i) between the slip road leading from Ha Tsuen Interchange and Shenzhen Bay Port; and (ii) between Kong Sham Western Highway and Shenzhen Bay Port.

The department added that after the implementation date, there is no need to display the CRP on the vehicle’s windscreen. However, drivers should keep their CRPs and the approval letters until expiry, so that they can present the documents to law enforcement officers when requested.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

In response to media enquiries regarding the direct import of hairy crabs from the Mainland to Hong Kong, a spokesperson for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said today (October 3) that the bureau is pleased to note the direct import of hairy crabs from the Mainland in the current season. The first two batches of 300 kilograms of hairy crabs from Jiangsu Province have arrived in Hong Kong via direct shipments from the Mainland.
 
The spokesperson said, “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the General Administration of Customs of China have all along maintained communication on the arrangements for the import of hairy crabs to Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Central Government for assistance in streamlining the import arrangements.”
 
The spokesperson further said that the direct import of hairy crabs from the Mainland to Hong Kong will shorten transit time and reduce operating cost of the trade, as well as offer more choices to the public.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Transport Department (TD) announced today (October 3) that, starting from October 13, vehicles approved to participate in the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (NBT) will not be required to apply for a Closed Road Permit (CRP). The same arrangement applies to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Macao Port Park-and-Ride Scheme and the Shenzhen Bay Ad Hoc Quotas for Cross Boundary Private Cars, with effect from October 20. Such measures will further facilitate cross-boundary travel and enhance efficiency, and over 100 000 eligible vehicles are expected to benefit.

     The application eligibility and other conditions of the above-mentioned schemes remain unchanged. Anyone who wishes to participate in the schemes is still required to submit applications to the TD in accordance with the respective schemes’ requirements. However, upon the TD’s approval, vehicles will not be subject to the designated closed road restrictions and will not need to apply for CRPs for passing through the closed roads connecting the control points. Appropriate traffic signs will be set up at relevant locations to indicate that vehicles approved under the designated schemes are exempted from closed road restrictions. Vehicles may be driven on the following closed roads according to the respective scheme arrangements:
 

Designated cross-boundary driving scheme	Effective date	Designated closed roads approved to be driven on
Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles	October 13	Between Shun Long Road and HZMB Hong Kong Link Road; Between Chek Lap Kok Road and HZMB Hong Kong Link Road; and Between Tuen Mun Chek Lap Kok Tunnel Road and HZMB Hong Kong Link Road.
HZMB Macao Port Park-and-Ride Scheme	October 20
Shenzhen Bay Ad Hoc Quotas for Cross Boundary Private Cars	October 20	Between slip road leading from Ha Tsuen Interchange and Shenzhen Bay Port; and Between Kong Sham Western Highway and Shenzhen Bay Port.

Existing holders of valid CRPs

     The TD will inform the existing CRP holders by email of the arrangements before and after implementing the new measure as below:
 

1. Prior to the implementation date: they should continue to display a valid CRP on the vehicle’s windscreen before travelling.
2. After the implementation date: there is no need to display the CRP on the vehicle’s windscreen. However, they should keep the valid CRPs and the approval letters until expiry so that they can present them to law enforcement officers as documentary proof for verification of the eligibility of the vehicles under the designated schemes when requested. Upon the expiry of their current CRPs and approval letters, permit holders who wish to continue participating in the relevant scheme should submit renewal applications to the TD in accordance with the respective scheme’s requirements.

New or renewal applications

For new or renewal applications, since applicants participating in the designated schemes are no longer required to make an application for CRP, the TD will only issue an “electronic approval letter” to successful applicants to confirm their eligibility to participate in the schemes. Successful applicants can download or print it as documentary proof in case of inspection by law enforcement officers regarding the eligibility of the vehicles under the designated schemes.

     The Road Traffic (Traffic Control) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 has been passed by the Legislative Council. The Government has published a notice in the Gazette today, specifying that, starting from the respective effective dates, the vehicles approved under the three aforementioned designated schemes will not be subject to the designated closed road restrictions.