Month: November 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Development Bureau today held the Project Cost Management Forum 2025.

Under the theme “Construction New Normal: Co-defining Cost-effectiveness”, the forum explored ways to enhance cost management and the cost-effectiveness of construction projects through optimised procurement strategies and the application of innovative technologies.

The forum drew, online or offline, over 400 representatives from government departments, engineering consultancies, contractors and professional bodies from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong said the Government is pressing ahead with infrastructure investment, and that in the coming few years, the annual capital works expenditure will be about $120 billion, with an additional $30 billion set aside for small and medium-sized projects.

Mr Wong also thanked the bureau’s Project Strategy & Governance Office for promoting a culture of “Fitness-for-Purpose, No Frills” and helping to save about $190 billion across more than 540 projects over the past nine years.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn told the forum that the bureau is fostering a culture of cost-consciousness within the construction industry, and has implemented whole-process project cost governance at various stages of public works projects to ensure the careful use of public funds.

She said that with the rollout of major developments such as the Northern Metropolis and increased capital works investment by the Government, this cost-consciousness is more critical than ever.

The Government, she explained, takes an “ownership” mindset to comprehensively evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different proposals and considers factors such as site selection, usage, project scale, design and implementation plans upfront to formulate practical and cost-effective proposals.

The Government also embraces the integration of technological and industrial innovation to enhance productivity, and is keen to uplift the capabilities of a diverse construction talent pool, promote knowledge exchange and strengthen collaboration with Mainland and international partners.

Such efforts reinforce Hong Kong’s role as an international infrastructure centre, Ms Linn added.

At the forum, Mr Wong and Ms Linn witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the bureau and the Ministry of Finance of Singapore. It aims to enhance the exchange of professional knowledge and experience in managing and delivering infrastructure projects. It also facilitates collaboration between the two places, and improves project delivery models through digitalisation and innovative construction methods.

The MOU also strengthens the leadership and delivery capabilities of project leaders, thereby boosting productivity and performance in the construction sectors of both places.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki will depart for Guangzhou tomorrow to attend a press conference on preparations for the 15th National Games (NG) held by the Organising Committee of the 15th NG. He will also attend the Organising Committee’s second plenary meeting and the second meeting of heads of NG delegations the following day.

Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) Yeung Tak-keung will join him.

Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong on November 9.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Development Bureau (DEVB) held the Project Cost Management Forum 2025 today (November 7). With the theme “Construction New Normal: Co-defining Cost-effectiveness”, the forum explored how to enhance the cost management and cost-effectiveness of construction projects through optimised procurement strategies and the application of innovative technologies.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, said that the Government is pressing ahead with infrastructure investment, which drives economic growth, job creation, talent attraction, and enhances long-term competitiveness. He noted that in the coming few years, the annual capital works expenditure will be about $120 billion, with an additional $30 billion set aside for small and medium-sized projects. Mr Wong also expressed gratitude to the Project Strategy and Governance Office of the DEVB for promoting a culture of “Fitness-for-Purpose, No Frills” and helped save about $190 billion across more than 540 projects over the past nine years.

Speaking at the forum, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that the DEVB has been actively fostering a culture of cost-consciousness within the construction industry and has implemented whole-process project cost governance at various stages of public works projects to ensure the careful use of public funds. With the rollout of major developments like the Northern Metropolis and an increased capital works investment by the Government, this cost-consciousness mindset is more critical than ever. The Government is planning ahead with an “ownership” mindset to comprehensively evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different implementation proposals and review site selection, usage mix, the scale of the project, design, implementation programme etc, in the very upfront stages, to formulate practical and cost-effective proposals. The Government also fully embraces the integration of technological and industrial innovation to enhance productivity, and is keen to uplift the capabilities of a diverse construction talent pool, promote knowledge exchange and strengthen collaboration with Mainland and international partners, thereby reinforcing our role as international infrastructure centre.

Afterwards, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau, delivered a keynote speech. He said that to reduce construction costs for public works and expedite project delivery, the DEVB is advancing reforms in four areas: optimising the project procurement model, applying advanced technologies, streamlining the approval process, and reviewing the design standards and requirements. These cost-control measures are being rolled out progressively to ensure that policies are targeted, practicable and capable of delivering sustained results.

At the forum, Mr Wong and Ms Linn witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the DEVB of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Ministry of Finance of Singapore. The MOU aims to enhance exchanges of professional knowledge and experience in managing and delivering infrastructure projects. It facilitates collaboration between the two places, improves project delivery models through the promotion of digitalisation and the adoption of innovative construction methods. It also strengthens the leadership and delivery capabilities of project leaders, thereby boosting productivity and performance in the construction industries of both places.

The forum brought together expert speakers from different places to share practical experiences in reform and innovation. Among them, the Executive Director of the Centre for Public Project Management under the Ministry of Finance of Singapore, Mr Low Chian Siong, elaborated on institutionalising cost control and implementing outcome-based procurement; the Head of Planning and Cost Control at Public Works Authority “Ashghal” of the State of Qatar, Mr Mohammed Bader Alnama, introduced centralised procurement and digital monitoring mechanisms adopted for large-scale infrastructure projects; and the Secretary-General of the GuangDong Engineering Cost Association, Mr Xu Xiyan, shared how cost management can be better aligned with regional policies. Over 400 representatives from government departments, engineering consultancies, contractors and professional bodies from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Singapore, Qatar, the United Kingdom and more participated in the forum both online and offline.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Festival (HKFW x SMUF) 2025 concluded today (November 7), following a dynamic week of activities that began with a two-day main conference held November 3 and 4. The event brought together government officials, regulators, innovators, and industry leaders from around the world for a series of panels, keynote speeches, and strategic discussions. The joint celebration of two flagship events reaffirms Hong Kong’s commitment to advancing the digital economy.

The entire week attracted a record high of over 45 000 visitors from over 120 economies and featured over 1 000 distinguished speakers, over 800 exhibitors and more than 30 Chinese Mainland and international delegations. The event was organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and the Insurance Authority (IA), and the appointed event organiser, Finoverse.

Celebrating a decade of excellence

As the inaugural convergence of the two flagship events, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the opening of the main conference. The main conference showcased 11 themed forums. These included the Policy Forum, Visionary Forum, InsurTech Forum, HealthTech Forum, Wealth & Investment Management Forum, Digital Finance Forum, Digital Assets Forum, Blockchain & Web3 Forum, AI & Advanced Tech Forum, China-Global Innovation Forum, and TechX Forum.

Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Mr Lu Lei, attended the main conference and highlighted the fintech collaboration between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, which has driven advancements such as interoperable cross-boundary payments and e-CNY use cases, unlocking new efficiencies. He emphasised the importance of payment innovation promoting connectivity and fostering integrated economic development between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. This comes as China charts its 15th Five-Year Plan and reaffirms Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre.

Mr Lu noted the continuous expansion of the RMB Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) in Hong Kong, including the launch of Hong Kong dollar clearing services as well as southbound and northbound fund settlement functions under Bond Connect.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, delivered a keynote address and participated in a panel discussion moderated by the Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau. Joining Mr Chan on the panel were the Group Chief Executive of HSBC, Mr Georges Elhedery, and the Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered, Mr Bill Winters. With around 1 200 fintech companies in Hong Kong, Mr Chan shared three key observations from the journey in building a vibrant fintech ecosystem – financial inclusion as an objective, regulators as enablers of innovation, and responsible and sustainable innovation.

At the panel discussion “Curating the New FinTech Era”, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, highlighted blockchain and AI as the transformative technologies for Hong Kong’s financial services. Mr Hui also noted the important role that regulatory sandboxes and subsidy programmes play in the city’s fintech ecosystem. They are not only the crucial driver in cultivating innovation but also conducive to obtaining valuable views and feedback from the market for better review and enhancement to existing policy and regulatory frameworks.

The President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Mr Jin Liqun, attended the Main Conference and shared insights on how financial innovation can help maintain and support nature and ecological conservation. He remarked, “Once we can verify nature as an asset, we can make it investable. We can digitise and scale it to make it sustainable in the long run.” He also announced the AIIB’s plan to set up an office in Hong Kong to address its growing business needs.

Charging ahead with heart: policy and ecosystem perspectives

The Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, engaged in an in-depth dialogue with ex-Chairman of Meitu and Angel Investor Mr Cai Wensheng at the Main Conference. Mr Chan detailed Hong Kong’s latest growth in the digital asset space. Mr Chan stated that “The Government is promoting the development of digital asset in a sustainable and responsible manner. As Asia’s leading international financial centre, in June 2025, we issued the Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong, reinforcing its commitment to establishing Hong Kong as a global hub for innovation in the digital asset field.”

The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, in a video speech, outlined the Government’s strategic investments in I&T (innovation and technology) infrastructure, talent and industry development, with a view to fostering a vibrant I&T ecosystem in the city and build Hong Kong into a new real economy. She pointed out that the Government strives to consolidate Hong Kong’s strengths in I&T through a series of support measures by better co-ordinating the upstream, midstream and downstream development. She extended a sincere invitation to fintech companies and start-ups to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages that underpins its status as a global innovation hub and set up or expand businesses in the city.

The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, delivered a keynote speech on Hong Kong’s environmental and sustainability achievements to date, highlighting the pivotal role played by technological innovation under decarbonisation strategies. “To combat climate change effectively, we need to adopt appropriate measures on climate adaptation and resilience, to protect life and property of our people from the extreme weather events. AI and robots are playing an increasingly important role in these areas,” she said.

Miss Wong added that the Government attaches importance to adopting innovation technologies in its work. She quoted the example of the Hong Kong Observatory, which has been running several AI models to support operational forecasting such as tropical cyclone track forecasting since mid-2023. The AI models have successfully forecast several tropical cyclones this year, to an accuracy better than traditional weather prediction models.

Shaping the future of finance through digital transformation and trust

The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, outlined the four strategic pillars of the HKMA’s “Fintech 2030” vision: Data and Payment Infrastructure, AI, Resilience, and Tokenisation, collectively known as “DART”. He stated that this strategy aims to establish Hong Kong as a robust, resilient, and future-ready fintech hub, detailing how each pillar will drive the next chapter of fintech in the city. Reflecting on the evolution of Hong Kong’s fintech landscape over the past decade, he introduced the strategy for the upcoming Fintech 3.0 era, characterised by technology embedded in daily life, underpinned by trust, transparency, and intelligence to create a real-world impact and lasting resilience.

Mr Yue also noted AI’s transition from an experimental phase to a significant innovation driver, with over three-quarters of the city’s banks implementing or piloting AI solutions. He emphasised the importance of deeper collaboration across the industry to develop a shared and scalable AI infrastructure that would benefit the banking industry. He reaffirmed that tokenisation remains a key priority and highlighted the role of the HKMA as an enabler and facilitator in building an interoperable and trusted network, which will lay the foundation for a vibrant tokenised asset market. Lastly, Mr Yue stressed that resilience involves not just withstanding shocks, but being secure, adaptive, and future-ready in the face of new innovations.

The Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, Ms Julia Leung, opened the fireside chatby highlighting two new circulars to be issued that day (November 3). These allow Virtual Asset Trading Platforms (VATPs) to share a global order book with their overseas affiliates, connecting the Hong Kong market with global liquidity. The circulars also expand VATPs’ service and product offerings in all types of digital assets.

Ms Leung also discussed the recent joint consultations by the SFC and Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau on the regulatory framework for virtual asset dealers and custodians, noting positive feedback received. She revealed plans to extend the licensing regime to include virtual asset advisory and management, with discussions underway with the Government. The new custody regime will focus on managing risks linked to private keys. The SFC expects to license only the most robust and reliable players to ensure a secure environment.

The Chief Executive Officer of the IA, Mr Clement Cheung, emphasised that the key takeaway from the technological advances in the past few years is that “development is paramount but has to be balanced with regulation”. He acknowledged the rapid progress in technology development within the insurance industry, generative AI and blockchain for example, as “breathtaking”. Taking a dual approach in balancing regulation and development to foster sustainability, he highlighted a series of milestone initiatives of the IA that promote the adoption of advanced technologies and strengthen operational resilience of the industry, including the Open API Framework, the Cyber Resilience Assessment Framework, and the AI Cohort Programme. He also announced the publication of the Whitepaper on Federated Learning.

Mr Cheung stressed that as the insurance sector evolves, regulators must navigate in a balanced and enlightened manner to promote inclusive and responsible innovation.

Collaboration is key: redefining the innovation frontier

Frontier technology, from biotech and fintech to AI and Web3, was the centre of celebration as companies and start-ups took to various stages and panels to discuss what they have been able to achieve in the space.

Nobel Laureate in Physics, Professor Emeritus of the University of Toronto, Mr Geoffrey Hinton, shared at the event the future of AI. Professor Hinton introduced his groundbreaking “Mother AI” theory, emphasising the importance of ensuring AI genuinely cares for humanity rather than replacing it. He outlined strategies to mitigate AI-related risks and highlighted opportunities to foster innovation aligned with human values amid rapid technological advancement, while underscoring Asia’s key role in driving AI innovation.

Co-founder and Managing Partner of DST Global Mr John Lindfors and the Founding Managing Partner of Qiming Venture Partners, Mr Duane Kuang, joined the forum session to exchange insights on how disruptive technologies are reshaping global growth opportunities. They shared perspectives on the rapid maturation of innovation – from AI and biotech to digital assets – into scalable, investable markets, and highlighted how new investment vehicles are opening greater access for investors worldwide.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Templeton, Ms Jenny Johnson, predicted that the next wave of major companies will emerge from the AI and crypto innovation. She emphasised that while AI and blockchain are transformative, the biggest challenge is organisational change management, where start-ups adapt faster than incumbents. Ms Johnson noted that current AI investment gains are concentrated among infrastructure providers such as chipmakers and cloud services, but future growth will come as firms learn to expand margins using AI. She also highlighted real-world crypto and NFT (non-fungible token) applications, such as luxury goods authentication and bandwidth sharing, and praised Hong Kong’s progressive blockchain regulation as a model for innovation.

The President of the Solana Foundation, Ms Lily Liu, discussed how digital asset treasury (DATs) and ETFs (exchange-traded funds) are complementary tools for traditional investors, but stressed the need to filter them for long-term quality amid speculative cycles. She highlighted how the evolution of technologies such as stablecoins reflects a broader transformation in financial infrastructure, where decentralised platforms increasingly play a central role in profit generation and capital flow. On another panel, Co-Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation Mr Tomasz StaÅ„czak, emphasised stablecoins’ role in improving cross-border payments and driving institutional interest in tokenised assets.

During the main conference, a series of curated media tours highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a global financial and innovation hub. Key moments included exclusive sessions with Chinese Mainland tech giants. Tencent introduced its vision for cross-boundary payment services; WeBank focused on HQ-driven innovation; and Ant Digital Technologies underscored Hong Kong’s strategic advantages for global expansion and cutting-edge fintech solutions. Other tours showcased Hong Kong as a “super connector” for emerging markets with delegations led by the Dubai International Financial Centre and the National Innovation Agency of Thailand. Another tour positioned Hong Kong as a launch pad for Chinese Mainland firms to go global, featuring the Shenzhen Financial Techology Association and the Zhongguancun Financial Technology Industry Development Alliance.

Marking the conclusion of the HKFW x SMUF 2025, Ms Lau, said, “The unprecedented success of the HKFW x SMUF 2025 speaks volumes about the vibrancy, depth and resilience of our financial innovation and start-up ecosystem. We are grateful to all our partners, speakers and participants from around the world who came together to make this our largest and most impactful edition yet. As we look to the next decade, InvestHK remains steadfast in our commitment to connect global companies with Hong Kong’s dynamic ecosystem, empowering them to scale across Asia and beyond, driving innovation, commercialisation, and creating more cross-border collaboration opportunities.”

For more details and highlights from HKFW x SMUF 2025, please visit www.fintechweek.hk , or follow via the official social media accounts: 
LinkedIn: Hong Kong FinTech Week; and 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/HongKongFinTechWeek. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

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

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (November 7) that a tender of 2-year RMB Institutional Government Bonds (Bonds) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on November 13, 2025 (Thursday), for settlement on November 17, 2025 (Monday).

A total of RMB1.25 billion 2-year RMB Bonds will be tendered. The Bonds will mature on November 17, 2027 and will carry interest at the rate of 1.71 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear.

Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of RMB50,000 or integral multiples thereof.

Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK ) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Information

Tender information of 2-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the recent spate of fatal and serious work accidents in the construction industry. The LD has stepped up relevant inspection and enforcement measures, including launching a territory-wide special enforcement operation tomorrow (November 8) targeting the construction industry to combat unsafe work activities. This operation will continue for a period of time.

During the operation, occupational safety officers of the LD will inspect construction sites of various types and scales, including new works and repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works, especially high-risk processes such as work-at-height, scaffolding work and demolition works, as well as monitoring the provision and maintenance of safe systems of work for relevant processes by duty holders. If any violations of the legislation are detected, the LD will take stringent enforcement actions, including issuing suspension notices and improvement notices, and initiating prosecutions without prior warning.

For promotion and education, the LD will continue to step up efforts to disseminate occupational safety and health (OSH) messages, including work-at-height, scaffolding work and confined spaces activities, to duty holders through different channels, with the aim of enhancing the safety awareness of the contractors, employers, frontline supervisors and workers, and fostering an OSH culture in the construction industry. The LD is also reviewing the arrangements for mandatory safety training courses and has enhanced the supervision of course providers to ensure the delivery quality of the relevant courses.

In addition, the LD is seriously following up on the recent work accidents and conducting in-depth investigations to identify the causes of the accidents and ascertain the legal liability of relevant duty holders. The LD will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of legislation. Recent accidents showed that OSH should not be neglected regardless of the scale of the works or work processes. Contractors and employers shall properly assess risks, and develop and implement safe methods before commencing work. Employees shall also fulfil their responsibilities by co-operating with employers to thoroughly implement all safety measures.

Under the general duty provisions of OSH legislation, contractors or employers who violate relevant legislation are subject to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years. Employees who contravene the aforesaid provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for six months.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, at the Project Cost Management Forum 2025 today (November 7):

Deputy Financial Secretary (Mr Michael Wong), our esteemed speakers from Qatar, Singapore, the United Kingdom and our close neighbour, the Guangdong Province and to all the practitioners from the sector, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning! First of all, welcome to you all for joining this Project Cost Management Forum 2025 organised by the Centre of Excellence for Major Project Leaders spearheaded by the Development Bureau. We are privileged today to have renowned experts and practitioners from different parts of the world to share with us their advice on project cost governance and cost management, with their insights on project financing and delivery as well as adoption of innovative technology.

Hong Kong has made remarkable achievements as an international metropolis: we are well-known for our free economy, we are among the most desirable places to do business across the globe, and we ranked at the top among cities for our air cargo throughput etc, the list goes on. World-class infrastructure has been fundamental to this success, driving economic growth and sustaining our long-term competitiveness.

As you may have already known and as highlighted by the Deputy Financial Secretary just now, the 15th National Games will start this Sunday. We are hosting events like fencing, rugby sevens and handball. When it comes to sports, for sure, as the Deputy Financial Secretary has mentioned, the Kai Tak Sports Park would come to mind. Since its opening in March this year, numerous international events, games and concerts have been held, attracting not only locals but tourists around the world. The facility has lifted Hong Kong to greater heights. So it is a great example to testify how world-class facilities and infrastructure could drive our economy.

With a view to providing further impetus to drive Hong Kong’s economy, as highlighted in the latest Policy Address and Budget, the Government is committed to accelerating the development of what we called the Northern Metropolis in the northern part of Hong Kong, a new engine for Hong Kong’s future growth. This would entail involvement of significant amount of resources by both the public and private sectors to implement an array of infrastructure and development projects, delivering quality premises, as well as facilities for businesses and households.

Notwithstanding the benefits brought about by the investment, we are mindful of the need to use public money prudently. Since the inaugural Project Cost Management Forum held in 2021, we have been actively fostering a culture of cost-consciousness within the construction industry. Over the years, we have implemented holistic project cost management at various stages of public works projects to ensure the careful use of public funds. With the rollout of major development like the Northern Metropolis and an annual capital works expenditure exceeding HK$120 billion in the short to medium term, this cost-consciousness mindset is more critical than ever.

Given the current global financial situation, we must hold on to the principle of prudent use of public funds. Specifically, we are planning ahead with an “ownership” mindset – to comprehensively evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different implementation proposals and review site selection, usage mix, the scale of the project, design, implementation programme etc, in the very upfront stages, to formulate practical and cost-effective proposals.

We also fully embrace the full integration between technological and industrial innovation to enhance productivity, and we will adopt transformative solutions in our public works, echoing with our country’s 15th Five-Year Plan. For example, the Development Bureau is actively formulating various measures to promote the use of Artificial Intelligence in the construction industry.

We are also keen to continuously uplift capabilities of our diverse construction talent pool, promote knowledge exchange with our Mainland and international partners, and strengthen collaborations with close working partners around the world, thereby reinforcing our role as international infrastructure centre.

As a concrete step to take forward the initiatives I mentioned just now, I am pleased to announce that we would shortly witness the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore. It demonstrates our shared commitment to fostering deeper collaboration in construction innovation and project management.

Lastly, just as robust infrastructure is fundamental to the progress of our society, so too is active civic participation. So you all know what I am going to say next. Please allow me to repeat an important message, an important appeal to you all, to actively participate in one such upcoming exercise to demonstrate civic mindedness, one that also bears significance to Hong Kong’s development in the coming four years as we take forward major land development and infrastructure projects, and that is of course the Legislative Council election on December 7. I urge you to not just vote in your various capacities. I think all the practitioners here, you do have various capacities. So just vote in your various capacities and encourage your family, friends and colleagues to do the same. Just as our infrastructure helps shape a better city, your votes help build a better Hong Kong, the place we are proud to call home.

I am confident that today’s Forum will be enlightening and inspiring. Let us make the most of this opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and drive progress together.

Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

To show care and respect for the elderly, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has organised a concession programme by inviting the local catering sector, retail and other merchants to offer special discounts and concessions to Senior Citizen Card (SCC) holders on Senior Citizens Day on November 16 (Sunday).

An SWD spokesman said that over 400 participating organisations and merchants with more than 3 800 outlets throughout the 18 districts will post their concession offers, terms and conditions, and display publicity posters on Senior Citizens Day (see Attachment) for elderly people’s easy identification. SCC holders can simply scan the QR code on the publicity poster to learn about the participating companies and special offers. The information is also available on the SWD website (www.swd.gov.hk) and the SCC Scheme’s mobile application.

The SWD expresses gratitude to different sectors’ enthusiastic support and encourages SCC holders to enjoy the concessions and discounts on Senior Citizens Day. The SWD welcomes more merchants from different business sectors to support and join the SCC Scheme.

For enquiries on the concessions, please contact the Senior Citizen Card Office at 2152 2847 during office hours.