Month: November 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (November 5) that stalls at the 2026 Che Kung Festival (CKF) Fair will be put up for open auction on November 19 (Wednesday).

A spokesman for the FEHD said that the annual CKF Fair will be held for 18 consecutive days from February 14 to March 3, 2026, at Chui Tin Street Soccer Pitch in Sha Tin. A total of 48 dry goods stalls will be put up for auction, with an upset price of $2,770.

The auction will be held at the Assembly Hall, 2/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, 19 Lai Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon on November 19 (Wednesday) from 9am until completion of the auction.

Bidders for CKF Fair stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. Anyone can bid for more than one stall. A bidder must pay the bid price and register in person with his or her own name as the licensee of the stall immediately after successfully bidding for a stall. The bidder is also required to sign at once a licence agreement with the FEHD, or he/she will forfeit the right to operate the stall.

The CKF Fair site will be made available to the licensees two days in advance of the fair (February 12 and 13, 2026) for the setting up of stalls. In the event of any unforeseeable incident that will cause a shortening of the whole licence period (including the duration for setting up stalls and the business period of the fair), the Government has the right to postpone the commencement date and shorten the duration of the period. The bidding price (licence fee) paid will be refunded to the successful bidder on a pro-rata basis without interest.

The FEHD reminded licensees that the stalls are solely for the purpose of selling and promoting the sale of the permitted commodities, and no other activities are allowed in the licensed area. If the FEHD considers that any activity conducted by the licensee to publicise, promote, display, show, sell or gift any permitted commodities in the venue is unlawful, contrary to the interest of national security, immoral or incompatible with the object of the CKF Fair, the FEHD is entitled to direct the licensee to stop conducting such activities, and the licensee must immediately comply with the direction.

Stall licensees should not destroy, damage or abandon any unsold commodities at or in the vicinity of the stall. They must completely remove the stall structure and all paraphernalia, together with all refuse, debris and unsold commodities (whether damaged or otherwise) from the licensed area before 10pm on March 3, 2026.

According to the licence agreement, licensees shall not keep, store or use any compressed helium cylinders in the licenced area. Sales of floating LED glowing balloons and aquarium fish by stall licensees are prohibited at the CKF Fair.

In addition, as stated in the licence agreement, the height of dry goods stalls must not exceed 3 metres from ground level. Also, each corner and anchor point of the marquee (if any) shall be securely fastened using appropriate ballast weights, such as sandbags or purpose-designed marquee water weights. During the period when the Strong Monsoon Signal is in force or to be issued, the licensee shall immediately inspect the stall and adopt reinforcement measures as necessary.

Successful bidders shall comply with all the stipulations and provisions as set out in the licence agreement. Otherwise, the FEHD is entitled to terminate the agreement and the licensee shall immediately vacate the stall.

Details of the 2026 CKF Fair such as the public notice, the location and layout of the fair venue, commodities allowed for sale at the fair stalls, open auction arrangements and related rules as well as a sample of the licence agreement, are available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the FEHD’s Sha Tin District Environmental Hygiene Office at 2634 0134.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that happened in Yuen Long this morning (November 5) in which a woman died.

The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hongkong Post announced today (November 5) that six sets of special stamps on various themes will be issued from January to June 2026. Each stamp issue has its own ingenious design and distinctive style, making the stamps valuable collectables for philatelists and the public.

With profound cultural value, the 12 Chinese zodiac signs are an important symbol of Chinese tradition. To welcome the Year of the Horse, Hongkong Post will release the third issue of the fifth Lunar New Year special stamp series. Against backgrounds of festive colours, the set of four stamps and two stamp sheetlets features horses in various poses, embellished with auspicious motifs. The overall design vividly conveys an atmosphere of galloping horses in celebration of the Year of the Horse. The motif on the $50 laser-cut paper art stamp sheetlet is laser-cut with exquisite technique to create a classic, delicate silhouette of a horse, rendering the stamp sheetlet a prestigious collectible in the Year of the Horse. In addition, Hongkong Post will present a Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Snake/Horse as a token of good wishes for the new year. The snake and the horse on the stamps are adorned with silver and 22-carat gold hot foil stamping respectively for a lustrous and elegant charm, adding an auspicious touch to the Lunar New Year. In addition, China Post, Hongkong Post and Macao Post and Telecommunications will jointly issue the “Year of the Horse” Joint Souvenir Pack. The Joint Souvenir Pack contains the souvenir sheet jointly issued by the three postal administrations, demonstrating that the three places share the same roots and cultural lineage. Relevant details and sales arrangements will be announced in due course.

Xubaizhai Collection of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy was founded by the renowned art connoisseur Mr Low Chuck-tiew (1911–1993) as a home for the collection he donated to the Hong Kong Museum of Art in 1989. It encompasses masterpieces dating from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties through to the 20th century. Hongkong Post will issue under the “Hong Kong Museums Collection” series themed “Xubaizhai Collection” stamps. This set of stamps features paintings selected from the exhibition “Life Planning of the Chinese Literati: Selected Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the Xubaizhai Collection”, showcasing the artistic expression of traditional Chinese literati.

Subsequent to the release of the “Old Master Q” special stamps in 2019, Hongkong Post will issue a new set of special stamps themed “Old Master Q II” featuring various festive celebrations, including the Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Christmas. Characters from the Old Master Q comics are depicted immersed in the rich festive atmosphere, showcasing Hong Kong’s vibrancy and unique charm in the miniature wonders.

Succinct, expressive and full of philosophies of life, Chinese idioms serve as an important resource for language learning and cultural inheritance. Following the “Chinese Idioms and Their Stories” stamps issued in 2006, 2011 and 2024, Hongkong Post will issue a set of four stamps on the theme of “Children Stamps – Animals in Chinese Idioms” to enhance children’s knowledge of and interest in Chinese language, as well as to inspire their positive thinking, through lively illustrations of Chinese idioms containing animal elements.

To raise public awareness of road safety, Hongkong Post will issue a set of four stamps and a stamp sheetlet on the theme of “Road Safety”. The stamps adopt vivid colours and compositions to depict different scenarios, demonstrating the correct attitudes of drivers, pedestrians, passengers and cyclists in using the roads, with a view to reminding the public about road safety.

Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade was inscribed onto the third National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011 and the first Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong in 2017. Legend has it that Tai O was hit by a plague over a century ago, and fishermen carried the deity statues they received from four local temples onto sampans, which were towed by dragon boats to parade along the waterways. To this day, traditional fishermen’s associations in Tai O remain committed to preserving and promoting this folk tradition. Hongkong Post will release special stamps on the theme of “Intangible Cultural Heritage – Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade” to promote this intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong, letting the public appreciate the essence of local traditional culture.

Customers may place advance orders for the above new stamp products from today on Hongkong Post’s online shopping platform ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk). Customers may also visit the Facebook page “郵票．郵趣@Hongkong Post Stamps” (www.facebook.com/HKPStamps) for more details. Customers who place orders by November 21 (Friday) will receive attractive gifts and bonus points. Further information about placing orders can be obtained from the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) or by calling the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau hotline at 2785 5711.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2025 today (November 5):

Professor Timothy Tong (Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum), Dr Colin Lam (Vice Chairman of Henderson Land Group and Director of Lee Shau Kee Foundation), Dr Raymand Chan (Chair of The Shaw Prize Foundation), Shaw Laureates, young scientists, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is a great pleasure to join you today for the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, the second edition.

I’m delighted and honoured to welcome the distinguished Shaw Laureates, together with 200 exceptional young scientists from Hong Kong and around the world.

As Professor Tong noted, this Forum was created to support science, globally and locally, and to fast-track Hong Kong’s rise as an innovation and technology hub. Today’s venue, the Hong Kong Science Park, our flagship I&T centre, perfectly reflects that ambition.

Hong Kong is fast emerging as an international I&T centre. In September, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster topped the Global Innovation Index ranking of the world’s top 100 innovation clusters.

Talent drives technology. Hong Kong recognises the important role young scientists play in advancing science and technology, which is why we invited some 200 of you here for this year’s four-day Forum.

It’s also why our Government has developed a series of policies to attract strategic talent to Hong Kong.

The results are encouraging. Hong Kong ranked first in Asia, and fourth in the world, in this year’s World Talent Ranking. And we topped the world in the “graduates in sciences” category.

In September, we launched HK$3 billion, approximately US$386 million, the Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme. It’s designed to help our eight publicly funded universities recruit top scientists and researchers to Hong Kong, and to build the facilities they need to conduct breakthrough research.

Hong Kong is home to five universities that rank among the global top 100. They are producing cutting-edge researches and training the next generation scientists and innovators.

We are also establishing an advanced I&T system, integrating three major I&T parks and five key research and development institutes.

We’re doing so under the principle of promoting technology with talent, leading industries with technology and attracting talent with industries. The goal is to grow our talent pool, boost innovation, and support our country’s science and technology development.

This Forum has a packed schedule. Our young scientists can look forward to panel discussions, a public forum and, for some, a day trip to Shenzhen. Shaw Laureates will be speaking at many of these events.

And, of course, the many chances to meet and exchange ideas will be equally rewarding. I have no doubt that the Forum, and all those taking part in it, will spark fresh insights and new collaborations.

For that, I am grateful to the organiser, the Council of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum. My thanks also go to the principal sponsor, the Lee Shau Kee Foundation, and to the Forum’s major partner, the Shaw Prize Foundation.

Science needs brilliant minds, and our society needs engaged citizens. For those of you from Hong Kong, I encourage you to vote at the December 7 Legislative Council election, to bring your dedication from the laboratory to the ballot box.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all the best in your scientific work, and a memorable week here in Hong Kong.

Our city is also a rising East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. From the West Kowloon Cultural District, one of the world’s largest arts and culture developments, to our beautiful country parks, our famous food and our vibrant night life, the good life is all around you. Enjoy it all.

Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) announced today (November 5) that the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) will be enhanced starting tomorrow (November 6) to offer participants with more convenient and flexible medical laboratory service arrangements in the community.

     The Government launched the CDCC Pilot Scheme in November 2023 to enable Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension to receive screening for related chronic diseases through medical laboratory services in the private sector. To continuously enhance the medical laboratory services for the CDCC Pilot Scheme, participants may opt to receive blood taking, return specimens and receive other laboratory services at any service point of participating medical laboratories by presenting the laboratory service request note issued by their participating family doctors from November 6 onwards, and they will no longer be confined to going to the service points of the single designated medical laboratory as in the past. The number of service points for medical laboratories will also increase from 24 to 63, while the laboratory service co-payment fees for participants will remain unchanged. All medical laboratories participating in the CDCC Pilot Scheme have been accredited under the eHealth+ Connectivity Accreditation Scheme, and citizens’ laboratory reports will be deposited into their personal eHealth account for access by citizens as well as their authorised healthcare personnel and caregivers.

     Apart from receiving services at service points of participating medical laboratories, CDCC Pilot Scheme participants can also make appointments at the District Health Centres/Expresses in all 18 districts in Hong Kong to receive blood taking or return specimens. To offer more convenience for participants, individual family doctors also provide the value-added service option of blood taking and specimen collection directly to participants at their clinics. If participants opt for this service, their family doctors may charge them an additional fee on top of the laboratory service co-payment fees.

     The aforementioned enhancement measures will also apply to the General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership Programme (GOPC PPP) under the Hospital Authority. (Note) Participants in the CDCC Pilot Scheme and the GOPC PPP may scan the QR code on the laboratory service referral note, refer to the following websites of the Scheme/Programme, or call relevant hotlines for information on the applicable service points of designated laboratory service providers, opening hours, and co-payment details:

CDCC Pilot Scheme
Website: www.primaryhealthcare.gov.hk/cdcc/en
Hotline: 2157 0500 (answered by dedicated staff from 9am to 9pm, Mondays to Saturdays)

GOPC PPP
Website: www.ha.org.hk/ppp/gopcppp
Hotline: 2300 7300 (answered by dedicated staff from 9am to 9pm, Mondays to Saturdays)

     The PHC commission will continue to deepen the development of the CDCC Pilot Scheme to cover more target diseases and health conditions, as well as to develop related support services, including nursing, allied health, pharmacy, laboratory, pharmaceutical, and radiological diagnostics.

Note: The GOPC PPP is expected to end in 2028; patients participating in the Programme will be invited to join the CDCC Pilot Scheme in a progressive manner to receive continued and comprehensive care from family doctors in the community.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs detected two air freight smuggling cases of suspected precious metal on October 3 and 16, and seized about 60 kilograms of gold-silver alloy and about 80kg of suspected gold, with a total estimated market value of about $100 million, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

Based on risk assessment, Customs examined an outbound air cargo consignment, declared as carrying ceramic tea trays departing for Japan, at the Customs Cargo Examination Compound at HKIA on October 3, and examined an outbound air cargo consignment, declared as carrying garment materials, labels and fabric samples departing for Vietnam, on October 16. Upon inspection, Customs officers found 126 gold-silver alloy discs weighing about 60kg in total and three suspected gold cuboids weighing about 80kg in total from the cargo consignments respectively.

An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against all kinds of smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
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Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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 Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and Vice Minister of Science and Technology Chen Jiachang co-chaired the 19th meeting of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee held in Hong Kong today (November 5).

Professor Sun said at the meeting that the National 15th Five-Year Plan indicates clear support for Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology hub. This demonstrates the country’s expectation and confidence that Hong Kong will play a more active role in building a technologically advanced nation in the future, and reflects the country’s affirmation of the commitment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in innovation and technology (I&T) development. The HKSAR Government will proactively align with the 15th Five-Year Plan, seize the significant opportunities brought about by the country’s development, and leverage its own unique advantages.

Professor Sun said that the HKSAR Government is implementing in an orderly manner the direction and strategies as set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, strategically allocating resources to strengthen the efficient collaboration among the Government, industry, academic, research and investment sectors with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. With three major I&T parks and five key research and development (R&D) institutions as the development framework, the HKSAR Government will proactively promote the synergistic development among upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem, with a view to supporting Hong Kong’s high-quality development, and serving the country’s needs with Hong Kong’s own strengths.

Professor Sun also expressed his gratitude to the Central Government and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for their staunch support for Hong Kong’s I&T development over the years. In addition to the restructuring of the State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong, Mainland ministries and commissions have continuously expanded the national science and technology (S&T) programmes open to Hong Kong, allowing more in-depth participation of Hong Kong scientists in the national S&T programmes, thereby further deepening the I&T co-operation and exchanges of the two sides, and allowing Hong Kong to further contribute to the S&T development of the country. 

Looking ahead, Professor Sun said that the HKSAR Government will continue to adopt a multipronged approach to deepen the co-operation and exchanges in I&T with the Mainland. Among them, promoting the cross-boundary flow of innovation elements in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Hetao Co-operation Zone) is a key area in deepening the co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Capitalising on the “one zone, two parks” advantage, the HKSAR Government will continue to liaise closely with relevant parties on the future development of the Hetao Co-operation Zone with a view to implementing the measures on the cross-boundary flow of innovation elements. 

“As a core city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) serving as one of the core engines for regional development, the HKSAR Government will continue to collaborate with GBA sister cities for joint developments, promote the high-quality I&T development of the region, better integrate into and serve the overall national development, and contribute to the high-quality development and high-level technological self-reliance of the country. We will continue to establish Hong Kong as an international I&T centre at full strength and full speed, and accelerate the formation and development of new quality productive forces with Hong Kong’s competitive edge. We will also continue to proactively capitalise on Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and Hong Kong’s dual roles in bringing in and going global, with a view to becoming a bridge connecting the country and the world, including Belt and Road countries and regions, in I&T collaboration, and to better serve the country’s high-quality development”, he added.

Mainland members attending the meeting included representatives from MOST, 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 Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, the Beijing-Hong Kong Exchange of Personnel Centre, the National Health Commission, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, the Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, and the Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.

The Hong Kong delegation comprised representatives from the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Digital Policy Office, the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre, the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering and the Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 5) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Noordoostpolder Municipality of Flevoland Province in the Netherlands and the Międzyrzecz District of the Lubuskie Region in Poland, 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 150 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from the Netherlands, and about 1 870 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland in the first nine months of this year.

“The CFS has contacted the Dutch and Polish 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 Transport Department (TD) today (November 5) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on November 20 (Thursday) to noon on November 24 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.

     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 200 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”

     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:

(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.

(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.

(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.

(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.

     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved the Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The “2025 Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) Seminar” commenced today (November 5) in Hong Kong. This annual gathering of global pharmaceutical regulatory authorities, co-organised by the Department of Health (DH) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (the Board) this year, runs for three days. It has drawn over 160 Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspectors and experts responsible for regulating pharmaceutical manufacturing from over 50 pharmaceutical regulatory authorities and organisations worldwide. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions and shared experiences on the latest developments and regulatory frameworks in three key emerging pharmaceutical fields, namely artificial intelligence, continuous manufacturing and point-of-care manufacturing, which decentralises drug production to sites closer to patients, such as hospitals.

Selecting Hong Kong as this year’s host venue fully affirms the city’s advantage of being highly internationalised and its high standards of pharmaceutical regulation.

The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said in his opening remarks, “Hong Kong, China is committed to upholding international best practices in pharmaceutical regulation to safeguard public health. Since becoming a member of the PIC/S a decade ago, we have gained invaluable knowledge from fellow inspectors and experts through annual seminars, Expert Circles, and the PIC/S Inspectorates’ Academy. This has enhanced the capabilities of our inspectors responsible for regulating drug manufacturing and ensured the quality of medicines for the public. Every PIC/S member shares a common mission to uphold GMP standards and actively safeguard public health. This is also the cornerstone of Hong Kong, China’s advancement as an international health and medical innovation hub.”

“The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address the setting up of the ‘Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation’ (CMPR) in 2026. Our vision is to develop the CMPR into a robust, internationally recognised regulatory authority. It will not only strengthen our regulatory framework but will also actively promote medical innovation. To realise this forward-looking vision, we have proposed ‘Advanced Technologies in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing’ as the theme for this year’s Seminar in order to advance global pharmaceutical regulation,” Dr Lam added.

“I am proud and honoured to open this 2025 PIC/S seminar in the wonderful city of Hong Kong. It is my second venue here, and I am again impressed by Hong Kong’s professionalism and the efficiency in hosting one of the most important annual PIC/S events. As Chair of the Committee of Officials, I would like to deeply thank the DH and the Board for organising this meeting, which will be, I am sure, a great success. It will be another occasion for GMP inspectors to meet, learn as well as share experiences in order to improve the quality of medicinal products and, so, to protect public health”, the Chairperson of the PIC/S, Mr Jacques Morénas, said at the opening ceremony.

The PIC/S has been established for over 50 years as a renowned international organisation comprising pharmaceutical regulatory authorities from multiple countries and regions, currently with 56 participating authorities. Its mission is to lead the international development, formulate standards for implementation, and adherence to harmonised GMP standards and quality systems among pharmaceutical regulatory authorities. After the PIC/S’s deliberation in 2015, Hong Kong, China formally joined as a member, signifying that the quality of local pharmaceutical manufacturing has gained international recognition and is on par with global standards and regulations.