Month: December 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, at a media session today (December 29) on the land sale programme for January to March 2026, the tender arrangements for Hung Shui Kiu pilot area under large-scale land disposal and the establishment of the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company:
 
Reporter: Some questions on the land parcel tender tomorrow. What are the latest requirements that are different from the original proposal of the land parcel scheme? How would the Government attract developers to bid the land parcels, and is the Government confident in securing a tender, and will similar arrangements be made in the future regarding other large-scale land disposal projects as well? Thank you.
 
Secretary for Development: Your question is about the first large-scale development pilot area in Hung Shui Kiu. Because for this past year, we have been engaging potential bidders in various discussion forums. We have also conducted a formal expression of interest exercise with written submissions received. So, it is with regard to comments received that we have adjusted some of the parameters for this tender exercise, including, for example, the addition of one additional residential site to improve the viability of the whole land parcel. In all, previously, we have offered two residential sites, but right now, we are offering three residential sites in the entire parcel. And also, we have introduced premium by phases arrangement, and also what I would describe as surrender and offset arrangement to minimise the cash flow burden on the potential bidders. We have also allowed a longer tender period, which is also in response to a particular comment raised by the potential bidders. So, we believe that having made all these adjustments, which are in response to comments made, we are optimistic that we will have good tender bids. And we will assess our tender based on a two-envelope approach, with as high as 70 per cent of the marks going to technical proposals, which is the non-premium part of the tender. And this demonstrates that the importance we attach to the quality of the business enterprises to go into the enterprise land parcels within this large-scale development area.
 
Reporter: In terms of land sales, how many units are the Government providing in the whole fiscal year? And with the Government providing more than it intended, what does it say about the market outlook? Secondly, regarding the industrial park at Hung Shui Kiu, is there a rough ballpark figure on how much money will the Park Company be granted to operate at the initial phase? And are there any requirements or qualities that the Government is seeking for when appointing board members and the Chief Executive Officer?
 
Secretary for Development: On your first question, which is about the overall land supply for private housing in the current financial year. As I have tried to set out just now, if all things go smoothly, the overall outturn in terms of land supply for private housing for the current financial year will be able to support 15 750 residential units, which is around 20 per cent above the initial target of 13 200 we have set for this financial year. We are encouraged to see this overshooting because it reflects that the private market is gaining momentum and picking up again. And we are glad to facilitate through our land sales as well, and this is why we are rolling out two sites this quarter, even though we know that we will possibly exceed the target. Because actually, for private housing projects, apart from helping to fulfil the target demand a few years down the road when the projects are completed, the very movement of the projects in terms of kick-starting the planning and the construction works are a kind of economic activity, it helps sustain the employment in the entire development sector from the professionals to frontline workers. And as some of you may have known, actually the unemployment rate for the construction sector is relatively high for the past year compared to other sectors, largely because of the slowing down of the new private housing supply projects. And that’s why we are glad to see the market picking up momentum again, and we are willing to facilitate this trend.
 
On your second question about the Park Company for the Hung Shui Kiu industrial land, right now we have yet to decide the capital injection to be given for this company because it will be decided in the context of the coming Budget. As to the qualifications of the directors and the Chief Executive Officer to be appointed to run this Park Company, I think largely they will have to be people coming from different professions with expertise and experience in the running of different industries. Also, we would very much like our directors and the Chief Executive Officer to have vision and foresight so that they can help Hong Kong lead the way in enterprise development.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 28) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 4.6 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $2.3 million.
 
A male passenger, aged 26, arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected ketamine concealed in packets of coffee powder in his check-in suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.
 
The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 30). 
 
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

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (December 29) that an open tender under a two-envelope approach will be launched tomorrow for the pilot area under large-scale land disposal in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (HSK) in the Northern Metropolis (NM). The tender invitation will last for a period of about six months, closing on July 3, 2026 (Friday).

      Large-scale land disposal is one of the innovative and diversified development approaches in the NM. Under this approach, the Government would identify sizeable parcels of land including residential and industry sites with commercial value, as well as public facility sites, for integrated development by successful tenderers. This aims to better leverage market forces to expedite the development of the NM.

     This pilot area located in HSK has a total area of about 11 hectares, comprising three residential sites and three Enterprise and Technology Park (E&TP) sites (see Annex). Together, they can supply about 156 000 square metres of domestic floor area (i.e. about 3 120 flats, if calculated based on an average flat size of 50 square metres of gross floor area), and about 280 000 square metres of industry floor area.

     The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said, “As the first pilot area under large-scale land disposal undergoing tender in the NM, the HSK pilot area represents a significant step forward. The latest tender arrangements have incorporated market views, including the addition of one residential site, reducing the burden of road construction, allowing payment of land premium in stages, independent land leases for different lots, extension of building covenant to seven years, etc. These serve to increase the project’s financial attractiveness, facilitate investments from different background to form consortiums, and alleviate the cash flow pressure of developers.”

     She continued, “The ‘two-envelope approach’ echoes the ‘industry-oriented’ theme of the NM. The weighting for land premium is only 30 per cent; the remaining 70 per cent is for non-premium proposal where the assessment criteria focus on the development of the E&TP sites, including whether strategic industries are developed, whether leading enterprises are introduced, development speed, investment scale, employment opportunities to be created, etc. Through this industry-oriented tender and a series of facilitation measures, we hope to attract high-quality enterprises to establish their presence in the HSK pilot area, promoting growth of the industry chains.”

     Under the large-scale land disposal approach, the successful tenderer has to complete the site formation for the pilot area and construct some public facilities, including an open space, a pedestrian street and a footpath, handing them back to the Government upon completion. The successful tenderer will also have to complete the development of residential sites within the pilot area. Besides, the tenderer must tender for the development and operation of one E&TP site (i.e. HSK Town Lot No. 19), and can opt to develop and operate the other one or two E&TP sites (i.e. HSK Town Lot Nos. 23 and 24) at the same time. A tenderer willing to tender for and operate more industry sites will get higher marks. The purchasers of the E&TP sites winning the tender will be required to enter into service deeds with the Government, submit performance guarantees and arrange for bank bonds, ensuring the implementation of the non-premium proposals.

     The assessment criteria will be detailed in the tender documents to be published tomorrow.

Flexible land premium payment arrangement

     The successful tenderer can elect for paying 25 per cent of the land premium within 28 days from the notification of tender award, settling the remaining 75 per cent of land premium within three years from the notification of tender award with no interest charged during this period. Another flexible arrangement is allowing tenderers that has elected to pay land premium in stages to surrender land within the NM that the Government intends to resume, for offsetting at most 75 per cent of the land premium. The Lands Department will announce the list of eligible land tomorrow, among which a tenderer may propose in his tender surrendering the lots he owns. The Government will calculate the value of surrendered lots based on the applicable ex-gratia compensation rates for land resumption, for offsetting the land premium for the HSK pilot area.

     Ms Linn said, “The two aforementioned arrangements related to land premium payment are measures aiming for removing barriers and restrictions as mentioned in this year’s Policy Address. They can reduce the cash flow pressure of enterprises in land development, thereby promoting their participation in the NM project.”

Land lease and other arrangements

     Individual residential sites and E&TP sites will have independent land leases for execution, and can be held by different purchasers being members of the consortium submitting a bid. The building covenant in all the leases is seven years. Besides, if the two adjacent E&TP sites (i.e. HSK Town Lot Nos. 23 and 24) are awarded, the Government will consider accepting an application for lease modification from the purchaser for joint development, for a more holistic development and operation of the industry sites.

     The tender documents will also specify the completion dates of infrastructures adjacent to the pilot area (such as roads, water supply / sewerage facilities), and provide that if the Government’s delay in construction of such infrastructures has caused a delay to the development of the pilot area, the Government may favourably consider extending the building covenant without requiring payment of additional premium.

     The DEVB has already established a dedicated project supervision office chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning & Lands), providing end-to-end facilitation service to private development projects in the NM in order to speed up their implementation. The HSK pilot area is no doubt a signature project.

     Land sale documents for the lots including the Explanatory Statement, the Information Statement, the Forms of Tender, the Tender Notice, the Conditions of Sale and the sale plans will be made available tomorrow for public downloading from the Lands Department’s website (www.landsd.gov.hk). Hard copies of the sale plans may also be purchased at the Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department, 6th Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, from tomorrow until the close of the tender. Details of the tender will be gazetted tomorrow.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, continued her visit to Guangxi.

     This morning (December 29), Dr Choi met with representatives from the Department of Education of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and local institutions in Nanning. She learned about the latest developments in education in Guangxi and discussed ways to strengthen educational exchanges between Guangxi and Hong Kong.

     Dr Choi said that Guangxi is an important gateway for the country to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has been actively expanding educational co-operation with ASEAN countries. The Education Bureau of Hong Kong is also committed to attracting more students from around the world, particularly from ASEAN and other Belt and Road countries/regions to pursue studies in Hong Kong. Through enhancing mutual exchanges of experience in talent attraction and promoting collaboration, it will foster higher-quality education development and contribute to the national goal of building a leading country in education in the near future.

     On the same day, Dr Choi visited Guangxi University, and toured its campus facilities to learn about the university’s development and its collaboration with Hong Kong institutions in technology.

     She then visited Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine where she met with its leadership to learn about its efforts in nurturing Chinese medicine professionals and promoting research in Chinese medicine. Dr Choi also met with Hong Kong students studying at the university to learn about their studies and daily lives, and shared with them the latest developments in Hong Kong.

     On December 27, Dr Choi arrived in Nanning and met with Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ms Lu Xinning that evening to exchange views on education issues of mutual concern.

     On December 28, Dr Choi also met with Deputy Director-General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Mr Song Haijun to discuss deepening collaboration in education between the two places. She also visited a patriotic education base in Nanning to learn how exhibitions and collections are used to promote patriotic education.

     Dr Choi will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (December 30).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government announced today (December 29) the quarterly land sale programme for the fourth quarter of 2025-26, i.e. January to March 2026.
 
     The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said in the fourth quarter of 2025-26, the Government will put up for tender two residential sites of small-to-medium scale. The first site is situated at Choi Ha Road, Ngau Tau Kok, Kowloon, which can provide around 470 flats. The second site is situated at Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, Hong Kong, which can provide around 200 flats. Both sites are selected from the Annual Land Sale List announced in February this year. Originally zoned as ​”Government, Institution or Community​”, both sites have been rezoned for residential use. The two sites are situated in a relatively mature neighbourhood near MTR stations with comprehensive surrounding facilities and traffic networks, and are expected to be welcomed by the market. 
 
     Apart from the government land sale, the residential land supply this quarter also includes the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)’s Kam Sheung Road Station Phase 2 property development project, capable of providing around 1 290 flats. Separately, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) plans to execute the land lease for the Kai Tak Road/Sa Po Road development project in the next quarter, and will take forward at this stage a series of advance works (including project foundation and excavation works for the basement), while concurrently planning for other works to expedite the provision of around 810 flats. As for private development and redevelopment projects, two projects are expected to complete the lease modification procedures in the fourth quarter, providing a total supply of around 190 flats. 
 
     â€‹”Taking all sources of land supply into account, the total private housing land supply in the fourth quarter of this financial year would support the development of around 2 960 units. Together with the supply from the first three quarters, the total private housing land supply of this financial year is expected to support some 15 750 units, exceeding the annual supply target (13 200 flats) by close to 20 per cent. This figure has not yet reflected private redevelopment projects not requiring lease modification from the fourth quarter, as such figures are only available at a later stage. To overview the residential land supply in this financial year, around 60 per cent was from private development projects, while the remaining 40 per cent was from government land sale and projects of the MTRCL and URA. The higher-than-expected private housing land supply reflects developers’ optimism towards the market outlook. It is also the Government’s aspiration for the launch of more new private housing projects to bring about economic activities and employment opportunities​”, Ms Linn said.
 
The Government will continue to sustain its effort in rolling out land in a prudent and pragmatic manner, and flexibly adjust the land disposal strategy according to market situation, in order to meet the development needs of society.
 
The list of sites to be tendered in January to March 2026 is in the Annex. The actual tender timetable will be drawn up taking into account the progress of the necessary preparatory work. The Lands Department will announce the detailed land sale arrangements before individual sites are put up for tender.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly condemns China for once again escalating tensions across Taiwan Strait and region through provocative, unilateral actions

Date：2025-12-29
Data Source：Department of Policy Planning

December 29, 2025No. 545Issuing what it called a stern warning against “Taiwan independence separatist forces” and “external interference forces,” China’s People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command used this as a pretext to announce on December 29 the launch of the Justice Mission 2025 joint military exercise, which will be conducted around Taiwan from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on December 30.Such actions once again challenge the rules-based international order and will unilaterally inflict grave damage to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns the exercise and calls on China to immediately halt its groundless and provocative military activities.Recently, through a series of military exercises and confrontational actions by its aircraft and vessels, China has carried out a range of threatening activities and practiced gray-zone strategies in the waters and airspace of the Indo-Pacific region. This behavior fully demonstrates that China not only has no interest in maintaining global and regional peace and stability but also will continue to challenge the international order and disrupt the regional status quo time and again.Maintaining Taiwan Strait peace and stability is an international consensus and a key interest of many parties, yet China insists on using military exercises and other means to threaten Taiwan and neighboring countries—particularly those along the first island chain. This defies the principle of refraining from the threat or use of force set out in the UN Charter and violates international norms. In addition to severely harming peace, stability, and security throughout the Indo-Pacific, China’s continuing attempts to unilaterally undermine the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and the region will have a grave impact on global shipping and trade. MOFA calls on China to uphold its responsibilities as a great power and put an immediate halt to its bullying.As a responsible member of the international community and the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded nations to jointly safeguard global and regional peace, stability, and prosperous development. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides satellite broadcast information for the 2025–2026 Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve Fireworks worldwide

Date：2025-12-26
Data Source：Department of International Information Services

December 26, 2025  
No. 078  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is providing satellite broadcast information for the 2025–2026 Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve Fireworks event, enabling television networks and online media around the world to download and broadcast the event  starting at 11:55 p.m. on December 31 (Taipei time). The satellite information has been forwarded to local media through Taiwan’s overseas missions worldwide and has also been made available to international media correspondents based in Taiwan.
 
This year marks the first time that the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks display has been designed in tandem with original music compositions. In collaboration with the Taipei Music Center, music has been integrated into the firework design, enhancing the overall narrative and visual experience of the show with synchronized sound and light. The entire display comprises five main segments and as the music progresses, fireworks unfold gradually, showcasing diverse color variations and rhythmic transitions in a performance that merges music with visual art.
 
Highlights from the display will be edited and uploaded to the publicly available Ministry of Foreign Affairs Trending Taiwan YouTube channel. (Trending Taiwan YouTube channel website: www.youtube.com/trendingtaiwan).
 
Over the years, the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks show has made a strong international impression and has become one of the world’s most instantly recognizable New Year celebrations, receiving extensive coverage from global media. The event has continued to innovate by combining music and multimedia, showcasing Taiwan’s urban vitality and cultural creativity, and presenting a vivid and diverse image of Taiwan to the world. (E)
 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin meets with delegation from Japanese House of Councillors

Date：2025-12-23
Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

December 23, 2025No. 542Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung on December 22 met with a delegation from the Japanese House of Councillors’ Taiwan friendship group (TY Group) led by Councillor Hirofumi Takinami. They exchanged views on such issues as promoting Taiwan-Japan cooperation in third countries, disaster prevention, and economic and trade cooperation.In his remarks, Minister Lin began by welcoming Mr. Takinami and thanking him for once again leading members of the friendship group to Taiwan. Noting that Taiwan and Japan were both situated at key positions along the first island chain and faced pressure from China, Minister Lin said that the two countries maintained not only close security ties but also a staunch economic and trade partnership. He remarked that Taiwan and Japan shared complementary industrial frameworks and said that he hoped they would collaborate to jointly support national development in third countries. In addition, he observed that Taiwan and Japan both faced challenges posed by natural disasters and said that the two countries could deepen collaboration in disaster prevention so as to improve societal resilience.Moving on to discuss Taiwan’s involvement in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Minister Lin pointed out that Taiwan had met the standards required for accession to the agreement. He said that he hoped Japan would continue to demonstrate leadership and assist in initiating Taiwan’s accession negotiations as soon as possible so as to jointly create regional prosperity.During his remarks, Mr. Takinami shared his experience of serving as the head of the household registration issues task force at the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, explaining that he had encouraged Japan’s Ministry of Justice to amend regulations to allow Taiwan to be listed as an option on Japanese household registration documents. He added that he was pleased to see growing support for Taiwan throughout the House of Councillors. Members of the delegation also exchanged views with Minister Lin on sports, cycling, and local exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.The TY Group is one of several Taiwan-friendly bodies in the House of Councillors. It sends regular annual delegations to Taiwan and works to advance its members’ understanding of the latest political and economic developments in Taiwan. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

December 21, 2025Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung led a Taiwan-Palau coprosperity economic and trade delegation to the Republic of Palau from December 18 to 21. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited representatives from Taiwan’s tourism, electronics, healthcare, and green energy industries to join the delegation so that they could investigate opportunities for collaboration in Palau.During the visit, Minister Lin called on Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr.; Minister of State Gustav Aitaro; and other senior officials. Minister Lin also witnessed the signing of an MOU by the president of a Taiwanese enterprise and the governor of Melekeok State on investment cooperation to launch Palau’s premier golf course, forming a concrete example of bilateral collaboration on advancing coprosperity.In recent years, Palau has actively promoted the blue economy and green tourism, which aligns closely with Taiwan’s philosophy on sustainable development. The two countries founded the Taiwan-Palau Coprosperity Project based on the mutual trust and exchanges accumulated over the past year. In January of this year, Minister Lin, in his capacity as President Lai Ching-te’s special envoy, led an industry delegation to attend President Whipps’s inauguration, demonstrating the importance Taiwan attached to its diplomatic alliance with Palau and its resolve to deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation. This May, President Whipps led a delegation to Taiwan to tour eco-friendly golf courses, green energy parks, and medical institutions, as well as to attend the launching ceremony of a zero-emissions vessel. His visit highlighted the strong emphasis Palau places on tourism, sustainable development, and healthcare.The delegation led by Minister Lin was highly regarded by the Palauan government. In addition to a welcome banquet hosted by President Whipps and the First Lady, the members received a warm reception from Cabinet officials, traditional leaders, members of the Senate and House of Delegates, and other dignitaries during this fact-finding mission.As Palau will host the Pacific Islands Forum next year, Taiwan will leverage this significant multilateral event to promote cooperation with like-minded nations and showcase to the international community the concrete results of coprosperity and mutual benefit shared by Taiwan and its Pacific allies.Minister Lin’s delegation successfully facilitated tangible investments by Taiwanese enterprises in Palau, serving as an exemplary model of public-private partnership. Minister Lin stated that MOFA would continue to encourage Taiwan’s private sector investment in diplomatic allies through the Co-prosperity Project. He also asserted that Taiwan would continue assisting Palau in developing its smart healthcare, sports talent, clean energy, and sustainable tourism, taking them to the next level. He lauded these efforts for showcasing Taiwan’s active contributions to the Pacific region and ensuring that Taiwan’s experience would be realized in Palau and seen by the world. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The legal departments of Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region today officially launched the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Arbitrator Panel and the Greater Bay Area Mediator Panel 2025.

According to the Department of Justice (DoJ), these panels, comprising 143 arbitrators and 233 mediators, will strengthen professional collaboration and dispute resolution expertise in the GBA.

The DoJ stated that these panels will maximise regional resource advantages and align the arbitration and mediation regulatory frameworks across the three jurisdictions while establishing unified GBA standards.

Ultimately, the DoJ intends for the panels to strengthen the region’s multifaceted dispute resolution mechanism.

The panels were jointly established by the Hong Kong SAR Government’s DoJ, the Guangdong Province’s Department of Justice, and the Macao SAR Government’s Office of the Secretary for Administration & Justice.

They were endorsed at the GBA Legal Departments Joint Conference.