Month: January 2026

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Response tactics academy opens

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) today held the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Correctional Services Response Tactics Training Academy.

With the motto of “Fusing East and West through tactics; Forging new heights through synergy”, the academy aims to promote the sharing of emergency response tactics and experiences among law enforcement agencies from different jurisdictions, thereby further enhancing the CSD’s collaboration with them and professional capabilities of each other.

Located at the former Cape Collinson Correctional Institution, the academy offers a wide range of training facilities as well as an authentic correctional institution environment to provide members of law enforcement teams from the Mainland and overseas with professional correctional response tactics training.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said that the academy stands as a bold testament to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s vision in correctional services – establishing a global hub where knowledge converges, skills are honed and professionalism is elevated.

He added that the academy is poised to become a beacon of tactical mastery. It will provide meticulously crafted training courses for correctional and law enforcement professionals from around the world. It is also a dynamic platform for the exchange of cutting-edge tactics, where experience meets innovation, and where every lesson learned strengthens the fabric of correctional security.

The academy offers tactics training courses that combine both theory and practice, including the Certificate in Safe & Effective Control Tactics, the Certificate in Close Quarter Defense & Control Technique, and other courses relating to correctional response forces’ anti-riot tactics.

It also plans to progressively introduce instructor courses, enabling graduates to provide relevant training for other personnel to elevate professional standards in their respective organisations. In addition, the academy will proactively reach out to correctional institutions worldwide to foster learning and exchanges among different jurisdictions.

The first batch of 29 participants from the Mainland, Macau, Brunei, Fiji, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam arrived in Hong Kong yesterday for tactical exchanges with the CSD’s response teams and the Certificate in Safe & Effective Control Tactics course.

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CE meets Vanuatu’s Prime Minister

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met Prime Minister of Vanuatu Jotham Napat, with the two leaders exchanging views on issues of mutual interest. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong also attended the meeting.

Welcoming Mr Napat and his delegation to Hong Kong, Mr Lee highlighted that bilateral trade between Hong Kong and Vanuatu continues to grow, adding that the prospects for co-operation between the two places are broad and promising.

He highlighted that Hong Kong enjoys both national and global opportunities under the “one country, two systems” principle, and that it functions as a “super connector and super value-adder” in the pursuit of new growth opportunities in partnership with countries such as Vanuatu, a Belt & Road member state in the Global South.

Mr Lee said that Hong Kong will harness its advantages – including its being connected to both the Mainland and the world – and its role as a functional platform for the Belt & Road Initiative, to strengthen economic and trade collaboration, and green co-operation, with Belt & Road economies.

He invited enterprises from Vanuatu to leverage Hong Kong’s highly internationalised business environment and its pool of professional services talent, to explore overseas and Mainland markets and opportunities.

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Health risk category for Air Quality Health Index reached “Serious” level

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Health risk category for Air Quality Health Index reached “Serious” level 
     Winds are weak over Hong Kong this afternoon, which are unfavourable for pollutant dispersion. The intense sunshine enhances photochemical smog activity, leading to the rapid formation of ozone and fine particulates in the Pearl River Delta region. The high ozone level also promotes the formation of nitrogen dioxide.

     According to the Hong Kong Observatory’s forecast, under the influence of a strong easterly airstream, it will be mainly cloudy and windy over the coast of Guangdong later this week. It is expected that air quality will improve by then.Issued at HKT 18:01

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CE meets Prime Minister of Vanuatu (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

CE meets Prime Minister of Vanuatu (with photo) 
     Mr Lee said that Hong Kong will further leverage its advantages of connecting with both the Mainland and the world and its role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, and will further strengthen economic and trade collaborations with Belt and Road economies and promote participation in green co-operation. Hong Kong and Vanuatu will together seize the opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong is the world’s freest economy. Mr Lee welcomed enterprises from Vanuatu to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages, such as its highly internationalised business environment and its pool of professional services talent, to explore overseas and Mainland markets, to further strengthen co-operation and exchanges across different areas between the two places, and to jointly explore more opportunities. 
Issued at HKT 18:00

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Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office holds seminar in Shenzhen to explore cross-boundary applications of low-altitude economy (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office holds seminar in Shenzhen to explore cross-boundary applications of low-altitude economy  
     Delivering a pre-recorded speech at the opening session, the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, said that the 15th Five-Year Plan clearly identified the low-altitude economy as one of the nation’s strategic emerging industrial clusters for accelerated development, establishing it as an important engine for economic growth. The GBA, with its solid industrial foundation and strong economic vitality, not only provides fertile ground for the development of the low-altitude economy but is also well-positioned to be a global pioneer and pilot demonstration area in the low-altitude economy. The GBA covers three administrative regions, which offers abundant scenarios for cross-boundary applications of the low-altitude economy. As a core city and key driving engine of the GBA, Hong Kong is contributing proactively to the low-altitude economy area. Following the launch of the Regulatory Sandbox X scheme, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will issue the Action Plan on Developing Low-Altitude Economy this year to promote Hong Kong as a hub for low-altitude innovation and applications through institutional innovation and technological advancement.
 
     The Acting Chief Business Development Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Mr Oscar Wong, said that the HKSTP is a member of the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance to support the development of the low-altitude economy, and has been actively collaborating and communicating closely with the HKSAR Government and various stakeholders. This has enabled the successful launch of the first batch of pilot projects under the low-altitude economy regulatory sandbox, including food delivery via drones over Science Park and pharmaceutical delivery trials by another park company. The HKSTP looks forward to seeing more outcomes in the future.
 
     The seminar was co-organised by the GBA Office and the HKSTP. Industry leaders and think tank representatives were invited to share their insights on the opportunities and challenges of cross-boundary applications of the low-altitude economy. The panel discussions were lively, with guests actively exchanging views and offering forward-looking suggestions that provided practical references for the audience, reflecting the sector’s keen anticipation on cross-boundary operations in the low-altitude economy.
Issued at HKT 17:14

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FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in January

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in January 

District

District     Among the fourth batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering 21 survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering five survey areas in January, all were below 10 per cent.

     The FEHD has so far released four batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in January 2026, covering 59 survey areas; most of the areas recorded 0 per cent, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes was not extensive.     Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

     Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever (DF). After reviewing the present DF and CF vector surveillance programme, the FEHD has expanded the coverage for monitoring Aedes albopictus mosquitoes starting from 2026. The number of survey areas set up in the community has been revised to 62, with some survey areas renamed. Additional gravidtraps will also be set up at different locations across the territory to strengthen the monitoring of the breeding of mosquitoes. Under the present surveillance mechanism, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#Issued at HKT 17:00

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Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cross-boundary Public Services Designated Self-service Area and Macao SAR Government e-Services self-service kiosk launched at Treasury Building today (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cross-boundary Public Services Designated Self-service Area and Macao SAR Government e-Services self-service kiosk launched at Treasury Building today  
     The DPO has been advancing the initiative of Cross-boundary Public Services between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Following the installation of the Hong Kong Cross-boundary Public Services self-service kiosks and “iAM Smart” self-registration kiosks earlier in the nine Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Macao, a one-stop Self-service Area jointly established with Guangdong Province and the Macao SAR is now available in Hong Kong.
 
     In delivering his speech, the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, said, “The launch of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cross-boundary Public Services Designated Self-service Area marks another step forward in the collaborative efforts of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to promote cross-boundary public services. It provides residents and enterprises in Hong Kong with one-stop access to the relevant public services, thereby achieving seamless cross-boundary public services across the three places.”
 
     Starting today, the public can register for “iAM Smart+” and access various public services of Guangdong Province and the Macao SAR by visiting the Self-service Area located on 1/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. The Self-service Area is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays), with the following self-service kiosks:
      The DPO will continue to work closely with Guangdong and Macao to further enhance the Cross-boundary Public Services, with a view to coping with the demands of residents and enterprises in the GBA for Hong Kong public services.

     For details, please visit the Hong Kong Cross-boundary Public Services website at www.crossboundaryservices.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:32

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External merchandise trade statistics for December 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

External merchandise trade statistics for December 2025      
     In December 2025, the value of total exports of goods increased by 26.1% over a year earlier to $512.8 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 18.8% in November 2025. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 30.6% over a year earlier to $576.0 billion in December 2025, after a year-on-year increase by 18.1% in November 2025. A visible trade deficit of $63.3 billion, equivalent to 11.0% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in December 2025.
      
     For 2025 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods increased by 15.4% over 2024. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 15.5%. A visible trade deficit of $446.6 billion, equivalent to 7.9% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in 2025.
      
     Comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 5.2%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 6.7%.
      
Analysis by country/territory
      
     Comparing December 2025 with December 2024, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 26.6%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Malaysia (+138.6%), Thailand (+76.6%), Taiwan (+72.7%), Singapore (+30.4%), Vietnam (+29.4%) and Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (+24.9%).
      
     Apart from destinations in Asia, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular Switzerland (+48.8%) and the USA (+47.5%).
      
     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+164.1%), the United Kingdom (+41.6%), the Mainland (+33.9%), Taiwan (+30.8%), Japan (+18.0%) and Singapore (+17.2%).
      
     Comparing 2025 with 2024, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Malaysia (+61.6%), Vietnam (+50.5%), Taiwan (+43.6%), the Mainland (+16.7%) and Japan (+13.5%).
      
     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+97.1%), the United Kingdom (+43.7%), Taiwan (+20.0%), Malaysia (+18.3%), the Mainland (+16.2%) and Singapore (+11.7%).

Analysis by major commodity
      
     Comparing December 2025 with December 2024, increases were registered in the values of total exports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $60.8 billion or +30.7%) and “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $21.2 billion or +46.8%).
      
     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $58.1 billion or +27.9%) and “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $29.5 billion or +59.6%).
      
     Comparing 2025 with 2024, increases were registered in the values of total exports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $376.2 billion or +17.2%) and “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $135.0 billion or +24.9%).
      
     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $392.6 billion or +17.9%), “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $135.8 billion or +24.6%) and “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $130.8 billion or +29.3%).
      
Commentary
      
     A Government spokesman said that the value of merchandise exports picked up strongly towards the end of 2025, surging by 26.1% in December over a year earlier. For 2025 as a whole, the value of merchandise exports rose visibly by 15.4% to $5,240.3 billion, a historical high. Exports to the Mainland continued to grow visibly, and those to the ASEAN economies showed robust growth. Exports to the United States showed a decent increase, while those to the European Union declined slightly. Analysed by commodity, exports of most major commodities rose markedly, particularly for exports of electrical equipment, machinery and mechanical appliances.
      
     Looking ahead, sustained moderate expansion of the global economy, enhanced economic and trade ties with new markets, coupled with strong demand worldwide for AI-enabled electronic-related products, will support Hong Kong’s merchandise trade performance. The Government will stay vigilant to the developments of various uncertainties.
      
Further information
      
     Table 1 presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for December 2025. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2022 to December 2025, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.
      
     The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for December 2025 are shown in Table 4, whereas the values of imports of goods from 10 main suppliers are given in Table 5.
      
     Tables 6 and 7 show the values of total exports and imports of 10 principal commodity divisions for December 2025.
      
     All the merchandise trade statistics described here are measured at current prices and no account has been taken of changes in prices between the periods of comparison. A separate analysis of the volume and price movements of external merchandise trade for December 2025 will be released in mid-February 2026.
      
     The December 2025 issue of “Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade” contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade in December 2025 and will be available in early February 2026. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020005&scode=230      
     Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4691).
Issued at HKT 16:30

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More elderly homes to join Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

More elderly homes to join Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong      
     Together with the existing 24 RCHEs, the total number of RCHEs participating in the Scheme will increase to 26, with full coverage of the nine Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), offering more choices to Hong Kong elderly people who wish to retire in the GBA. Elderly persons who are waitlisted for subsidised residential care services on the Central Waiting List and would like to join the Scheme may contact their responsible workers to file an application. The information on the additional RCHEs is as follows:
 

NameDongguan Hongmei Hospital Nursing Centre
(Jointly operated by Pok Oi Hospital and a Mainland elderly service operator)
 Taiping Healthcare (Guangzhou) Company Limited
(Jointly operated by Fuk On Home of Aged Limited and a Mainland elderly service operator)
      The SWD is receiving a new round of applications for RCHEs to join the Scheme. Eligible Hong Kong operators planning to apply within this year for including their RCHEs located in the GBA, operated either on their own or under partnership with Mainland elderly service operators, in the Scheme shall submit their applications on or before April 30 this year. Results are expected to be announced by year end.
 
     Details of the Scheme are available on the SWD website: www.swd.gov.hk/en/pubsvc/elderly/cat_residentcare/subrcheplace/guangdong/index.htmlIssued at HKT 12:00

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Speech by FS at Asian Financial Forum Global Business Summit (English only) (with video)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at Asian Financial Forum Global Business Summit today (January 27):

Fred (Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Professor Frederick Ma), Vice Mayor Wu Wei (Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Shanghai Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Mr Wu Wei), Vice Governor Tang (Vice-Governor of the People’s Government of Shanxi Province, Mr Tang Zhiping), Vice Governor Wang (Vice-Governor of the People’s Government of Hunan Province, Mr Wang Junshou), 張文武副董事長 (Vice Chairman and President of CITIC Group, Mr Zhang Wenwu), your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Welcome to this inaugural Global Business Summit. To government officials and business leaders joining us from around the world, a very warm welcome to Hong Kong.

     We are meeting at a pivotal moment, marked by a deep structural transformation in industrial development – driven by several powerful forces.

Global industries in transformation 

     First, artificial intelligence (AI) and other frontier technologies are reshaping how products are designed, factories operate, supply chains are managed, and services are delivered. AI is not only an industry in its own right; its greatest value lies in its ability to scale across processes and supply chains, accelerating innovation in areas such as advanced manufacturing and biotechnology. It ultimately will become a defining competitive advantage.

     Second, the green transition. Around the world, most economies continue to move steadily towards carbon neutrality, with rising demand for decarbonised industrial processes and green products. The shift to renewable energy, electric vehicles and emerging solutions such as green hydrogen is creating new industrial chains and investment cycles, and better responds to consumers’ aspirations for green products.

     Third, geopolitics and supply-chain reconfiguration. Geoeconomic fragmentation is reshaping economic relationships and driving businesses to diversify production networks, balancing efficiency with resilience. For businesses, the key question is far more than “where is cheapest?”, but “where is secure, scalable, sustainable and cost-competitive?”

China under spotlight

     Clearly, China is at the heart of these developments. It has the world’s most comprehensive and complete industrial system. It is a global leader in technological innovation, such as AI, robotics and biotech. It is advancing rapidly in green transformation. In a changing geoeconomic landscape, Chinese companies are also diversifying their supply and industrial bases, and deepening participation in international industrial and supply-chain co-operation.

     It is noteworthy that in the Recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan, the country will continue to pursue high quality development as well as technological self-reliance. It has emphasised the deep integration of technological and industry innovation. 

Hong Kong’s catalytic role  

     Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to turn to Hong Kong. Looking ahead, trade, finance and innovation and technology will be the three principal drivers of our economic growth.  

     On innovation and technology, over the past few years, we have invested more than HK$200 billion to drive its development, and formulated a comprehensive strategy to expedite progress across the spectrum. From supporting R&D (research and development) and building the relevant infrastructure, to nurturing start-ups and attracting talent, we are strengthening Hong Kong’s tech ecosystem from upstream to downstream.

     Our priority sectors are clear: artificial intelligence and data science, biotech, fintech, and new energy and new materials. These are areas where we have strong foundations and clear competitive advantages.

     A further essential piece in building a more vibrant tech ecosystem is technology enterprises. This is why this Government is determined to attract the world’s leading frontier-technology enterprises to Hong Kong. Over the past three years, the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises has attracted more than 100 strategic enterprises, which are expected to invest over HK$60 billion and create more than 22 000 jobs. Moreover, these companies will bring in partners across their value chains, further strengthening and broadening Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem.

     To better integrate I&T (innovation and technology) with industrial development, this Government has made it a priority to expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis, a strategic development area comprising around one-third of Hong Kong’s landmass. 

     We welcome technology and industrial enterprises to establish a presence in the Northern Metropolis. Where justified, we are prepared to tailor incentive packages, which may include land grants, premium concessions, tax incentives and other facilitation measures. Everything is negotiable. Specific arrangements will be considered in light of factors such as the frontier technologies and investment to be brought in, the project’s economic benefits, the jobs to be created, and the extent to which the projects will strengthen Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem.  

     We are also providing for more flexible development models in the Northern Metropolis, including large-scale land disposals for high-impact projects.  
 
     It helps that Hong Kong is an international financial centre, offering a full spectrum of funding options to support tech companies at different development stages to scale up. That includes a vibrant private equity and venture capital ecosystem. That, of course, also includes a deep and liquid stock market. 

     The HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government has established the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, or HKIC. It provides patient capital and makes strategic investments in high-potential ventures, particularly in hard technology. HKIC is willing to co-invest in projects where justified.  

     Taken together, we are leveraging finance to power tech and industry development. Our world-class financial services and international connectivity further enhance Hong Kong’s overall value proposition. 

Closing remarks

     Ladies and gentlemen, the message I wish to leave with you today is this: Hong Kong is not just a platform that connects capital, market, projects, talent and opportunity. Hong Kong is willing to be a strategic partner to help you grow, scale up and go global. 

     Thank you very much. I wish the Summit every success, and the best of health and business to you all.