Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Independent Committee in relation to fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po invites public and organisations to provide information
The Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po announced today (January 26) that it is inviting members of the public and organisations to provide information on the causes and circumstances that led to the fire, and its rapid spread and related issues, from tomorrow (January 27) until February 10.
Members of the public and organisations wishing to provide information can submit a form via one of the following means from 10am tomorrow to 11.59pm on February 10:
The Chief Executive has established the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to review the causes of the incident and related issues of the fire, and to make recommendations to prevent similar incidents from occurring again. The Committee formally commenced its work on December 19, 2025.
Issued at HKT 16:00
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Remarks by SFST at 19th Asian Financial Forum media session
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Remarks by SFST at 19th Asian Financial Forum media session
Reporter: You have mentioned about keeping the communication with the Chinese Mainland IPOs. What concrete measures are being prioritised to ensure robust and sustained trading activity for new listings companies in Hong Kong, and how to make sure their quality?
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: I think one of the key things that we have tried to do is to ensure the continued quality of our own market. So you can see that in the coming year, there are a number of things that we will be pursuing.
First of all, in terms of the listing requirements, we will enhance our listing requirements to see how we can further our competitiveness in the capital market, in particular on the weighted voting rights, and the second one is on the secondary trading. We are also looking into how we can bring our clearing cycle from the current T+2 into T+1 with the market. At the same time, we are now reviewing our board lot size, and also the minimum spread of our stock market, with a view to enhancing the overall liquidity of our capital market.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Issued at HKT 13:04
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Labour Department launches special enforcement operation targeting construction sites of new works
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Labour Department launches special enforcement operation targeting construction sites of new works
To enhance enforcement efficiency, the LD also uses small unmanned aircraft to conduct aerial remote surveillance of construction sites. Upon detecting unsafe work practices, photos and videos will be taken immediately for evidence collection to support inspections and enforcement actions.
Under the general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, employers are obligated to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
The LD reiterates that concerted efforts of employers and employees are essential for safeguarding the OSH of construction workers and building a safety culture. Apart from conducting the SEO, the LD will continue to adopt a multipronged strategy to foster an OSH culture and prevent accidents through regular inspections, publicity and promotion, education and training as well as the use of new technologies.
Issued at HKT 12:38
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Taxi Service Commendation Scheme accepts public nominations all year round
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Taxi Service Commendation Scheme accepts public nominations all year round
To recognise drivers and management teams providing quality services, a total of 24 awards will be granted under the Scheme, including 20 Quality Taxi Drivers, one Most Popular Taxi Driver, two Good Driver, Good Service awards, and one Quality Taxi Service Management Team.
The Scheme is open for nominations throughout the year. Members of the public can nominate quality taxi drivers and service management teams, and share their Good Driver, Good Service riding experiences via the CTSQ’s webpage (www.ctsq.org.hk/voting
The TD will issue letters to the taxi trade and introduce the Scheme in the Taxi Newsletter. Promotional materials will be displayed in taxi compartments, on other public transport vehicles, and on service information boards at taxi stands. In addition, the TD will enhance promotion on its website and the HKeMobility mobile application. It will also collaborate with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to promote the Scheme, encouraging members of the public and visitors to nominate outstanding drivers and management teams.
Issued at HKT 12:25
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Speech by CE at Asian Financial Forum (English only) (with video)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) today (January 26):
Honourable Director Zhou Ji of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Honourable Deputy Governor Zou Lan of People’s Bank of China, Honourable Commissioner Cui Jiancun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Honourable Executive Vice Mayor Wu Wei of Shanghai, Honourable Vice Governor Wang Junshou of Hunan, Professor Frederick Ma (Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council), government officials and distinguished guests from around the world, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. And welcome to Hong Kong and the 19th Asian Financial Forum.
The inaugural Global Business Summit is among the many highlights of this year’s Forum. Designed to encourage deeper financial and industrial co-operation, it will be held throughout tomorrow, day two of the AFF.
It begins with “one country, two systems”, the unique principle that assures us of the unwavering support of China, our country, while continuing to expand our global markets and reach. This unparalleled positioning solidifies our institutional strengths: the rule of law, a judiciary that exercises its power independently, an open and transparent market, the free flow of capital and a low and simple tax regime.
These have ensured Hong Kong thrives as a top destination for enterprises that seek to grow and develop, in an environment that’s safe and convenient to do business. You don’t just have to take my word for it.
According to our annual survey, the number of foreign- and Mainland-affiliated companies in Hong Kong was 11 070 in 2025, up 11 per cent from the year before. That’s a record high number of firms with their parent companies located outside Hong Kong.
The encouraging results represent more than a vote of confidence in Hong Kong by these businesses and entrepreneurs. They also mean our solid efforts in facilitating business establishment and operation, and in creating an enabling ecosystem for start-ups, are bearing fruit.
Over the past year, we introduced a series of measures to enhance Hong Kong’s listing mechanism and stock market. The results are clearly encouraging: the Hang Seng Index surged about 30 per cent last year, while average daily turnover rose to over US$32 billion.
Hong Kong has long been recognised as a hub for asset owners and family offices. At the end of 2024, we managed more than US$4.5 trillion in assets, 11 times our GDP – a year-on-year growth of 13 per cent.
As the world’s largest offshore Renminbi business hub, Hong Kong processes about three quarters of global offshore Renminbi payments and has the largest offshore Renminbi liquidity pool.
The launch, also last year, of offshore Renminbi repurchase and cross-boundary repurchase businesses has boosted Renminbi liquidity channels. These arrangements provide investors with greater convenience, and more stable support, in obtaining liquidity and accessing the onshore repurchase business.
In international bond issuance by Asian institutions, the volume arranged by Hong Kong in 2024 totalled more than US$130 billion, accounting for about 30 per cent of the market.
Hong Kong is also a leading green and sustainable finance hub. In 2024, the volume of green and sustainable bonds arranged in Hong Kong amounted to about US$43 billion, capturing 45 per cent of the regional total and topping the Asian market for seven consecutive years.
Remarks by SFST at agreement signing ceremony with Shanghai Gold Exchange (English only)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the agreement signing ceremony with the Shanghai Gold Exchange at the Asian Financial Forum today (January 26):
Deputy Governor Zou (Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Mr Zou Lan), Vice Mayor Wu Wei (Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shanghai Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Mr Wu Wei), Director Zhou (Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the Financial Commission of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Mr Zhou Xiaoquan), Chairman Yu (Chairman of the Shanghai Gold Exchange, Mr Yu Wenjian), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
HKMA RMB Business Facility doubles to RMB200 billion in size
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKMA RMB Business Facility doubles to RMB200 billion in size
The guidance to RBF quota application, terms and conditions, as well as operation procedures can be found on the HKMA websiteIssued at HKT 10:45
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FSTB and Shanghai Gold Exchange sign co-operation agreement to foster high-quality development of Hong Kong’s gold market
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) signed today (January 26) a co-operation agreement with the Shanghai Gold Exchange during the Asian Financial Forum, marking a new milestone in deepening co-operation between the gold markets of Hong Kong and Shanghai. The FSTB also revealed new moves in six aspects relating to the development of gold market at the same time.
The agreement was signed by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (SFST), Mr Christopher Hui, and the Chairman of the Shanghai Gold Exchange, Mr Yu Wenjian, in the presence of the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Mr Zou Lan; Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shanghai Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Mr Wu Wei; and the Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the Financial Commission of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Mr Zhou Xiaoquan.
InvestHK achieves outstanding results in 2025 reflecting strong global investor confidence in Hong Kong (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
InvestHK achieves outstanding results in 2025 reflecting strong global investor confidence in Hong Kong (with photo)
The strong foreign direct investment (FDI) performance was driven by investment across diverse and high-value industries. It is estimated that the total investment thereby brought to Hong Kong’s economy has reached nearly $69.4 billion, a nearly 2 per cent increase compared to 2024; these companies are expected to create 10 748 job opportunities, covering transport, logistics and industrials, tourism and hospitality, as well as the financial services and fintech industries, with around 20 per cent in management/professional level jobs, in Hong Kong during their first year of operation, achieving more than 57 per cent of increment compared to 2024.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, “I am happy to see the outstanding results achieved by InvestHK last year. Together with record numbers of Mainland and overseas companies and start-ups in the city, there are a clear reflection of the strong global investor confidence in Hong Kong. Our city’s unique advantages, such as enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, proactively integrating into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and capitalising on national strategies such as the high-quality co-operation under the Belt and Road Initiative, continue to make it an important hub for businesses and investments, attracting enterprises across the globe to select the city as their base to expand regional businesses in Asia. This year marks the commencement of the 15th Five-Year Plan; the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to create an even more conducive business environment, further promote Hong Kong’s national opportunities and international advantages to attract FDI and companies to Hong Kong, demonstrating the city’s roles as a ‘super-connector’ and a ‘super value-adder’.”
The top five locations of origin among the companies assisted span markets in the United States, Europe and Asia.