Month: April 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The 2026 Voter Registration Campaign was launched today (April 22). The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) appeals to eligible persons/bodies not yet registered as electors/voters of a geographical constituency (GC), a functional constituency and/or an Election Committee subsector to submit registration applications as early as possible before or on the statutory deadline of June 2, so that the registration particulars can be included in the final registers of electors/voters to be published in September this year.
 
     Hong Kong permanent residents who hold an identity document, will reach 18 years of age by September 25 this year and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong are eligible to register as GC electors. Registered electors/voters do not need to register again. However, if there are any changes in their residential addresses or other registration particulars, they should also submit applications for changes of particulars to the REO by the same statutory deadline of June 2.

A spokesperson for the REO said, “Eligible persons may easily check their voter registration status, submit applications for registration or changes of voter registration particulars, as well as providing/updating their mobile phone numbers and email addresses through ‘iAM Smart’.”

New registrations as GC electors or applications for updates of residential addresses must be submitted along with address proofs, except for applicants who are the registered occupants of public rental housing under the Housing Department or subsidised housing under the Hong Kong Housing Society. The REO also encourages applicants to provide their phone numbers and email addresses to facilitate contact. 　

“Under no circumstances would the REO require the provision of an address proof with personal bank information. Members of the public shall remain vigilant in avoiding fraud,” the spokesperson reminded.

To enhance the accuracy and integrity of the registration particulars of electors, the REO continues to implement checking measures and issues inquiry letters to them. A message, “Immediate action required. Your voting right is at stake”, is printed on the envelopes of all inquiry letters to remind electors of the importance of the letters. The REO will, based on the other contact information provided by the electors, contact the electors under inquiry by phone, SMS, email or fax, to remind them to reply as soon as possible. Electors under inquiry must reply to the REO on or before June 2 by scanning the QR code on the letter to upload the reply slip, or by email, post or fax, to maintain their voter registration status. Members of the public who have doubts about their registration status may also check their registration status through “iAM Smart” or the Voter Registration website (vr.gov.hk), or by calling the REO’s hotline (2891 1001).

     Announcements in the Public Interest on the Voter Registration Campaign will be broadcast through various media channels and at different venues starting from today. The relevant information will also be publicised through websites, mobile applications, posters/banners in districts, and displayed in the public transportation system, such as on bus and tram bodies, in MTR stations and at bus shelters. The Ballot Box Family mascots comprising Blue Ballot, Red Ballot and Grandpa Ballot, which are well-received by members of the public, will continue to be adopted for publicity purposes in motivating the public to register.

     Apart from submitting applications through “iAM Smart”, members of the public can also submit applications through specified forms. Specified forms for new registration and changes of registration particulars are available on the Voter Registration website for download, or may be obtained at the District Offices, the management offices of public housing estates and the REO. Completed forms can be submitted by email to form@reo.gov.hk, via the REO e-Form Upload Platform (www.reo-form.gov.hk), by post to the REO, 29/F, Standard Chartered Tower, Millennium City 1, 388 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, or by fax to 2891 1180.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

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

​The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) announced today (April 22) the joint establishment of the Northern Metropolis Financial Advisory Taskforce (Taskforce). The Taskforce will explore financing solutions that support the development of the Northern Metropolis.
 
The Northern Metropolis, which encompasses extensive new development land and industrial projects, plays a pivotal role in driving Hong Kong’s future development and enhancing its competitiveness. With the facilitation of the HKMA, the banking sector initiated dialogues with the Development Bureau in 2025 to understand the development and planning of the Northern Metropolis.
 
To strengthen the banking sector’s communication and collaboration with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and other stakeholders, and to explore ways to actively support the Northern Metropolis development through financing, the Taskforce will:
 

1. provide professional advice on financing and banking services for the development of the Northern Metropolis;
2. explore Northern Metropolis opportunities and related financing needs with a view to proposing practical financing recommendations to advance relevant projects; and
3. facilitate the exchange of expertise and experience for the purpose of strengthening the banking sector’s financing support for key Northern Metropolis projects.

 
The Taskforce comprises representatives from the HKMA, the HKAB and 15 banks that possess experience in large-scale project financing (see Annex). In addition, the Chinese Banking Association of Hong Kong will participate as an observer and support the relevant work.
      
     The Taskforce conducted a site visit to Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area and the Loop in the Northern Metropolis yesterday to learn about the latest developments and overall planning of the Northern Metropolis projects, paving the way for more informed future discussions and advice. 
      
     Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA Mr Arthur Yuen said, “The establishment of the Northern Metropolis Financial Advisory Taskforce provides a vital co-ordination platform for the HKMA and the banking sector to collaboratively advance the development of the Northern Metropolis. The participating banks will draw on their financial expertise and experience to provide practical financing advice and solutions that can help expedite the implementation of the Northern Metropolis projects, thereby providing solid support for Hong Kong’s long-term growth.”
      
     The Chairman of the HKAB and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong), Mr Sun Yu, said, “With the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for the country expressing explicit support for expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis, the Northern Metropolis has not only become a key engine for driving Hong Kong’s economic growth, but also a strategic gateway for Hong Kong to integrate into and contribute to the overall national development. Through the Taskforce, the banking sector will closely align with the development needs of the Northern Metropolis, leveraging its financial expertise in financing, innovation and technology development, attracting business investment and promoting connectivity. We are fully committed to supporting the accelerated development of the Northern Metropolis and creating new growth momentum for Hong Kong’s future.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has collaborated with the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration to present the exhibition “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Prosperity and Magnificence – Civilisation of the Sui and Tang Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” at the Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH). The exhibition will run from April 25 to August 24, with free admission. Over 165 pieces/sets of selected exhibits will be presented to enable visitors to experience the splendour of the Sui and Tang dynasties. The invaluable cultural relics from Shaanxi have arrived in Hong Kong. The curatorial team in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland experts are working intensively on preparing the exhibition.
 
As the third exhibition of the LCSD’s General History of China Series, the exhibition journeys from the Wei, Jin and Northern and Southern dynasties, and the Sui dynasty, and mainly narrates the grandeur of the Tang dynasty, exploring its historical context and development origins. The exhibition showcases exhibits from the collections of over 10 museums and cultural institutions in Shaanxi province. Among the exhibits, 18 pieces/sets are grade-one national treasures, including a painted female figurine of dancer with a double-looped bun, a white pottery dancing horse, a silver-gilt incense caddy with scenes showing human figures and a pure gold reliquary casket with a roof-curb-shaped lid.

Female figurine of dancer in elegant dance pose

The painted female figurine of a dancer with a double-looped bun from the Tang dynasty was unearthed from the tomb of Zhang Chenhe, Changwu County, Xianyang City. This figurine is of a tall, slender lady with sloping shoulders and a tiny waist. Her hair is styled in a double spiral bun, and she looks light-hearted and lively, representing highly fashionable young women in the early to high Tang period, and reflecting the standards of female beauty at that time.

White pottery dancing horse beautifully akin as white jade

Another exhibit is a white pottery dancing horse from the Tang dynasty, unearthed from the tomb of Zhang Shigui, Liquan County, Xianyang City. The horse is muscular with an elegant, slender body. Its head is slightly lowered and its right front hoof is raised. Entirely unadorned, it emanates a pure beauty akin to that of white jade, and perfectly shows off the exquisite craftsmanship of Tang dynasty artisans with its extremely high ornamental and artistic value. Dancing horses, a unique form of entertainment combining the movements of horses with music and dance, was introduced into China from the western regions, and was seen as symbols of a prosperous and auspicious age.
 
Masterful engravement of patterns and inscriptions on gold ware

The exhibition presents two relics unearthed from the Underground Palace of Famen Temple from the Tang dynasty. Xiangbaozi (silver-gilt incense caddies with scenes showing human figures) were standard parts of the set used by the Tang people in making offerings of incense. The lid of this incense caddy features a raised surface divided into four petals, each adorned with a flying lion. Its background is of scrolling vines. The lid fits snugly onto the body, divided into four sinuously curving arched panels. Each panel shows a scene from a famous classical story. The other exhibit, the pure gold reliquary casket with its roof-curb-shaped lid was created by a famous esoteric Buddhist monk from the late Tang period, Zhihuilun, for holding the relic of the Buddha’s actual body. An inscription was engraved on the front of the casket, reflecting the wish for peace, prosperity, and good weather.
 
Exhibition layout mirroring city planning of Tang Chang’an

The museum designed the layout of the exhibition mirroring the Tang Chang’an City, vividly presenting the large-scale and well-organised city planning to visitors. Multimedia programmes including projections, animation and interactive games will be used to introduce Emperor Taizong of Tang’s Six Steeds of Zhaoling, a stone relief showing his six beloved horses, famous historic figures in the Sui and Tang dynasties, women’s makeup and the imperial examination system in the Tang dynasty, enabling visitors to view social characteristics of various aspects in Sui Tang period. Apart from the precious cultural relics from Shaanxi, the exhibition will also feature relics of Sui and Tang dynasties unearthed in Hong Kong, including a glazed shard of Changsha ware unearthed from Sham Wan Tsuen, Chek Lap Kok; a spirit jar with its lid unearthed from Shek Kong, Yuen Long; and a celadon cup unearthed from San Tau, Lantau Island, from the Tang dynasty.
 
This exhibition is jointly presented by the LCSD and the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, jointly organised by the HKMH and the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center, solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, in collaboration with the Chinese Culture Promotion Office.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the 40th General Assembly of the Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges Federation (AOSEF) today (April 22):

Carlson (Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), Mr Carlson Tong), Bonnie (Chief Executive Officer of the HKEX, Ms Bonnie Chan), distinguished representatives of stock exchanges, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     It is a pleasure to welcome you to Hong Kong. We gather today not merely as operators of individual markets, but as stewards of a shared ecosystem. Global capital has never been more mobile – or more selective. The question before us is this: How do Asia’s exchanges move from competing with one another to collaborating as a network, so that international capital sees our region not as fragmented markets, but as a compelling, coherent whole?

     Together, the Federation’s 17 members represent roughly one-third of global market capitalisation and more than half of the world’s listed companies. Yet many international investors still treat Asia as an afterthought. Why? Because of too many global funds; navigating across our markets remains complex and unfamiliar when approaching us one by one.

     The opportunity – and the challenge – are ours to address together. When an international asset manager can deploy capital into Korean semiconductors, Indian fintech, and Southeast Asian green infrastructure through a single, familiar infrastructure, we all benefit. When a long-term investor can gain exposure to Asian innovation without the hassle of navigating a maze of separate custodian accounts, the entire region wins. Our diversity is our strength, but only if we build the bridges that turn complexity into seamless accessibility.
 
     Hong Kong’s role in this ecosystem is evolving. For decades, we have served as a gateway between international capital and the Chinese Mainland market. That role remains vital: more than half of our listed companies are Mainland enterprises, accounting for around 80 per cent of total market capitalisation. Our Connect schemes with the Mainland now account for roughly 70 per cent of international holdings of A-shares and about 60 per cent of offshore holdings of Mainland bonds.

     But Hong Kong’s role is larger than any single corridor. We are increasingly a platform where the assets of one Asian market can be packaged and discovered by global investors who might otherwise never look at it. Last year, a Hong Kong fund manager worked with her Korean counterpart to list leveraged and inverse products in Hong Kong tracking Korean equities. These instruments have attracted a wave of international investors – many previously unfamiliar with the Korean market – effectively channelling fresh capital towards Korean stocks.
 
     This is not a zero-sum transaction. For Korea, this means new global visibility. For investors, more tools to express their views. For Hong Kong, deeper markets. That is collective value creation – and a model we can replicate.
 
     The lesson of our Connect schemes is clear: when two markets align on standards, clearing, and trading protocols, the multiplier effect far exceeds the sum of its parts. This playbook – built through managing cross-border order routing and settlement at scale – can be adapted to deepen linkages between any AOSEF members. Be it ETF (exchange-traded funds) cross-listings, co-developed indices, or mutual recognition of derivatives clearing.
 
     This year, Hong Kong introduced our “Finance+” strategy. Its purpose is not to expand our market share alone, but to strengthen Hong Kong as capital-formation infrastructure for the entire region’s innovation economy. Our previous listing reforms have attracted pre-revenue biotech and specialist technology firms from across Asia to access global long-term capital. Our transition to a T+1 settlement cycle by late 2027 will reduce risk and improve capital efficiency – not only for Hong Kong, but for any regional partner with whom we share cross-listed products.
 
     We are also broadening our product ecosystem. Hong Kong has become one of the world’s top three ETP (exchange-traded products) markets, with average daily turnover around US$5 billion. The expansion of thematic ETFs – spanning gold and commodities technology, cross-border indices, and digital assets – adds vibrancy and vitality to our market. Our ETF mutual recognition with Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul has created the largest such products in the Middle East. We are eager to pursue similar arrangements with more of you. Imagine an investor in one Asian market gaining exposure to another’s benchmark through a Hong Kong-listed product. These are not distant ambitions; they are the next logical steps.
 
     Connectivity remains central. We have agreements with 20 exchanges worldwide to facilitate dual listings, and we will conclude more across the region. Our one-stop, multi-asset custodial platform, CMU OmniClear – a joint venture between the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and HKEX – will enable integrated management of equities and bonds, facilitating cross-asset collateralisation that supports the growth of derivatives markets across our network.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, these capital flows are not abstract. They fuel the real economy. Global institutional investors are actively seeking diversification and long-term growth. They are looking for Asia’s next generation of enterprises – green-energy innovators, digital banks, advanced manufacturers, etc. Hong Kong’s role is to ensure that when that capital arrives, it flows efficiently to where Asia’s best opportunities are – wherever they may be listed.
 
     Our region’s demographic dividend, urbanisation, and expanding middle class will drive demand. Supply-chain and industry base reconfiguration is creating new industrial clusters. The 15th Five-Year Plan emphasises high-level opening up, encouraging more Chinese enterprises to go global while continuing to welcome international companies. The listing of CATL – the world’s then largest IPO (initial public offering) – illustrated this dynamism. But our vision is larger: we want to be the platform where Asian innovation meets global capital, and where global capital meets Asian growth, regardless of which AOSEF market that growth calls home.
 
     So let me close with a proposal. Let us transform the AOSEF from an annual forum into a working group for tangible interoperability: mutual ETF listings, co-developed indices, shared disclosure standards, and eventually, multilateral connectivity that allows capital to move across our markets with greater ease.

     We are not just marketplaces. We are the plumbing through which the region’s economic destiny flows. When we collaborate, we create incremental liquidity for each other. When we align our infrastructure, we lower the cost of global participation. When we pool access to international capital, we give every innovative enterprise in our region a better chance to scale and succeed.
 
     And if I may borrow from our industry: in finance, as in plumbing, the best connections are the ones you do not have to think about – they simply work. Let us build those connections.
 
     I wish you all a very fruitful General Assembly. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) Renovated Office Opening Ceremony today (April 22):

Agnes (Chairman of the HKGCC, Ms Agnes Chan), Peter (Deputy Chairman of the HKGCC, Dr Peter Lam), 朱文部長 (Director General of the Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (LOCPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Zhu Wen), 周強副部長 (Deputy Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department and Head of the Commercial Office of the LOCPG in the HKSAR, Mr Zhou Qiang), consuls-general, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Chan Han-pan and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):
 
Question:
 
It is learnt that in recent years the steady increase in the number of pet keepers in Hong Kong has led to a growing demand for animal hospice services. It is reported that some animal hospice service providers (service providers) have conducted pet cremation services in industrial buildings, causing problems such as breaches of lease conditions, air pollution and sanitary nuisance. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the numbers of complaints about pet cremation services received by each department and the follow-up outcome respectively in each of the past three years, with a breakdown by complaint category; among them, the respective numbers of cases involving contraventions of (i) lease conditions, (ii) the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) and (iii) the Fire Services Ordinance (Cap. 95) that ultimately resulted in successful prosecutions;
 
(2) as the Government indicated in its reply to a question from a Member of this Council on October 22, 2025 that it had no plans to introduce specific legislation to regulate animal hospice services, and yet given the absence of a licensing regime regulating service providers or introduced in respect of animal hospice services under the existing legislation, whether the Government will reconsider enacting legislation to regulate such services or introduce a unified licensing regime for the operation of animal hospice services to safeguard public interest;
 
(3) as there are views that, under the Air Pollution Control (Furnaces, Ovens and Chimneys) (Installation and Alteration) Regulations (Cap. 311A), only incineration facilities consuming more than 25 litres of fuel per hour require applications to the Environmental Protection Department prior to installation, resulting in some service providers deliberately using small cremators with low fuel consumption and poorer combustion efficiency to circumvent prior vetting, whether the Government will expedite the review and amendment of the relevant legislation to abolish the single fuel consumption threshold, or require all commercial pet cremators to be equipped with secondary combustion and flue gas filtration devices; and
 
(4) to address operational issues of pet cremation facilities, whether the Government will designate specific lands in urban planning or add a dedicated “pet cremation” category to the land use categories, in order to zone suitable areas for the provision of legal and compliant pet cremation services?
 
Reply:   
 
President,

Having consulted the Development Bureau and the Security Bureau, the reply to the question from Dr the Hon Chan Han-pan is as follows:

(1) In the past three years, the number of complaints received by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Lands Department (LandsD) on pet cremation services and the follow-up outcome, are set out at Annex, categorised by the type of complaint and the number of successful prosecutions.

(2) Currently, various government departments regulate pet cremation operating premises in accordance with legislations or the terms of the land leases. For example, upon receipt of complaints about these premises causing sanitary nuisance, environmental pollution, fire hazard or breach of terms of the land lease, the FEHD, the EPD, the FSD, or the LandsD will carry out inspections and take enforcement actions as necessary. The Government has no plans to separately introduce specific legislation or licence system.

(3) The Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) (the Ordinance) already controls air pollutant emitted during the operation of incinerators, furnaces and ovens. The Ordinance stipulates that the operation of incinerators with installed capacity exceeding 0.5 tonne per hour is a “specified process”. The owner of the incinerators must apply for a “specified process” licence from the EPD in advance.
 
According to the regulation under the Air Pollution Control (Furnaces, Ovens and Chimneys) (Installation and Alteration) Regulations (Cap. 311A), for furnaces or ovens that have installed capacities below “specified process” but consume more than
 
(i) 25 litres of conventional liquid fuel per hour; or
(ii) 35 kilograms of conventional solid fuel per hour; or
(iii) 1 150 megajoules of any gaseous fuel per hour, 

their owner must submit plans and specifications of the relevant furnaces, ovens, chimneys or flues to the EPD not less than 28 days prior to their installation, and must obtain approval from the EPD on the plans and specifications before installing and operating the relevant equipment.
 
Equipment that does not meet the above consumption levels is very small and generally does not cause air pollution. Abolishing or further tightening the threshold would subject a large number of small stoves, even residential stoves, to the pre-application requirements, causing inconvenience to many citizens and is unnecessary. If air pollution issues arise due to improper operation or other reasons, the Ordinance has already granted the power to the EPD to issue air pollution abatement notice to the owner of the equipment, and require them to rectify the pollution problem.

(4) In terms of town planning, “pet cremation facilities” is currently not under any existing categories of use in statutory town plans. Interested operators may submit an application to the Town Planning Board (TPB) in accordance with section 12A of the Town Planning Ordinance to rezone a certain statutory planning use to a designated use for “pet cremation facilities”, or submit an application for planning approval in accordance with section 16 under appropriate circumstances if said “pet cremation facilities” are temporary use only. The TPB would consider and decide on each case individually having taken into factors such as land use compatibility, impacts on the surrounding environment, views from relevant bureaux and departments, etc. Since setting up these facilities may have potential impacts on the surrounding environment while each existing building differs in conditions, we consider the current application-based arrangement more prudent.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Aaron Bok and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):

Question: 
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of engineering projects in the past three years where compliance costs (including mitigation measures, compensation proposals, or monitoring and auditing expenses) have increased significantly due to the requirements of individual assessment criteria in the Memorandum; if so, of the extent of cost increase; 
     In addition, under the amended Technical Memorandum, project proponents may, after the detailed design at a later stage of a project is available (e.g. before tendering or before commencement of works), use the online construction noise management platform under the EPD’s HKED to conduct a detailed quantitative construction noise assessment and submit the relevant mitigation plan, so as to complete the construction noise assessment efficiently.
 
     Meanwhile, the EPD has introduced various advanced technologies to further enhance its capabilities in environmental monitoring and assessment, including the use of AI to assist in monitoring migratory routes and roosting conditions of wintering birds, and the use of 3D optical radar scanning technology for tree surveys. These applications not only improve efficiency, but also enhance the scientific quality and reliability of the EIA.
 
     The EPD will continue to uphold a professional, open and collaborative approach, and actively encourage project proponents to put forward innovative, cost-effective and practicable environmental mitigation proposals, so as to ensure that all environmental factors have been duly considered during project delivery, while reducing overall project costs and expediting delivery.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon Alex Fan and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):
 
Question:
 
The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address proposes to study the development model for the Northern Metropolis University Town (University Town) and explore the strategic direction for attracting leading universities in the Mainland and overseas to establish a base in Hong Kong, with a view to further promoting Hong Kong as an international education hub. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it will study the attraction of top Mainland universities to establish branch campuses in Hong Kong, and formulate a concrete action blueprint in this regard, including a mechanism for selecting and attracting target institutions, site selection arrangements and a phased implementation plan; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) as there are views that attracting top Mainland universities involves institutional co-ordination issues, such as mutual recognition of academic qualifications, programme articulation, student recruitment arrangements and deployment arrangements for teaching staff, whether the Government will consider establishing a joint working group with the relevant Mainland departments to conduct preliminary studies on issues relating to the mode of operation, degree-awarding mechanisms, arrangements for mutual recognition of credits, cross-boundary flows of scientific research funding, etc, for Mainland universities establishing branch campuses in Hong Kong, and explore the establishment of a bilateral education co-operation framework by drawing on the experience of Hong Kong higher education institutions operating in the Mainland; and
 
(3) given that the Government has set aside some 100 hectares of land for the University Town and established the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town, whether the authorities will consider adopting a “one university, two campuses” model or other innovative modes of operation when planning the University Town, and reserve space for top Mainland universities to establish branch campuses in Hong Kong; whether the authorities will study the establishment of a dedicated fund or the introduction of tax concession measures, so as to support the long-term development of Mainland higher education institutions operating in Hong Kong?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
For two consecutive years, the Chief Executive has put forward in the Policy Address the goal of developing Hong Kong into an international education hub and a cradle for future talents, and proposed leveraging the development opportunities in the Northern Metropolis and its close connections with the Mainland to provide the post-secondary education sector with valuable opportunities to expand its capacity and enhance its quality. Our consolidated reply to the various parts of the question raised by Professor the Hon Alex Fan is as follows:
 
Last year, the Government set up the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town (WG), led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, to study the development mode for the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). The WG will conduct field trips on the successful models of university towns elsewhere and seek views. It will also explore the possible way forward to deeply integrate industry development with the academic sectors where Hong Kong has an edge, alongside the strategies for attracting leading universities and research institutes in the Mainland and overseas to establish a base in Hong Kong.
 
The NMUT is an important strategic initiative for developing Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub. Local post-secondary institutions are actively leveraging their unique characteristics, advanced disciplines, extensive experience and global networks to introduce more inter-institutional, interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-boundary branded programmes, research collaborations and exchange projects with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions in a flexible and innovative manner. This will attract world-class scholars and outstanding students to Hong Kong and enable the NMUT to leverage its role as a super-connector performing the functions of “bringing in” and “going global” in the field of post-secondary education.
 
The WG will continue to make recommendations on the development mode and specific facilities of the NMUT, which will break away from traditional models. It will actively explore strategies to attract leading universities or research institutes to establish a base in Hong Kong, and consider measures conducive to the development of the NMUT, so as to facilitate Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub.
 
Meanwhile, the Government will continue to support the development of Hong Kong’s post-secondary institutions in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including supporting them in forging cross-disciplinary partnerships with these cities to leverage the distinctive characteristics and competitive edges of Hong Kong’s higher education sector, as well as creating favourable conditions for scientific research and development, knowledge transfer and commercialisation. These efforts aim to promote the conduct of research activities of a high academic standard and nurture high-calibre talents needed for the country’s development by synergising the complementary academic structures and facilities of the Hong Kong and Mainland campuses.
 
The Government will roll out three post-secondary education sites in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area shortly for application by the University Grants Committee-funded universities and universities of applied sciences for campus development, and $10 billion will be earmarked for providing loans to support campus development. The details of the land allocation and loan arrangements will be announced in due course.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Vivian Kong and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):

Question:

Recent ongoing tensions in the Middle East have led to a continuous rise in aviation fuel prices, prompting many airlines in Hong Kong to successively increase their passenger fuel surcharges. However, there are views that the increases in passenger fuel surcharges vary among airlines, with some differences being very significant (for example, some airlines have increased their surcharges by approximately 30 per cent, while some have increased them by more than one-fold). This situation has caused confusion among the public, and made it difficult for travel agents to provide consumers with a reasonable explanation, which may in turn adversely affect the industry’s reputation and impair the status of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the Government liberalised passenger fuel surcharge in 2018, allowing airlines to determine the surcharges they levy at their own discretion, whether the Government will consider re-regulating passenger fuel surcharge, for example by setting a cap on the rate of increase, to ensure that increases are reasonable and transparent;

(2) whether the Government will consider establishing a mechanism to ensure that, when international oil prices fall, Hong Kong airlines can reduce their passenger fuel surcharges accordingly within a specified time frame; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as it has been reported that many airlines have recently announced adjustments to their passenger fuel surcharges at very short notice, with an airline announcing its surcharge adjustments to take effect in two days’ time and subsequently raising them again within a week, and there are views that this leaves consumers and the tourism industry insufficient time to prepare, causing considerable inconvenience, whether the Government, in this connection, will consider requiring airlines to provide a reasonable notice period when adjusting their passenger fuel surcharges; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

With ongoing tensions in the Middle East, airlines worldwide are being impacted by elevated aviation fuel prices. This is placing significant pressure on the costs and cash flow of local airlines, which have to respond to these challenges by increasing fuel surcharges or adjusting flight schedules. At the same time, as an international aviation hub, maintaining the competitiveness of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is of paramount importance, and local airlines have to continue to provide stable and reliable services to passengers. The Government is committed to working closely with local airlines to jointly address the current difficulties and ensure the quality of air services, with a view to minimising the impact on passengers and the competitiveness of HKIA.

My reply to the question raised by the Hon Kong is as follows:

(1) and (2) The Government has been adopting a policy of liberalising air tariffs in a progressive manner. Fuel surcharges allow airlines to partially recover the increase in operating costs due to the fluctuation of fuel prices. There is a global trend of deregulating fuel surcharges. The liberalisation of fuel surcharges aims to allow market forces to regulate the level of fuel surcharges on their own, in the same way that the market determines other components of the prices of air services. Airlines will have greater incentives to improve the overall efficiency and quality of their services as a result of market competition, and market forces will cause prices of air services, including fuel surcharges, to be set at competitive levels.

The Government has liberalised passenger fuel surcharge (PFS) with effect from November 2018, and cargo fuel surcharge with effect from January 1, 2025. After the liberalisation of fuel surcharges, airlines may decide at their discretion whether to impose fuel surcharges and at what level for flights originating from Hong Kong. With regard to PFS, airlines must display the final price of air tickets and provide a breakdown of the final price to show all “must pay” elements of the ticket fare in each quotation/transaction, including PFS (if applicable), at their direct sales outlets.

Major aviation fuel price index in the Asia-Pacific region increased by more than double in the past few weeks. Aviation fuel can account for more than 30 per cent of an airline’s operating costs. It is important for airlines to appropriately raise ticket fares or increase fuel surcharges to continue providing reliable air services, which is crucial for maintaining Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub. Even in jurisdictions where fuel surcharges remain regulated, fuel surcharges have similarly been adjusted upwards in response to elevated aviation fuel prices.

(3) The Transport and Logistics Bureau has maintained close communication with local airlines to understand the industry’s situation, as well as to emphasise the importance of maintaining the competitiveness of HKIA and remind local airlines of their critical role and social responsibilities in this regard. The Government will continue to closely monitor the service provision of local airlines and urge them to provide a reasonable notice period whenever possible when adjusting fuel surcharges, so as to minimise inconvenience to passengers and the tourism industry. We will also maintain close communication with the tourism industry and further enhance information transparency through the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong’s online platform (List of Passenger Fuel Surcharges), enabling the public to better understand the details of fuel surcharge adjustments while fostering market competition.