Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ20: Opportunities arising from special customs operations of Hainan Free Trade Port
Question:
The Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP) formally commenced the island-wide special customs operations on December 18, 2025 and began to implement a management model of “liberalization at the first line, effective control at the second line and freedom within the island”. As a result of the special customs operations, the scope of zero tariffs on imported goods has been expanded, marking a new stage in the country’s expansion of high-level opening-up. At the regular press conference of our country’s Ministry of Commerce on January 8, 2026, the spokesman indicated “support for Hong Kong to integrate into and serve the overall national development, and to achieve complementary advantages and synergistic development with Hainan, so that both places could join hands in giving better play to their functions in the country’s high-level opening-up”. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the Government will join hands with think tanks, industry associations, members of various industries and academic institutions in conducting a comprehensive assessment of the opportunities brought to Hong Kong by the special customs operations at Hainan FTP and examine how Hong Kong can better perform its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, so as to realise high-level alignment with Hainan FTP; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) of the measures put in place by the Government to leverage Hong Kong’s position as a green and sustainable finance centre to provide Hainan FTP with green financing services at lower costs and support Hainan in achieving its target of low-carbon development; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) as Article 86 of the newly revised Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China provides that overseas arbitration bodies are allowed to establish business organisations in Hainan FTP, whether the Government has taken any measures to support Hong Kong’s arbitration bodies in “going out” and give play to the functions of the International Organization for Mediation in Hong Kong in areas such as resolving cross-boundary investment disputes; if so, of the relevant measures; if not, the reasons for that; and
(4) whether the Government will assist Hong Kong’s professionals and enterprises in developing business in Hainan FTP, and promote the launch of more academic and youth exchange activities between both places; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Hong Kong and Hainan have always had a very close relationship. Hong Kong and Hainan are geographically close, share close personal ties, and are connected by business ties. Hong Kong has long been the major source of external investment in Hainan and an important trading partner. In March 2025, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hainan Provincial People’s Government signed the “Hainan Provincial People’s Government and HKSAR Government Memorandum of Cooperation” (MOU), further enhancing the cooperation between the two places in five areas, namely trade and investment, finance, safe and orderly flow of data, tourism and talent exchange. The MOU combines the advantages of Hong Kong and Hainan, deepens economic and trade exchanges between Hong Kong and Hainan, and helps the two places achieve a new chapter of deeper and broader development through the “connection of the two ports”.
On December 18, 2025, the Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP) formally commenced the island-wide special customs operations, marking a new stage in the country’s expansion of high-level opening-up. The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to and supports the development of the Hainan FTP, and looks forward to further cooperation with Hainan Province to make greater contribution to the country’s high-quality development and high-level opening up.
Regarding the Hon Erik Yim’s question, after consultation with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau; Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau; Education Bureau; Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau; Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB); Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau; Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) and the Department of Justice (DoJ), our consolidated reply is as follows:
(1) Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantage of enjoying strong support of the country and being closely connected to the world. The HKSAR Government will fully leverage Hong Kong’s roles as a “super-connector” and a “super value-adder” and give full play to Hong Kong’s strength, bringing the professional services that are on par with international standards into the Hainan market. At the same time, we will assist Hainan enterprises in going global via Hong Kong to expand their businesses through the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global and proactive engagement with the enterprises by the Mainland teams of Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. By fostering synergistic development between Hong Kong and Hainan, we will generate more mutually beneficial collaboration, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of the country.
In addition, the official launch of the island-wide independent customs operation in Hainan will bring new development opportunities for the maritime and logistics industry there. As an international maritime centre, Hong Kong can further explore how to achieve complementarity with Hainan FTP on the maritime and logistics fronts. The TLB will closely monitor the development of Hainan FTP and actively study how to drive collaborative development between Hong Kong as a free port and Hainan FTP further.
(2) As a leading green and sustainable finance centre in the world, Hong Kong has been actively leveraging its strengths as an international financial centre to provide diversified investment and financing channels, facilitate matching between international capital and quality green projects, and promote green transformation of the economy in the region. In 2025, the volume of green and sustainable bonds arranged in Hong Kong amounted to around US$38 billion, accounting for 40 per cent of the regional total and ranking first in the Asian market for eight consecutive years since 2018.
As Asia’s leading green finance centre, Hong Kong will continue to actively serve as a bridge connecting international capital with the green finance needs in the Mainland. Since 2022, the Hainan Provincial People’s Government has issued offshore RMB local government bonds in Hong Kong for four consecutive years, including green, blue and sustainability bonds, with a cumulative issuance amount of RMB 18 billion (as of March 2026). To support and facilitate Mainland local governments to issue bonds in Hong Kong, we have made the Exemption from Profits Tax (Debt Instrument Issued by Mainland Local People’s Government at Any Level) Order (the Order) to extend the coverage of the profits tax exemption to the debt instruments issued in Hong Kong by all Mainland local people’s governments at any level. The Order has come into operation from March 31, 2023.
At the same time, we also welcome Hainan enterprises to issue bonds and raise funds through Hong Kong’s financing platform to attract international capital to support sustainable infrastructure and green projects, with a view to helping Hainan in achieving its low-carbon development goals, and contributing to our country’s dual-carbon goals. To encourage relevant green and sustainable financing activities, the Government launched the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme in 2021 to provide subsidy for eligible bond issuers and loan borrowers to cover part of their expenses on bond issuance and external review services. The Scheme has been extended by three years from 2024 to 2027, with an expanded scope of subsidies to cover transition bonds and loans. These measures encourage relevant industries in the region to make use of Hong Kong’s transition financing platform towards decarbonisation. In April 2026, further refinements were introduced in response to recent market developments and ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders, so as to make the Scheme more targeted in addressing emerging trends. As of April 2026, we have granted subsidies to over 680 green and sustainable debt instruments issued in Hong Kong, involving a total underlying debt issuance of over US$190 billion (or over HK$1.5 trillion).
(3) The National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly emphasises the acceleration of the development of foreign-related rule of law systems and capacity building, improving international commercial mediation, arbitration, litigation and other mechanisms, and supporting the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) to further its role. In accordance with this policy, the DoJ will continue to take appropriate measures to support and strengthen the promotion of Hong Kong’s international mediation services, to deepen the mediation culture and to establish Hong Kong as a global mediation capital, which is also conducive to complementary and co-ordinated development with Hainan.
In addition to disputes between States, the IOMed also handles international investment and commercial disputes. DoJ encourages enterprises (including enterprises and organisations of the Hainan FTP) to actively consider including the IOMed’s model dispute resolution clause in their international commercial and investment contracts to adopt a “Mediation First, Arbitration Next” approach to dispute resolution and strengthen foreign-related rule of law protection. In the absence of the IOMed’s model dispute resolution clause in their contracts, relevant enterprises and organisations are also encouraged to actively consider submitting disputes to the IOMed after they have arisen.
To promote and publicise the work of the IOMed, the DoJ will be the key supporting organisation for the Global Mediation Summit to be organised by the IOMed in Hong Kong on May 8, 2026. The Global Mediation Summit will bring together mediators, policymakers, and leaders from around the world, and businesses and organisations from the Hainan FTP are most welcomed to register for the Summit.
Hong Kong arbitral institutions operate independently and are not subject to government interference. Accordingly, the decision on whether to set up business offices in the Hainan FTP and any specific commercial arrangements will be led and decided by the Hong Kong arbitral institutions. However, the HKSAR Government encourages and supports Hong Kong arbitral institutions in seizing the opportunities presented by the newly revised Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China, actively promotes deeper exchanges and collaboration between Hong Kong arbitral institutions and the Chinese Mainland arbitral industry, continuously refines Hong Kong’s legal framework and utilises the edge of arbitration in Hong Kong, thereby deepening Hong Kong’s position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre and creating a favourable environment for Hong Kong arbitral institutions to “go global”.
(4) The HKSAR Government strives to assist Hong Kong’s businesses in entering the Mainland market through the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), seeking more room for development for the trade on the Mainland and, at the same time, strengthening the economic and trade relations between the two places and fostering trade and investment facilitation. Under the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services, Hong Kong service suppliers can enjoy preferential treatment in entering the Mainland market and developing Mainland businesses in most services sectors. The Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services has been implemented since March 1, 2025, introducing new liberalisation measures across a number of services sectors where Hong Kong enjoys competitive advantage, most of which apply to the whole Mainland (including Hainan FTP), making it easier for Hong Kong service suppliers and professionals to set up enterprises and develop business on the Mainland.
The HKSAR Government will continue to seek to enhance the level of trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, enriching the contents of CEPA, so as to provide Hong Kong enterprises and professionals with greater room for development in the Hainan FTP as well as the entire Mainland, while leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths to serve the country’s needs.
With regard to assisting Hong Kong legal professionals in expanding their business at the Hainan FTP, under CEPA, it is understood that there are currently two partnership associations set up by Mainland and Hong Kong law firms in Hainan Province; as of November 2025, there are also 20 Hong Kong legal practitioners being employed as legal consultants by Hainan law firms.
The DoJ will continue to foster cooperation between Hong Kong and Hainan in the field of legal services, as well as to encourage and support Hong Kong legal sector in expanding their legal practice at the Hainan FTP and providing quality legal services to Hainan enterprises, including setting up partnership associations, representative offices, and being employed as legal consultants in Hainan.
Regarding the tourism sector, the National Immigration Administration has announced the implementation of Hainan’s 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao since July 30, 2024, enabling citizens of countries that have established diplomatic relations with China and holding ordinary passports to travel to Hainan visa-free and stay for not more than 144 hours if they enter as a tour group (with at least two people) organised by a travel agent registered in Hong Kong or Macao. This measure is conducive to attracting overseas visitors to embark on multi-destination travel itineraries by entering Hainan via Hong Kong, thereby further fostering the development of the tourism markets of the two places.
On the other hand, The Cradle – Going Global Service Centre of the Hong Kong Productivity Council employs “Six Tactics” to support local enterprises and professionals to expand into the Mainland and overseas markets, including the Hainan FTP, and promote academic and youth exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland at the same time. The “Six Tactics” are training and study missions, smart manufacturing support, international standards and testing services, funding advisory support, technical research and assessment as well as professional services.
At the same time, the Government will continue to support Hong Kong’s post-secondary institutions to strengthen their co-operation with the Mainland in the higher education sector, support them in forging multi-lateral and cross-disciplinary partnerships to leverage the distinctive characteristics and competitive edges of Hong Kong’s higher education sector, as well as create favourable conditions for scientific research and development, knowledge transfer and commercialisation, thereby complementing the strengths of the two places.
As for youth exchange, the HYAB currently provides funding to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to organise youth exchange projects in the Mainland through the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland. The destinations cover various provinces and municipalities (including Hainan) in the Mainland. These projects aim to enhance young people’s understanding of our country’s culture, history, the latest developments, etc, and strengthen their exchanges with Mainland youth. We also encourage NGOs to organise two-way exchange projects under the funding scheme to deepen interaction and exchange between young people in Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Issued at HKT 16:40
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Hong Kong Energy Statistics 2025 Annual Report published
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Hong Kong Energy Statistics 2025 Annual Report is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (April 29).
The report describes the situation of energy supply and demand in Hong Kong. It contains comprehensive statistical information relating to different forms of energy, including oil products, coal products, electricity, and gas. The report also includes an overall energy balance, which summarises the origins and uses of different forms of energy and depicts their relationship in the energy transformation processes.
Major statistics presented in the report include:
(i) imports and unit values of imports as well as other relevant statistics (storage capacity, tank stock, and quantity of sales by type of users) for oil products;
(ii) imports and unit values of imports for coal products; and
(iii) generating capacity, production, and local consumption by type of users for electricity and gas.
Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1100002&scode=90).
Users who have enquiries about the contents of the report may contact Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: energy@censtatd.gov.hk).
Prohibition on possession of specified alternative smoking products in public places to take effect tomorrow
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) reminded the public that the provision under the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 prohibiting the possession of specified alternative smoking products (ASPs), such as e-cigarette capsules and heat sticks, in public places will take effect tomorrow (April 30).
Any person who possesses specified ASPs, including e-cigarette capsules, liquids, heat sticks and herbal cigarettes, in public places is liable to a fixed penalty of HK$3,000. If the quantity possessed exceeds the specified limit or involves commercial purposes, the maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. Details are as follows:
| Offence | Penalty |
| Possession of a quantity of specified ASPs not exceeding the specified limit (i.e. not more than 5 units of capsules/5mL of substance or 100 units of heat sticks or 100 rolls of herbal cigarettes) |
|
| Possession of more than 5 units of capsules/5mL of substance or 100 units of heat sticks or 100 rolls of herbal cigarettes |
|
The Government enacted comprehensive legislation four years ago (effective April 30, 2022), prohibiting the import, manufacture, promotion, sale and possession for commercial purposes of ASPs, in order to reduce the chance for tobacco companies to use ASPs to lure the public, especially the younger generation, into smoking addiction. In other words, for the past four years, there have been no legal channels to obtain such products, nor could they be brought into Hong Kong from overseas. ASPs purchased for personal use before the ban came into effect should have been largely consumed after a certain period of time. The new measures taking effect tomorrow further strengthen the overall regulation of ASPs, preventing harmful tobacco products from continuing to circulate locally and tackling the use of ASPs and harmful substances at its root.
To publicise the new tobacco control legislation, TACO has produced various publicity materials (including leaflets and posters) and is raising public awareness of the new regulations through TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest, hanging banners and posters in various premises, placing advertisements on public transport, at bus stops and MTR stations, as well as enhanced promotion on social media. TACO has uploaded relevant information and frequently asked questions on its website for public inspection, and produced promotional leaflets specially for tourists. TACO also launched a four-week publicity campaign prior to the commencement of the provision, carrying out promotional activities in high-traffic areas, boundary control points and tourist attractions. In collaboration with District Councils, TACO has conducted community outreach to promote the new legislation, and has also co-ordinated with airline companies to make in-flight announcements about the new measures, reminding members of the public and visitors to comply with tobacco control legislation.
TACO stressed that currently there is no evidence to show that heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes are less harmful or beneficial for smoking cessation. On the contrary, ASPs have been proven to emit numerous toxic substances that can lead to addiction, illness, or even death. In the case of heated tobacco products, the World Health Organization (WHO) has clearly stated that there is insufficient evidence to show that they are less harmful than conventional cigarettes. As for e-cigarettes, the WHO has pointed out that e-cigarettes contain and release a number of potentially toxic substances that can cause cancer and damage the nervous system or respiratory system. Prolonged use of e-cigarettes may increase the risk of various heart and lung diseases as well as cancer.
The Government urges smokers to quit smoking as soon as possible. Members of the public may call the DH Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline at 1833 183. The hotline is answered by registered nurses who provide professional counselling and referral to a wide range of free smoking cessation services.
Note: Or upon summary conviction, a maximum fine at level 3 (i.e. HK$10,000)
LCQ14: Medical fee waiver mechanism and medical consultation services
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Yiu Ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (April 29):
Question:
The public healthcare fees and charges reform (Reform) took effect on January 1 this year, with the Hospital Authority simultaneously enhancing the medical fee waiver mechanism, resulting in an increase in the number of eligible beneficiaries from 300 000 to 1.4 million. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the number of persons in each of the following categories who were exempted from medical fees in the past three years and the amounts involved: (i) recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance; (ii) recipients of Old Age Living Allowance aged 75 or above; and (iii) holders of Level 0 Vouchers under the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly;
(2) whether it knows the respective numbers of persons who were granted full and partial medical fee waivers for meeting the established financial assessment criteria in the past three years and the amounts involved;
(3) as the Government previously indicated that as at February 28, 2026, there were 752 approved cases under the annual cap mechanism of $10,000 on public medical fees and charges without requiring financial assessment, whether the Government has made any projections on the number of beneficiaries and the public expenditure involved for the whole year; and
(4) given that one of the objectives of the Reform is to reduce the demand for non-urgent consultations at Accident and Emergency departments (A&E), and that members of the public often attend A&E because they are unable to determine their own clinical conditions (especially at night or on holidays), whether the Government, apart from contemplating strengthening evening consultation services, has plans to set up a 24-hour medical consultation hotline service modelled on overseas practices such as the NHS111 hotline in the United Kingdom and healthdirect in Australia, so that members of the public can receive remote preliminary assessment and advice from healthcare professionals via telephone or electronic platforms, thereby helping them to assess their own clinical conditions more accurately and avoid seeking treatment at A&E for minor ailments; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In consultation with the Hospital Authority (HA), the reply to the question raised by Hon Yiu Ming is as follows:
The fees and charges reform for public healthcare aims to, through reforming the subsidisation structure, guide the public to make optimal use of healthcare resources and reduce wastage and abuse. At the same time, the reform adopts the principle of “co-payment by those who can afford and co-payment by those with mild conditions” and enhances healthcare protection for the four categories of “poor, acute, serious, critical” patients on all fronts, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the healthcare system to cope with challenges posed by an ageing population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, etc, and strengthening its role as a safety net for all. The various measures under the reform have been smoothly implemented since January 1, 2026. After the implementation of the reform, the Government maintains a high level of subsidisation of up to 95 per cent for public healthcare services, with citizens co-paying a very low proportion of the cost.
As an essential part of the fees and charges reform for public healthcare, the HA has expanded the medical fee waiver mechanism. In addition to the some 600 000 people who have been benefiting from full medical fee waivers both before and after the reform, namely Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients, Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) recipients aged 75 or above and Level 0 Voucher Holders of the Residential Care Service Voucher (RCSV) Scheme for the Elderly, the number of other eligible low-income individuals is estimated to significantly increase from about 300 000 in the past to about 1.4 million. The total number of eligible low income individuals who could potentially benefit is estimated to increase from about 900 000 to about 2 million. This enables limited healthcare resources to be more precisely directed to help the “poor” patients among the “poor, acute, serious, critical” patients who are most in need, while ensuring that no patient is denied medical care due to lack of means.
(1) The table below sets out the numbers of CSSA recipients, OALA recipients aged 75 or above and Level 0 Voucher Holders of the RCSV Scheme for the Elderly who benefitted from medical fee waivers and the waiver amounts involved in the past three years and up to March 31 for the year 2026:
| Year | CSSA recipients | OALA recipients aged 75 or above | Level 0 Voucher Holders of the RCSV Scheme for the Elderly | |||
| Number of persons | Waiver amount involved ($ million) | Number of persons | Waiver amount involved ($ million) | Number of persons | Waiver amount involved ($ million) | |
| 2023 | 241 900 | 459 | 277 000 | 473 | 900 | 2 |
| 2024 | 236 600 | 467 | 300 400 | 514 | 1 200 | 2 |
| 2025 | 231 100 | 461 | 324 400 | 545 | 1 500 | 3 |
| 2026 (up to March 31) |
177 000 | 301 | 266 400 | 403 | 900 | 2 |
(2) Since the implementation of the fees and charges reform for public healthcare, the number of medical fee waiver applications approved by the HA has significantly increased by multiple times compared with the past, demonstrating that the reform has effectively strengthened support for low-income families and underprivileged groups. As at March 31, 2026, the HA has approved 224 039 medical fee waiver applications submitted by Eligible Persons (Note 1). Among the approved applications, 214 978 are full waivers and 9 061 are partial waivers.
The table below sets out the number of medical fee waiver applications approved by medical social workers/social workers for Eligible Persons (Note 1), as well as the number of persons who benefitted from medical fee waiver and the waiver amounts involved in the past three years and up to March 31 for the year 2026:
| Year | Full waiver (Note 2) | Partial waiver (Note 2) | ||||
| Number of approved cases | Number of persons benefitted from waiver | Waiver amount involved ($ million) | Number of approved cases | Number of persons benefitted from waiver | Waiver amount involved ($ million) | |
| 2023 | 15 918 | 13 800 | 47 | 382 | 500 | 0.8 |
| 2024 | 16 522 | 14 100 | 50 | 397 | 500 | 0.9 |
| 2025 | 18 832 | 16 400 | 54 | 515 | 700 | 0.8 |
| 2026 (up to March 31) |
214 978 | 183 400 | 235 | 9 061 | 6 800 | 3.9 |
(3) In addition to expanding the medical fee waiver mechanism, the HA has also introduced an annual cap on fees and charges of $10,000, which is not subject to financial assessment. All Hong Kong residents in need could apply for and benefit from this protection. The annual cap on fees and charges helps provide more comprehensive protection for patients with serious or chronic illnesses or heavy users of public healthcare services, thereby alleviating the financial pressure arising from their ongoing treatment.
As at March 31, the HA has approved 2 953 applications. Citizens approved are not required to pay any fees for eligible healthcare services within the relevant year, thereby further alleviating the financial burden on their families arising from long‑term medical expenses.
Given that the fees and charges reform is still at its initial stage of implementation, and that patients’ utilisation pattern of healthcare services over the course of a year may vary, we are not able to make an accurate estimation of the annual number of beneficiaries and the relevant expenditure. The HA will continue to monitor the actual utilisation situation.
(4) To ensure that patients can be diagnosed and assessed as early as possible, the HA has established triage guidelines, under which an experienced and specially trained nurse will first assess patients’ conditions, including reviewing their medical history, symptoms and vital signs at the time of attendance, and set priorities for treatment according to the severity. Patients are classified into five categories based on their clinical conditions, namely Triage I (critical), Triage II (emergency), Triage III (urgent), Triage IV (semi-urgent) and Triage V (non-urgent). The HA has set performance pledge to ensure that patients who need urgent medical attention are treated within a reasonable time. Patients triaged as critical will be treated immediately by healthcare staff without having to wait, while those with non-urgent conditions may have to wait longer.
The HA has been encouraging patients with relatively mild conditions to make good use of primary healthcare services. With the implementation of the fees and charges reform for public healthcare in 2026, the refund arrangement at the Accident and Emergency departments (A&E) has been regularised, providing patients with greater flexibility in seeking care. Patients who have been triaged but have not yet received consultation may apply for a refund within 24 hours after registration via HA Go mobile application or at the A&E registration counter, thereby enabling them to choose other healthcare services. This measure aims to focus A&E resources to serve critical and emergency patients, enabling A&Es to perform their emergency care function.
As regards public primary healthcare services, the Primary Healthcare Commission and the HA have been working to strengthen family medicine outpatient services and enhance service capacity, including the provision of evening and public holiday out-patient services. At present, the HA manages 75 Family Medicine Clinics (FMCs), 23 of which provide evening out-patient services across all districts in Hong Kong. The number of clinics offering Family Medicine Out‑patient Services on Sunday and public holidays has also increased to 15 in 2025. Given the demand for evening out-patient services, and having taken into account factors such as district population size, A&E waiting times and the availability of private doctors, the HA will progressively increase evening consultation slots by 25 000 from the second quarter of this year in districts including Tuen Mun, North District, Tai Po, Sha Tin, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing and Kwun Tong. In addition, the North Kwai Chung FMC plans to regularise its current evening clinic arrangements on Wednesdays and Thursdays to Mondays through Fridays in 2026–27. The HA and the Primary Healthcare Commission will continuously review the service needs of different districts and consider adjusting evening out-patient service capacity through deploying manpower and resources.
To facilitate public selection of suitable primary healthcare service providers, the Government has also established the Primary Care Directory (PCD), which contains the practice information and professional qualifications of primary healthcare service providers in the community, facilitating public access to such information and selection of suitable family doctor. At present, around 1 000 clinic service points of doctors and around 1 000 clinic service points of Chinese medicine practitioners in the PCD provide evening out-patient services. Meanwhile, to meet the demand for medical services during long holidays, the Government also collates information on private healthcare facilities, covering private clinics enlisted in the PCD, non-profit organisations and private Chinese medicine clinics, which will be in operation during public holidays across 18 districts in the territory. The list of doctors enlisted in the PCD and information (including addresses, phone numbers and operation hours) on healthcare facilities providing relevant services can be accessed via the “Doctor Search” function of the eHealth mobile app and the eHealth website. These measures aim to help the public easily find suitable private medical services in the community outside office hours or during holidays, thereby diverting non-urgent consultation needs from A&Es. The HA currently has no plans to adopt remote assessment via telephone or digital platforms considering the potential medical risks, quality and safety, as well as cost-effectiveness.
Note 1: According to the Gazette (G.N. 5708 issued on September 27, 2013), patients falling into the following categories are eligible for the rates of charges applicable to Eligible Persons:
(i) holders of Hong Kong Identity Card issued under the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Chapter 177), except those who obtained their Hong Kong Identity Card by virtue of a previous permission to land or remain in Hong Kong granted to them and such permission has expired or ceased to be valid;
(ii) children who are Hong Kong residents and under 11 years of age; or
(iii) other persons approved by the Chief Executive of the HA.
Note 2: Some patients may be approved for both full and partial medical fee waivers handled by medical social workers/social workers within the same year.
Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from May 14 to 18
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from May 14 to 18
A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:00
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7th Presidential Innovation Award Winners Unveiled, Cross-Domain Innovation Drives National Resilience Recipients Realtek Semiconductor, One-Forty, Chu-Chen Hsiao, Jung-Der Wang, and Shaw Wu Honored
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
The Presidential Innovation Award, Taiwan’s top accolade for innovation, held its award ceremony today (April 28) at the Presidential Auditorium. President Lai personally presented awards to five recipients, including Realtek Semiconductor, a world-leading IC provider; One-Forty, a non-profit organization championing Southeast Asian migrant workers; Chu-Chen Hsiao, filmmaker and National Tsing Hua University professor; Jung-Der Wang, National Cheng Kung University Honorary Chair Professor; and Shaw Wu, DATAYOO General Manager. Recognized for their outstanding contributions across technology, culture, public health, and social innovation, the laureates exemplify Taiwan’s capacity in building national resilience through innovation.
Delivering remarks as Award Committee convener, Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin noted that a total of 270 entries were submitted for this 7th edition. Following rigorous preliminary, secondary, and final rounds of review, the five laureates not only span diverse fields but also embody the depth and breadth of Taiwan’s innovative energy. Behind every innovation is a story of Taiwan-a strength rooted in the pursuit of excellence, social solidarity, and resilience in the face of challenges. Above all, it reflects a shared commitment to making Taiwan a better place.
In the Group category, award winner Realtek Semiconductor Corporation, a long-standing global leader in networking and IC design, has built dominant positions in Ethernet, audio, and video chips. Its products are embedded in a vast range of terminal devices, and with an annual shipment volume of 2.5 billion chips, it continues to drive momentum in a trillion-dollar industry. Its recent foray into electric vehicle and smart cockpit chips signals the broader ambition of Taiwan’s semiconductor sector to move from key components toward high-value-added applications.
The other Group category recipient, One-Forty, is dedicated to migrant worker education and talent empowerment. It has established Taiwan’s largest learning platform for migrant workers and promotes talent development and social inclusion through diverse courses and cross-cultural initiatives. By nurturing migrant workers into skilled talent assets, One-Forty not only improves the lives of individuals and their families but also deepens Taiwan’s talent and industry links with Southeast Asia and enhances its international image on human rights, diversity, and inclusion.
In the Individual category, award recipient Chu-Chen Hsiao has devoted more than 30 years to documentary filmmaking, through which she systematically captures Taiwan’s industrial and social development through visual storytelling and creates a shared cultural memory across generations. Her body of work gives Taiwan a distinctive voice in interpreting its own history and culture amid changing times-it allows the international community to rediscover Taiwan through a cultural lens and showcases the nation’s soft power in the parallel advancement of technology and the humanities.
Also in the Individual category, Jung-Der Wang, Honorary Chair Professor at National Cheng Kung University, has identified over 20 occupational diseases and established scientific systems for their recognition and prevention over the course of more than forty years in occupational medicine. He promoted the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) system and the development of preventive medicine, all of which steered Taiwan from a period of neglecting workers’ health toward institutionalized prevention aligned with international standards. His application of big data models to quantify health benefits has helped optimize the allocation of National Health Insurance resources, safeguard workers’ health, and fortify the foundation for sustainable industrial development.
Youth category award recipient Shaw Wu, General Manager of DATAYOO, has advanced hardware-free crop monitoring models powered by artificial intelligence and satellite technology, delivering a precise agricultural decision-making system with an accuracy rate of 98%. This technology not only blazes a forward-looking path for the transformation, upgrading, and intelligent development of Taiwan’s agriculture, but has also expanded to 32 countries worldwide. It testifies to the capacity of Taiwan’s younger generation to apply innovative technologies in practice and connect with global markets.
Each of this year’s five award recipients has responded to national, social, and global challenges through concrete action, ultimately effecting meaningful change. Innovation begins with problem-solving, and its purpose is to elevate the nation, enrich society, and enhance people’s well-being. It’s in pursuit of something larger-a world shaped for the better by what Taiwan brings to it. To back this transformative momentum, each award recipient receives NT$2 million in prize money in addition to the honor. This year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has also coordinated cross-agency resources to provide a range of support measures, including R&D assistance, international expansion, and policy alignment, to amplify the winners’ innovative achievements and expand their social and industrial impact. The goal is to foster a virtuous cycle of innovation in Taiwan and reinforce the foundation for cross-domain, mutually beneficial development.
CHPT breaks ground on third Pingzhen plant, with NT$ 1.6 billion investments to expand semiconductor testing capability.
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
The Pingzhen Industrial Park in Taoyuan is gaining new momentum. On the 20th, CHPT (Chunghwa Precision Test Tech. Co., Ltd.) announced the groundbreaking ceremony for the third Pingzhen new plant at Taoyuan Pingzhen Industrial Park, officially launching a new phase of capacity expansion and R&D. The project involves an investment of approximately NT$1.64 billion and will feature a facility with one basement level and seven above-ground floors. The new plant will focus on enhancing advanced wafer-testing technologies and production capacity and is expected to create approximately 300 local job opportunities.
Mr. Liang You-Wen, Director of the Taipei Branch of the Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), noted that CHPT has long been dedicated to high-speed testing technologies and plays a critical role in quality assurance within the semiconductor supply chain. The company not only helps customers improve product yield and performance, but also contributes to strengthening Taiwan’s overall semiconductor competitiveness. Amid evolving global industry dynamics, CHPT’s continued investment and capacity expansion in Taiwan demonstrate strong confidence in the country’s industrial development.
According to the Taipei Branch of the BIP, CHPT is one of the world’s leading suppliers of semiconductor testing interfaces. The company has long focused on the development of wafer probe cards and testing solutions, with applications spanning artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, high-performance computing (HPC), and automotive electronics. As advanced manufacturing processes drive increasing demand for high-frequency and high-speed testing, the new facility will expand production capacity and deepen R&D capabilities. This will enable CHPT to provide global IC design houses and foundries with high-precision and high-reliability testing solutions, further reinforcing Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global semiconductor supply chain. The Taipei Branch also noted that this project is the first in the Pingzhen Industrial Park to be approved under the “Industrial Zone Revitalization and Vertical Expansion Program.” With an approved 31.5% floor area ratio incentive, the project enhances land-use efficiency and promotes park upgrading and redevelopment.
The groundbreaking ceremony was jointly hosted by Chairman Hung Wei-Kuo and President Huang Shui-Ko of CHPT. Distinguished attendees included Mr. Lian You-Wen, Director of the BIP Taipei Branch; Mr. Chang Cheng, Director-General of the Economic Development of the Taoyuan City Government; as well as representatives from industry, government, and academia. The launch of CHPT’s third Pingzhen plant marks another milestone in the continued advancement of Taiwan’s semiconductor testing industry toward higher-end development.
Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Deputy Director General, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw
Contact Person: Gao, Shih-Chi (Pingzhen Industrial Area Service Center)
Contact Number: 886-3-4697-640 #6683
Email: scgau@bip.gov.tw
Celebrating 40 Years: 2026 Taiwan Fashion Design Award Opens Global Call
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Marking its 40th anniversary, the Taiwan Fashion Design Award enters a new chapter. Organized by the Industrial Development Administration (IDA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, and executed by the Taiwan Textile Federation, the award has established itself as one of Asia’s leading platforms for emerging fashion designers, dedicated to nurturing talents with global potential. Building on its legacy, this year’s edition continues to honor the fundamentals of design and craftsmanship while embracing innovation driven by technology and sustainability. Designers are encouraged to integrate AI and digital tools into the creative process, developing concept-driven works that respond to cultural contexts, social and environmental awareness, and future-forward perspectives.
Submissions are now open through June 30, welcoming emerging designers worldwide to take part in shaping the next generation of fashion. A total of 12 finalists will be selected to compete for the First Prize of US$10,000, with total prizes exceeding US$35,000. Finalists will also have the opportunity to present full collections at Taipei Fashion Week, gaining direct exposure to international media and industry professionals, and expanding market visibility and commercial prospects. In addition, the competition features several professional awards, including Best Use of Fabrics, Best Pattern Making, and Best Market Potential. Entries will be evaluated based on creativity, sustainability, function, and performance. The competition highlights the importance of design that balances aesthetics with real-world application and environmental responsibility.
The award continues to receive strong support from industry partners, including Coddy Global Ltd., Fortune Industrial and Commercial Development Foundation, Lealea Enterprise Co., Ltd., Li Peng Enterprise Co., Ltd., Makalot Foundation, New Wide Enterprise Co., Ltd., and New Wide Garment Co., Ltd. Through ongoing collaboration, the program aims to further elevate emerging design talent and strengthen its contribution to the global fashion industry.
【Relevant registration and contest information】
Official website of Taiwan Fashion Design Award:
https://www.tfdaward.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TaiwanFashionDesignAward/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tfdaward/
【Contact Information】
Taiwan Textile Federation
Winnie Chen
TEL: +886-2-2336-7599 #18
e-mail: winniechen@textiles.org.tw
Yaohung Kuo
TEL: +886-2-2341-7251 #2965
e-mail: yaohung@textiles.org.tw
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu Meets Lion Travel Group Delegation
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Chairman Jason Wang of Lion Travel Group led a delegation of senior executives on a courtesy call to Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu, where both sides exchanged views on the international marketing of Taiwan’s tourism industry.
Chairman Wang outlined the Group’s global expansion strategy and its plans to further promote Taiwan’s tourism sector. Building on its strengths in corporate travel and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), the Group will continue to expand its business and deepen engagement with markets in Australia and New Zealand.
DG Wu provided an overview of Taiwan–Australia tourism exchanges and expressed appreciation for Lion Travel Group’s collaboration with government and industry partners in promoting Taiwan’s tourism and culture, helping to enhance Taiwan’s global tourism profile.
2nd Best AI Awards Unveils Top 100: Twin Engines of Agentic AI and Edge AI Drive Industry Upgrades
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held the finals and award ceremony for the 2nd Best AI Awards at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 (TaiNEX 2) on Saturday, April 25. This year’s competition attracted 1,487 teams from 36 countries worldwide, with international participation nearly doubling compared to the inaugural edition. From a pool of 253 finalist teams, 100 awards were selected. The eight most prestigious Gold Medals were awarded to teams from Delta Electronics, Kneron Inc., BioPro Scientific, Alpenglow Tek, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), National Formosa University (NFU), and representative teams from Thailand and Poland. Beyond showcasing the latest in AI hardware and software, the event highlighted the acceleration of these technologies into real-world industrial applications and forged international partnerships, significantly elevating Taiwan’s standing and competitiveness in the global AI arena.
Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-Hsin stated that AI has become one of the most critical frontiers of global competition. While Taiwan holds key advantages in AI hardware sectors such as semiconductors and servers, the next phase focuses on transforming AI into practical applications across industries to generate real benefits. Under the Executive Yuan’s New Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects framework, the MOEA is responsible for the implementation of AI applications. To date, it has established over 50 pilot test beds with AI automation capabilities and developed application models covering 23 key industries. Through the MOEA Industry Competitiveness Advisory Group, the ministry has deployed over 1,000 consultants across the Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern regions, assisting more than 2,600 enterprises in adopting AI. Supporting this industrial shift is a robust focus on talent cultivation, with the cumulative number of participants in the iPAS certification exceeding 21,000, of whom over 8,000 have obtained the credential. This demand is further underscored by more than 4,800 enterprises expressing willingness to hire or offer salary increases, reflecting the industry’s high demand for job-ready AI talent.
Capitalizing on the rapid rise of Agentic and Edge AI, the Department of Industrial Technology explained how this year’s competition steered industry focus toward the latest AI technologies, marking a transition from AI as a passive tool to an intelligent partner capable of autonomous judgment and task execution. Complementing this strategic shift, over 430 projects in the competition were focused on lightweight AI applications, enabling AI to operate in real-time within terminal devices such as sensors and factory machinery. A total of 590 teams in the competition also utilized open-source platforms like GitHub for development and completed registration on Crunchbase, further enhancing Taiwan’s participation and visibility in the international AI sector.
To facilitate substantive business matchmaking, follow-up initiatives will extend to the COMPUTEX exhibition in June, where dedicated matchmaking sessions will be held. These sessions will assist winning teams in establishing connections with domestic and international venture capital firms and potential buyers, further expanding commercialization opportunities for AI innovation. The ministry hopes these efforts will continue to translate AI and IC innovations into tangible real-world impact, fueling a broader intelligent upgrade across the industry.