Month: June 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened on a construction site in Kowloon Bay this morning (June 26). While working on the ground, a male worker was run over by a reversing compactor to death. The LD is saddened by death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

     The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the operation of all loadshifting machines at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”

     The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
     
     To prevent workers from being struck by loadshifting machines, the LD reminds employers to take adequate precautionary measures, including placing suitable barriers to segregate workers from machinery operating zones; installing suitable safety devices on loadshifting machines, such as rearview mirrors, closed-circuit televisions for reversing operations, and audio/visual alarms, to alert persons working nearby; and arranging signallers to give clear indications to operators, especially when visibility is obstructed during reversing operations. 

     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

     In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan today continued his visit to Xi’an, where he called on CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee Secretary Zhao Yide, and toured a university and a high-tech zone.

Mr Chan and Mr Zhao held an in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening Shaanxi-Hong Kong co-operation.

The finance chief said the two places can deepen co-operation in areas such as innovation, research and development, commercialisation of research outcomes, the cultivation of innovative enterprises, and financing for listings, as well as talent exchanges and higher education.

He invited Xi’an enterprises to send delegations to visit Hong Kong, connect with Hong Kong enterprises and the investment community, and explore further co-operation.

In the morning, Mr Chan visited Northwestern Polytechnical University, where he met the university’s President Prof Song Baowei. He held a discussion session with innovation and technology enterprises, and spoke to more than 200 teachers, students and alumni.

The Financial Secretary said that globalisation is shifting from an “efficiency first” model to one that places equal emphasis on “efficiency and resilience”, with supply chain security, self-reliance in core technologies, and cross-boundary regulation becoming key considerations.

Mr Chan remarked that Hong Kong’s capital, talent and professional services can help to connect Xi’an’s technological achievements with international markets. He described this model in terms of “Xi’an research & development, Hong Kong empowerment, global application”.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan toured the Xi’an High-tech Industries Development Zone, which focuses on industries such as electronic information, high-end equipment, new energy and new materials.

Mr Chan’s delegation visited enterprises engaged in advanced energy storage, optoelectronic integration, metal additive manufacturing, and high-end equipment inspection and testing, and learnt about these companies’  progress in frontier technology research and development, and industrialisation.

He also held a discussion session with representatives of 25 enterprises in the zone. They discussed hard technology innovation, facilitating deeper integration among academia, research and industry, and expanding co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong in areas such as technology and innovation, finance and professional services.

During the session, a number of enterprises expressed strong interest in accessing international capital through Hong Kong and expanding into overseas markets.

Mr Chan urged them to come to Hong Kong for fundraising and financing, global expansion, technology research and development, and advanced manufacturing.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

​The 23rd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPCSC) today passed a decision to authorise the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to exercise jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Port Area and other areas at the Huanggang Port.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government expresses gratitude to the central authorities for their support in establishing the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area.

It said that the NPCSC’s decision reflects the central authorities’ high regard for Hong Kong and their support for it to better integrate into and serve national development.

The Government said the move is of great strategic significance in strengthening infrastructure connectivity between Hong Kong and the Mainland, enhancing interactions between the two places, and advancing the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It added that it offers a clear demonstration of the advantages of “one country, two systems”.

The Huanggang Port redevelopment project is a key initiative in which the Hong Kong SAR Government is contributing to the implementation of national development strategies. The redeveloped port will be positioned as the most important 24-hour passenger land boundary control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It will implement the “co-location arrangement” and the novel “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode to enhance passenger clearance.

Clearance time at the new Huanggang Port will be significantly reduced from around 30 minutes at the existing Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port to approximately five minutes. Flows at the new Huanggang Port will increase to 200,000 passenger trips per day, and this could be further increased to about 300,000 upon commissioning of the MTR Corporation’s Northern Link Spur Line.

The NPCSC decided that the Hong Kong SAR is authorised to exercise – with effect from the day on which the Hong Kong Port Area and “Related Extended Areas” at the Huanggang Port are commissioned – jurisdiction over those areas in accordance with the laws of the HKSAR.

The areas over which the Hong Kong SAR is authorised to exercise jurisdiction comprise the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area, the deck of the Shenzhen section of the Lok Ma Chau Bridge connecting the port, the interior of the bridge box girders accessible via the bridge deck, and the surfaces of connecting roads. The dates of commissioning of the areas, and their specific coordinates and size, are to be determined by the State Council. The use of the areas is not to be altered within the specified period.

The Hong Kong SAR Government acquires by way of a lease the right to use the Hong Kong Port Area and “Related Extended Areas” at the Huanggang Port. The term of the lease will commence on the day on which the relevant areas are commissioned and will expire on June 30, 2047.

On expiry of the term of the lease, the term of the lease may be renewed at the discretion of the NPCSC.

Upon receiving a determination from the State Council on the commissioning date of the Hong Kong Port Area and the related areas, the Hong Kong SAR Government will introduce a bill in the Legislative Council as soon as is practicable.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Environmental Protection Department said tonight it is working with industry stakeholders to explore the reduction of high liquid content waste (HLCW) at source, through proper treatment and recycling, to stop the disposal of such waste at landfills.

Responding to media enquiries on HLCW treatment, the department said that about 1,500 tonnes of HLCW were disposed at landfills in 2025, equivalent to about 100 double-decker buses. The waste will become leachate and may affect landfill stability.

HLCW includes liquid food such as beverages, sauces and ice-cream, and personal care products such as shower gels and moisturising creams. Other liquids such as paint and cleansing agents also fall into the category.

If operators need to dispose of HLCW at landfills, they must apply to the department for a “Disposal of Special Waste at Landfills Admission Ticket”. In 2025, there were 27 such ticket-holders in the city, comprising manufacturers, retail enterprises, and logistics companies.

The department contacted admission ticket holders, local recyclers, and some manufacturers and retail enterprises earlier this year to discuss ways of gradually reducing the disposal of HLCW at landfills.

It has proposed that operators minimise the generation of expired items at source through enhanced inventory management, and make donations of properly packaged and usable items to social welfare organisations or charities.

For items unsuitable for donation, the department said operators can install their own processing equipment, or hand over items to capable recyclers for treatment.

The department revealed that in the past three months, one beverage manufacturer sent about 300,000 bottles of discarded beverages to recyclers, with the materials being recycled.

Additionally, a dairy producer plans to send about 50,000 cartons of discarded milk monthly to recyclers.

Furthermore, the department is helping the local recycling industry to enhancing its capacity to handle waste. The Recycling Fund is assessing applications to support recyclers in purchasing equipment.

The department’s Organic Resources Recovery Centres (O.PARKs) are capable of processing liquid food, while the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre can process waste liquids containing chemicals.

As for other waste liquids, these can be discharged into the communal sewer after proper treatment and on the condition of licence compliance. Thereafter, such waste liquids may be conveyed to sewage treatment facilities for further treatment.

The department said it will continue to discuss the handling of HLCW with the industry, before deciding on the full implementation details and a final timetable.

If operators encounter technical difficulties while switching to alternative solutions, they can seek assistance from the department.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak and representatives of participating corporates today officiated at a kick-off ceremony for the “HYAB Scheme on Corporate Summer Internship on the Mainland & Overseas 2026”.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan outlined that the scheme has benefited over 1,300 Hong Kong youths since its launch in 2018. Over the years, he said, the Government and the business sector have jointly provided young Hongkongers with internship opportunities at corporates on the Mainland and overseas.

He highlighted that the scheme enables young people to experience first-hand the workplace culture in large corporates, gain hands-on experience, broaden their horizons, and understand national development and global trends, thereby enhancing their competitiveness.

Mr Chan observed that this year the number of corporates participating in the scheme and the number of internship placements are the highest on record, encompassing a wider range of industries.

In addition to traditional sectors, the Government has extended the scheme’s coverage to include emerging industries such as biotechnology and artificial intelligence. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the participating corporates for their profound engagement, which he said has become a pivotal force in nurturing local young talent.

He also remarked that the Government is drawing up Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan. He said that, building on the foundation of the Youth Development Blueprint and fully leveraging Hong Kong’s advantages under “one country, two systems”, the Government is striving to nurture a new generation of young people who have an affection for the country and Hong Kong, are equipped with a global perspective, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking, and will integrate into and serve the overall national development more effectively and proactively.

A total of 29 corporates are participating in the scheme this year. The internship placements cover multiple industries, including financial services, innovation and technology, pharma, logistics, property development, construction, retail, hospitality and public utilities.

The placements span different Mainland provinces and cities, as well as overseas countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Australia.

The recruited interns will depart from this month onwards and undertake placements of no less than five weeks.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the results of its investigation into an SMS incident in relation to the results of the Central Allocation for Primary One Admission, and gave details of follow-up actions and enhancement measures.

The investigation found that the incident stemmed from an Education Bureau officer making an operational error while setting up an SMS sending procedure on the morning of June 2.

The bureau has decided to take disciplinary follow-up action against the officer concerned. Performance deficiencies will be reflected in the officer’s appraisal, and a pay increment will not be granted. The officer will also be transferred to perform other duties.

SMS messages containing an incorrect year and registration date were sent to parents on June 2, one day earlier than the official announcement date originally scheduled. The incident did not affect the central allocation results, which were announced on June 3.

A team was set up immediately to conduct a thorough investigation with a view to clarifying the details of what had occurred.

The investigation also found that another bureau staff member did not establish sufficient review and approval measures in the workflow. This staff member’s supervisory and management performance was deemed not to be satisfactory. Advice has been given to the staff member, and the bureau will reflect the inadequacies concerned in the staff member’s appraisal report.

The investigation task force concluded that in addition to negligence, the incident pointed to areas for improvement in the current workflow and internal supervision mechanisms.

After a comprehensive review of related workflows, system design and staff arrangements, it recommended a series of enhancement measures.

Firstly, the bureau should compile internal working guidelines, clearly outlining the workflow, division of duties and responsibilities and approval arrangements for disseminating messages, and should have regular reviews and updates.

Secondly, it should establish a multi-tier review and approval procedure in the message dissemination mechanism. Delivery should only be activated after confirmation by staff from multiple tiers, and changes after task confirmation will be restricted.

Thirdly, the bureau should conduct practical drills before large-scale SMS dissemination, and hold briefings and training sessions on system operation on a regular basis.

The bureau’s School Places Allocation Section immediately implemented the enhancement measures.

Other sections will also enhance processes involving dissemination of information to the public according to the above principles, the bureau added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the keynote speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association Gala Dinner in Auckland, New Zealand, today (June 26, Auckland time):

Distinguished guests, friends from New Zealand and Hong Kong, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to join you this evening to celebrate the achievements of the Hong Kong-New Zealand business community.

New Zealand is a nation where growth begins with the land. Its agricultural strength and world-class food and dairy industries reflect a deep respect for nature, and a philosophy that every great harvest begins with a single seed.

Hong Kong is shaped by a very different landscape. Our city grows vertically, driven by density, connectivity, and an unrelenting pace. Yet, Hong Kong shares the same belief that small beginnings, when supported by the right conditions, can grow into something remarkable. Our strength has always been our ability to turn ideas into impact, and to scale innovation far beyond our physical size.

This shared mindset – the ability to turn seeds into scale – is reflected in the achievements of every awardee here tonight. Through resilience and ingenuity, you nurtured your ideas into successful enterprises.

It is also the story of Hong Kong’s transformation into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. This journey began with the promulgation of our I&T Development Blueprint in 2022, which set out a clear roadmap for the decade ahead. Over the past few years, we have been strengthening an ecosystem for innovative ideas to take root and flourish. Our R&D (research and development) expenditure has reached record highs. Hong Kong, together with Guangzhou and Shenzhen, now ranks first among the world’s top innovation clusters. For a compact city like Hong Kong to host five of the world’s top 100 universities reminds us that scale is not just measured in size, but more importantly, in vision, talent, and determination.

To provide fertile soil for our I&T development, we are building a comprehensive I&T ecosystem anchored by three major I&T Parks and five key R&D institutions, guided by clear industry policies focused on life and health technologies, AI and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy.

Our three I&T Parks are: Cyberport – our flagship digital hub; Hong Kong Science Park – our mature, full-spectrum I&T centre; and the newly opened Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen – Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, which is envisioned to develop into a world-class innovation platform connecting international companies with the Chinese Mainland, particularly the Greater Bay Area with a population of 88 million and a massive GDP of roughly NZD3.8 trillion. As for the five key R&D institutions, in addition to the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, which have been operating for decades, we are establishing three new strategic R&D institutes dedicated to microelectronics, AI, and life and health technology.

Through the InnoHK research clusters, our flagship R&D initiative, we collaborate with 30 world-renowned universities and institutes from 12 economies, with over 3 000 talents from around the world to pursue cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs. To further attract top researchers, we launched a HK$3 billion Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme, approximately NZD655 million, to support local universities to recruit international experts in frontier fields such as AI and quantum information in Hong Kong.

We are also building new engines of Hong Kong’s high-quality development through robust I&T infrastructure. Apart from the Hetao Hong Kong Park I just mentioned, the new I&T land in the adjacent San Tin Technopole will take up the transformation of research outcomes derived from the Hetao Hong Kong Park and integrate with the comprehensive industry supply chains in the Greater Bay Area. Together, these two I&T zones will form a complete research-to-market chain and drive our future I&T development by leveraging the city’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems” while deepening synergy with Shenzhen and other cities in the Greater Bay Area.

To accelerate AI development, a core industry of Hong Kong’s future economy, we are investing heavily in computing power. Our Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster will deliver 180 000 PFLOPS (peta-floating point operations per second) of computing power by 2032, a 36-fold increase from today’s capacity, to meet the surging computational demands. The cluster will also serve as a strategic gateway for cross-boundary data flow and develop Hong Kong into an international data hub.

We also introduced targeted funding schemes to accelerate industry development and strengthen collaboration among the government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors. Notably, the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme supports universities in transforming outstanding R&D outcomes into real applications. The New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme supports the setting up of smart production lines in Hong Kong. And the I&T Industry-Oriented Fund to be launched very soon will channel market capital to invest in emerging and future industries of strategic importance, including AI and semiconductors. These three HK$10 billion initiatives alone represent a combined investment of NZD6.6 billion.

Good policies, powerful infrastructure and catalytic funding are the water, sunlight and nutrients that allow innovation to grow. But climate matters too. Ranked second globally in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook and fourth in the 2025 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, Hong Kong offers global capital and talent, a trusted law regime, a simple tax system, robust IP protection and unparalleled access to the Chinese Mainland and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) markets, providing an ideal environment for talent, investors and enterprises to thrive. With such a favourable climate, we witnessed a record high of 5 200 start-ups in Hong Kong. We also facilitated more than 650 leading I&T or high potential enterprises in setting up or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong over the past few years.

Tonight, we honour not only outstanding companies, but also the spirit of partnership that has long connected our two economies. As we enter a new era defined by food technology, green transformation, AI-driven agriculture, and sustainable production, the opportunities before us are promising. Hong Kong stands ready to serve as the gateway and accelerator, with talent, infrastructure and global reach, to help New Zealand innovations grow from seeds to scale. I hope that the companies in this room will be among the first to pioneer new breakthroughs.

Thank you to the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association for organising tonight’s event. To our awardees, I offer my warmest congratulations. Let us seize this moment to plant new seeds of collaboration. I look forward to growing the next chapter of Hong Kong-New Zealand partnership together. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at listing ceremony of PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk (PT Merdeka Gold Resources) today (June 26):

Carlson (Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mr Carlson Tong), Mr Kartono (President Commissioner of PT Merdeka Gold Resources, Mr Santoso Kartono), ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests,

     Good morning. It is a great pleasure of mine to join you all today to celebrate the listing of PT Merdeka Gold Resources on the HKEX (Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited). I extend my warmest congratulations to the company, its leadership, shareholders, and all those who have worked tirelessly to bring this milestone to fruition.

     This listing marks not only a significant achievement for PT Merdeka Gold Resources as a leading Indonesian gold producer, but also a testament to the growing confidence of international mining enterprises in Hong Kong as a premier capital-raising and trading hub. It is also the company’s deep confidence in Hong Kong’s strategic plan to build a full-chain ecosystem here and in the Asia time zone. Your decision to list here underscores the strong economic ties between Hong Kong and Indonesia, and more broadly, with our Belt and Road partners.

     Hong Kong is actively building a vibrant international gold trading market. Amid complex geopolitics, our city’s security, stability, and robust financial infrastructure position us well as an attractive destination for physical gold storage, trading, settlement, and delivery. Guided by the National 15th Five-Year Plan, we are leveraging “one country, two systems” to deepen co-operation with the Mainland and international markets, thereby contributing to national strategies while enhancing our role in global gold pricing and trading.

     Key initiatives are well underway. We are expanding gold storage capacity in Hong Kong towards over 2 000 tonnes in the coming years. A government-owned central clearing system for gold is on track for trial operations this year, developed in close partnership with the Shanghai Gold Exchange to deliver efficient, reliable services aligned with international standards. We are also broadening investment products, including gold ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and tokenised gold, contemplating tax incentives for gold-related activities, and fostering an industry-led trade association to strengthen global connections.

     These efforts aim to create a comprehensive, liquid, and trusted ecosystem that benefits producers, investors, and market participants in the gold market alike. The listing of PT Merdeka Gold Resources is a welcome and timely addition that enriches our market and exemplifies the opportunities Hong Kong offers to dynamic enterprises from the region.

     We remain fully committed to working with partners like PT Merdeka Gold Resources to realise the full potential of Hong Kong as an international gold trading centre. I wish the company continued success, sustained growth, and fruitful engagement with the Hong Kong and global investment communities.

     Thank you and congratulations.