Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs detects three incoming passenger drug trafficking cases at airport
The first case involved a 30-year-old Brazilian male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During Customs clearance, about 2.85kg of suspected cocaine were found in his check-in baggage. The male was subsequently arrested.
The subsequent two cases involved a 23-year-old Malaysian male passenger and a 27-year-old Chinese female passenger respectively. They arrived in Hong Kong from Rome, Italy, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers separately seized from their checked-in suitcases a batch of suspected ketamine weighing about 25kg with an estimated market value of approximately $9.5 million, and another batch weighing about 4kg with an estimated market value of approximately $1.6 million. The two persons were subsequently arrested.
The arrested person in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and the case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (June 22), while investigations of the remaining two cases are ongoing.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will also continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.Issued at HKT 22:45
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SHYA attends Public Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony 2026 in Gansu Province
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SHYA attends Public Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony 2026 in Gansu Province
Fuxi is a representative figure of the cultural ancestor of the Chinese nation, and the Public Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony is of great significance to Chinese national identity. The Taihao Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony was inscribed in the first batch of the national list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006. To promote Chinese traditional culture, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the Gansu Provincial People’s Government jointly organised the Public Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony annually on the Summer Solstice in June. It is a long-standing and important festival retained by Gansu Province.
To complement this cultural event of the Public Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony, Tianshui City organised an exchange concert with the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble this year, to deepen regional cultural collaboration and expand the cultural dissemination landscape. Miss Mak expressed gratitude for the invitation to enjoy a wonderful performance by a group of talented young musicians from Hong Kong. She said she believes that the performance is of profound significance as it fosters exchange and mutual learning in history and culture, and celebrates the breadth and depth of traditional Chinese culture.
Miss Mak expressed her deepest appreciation for being invited to attend this meaningful event again, believing that participating in the ceremony would allow one to profoundly experience the significance of Chinese people sharing the same root and inheriting the common historical culture. Miss Mak said that Hong Kong youths were specially invited to join the delegation to participate in the ceremony, and she was delighted to see the strong Fuxi culture in Gansu and the younger generation inheriting thousands of years of Chinese civilisation and becoming the successors of Chinese culture. Miss Mak added that participation in the Public Fuxi Commemoration Ceremony enabled the younger generation of Hong Kong to experience the historical and cultural richness, as well as the rapid development of the nation, thereby enhancing their sense of identity and pride in Chinese culture.
During her visit to Tianshui City, Miss Mak met with the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang; the Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Gansu Provincial People’s Congress, Mr Hu Changsheng; and the Governor of Gansu Province, Mr Ren Zhenhe.
Miss Mak will conclude her visit to Gansu Province and proceed to Fujian Province this afternoon. She will return to Hong Kong on June 23.
Issued at HKT 12:40
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Flag-raising and lowering ceremony to be suspended
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Flag-raising and lowering ceremony to be suspended
Owing to the maintenance works on the flag podium at the Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai, the flag-raising and lowering ceremony tomorrow (June 22) and June 23 will be suspended.Issued at HKT 11:00
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InvestHK to showcase Hong Kong as premier go-global launchpad for biotechnology companies at US BIO International Convention 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) willshowcase Hong Kong as the go-global launchpad for life sciences and health technology companies at the BIO International Convention 2026. Opening tomorrow (June 22, San Diego time) and running through June 25 at the San Diego Convention Center in the United States (US), the convention is recognised as one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive events for the global biotechnology sector.
Driving the Government’s cross-market collaboration at the flagship event, the Head of Innovation & Technology and Life & Health Sciences of InvestHK, Mr Andy Wong, and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) will lead a delegation of over 20 Hong Kong-based life science and health technology companies, five universities and 15 university spin-offs.
At the Hong Kong pavilion, InvestHK and the HKSTP will host a series of company showcases, pitching sessions and networking events connecting the delegation with global investors, partners and industry leaders. The programme highlights how Hong Kong serves as a gateway to Asia, and increasingly as a springboard for life sciences and health technology companies to expand from the region into international markets.
Among the participating companies are Chinese enterprises SPH Biotherapeutics (HK) Limited, Canton Biologics (Hong Kong) Limited, and Great Bay Bio Limited, each of which has chosen Hong Kong as a platform to connect with international capital, partners and markets, turning Mainland innovation into global opportunity.
InvestHK has been working closely with these companies to support their go-global strategies, from facilitating market entry and business set-up to connecting them with investors, research partners, and industry networks globally.
Mr Wong said, “Building on our participation last year, InvestHK is returning to deepen our engagement with the US biotech sector and strengthen connections between Hong Kong and key international players. Hong Kong provides life sciences and health technology companies with a strong foothold in Asia and a clear pathway to global growth. With top-tier research talent, world-class research and development infrastructure, robust intellectual property protection and deep connectivity with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the city offers an environment where companies can raise capital, build partnerships and accelerate time-to-market for their innovations.”
He added, “Hong Kong’s appeal as a go-global base is reinforced by strong government support for the sector. This includes the ‘1+’ mechanism for expedited drug approval, robust funding incentives such as the Research, Academic, and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme, the measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the GBA, as well as the development of a vast innovation hub in the Northern Metropolis. The city has everything it takes for life sciences and health technology companies of all sizes to thrive and excel.”
The BIO International Convention 2026 unites over 20 000 global industry leaders from more than 76 countries, representing the full spectrum of the biotechnology ecosystem, and offers one of the ideal stages for Hong Kong to make its case to the world.
LegCo to debate motion on “Continuously reviewing the targeted poverty alleviation strategy”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LegCo to debate motion on “Continuously reviewing the targeted poverty alleviation strategy”
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (June 24) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on “Continuously reviewing the targeted poverty alleviation strategy”. The motion, moved by Mr Lam Chun-sing, is set out in Appendix 1. Ms Elaine Chik, Mr Chan Cho-kwong, Mr Lee Chun-keung and Mr Tang Ka-piu will move separate amendments to Mr Lam’s motion.
Mr Tam Chun-kwok will move a motion on “Accelerating the planning and establishment of the New Territories North hospital cluster and promoting healthcare development in New Territories North”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Chong Ho-fung and Mr Holden Chow will move separate amendments to Mr Tam’s motion.
Meanwhile, Mr Chan Pui-leung will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending subsidiary legislation. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 3.
On Government Bills, the Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2026, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Preferential Tax Regimes for Funds, Family-owned Investment Holding Vehicles and Carried Interest) Bill 2026, and the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions for Shipping-related Activities and Physical Commodity Trading) Bill 2026 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debates on the Bills will be adjourned.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury will move a proposed resolution under the Public Finance Ordinance. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 4.
Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:16
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Hongkong Post to issue cachet to commemorate participation in “Macao 2026 Specialized World Stamp Exhibition”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hongkong Post to issue cachet to commemorate participation in “Macao 2026 Specialized World Stamp Exhibition”
The cachet will be available for stamping by members of the public and participants in the exhibition throughout the exhibition period at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office, Tuen Mun Central Post Office, the Postal Gallery at the Hongkong Post Building in Kowloon Bay and the exhibition venue in Macao. The image of the cachet is in the Appendix.
Issued at HKT 15:45
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Result of tender of People’s Bank of China RMB Bills held on June 22, 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
Result of the tender of the People’s Bank of China RMB Bills held on June 22, 2026:
| Tender Result | ||
| ************* | ||
| Tender Date | : | June 22, 226 |
| Bills available for Tender | : | Six-Month RMB Bills |
| Issuer | : | The People’s Bank of China |
| Issue Number | : | BCHKFP26019 |
| Issue Date | : | June 24, 2026 |
| Maturity Date | : | December 23, 2026 (or the closest coupon payment date) |
| Application Amount | : | RMB 90,550 million |
| Issue Amount | : | RMB 40,000 million |
| Average accepted Coupon Rate | : | 1.29 per cent |
| Highest accepted Coupon Rate (Bills’ Coupon) |
: | 1.34 per cent |
| Lowest accepted Coupon Rate | : | 1.15 per cent |
| Allocation Ratio (At Highest accepted Coupon Rate) |
: | Approximately 35.56 per cent |
Speech by FS at Hong Kong Investment Funds Association 19th Annual Conference (English only)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association (HKIFA) 19th Annual Conference today (June 22):
Sam (Chairman of the HKIFA, Mr Sam Yu), Kelvin (Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission, Dr Kelvin Wong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is a pleasure to join you at the Annual Conference of the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association – and what a special occasion it is, as we celebrate the Association’s 40th anniversary. My heartfelt congratulations.
Forty years ago, the founders of this Association came together with a simple purpose: to give this industry a collective voice, shared standards, and a platform to engage with regulators. Four decades on, that purpose has been more than fulfilled. The HKIFA has grown into one of the most respected industry bodies in the region, and the industry it represents has grown with it – from a local marketplace to a global hub for cross-border capital.
Global capital allocation is undergoing a fundamental realignment, and this hub is where the flows are converging. In my conversations with investors around the world over the past two years, I have sensed a marked change: not mere optimism or pessimism, but a systematic reassessment. Many institutions have recognised that their allocation to this region has long been low. At the same time, China’s leading technology enterprises are accelerating their integration into global market supply chains and industrial bases, generating real and substantial demand for international capital.
The convergence of these two forces has placed Hong Kong in an unprecedented position. But we must be candid: This position was not driven by external factors alone. It rests on the institutional foundations Hong Kong has built over decades – the common law system, an internationally respected regulatory framework, and professional market intermediaries – all operating within a constitutional framework that preserves our distinctive role, plus the steadfast support of the Central Authorities. In this fast-changing environment, the world is entrusting us with a new task, and our responsibility is to prove ourselves worthy of it.
The markets have already cast their vote. Last year, net fund inflows to Hong Kong-domiciled funds reached some $350 billion, and the momentum has carried into the first quarter of this year, with nearly $100 billion more. When the Securities and Futures Commission publishes its latest survey in July, I am confident we will see another encouraging set of numbers.
These numbers reflect something important. Hong Kong is no longer simply a marketplace for global capital to pass through. We are becoming their trusted steward. Then, what market conditions must exist for global investors to continue to increase their allocations here?
The answer spans multiple dimensions. First, the breadth and depth of investment products. Over the past two years, the number of exchange-traded products (ETPs) listed in Hong Kong has grown from fewer than 180 to more than 240, with assets under management approaching $650 billion, placing us firmly among the world’s top three ETF markets. Several of these products even rank as the largest of their kind globally. This is not merely numerical growth; it means global investors can now allocate to gold, technology, cross-border indices, and even digital assets through Hong Kong, at a lower risk premium.
Second, the reliability and efficiency of financial infrastructure. We are advancing the establishment of an International Central Securities Depository that supports multi-asset custody, cross-collateralisation and cross-border settlement. The significance of this work lies not in the technology itself, but also in the efficiency of capital deployment that it will enable.
We also introduced several legislative amendments over the past few years to further enhance the competitiveness of our fund regimes, with generous tax concessions. I hope you would make good use of it.
Third, the continued deepening of connectivity. We have established collaboration with 20 exchanges worldwide, and are expanding dual listings and cross-border product offerings with more jurisdictions. Every move to collaborate reduces the institutional friction of cross-border capital allocation. We also spare no efforts in enhancing existing connect schemes. For example, as announced last week, with the support of the Central Authorities, treasury bond futures will be launched in August, complementing Bond Connect and Swap Connect to form a more complete risk-management toolkit for RMB assets. These arrangements are designed to give international investors hedging and pricing options when allocating capital to RMB assets.
Separately, the global reassessment of China’s technological capabilities is not merely a valuation adjustment; it is a cognitive reframing. International investors start to understand more China’s innovation ecosystem, and Hong Kong, with its international connectivity and familiarity with the developments on the Mainland, is uniquely positioned to provide that connection function.
This unique connection is most powerfully manifested in the Greater Bay Area. This region combines frontier research, abundant application scenarios, advanced manufacturing, and an international capital market. Such a combination is uncommon anywhere in the world. Hong Kong’s role is to serve as the professional intermediary between this ecosystem and global capital.
And our role is not just a platform for them to raise funds for their global expansion, but also to help them align their corporate governance with international standards and best practices, gain greater recognition from investors and enhance their global visibility.
Ladies and gentlemen, as we broaden our product offerings, enhance our infrastructure, deepen our connectivity, and mobilise capital to support technology innovation, we are in fact doing one thing: building a credible bridge between global capital and Chinese technological innovation. The value of this bridge is ultimately not measured just by the size or ranking of our market, but by something more fundamental – trust.
That trust rests on a judiciary exercising powers independently, transparent regulations, and professional intermediaries that investors rely on when they choose Hong Kong. In choosing Hong Kong, they are not just choosing a market by geographical location; they are choosing a set of predictable behavioural standards. And it is the daily practice of those standards – in every product you list, every allocation you recommend, every project you commit to – that will define this industry’s future.
That future began 40 years ago, when the founders established this Association to represent the industry. Today, you can be proud of the confidence you have inspired. I trust that the expertise, professionalism and integrity you bring to your work will continue to shape Hong Kong’s position in the global financial system.
On this important milestone, I once again congratulate the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association on 40 remarkable years. I wish you continued success in many more decades ahead. Have a rewarding and fruitful conference. Thank you.
Chinese Culture Festival 2026’s “Encountering Chinese Culture” Performing Arts Carnival to be held in Kwai Fong on June 28
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Chinese Culture Festival 2026’s “Encountering Chinese Culture” Performing Arts Carnival to be held in Kwai Fong on June 28