Month: June 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Mr Zhou Zuyi, leading the delegations of the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Fujian respectively, held the High-Level Meeting and the Fifth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong-Fujian Cooperation Conference (meeting-and-plenary) in Fuzhou, Fujian, today (June 22). The Director of Bureau III of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zou Jinsong, also attended the meeting-and-plenary.

     Officials of the HKSAR Government that attended the meeting-and-plenary included the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip; the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; and the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai.————————————————————————————————–
 
     Leverage the roles of platforms including the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global of the HKSAR Government and the “Fujian Enterprises Going Global” Professional Services Alliance of the Fujian Province to support Fujian enterprises to go global by making good use of the advantages of Hong Kong professional services.——————————————————————————————————————-
 
     Strengthen two-way exchanges and visits between young people from Fujian and Hong Kong, and effectively take forward programmes such as the Youth Internship Programme at Wuyishan on Biodiversity Conservation.
      
     Continue to enhance and expand the various flagship youth exchange and internship programmes, and organise more Hong Kong youth to undertake internships and participate in exchange activities in Fujian.
 
Health and Chinese medicine
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Tourism
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Facilitation measures for Hong Kong people on the Mainland
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     At the meeting-and-plenary, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and Vice Governor of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government Mr Zhao Zenglian signed the Co-operation Memorandum of the High-Level Meeting and the Fifth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong-Fujian Cooperation Conference. The document (Chinese only) is in Annex 1.

     In addition, six co-operation agreements were signed by government departments and statutory bodies of the two places:

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The sixth meeting of the fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission was held today (June 22). 

At the meeting, the Office of the Government Economist briefed members on Hong Kong’s latest economic performance and labour market situation. Members noted that Hong Kong’s economy expanded robustly in the first quarter of 2026, growing by 5.9 per cent over a year earlier, marking the strongest economic growth in nearly five years. The labour market showed moderate improvement in recent months, with the latest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (for March 2026 to May 2026) dropping from 3.9 per cent to 3.7 per cent compared with the period from November 2025 to January 2026. Looking ahead, Hong Kong’s economic outlook remains largely resilient, with the real Gross Domestic Product growth forecast for 2026 projected at 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent.

In addition, the Security Bureau briefed members on the various immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses. These included measures facilitating the southbound and northbound two-way flow of talent, and visa and immigration facilitation measures. Through the immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will actively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and fully leverage Hong Kong’s unique role as a “super connector” under “one country, two systems” to better integrate into and serve the overall national development. Members welcomed the enhancement measures, noting that they would further enrich Hong Kong’s talent ecosystem and inject new momentum into the city’s long-term economic development.

Members also noted that the Health Bureau had commissioned the Hospital Authority (HA) to carry out a new round of healthcare manpower projections this year. The purpose of the projection exercise is to ensure that there are sufficient healthcare professionals to meet the ever-evolving demand for healthcare services in society, and that the relevant training policies remain aligned with actual circumstances. The Government and the HA will further refine the methodology for this round of projection and promote data collection simultaneously. This includes systematically compiling relevant data such as overall service volume statistics, human resource distribution, and local training scale from the industry and various medical specialties. Views regarding future population changes and the status of technology application raised by members will be incorporated. The results are expected to be published in mid-2027. Based on the projection results, the Government will revisit the existing strategies for local healthcare manpower in tandem with the next University Grants Committee triennium, as well as the reviews of other schemes, in making further recommendations on the relevant healthcare training places. With a continuously ageing population, the demand for healthcare services is facing structural growth. Members supported the HKSAR Government’s proactive efforts in conducting the healthcare manpower projection, utilising data analysis to guide policy and service planning, thereby enhancing the precision and forward-looking nature of public health policies.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     ​A woman was sentenced today (June 22) at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts to two months’ imprisonment for illegally importing 18 000 alternative smoking products. The Department of Health (DH) welcomed the verdict and reminded members of the public and visitors not to bring alternative smoking products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products or herbal cigarettes into Hong Kong, and not to use any alternative smoking products.

     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH was notified by Hong Kong Customs on June 19 that 18 000 alternative smoking products had been intercepted in the luggage of the aforesaid woman arriving from Japan. TACO immediately arrested and prosecuted the individual.

Since the amendments to the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, which conferred arrest powers on TACO inspectors, took effect on September 19, 2025, TACO has prosecuted 26 cases involving the importation of large quantities of alternative smoking products. Twenty-nine persons have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four weeks to eight months.

According to the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), a person who imports alternative smoking products, including electronic smoking products, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years; or liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), no person may promote, manufacture, sell, or possess for commercial purposes alternative smoking products. An offender is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     TACO will continue to closely monitor and enforce the law to combat related offences.

In addition, the DH also cautions the public that alternative smoking products are addictive and are not effective smoking cessation tools. E-cigarettes may increase the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Smokers are urged to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For assistance, please call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183, or visit www.livetobaccofree.hk for information on quitting.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 22) the preliminary Balance of Payments (BoP), International Investment Position (IIP) and External Debt (ED) statistics of Hong Kong for the first quarter of 2026.

I. Balance of Payments

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     According to the statistics on persons engaged and vacancies released today (June 22) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total number of persons engaged in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.4% or 10 100 persons in March 2026 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 48 610, representing a decrease of 12% or 6 560 over the preceding year.

Persons engaged statistics”Quarterly Report of Persons Engaged and Vacancies Statistics, March 2026″
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452″Quarterly Report of Manual Workers and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2026″
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart for Dalian and Xi’an tomorrow afternoon to lead a high-level delegation at the Summer Davos forum and explore investment opportunities. He will return to Hong Kong on Saturday. 

Mr Chan will lead a delegation of more than 30 members to the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026, also known as the Summer Davos forum, held in Dalian from June 23 to 25.

Under the theme “Innovating at Scale”, this year’s meeting will gather over 1,700 leaders from government, business and academia across more than 90 countries and regions. Discussions will focus on global trade shifts, China’s economic development, technological innovation, inclusive growth and the energy transition.

During the forum, Mr Chan will deliver speeches and attend thematic sessions. The Hong Kong delegation will participate in business networking and enterprise matching activities.  

The delegation includes senior executives from the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation, Cyberport and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park. Heads of nurtured or attracted innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises spanning artificial intelligence, biomedical technology, new energy and advanced manufacturing will also join, alongside representatives from Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Limited (HKEX).

While in Dalian, Mr Chan will meet with officials from central ministries, Liaoning Province and Dalian Municipality, as well as global political and business leaders.

The Financial Secretary will proceed to Xi’an on Thursday to call on provincial and municipal leaders. He will speak at a local university to outline Hong Kong’s latest developments and its role under the National 15th Five-Year Plan.

On Saturday, Mr Chan will address the inaugural Western Commercial Aerospace Conference, organised by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the Commercial Space Innovation Consortium.

His Xi’an itinerary also includes hosting a symposium and visiting local I&T firms. Senior management from OASES, the HKIC and HKEX will participate in the Xi’an programme to attract investment and enterprises.

During Mr Chan’s absence, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will act as Financial Secretary.