Month: June 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     In the 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive proposed establishing Hong Kong’s first “seamless clearance” pilot scheme at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Boundary Crossing (HKZMB Hong Kong Boundary Crossing) in the second quarter of 2026. The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (June 11) that a Seamless e-Channel service will be launched on June 25. From that date, enrolled eligible Hong Kong permanent residents will be able to enjoy “on-the-move” self-service departure clearance seamlessly by employing AI and facial recognition technology at the departure hall of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port without the need to present a Hong Kong identity card or an e-Channel QR code.
 
     Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above holding a valid smart identity card and have arrived in or departed from Hong Kong via the Passenger Clearance Building of the HZMB Hong Kong Port 10 times or more in the past 90 days are eligible to enrol in the Seamless e-Channel service. Starting from today (June 11), eligible Hong Kong residents can use a smartphone with biometric authentication to download the ImmD’s Contactless e-Channel mobile application for enrolment. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 to 17 must enrol with the consent of their parent or legal guardian.  
 
     When performing departure clearance, upon entering the Seamless e-Channel, enrolled Hong Kong permanent residents only need to face forwards, pass through the Seamless e-Channel at a normal walking pace and maintain an appropriate distance from other users. The departure process is completed without the need to stop or present any travel document or e-Channel QR code.
 
The ImmD reminds that enrolled Hong Kong permanent residents must still carry a valid Hong Kong identity card when using the Seamless e-Channel Service. Moreover, residents can continue to use other e-Channels or traditional counters for immigration clearance.
 
For details of the Seamless e-Channel service, please visit the ImmD’s website at www.immd.gov.hk/sec. For enquiries, please call the enquiry hotline at 2824 6111, fax to 2877 7711 or send an email at enquiry@immd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki and Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun today attended the commendation ceremony and 2026-27 school year launch ceremony for the School-based After School Care Service Scheme.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan pointed out that the scheme allows primary school students in need to stay after school for care and learning support, thereby giving parents who otherwise need to look after their children as full-time carers the option of taking up employment, hence improving their livelihood. He also remarked that the scheme promotes family harmony, as parents’ pressure regarding supervision and care can be alleviated when their children complete homework at school.

The cap on the number of service places of the scheme was removed in the 2025-26 school year, with over 10,500 service places offered at 207 primary schools. Mr Chan highlighted that the number of service places will remain uncapped in the 2026-27 school year, and called on all government, aided and Direct Subsidy Scheme primary schools to participate in the scheme in order to support more families in need of care services.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Immigration Department today announced that it will launch a Seamless e-Channel service at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HKZMB) Hong Kong Port on June 25.

From that date, eligible Hong Kong permanent residents enrolled for the service can enjoy seamless “on-the-move” self-service departure clearance at the port’s departure hall.

AI and facial recognition technology will be deployed in the process, and users will not have to present a Hong Kong identity card or an e-Channel QR code.

In his 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive proposed establishing Hong Kong’s first “seamless clearance” pilot scheme at the HKZMB Hong Kong Boundary Crossing in the second quarter of 2026.

Those eligible to enrol for the service are Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above. They must have a valid smart identity card, and a record of at least 10 arrivals or departures via the Passenger Clearance Building at the HZMB Hong Kong Port in the previous 90 days.

Starting from today, eligible Hong Kong residents can use a smartphone with biometric authentication to download the department’s Contactless e-Channel mobile application for enrolment.

Eligible residents aged 11 to 17 must enrol with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. 

The department said that enrolled residents must still carry a valid Hong Kong identity card when using the Seamless e-Channel Service. Moreover, residents can still opt for other e-Channels or traditional counters for immigration clearance.

Enquiries can be made by calling the hotline 2824 6111, sending a fax to 2877 7711 or via email.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department (LSCD) today announced a new measure to combat the unauthorised transfer of leisure and sports facility bookings, commonly known as touting.

Starting July 7, SmartPLAY users who log in to the mobile app via “iAM Smart” will enjoy priority booking for facilities available within seven days, starting from 7am daily.

The measure leverages the authentication function of “iAM Smart” to strengthen identity verification for facility hirers.

The LCSD said that the period from 7am to 7.15am is the peak booking window for ordinary users and also the most active booking time for touters using computer programmes or automated tools. Implementing the new measure during this specific window will more effectively prevent touting activities.

SmartPLAY users who do not wish to use “iAM Smart” can continue to book from 7.15am daily through the mobile app, the official website, smart self-service stations or service counters at various leisure venues.

As “iAM Smart” is available only to persons aged 11 or above, SmartPLAY users under the age of 11 can continue to make bookings through the mobile app from 7am daily.

To facilitate the system upgrade, the LCSD will temporarily suspend the My SmartPLAY mobile app and website services from 10.30am to 1.30pm on June 22.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

News & activities

News releases

2026-06-10

Vice President Hsiao inspects Taiwan Embassy in Palau, attends airport farewell ceremony  
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On the afternoon of June 10 local time (afternoon of the same day Taipei time), Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao visited the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Republic of Palau. Accompanied by Ambassador to Palau Andy Kang-I Chen (陳剛毅), the vice president inspected the embassy offices and interacted with the staff. She expressed her gratitude to the embassy personnel for their dedication to their posts and their ongoing contributions to deepening the diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Palau.
After concluding her itinerary, the vice president and her delegation arrived at Palau International Airport. Accompanied by Palau Vice President Raynold Oilouch, Vice President Hsiao walked through a police honor cordon in a ceremony that was both solemn and warm, marking the end of a successful trip. The delegation’s flight departed Palau in the evening local time (afternoon of the same day Taipei time) to return to Taipei.

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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, at the opening ceremony of the 40th International Travel Expo (ITE) Hong Kong and 21st MICE Travel Expo today (June 11):

Mr Tong (Founder and Managing Director of TKS Exhibition Services, Mr Tong Kam-shing), 江爾雄副省長 (Vice Governor of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, Ms Jiang Erxiong), Dr Peter Lam (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board), Director Zhang Dong (Director of the Asia Tourism Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China), Consuls General, friends from the trade, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. I am happy to join you at the opening ceremony of the 40th International Travel Expo and the 21st MICE Travel Expo. On behalf of the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government, I extend our warmest welcome to you all.

This 40th anniversary of the International Travel Expo is a historic milestone. I am delighted to see more than 400 exhibitors from 55 countries and regions gathered here. It is wonderful to see that the China Pavilion returns as the largest showcase this year, alongside new exhibitors joining from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Your presence is a strong vote of confidence in Hong Kong as a premier destination for business and leisure.

Last year, Hong Kong welcomed about 50 million visitors, a 12 per cent increase over 2024. This momentum has carried into 2026. In the first five months, we received about 23 million arrivals, a 14 per cent year-on-year growth. This robust performance fuels growth across our hotels, retail, and catering sectors.

Yet, Hong Kong’s story is told not just in numbers, but in the unique experiences that blend culture, sports, and tourism. For sports fans, the excitement ranges from the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens to the Hong Kong Football Festival with legendary European clubs. For art lovers and cultural enthusiasts, we host premier global events like Art Basel, Art Central, ComplexCon and world-class concerts and exhibitions. Together with different flagship events organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), like the International Dragon Boat Races to be held later this month, the Wine & Dine Festival in end-October and the New Year Countdown, there is always a reason to visit.

As Asia’s culinary capital, our vibrant dining scene is showcased by hosting the award ceremonies of World’s 50 Best Bars in 2025 and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants this year. HKTB’s “Taste Hong Kong” Gourmet Guide further amplifies this narrative, leading visitors to explore from the local flavours of “cha chaan tengs” to Michelin-starred dining.

The blend of lifestyle and professional pursuits makes Hong Kong a top “bleisure” destination. A critical driver of this visitor ecosystem is our Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. In 2025, there were about 2.5 million MICE visitors, a 7 per cent increase over 2024. The Government is committed to elevating Hong Kong’s status as a premier MICE destination, and platforms like this Expo are pivotal to that goal.

This focus is amplified by Hong Kong’s integral role within the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which represents a vast, dynamic consumer market of over 86 million people. The excellent connectivity with the GBA unlocks the immense potential for “multi-destination” travel and elevates Hong Kong’s value proposition as an unparalleled regional hub for business and tourism.

Looking ahead, the Government is charting a roadmap for sustainable growth of tourism. A key initiative is the proactive diversification of our visitor source market. We are very delighted to welcome a strong delegation of exhibitors from the Middle East to the Expo this year, which perfectly aligns with our ongoing efforts to expand Muslim-friendly tourism.

I encourage you not only to seize the business opportunities at this Expo but also to experience Hong Kong’s vibrant pulse for yourselves.

Before I close, I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to ITE 2026 for another year of success and wish everyone good health and prosperity. May your time in Hong Kong be rewarding and memorable.

Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

     The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) today (June 11) released the proposed guidelines on election-related activities in respect of the Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) Elections for public consultation. The consultation will last until July 10.

     The 2026 ECSS Ordinary Elections will be held at the end of this year. Before each ECSS Ordinary Elections, the EAC will review and update the guidelines on election-related activities.

     The Chairman of the EAC, Mr Justice David Lok, said that these guidelines aim to explain in simple language the subsisting electoral law to remind candidates and other stakeholders of the provisions and requirements under the electoral law; and to promulgate a code of conduct based on the principles of fairness and equality with regard to the election-related activities not stipulated by the law. The EAC has always made its best endeavours to ensure that all public elections are held in an open, honest and fair manner, and formulating electoral guidelines plays an important role in the conduct of elections. The EAC wishes members of the public to actively participate.

The proposed guidelines are prepared on the basis of the existing guidelines for the ECSS elections (July 2021 edition) and the supplementary information compiled in July 2025 for the ECSS By-elections held last year, with appropriate amendments which are mainly composed of four categories: (1) to reflect the latest electoral legislation, such as updating the arrangements regarding the preparation of the ballot paper account and ballot counting; (2) to reflect new or enhanced election-related arrangements, for instance, voters/authorised representatives can check their latest registration particulars and access the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) to check information such as their allocated polling stations via “iAM Smart”; (3) to further elaborate the contents of the guidelines to enable candidates and relevant persons to more easily grasp the areas which they should pay attention to; and (4) to reorganise where appropriate the structure and content of the proposed guidelines by, for example, explaining the relevant electoral arrangements in the form of lists and flowcharts, consolidating the contents of the chapters, etc, with a view to making the proposed guidelines more concise and easier to comprehend.

The proposed guidelines can be downloaded from the EAC website (www.eac.hk), or viewed at the designated offices of the Registration and Electoral Office, the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of all district offices and the major and district public libraries.

Members of the public could submit written representations on the proposed guidelines to the EAC Secretariat by email (eacenq@eac.hk), post (8/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon) or fax (2511 1682) on or before July 10. For written representations submitted by post, the postmark date will be taken as the submission date. Late submissions will not be considered.

     For enquiries, please call 2891 1001.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Alatau City Investment Round Table today (June 11):
      
Your Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev (Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan), members of the Alatau City Development Council, friends from Kazakhstan, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to join you today for the Alatau City Round Table meeting.

Delighted to have this welcome opportunity to return the warm hospitality my delegation and I received throughout our visit, last week, in Kazakhstan. 

My thanks to the Deputy Prime Minister, here in Hong Kong leading a delegation of Kazakhstan government officials and business leaders. They cover a wide variety of sectors, from transport and infrastructure, to finance and digital development. 

And I’m pleased you’re with us to know more about Hong Kong, and to share with us the vast opportunities of Kazakhstan and the innovative, high-tech Alatau City, fast rising at the crossroads of Europe, Central Asia and China. 

The emerging smart city, with its preferential taxation and customs regulations, and administrative support for high-tech industries, is destined to become a new economic hub – for Kazakhstan, Central Asia and the wide world beyond.

Kazakhstan’s impressive economy – contributing some 60 per cent of Central Asia’s collective GDP – will see to that. Last year, Kazakhstan’s economy rose 6.5 per cent, supported by strong domestic demand and abundant natural resources. Then there’s your ambitious target – to double the size of Kazakhstan’s economy by 2030, from 2023 levels. 

I know that Kazakhstan has long been a bridge of culture and commerce on the ancient Silk Road, and that today it’s a business and logistics hub with the promise of long-term, sustainable growth.

I know because I’ve seen Kazakhstan’s dynamism for myself. The high-level business delegation I led to Kazakhstan – 75 business and institutional leaders from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland – represented industries spanning finance, logistics, energy, professional services and innovation and technology. 

It was an honour to meet His Excellency President Tokayev (President of Kazakhstan, Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev) and His Excellency Prime Minister Bektenov (Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Olzhas Bektenov) during our visit, to learn from them of your country’s determination to rise as the economic powerhouse of Central Asia and the wider region beyond. 

My delegation held substantive talks with Kazakhstan’s business leaders. And I’m pleased to say that the visit resulted in eight MOUs and co-operation agreements between the governments of Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. 

As for our respective companies, organisations and institutions, they reached 53 accords, covering investment, green finance, logistics, innovation and more. So the total number of MOUs and agreements reached in Kazakhstan was 61 altogether; that’s an outstanding result for a three-day visit.

Kazakhstan’s ambitious reforms and its open, welcoming attitude towards international partners were both welcome and impressive. And Hong Kong is eager to build on this momentum, to explore wide-ranging business and investment co-operation with Kazakhstan – Alatau City very much included.

I can tell you Hong Kong shares your commitment to openness and connectivity. Under the unique “one country, two systems” principle, we are the only world city to combine the China advantage and the global advantage. 

Hong Kong is built on the rule of law and a common law system similar to most global financial centres. We maintain a low and simple tax regime, with no sales or capital gains tax and no estate duty. We enjoy the free flow of information, capital, goods and talent. Our workforce is multitalented, multilingual and well versed in the business practices of Asia and the wider world.

Hong Kong is ranked No.1, globally, in economic freedom. The Global Financial Centres Index ranks Hong Kong third in the world and first in Asia, while last year’s World Competitiveness Yearbook placed us third, globally – up two places over the previous year.

Let me give you a recent example of what that means in practice. Last September, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan raised 2 billion Renminbi on Hong Kong’s offshore market through a “dim sum” bond issuance – the first issuance of its kind by a Central Asian entity. 

Today, some 500 Kazakhstani students are studying in our publicly funded universities, making them one of the largest groups in our Belt and Road student community. And I’m pleased to add that many of them are here on the HKSAR Government’s Belt and Road Scholarship, which covers tuition fees for outstanding students from Belt and Road countries studying in our institutions. 

Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan can develop a hub-to-hub working relationship, with Hong Kong as a hub to East Asia, South Asia and the ASEAN region, and Kazakhstan as a hub to Central Asia. And Hong Kong can contribute to the future success of Alatau City in three concrete ways.

First, Hong Kong can become your gateway to global capital. Our stock exchange is one of the world’s largest, and our asset management sector is underpinned by deep liquidity. Earlier this year, we were recognised as the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth-management centre. 

Kazakhstani companies and funds can confidently issue bonds, raise equity or launch IPOs in Hong Kong. And, thanks to our world-class professional services, you will find it easy to do so. We are well positioned to help Kazakhstan fund high-potential infrastructure and innovation projects. We speak the language of global finance – and we look forward to doing so with Kazakhstan – with you.

Second, Hong Kong is your gateway to China, our country. I know your delegation visited our neighbouring city of Shenzhen and have seen, firsthand, the city’s remarkable rise in innovation and technology. 

Hong Kong and Shenzhen are two of the 11 cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a cluster-city development counting more than 88 million people and a combined GDP similar to the world’s 10th-largest economy. 

Hong Kong has unparalleled access to the Mainland market. Last year, we set up the dedicated GoGlobal Task Force to help Mainland enterprises build overseas markets, Kazakhstan included. 

Through our professional services, in law, accounting, finance and much more, Kazakhstani enterprises can partner with Hong Kong, accessing supply chains throughout the Mainland, the rest of Asia and the world beyond.

Third, Hong Kong is your partner in talent and technology. Hong Kong is the only city in the world with five universities in the global top 100. The innovation cluster formed by Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, which brings together Hong Kong’s research strengths and the Mainland cities’ innovation and manufacturing capabilities, was ranked No.1, globally, last year by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

And I’m delighted to add that Hong Kong has its own Alatau – the Northern Metropolis. Spanning one-third of our city’s geographic area, and close to the Mainland boundary, the Northern Metropolis is designed to become Hong Kong’s fast-beating I&T heart, as well as an urban centre and university town.

We are now streamlining procedures and drawing up preferential policy packages to help businesses, and a world of investors, settle smoothly into the Northern Metropolis. And we will formulate dedicated legislation to fast-track the Northern Metropolis’ development.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong builds connectivity. We share a development vision with Alatau City and Kazakhstan. Today, right here, right now, is a golden opportunity to bring our two economies closer together.

I wish you all a rewarding round table session, and the best of business today and a memorable stay in Hong Kong, Asia’s world city. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region