Month: June 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Jonathan Stuart Lamport and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 3):
 
Question:

     There are views that, as crucial hubs of the Belt and Road Initiative, Central Asian regions possess enormous potential for development and resources. The Chief Executive has also indicated that he will lead a delegation to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in early June of this year. However, Hong Kong’s industrial and commercial sectors have generally relayed that they lack a deep understanding of the business environments, statutory regulations, and cultures of Central Asian markets, and that the transport and logistics links between Hong Kong and the regions have yet to be improved. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that it currently has no economic and trade offices in Central Asian regions, whether there are any specific short to medium-term plans for transitional support to assist Hong Kong’s small and medium enterprises in deepening their understanding of Central Asian markets and developing business opportunities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) as there are views pointing out insufficient destinations and frequencies of direct passenger and cargo flights between Hong Kong and various Central Asian countries, as well as the absence of direct flights between Hong Kong and either Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan, of the specific measures (such as co-ordinating the increase of direct flight destinations and facilitating logistical alignment between the Greater Bay Area and Central Asia) to leverage our country’s support of the “Air Silk Road” in a bid to boost Hong Kong’s appeal as a re-export hub for Central Asian goods; and

(3) whether there are specific measures to secure more favourable market conditions in Central Asian regions for Hong Kong’s goods and services industries, and to provide all round support to Hong Kong’s high-value-added professional services sectors in making inroads into Central Asian markets, thereby helping them promptly seize the vast business opportunities there?

Reply:

President,

     The Government is committed to assisting the local business community to explore diversified markets, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international commercial hub. The Central Asian region is actively promoting diversification of its economic development. The region has seen rapid development in several key areas, including financial services, international trade, infrastructure, innovation and technology, tourism, and green sustainable development, with huge potential for market growth. 

     Having consulted the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the reply to the question raised by the Hon Jonathan Stuart Lamport is as follows:

(1) and (3) The Government has been adopting a multi-pronged approach to assist Hong Kong small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in better understanding the Central Asian market and exploring business opportunities through the different channels below. 

     Regarding overseas network, the Government has established 15 overseas Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs), and is committed to expanding the reach of the ETOs. In addition to strengthening economic and trade ties with traditional markets, as announced by the Chief Executive (CE) in the 2025 Policy Address, the Government will expand the coverage of the ETOs to emerging markets with good potential, including Central Asia. To attract high-potential enterprises from emerging countries to establish a presence in Hong Kong, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) have set up consultant offices in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to jointly advance Hong Kong’s investment and trade promotion in Central Asia. The Government will make good use of the existing network of the ETOs, InvestHK and the HKTDC to strengthen economic, trade as well as investment promotion in key Central Asian countries.

     The CE is leading a business delegation to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in early June this year in order to further promote economic and trade co-operation and exchanges between Hong Kong and the Central Asian region, establish business networks and connections, and explore emerging markets. It is the largest scale of outbound mission to overseas countries with the largest number of delegates covering the broadest areas of enterprises in this term of Government. The delegation includes 40 representatives from Hong Kong’s enterprises/business sector, covering areas such as industry and commerce, finance, legal, construction and engineering, logistics, and innovation and technology. During the visit, there will be visits to local enterprises and facilities, helping Hong Kong enterprises/business representatives understand Central Asia’s latest developments in different areas, explore co-operation opportunities, and lay the foundation for long term exchanges.

     Apart from the CE-led delegation, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) has been enhancing ties with the Central Asian market through various outbound missions and exchanges. Among others, the Belt and Road Office, together with the Ministry of Commerce, led a delegation comprising business representatives from Hong Kong and the Mainland to visit Kazakhstan in May 2024, fostering Hong Kong and the Mainland enterprises to jointly explore new business opportunities in the Belt and Road markets including Central Asia. The delegation included about 30 representatives from local chambers of commerce, professional services, enterprises (including SMEs and startups), covering sectors including finance, construction and engineering, new energy and environmental services, legal, accounting, transport and logistics, and innovation and technology. The Astana International Financial Centre of Kazakhstan also organised a business exchange event in Hong Kong in May 2025, bringing together stakeholders from Kazakhstan and the international financial community to exchange in-depth views on the future of the Central Asian capital markets and regional financial connectivity, and explore co-operation opportunities.

     Regarding enterprises going global, the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force), steered by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, officially launched the cross-sectoral professional services platform GoGlobal Connect in April this year to assist Mainland enterprises already established a foothold in Hong Kong to expand their international businesses in overseas markets (including Central Asia) via Hong Kong. The platform brings together eight groups of Hong Kong professional service providers, including legal, accounting, finance, and testing and certification, and offers professional, customised consultancy services to Mainland enterprises seeking overseas expansion, helping them better understand business opportunities in the Central Asian market while enriching the ecosystem of the professional services sector in Hong Kong. The aforesaid delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is the first outbound mission led by the CE since the establishment of the GoGlobal Task Force. 

     At the same time, the CEDB has set up the functional platform of Economic and Trade Express to strengthen trio-coordination among the ETOs, InvestHK and the HKTDC in proactively organising overseas business missions for local SMEs and start-ups to assist Hong Kong enterprises in exploring business opportunities, while facilitating more enterprises to invest and establish operations in Hong Kong. 

     To further expand Hong Kong’s “circle of friends” in trade and economy and promote the long-term economic development of Hong Kong, the Government have been actively seeking to co-operate with trading partners, including economies with strong economic and trade connections with Hong Kong as well as those with development potential or at strategic locations. The Government will expand Hong Kong’s international economic and trade networks through forging free trade agreements (FTAs) as well as investment promotion and protection agreements (IPPAs) with these economies. Hong Kong has so far signed nine FTAs with 21 economies, covering most of Hong Kong’s major trading partners. In addition, Hong Kong has signed 24 IPPAs with 33 overseas economies. The Government will continue to proactively explore FTAs and IPPAs with other economies including Central Asian countries.

     On SME support, the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs under the Trade and Industry Department, the SME Centre under the HKTDC, the SME One under Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the TecONE under Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation will also continue to provide “four-in-one” integrated services and co-organise “four-in-one” seminar series on themes such as exploration of emerging markets in order to assist SMEs in exploring emerging markets. Moreover, the SME ReachOut, established by the Government and operated by the HKPC, will continue to help SMEs identify suitable government funding schemes and provide SMEs with capacity building service. The Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) provides funding support to encourage Hong Kong enterprises through branding, upgrading and restructuring, and develop diversified markets. The geographical scope of the BUD Fund will be expanded to cover 48 economies in June 2026 with Kazakhstan as the newly added one. 

     Looking ahead, the Government will continue to proactively deepen cooperation with the Belt and Road region, including countries in Central Asia, to assist the Hong Kong business community in seizing the immense business opportunities in the Central Asian region as early as possible.

(2) The Government has been working with the Airport Authority Hong Kong to strategically attract local and non-local airlines to add new destinations and increase flight frequencies through outreach teams, incentive schemes and policy facilitation measures, etc. Meanwhile, the TLB has been actively participating in international civil aviation conferences and taking the initiative to visit aviation partners in Central Asia to discuss the establishment of new air services agreements or the expansion of traffic rights, thereby providing greater flexibility for flight operations and enhancing commercial viability to encourage airlines to launch direct flight services.

     The Government is also creating new business opportunities for the logistics industry by developing new markets, including countries along the Belt and Road. The Government note that the logistics industry has been actively developing the Central Asian markets in recent years, and the Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Kazlogistics, a local logistics trade association. The TLB will continue to join hands with the industry to explore business opportunities in the Central Asian markets, and further promote the development of freight and logistics between Hong Kong and Central Asian markets.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chuang and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (June 3):

Question:

     Following the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceship recently, the first female payload specialist from Hong Kong also travelled into space on board. At the same time, our country’s “Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan” has included for the first time the need to “work faster to boost China’s strength in aerospace” as a key task while expressly pointing out the need to promote the development of strategic emerging industries such as aviation and aerospace. Regarding areas such as promoting the development of aerospace and space technologies as an industry, leveraging Hong Kong’s advantages as a financing platform, and deepening the training of young talents, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the Government will formulate specific strategies for areas such as scientific and technological research, talent cultivation and industry development in the aerospace domain, so as to build up the role of Hong Kong in the commercial aerospace industry chain of our country;

(2) how the Government will attract Mainland and international commercial aerospace enterprises to Hong Kong for listing, issuing bonds, undertaking private equity financing, and setting up regional headquarters or research and development centres;

(3) as the authorities indicated earlier that the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited had been requested to review the relevant listing mechanisms and requirements to facilitate and dovetail with financing activities involving aerospace enterprises, of the specific progress of the review at present and the timetable for implementing the relevant measures;

(4) whether the authorities will assess the number of high-end employment opportunities that can be created by the aerospace science and technology industry for Hong Kong’s young people and its manpower demand in the coming 5 to 10 years; and

(5) whether the Government will launch more dedicated training programmes or subsidy funds specifically for tertiary students and young people who have just begun their careers, so as to encourage young people to enrol in advanced professional programmes relating to the aerospace domain and nurture more aerospace industry talents equipped with interdisciplinary capabilities for Hong Kong; apart from training programmes and subsidy funds, what other specific schemes have been put in place by the authorities to nurture the relevant talents?

Reply:

President: 

     The National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly sets out key strategies to develop a modernised industrial system and expedite the development into an aerospace power. With the strong support of the country, a Hong Kong payload specialist takes part in the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceflight mission for the first time, which is a testimony to the country’s high recognition of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) talent, development, and achievements. It also reflects the great importance attached, as well as the care and support given to the technological development in Hong Kong by our country. Hong Kong has transformed from being a “supporter” of the country’s great aerospace endeavours into a “participator”. This does not only demonstrate Hong Kong’s capability in contributing to the country’s development into an aerospace power, but also showcases how Hong Kong could better integrate into and serve the overall national development.

     Having consulted the Education Bureau (EDB), the Financial Services and Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB), our reply to the Hon Albert Chuang’s question is as follows:

(1) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) possesses strong capabilities in scientific research. Various research institutions and universities have been participating in aerospace research projects, including providing systems, instruments, and technical support for the country’s lunar and Mars exploration missions, as well as conducting spaceborne experiments, actively contributing to the country’s aerospace development. In future, Hong Kong can play a unique role in fostering international exchanges and collaborations as the country’s aerospace development goes global, so as to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to contribute to the national needs.

     The Government has a clear plan on promoting the development of aerospace technology. Talent is a critical element for promoting I&T development. The Government is taking forward the development under the principle of “promoting technology with talents, leading industries with technology, and attracting talents with industries”. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong possesses the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world. With five universities ranking among the world’s top 100, Hong Kong provides a powerful impetus for nurturing and attracting I&T talents.

     The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) have been expanding the local research and I&T talent pool through a multipronged approach, supporting enterprises and research institutions in grooming technology (including aerospace technology) talents and promoting I&T development. Such measures include:

(i) the STEM Internship Scheme, which subsidises undergraduates and postgraduates taking full-time STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)-related programmes to enrol in short-term internships, with a view to encouraging them to gain I&T-related work experience;
(ii) the Research Talent Hub, which provides funding support to eligible companies or organisations to engage research talents to conduct research and development (R&D) work; and
(iii) the New Industrialisation and Technology Training Programme, which subsidises local enterprises on a 1(Government):1(enterprise) matching basis to train their staff in advanced technologies.

     Furthermore, the Hong Kong Space Robotics and Energy Centre has been established under the InnoHK research clusters to participate in relevant aerospace missions of our nation. The ITC also launched the Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology in July 2024 and deployed over $100 million funding to support six projects related to aerospace technology. One of them was the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO) camera, which has recently arrived at Tiangong Space Station. The development of MUSICO was led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

     Regarding industry development, the Government’s relevant existing policy measures are all applicable to the realm of aerospace. For example, the New Industrialisation Funding Scheme supports enterprises in obtaining funding on a matching basis to set up new smart production lines in Hong Kong; the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme provides funding on a matching basis to enterprises engaged in strategic industries to establish new smart production facilities in Hong Kong; and the Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund is also planned to commence operation within the year to channel more market capital into strategic emerging and future industries, thereby systematically building up the I&T industry ecosystem.

     All in all, the Government will continue to enhance research capability, initiatives on nurturing talent and industry support, with a view to enabling Hong Kong to perform its unique role in the country’s aerospace development.

(2) & (3) The FSTB is committed to building a vibrant and sustainable fundraising platform in Hong Kong. As a global major listing platform for companies from different jurisdictions and the second largest private equity management centre in Asia following the Mainland, the FSTB actively drives the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) to study broadening the fundraising channels for enterprises, as well as keeping abreast of international trends and continuously enhancing Hong Kong’s listing regime, thereby facilitating listing by companies from different industries in Hong Kong. On the other hand, through the active promotion of the Government, Hong Kong has been a major international bond issuance hub in Asia. In fact, the Hong Kong bond market has seen vibrant development in recent years, with annual issuance size gradually rising and issuers becoming more diversified. A number of major technology companies have issued bonds in Hong Kong in recent years. The Government, the SFC and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will continue to implement the various initiatives under the Roadmap for the Development of Fixed Income and Currency (FIC) Markets, and step up market outreach to various target markets, with a view to attracting more issuers and investors (including technology enterprises) to participate in Hong Kong’s FIC markets.

     In recent years, the aerospace industry has experienced significant development, extending beyond national strategic initiatives into the commercial sphere. On the listing platform, the HKEX introduced Chapter 18C in March 2023 to provide a listing pathway for early-stage specialist technology companies. According to the HKEX’s guidance, Chapter 18C captures a broad range of aerospace-related business activities under the existing acceptable sectors of specialist technology industries, including aerospace technology, advanced communication technology and advanced transportation technology. Applicants from the aerospace industry may apply for listing under Chapter 18C and benefit from the Technology Enterprises Channel. To support the high-speed developments of relevant industries, the HKEX has commenced a review to assess and optimise the existing listing framework to meet the fundraising needs arising from the development of the aerospace industry, and will announce specific measures or provide further guidance as appropriate in due course.

     Furthermore, the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC) is actively exploring investment directions related to commercial aerospace and the space economy. By synergising capital, technology, talent and application scenarios, the HKIC will facilitate to connect promising aerospace enterprises with the diverse financing channels, high calibre talent, and common law system advantages of Hong Kong as an international financial centre, thereby helping relevant enterprises accelerate technological translation and market implementation. The HKIC will also deepen collaborative innovation with local universities and research institutions, promote industry-academia-research collaboration, and assist Hong Kong in contributing to our country’s aerospace development with its own strengths, while injecting new momentum into Hong Kong’s high-quality economic development.

(4) The HKSAR Government has been conducting periodic manpower projection (MP) exercises to assess Hong Kong’s future manpower supply and requirement trends at a macro level, with a view to providing an important reference for the planning of medium-term manpower strategies. The LWB is currently conducting a mid-term update of the MP to assess Hong Kong’s manpower supply and demand trends from 2025 to 2028 at the macro level. The scope of the MP covers 17 key economic sectors, including the “international I&T centre”. The development of various advanced technologies (including aerospace technology and related cutting-edge technologies) as well as relevant scientific research activities (including R&D activities in the public, business and higher education sectors) have been subsumed under the overall manpower demand assessment for the “international I&T centre”. At present, the stakeholder consultation and data analysis for the mid-term update of the MP have been largely completed. Final data consolidation is underway, and the LWB expects to release the findings in the fourth quarter of 2026. 

     Regarding the specific breakdown of data analysis, preliminary feedback from the stakeholder consultation indicates that the manpower demand related to aerospace technology only accounts for a relatively small proportion of the entire manpower demand for the international I&T centre at the current stage. Hence, an independent quantitative assessment on aerospace technology has not been conducted in this mid-term update of the MP. The Government will continue to closely monitor the development trends of I&T (including aerospace technology) in Hong Kong. Where necessary, consideration may be given in future MPs to conducting more targeted sub-sectoral assessments on specific technology areas, so as to ensure that the manpower supply can dovetail with the development needs of the industries and our country. 

(5) The EDB advised that the Government has all along encouraged the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities to offer programmes which cater for Hong Kong’s development needs, expand the talent pool of important areas such as I&T, and strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness. In “The Chief Executive’s 2022 Policy Address”, we announced our target that by the 2026/27 academic year, 35 per cent of the students of the UGC-funded universities will be studying STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) subjects and 60 per cent will be studying subjects relevant to Hong Kong’s development into the “eight centres” in the 14th Five-Year Plan. During the 2025-28 triennium, the eight UGC-funded universities collectively introduce 27 new undergraduate programmes related to STEAM and the “eight centres”, covering emerging fields that have been rapidly developing and highly popular among young people in recent years, such as aerospace science and technology, etc. They will not only consolidate Hong Kong’s development in I&T and the “eight centres”, but also create opportunities for young people to give full play to their strengths, thereby promoting greater social and economic diversification.

     The UGC allocates recurrent funding to the eight UGC-funded universities, in the form of a block grant on a triennial basis, for offering programmes and allocating student places among different disciplines.

     At present, there are four UGC-funded universities offering undergraduate programmes in aerospace knowledge and training in Hong Kong, namely City University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the HKUST. PolyU also provides postgraduate programmes. These programmes all serve to nurture talent in aerospace engineering for both Hong Kong and the nation.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director-General David Cheng-Wei Wu held meetings with bipartisan leaders at the New South Wales (NSW) Parliament to enhance bilateral cooperation.
During the discussions, Director-General Wu shared updates on Taiwan’s recent economic and technological growth, noting that Taiwan’s stock market capitalization has surpassed the UK and India to become the fifth largest globally. He also highlighted Nvidia’s first overseas headquarters and innovation center set to open in Taiwan by 2030, alongside President Lai Ching-te’s newly launched “New Strategic Plan for Taiwan’s Population Policy,” which addresses demographic challenges to secure national competitiveness and social resilience.
Director-General Wu reaffirmed that Taiwan and Australia are key, like-minded partners sharing values of freedom and democracy, committed to the rules-based international order. He emphasized that this office will continue to deepen the strong partnership between Taiwan and New South Wales across all key sectors.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Environment and Ecology Bureau today urged the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent WhatsApp messages falsely claiming to be from the Secretary for Environment and Ecology (SEE).

The bureau clarified that neither it nor the SEE has any connection to these messages, adding that the case has been reported to the Police.

Members of the public are reminded to exercise caution regarding suspicious messages, protect their personal information and contact the Police if they suspect fraudulent activity.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs held the 2026 World Metrology Day Symposium on 19 May 2026. The symposium explored three major themes-smart manufacturing and AI, net-zero transition, and the new energy industry, highlighting that metrology is not only essential to the stable operation of industries across all sectors, but also serves as a critical foundation for national policymaking and fostering public trust.
World Metrology Day is celebrated globally on May 20 each year to commemorate the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875, which laid the foundation for global measurement consistency, and to reflect on how metrology can help address future challenges. As a member of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), the BSMI organized a symposium under the 2026 theme, “Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making.” It aimed to foster greater public awareness and understanding of the importance of metrology through the sharing and discussion of real-world case studies.

The BSMI noted that the metrology system is fundamental to ensuring fair market transactions and maintaining public confidence in government enforcement. Currently, 22 categories of legal measuring instruments have been designated under regulation. Any legal measuring instrument subject to mandatory verification must complete verification before importation or release from the factory to ensure the accuracy and consistency of measurement results, while also protecting consumer rights and maintaining fair trade practices.

In addition, BSMI has also aligned its efforts with the government’s energy transition and industrial upgrading policies. It is actively advancing hydrogen metrology technologies, developing standards for hydrogen refueling stations, and improving the green electricity trading framework, with the aim of gradually establishing a reliable standards and metrology foundation for emerging energy industries. At the same time, by integrating metrology with AI technologies, the BSMI is developing services for sensor calibration, automated equipment calibrations, and geometric measurement of machine tools, helping the smart machinery industry improve measurement data quality, enhance process stability, and strengthen international competitiveness.

The symposium featured distinguished speakers from industry and academia. Mr. Cheng Tzu-yen, General Manager of Chroma ATE Inc., delivered a presentation entitled “The Development of Smart Manufacturing and the Role of Metrology in the AI Wave,” exploring how smart manufacturing integrates AI applications with metrology to strengthen quality assurance and build trust across global supply chains. Mr. Lee Chien-ming, Senior Consultant at the Taiwan Research Institute, presented on “Metrology Supporting High-Integrity Net-Zero Transition,” explaining the pivotal role of metrology in carbon management and net-zero governance. In addition, Mr. Huang Yi-hsieh, Senior Energy Consultant at Taiwan Cement Corporation Group Holdings, shared insights on “Metrology Challenges and Policy Implementation in the New Energy Supply Chain,” highlighting the importance of establishing standardized metrology systems to support the implementation of new energy policies.

As the world moves toward digital governance, sustainable development, and energy transition, policymaking increasingly depends on a precise and reliable metrological foundation. The BSMI will endeavor to align with the nation’s development vision and strategies by leveraging internationally harmonized metrology standards and the solid foundation of the National Measurement Laboratory. Guided by the principles of “precise metrology, sustainable development, and intelligent innovation,” BSMI is committed to enhancing the credibility and impact of public policy and serving as a strong backbone for the sustainable development of Taiwan’s industrial economy.

Responsible Division: Metrology Administration Division
Contact Person: Chang, Chao-Ching, Deputy Director
Tel. (O): +886-2-23431700 ext. 5111
Email: hush.chang@bsmi.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     At the invitation of the Judiciary, the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services visited the Judiciary today (June 2) to meet with members of the Judiciary and toured the Mega Courtroom at the Wanchai Law Courts Building.

     The Chairman of the Panel, Ms Carmen Kan, the Deputy Chairman of the Panel, Mr Holden Chow and other LegCo Members first visited the Court of Final Appeal Building in Central to meet with the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung; the Chief Judge of the High Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Poon; the Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, Madam Justice Carlye Chu, to exchange views on major issues relating to the administration of justice.

     Members then visited the Mega Courtroom at the Wanchai Law Courts Building, where they were updated on the progress of the development of the new District Court Building on Caroline Hill Road by the Judiciary Administrator, Ms Esther Leung. They were also given a presentation and demonstration on major initiatives on the use of technology in court operations, including the integrated Court Case Management System, guidelines on using generative artificial intelligence, remote hearings, e-bundle hearings, voice-to-text technology, as well as digital evidence presentation and exhibits handling at court hearings.

     A total of 15 members and non-members of the Panel on Administration of Judiciary and Legal Services participated in the visit.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the exhibition “Hong Kong Film Archive Stories: Treasure Hunting for 25 Years” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from tomorrow (June 3) to March 29 next year. The exhibition will showcase nearly 1 000 items of treasures of Hong Kong film culture that the HKFA has acquired, restored and preserved over the years, among which more than 100 items are making their debut, to demonstrate the enduring charm of Hong Kong cinema. The artefacts will also serve to look back on the HKFA’s efforts in carrying forward Hong Kong’s cinematic heritage over the past quarter century.
 
Silver screen legends across a century
 
     The exhibition is meticulously crafted through a collaboration between visual effects master Victor Wong as the Technology and Artistic Director, renowned art director and textile costume culture expert Edith Cheung and film culture researcher Janice Chow as Exhibition Consultants, and the HKFA, with the full support of eight major film companies. At the exhibition entrance, the immersive star-studded tunnel display “Starry Portraits at 25” presents the film stills of numerous movie stars at the age of 25, enlightening visitors through a captivating journey across a century of cinematic legends.
 
Precious artifacts revive early cinematic scenes
 
     ​Featuring a curated selection of precious artefacts and images from the HKFA’s collection, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey back to the golden age of early cinema. They include a film still for the silent film “Join the Army and Live” (1926) as well as the most representative donations to the HKFA over the years, including the diary of Hong Kong film pioneer Lai Man-wai and the 1903 building plan for the Tai Ping Theatre, a large-scale cinema in Sai Wan built in the early 20th century.
 
Film trailers re-enacting evolution of film industry
 
     Over 60 trailers from early films and melodrama, musical, comedy and martial arts films, as well as international versions of trailers for overseas releases of films are screened at the “Screening Room of Trailers – Highlights of Hong Kong Film Trailers” zone, including a trailer of “The Story of a Discharged Prisoner” (1967) directed by Patrick Lung, a film from which John Woo drew inspiration to direct his eponymous classic 20 years later. An additional promotional clip for “Knockabout” (1979) which has been specially produced to feature the handsome physicality and solid skills of Yuen Biao is another rare treasure to be seen. This zone also features oral history interviews where directors, film editors, dubbing artists and others explain the production processes of film trailers, deepening visitors’ understanding of the craftsmanship behind the scenes.
 
Revisiting classics through fascinating costumes of megastars
 
     The HKFA has long been dedicated to preserving film costumes. The exhibition will showcase a series of classic costumes and precious accessories, including debuts of some selected film costumes of legendary film stars, such as Li Lihua in “Red Rose” (1952), Betty Loh Ti in “The Three Loves” (1956), Hsia Moon in “Bride Hunter” (1961), and Zhang Ziyi in “House of Flying Daggers” (2004). This zone also features manuscripts and historical records related to film costumes, and outlines the journey that costumes in the HKFA’s collection pass through, from acquisition, restoration, preservation to exhibition.
 
Showcasing glorious achievements of Hong Kong cinema
 
     Since the 1950s, the Hong Kong film industry has garnered numerous awards from major film festivals and professional organisations. Forty-six of these are on display in this exhibition, inviting visitors to appreciate the achievements of filmmakers’ years of dedication and hard work, from as early as the Silver Sail for Best Actor won by Kwan Shan at the Locarno International Film Festival for “The True Story of Ah Q” (1958), the Silver Bear for Best Actress won by Josephine Siao for “Summer Snow” (1995), and the Silver Bear for Best Director won by Yim Ho for “The Sun Has Ears” (1996) at the Berlin International Film Festival, to such newly collected items as Best Costume and Makeup Design won by Bruce Yu and Karen Yip for “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” (2024), and Best Film Editing won by William Chang for “Sons of the Neon Night” (2025) at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
 
Over 100 filmmakers appearing to share their experience
 
     The Oral History Project, launched in 1994, has researched the history of Hong Kong cinema’s development from all perspectives through extensive interviews with film veterans. The exhibition showcases precious interview clips of over 100 filmmakers. Videos titled “‘A Filmmaker, A Story’ Parts 1 & 2” will be shown at the exhibition, with a number of filmmakers sharing their own invaluable experiences in the industry, illustrating the creation of films from preparation, shooting to post-production. For example, Tsui Hark, the producer of “Swordsman II” (1992), shares how he went against opinions of others to cast actress Brigitte Lin as Dongfang Bubai, a male character in the original novel. The HKFA has also produced an oral history video titled “25 Key Figures and Events in Hong Kong Cinema”, focusing on film companies, film personalities, genres and cultural phenomena, while introducing outstanding figures in Hong Kong’s cinematic history.
 
     The exhibition features several photo spots, including an interactive installation, “Galaxy Station”, for visitors to take photos with images of movie stars from different eras when they were 25 years of age. Visitors can also take pictures at a poster wall, where classic film posters are mixed with neon light signs of film titles.
 
     The exhibition also showcases video messages from filmmakers of different generations congratulating the HKFA for its 25th anniversary. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Public Libraries, the HKFA has curated the “The Bookstore” zone, featuring a selection of the HKFA’s previous publications, allowing readers to savour the rich essence of Hong Kong cinema.
 
     To tie in with the exhibition, free screenings of eight restored Hong Kong film classics will be held at the theatre on the first floor of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from June to November. Audience members will be admitted to the theatre 15 minutes before the programme commences. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The film screening schedule is as follows:
 

June 13 (Saturday)	11am	The Valiant Ones (1975) (4K Digitally Restored Version)
June 13 (Saturday)	3pm	Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) (4K Digitally Restored Version)
June 14 (Sunday)	11am	Colourful Youth (1966) (Restored Version)
June 14 (Sunday)	3pm	The Wild, Wild Rose (1960) (4K Digitally Restored Version)
July 19 (Sunday)	3pm	The Secret (1979) (Restored Version)
August 8 (Saturday)	3pm	Father and Son (1981) (4K Digitally Restored Version)
October 3 (Saturday)	3pm	Feast of a Rich Family (1959) (4K Digitally Restored Version)
November 14 (Saturday)	3pm	Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom (1959) (Restored Version)

 
     The exhibition is supported by eight major film companies as Partner Organisations, including Edko Films Limited, Far Sun Film Co Ltd, Star Alliance Movies (HK) Co Ltd, Fortune Star Media Limited, First Distributors (HK) Ltd., Cathay-Keris Films Pte Ltd, Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd., and Media Asia Film Distribution (HK) Limited.
 
     For details of the exhibition and screenings, please visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/25a-hm/pe-event-2026-25a-hm.html or call 2739 2139.
 
     The exhibition is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2026. With “Beyond Fantasy” as this year’s theme, the LCSD is presenting the fourth Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region