Month: August 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Singapore National Day Dinner today (August 28):

Ambassador Eric Teo (Consul General of the Republic of Singapore in Hong Kong), Deputy Commissioner Hua You (Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), members of the diplomatic community in Hong Kong, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. It is a pleasure to join you tonight in celebration of Singapore’s 61st National Day.

This is a proud occasion, and a welcome opportunity to pay tribute to the remarkable progress the Lion City has made over more than six decades.

Singapore is a nation of foresight. That quality is in your DNA, and perhaps best expressed in the words of the late Lee Kuan Yew, and I quote: “We are always preparing, thinking, preparing and moving one step ahead… Nothing comes without planning and hard work.”

Hong Kong and Singapore have long enjoyed close ties. We are both open economies that live by finance and trade. Both of us have overcome no small number of challenges along the way. The success of our two cities has always turned on the same qualities: resilience, agility and the ability to respond rapidly to change.

Whenever Singapore and Hong Kong are spoken of together, it is tempting to reach for the language of rivalry – a tale of two endlessly competing cities. It is true that we watch each other closely, and learn from each other constantly. Yes, we sharpen each other. The Consul General has just given an excellent account of the many levels of our exchanges.

Yet if we look ahead – to the geopolitical landscape, and to the direction in which the global economy is moving – the answer is clear. We should compete where we must, and co-operate where it matters most. Some describe this as “co-opetition”. Whatever the term, it is in this spirit that our two cities will each realise our full potential, and that our partnership will contribute most to the region.

The foundations of our relationship are solid. Singapore’s stock of investment in Hong Kong stands at HK$310 billion, and more than 28 000 Singaporeans call Hong Kong home. The fact that the Singapore International School here is the only overseas school supported by your Ministry of Education speaks volumes about the depth of that presence. Last year, 590 Singaporean companies had operations in Hong Kong, 14 per cent more than the year before, and many are expanding.  

Two of your major financial institutions, for instance, have together committed some HK$4 billion to acquiring their offices in Hong Kong as their operations here grow. Not leasing, but buying. These are clear votes of confidence.

Hong Kong’s investment in Singapore is on a similar scale, at around HK$340 billion. At the end of last year, the venture fund of our Science and Technology Parks Corporation made a strategic investment in a Singaporean technology company to support its global expansion. Over the past few years, our senior officials have also led technology enterprises to Singapore on various occasions for business matching.

We also face a common set of new challenges, technological change and artificial intelligence in particular. The arrival of agentic AI has sharpened concerns. That said, we are both moving quickly to find more efficient ways of doing business, so as to raise productivity and remain competitive. We are also both alert to what technological change means for the labour market. How best to manage disruptions is a question we share.

Whatever the challenge, and wherever the opportunity, the logic is this: regional synergy is the best way to drive growth and development in every economy within it. Technological change has opened up ample room in the market, enough for all of us – and our task is to seize that moment and make the pie bigger.

Asia offers advantages and potential that cannot be replicated elsewhere. The Chinese Mainland has a vast domestic market, complete industrial and technology chains, and real strengths in high-end manufacturing. ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is booming, with its young population, a rising middle class and fast-growing digital economy. China-ASEAN trade has now passed US$1 trillion, and the region is integrating more closely every year. This creates fresh demand for regional finance and for high value-added services. That’s where the growth lies.

Here in Hong Kong, we are pressing ahead with the Northern Metropolis as our new economic engine. Together with the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, this will be a place where innovators, advanced manufacturing, world-class universities, top talent and capital all come together.

And the Northern Metropolis is not a closed loop. It is open to the region, open to the world. Our goal is to make it a key node of regional synergy – connecting the Greater Bay Area with partners across Asia and beyond. When Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was here in March, he made a point of seeing the Northern Metropolis for himself. Singaporean investors and entrepreneurs are very welcome.

What’s more, as two of the most international advanced economies in Asia, Hong Kong and Singapore can – and should – work hand in hand to strengthen the region’s voice and influence in the global arena.

Standard-setting is a good example, and that includes taxonomies for green and transition finance, governance frameworks for AI, rules for cross-border data flows, and much more. On all of these, if we can align our positions and make the case together, we will help lower the cost of doing business across the region, and lift its competitiveness as a whole.

Meanwhile, ASEAN members and other emerging economies are at very different stages of development, but all are seeking capital, skills and institutional experience. Hong Kong and Singapore have a great deal to offer them: infrastructure financing, financial services, talent development and our own experience in formulating rules and building institutions. This is not altruism. It is an investment in the stability and prosperity on which we all depend.

Taken together, the picture is clear. Our future lies in supporting the region’s continuing growth, whether through finance, trade, green transition or technological collaboration. That is how we will open broader and more inclusive opportunities. For both of us. For all of us.

Ladies and gentlemen, none of this will happen of its own accord. It will require sustained effort at every level – from our governments, our businesses and our people. Given the goodwill in this room, I have no doubt that we will continue to work together, and go from strength to strength, in Asia and beyond.

My heartiest congratulations to you all on Singapore’s National Day. May our friendship – and friendly competition – continue to flourish in the years ahead.

Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) will launch special inspection and enforcement operations across Hong Kong on August 30, September 5 and September 6 to ensure dog keepers properly control their pets in public places.

The operations aim to raise awareness of public safety and reduce the risk of dog attacks.

During the three-day exercise, AFCD officers will step up patrols at popular public places where dogs congregate. The department warned that immediate enforcement action will be taken against anyone failing to comply with legal requirements, and no prior warnings will be issued.

Officers will also distribute educational materials to promote responsible pet ownership and explain statutory requirements to the public.

Under the Rabies Ordinance, all dogs must be kept on a leash or otherwise under control in public places. Additionally, the Dangerous Dogs Regulation stipulates that large dogs weighing 20kg or more must be securely held on a leash no longer than 2m by a person when in public areas.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The 10th Taiwan-Thailand Industrial Collaboration Summit took place on August 18, 2026, at the ILLUME Hotel in Taipei. Co-hosted by the Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), and organized in collaboration with the Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI) of Taiwan and the National Food Institute (NFI) of Thailand, the summit brought together over 200 industry representatives from Taiwan and Thailand.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Chin Tsai Chen, Vice Chairperson of the CNFI; Mr. Veerachai Monsintorn, Vice Chairman of the FTI; Mr. Kuo-Hsuan Chen, Deputy Director General of the Industrial Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs; and Mr. Narong Boonsatheanwong, Executive Director of the Thailand Trade and Economic Office (Taipei), delivered remarks. They encouraged industries on both sides to leverage AI-driven innovation to deepen Taiwan-Thailand industrial cooperation and open a new chapter of smart development.

In 2026, industrial cooperation between the Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) entered its tenth year. Over the past decade, the two sides have used this platform to promote industry dialogue, deepen mutual trust, and create diverse opportunities for collaboration, establishing the summit as an important bridge for strengthening economic and industrial linkages between Taiwan and Thailand.

This year, the 10th Taiwan-Thailand Industrial Collaboration Summit continued to focus on four major areas: Smart Health, ICT Smart Technology, Smart Cities, and Smart Vehicles. The summit also facilitated the signing of four new MOUs.

eCaaS CARE Inc. and Thaiway Products Co., Ltd. will collaborate on elderly housing projects and remote health monitoring applications for public hospitals under Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, with the aim of expanding business opportunities in Thailand’s elderly care sector.

JustXtar CO., LTD. and Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association will strengthen Taiwan-Thailand industrial collaboration by promoting digital transformation and AI applications and advancing cooperation on ICT industry upgrading.

DataYoo and IFlowdev will collaborate on data analytics applications and jointly promote Taiwan’s AI smart agriculture solutions in the Thai market, further advancing smart agriculture applications and development in Taiwan and Thailand.

Taiwan Smart Electric Bicycle Association and Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand will strengthen Taiwan-Thailand industrial linkages in electric vehicles and smart electric two-wheelers by enhancing technology and market exchanges. They will also advance carbon-credit collaboration to expand green business opportunities and support the net-zero transition.

In recent years, Thailand has actively advanced high-value manufacturing, smart technologies, and green transformation, while strengthening its strategic development in electric vehicles, biotechnology, and the digital economy. These priorities complement Taiwan’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and technological innovation. Building on AI-enabled smart technologies, the 10th Taiwan-Thailand Industrial Collaboration Summit is expected to create new opportunities for industrial collaboration between the two countries.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the afternoon of August 27, President Lai Ching-te presided over the eighth meeting of the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee. In his opening statement, the president said that achieving universal healthcare coverage is a necessary condition for building a sustainable and resilient nation. He noted that through the 15 core strategies of the national action plan for indigenous peoples’ health resilience, the government is actively enhancing local medical capacities, building a feeling of cultural safety, and fostering tribal talent to promote health equity.
The president also announced that in October of this year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) will launch the Health Coins policy, which will use a reward mechanism to encourage citizens to make healthy behaviors a part of everyday life. He stated that through the government’s establishment of the system, and the joint participation of the public and private sectors, we will work together to create an ecosystem that promotes public health, as well as a healthier, more inclusive, and more resilient Taiwan.
A translation of President Lai’s opening statement follows:
This month marks two years since the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee was established, and today is the first time the members of the third committee have convened.
In appointing committee members for this term, we have purposefully expanded the number of experts and scholars from related fields in the private sector, incorporating professional expertise in public health, dementia and long-term care, as well as medical research. Through even more diverse perspectives, we look forward to providing more forward-looking recommendations for health policy.
You are all very familiar with the newly appointed advisor and committee members here with us today. I will introduce them one by one, so please welcome them with a round of applause.
First is Advisor Sytwu Huey-kang (司徒惠康), president of the National Health Research Institutes. Next are our new committee members: Chen Hsiang-kuo (陳相國), chairman of the Taiwan Medical Association; Su Shou-yi (蘇守毅), chairman of the National Union of Chinese Medical Doctors’ Association; Hsu Yu-shan (許有杉), chairman of the New Taipei City Pharmacists Association; Cheng Shou-hsia (鄭守夏), distinguished professor at National Taiwan University’s College of Public Health; and Tsuann Kuo (郭慈安), a deputy superintendent at Chung Shan Medical University Hospital. Once again, welcome, everyone. Let us work together to contribute our knowledge and efforts to Taiwan’s health policies.
For today’s meeting, the first agenda item is the national action plan for indigenous peoples’ health resilience, which is related to both health equity and national resilience.
The prosperous coexistence of diverse groups is a precious asset for Taiwan. This includes indigenous peoples, who laid the foundation of Taiwan’s rich historical and cultural heritage.
However, statistics show a 7.54-year gap in average life expectancy between indigenous peoples and the general population. This not only highlights that there is still room for greater efforts regarding health equity, but also reminds us that we must accelerate efforts to strengthen healthcare for our friends in indigenous communities.
Previously, during my tenure as premier, the government actively promoted the Indigenous Peoples Health Act in the legislature to ensure the health rights of indigenous peoples and reduce inequality in medical care. With joint efforts and support from both the ruling and opposition parties, the act was promulgated and entered into force in 2023, providing for generous budget allocations at the statutory level, expanding participation by indigenous peoples, and establishing a healthcare policy centered around indigenous peoples.
When I ran for president, I especially included strengthening health services for indigenous peoples as an important goal of the National Project of Hope and the Healthy Taiwan initiative. After I took office, the government has made every effort to make that happen.
Today, I am very pleased to see that through the 15 core strategies of the national action plan for indigenous peoples’ health resilience, the MOHW is actively enhancing local medical capacities, building a feeling of cultural safety, and fostering tribal talent so that healthcare networks tailored to each locality become the most reliable support system protecting the health of indigenous peoples.
Achieving universal healthcare coverage is a necessary condition for building a sustainable and resilient nation; ensuring healthcare for indigenous peoples is an indispensable and crucial piece of the puzzle in promoting health equity. I hope we will continue to work hard.
In addition, the core goal of the Healthy Taiwan initiative is not just to ensure that citizens live long lives, but that they live healthy lives.
Taiwan has already become a super-aged society, and chronic diseases have become a significant challenge to public health. Our health policies must also gradually shift from disease treatment to health promotion and preventive medicine, encouraging the public to actively establish healthy lifestyle habits.
Therefore, in October this year, the MOHW will launch the Health Coins policy. Using innovative digital health technology, it aims to encourage healthy behaviors through a reward mechanism so that more people will be willing to undergo health check-ups, cancer screenings, preventive healthcare, and health management, making healthy behaviors a part of everyday life.
Health Coins are not merely a health reward system. They are also a new model for the government’s promotion of digital health governance. Through the government’s establishment of the system, and the joint participation of the public and private sectors, we will work together to create an ecosystem that promotes public health.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my special thanks to the MOHW for their courage in creating innovative health and welfare policies. I also request that, later in the meeting, all advisors and committee members weigh in with their professional suggestions so that the government can advance various health policies on a steadier footing.
All our small steps for better health add up to a major advance toward national resilience. So, let us work together to create a healthier, more inclusive, and more resilient Taiwan.
Following his statement, President Lai heard a report on the progress of items listed in the seventh committee meeting from Executive Secretary and Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良), a report on the national action plan for indigenous peoples’ health resilience from Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), and a report on Health Coins policy promotion planning from Health Promotion Administration Director General Shen Ching-fen (沈靜芬). Afterward, President Lai exchanged views with the committee members regarding the content of the reports.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The 32nd Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony, co-organised by the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC), was held today (August 28) to commend construction contractors, site supervising teams, project leaders, frontline supervisors and workers with outstanding safety performance. Over 420 public and private construction sites participated in the Scheme this year.
      
Speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau, said that site safety has always been a top priority for the construction industry. He stressed the need to cultivate a safety habit and culture, with every member of the project team fulfilling their dual responsibilities by carrying out both their core duties and safety responsibilities. The Government will issue relevant guidelines on these roles and responsibilities for public works projects within this year. In addition, the DEVB further strengthened the regulatory mechanism for public works projects early this year, taking stricter regulatory action against underperforming personnel of contractors and resident site staff. Encouraging the industry to actively and widely adopt the Smart Site Safety System (4S), he noted that the CIC has set up a dedicated team to conduct surprise inspections on construction sites with 4S labels issued to ensure effective implementation of the 4S. If a site fails to properly adopt the 4S, its 4S label will be revoked immediately. He expressed his hope that, through this series of measures, the construction industry will be driven towards a new milestone of greater safety and sustainability.

Also officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the CIC, Professor Thomas Ho, emphasised that the construction industry should continue promoting a safety culture under the theme “Build Smart. Care with Heart. Own the Task.” He stressed the importance of making good use of technologies to safeguard the wellbeing of every worker. He also encouraged all industry stakeholders to fulfil their respective safety roles and responsibilities. Top management should visit construction sites more frequently to demonstrate their commitment to safety, while workers should take care of one another and foster a caring culture that enhances site safety and promotes good working practices. By working together, the industry would contribute to construction safety.

Awards were presented to a total of 68 construction sites this year and the list of awardees of the Scheme is available on the website of Construction Safety Week (www.safetyweek.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) is supporting Hong Kong artist Prudence Mak in presenting the “Wave of Life” ink art exhibition tour in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, promoting Hong Kong’s vibrant arts and cultural scene and showcasing the talent of Hong Kong artists.

     The exhibition features a collection of Mak’s contemporary ink paintings, ceramics and large-scale installations, reflecting her exploration of life, memory, nature, culture and self-discovery. Through layered ink washes, expressive brushwork and imaginative compositions, Mak’s works reinterpret traditional Chinese ink aesthetics through a contemporary visual language, creating a dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures and demonstrating the evolving possibilities of Chinese ink art on the international contemporary art stage.

     The exhibition tour commenced in Sydney from August 21 to 24. The tour continued in Melbourne with an opening ceremony held yesterday (August 27), followed by the exhibition which runs until September 6. 

     Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong, said that Hong Kong and Melbourne have long enjoyed close ties in arts and culture. He highlighted the growing arts and cultural exchanges between the two places, including collaborations involving the West Kowloon Cultural District and museums and universities in Melbourne.

     “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is dedicated to supporting Hong Kong’s cultural development, and the Sydney ETO is keen to promote arts and cultural exchanges with local communities here in Australia. Exhibitions like ‘Way of Life’ provide a wonderful platform to showcase Hong Kong’s creative talent to audiences around the world,” Mr Chong said.

     Complementing the exhibition, a series of workshops led by Mak and her team provides participants with an opportunity to experience Chinese ink painting first-hand. Participants can explore traditional Chinese ink painting techniques and aesthetics while developing their own creative interpretations, further promoting appreciation and understanding of Chinese art and culture.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The “Hong Kong Artists” Series 2026, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will feature three new dance works. Artfully conceived by outstanding local choreographer Kaki Lee as well as emerging choreographers Rosalie Ng and Ching Chu, these pieces showcase the unique creative visions of young choreographic talent. Tickets will be available at URBTIX from 10am on September 1 (Tuesday).

Brief introductions of the programmes are as follows:

“After Silence: Echo” by Kaki Lee
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Date and time: October 16 and 17 (Friday and Saturday), 8pm
October 18 (Sunday), 3pm
Venue: Black Box Theatre, Kwai Tsing Theatre
Ticket price: $280

Inspired by Albert Camus’s Philosophy of the Absurd, Kaki Lee translates the conflict between human desire and reality into a distinct dance vocabulary. Using “elastic bands” as a central metaphor, two dancers lock in a continuous struggle—alternating between physical tension and release, and emotional pain and awakening consciousness. Combining stage space, lighting and video elements, the performance mirrors the inexplicable tension and underlying absurdity of life.

Lee graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) majoring in contemporary dance. A former full-time dancer with the City Contemporary Dance Company, he is currently the co-artistic director of Rice Journey Production and actively participates in the dance sector as a dancer, choreographer, dance video designer, independent curator and dance educator. 

“How to Build a ______” by Ching Chu and “Dear,” by Rosalie Ng
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Date and Time: December 18 and 19 (Friday and Saturday), 8pm
December 19 and 20 (Saturday and Sunday), 3pm
Venue: Black Box Theatre, Tai Po Civic Centre
Ticket Price: $250

Two rising local choreographers will present works with distinct artistic styles: Ching Chu’s “How to Build a ______” draws inspiration from the operation of everyday tools and physical hardware labour. Through task-based movements, material exploration and a stage design that evokes the atmosphere of a workshop, the work explores the collision between the body, technical skill and gendered expectations. Rosalie Ng’s “Dear,” explores the long emotional aftershock of loss, tracing how memories of the past quietly seep into daily life. In the face of inescapable, imminent farewells, the work invites audiences to reflect on what it means to live alongside them. 

Chu graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the School of Dance at the HKAPA majoring in contemporary dance. Her creative practice navigates the realms of visual arts and performing arts. Her recent creations include the solo short pieces “Shifting Still” and “I Dance In This Outfit”, both of which explore female subjectivity. Ng graduated from the University of Hong Kong majoring in translation, and has been actively involved in various theatre productions. Her work “Through THE LENS” was invited to be part of the City Contemporary Dance Festival. She has recently performed in numerous productions with the Beyond Dance Theater. 

“How to Build a ______” and “Dear,” are featured as a double-bill programme under the LCSD’s “Hong Kong Artists” Series 2026, which offers a platform for local young choreographers, enabling them to develop new medium-scale dance works in a professional setting, thereby elevating their creative quality and production capabilities.

Tickets for the above-mentioned programmes will be available from September 1 onwards at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. A 30 per cent early bird discount will be offered from September 1 to September 14 (Monday) for purchases of standard tickets of the programmes. Package discounts and group booking discounts are also available. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1985.html.

In addition to the above-mentioned dance programmes, the “Hong Kong Artists” Series 2026 will present four recitals from September to November, bringing together a number of outstanding local musicians. They will perform on percussion, saxophone, piano and dizi, showcasing the musical pulse and cultural vitality of Hong Kong’s new generation.