Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

At the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area, the Civil Engineering & Development Department (CEDD) is breathing new life into facilities along the Tin Shui Wai river channel.

Transformed riverside

For the first phase of this transformation, the project team zeroed in on a stretch of the river between Tin Shui Estate and Tin Wah Estate.

CEDD Architect Chan Man-kong said they centred the design on the junction of the Tin Shui Wai river and Ha Tsuen channel, creating art paintings on the walls and pavement.

“This spot is precisely the starting point of the eastern side of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area and is adjacent to Tin Shui Wai,” noted Mr Chan.

“On the left, is the vibrant town centre of the new development area and the happy smiles of the residents, while on the right is the lively traditional dragon dance celebration.

“Linking these two scenes together is the Tin Sum riverside and floodable open space in the middle. We have also specially incorporated the scenery of Lau Fau Shan and Deep Bay, as well as migratory birds, horseshoe crabs and fiddler crabs.”

Mr Chan added that the mural represents the future of the new development area.

Facility face-lifts

Along the riverbank, two pergolas have been completely reimagined, each redesigned with its own distinct charm and character.

“The pavilion walls are decorated with the logo, colours and patterns of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area,” explained Mr Chan. “And the design of another pavilion takes the common egrets found along the Tin Shui Wai river as the theme, using egret silhouettes with shades of blue to represent the sky and river water, creating an effect with simple patterns and lively colours.”

Turning this vision into reality relied on seamless teamwork and a shared goal across various departments.

In addition to the pavilion beautification, the CEDD was also responsible for feature art paintings and the provision of fitness bikes.

CEDD Engineer Bonnie Kwan noted that the Leisure & Cultural Services Department carried out the riverside landscaping, the Highways Department relayed the paving blocks and beautified the railings, while the Drainage Services Department shortened the fencing, all in an effort to make the overall environment more layered and more welcoming.

Embracing enhancements

Following the completion of the beautification works, the upgraded waterfront has been warmly received. Residents have said the riverside space is now more comfortable and vibrant, encouraging more people to stroll along the promenade and enjoy leisurely activities by the water.

CEDD Chief Engineer Chung Lok-chin said preparations are now underway for the next phase of work, with plans to select outstanding design proposals through a design competition to further enhance the riverside space through small-scale works.

“In the long term, under the planning of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area, the western bank of the Tin Shui Wai river channel will be transformed into a 2-km-long riverside promenade,” explained Mr Chung.

“Bridges will be added to improve accessibility between both riversides, and more trees and flowers will be planted to beautify the environment for public use.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The foundation course of the fourth-phase ROLE Train-the-Leaders Programme, themed “Rule of Law Education Stars”, concluded today.

The two-day course was organised by the Department of Justice and attended by about 120 trainees.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam spoke at the event, briefing participants on key topics including the core concepts of the rule of law and the structure of the Hong Kong legal system.

Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan also shared his practical experiences, equipping trainees with effective communication and teaching skills to better disseminate rule of law messages.

Participants described the course content as practical and accessible. They noted that the training deepened their understanding of rule of law principles, enabling them to effectively convey accurate messages within their respective community roles.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan today concluded his visit to Xi’an by attending The First Western Commercial Space Conference, meeting Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Shaanxi Provincial Committee Xu Xinrong.

Speaking at the conference, Mr Chan highlighted Xi’an’s strong scientific research capabilities, robust industrial chain and deep pool of technological talent in the aerospace industry.

He pointed out that for the commercial space industry to thrive, it must successfully secure financing, expand market reach and maintain steady development.

Mr Chan discussed Hong Kong’s unique positioning under the “one country two systems” principle, noting that the city can act as an international interface for the western region’s aerospace industry across capital, research and market perspectives.

In terms of capital, the Financial Secretary said Hong Kong can help technology enterprises with raising funds, valuation, pricing and cross-boundary mergers and acquisitions using internationally recognised rules.

For scientific research, the city’s universities can partner with Xi’an institutions on key technologies, drive the commercialisation of research outcomes and leverage global networks to attract top-tier talent.

Regarding market development, Hong Kong can help Mainland enterprises expand overseas by facilitating standards conversion and product validation.

Mr Chan stressed that Hong Kong will leverage its openness, internationalisation and financial strengths to empower the western region’s aerospace industry and support national aerospace development.

The finance chief departed for Hong Kong this afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (June 26) continued his visit programme in Xi’an.

Mr Chan today called on the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, and had an in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong. Mr Chan said that Shaanxi has gathered innovative resources, possesses strong research capabilities, and has complete and thriving industrial chains in areas such as national hard technology research and development, aerospace and aviation, and major equipment manufacturing. Hong Kong, with its advantages as an international financial centre and in high-end professional services under “one country, two systems”, together with its common law system and free port status, is an important hub connecting the Mainland and international markets.

He said that the two places can deepen co-operation in areas such as innovation and research and development, commercialisation of research outcomes, cultivation of innovative enterprises and listing financing, as well as talent exchanges and higher education. This would better connect Shaanxi’s research and industrial strengths with Hong Kong’s financial and internationalisation advantages, achieve resource sharing and mutual empowerment, enable each other’s success, and jointly serve the country’s development of new quality productive forces and high-quality development. He invited Xi’an enterprises to form delegations to visit Hong Kong, exchange and connect with Hong Kong enterprises and the investment community, and explore further co-operation.

In the morning, Mr Chan visited Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), where he met with the President of NPU, Professor Song Baowei, and held a discussion session with innovation and technology enterprises. He then delivered a speech to more than 200 teachers, students and alumni, engaging in in-depth exchanges on promoting hard technology innovation, commercialisation of research outcomes, and deepening co-operation between Xi’an and Hong Kong in scientific research and industrial development.

In his speech, Mr Chan pointed out that NPU students have demonstrated, in different ways, a spirit of craftsmanship in perfecting technologies and products. However, for technology to move from the laboratory to the world, it no longer depends only on whether the product is advanced, but also on whether it can withstand the tests of supply chain restructuring and alignment with international standards.

He said that globalisation is shifting from the previous “efficiency first” model to one that places equal emphasis on “efficiency and resilience”, with supply chain security, self-reliance in core technologies, and cross-boundary regulation becoming key considerations. Against this backdrop, the country is strengthening basic research and original innovation, supporting breakthroughs with long-term accumulated “slow variables”. At the same time, areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced materials and quantum technology are crossing the threshold of industrialisation, forming synergistic development among “technology clusters” and driving the development of new industries, new models and new growth drivers.

Mr Chan pointed out that Xi’an has a profound foundation in hard technology and is an important fertile ground for the accumulation of related technologies, with its achievements being accelerated for civilian application. Hong Kong, with its common law system, free port advantages and international platform, brings together capital, talent and professional services, to help connect technological achievements with international markets, and promote “Xi’an R&D, Hong Kong empowerment, global application”.

He encouraged young people to be professionally strong and broad-minded, and to actively enter the intersection of “finance + technology”. He also encouraged them to base themselves in the country and look to the world, seize opportunities amid changes, enhance their sustainable competitiveness, and grasp the broad opportunities brought about by technological development.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan visited the Xi’an High-tech Industries Development Zone (Xi’an High-tech Zone). As a national-level high-tech industries development zone, the Xi’an High-tech Zone focuses on strategic emerging industries such as electronic information, high-end equipment, new energy and new materials. The Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Mr Peter Yan, and representatives of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and Invest Hong Kong also joined the visit.

Mr Chan and his delegation visited enterprises engaged respectively in advanced energy storage, optoelectronic integration, metal additive manufacturing, and high-end equipment inspection and testing, to learn about their latest progress in frontier technology research and development and industrialisation. Mr Chan then held a discussion session with representatives of 25 enterprises in the Xi’an High-tech Zone, exchanging views on promoting hard technology innovation, facilitating deeper integration among industry, academia, research and application, and expanding co-operation between Hong Kong and Shaanxi in areas such as technology and innovation, finance and professional services.

During the discussion session, a number of enterprises expressed strong interest and willingness to access international capital through Hong Kong and further expand into overseas markets. Mr Chan welcomed them to come to Hong Kong for fundraising and financing, global expansion, and technology research and development and advanced manufacturing. He asked the OASES, the HKIC, HKEX and others to fully connect with them and provide support.

Mr Chan will continue his itinerary in Xi’an tomorrow (June 27) and attend the inaugural Western Commercial Aerospace Conference.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The 23rd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPCSC) today (June 26) passed the “Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Authorizing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Exercise Jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port” (the Decision). The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) expresses its sincere gratitude to the Central Authorities for their staunch support in establishing the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area.

A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, “The NPCSC’s Decision fully reflects the Central Authorities’ high regard and support for Hong Kong to better integrate into and serve the overall national development. It is of great strategic significance for strengthening the infrastructure connectivity between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, enhancing interactions between the people of, and economic and trade activities between the two places, as well as advancing the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). This is a clear demonstration of the advantages of ‘one country, two systems’.”

The HKSAR Government has been proactively aligning with national development strategies. Working closely with the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, the HKSAR Government has adopted a forward-looking strategy to upgrade the infrastructure of land boundary control points (BCPs) between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, deepen the reform on the mode of boundary clearance, and actively utilise innovation and technology to enhance the convenience of clearance. The Huanggang Port redevelopment project is one of the key initiatives that the HKSAR Government is participating in the implementation of national development strategies. The redeveloped Huanggang Port will be positioned as the most important 24-hour passenger land BCP between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It will implement the co-location arrangement and the novel “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode to further enhance the passenger clearance experience and efficiency. Clearance time at the new Huanggang Port will be significantly reduced from around 30 minutes at the existing Lok Ma Chau/ Huanggang Port to approximately five minutes. The design flow of the new Huanggang Port will increase to 200 000 passenger trips per day, and could be further increased to about 300 000 upon the future commissioning of the Northern Link Spur Line of the MTR Corporation Limited.

The HKSAR Government expresses its gratitude to the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government for their co-operation and continued support. Having discussed and reached a consensus on matters relating to the scope and area of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area, as well as clearance mode at the port, the HKSAR Government and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province made submissions to the Central Government regarding the implementation of the co-location arrangement at the Huanggang Port, proposing that it be submitted to the NPCSC for examination.

According to the Decision, the NPCSC has decided as follows:

1. The HKSAR is authorized to exercise, with effect from the day on which the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port are commissioned, jurisdiction over the said areas in accordance with the laws of the HKSAR within the period specified in Article 3 of the Decision.

The HKSAR is to administer the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port as a closed area.

2. The areas over which the HKSAR is authorized to exercise jurisdiction comprise the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area, the deck of the Shenzhen section of the Lok Ma Chau Bridge connecting the port, the interior of the bridge box girders accessible via the bridge deck, and the surfaces of the connecting roads. The date of commissioning of the relevant areas, and their specific coordinates and area, are to be determined by the State Council. The use of the aforesaid areas is not to be altered within the period specified in Article 3 of the Decision.

3. The HKSAR Government acquires by way of a lease the right to use the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port. The term of the lease is to commence on the day on which the relevant areas are commissioned and is to expire on June 30, 2047. On the expiry of the term of the lease, with a decision of the NPCSC, the term of the lease may be renewed.

Upon receiving the determination from the State Council on the commissioning date of the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port, as well as the specific coordinates and area of the relevant areas, the HKSAR Government will introduce the relevant bill to the Legislative Council as soon as practicable, so as to take forward the local legislative exercise. The HKSAR Government will continue to work closely with the Guangdong Province and the Shenzhen Municipality to take forward all preparatory works of the opening of the Huanggang Port at full steam, proactively align the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and contribute Hong Kong’s strengths to the high-quality development of the GBA. The HKSAR Government will maintain close communication with the Shenzhen side and will make timely announcements to the public once the official opening date of the Huanggang Port is finalised, with a view to creating a more efficient and convenient clearance experience for members of the public.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened on a construction site in Kowloon Bay this morning (June 26). While working on the ground, a male worker was run over by a reversing compactor to death. The LD is saddened by death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

     The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the operation of all loadshifting machines at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”

     The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
     
     To prevent workers from being struck by loadshifting machines, the LD reminds employers to take adequate precautionary measures, including placing suitable barriers to segregate workers from machinery operating zones; installing suitable safety devices on loadshifting machines, such as rearview mirrors, closed-circuit televisions for reversing operations, and audio/visual alarms, to alert persons working nearby; and arranging signallers to give clear indications to operators, especially when visibility is obstructed during reversing operations. 

     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

     In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan today continued his visit to Xi’an, where he called on CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee Secretary Zhao Yide, and toured a university and a high-tech zone.

Mr Chan and Mr Zhao held an in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening Shaanxi-Hong Kong co-operation.

The finance chief said the two places can deepen co-operation in areas such as innovation, research and development, commercialisation of research outcomes, the cultivation of innovative enterprises, and financing for listings, as well as talent exchanges and higher education.

He invited Xi’an enterprises to send delegations to visit Hong Kong, connect with Hong Kong enterprises and the investment community, and explore further co-operation.

In the morning, Mr Chan visited Northwestern Polytechnical University, where he met the university’s President Prof Song Baowei. He held a discussion session with innovation and technology enterprises, and spoke to more than 200 teachers, students and alumni.

The Financial Secretary said that globalisation is shifting from an “efficiency first” model to one that places equal emphasis on “efficiency and resilience”, with supply chain security, self-reliance in core technologies, and cross-boundary regulation becoming key considerations.

Mr Chan remarked that Hong Kong’s capital, talent and professional services can help to connect Xi’an’s technological achievements with international markets. He described this model in terms of “Xi’an research & development, Hong Kong empowerment, global application”.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan toured the Xi’an High-tech Industries Development Zone, which focuses on industries such as electronic information, high-end equipment, new energy and new materials.

Mr Chan’s delegation visited enterprises engaged in advanced energy storage, optoelectronic integration, metal additive manufacturing, and high-end equipment inspection and testing, and learnt about these companies’  progress in frontier technology research and development, and industrialisation.

He also held a discussion session with representatives of 25 enterprises in the zone. They discussed hard technology innovation, facilitating deeper integration among academia, research and industry, and expanding co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong in areas such as technology and innovation, finance and professional services.

During the session, a number of enterprises expressed strong interest in accessing international capital through Hong Kong and expanding into overseas markets.

Mr Chan urged them to come to Hong Kong for fundraising and financing, global expansion, technology research and development, and advanced manufacturing.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

​The 23rd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPCSC) today passed a decision to authorise the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to exercise jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Port Area and other areas at the Huanggang Port.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government expresses gratitude to the central authorities for their support in establishing the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area.

It said that the NPCSC’s decision reflects the central authorities’ high regard for Hong Kong and their support for it to better integrate into and serve national development.

The Government said the move is of great strategic significance in strengthening infrastructure connectivity between Hong Kong and the Mainland, enhancing interactions between the two places, and advancing the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It added that it offers a clear demonstration of the advantages of “one country, two systems”.

The Huanggang Port redevelopment project is a key initiative in which the Hong Kong SAR Government is contributing to the implementation of national development strategies. The redeveloped port will be positioned as the most important 24-hour passenger land boundary control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It will implement the “co-location arrangement” and the novel “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode to enhance passenger clearance.

Clearance time at the new Huanggang Port will be significantly reduced from around 30 minutes at the existing Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port to approximately five minutes. Flows at the new Huanggang Port will increase to 200,000 passenger trips per day, and this could be further increased to about 300,000 upon commissioning of the MTR Corporation’s Northern Link Spur Line.

The NPCSC decided that the Hong Kong SAR is authorised to exercise – with effect from the day on which the Hong Kong Port Area and “Related Extended Areas” at the Huanggang Port are commissioned – jurisdiction over those areas in accordance with the laws of the HKSAR.

The areas over which the Hong Kong SAR is authorised to exercise jurisdiction comprise the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area, the deck of the Shenzhen section of the Lok Ma Chau Bridge connecting the port, the interior of the bridge box girders accessible via the bridge deck, and the surfaces of connecting roads. The dates of commissioning of the areas, and their specific coordinates and size, are to be determined by the State Council. The use of the areas is not to be altered within the specified period.

The Hong Kong SAR Government acquires by way of a lease the right to use the Hong Kong Port Area and “Related Extended Areas” at the Huanggang Port. The term of the lease will commence on the day on which the relevant areas are commissioned and will expire on June 30, 2047.

On expiry of the term of the lease, the term of the lease may be renewed at the discretion of the NPCSC.

Upon receiving a determination from the State Council on the commissioning date of the Hong Kong Port Area and the related areas, the Hong Kong SAR Government will introduce a bill in the Legislative Council as soon as is practicable.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Environmental Protection Department said tonight it is working with industry stakeholders to explore the reduction of high liquid content waste (HLCW) at source, through proper treatment and recycling, to stop the disposal of such waste at landfills.

Responding to media enquiries on HLCW treatment, the department said that about 1,500 tonnes of HLCW were disposed at landfills in 2025, equivalent to about 100 double-decker buses. The waste will become leachate and may affect landfill stability.

HLCW includes liquid food such as beverages, sauces and ice-cream, and personal care products such as shower gels and moisturising creams. Other liquids such as paint and cleansing agents also fall into the category.

If operators need to dispose of HLCW at landfills, they must apply to the department for a “Disposal of Special Waste at Landfills Admission Ticket”. In 2025, there were 27 such ticket-holders in the city, comprising manufacturers, retail enterprises, and logistics companies.

The department contacted admission ticket holders, local recyclers, and some manufacturers and retail enterprises earlier this year to discuss ways of gradually reducing the disposal of HLCW at landfills.

It has proposed that operators minimise the generation of expired items at source through enhanced inventory management, and make donations of properly packaged and usable items to social welfare organisations or charities.

For items unsuitable for donation, the department said operators can install their own processing equipment, or hand over items to capable recyclers for treatment.

The department revealed that in the past three months, one beverage manufacturer sent about 300,000 bottles of discarded beverages to recyclers, with the materials being recycled.

Additionally, a dairy producer plans to send about 50,000 cartons of discarded milk monthly to recyclers.

Furthermore, the department is helping the local recycling industry to enhancing its capacity to handle waste. The Recycling Fund is assessing applications to support recyclers in purchasing equipment.

The department’s Organic Resources Recovery Centres (O.PARKs) are capable of processing liquid food, while the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre can process waste liquids containing chemicals.

As for other waste liquids, these can be discharged into the communal sewer after proper treatment and on the condition of licence compliance. Thereafter, such waste liquids may be conveyed to sewage treatment facilities for further treatment.

The department said it will continue to discuss the handling of HLCW with the industry, before deciding on the full implementation details and a final timetable.

If operators encounter technical difficulties while switching to alternative solutions, they can seek assistance from the department.