Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKEX and HKMA launch pilot project to enable digital payment solution for derivatives After-Hours Trading
This initiative aims to enhance Hong Kong’s capital market and meet the growing market demand for AHT. In this connection, HKEX and the HKMA are exploring the use of e-HKD – a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) operating on a 24/7 basis – for advance margin payments in the AHT session, enhancing the risk management capabilities of the derivatives market outside regular banking hours, whilst maintaining the existing operational workflows.
This pilot project will provide more flexibility and efficiency than the existing arrangement for advance margin payments. Currently, Clearing Participants (CPs) must submit advance margin deposit requests to the HKFE Clearing Corporation Limited (HKCC) by 3pm for funds to be counted for the subsequent AHT session.
HKEX is inviting CPs under the HKCC to participate in Real-Value Trial Transactions of this pilot initiative on an optional basis (Note 2). The Real-Value Trial Transactions, as well as any subsequent wider adoption, are subject to regulatory approval, market readiness and other relevant considerations.
The HKEX Chief Operating Officer, Vanessa Lau, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with the HKMA on this latest initiative to advance market accessibility and strengthen Hong Kong’s capital markets infrastructure. By exploring the use of CBDC, we aim to provide a more flexible and timely payment option outside of regular business hours, and address longstanding operational pain points in the industry. This project reflects the shared commitment of HKEX and the HKMA to embracing innovation, strengthening the resilience of our markets and reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial centre.”
HKMA Deputy Chief Executive Howard Lee said, “As Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure evolves to meet the growing demands of the market, the HKMA is committed to advancing innovation that enhances efficiency and resilience. The joint pilot with HKEX to enable advance margin payments for AHT using e-HKD demonstrates a wholesale application of CBDC in a live market environment, while underscoring our strong partnership with the industry stakeholders in driving financial innovation.”Issued at HKT 16:50
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EPD awards Sha Tin Transfer Station Third Follow-On Contract
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
EPD awards Sha Tin Transfer Station Third Follow-On Contract
The major items of the works comprise the provision and replacement of waste-handling and waste-transferring mechanical plants, upgrades to the wastewater treatment, odour control and automatic vehicle washing systems, and improvements to the building’s aesthetic appearance, energy efficiency, and the surrounding environment of the STTS. Upon completion of the works, the STTS will further enhance its waste-handling efficiency and overall environmental performance.Issued at HKT 16:12
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CE to lead delegation to visit Fujian
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CE to lead delegation to visit Fujian
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip, will join the delegation. The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, among other officials, will join relevant parts of the visit programme.
The meeting-cum-plenary will be held in Fuzhou on June 22. Hong Kong and Fujian will have in-depth exchanges on various key areas to further deepen co-operation. During the visit, Mr Lee will meet with provincial and municipal leaders of Fujian and visit local innovation and technology enterprises and cultural projects.
Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on June 24. During his absence, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will be the Acting Chief Executive from June 22 until the afternoon, and the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, will be the Acting Chief Executive from the evening of June 22 until June 24.
Issued at HKT 16:00
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Appointments to Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission announced
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appointments to Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission announced
The functions of the Commission are to advise or make recommendations to the Chief Executive regarding the filling of vacancies in judicial offices, representations from a judicial officer concerning conditions of service referred to it by the Chief Executive, and any matter affecting judicial officers which may be prescribed or which the Chief Executive may refer to it.
The membership list with effect from July 1, 2026, is as follows:
Ex-officio Chairman
———–
Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
Members
———–
Secretary for Justice (ex-officio member)
Mr Justice Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor
Madam Justice Carlye Chu Fun-ling
Mr Victor Dawes, SC
Mr Roden Tong Man-lung
Mr Carlson Tong
Mr Philip Chen Nan-lok
Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu
Issued at HKT 15:30
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Hong Kong rises to rank second globally in World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
In the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) 2026 published by the International Institute for Management Development, Hong Kong’s global competitiveness has risen for the third consecutive year, up one place to second globally this year, the highest since 2019.
Among the four competitiveness factors in the WCY 2026, Hong Kong ranks second globally in “Government efficiency” and third in “Business efficiency”. Hong Kong ranks eighth and 11th globally in “Infrastructure” and “Economic performance” respectively. As regards the various competitiveness sub-factors, Hong Kong tops the rankings in “Tax policy” and “Business legislation”; ranks second globally in “Finance”; third globally in “International trade”, “International investment”, “Management practices” and “Education”; and fourth globally in “Public finance” and “Basic infrastructure”.
A Government spokesperson said today (June 18), “The WCY 2026 reaffirms Hong Kong as one of the most competitive economies in the world, and notes that Hong Kong’s rise to second globally sustains the strong upward trajectory from 2024 and 2025. In the competitiveness factor ‘Government efficiency’ Hong Kong continues to rank second globally, reflecting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s ongoing efforts to promote free and open, stable, predictable and business-friendly economic policies, as well as the international community’s trust in Hong Kong’s legal and regulatory environment. Hong Kong’s ‘Business efficiency’ is ranked third globally, reflecting the strong support for industry development rendered by our robust financial ecosystem, as well as the seamless alignment of the city’s business practices and environment with international best standards.”
The spokesperson added, “Amid rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics, Hong Kong, with its close connectivity to both the Chinese Mainland and the world under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, and its sound institutions, open markets and sustained investments in innovation, has become a ‘value hub’ that offers both security and growth opportunities. In fact, Hong Kong continues to excel in various international rankings including those for economy, finance, and talent. The International Monetary Fund has also given positive recognition to Hong Kong in recent months, and major credit rating agencies have successively reaffirmed Hong Kong’s credit ratings and ‘stable’ outlook. All these echo the WCY 2026 results.
“Currently, Hong Kong is formulating at full speed its first Five-Year Plan to proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. With the staunch support of our country, the HKSAR Government will work together with all sectors of society to strengthen our role and function as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’, with a view to better integrating into and serving the overall national development, achieving our own high-quality development, creating more new room for development for our people and businesses, as well as opening up new opportunities for global investors and enterprises.”
Transport Department public service arrangements announced (2)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Transport Department (TD) today (June 18) announced that as the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is cancelled, services of the Driving Test Centres will resume in about two hours upon its cancellation. The TD will gradually resume all driving tests when the weather and road conditions permit, and make flexible arrangements. Candidates with any questions may contact the relevant Driving Test Centre (for road tests) or the Driving Test Appointment Office (for written tests). For candidates whose driving tests have not been conducted earlier due to the adverse weather conditions, they will be individually informed of the rescheduled test appointment.
Members of the public who have made an appointment for vehicle examination services can make a new appointment tomorrow if they cannot attend while the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force or within two hours after its cancellation.
Moreover, while the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force or within two hours after its cancellation, applicants who have made appointments for driving licence-related services, renewal of a vehicle licence, transfer of vehicle ownership, application for a duplicate vehicle registration document/duplicate vehicle licence, an international driving permit, retention, transfer or assignment of vehicle registration mark may proceed to the originally scheduled Licensing Offices to submit their applications during services hours (9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday) on or before June 26 without the need to make another appointment.
Housing Authority’s estimated PRH allocation for 2026/27 records yearly increase of over 6 000 flats with estimated number of flats to be allocated to PRH applicants reaching 10-year high
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Housing Authority’s estimated PRH allocation for 2026/27 records yearly increase of over 6 000 flats with estimated number of flats to be allocated to PRH applicants reaching 10-year high
The Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (June 18) approved the estimated public rental housing (PRH) allocation for 2026-27 and noted the actual allocation in 2025-26.
Estimated allocation surges as public housing production heads for breakthroughs
A spokesman for the HA said that the HA’s actual allocation in 2025-26 has reached a total of 28 280 flats. Under the current-term Government’s unremitting efforts to “enhance speed, quantity, quality and efficiency”, the PRH production forecasts in 2026-27 will significantly increase by 44 per cent (i.e. about 6 900 flats) as compared with the previous year, bringing the estimated number of PRH flats available for allocation to approximately 34 500 (including about 14 600 new flats and about 19 900 recovered flats). The overall estimates are over 15 per cent higher than the estimates in 2025-26, of which the number of new flats has increased by 66 per cent (i.e. about 5 800) in comparison with the previous year.
Among the flats available for allocation in 2026-27, 26 750 flats (i.e. 77.5 per cent) will be allocated to PRH applicants. This represents an increase of over 70 per cent as compared with the annual average of 15 700 flats for the past three years before the current-term Government assumed office. Meanwhile, the estimated number of flats to be allocated to PRH applicants has reached a 10-year high.
Sufficient flats reserved for clearance and redevelopment
As regards other categories of applicants, the HA will reserve 1 300 flats for rehousing residents affected by clearance projects planned by various departments, and residents affected by other Government’s squatter clearances, emergency clearances, unauthorised rooftop structure clearances and so forth. Among them, 300 flats will be set aside for rehousing residents affected by the Urban Renewal Authority’s redevelopment projects scheduled for 2026-27.
Meanwhile, the HA will also reserve 1 150 flats under the category of the HA’s Estate Clearance and Major Repairs to facilitate the clearance programmes of Wah Fu Estate, Choi Hung Estate, Sai Wan Estate and Ma Tau Wai Estate.
Making every effort to cater for Compassionate Rehousing and flexibly reserve flats to meet transfer needs
In the past, the HA has long handled all demands for Compassionate Rehousing (CR) as recommended by the Social Welfare Department without setting any upper limit. The HA will reserve 300 flats for allocation under the CR category in 2026-27.
Under the category of Transfers, an estimate of 4 000 flats will be reserved for various transfer purposes in 2026-27, among which a quota of 1 300 will be used for the transfer of under-occupation households so that more large flats can be recovered for easing the pressing demand of applicants with four or more household members. Moreover, the HA will reserve around 1 000 flats for the Transfer Scheme for Improving the Living Environment. The remaining 1 700 flats will be flexibly deployed for other transfer purposes, including Special Transfer, the Harmonious Families Transfer Scheme and transfers under the Full Rent Exemption Scheme for Elderly Households.
For the category of Junior Civil Servants, the HA will continue to reserve 1 000 flats under the Civil Service Public Housing Quota Scheme in 2026-27.
Efficient use of resources for flexible allocation
The HA makes annual projections of the supply of PRH flats that can be allocated in the coming year and how such flats will be allocated to the various categories of demands. The HA will closely monitor any changes in society and maintain flexibility in the allocation of PRH flats to optimise the use of resources.
The breakdown of estimated allocations for various categories in 2026-27 is available in the Annex.
Issued at HKT 12:30
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FEHD announces open lot drawing and computer balloting arrangements for allocation of new niches at Wo Hop Shek, Cape Collinson-San Ha and Shek Mun columbaria
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will conduct an open lot drawing and computer balloting at 10am on July 15, 2026 (Wednesday), for the allocation of new extendable public niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling, Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Eastern District and Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin.
Upon completion of the open lot drawing and computer balloting, applicants can check the ballot results immediately on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) using their application numbers and identity card numbers. In addition, the FEHD will notify the successful applicants by WhatsApp/SMS and email or letter of the designed niche number allocated. Applicants can also visit the FEHD’s Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria offices, the Public Niche Allocation Office or call the hotline 2841 9111 to check the ballot results on the same day after the lot drawing and computer balloting.
A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Following the completion of this annual allocation, the FEHD will launch a new monthly public niche allocation arrangement starting from August 1 to entirely replace the existing annual allocation. Under the new arrangement, in addition to Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun, the FEHD will include three additional columbaria in the monthly niche allocations: Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling, and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Chai Wan, providing a total of not less than 1 600 extendable niches each month.”
FS continues Shanghai visit
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Financial Secretary Paul Chan’s visit to Shanghai continued today, as he sought to deepen co-operation between Shanghai and Hong Kong in finance, innovation and technology, and trade and commerce, and to further leverage Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.
In the morning, Mr Chan met China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Wu Qing, who was in Shanghai to attend the Lujiazui Forum. The two sides had in-depth exchanges on matters including continued support for Mainland enterprises to list in Hong Kong, optimising mutual market access mechanisms between the Mainland and Hong Kong capital markets, and taking forward financial regulatory co-operation between the two places.
Mr Chan then visited the Shanghai Gold Exchange and met its Chairman Yu Wenjian to exchange views on the collaborative development of the gold markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
He subsequently visited the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and met its Chairman Zhang Weizhong. Their discussion focused on advancing financial co-operation between the two places, in particular supporting finance to better serve Mainland enterprises in expanding their overseas businesses and empowering the innovation and technology ecosystem.
Mr Chan also visited two leading enterprises in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector and held detailed exchanges with their representatives. One of the enterprises focuses on distributed AI cloud computing services and has established its offshore headquarters in Hong Kong to provide computing power services to overseas users.
The other is dedicated to developing next-generation photonic computing chips, seeking to break through computing power bottlenecks with optical computing technology.
Mr Chan said the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan clearly sets out to nurture and strengthen emerging and future industries, besides expanding high-level opening-up. He highlighted that Hong Kong pools capital and top talent from both the Mainland and overseas, and possesses international data resources and rich application scenarios, a robust intellectual property protection regime, and high-quality, full-fledged financial and professional services.
Mr Chan urged the two enterprises’ active consideration of listing and raising funds in Hong Kong, and invited them to make good use of the city’s unique international advantages to expand their international operations.
In the afternoon, Mr Chan concluded his visit to Shanghai and arrived in Nanjing to continue the next leg of his trip.
HK ranks second on competitiveness
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Hong Kong’s global competitiveness has risen for a third consecutive year, up one place to second globally this year, the highest since 2019, in the World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) 2026, published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
In terms of the yearbook’s four competitiveness indicators, Hong Kong ranks second globally in government efficiency, third in business efficiency, eighth in infrastructure, and 11th in and economic performance.
With regard to sub-factors, Hong Kong tops the rankings in tax policy and business legislation, ranks second globally in finance, third globally in international trade, international investment, management practices and education, and fourth in public finance and basic infrastructure.
The Government said that the WCY 2026 reaffirms Hong Kong as one of the most competitive economies in the world, noting that Hong Kong’s rise to second globally sustains the strong upward trajectory from 2024.
It added that Hong Kong continues to rank second globally in government efficiency, reflecting the Government’s ongoing efforts to promote free and open, stable, predictable and business-friendly economic policies, as well as the international community’s trust in Hong Kong’s legal and regulatory environment.
Hong Kong’s business efficiency is ranked third globally, reflecting the strong support for industry development rendered by the city’s robust financial ecosystem, as well as the seamless alignment of the city’s business practices and environment with international best standards.
The Government added that amid rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics, Hong Kong, with its close connectivity to both the Chinese Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and its sound institutions, open markets and sustained investments in innovation, has become a value hub that offers both security and growth opportunities.
Hong Kong is currently formulating its first Five-Year Plan at full speed to proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The Government said that with the staunch support of central authorities, it will work together with all sectors of society to strengthen the city’s functions as a super connector and super value-adder.