Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Duncan Chiu and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):

Question:

There are recently recurring public queries in the community that Hong Kong people who have been absent from Hong Kong for a long period of time or who have even emigrated overseas for many years, despite having no actual economic or social ties with Hong Kong and not continuously fulfilling their tax obligations during their absence, can still, by virtue of their Hong Kong permanent resident status, enjoy government-subsidised public services and benefits (including public housing and healthcare services) immediately upon returning to Hong Kong, leading to abuse and unfair distribution of Hong Kong’s public resources. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has reviewed the situation in recent years regarding the long-term absence from Hong Kong (e.g. not residing in Hong Kong continuously for three years or more) of Hong Kong people with Hong Kong permanent resident status and their return to Hong Kong, including whether it has ascertained the numbers of Hong Kong permanent residents who have been absent for a long period of time and have since returned, as well as the relevant data on their enjoyment of public healthcare services and public housing after their return; if such data are currently not available, whether the authorities will consider conducting systematic surveys to assess the actual situation regarding the use of public resources by such individuals and its impact on public expenditure;

(2) as the authorities indicated in their reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on January 8, 2025, regarding persons emigrated overseas returning to Hong Kong for welfare benefits and services that the Government would continue to keep in view social changes and review the provision of the existing social welfare measures and public services from time to time, of the latest situation of the authorities’ current review, and whether it will follow up on and address the relevant issues as soon as possible;

(3) whether it has reviewed if a balance between the rights and obligations of permanent residents can be struck under the existing welfare system, and whether it will further strengthen cross-departmental data sharing while considering tightening relevant regulations as appropriate to eradicate the misallocation of resources caused by “presence of benefits in the absence of the person”;

(4) whether it has drawn reference from and studied the eligibility criteria or relevant mechanisms established by foreign countries (such as Canada and Singapore) for the enjoyment of social welfare and public services by permanent residents returning after long-term residence abroad, with a view to preventing the abuse of public resources; if so, of the details; and

(5) under the Basic Law and on the premise of ensuring no abuse of limited public resources, whether the authorities will comprehensively review the existing policies and measures on Hong Kong permanent residents’ enjoyment of public services and benefits, and extensively consult the public during the review process; if so, of the specific details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

Public welfare and services provided by different bureaux and departments are multifarious and diversified. To ensure the proper use of public resources, relevant bureaux and departments formulate appropriate modes of operation and eligibility criteria as necessary, having regard to the nature and policy objectives of different public welfare and services, so as to meet the diverse needs of the public. In consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments, I reply as follows:

Regarding public healthcare services, as the major public healthcare service provider, the Hospital Authority (HA) is committed to ensuring that no eligible citizen is denied appropriate healthcare services due to financial difficulty. Currently, any holder of a valid Hong Kong Identity Card and any child under 11 years of age who is a Hong Kong resident is regarded as an Eligible Person for subsidised public healthcare services. There is no requirement for service users to reside in Hong Kong for a specified number of days. Therefore, the HA does not require patients to provide information regarding the number of days they resided in or left Hong Kong when they seek medical consultation. The HA is also unable to compile statistics relating to the use of public healthcare services by Hong Kong residents who have been absent from Hong Kong for a long period of time or who return from places outside Hong Kong. The HA currently has no intention to conduct surveys on the use of public healthcare services by emigrants returning to Hong Kong.

Regarding public housing, persons applying for Public Rental Housing (PRH) and all family members must be residing in Hong Kong. Furthermore, all family members must still be living in Hong Kong at the time of flat allocation. Therefore, persons residing outside Hong Kong do not meet the general eligibility criteria for PRH application. In addition, starting from the declaration cycle in October 2023, to ensure PRH resources are duly allocated to those with more pressing housing needs, PRH tenants and all family members are required to declare every two years their occupancy status being continuously resided in their allocated flats, as well as compliance with the requirements in the tenancy agreement since moving in PRH. Through daily management work and regular home visits, estate management staff of the Housing Department (HD) will keep in view the occupancy status of tenants. Where an investigation confirms that a flat is vacant or a tenant has not resided in the flat on a continuous basis for more than three months, the HD will take appropriate tenancy enforcement actions, including tenancy termination.

Regarding social welfare, the Government puts in place requirements on age, means tests and permissible limits of absence from Hong Kong, etc, for different subsidised public services based on the policy objectives and needs of recipient groups. For cash assistance, to ensure the prudent use of limited public resources and the long-term sustainability of public finances, the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme and the Social Security Allowance Scheme (including the Old Age Allowance, the Old Age Living Allowance and the Disability Allowance) impose residence requirements, including permissible limits on the number of days of absence from Hong Kong before application and during receipt of payment. The specific requirements vary depending on the target beneficiaries and policy objectives of different schemes. These requirements aim to ensure that relevant Hong Kong resident recipients maintain close ties with Hong Kong, and prevent people who have resided outside Hong Kong for an extended period of time from claiming the allowances immediately upon their return to Hong Kong, or continuing to receive the allowances despite prolonged absence from Hong Kong. Reasonable flexibility is allowed when setting a limit on the number of days of absence from Hong Kong, enabling Hong Kong resident recipients to leave Hong Kong for short periods and facilitating beneficiaries to retire in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces.

As for subsidised welfare services, apart from elderly persons participating in the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong, service users who are absent from Hong Kong and do not use the services for a prolonged period of time will be required to quit the services.

At present, there is no commonly adopted definition in respect of Hong Kong permanent residents being “absent from Hong Kong for a long period of time” or “returning to reside in Hong Kong”. The Government does not maintain the statistics mentioned in the question.

In fact, public welfare and services vary in nature. Adjusting or even restricting access to public welfare and services by Hong Kong permanent residents who have been absent from Hong Kong for a long period of time or who are returning to reside in Hong Kong requires careful handling and cannot be generalised.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the opening ceremony of the Asia Climate Summit 2026 today (July 8):

Director Cao (Deputy Director of Carbon Trading Division 1 of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Mr Cao Yuanshu), Dirk (President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Emissions Trading Association, Mr Dirk Forrister), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It is a great pleasure and honour of mine to join you today at the opening ceremony of the Asia Climate Summit 2026. I thank the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) for their outstanding efforts in organising this important event.

This year, for the first time, the Asia Climate Summit is being hosted in Hong Kong—a milestone moment for our city. We are proud to serve as the backdrop for these critical discussions, as we welcome participants from all corners of the globe. With your insights and expertise, I am confident that this Summit will not only identify opportunities but also forge collaborations driving real progress in the years ahead for global green development.

The story of progress has always been one of transformation. Today, as the world faces the defining challenge of our time—climate change—Hong Kong is embracing its role as a leader, innovator, and connector in this era of green transformation. We have taken a long-term, comprehensive approach to sustainability, underpinned by clear and ambitious goals. By 2035, we aim to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent, and by 2050, we are committed to becoming carbon neutral. These are bold targets, but they are necessary ones. We frame sustainability not just as a goal, but as the bedrock of Hong Kong’s future economic prosperity.

Indeed, Hong Kong’s established position as a vibrant, resilient, and highly competitive international financial centre — reinforced by our status as the world’s largest cross-border wealth management centre and the premier offshore Renminbi business hub — firmly positions us at the forefront of green finance. Leveraging our deep capital markets, sophisticated regulatory framework, and extensive international connectivity, we are uniquely placed to channel global capital towards sustainable and low-carbon initiatives across Asia and beyond. The tangible results of our efforts are clear: last year, the total volume of green and sustainable debt issued in Hong Kong surpassed US$76 billion. Notably, green and sustainable bonds arranged here amounted to around US$38 billion, ranking first in the Asian market for eight consecutive years since 2018.

Since 2019, we have successfully issued close to US$33 billion equivalent in green bonds under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme. In November last year, we issued the world’s first ever digital green bonds integrating tokenised central bank money, settling in both e-CNY and e-HKD. This pioneering transaction underscores our unique ability to bridge traditional finance with green development, and cutting-edge fintech and digital currency innovation.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) continues to advance our carbon market infrastructure through its international marketplace, the Core Climate. Launched in October 2022, it offers HKD and RMB settlement for voluntary carbon credits. As of March this year, Core Climate boasted over 130 registered participants and offers credits from more than 60 projects verified by leading international standards, solidifying its position as a vital platform for regional carbon trading.

Leveraging Hong Kong’s strategic location in the Greater Bay Area, HKEX is actively exploring further collaboration with Guangzhou Emissions Exchange, Shenzhen Green Exchange and Macao International Carbon Emission Exchange, supporting the development of a robust and vibrant green finance ecosystem across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Looking ahead, Core Climate holds significant potential to foster the development of an even broader ecosystem for green products with a view to accelerating the adoption of renewable energy solutions particularly in the Greater Bay Area. The Green Electricity Certificates would be the most promising one in the pipeline. Riding on HKEX’s listing platform, we see real opportunities to identify and spotlight Hong Kong-listed enterprises actively involved in green and environmentally sustainable activities. By enhancing transparency and accessibility, this will empower investors to confidently identify and channel capital into green opportunities in Hong Kong.

Beyond establishing a vibrant marketplace for carbon credits, transparency and high-quality sustainability disclosure form the essential building blocks of a credible and robust green finance ecosystem. Our Roadmap on Sustainability Disclosure, published in late 2024, sets out a clear, phased pathway for large publicly accountable entities to fully adopt the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards by no later than 2028. This forward-looking commitment was globally recognised in June 2025, when the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) Foundation confirmed that Hong Kong is among the first jurisdictions worldwide to target full adoption of these international benchmarks.

Further strengthening this commitment, we are particularly excited to have a strong network of partners working with us in support of the sustainability disclosure ecosystem. The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants was recently designated as an official training partner of the IFRS Foundation. This partnership significantly bolsters our local capacity to deliver high-quality sustainability disclosure training, ensuring that Hong Kong’s professionals and organisations are well-equipped to meet the highest international standards. Also, the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) is working with us to strengthen engagement with businesses and facilitate digital dynamic disclosure for Hong Kong enterprises, so as to strengthen the city’s resilient and future-ready financial ecosystem. We are most excited that the HKQAA will soon make its ESG Disclosure platform available to the wider banking sector in this quarter.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Asia Climate Summit 2026 represents more than just an event—it is an important gathering that shapes the future of carbon markets and green innovation. Hong Kong, as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder”, stands ready to bridge opportunities between the Mainland, Asia, and beyond. We are committed to playing an essential role in the global journey towards achieving net-zero emission.

Before I conclude, I want to learn from Director Cao that we may do some advertising. In September, you have your event in Hubei, in fact we also have ours in Hong Kong and that is the Green Week. No competition but welcome to both events at your pleasure.

I wish you all a productive and insightful summit. Together, let us strive for a greener and more sustainable future. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Jonathan Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):

Question:

The Government announced on the 15th of last month the review findings and enhanced measures of the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme, which include relaxing the manning ratio of full-time local employees with disabilities to imported workers to 1:1, so as to encourage enterprises to employ persons with disabilities (PWDs). Regarding the employment and training for PWDs, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that according to the findings of the survey on PWDs and chronic diseases published by the Census and Statistics Department in 2021, PWDs are mainly classified into eight categories, including restriction in body movement, seeing difficulty, hearing difficulty and communication difficulty, of the respective numbers and percentages of full-time employees with various types of disabilities engaged in various industries in each of the past three years, as well as the positions taken up by those engaged in the catering industry (such as kitchen assistants, waiters/waitresses and cashiers);

(2) of the respective numbers of unemployed persons and unemployment rates for various types of PWDs at present, with a breakdown by the categories of PWDs set out in part (1); whether the Government has assessed which type of PWDs faces the greatest employment difficulties;

(3) of the following information on the schemes implemented by the Government to promote the employment of PWDs (including employment matching services, the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme and the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities) in each of the past three years: (i) the number of applications received, (ii) the amount of approved funding, (iii) the numbers of PWDs and employers involved, and (iv) the number of applications involving the catering industry;

(4) apart from relaxing the manning ratio of full-time local employees with disabilities to imported workers, whether the Government will consider further exempting the applications for imported workers made by employers who have offered full-time employment to local PWDs from the tiered vetting mechanism for labour importation, or shortening or waiving the relevant local recruitment procedures, so as to encourage the employment of local PWDs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(5) of the latest situation regarding the Government’s incorporation of technology application elements (e.g. intelligentisation, digitalisation and automation) into pre-employment training for PWDs; and

(6) as there are views that the limited space in local restaurants is a major obstacle to offering employment to PWDs, whether the Government will consider raising the existing ceiling on the amount of subsidy provided to employers in the catering industry for employing PWDs or providing tax concessions, so as to encourage the catering industry to create inclusive kitchens and shop fronts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Government is committed to implementing various measures to promote the employment of persons with disabilities, so as to create more employment and on-the-job training opportunities for them and unleash their potential. In consultation with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the Labour Department (LD) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD), our consolidated reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) According to the latest territory-wide survey conducted by the C&SD on persons with disabilities and chronic diseases, it was estimated that some 86 300 persons with disabilities were employed persons in 2020, of whom some 13 400 persons with disabilities were engaged in the retail, accommodation and food services sector. Breakdowns of employed persons with disabilities by industry and selected type of disability and by occupation are at Annex 1. As for the number of employed persons with disabilities being full-time employees and the breakdown of employed persons with disabilities by individual job position, the C&SD does not maintain such information.

(2) The unemployment rate of persons with disabilities was about 11 per cent in 2020. The number of unemployed persons with disabilities by selected type of disability is at Annex 2.

Persons with different types of disabilities face different challenges when seeking employment. The Selective Placement Division (SPD) of the LD assists job seekers with disabilities in identifying suitable jobs based on their work capabilities. To enhance employers’ understanding of the work capabilities of persons with disabilities, the LD has published practical guides, including Practical Guide to Employing Persons with Disabilities, Practical Guide of Inclusive Job Redesign, to help employers understand the needs of persons with different disabilities, enabling them to implement appropriate measures, such as job adaptations and use of assistive devices, to assist persons with disabilities in adjusting to their work and enhancing their work efficiency. In addition, the Labour and Welfare Bureau has also set up a One-stop Information and Support Platform for Employment of Persons with Disabilities on its website, providing one-stop information on employment support to employers and persons with disabilities.

(3) The SPD of the LD provides personalised services for job seekers with disabilities who are fit for employment, including employment counselling, job matching and referral, as well as post-placement follow-up service. In addition, the SPD implements the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme (WOPS) to provide employers with an on-the-job training allowance to encourage them to employ persons with disabilities and provide training and support. The numbers of applications under WOPS (including those from the catering industry), persons with disabilities employed and employers involved from 2023 to 2025, as well as the annual breakdowns of amounts of allowances disbursed to employers from 2023-24 to 2025-26 are at Annex 3.

The SWD provides a one-off subsidy to employers through the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities (SPED) for the procurement of assistive devices or workplace modifications to facilitate employees with disabilities discharging their duties and to enhance their work efficiency. The SWD also operates the Job Trial Wage Subsidy Scheme, offering subsidy to employers to encourage the employment of persons with disabilities.

In addition, the SWD subsidises eligible organisations to set up small enterprises/businesses under the Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project to enhance the employment of persons with disabilities through a market-driven approach and direct creation of more employment opportunities. The maximum grant per business is $3 million for its setup costs and anticipated operating losses for the initial period of up to three years. The grantee must ensure that at least 50 per cent of the total number of persons employed for the business are persons with disabilities, so as to create more employment and on-the-job training opportunities.

Statistics on the above schemes under SWD for the past three years are at Annex 4.

(4) To strike a better balance between meeting the genuine needs of employers for importing labour and ensuring the employment priority for local workers, the Government has launched a tiered vetting mechanism under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS). Compared with the basic vetting requirements (Tier 1), applications vetted under Tier 2 shall be subject to more stringent manning ratio and local open recruitment requirements, or other suitable sector-specific requirement(s). Since June 16, 2026, the LD has included posts in the production section and table service section of the food and beverage services sector in the Tier 2 vetting mechanism.

With a view to promoting the employment of persons with disabilities, if employers take on local persons with disabilities (Note 1) to take up full-time jobs (Note 2) and apply for imported workers under the ESLS, the manning ratio of full-time local employees with disabilities (irrespective of the section or job category) to imported workers will be relaxed to 1:1. This measure is applicable to the ESLS applications across all sectors (including the food and beverage services sector, which is included in the Tier 2 vetting mechanism).

To ensure the employment priority for local workers, the local open recruitment of all ESLS applications (including applications with the manning ratio relaxed due to the employment of local persons with disabilities) must be undertaken according to relevant requirements and priority must be accorded to employing suitable local workers.

(5) The SWD enhanced vocational rehabilitation services in 2025, converting all sheltered workshops into Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Services Centres, and improving service and training models to raise the quality of vocational training and its alignment with market demand, enabling service users to acquire skills that better meet societal and economic development needs. The focus of the enhancement is to establish a diversified vocational training ladder, introduce advanced equipment and market‑relevant content, and assist service users in acquiring new skills that align with social development trends. New equipment includes digital fabric printing machines, laser cutting and engraving machines, high‑temperature ceramic kilns, mobile ordering systems, intelligent portion‑controlled rice dispensers, retail payment, marketing and inventory systems, and 3D/UV printers.

In addition, to enhance their training programmes and service quality, the Shine Skills Centres under the Vocational Training Council continuously review and optimise the content and framework of their programmes having regard to the needs of the job market. In recent years, modules on the use of artificial intelligence software and techniques have been added to relevant course syllabi, deepening the trainees’ understanding of smart technology and artificial intelligence. The Employees Retraining Board will also consider gradually incorporating content on application of technology into suitable vocational training courses (including dedicated courses for persons with disabilities) to help trainees enhance digital literacy and skills.

(6) In 2019, the SWD conducted a comprehensive review of the SPED and increased the subsidy limit for each employee with disabilities to $40,000. If an employer applies for workplace modifications for multiple employees with disabilities, the subsidy limit may also be calculated on a cumulative basis.

In 2020, the LD also increased the amount of the on-the-job training allowance under the WOPS to further encourage employers to employ job seekers with disabilities. The allowance granted to employers for employing each job seeker with disabilities who has encountered employment difficulties was increased to a maximum of $60,000 during the nine-month subsidy period.

The Government will continue to monitor the employment situation of persons with disabilities and review various measures to promote the employment of persons with disabilities from time to time, so as to continue providing appropriate employment support to persons with disabilities.

Note 1: Refers to Hong Kong residents receiving the Normal Disability Allowance or Higher Disability Allowance disbursed by the SWD.

Note 2: Refers to all local employees who are directly employed by an employer and work not less than 35 hours per week for operating the relevant business (irrespective of posts and working locations), excluding part time staff, staff of sub contractor(s) or self employed person(s) providing services to the employer.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected illicit cigarette and alternative smoking product storage and distribution case in Ma On Shan yesterday (July 7). A total of about 390 000 suspected illicit cigarettes and 15 000 alternative smoking products were seized. The total estimated market value was about $1.78 million while the duty potential was about $1.3 million. A local man was arrested. 

Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Ma On Shan in the afternoon yesterday and searched two light goods vehicles parked in an outdoor carpark at Yiu Sha Road. Upon inspection, Customs found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes and alternative smoking products inside the vehicles, and arrested a 47-year-old local man who claimed to be a transportation worker. The vehicles connected with the case were also detained.

Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source, as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities.

Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public are urged to report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

     The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (July 8) presented the 2025-26 Annual Report of The Ombudsman to the public. In the reporting year, the Office achieved remarkable results in all three strategic focuses championed by the Ombudsman, and further stepped up its supervisory role to bring about tangible improvements in public administration. The Office also exceeded all its service targets in handling enquiries, complaints, reassessment and review of complaints.      
     The Office is committed to fostering a positive complaint culture in all sectors of society through a variety of channels, with particular focus on encouraging the younger generation to adopt a constructive mindset and actively participate in public affairs. Throughout the year, it organised 17 talks at universities, tertiary institutions and secondary schools, and participated in seven career fairs, reaching out to more than 66 000 young people. The Ombudsman’s Awards presented annually continued to honour departments, organisations and public officers for excellence in enhancing public services, with a new Team Award introduced in this reporting year. In addition, appreciation letters and certificates were issued under the dual-track commendation scheme to departments, organisations and members of the public in recognition of their contribution to the enhancement of public administration.
      
     In exercising its supervisory functions, the Office completed 10 direct investigation operations and concluded 46 cases by full investigation during the year. A total of 573 recommendations, more than double the previous year’s figure, were made to drive substantive reforms across various areas of public administration, all of which were accepted by the departments and organisations concerned. In complaint cases where no or only minor maladministration is involved, the Office makes constructive observations, highlighting areas for improvement while acknowledging the positive measures taken by the departments or organisations concerned. During the year, a total of 912 observations were made under this initiative.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Wu Yingpeng and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):

Question:

The country’s 15th Five-Year Plan clearly sets out the nurturing and strengthening of emerging and future industries, accelerating the development of the next-generation intelligent, connected new energy vehicle industry. There are views that Hong Kong could lead the way in shifting towards green transport locally and help the country’s new energy vehicle industry go global. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) in the past five years, (i) of the number of enterprises related to the Mainland’s new energy vehicle industrial chain that have listed on the Hong Kong stock market and the amount of capital they have raised; and (ii) of the list of key enterprises engaged in the related fields of intelligent driving, new energy and AI that have set up businesses in Hong Kong, as compiled to date by the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), and among which, the figures on the business areas involved, the number of jobs created, the amount of investment attracted and the economic value generated;

(2) how the Government assesses Hong Kong’s role in attracting Mainland new energy vehicle enterprises to list in Hong Kong, in promoting international co-operation within the industrial and supply chains, and in facilitating an efficient logistics system; whether the Government has any plans to refine the OASES policies further and offer land and tax incentives to attract more leading national-level enterprises in the new energy vehicle supply chain (including those supplying batteries, chips and software) to establish regional headquarters or research and development centres in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) in planning the Northern Metropolis, whether the Government has set aside land for an “advanced manufacturing and testing base for intelligent connected vehicles” in order to attract the clustering of enterprises from across the entire industrial chain; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether the Government has any plans to strengthen co-operation with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area) in the new energy vehicle industrial chain, for example by jointly establishing test sites, data-sharing platforms and demonstration zones for intelligent connected vehicles to achieve complementary advantages with Hong Kong in standard setting, testing and certification, and international recognition; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(5) as intelligent connected vehicles rely heavily on map navigation, AI algorithms and vehicle-road coordination data, and in light of the need to ensure national security and personal privacy, whether the Government has any plans to collaborate with relevant Mainland authorities to explore the establishment of a “cross-border compliant data flow mechanism” for intelligent vehicle data and unified security certification standards within the framework of the Greater Bay Area, with a view to supporting the research, development and practical application of cross‑border autonomous driving technology; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(6) whether the Government will consider encouraging Hong Kong’s higher education institutions and research institutions to collaborate with Mainland automotive manufacturers, focusing on breakthroughs in key core technologies such as battery technology, autonomous driving and solid batteries, so as to support the upgrading of the Mainland’s new energy vehicle industry; in its talent recruitment policies, will the Government consider introducing specific preferential and facilitative measures (e.g. in the areas of taxation, housing and education) for high-calibre international innovation and technology talents in fields such as automotive engineering, in-vehicle software and the Internet of Things; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President:

The Government has been actively integrating into the overall development of the country, meeting the country’s needs with Hong Kong’s strength. As an international financial centre and innovation and technology (I&T) hub with the unique advantage of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong can not only accelerate its local green transition in transport to implement the Climate Action Plan 2050, but also play a dual role as a two-way springboard to bring in and go global, thereby facilitating the internationalisation of the country’s new energy vehicle industry chain.

According to the Environment and Ecology Bureau, in promoting local green transport transformation, the Government announced the Updated Version of the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles (the Updated Roadmap) in February 2026, setting out a series of pragmatic measures to facilitate the development of the electric vehicle (EV) market, with a view to achieving zero vehicular emissions before 2050. As mentioned in the Updated Roadmap, Chinese Mainland now stands as the world’s largest and most dynamic EV market. Hong Kong will continue to promote EV adoption and actively seize the opportunities presented by our country’s rapid advancement in the EV industry. The Government will provide policy support and co-ordination to enterprises seeking to promote EVs in Hong Kong, facilitating the implementation of their projects in Hong Kong. Leveraging Hong Kong’s position as an international fintech hub, it will serve as a “bridgehead” for global expansion, facilitating the overseas growth of the country’s EV industry while advancing the global popularisation of EVs.

Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Housing Bureau, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), our reply to the question raised by the Hon WU Yingpeng is as follows:

(1) Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) has introduced a series of reforms to the listing regime in recent years, broadening the fundraising channels for enterprises and facilitating listing by different companies in Hong Kong. Notably, HKEX introduced the listing regime for specialist technology companies in 2023, enabling eligible specialist technology enterprises to list and raise funds under such new listing regime. According to HKEX’s guidance, various sectors related to the new energy vehicle industrial chain (including the manufacturing and/or deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and EVs and development of relevant enabling technologies, including the use of new energy solutions in electric vehicles, location technology) have been included in the acceptable sectors within the specialist technology industries. In the past five years, over 10 enterprises related to the Mainland’s new energy vehicle industrial chain were listed in Hong Kong, with about $120 billion funds raised. The Government will continue to drive HKEX to enhance its listing mechanism and provide guidance to enterprises, thereby facilitating more high-quality companies to list and raise funds in Hong Kong.

Since its establishment, the OASES has been proactively attracting enterprises of significant strategic value to Hong Kong. Focusing on core strategic industries such as “advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies”, and “AI and data science”, OASES identifies target enterprises, assesses their needs for setting up in Hong Kong, and provides tailored facilitation (one enterprise one policy) and one stop support for their establishment. To date, OASES has announced six batches of key enterprises, comprising a total of 124 companies that have established a presence in Hong Kong or expanded their operations, among them over 50 per cent are listed companies; over 70 per cent have set up global or regional headquarters in Hong Kong; and nearly 90 per cent have established or are establishing research and development (R&D) centres locally. Many of these enterprises are global industry leaders with cutting edge technologies, choosing Hong Kong as the location for their global or regional headquarters, R&D centres, or supply chain management hubs, thereby creating a notable clustering effect within Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem.

In the area of intelligent driving, several enterprises with leading technological strengths have established in Hong Kong, including PCITECH, Baidu Apollo and WeRide, which are actively participating in local autonomous driving tests. Westwell and UISEE Technology have also deployed unmanned driving solutions at Hong Kong International Airport, further enhancing the local testing environment for intelligent driving.

In the area of new energy technologies, multiple leading enterprises along the new energy vehicle value chain have established in Hong Kong, including CATL, Gotion High-tech, Guofu Hydrogen, Tianqi Lithium, NaaS Technology, and Li Auto. Their operations span upstream materials, midstream battery R&D, vehicle manufacturing and energy supplement networks, contributing to the development of a more complete new energy vehicle industry ecosystem in Hong Kong.

In the area of AI and data science, strategic enterprises cover both computing power infrastructure and large model development, including Hygon, Arm China, Biren Technology, MetaX, Zhipu AI and MiniMax.

(2) The Government’s policies to promote the development of strategic industries are not confined to existing land and tax arrangements. Rather, in line with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong’s industrial development needs, the Government is strengthening its policy tools to attract more globally influential leading enterprises along the new energy vehicle supply chain to establish a presence in Hong Kong. The Government has proposed in the 2025 Policy Address and the 2026-27 Budget the formulation of a preferential policy package to promote industry and investment, covering tools such as land grants, land premiums, subsidies and tax incentives.

On land policy, the Government is enhancing the attractiveness of settlement conditions through institutional innovation in areas such as land allocation and land-use planning within the Northern Metropolis. Where appropriate, the Government adopts a “dual-envelope system” for tendering, ensuring that land premium is no longer the primary consideration; instead, greater emphasis is placed on enterprises’ contributions to industry-chain development, technical capabilities, and R&D investment. The Government also introduces the Northern Metropolis Development Bill for First Reading today. The policy measures therein include streamlining planning procedures for the Northern Metropolis, facilitating the adoption of innovative construction technologies, designs, and materials, as well as facilitating cross-boundary research activities and talent flow, which are expected to further enhance the Northern Metropolis’ attractiveness to national-level new energy vehicle enterprises.

(3) The Hetao Hong Kong Park and the San Tin Technopole are the heartlands of Hong Kong’s future I&T industry development. As one of the country’s major I&T co-operation platforms in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Loop has been reserved by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government with sufficient land for multiple strategic technology sectors (including new energy technology and AI which are closely related to the next-generation automobile industry) to foster cross-sectoral collaboration and technological breakthroughs. The San Tin Technopole, as a natural extension of the Loop, provides a co-ordinated development at the upstream, midstream and downstream levels together with the Hetao Hong Kong Park in the Loop, creating a comprehensive industrial ecosystem. While the Loop focuses on R&D, commercialisation, and pilot production at the upstream and midstream levels, the San Tin Technopole will provide a large piece of land, which can help accelerate the commercialisation of R&D results by providing industrial space for prototyping, pilot and mass production. The planning of San Tin Technopole also allows certain flexibility in development by reserving strategic white space for supporting emerging technology industries at subsequent phases in the future.

(4) and (5) According to the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Transport Strategy Blueprint promulgated by the Government early this year proposed promoting cross-boundary AV projects, such as the cross-boundary AV shuttle services travelling among Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), to deepen integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in respect of transport services. The Government is conducting in-depth discussions with relevant Mainland authorities on matters relating to the cross-boundary AV project at the HZMB, including regulatory and supervisory co-ordination, safety standards, cross-boundary data compliance, vehicle data and cybersecurity.

To facilitate the development of autonomous driving technology, the Government implemented a new regulatory framework for AVs in March 2024. Concurrently, the Transport Department (TD) published the Code of Practice for Trial and Pilot Use of Autonomous Vehicles (the Code), setting out the detailed technical, safety and operational requirements for the trial and use of AVs, with a view to facilitating the trial and pilot use of AVs. Under the new regulatory framework, the Government is actively and orderly promoting the development of AVs in Hong Kong. As of June 2026, the TD has issued seven pilot licences involving 63 AVs for trials in seven locations respectively (namely North Lantau, the West Kowloon Cultural District, Cyberport in the Southern District, the Kai Tak Development area in Kowloon East, the Airportcity Link, the “Park & Fly” carpark at the Hong Kong Port of HZMB, and Siu Ho Wan).

The relevant legislation for AVs has incorporated the National Standard on Taxonomy of Driving Automation for Vehicles to enhance compatibility with Mainland laws. The TD has also all along accepted national standards as proof that vehicles or their components comply with the relevant vehicle construction standards and technical requirements. Furthermore, in drawing up the Code, the TD has made reference to the AV testing experience in the Chinese Mainland, with a view to aligning with the Chinese Mainland on the technical front. For instance, regarding testing sites, the Code accepts closed-road testing conducted in accordance with national standards, thereby expediting the approval of trial applications.

(6) The Education Bureau has all along supported the higher education institutions to make reference to the manpower needs suggested by various Government bureaux and departments, and offer programmes that meet the social and economic development needs of Hong Kong. The University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities offered various programmes related to “smart engineering” and “smart manufacturing” in the 2025/26 academic year, nurturing talents to master and utilise new technologies, promoting intelligent production lines, thereby driving the development of high-end and high-value-added industries. Amongst others, some of the UGC-funded universities have been conducting collaborative research with Chinese Mainland vehicle companies on areas such as AV systems, fuel cells for new energy vehicles, and AI for driving technology.

Moreover, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau is expediting the establishment of the third InnoHK research cluster, focusing on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing, and materials. Eight research centres will be set up under the cluster, some of which will be dedicated to core technology development in areas such as high-performance solid battery, charging and energy storage systems, and smart grids. These centres will collaborate closely with leading universities and industry partners from both the Chinese Mainland and overseas (including the Chinese Mainland automotive manufacturers), to drive the application of relevant technologies in high-end sectors such as electric and hydrogen vehicles. In addition, under the existing cluster of AIR@InnoHK which specialises in AI and robotics technologies, certain research centres are also actively exploring potential collaboration with the Chinese Mainland automotive enterprises and research institutions to support the upgrading of the country’s new energy vehicle industry, with a view to fostering sustainable development.

On attracting talents, the Government has launched an array of talent admission measures to attract and facilitate talents from all over the world to pursue development in Hong Kong. Among them, the Technology Talent Admission Scheme provides a fast-track arrangement for admitting overseas and Chinese Mainland technology talent to undertake R&D work in Hong Kong. The Government launched in late 2025 further enhancement measurements to the scheme, including (i) streamlining application procedures to allow technology companies and eligible talents to submit applications for quotas and visas/entry permits in parallel; (ii) lifting the requirement of engaging in R&D in 14 designated technology areas to better respond to the rapidly changing I&T landscape; and (iii) in addition to the existing Science Park and Cyberport, launching a new dedicated application channel for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park to provide one-stop assistance to their tenants and incubatees in application and subsequent follow-up action. Companies from the fields of automotive engineering, in-vehicle software and the Internet of Things may engage technology talents to undertake R&D work in Hong Kong through the enhanced scheme.

On the other hand, salaries tax in Hong Kong is calculated at progressive rates. For high-income earners, the current two-tiered standard rates (i.e. 15 per cent for the first $5 million of net income and 16 per cent for the remainder) are already lower than those in other jurisdictions. The Government also provides various allowances and tax deductions, covering personal allowances and expenses on supporting family members, health insurance, self-education, retirement schemes, and housing. Therefore, the current salaries tax regime is already rather attractive to outside talents. To complement relevant industrial development, the Government has also reserved planning flexibility on various sites earmarked for industrial use within the Northern Metropolis (such as the I&T sites in San Tin Technopole) to allow for the construction of talent apartments.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Robert Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):

Question:

The National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong in strengthening its functions as an international asset and wealth management centre. There are views that there is room for further improvement in the Mainland-Hong Kong Mutual Recognition of Funds arrangement, operation of the Integrated Fund Platform under the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), as well as the sales and promotion arrangements under the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect (Cross-boundary WMC) Scheme in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, in order to facilitate development of the asset and wealth management industry in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the Government will step up negotiations with the Mainland regulatory authorities to further increase the number of funds mutually recognised between the Mainland and Hong Kong, so as to cover all funds authorised by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC);

(2) whether it will study the establishment of a dedicated committee and engagement of industry players to jointly review and enhance the operation of HKEX’s Integrated Fund Platform; and urge HKEX to expedite expansion of the services provided by the Platform to include one-stop services such as fund trading (including funds authorised by SFC), settlement and analysis;

(3) given that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority introduced enhancement measures for the Cross-boundary WMC Scheme last year, including the establishment of the “Three-party Online Conference”, to facilitate promotion and sales efforts under the Southbound Scheme, whether the Government will, against this background, further discuss with the Mainland authorities the implementation of relaxation measures to allow financial services practitioners in the Mainland and Hong Kong to have direct mutual market access under a system of mutual recognition of licenses so that they can conduct offline product sales and promotion with physical presence in both markets;

(4) whether it will explore with the Mainland further expansion of the scope of investment products under the Cross-boundary WMC Scheme and the enhancement of efficiency of the relevant approval process; and whether it will consider enhancing the relevant measures under the Cross-boundary WMC Scheme to encourage Mainland securities dealers to collaborate with more securities dealers in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; and

(5) given that the Pilot Programme to Enhance Talent Training for the Asset and Wealth Management Sector had concluded at the end of March this year, whether the Government will consider relaunching and regularising the Programme, with a view to continuously nurturing more relevant talents to address the development needs of the industry?

Reply:

President,

The National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly supports strengthening Hong Kong’s functions as an international asset and wealth management centre. The Government has been working in concert with the financial industry to continuously improve the financial infrastructure and ecosystem, enrich investment products and risk management tools, and deepen the mutual access with capital markets of different places. These measures have been bearing fruit. According to the Asset and Wealth Management Activities Survey 2025 just published by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), Hong Kong’s assets under management in 2025 jumped 20 per cent year-on-year to a record high of $42.2 trillion, with net fund inflow surging 193 per cent year-on-year to $2.1 trillion. In addition, Hong Kong has become the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre and it is projected that, from 2025 to 2030, the cross-boundary wealth managed by Hong Kong will grow by 9 per cent on average annually, maintaining first place globally. To maintain the strong growth momentum, the Government recently introduced a bill to the Legislative Council on June 24 for further enhancing the preferential tax regimes for funds, single family offices and carried interest, with a view to attracting more global capital to be managed in Hong Kong.

In consultation with the SFC, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) The Government is committed to enhancing the mutual market access mechanism with the Mainland. The Mainland-Hong Kong Mutual Recognition of Funds arrangement (the Arrangement) was launched in July 2015, where eligible Mainland and Hong Kong funds can be offered to retail investors in each other’s market through a streamlined vetting process. The regulators of the two places implemented enhancement measures starting from January 1, 2025, which include relaxing the sales restriction of mutual recognition funds in the other market and allowing Hong Kong mutual recognition funds (i.e. Hong Kong funds authorised to be offered in the Mainland market) to delegate investment management functions to overseas asset management companies within the same group. The measures enhanced the flexibility and scale of the Arrangement, where a total of 85 funds were authorised by the regulators of the two places as of end-May 2026. In 2025, the net subscription amount of Hong Kong mutual recognition funds on the Mainland reached RMB82.5 billion, representing a 2.3-fold increase year-on-year.

The SFC has been maintaining close communication with local fund managers to encourage them to actively participate in the Arrangement, having regard to factors such as their business development plans. The Government and regulators will continue discussions with Mainland counterparts on different enhancement measures for the mutual market access mechanism to support market development.

(2) The Integrated Fund Platform (IFP) established by HKEX has been well received by the fund industry since its launch. The IFP introduced earlier the “Fund Repository” providing a one-stop information portal for investors to access key details on funds authorised by the SFC, as well as the “Order Routing Service” enhancing connectivity between market participants of all sizes across the fund value chain to elevate operational efficiencies in fund distribution. As at end-May 2026, the IFP has successfully attracted 55 financial institutions, including fund houses, distributors and transfer agents.

The IFP is expected to launch the “Platform and Nominee Services” in the second half of 2026, expanding its services to include the provision of nominee services, as well as the facilitation of payments and settlement, so as to enhance market efficiency and lower transaction costs. During the planning, preparation and operation of the IFP, HKEX as always will continue to maintain close communication with regulators and industry stakeholders to enhance the efficiency of the IFP and promote broader industry participation in the platform.

(3) and (4) Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect (WMC) in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) provides GBA residents with a formal, direct and convenient channel for cross-boundary investment in diverse wealth management products and marks a milestone in the financial development of the GBA.

Regarding mutual recognition of professional qualifications with the Mainland, for the securities and futures sector, the SFC and the China Securities Regulatory Commission have implemented an arrangement for mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and simplified the relevant procedures for obtaining securities practising registration and applying for the futures or fund practising qualifications on the Mainland. Hong Kong professionals with relevant licence issued by the SFC only need to pass the Mainland’s examination on the relevant laws and regulations; the examination on the foundation paper is not required. For the banking sector, the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers and the China Banking Association signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Recognition of Personal Wealth Management Qualification Certificates (MoU) in 2009, officially launching the mutual recognition mechanism. Subsequently, the two sides signed addendums in 2010, 2015 and 2022 to improve the relevant arrangements. Under the MoU, financial practitioners from the Mainland and Hong Kong can obtain “dual qualifications” (Level 1 of Qualification Certificate of Banking Professional in the Mainland and the Associate Retail Wealth Professional in Hong Kong) through the mutual recognition mechanism. Hong Kong will continue to examine enhancement measures with Mainland regulators to explore ways of broadening Hong Kong professionals’ entry into the Mainland market, thereby increasing the flexibility in the provision of human capital for the Mainland and Hong Kong markets.

As an innovative financial co-operation measure in the GBA involving three different regulatory systems of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, the WMC has been implemented under a pilot approach in a gradual and incremental manner. Under the current regulations on the Mainland, Mainland brokers are already allowed to collaborate with multiple Hong Kong brokers to participate in the WMC. Regarding the product scope, “WMC 2.0” has also scoped in (1) all non-complex funds domiciled in Hong Kong, authorised by the SFC and primarily investing in Greater China equity (with no limitation on risk ratings), (2) other low- to medium-high-risk funds (excluding single emerging market equity funds and high-yield bond funds), (3) low- to medium-risk and non-complex bonds, etc.

Following the launch of “WMC 2.0” in February 2024, the number of Mainland investors investing in Hong Kong’s wealth products has increased from about 25 000 to about 126 000. As of end-May 2026, over 181 000 individual investors participated in the WMC, and cross-boundary fund remittances (including Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao) totalled over RMB138 billion. The Government and the financial regulators will closely monitor market developments and the operation of the WMC, maintain close communication, regularly review the implementation of “WMC 2.0”, and explore further enhancement measures with Mainland regulatory authorities.

(5) The Pilot Programme to Enhance Talent Training for the Asset and Wealth Management Sector was implemented from August 2016 to March 2026. Under the Pilot Programme, over 1 130 tertiary students completed internships, and 5 700 subsidy applications for eligible course fees were approved. The Pilot Programme effectively prompted the industry in offering a variety of professional training courses and student internship opportunities, thereby enhancing the professional competence of practitioners and laying the foundation for talent training and development in the asset and wealth management sector. The Government will continue to work closely with the industry to review the talent development policy and measures in light of market needs.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Jonathan Stuart Lamport and a reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):

Question:

The Government is vigorously developing the mega event economy to promote the development of the tourism industry. However, while the number of visitor arrivals increased by 12 per cent year-on-year last year, the increase in overnight visitors was only 6 per cent. There are views that although the ancillary facilities for cross-boundary transport following mega events facilitate travel for visitors, they also encourage visitors to depart immediately after the events, thereby preventing the mega event economy from transforming into actual economic benefits. Regarding promoting the high-quality development of the tourism industry, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the expenditure and revenue for each mega economic event organised or subsidised by the Government in the past three years, as well as the details of the per capita spending in Hong Kong by overnight and same-day visitors participating in these events; whether it has assessed the actual economic impact on local sectors, such as catering, retail and hotel, caused by the large number of visitors who do not stay overnight after participating in mega events;

(2) of the ways to promote the high-quality development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry, ensuring that the visitor flows generated by the mega event economy can effectively transform into commercial dividends, so that sectors such as catering, retail, hotel, public transport and various leisure experiences can benefit comprehensively; and

(3) given that the Government has been vigorously exploring international tourism in recent years, and it is learnt that foreign investors are considering building hotels on outlying islands to develop a resort destination similar to Bali in Indonesia, whether the Government will consider providing assistance?

Reply:

Thank you, President.

Mega events are a vital engine driving Hong Kong’s tourism and economic development. On the one hand, mega events directly attract visitors to Hong Kong, boosting consumption in sectors such as hotels, catering, and retail; on the other hand, they create employment opportunities in industries such as transport, logistics, and event production. The benefits of mega event economy should not be measured solely by whether visitors stay overnight. Even if some visitors arrive and depart on the same day, they generate actual spending on transport, catering, and experiential activities, etc, thereby driving the development of the entire industry chain. In particular, since its opening last year, the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) has achieved a critical breakthrough for “Mega Events + Tourism”. To date, the Kai Tak Stadium has hosted over 60 major sports events and concerts, attracting over 2.4 million spectators, effectively driving surrounding consumption and employment, and injecting tangible momentum into the local economy. The continuous rise in visitor arrivals also reflects the success of the “Mega Events + Tourism” strategy. In the first half of 2026, visitor arrivals to Hong Kong reached about 26.71 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 13 per cent, with Mainland and non-Mainland visitors increasing by 16 per cent and 5 per cent year-on-year respectively.

In response to the Hon Jonathan Stuart Lamport’s question, my reply is as follows:

(1) In recent years, the Government, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), has promoted various mega events to foster the integrated development of culture, sports, and tourism. Over the past three years, the “M” Mark System and the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund have supported a total of 95 events, involving an amount of approximately $1,125.04 million. The HKTB will also continue to enhance the scale of its six flagship events and introduce new elements to attract more visitors to Hong Kong.

Regarding visitor spending, there is a structural shift in visitor consumption patterns, moving from a previous focus on shopping to a greater emphasis on culture and experiences. In recent years, the per capita spending of overnight and same-day visitors remained at levels of over $5,000 and $1,000 respectively. In 2025, the per capita spending of overnight visitors rose slightly from $5,490 in 2024 to $5,503, and it is expected to increase slightly to $5,530 in 2026. For same-day visitors, per capita spending was adjusted from $1,235 in 2024 to $1,139 in 2025, and is expected to remain at a similar level in 2026. Although some visitors attending mega events do not stay overnight, they still spend on transport, catering, and entertainment. Taking the KTSP as an example, each event can create nearly 10 000 temporary jobs, and the actual economic contribution far exceeds ticket revenues and visitor spending. Benefiting from the robust growth in visitor arrivals, the tourism expenditure associated to inbound tourism in 2025 rose by 13 per cent over the previous year to $217.5 billion, and is expected to further increase by about 10 per cent to $238.1 billion in 2026.

(2) In response to changing visitor travel patterns, we are adopting a “Mega Events+” strategy to promote high-quality tourism development. Mega events are upgraded from standalone items into cross-period, cross-district themed experiences, with a view to extending visitors’ stay in Hong Kong and broadening consumption scenarios so that catering, retail, hotels, and transport can all benefit. Taking the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens this year as an example, the three-day event attracted over 113 000 spectators, with over 30 per cent being non-local visitors. In the same week, the Tradition HKFC 10s and the “Racing with Rugby” activities at Happy Valley Racecourse were also held. Complemented by city-wide celebrations and catering discounts, this successfully stimulated the surrounding economy. On cultural mega events, “Art March” this year linked up multiple cultural events spanning the entire month, with Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central jointly attracting around 55 000 visitor admissions. To further amplify the benefits of mega events, the HKTB will leverage major events in August this year, such as the Hong Kong Football Festival 2026 and the musical “CATS”, to proactively collaborate with merchants across different districts to launch a new round of ticket stub discounts. It will also upgrade the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, one of its flagship events, into a month-long “November Gourmet Month” to entice visitors to extend their stay in Hong Kong. We will also continue our efforts to bring major cultural, sports and tourism events to Hong Kong. For example, we have successfully secured the “HYROX World Championships 2027” to be held in Hong Kong for the first time.

Meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions tourism is a major source of high value-added overnight visitors. The Government, together with the HKTB, is actively striving to secure major international conventions and exhibitions to be staged in Hong Kong. For example, the five‑day 108th Lions International Convention successfully concluded yesterday (July 7), attracting around 17 000 delegates from across the globe. Some delegates also travelled to the city with their family members, generating demand for over 10 000 hotel rooms and boosting spending in catering, retail and related sectors, with significant economic benefits. In May this year, the HKTB also signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with Informa Markets, a leading global trade exhibition organiser, to introduce a portfolio of premium international exhibitions, such as supercars and luxurious yachts, to Hong Kong, thereby attracting international high-end business visitors. Concurrently, the HKTB is actively expanding potential and high value-added source markets, such as the Middle East, to increase the proportion of overnight visitors.

(3) Hong Kong possesses unique coastal and island resources, with an edge in developing island tourism. The Government welcomes interested organisations to make good use of these natural resources to develop integrated resort projects on the premise of respecting and protecting the ecological environment, thereby offering visitors novel and diverse tourism experiences. If any organisation raises concrete proposal, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau is pleased to actively explore with relevant organisations and serve as a facilitator, co-ordinating with relevant bureaux and departments to remove administrative barriers and jointly foster the development.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region