Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee concluded three consecutive days of working luncheons with the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers (CECA), running from Tuesday to today, to gather insights on Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, the 2026 Policy Address and the city’s overall development.

Mr Lee said that he is currently leading the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in formulating Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan.

“Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address are closely aligned, with the Policy Address serving as the annual report on the implementation of Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan,” Mr Lee said.

He noted that CECA members observed that Hong Kong possesses unique advantages of having strong support from the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle.

“By leveraging its status as an international centre, proactively developing into an international innovation and technology centre and an international hub for high-calibre talent, members are confident that Hong Kong will continue to give full play to its roles as a super value-adder and a super connector, thereby better integrating into and serving the overall national development while advancing its own development,” Mr Lee added.

As Hong Kong is proactively aligning with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, discussions during the luncheons centred on three core pillars.

The first pillar focuses on economic advancement and sustainability, aiming to further consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s position as an international centre in finance, shipping and trade, while accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis as a growth engine for new quality productive forces to continuously enhance the city’s long-term competitiveness.

The second pillar targets innovation and entrepreneurship, seeking to modernise traditional industries, foster emerging industries, and invest in and nurture future industries to fully develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre and a hub for high-calibre talent.

The third pillar emphasises regional and global collaborations, centred on deeper Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area integration, participation in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the expansion of international exchanges and co-operation to reinforce Hong Kong’s role as an important international window for national high-level opening up.

The luncheons were chaired by Mr Lee alongside key senior officials, including Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, Acting Financial Secretary Michael Wong, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa, Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip, and Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit Stephen Wong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the exhibition “Treasure-Hunt Stories: A 25-Year Cinematic Journey” at the HKFA Exhibition Hall in Sai Wan Ho from July 31 to May 9, 2027. The exhibition highlights the HKFA’s dedicated efforts in preserving the history and culture of Hong Kong cinema through acquisition and restoration since its establishment, and is part of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the HKFA.
 
A worldwide quest for cinematic treasures
 
     The HKFA’s acquisition efforts have spanned Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. The exhibition features detailed interview videos with frontline acquisition staff and donors, recounting the HKFA’s overseas acquisition stories, including the largest overseas acquisition in the HKFA’s history – tens of thousands of invaluable items from North American cinemas donated by theatre owner Mr Gordon Fung. Precious film footage recovered from around the world are also shown in the videos, including a restored clip of the colour negative of Bruce Lee’s early work “The Orphan” (1960), “The Dividing Wall” (1952) by renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhu Shilin, Patrick Tse’s “Winter Love” (1968), and Leslie Cheung’s “Days of Being Wild” (1990), guiding visitors through the triumphant journey of Hong Kong films across the seas with first-hand accounts.
 
Recovering pre-war cinematic treasures from a San Francisco basement
 
The HKFA visited the villa of Mr Jack Lee Fong, owner of the Palace Theatre, in San Francisco, the United States, and discovered in his basement numerous Chinese nitrate films from the 1930s and 1940s. These included several long-lost pre-war Hong Kong films such as “The Light of Women” (1937), as well as one of China’s earliest sound films, “Struggle” (1933), which is believed to be the only surviving work of Unique Film Productions (Shanghai). Mr Fong subsequently donated over 100 film prints to the HKFA for permanent preservation. The exhibition recreates Mr Fong’s basement in a scene, allowing visitors to experience the surprising moment of discovering these film treasures.
 
Homage to 25 representative donors
 
Facing the challenges posed by the local climate to the conservation of film artefacts, the HKFA has been racing against time over the past 25 years, proactively acquiring, restoring, and preserving endangered film collections. Thanks to the trust and support of the public and the industry, the HKFA has received a large number of donations. The exhibition features a curated selection of around 100 film clips from the 1930s to the 2000s, chosen from the donations of 25 representative donors for visitors to select and screen.
 
Restoration station: where science meets craftsmanship    
 
Most of the classic films in the HKFA’s collection undergo a meticulous restoration process by professionals before returning to the silver screen. The exhibition features the workbench and professional tools used by conservators to inspect and repair films, including a manual film rewinder, a 35mm tape splicer, and a film synchroniser. Visitors can also experience the film inspection process with films and a magnifying glass on the workbench to gain a better understanding of the technical side of film restoration.
 
     The exhibition also offers interactive experiences and photo spots. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Design Institute, two simulation games designed by students are available for visitors to experience the acquisition and conservation of film. In addition to a film vault recreated on a 1:1 scale with light boxes, the exhibition features various interactive installations, including a four-metre-wide “Film Can Wall” with rotating circular panels for visitors to learn about film. There will be film canisters of different sizes for visitors to feel their weight, and an enlarged film scrolling installation for visitors to match film frames from before and after restoration.
 
Two seminars will be held to complement the exhibition. Details will be available at the HKFA website later. Admission to the exhibition is free. For details, please visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/25a-fa-exhib/pe-event-2026-25a-fa-exhib.html or call 2739 2139 for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers (CECA), chaired by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, held working luncheons for three consecutive days this week (July 28 to 30) to listen to the views expressed by CECA members for Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan (Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address, as well as the overall development of Hong Kong.

     Mr Lee said, “I welcome two new members who joined CECA this year, including the Chairman of Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co, Ltd, Dr Sun Piaoyang, and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of StarFive Semiconductor Technology Co, Ltd, Mr Xu Tao, who travelled to Hong Kong to attend the working luncheon. Faced with a competitive external environment and accelerating technological transformations, Hong Kong must adopt a long-term perspective and formulate more systematic strategies for key development areas. I am leading the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in formulating Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan. Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address are closely aligned, with the Policy Address serving as the annual report on the implementation of Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan. Members of CECA noted at the meeting that Hong Kong possesses the unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. By leveraging its status as an international centre, proactively developing into an international innovation and technology centre and an international hub for high-calibre talent, members are confident that Hong Kong will continue to give full play to its roles as a ‘super value-adder’ and a ‘super connector’, thereby better integrating into and serving the overall national development while advancing its own development.”

     Hong Kong is proactively aligning with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan. CECA conducted extensive discussions under three related themes:

1. Hong Kong’s economic advancement and sustainability – including how to further consolidate and enhance its position as an international centre in finance, shipping and trade, while at the same time accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis to serve as a new engine for developing new quality productive forces, with a view to continuously enhancing Hong Kong’s long-term competitiveness.

2. Innovation and entrepreneurship – including how to expedite the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries while strengthening emerging industries and investing in and nurturing future industries, with a view to fully developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre and an international hub for high-calibre talent.

3. Regional and global collaborations – including how to elevate the level of regional co-operation, deepen the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, deeply participate in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and continuously expand international exchanges and co-operation to consolidate Hong Kong’s role as an important international window for the country’s high-level opening up.

     Mr Lee said that members of CECA are distinguished and eminent leaders in their respective fields with extensive international experience and forward-looking perspectives. He thanked all members for their profound insights and pragmatic suggestions on the future economic and social development of Hong Kong, which have provided valuable references for Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan and Policy Address.

     The three working luncheons were chaired by the Chief Executive. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa; the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip; and the Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU), Dr Stephen Wong, attended the three working luncheons respectively.

     Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address will be announced later this year. Public consultations for both were launched in June.

     The Chief Executive established CECA in 2023 to seek advice on the strategic developments of Hong Kong with a view to leveraging the opportunities from national and global developments. For the membership of CECA, please refer to the website of the CEPU (www.cepu.gov.hk/en/CECA/membership.html), which serves as the secretariat of CECA.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Acting Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, met with a delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Mr Zhang Xiangan today (July 30) to exchange views and discuss ways to deepen co-operation in the field of Chinese medicine (CM) between Anhui and Hong Kong. 

Dr Fan welcomed the delegation and introduced to them the strategies of CM development in Hong Kong. She said, “The Chief Executive is leading the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in formulating the First Five-Year Plan to comprehensively and proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. In the field of healthcare, we will continue to actively leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantage of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, to establish Hong Kong as an international hub for CM information exchanges and innovation, while jointly promoting the inheritance, innovation, and high-quality development of CM in both places. This will thereby better align with the strategy set out in the National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline to advance the inheritance and innovation of CM and promote CM to go global.”

The HKSAR Government is actively aligning with the national strategy to promote the high-quality and high-standard development of CM on all fronts. The release of the first Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint last December, and the launch of the two flagship projects, namely The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong and the permanent premises of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, in the same month, are all important phased achievements. These measures will further consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a bridgehead for the global expansion of CM, thereby fostering wider recognition and application of CM worldwide. 

At the meeting, both sides discussed strengthening co-operation between the two places in the development of CM, focusing on exploring how to leverage Hong Kong’s distinctive advantage of connecting with both the Mainland and the world to promote CM going global. Dr Fan emphasised, “The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to CM exchanges with various provinces on the Mainland and will continue to deepen the co-operation between Anhui and Hong Kong in the CM sector under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits, thereby jointly contributing to the revitalisation and development of CM in the country and propelling the national strategy of ‘Healthy China’.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, led a delegation of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) to Seoul, Korea, from July 28 to 29, where they visited various local police units and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) to deepen strategic partnership and strengthen co-operation in combating cross-border crime and professional training.
 
     The delegation visited the Police Human Resources Development Institute and the Korean National Police University on July 28 to learn about the latest developments in police training, leadership development, and professional education by the Korean police, and to exchange experiences on talent cultivation and modern policing management.
 
     On July 29, the delegation met with the Acting Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency, Mr Yoo Jae-sung, to share insights on law enforcement issues of mutual concern and to explore opportunities for further deepening collaboration. Following the meeting, Mr Chow and Mr Yoo, representing the HKPF and the KNPA respectively, signed an MOU to establish a co-operation framework to strengthen joint efforts against cross-border crimes, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, and money laundering, while fostering intelligence exchange, capacity building, and professional training. The MOU will further enhance both sides’ capability to address the challenges posed by regional and international crime.
 
     The HKPF and the KNPA signed an MOU in 2015 and have since maintained close co-operation in areas including anti-deception efforts, large-scale event management, and police capacity building. The signing of the new agreement underscores both sides’ commitment to deepening collaboration in addressing emerging crime trends. Beyond enhancing public safety and crime-fighting capabilities in both jurisdictions, the agreement will leverage the partners’ networks to build a broader platform for law enforcement co-operation across the Asia-Pacific region.
 
     In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the cybercrime investigation unit to learn about the latest local policing work and developments, as well as the most up-to-date strategies for combating technology crimes and addressing emerging cyber threats. The two sides also shared experiences on leveraging innovative technologies to enhance law enforcement effectiveness. The delegation concluded its visit and departed for Hong Kong in the evening.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 30) that the shark prevention nets at Hung Shing Yeh Beach and Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District have been repaired, and the beaches are reopened.

     The beaches were temporarily closed earlier for shark prevention net maintenance work.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
 
     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 30) that the shark prevention nets at Silver Mine Bay Beach and Pui O Beach in Islands District have been repaired, and the beaches are reopened. The beaches were temporarily closed earlier for shark prevention net maintenance work.
 
     However, according to the Beach Water Quality Forecast System of the Environmental Protection Department (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/water/beach_quality/forecast_system.html), the Beach Water Quality Forecast Index for Silver Mine Bay Beach and Pui O Beach is 4, which means the predicted water quality at these beaches is “Very Poor” due to potential transient water quality fluctuations caused by heavy rain. Red flags have been hoisted, and beachgoers are advised not to enter the water to safeguard their health.