I&T talent entry measures enhanced

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Innovation & Technology Commission today launched three further enhancement measures to the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, with a view to expediting the admission of innovation and technology (I&T) talent from around the world by eligible companies.

The measures aim to facilitate relevant companies’ technology-related research and development (R&D) activities in Hong Kong, thereby enlarging the I&T talent pool here and contributing to Hong Kong’s I&T development.      

The first of the three enhancement measures involves streamlining application procedures to allow technology companies and eligible talent to submit applications for quotas and visas/entry permits in parallel.

Second, lifting the requirement of engaging in R&D in 14 designated technology areas to better address ever-changing I&T development.

Third, launching a new dedicated application channel for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park to provide one-stop assistance to its tenants and incubatees in application and subsequent follow-up action.

Launched in June 2018, the admission scheme provides a fast-track arrangement for admitting overseas and Mainland technology talent. Successful companies will be given quotas for bringing in such people for undertaking R&D work.

For enquiries, call 3543 5970 or send an email.

Appointments of Hong Kong, China’s representatives to ABAC announced

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Appointments of Hong Kong, China’s representatives to ABAC announced      
     “I am very grateful to Ms Yang, Ms Leung and Mr Chiu for continuing to serve on ABAC. I am confident that their extensive experience in the business sector and valuable insights will further enhance the work of ABAC, bringing concrete benefits to the Asia-Pacific region,” the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said.
      
     Ms Yang is the Chairman of Esquel Group. Ms Leung is the Managing Partner of Aulis Capital. Mr Chiu is the Chairman of Lai Yuen Company Limited.
      
     ABAC was established in 1996 as a permanent business advisory body to provide advice to APEC on business sector priorities. HKC has appointed three representatives and three alternate representatives to ABAC. Currently, the Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Ms Mary Huen, is another HKC’s representative. The Group Executive Chairman of Li & Fung, Mr Spencer Fung, and the Executive Director of Wah Ming Hong Limited, Mr Geoffrey Kao, are the other HKC’s alternate representatives.
Issued at HKT 17:00

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Postal services to Angola return to normal

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Hongkong Post announced today (December 23) that, as advised by the postal administration of Angola, mail delivery services previously affected by administrative measures implemented by the local government in connection with the hosting of the 7th African Union–European Union Summit, have returned to normal.

Hong Kong Customs detects money laundering case involving $8.9 billion via fictitious trading activities

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs detects money laundering case involving $8.9 billion via fictitious trading activities           
     Acting upon intelligence, Customs targeted three local persons and initiated a financial investigation. It was revealed that the three persons opened multiple local company and personal bank accounts between January 2022 and December 2025 to deal with over 3 700 suspicious transactions totalling about $8.9 billion.
      
     After an in-depth investigation, Customs conducted the enforcement operation on the aforesaid dates. Two local males and three local females, aged between 28 and 59 and suspected to be connected with the case, were arrested for “dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence” (commonly known as money laundering) under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO).
      
     During the operation, Customs raided multiple local premises, including three residential units and three commercial premises. A batch of items suspected to be connected with the case, including a number of mobile phones, cheque books, and trade documents, was seized. About $55 million worth of assets under the names of the arrestees have been frozen and put under close monitoring.
       
     The investigation is ongoing. The five arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     Customs reminds members of the public that they may risk committing the crime of money laundering if they use personal or company bank accounts to deal with money from unknown sources, regardless of whether a monetary reward is involved.
      
     Under the OSCO, a person commits an offence if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years, while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.
          
     Members of the public may report any suspected money laundering activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:12

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Labour Department enhances services of job centres

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Labour Department enhances services of job centres      
     In tandem, the Kowloon East Job Centre will merge with the Kwun Tong Job Centre on the same day (January 5) and will be relocated to 10/F, Kowloon East Government Offices, 12 Lei Yue Mun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, to continue to provide services to the public. For the addresses and service hours of the job centres, please visit the LD’s Interactive Employment Service (iES) website      
     Apart from the services of job centres, the LD’s iES
website      
     The LD will continue to enhance its services in light of the service needs and market situation to improve efficiency.
Issued at HKT 16:00

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Independent Committee in relation to fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po inspects Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Preliminary Report and Public Notice on Airbus A350-1041 passenger aircraft serious incident released

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) today (December 23) released the Preliminary Report and Public Notice PLR-2025-05 on a serious incident involving an Airbus A350-1041 passenger aircraft operated by Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (registration mark B-LXO) on November 26, 2025. The aircraft was arriving in Hong Kong from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. While attempting landing on the Centre Runway of Hong Kong International Airport, the crew decided to initiate a go-around to position for another landing due to operational reasons. During the go-around, the bottom of the tail fuselage was damaged after contact with the runway. The aircraft eventually returned for a normal landing on the Centre Runway.

     A spokesperson for the AAIA said that the Preliminary Report has been published to provide factual information established in the investigation’s early-evidence collection phase to both the aviation industry and general public in a timely manner, and should be regarded as tentative. The full report is available for download from the AAIA webpage (www.tlb.gov.hk/aaia/eng/investigation_reports/index.html).

     “The investigation team is conducting a detailed analysis of the data and information collected in order to determine the circumstances and causes of this occurrence with a view to preventing a recurrence in conjunction with identifying areas for further investigation or lines of inquiry to follow up,” the spokesperson said.

     The AAIA, an independent investigation authority formed under the Transport and Logistics Bureau, is responsible for the investigation of civil aircraft accidents and incidents in accordance with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations (Cap. 448B) and with reference to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s standards.

EPD convictions in November

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Fifty-four convictions were recorded in November 2025 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department.
 
     Four of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, nine were under the Noise Control Ordinance, 32 were under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, two were under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance, six were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance and one was under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
 
     A company was convicted for two breaches of the Noise Control Ordinance and was fined $15,000 for each case, which was the heaviest fine in November.

HKMoA launches three new exhibitions and mobile educational art bus

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) today (December 23) unveils three new exhibitions based on its three major donations, showcasing the footprints of art master Wu Guanzhong around the world, intriguing figures from the Chih Lo Lou Collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy, and folding fans from the Jingguanlou Collection, respectively. An educational art bus from the HKMoA will promote Wu’s art to schools and engage with communities.
 
“Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship Thematic Exhibition Series: Wu Guanzhong: Encountering Landscapes” exhibition
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     Wu (1919-2010) was a master of the Chinese and international art scene, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century art. He travelled around the world for sketching, leaving his footprints in over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and America. The exhibition features precious sketches, ink and oil paintings by Wu, including “City Night” and “The Night of Oslo”, which illustrate the dazzling nightscapes of metropolises, with almost half of the artworks being exhibited at the HKMoA for the first time after their donation to the museum, such as “A Foreign Landscape (II)”. Wu was particularly fond of Hong Kong, believing that the city’s fusion of East and West resonates deeply with his artistic pursuits. The exhibition also showcases “Victoria Harbour”, a unique piece Wu created in the rain at the HKMoA in 2002, the only sketch he ever publicly painted, as well as “Bird Street”, which he created in 1990, depicting the beauty of old streets in Hong Kong.
 
     Inspired by Wu’s ink painting “The Window’s Eye”, Hong Kong artist Flyingpig (Wong Wing-shan) created an immersive installation called “Light Entry”. The work combines moving images with paintings to capture thousands of windows across public estates lighting up one by one at night, illustrating the humanistic sentiment behind the urban landscape.
 
     To allow the public to appreciate the works of this art master, the HKMoA also launches the “Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship Education Series: Art Journey with Wu Guanzhong: Mobile Museum” educational art bus, which aims to visit over 140 local primary and secondary schools, as well as stations in transportation hubs, cultural venues and recreational spaces in various districts in the coming two years, promoting Wu’s artistic vision and aesthetic principles through multimedia installations and interactive games.
 
“Mini-figures in Paintings” exhibition
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The exhibition invites audiences to appreciate the Chih Lo Lou Collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy from different perspectives, focusing on the diminutive and scantily outlined figures in Chinese landscape paintings. These fishermen, scholars, or travellers may seem insignificant, yet they are where the soul of the works lies. The exhibition explores their identities, stories, and cultural significance and incorporates animated elements to bring these figures to life. Highlight exhibits include Zha Shibiao’s “The Fisherman” and Gong Xian’s “Returning from Fishing”.
 
“Fantastic Breeze: Selected Fans from the Jingguanlou Collection” exhibition
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     A selection of over 150 folding fans from the Jingguanlou Collection is featured in the exhibition in two phases, complemented by Chinese paintings from the museum collection, leading visitors to appreciate the cultivated elegance of the Chinese literati. Highlights of the first phase include masterpieces by Northern and Southern School painters such as Ren Yi, Zhang Daqian, Pu Ru, Zhu Qizhan, Chao Shao-an, and more. The folding fan is an unparalleled art form that integrates poetry, calligraphy, painting, sealing, and carving, embodying graphic artistry and craftsmanship all in one fan. Through thoughtfully designed display methods, the exhibition overcomes challenges in displaying folding fans and highlights their dual-sided aesthetics with an exploration of their structural composition, offering fresh perspectives for audiences in appreciating this art form.
 
     The admission to the three exhibitions is free. For details of the exhibitions and the mobile educational art bus, please visit the website at hk.art.museum.

“iAM Smart” registered users exceed 4 million, realising “single portal for online government services”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Digital Policy Office (DPO) announced today (December 23) that the “iAM Smart” one-stop personalised digital services platform has already accumulated over 4 million registered users.  

A spokesman for the DPO thanked members of the public and various sectors for their continuous support for “iAM Smart”. With the simplified registration workflow and user-centric design, “iAM Smart”, which has now recorded a daily usage of over 180 000, provides access to more than 1 300 online services from government, public and private organisations, as well as government e-Forms, achieving the goal of a “single portal for online government services”. At present, members of the public can use different online services to manage daily affairs in a secure and convenient way anytime, anywhere via “iAM Smart”, such as SmartPLAY, eTAX, eMPF, application for an International Driving Permit, application for working family allowance, and checking bills for electricity, water and gas.

Meanwhile, the Mini-program Platform of “iAM Smart” was launched. The DPO is actively driving the integration of government mobile applications into the Mini-program Platform among bureaux/departments so that the public can access these services without the need to install various mobile applications of different government departments.

The “Personal Assistant” page of “iAM Smart” has also introduced more practical functions. Users can present their “iAM Smart” Personal Code, which is displayed in the form of a QR code for admission to premises or visitor registration, without the need to disclose excessive personal data by utilising an identity card. The DPO will continue to promote and encourage government departments and industry stakeholders to adopt the Personal Code, with a view to bringing more convenience and benefits to the public and the business sectors. The “Personal Assistant” page also allows users to check the “to-do” items and the application status of various services, as well as view and pay the bills of the Water Supplies Department and Hongkong Post in one go.

     Moreover, the DPO has been in discussions with more financial institutions to assist them in adopting the newly rolled out “Step-up Authentication” function to strengthen user verification in certain key processes, thereby further enhancing the security level. The DPO further plans to provide an “AI Assistant” by end-2026 to answer enquiries and offer personalised services for “iAM Smart” users, further enhancing the user experience of government services.

The “iAM Smart” app supports iOS and Android operating systems, and mobile phones with biometric authentication activated. Members of the public can download and use the latest version of the app for free from the Apple App Store, Huawei AppGallery, and Google Play, or by visiting the “iAM Smart” thematic website (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/download.html).