Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Emergency relief fund for fish farmers and fishermen affected by Typhoon Noul2) Aberdeen Fisheries Offices, 100A Shek Pai Wan Road, Aberdeen;
3) Tai Po Fisheries Offices, 3 Yu On Street, Sam Mun Tsai, Tai Po, New Territories; or
4) Sai Kung Fisheries Office, 5/F, Sai Kung Government Offices, 34 Chan Man Street, Sai Kung, New Territories. Issued at HKT 19:28
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HKMA launches quantum preparedness whitepaper and index to support banking sector’s readiness for quantum era
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKMA launches quantum preparedness whitepaper and index to support banking sector’s readiness for quantum era
The Whitepaper covers a survey conducted in early 2026, which suggests that awareness of quantum-related developments is building across the sector. Based on the survey findings, the HKMA released the first QPI. As a forward-looking benchmark, the QPI is assessed across four key dimensions: Awareness, Planning, Pilots and Practical Preparedness.
The initial QPI score is 2.3 on a 10-point scale, reflecting the sector is at an early stage of preparedness, and currently focused on laying the foundation for the quantum era. During the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), banks should also continuously enhance their cyber resilience, tech maturity and innovation capabilities.
Regarding the current state of play, around 68 per cent of the banks surveyed demonstrate awareness or are progressing to planning or piloting stages, while 32 per cent have not yet embarked upon their transition journey. Furthermore, preparedness for the transition to PQC remains uneven, with around half of the banks surveyed having no formal post-quantum planning in place.
The survey also indicates that, while quantum computing is still in its initial phase, some banks have started to engage with both the opportunities and implications of quantum technologies, albeit practical implementation remains limited. Around half of surveyed banks reported that quantum computing had been discussed at board level. In addition, about one-third of all surveyed banks indicated that they had already begun exploring or piloting quantum-related initiatives.
The HKMA will continue to support the banking sector’s PQC transition, with the aim of achieving full sectoral readiness (a QPI score of 10) by 2030 through practical guidance, training and industry engagement. Relevant measures include:
The full Whitepaper, including detailed QPI findings and recommendations, is available on the HKMA websitehttps://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/news-and-media/press-releases/2024/04/20240426-4/
[Note 2] Fintech Promotion Blueprint, HKMA (2026)
https://www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/doc/key-information/press-release/2026/20260203e3a1.pdfIssued at HKT 18:25
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Taxi fleets gain 95% positive feedback
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Transport Department said today that the city’s new taxi fleet system is working well, with over 95% of passengers providing positive feedback on the fleets’ introduction.
More than 2,000 fleet taxis and about 2,400 fleet taxi drivers are now providing services, and had made approximately 4.2 million trips as of the end of May. Fleet services, provided by five fleets – SynCab, Big Boss Taxi, Amigo, Big Bee Taxi and Joie – commenced in phases last year.
The department said the fleets have provided a wider selection of vehicle models, newer vehicles, spacious and tidy compartments, and courteous drivers, resulting in quality travel experiences for both local passengers and visitors.
It added that it has been active in promoting the development of taxi fleets and rendering all-round assistance to fleet operators in solving operational challenges. This has included engaging drivers and taxi owners and upholding service standards.
The department has also liaised with banks to arrange assistance for taxi owners to apply to the “Dedicated 100% Loan Guarantee Scheme for Battery Electric Taxis”. Over 200 applications have been facilitated, increasing the number of electric vehicles in fleets.
In addition, the department has coordinated with power companies and charging facility operators to optimise charging infrastructure for taxi fleets. Together, the fleets and charging operators offer over 160 charging service points across the territory to support the sector.
Meanwhile, 95 dedicated fleet taxi stopping places have been introduced cross 16 locations, including the airport, some boundary control points, Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, some Airport Express stations, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Phase II, the Exhibition Centre Station Public Transport Interchange, M+ Museum, and the Hong Kong Port Area of the new Huanggang Port.
The five fleets have also implemented various measures to recruit drivers and taxi owners. The average age of drivers across the five fleets is 47, much lower than the industry average of 60. Moreover, 20% of fleet drivers are aged between 30 and 39, bringing a fresh outlook to the trade.
Furthermore, “Easy Ride”, an aggregated platform for all five fleets, has recorded over 400,000 visits, with over 10,000 taxis connecting to the platform. Nearly 40% of orders were completed by taxi fleets, demonstrating that the fleets are attracting passengers from multiple sources.
The department remarked that it monitors taxi fleets’ service quality closely. With fleet operators implementing effective driver management, the number of complaints received is lower than that for non-fleet taxis. The accident rate is also lower.
District governance meeting held
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired the seventh meeting of the Steering Committee on District Governance, which focused on issues of district concern and the implementation of key district initiatives.
In terms of service delivery, as of the end of May, District Services & Community Care Teams across all districts had visited or reached out to more than 118,000 elderly households, carers, and people with disabilities. More than 3,900 households were referred by the care teams to receive subsidies for installation of the “Care-On-Call” system.
In addition, over 10,000 students from 207 primary schools participated in the School-based After School Care Service Scheme in the 2025-26 school year, 81 schools more than in the previous school year.
Regarding environmental hygiene, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), through the deployment of solutions combining thermal imaging cameras and artificial intelligence, has been able to track rodent activity, thereby facilitating targeted rodent control operations.
Between January and June, the FEHD issued a total of 171 Notices of Elimination of Vermin to building management personnel or owners, requiring them to promptly address rodent infestations in their buildings. In addition, from May, the FEHD expanded the trial of autonomous street cleaning robots to the Kai Tak New Development Area.
In terms of community facilities, the Housing Department completed facade beautification projects at nine housing estates.
Separately, the Highways Department resurfaced 80 sections of pavement, covering more than 26km in total. It is also expediting a pavement and carriageway resurfacing project in the core Lan Kwai Fong area, with completion anticipated prior to Halloween this year.
Meanwhile, the Transport Department is progressively installing audible electronic traffic signals to better support the needs of visually impaired people and other pedestrians. These devices, which can emit voice messages at crossing locations and are equipped with touchless pedestrian push buttons, had been installed at 600 junctions across the city as of the end of June.
The Chief Secretary said: “These efforts have enhanced district services, improved environmental hygiene and upgraded community facilities, thereby responding to public needs and translating the achievements of enhanced district governance into tangible community improvements.”
In accordance with strategies devised by the Steering Committee on District Governance, the Task Force on District Governance, chaired by Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, will continue to co-ordinate bureaus and departments in the implementation of district initiatives.
MOFA condemns China’s decision to hold live-fire exercises on July 23 and 24 in western Taiwan Strait
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
MOFA condemns China’s decision to hold live-fire exercises on July 23 and 24 in western Taiwan Strait
Date：2026-07-23
Data Source：Department of Policy Planning
July 23, 2026
No. 340
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns China for suddenly announcing on July 23 that it would hold live-fire exercises on July 23 and 24 in portions of the Taiwan Strait. MOFA calls on China to engage in rational conduct, show self-restraint, and immediately cease its military provocations and gray-zone intrusions.
The announcement was issued as a navigation warning by China’s Zhangzhou Maritime Safety Administration, which also established a restricted zone. This provocative action by China has blatantly violated international norms, severely affected regional security and stability, and jeopardized maritime and air traffic.
The ROC (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country and neither it nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. As a responsible member of the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan has remained committed to the maintenance of peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the region. In contrast, China has betrayed its nature as a troublemaker in flouting the collective expectations of the international community for regional security by unilaterally engaging in military coercion in the waters of the Taiwan Strait, which has increased regional tension.
MOFA calls on the international community to jointly condemn China for hegemonic behavior that unilaterally disrupts the status quo and threatens regional security. The ROC (Taiwan) government will continue to coordinate closely with like-minded nations to staunchly defend the universal values of freedom and democracy, uphold the rules-based international order, and ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region. (E)
Views sought on corporate tax perks
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau and the Inland Revenue Department today launched a public consultation on proposed enhancements to the tax concession regime for corporate treasury centres (CTCs).
The consultation paper proposes introducing a two-tiered regime for CTC tax concessions.
Under Tier 1, the Government seeks to refine existing tax concessionary measures for qualifying CTCs and intra-group financing businesses operating in Hong Kong.
Tier 2 introduces a pre-approval mechanism allowing eligible CTCs and their associated corporations that meet specified conditions to access additional tax benefits or flexibilities over a five-year validity period, subject to Inland Revenue Department approval.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui highlighted the consultation as a major initiative to revamp the tax regime and a significant step towards implementing the “Action Plan to Promote the Development of CTCs in Hong Kong”.
“We have been in close communication with the industry. The tiered tax regime proposed in the consultation paper is precisely designed to address the pain points of the industry in a targeted manner, providing eligible corporations with more comprehensive tax benefits, greater tax certainty, and enhanced compliance flexibility,” Mr Hui said.
He added that the measures are expected to draw more multinational corporations across various sectors and regions to leverage Hong Kong’s role as a platform for “bringing in and going global”, encouraging them to bring funds and core businesses to the city for centralised management, and in turn strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a major base for CTCs.
Members of the public can submit their views on the consultation paper by post to 24/F, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, or by email by September 4.
After considering the feedback received, the Government plans to issue administrative clarifications for enhancing the existing tax concession regime for CTCs within this year, before introducing legislative amendments to the Legislative Council in the first half of next year.
Two countries offer visa-free access
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders can now visit Nicaragua without a visa for up to 30 days, the Immigration Department announced today.
Starting from today they will also be able to enjoy visa-free travel to the Solomon Islands for up to 30 days.
Concurrently, nationals of Nicaragua and Solomon Islands can now visit Hong Kong visa-free for up to 30 days.
Highlighting that both Nicaragua and the Solomon Islands are part of the Belt & Road Initiative, the department said the new arrangements bring greater travel convenience to travellers from all three places, while strengthening Hong Kong’s ties with Nicaragua and the Solomon Islands in terms of tourism, culture and economy.
A total of 178 countries and territories now allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders.
Classes of kindergartens and some special schools to be suspended after noon today
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Attention TV and radio duty announcers:
Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:
As the Hong Kong Observatory will issue Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 between 1pm and 3pm today (July 25), classes of kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability will be suspended after noon today. These schools, however, should keep their premises open and implement contingency measures to look after arriving students. They should ensure that conditions are safe before allowing students to return home.
Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point closed
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (July 25) announced that as the Standby Signal No. 1 has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point has been closed at 8.30am until further notice.
CSD and HKSTP renew MOU to deepen sustainable development of Smart Prison
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CSD and HKSTP renew MOU to deepen sustainable development of Smart Prison
The MOU was renewed by the Deputy Commissioner of Correctional Services (Operations and Strategic Development), Mr Leung Ka-lun, and the Chief Executive Officer of the HKSTP, Mr Terry Wong. Under the MOU, both parties will jointly explore innovative solutions in three aspects over the next three years, including the identification and matching of market-proven innovative solutions by the HKSTP to address the CSD’s operational needs and challenges, as well as arranging regular meetings and exchanges between the CSD and the innovation and technology industry and academia to create more collaboration opportunities and nurture innovative mindsets within the CSD. Furthermore, both parties will continue to utilise the jointly established “Penal Lab”, where tailor-made innovative solutions targeting the needs of the CSD by the innovation and technology industry can be tested, facilitating the introduction of innovation and technology products to correctional facilities.
Mr Leung said that the CSD will, as always, actively support the Government’s policies in promoting the Smart City and the development of innovation and technology by incorporating the Smart Prison initiative into its strategic development plan, striving to modernise correctional facilities and services with the use of innovative technologies. He expressed confidence that with the HKSTP’s capabilities and experience, coupled with the CSD’s determination to promote the application of innovation and technology and high-quality development, the deepened collaboration will generate more “smart” proposals to enhance the operational efficacy and service quality of the CSD.
Mr Wong said that the HKSTP is pleased to renew the MOU with the CSD to further explore technology adoption in various areas, jointly promoting innovative applications and nurturing innovation and technology talent with the CSD. The HKSTP will connect with park companies to inject smart elements into the modernisation of correctional facilities, addressing the CSD’s operational needs and challenges by leveraging innovative solutions. At the same time, it will provide potential innovation and technology companies with opportunities to validate scientific research products and solutions, creating a win-win situation.
The CSD and the HKSTP signed the first three-year MOU in 2023. Both parties have achieved gratifying results in identifying and matching market-proven innovative solutions for the CSD, arranging regular meetings and exchanges between the CSD and the innovation and technology industry and academia, and establishing the “Penal Lab” in a correctional facility.
Issued at HKT 17:55
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