Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

(C) Enhance Governance Efficacy and Further Strengthen the Civil Service System Optimise Government Services through “AI+”

AI in Public Services

437. In last year’s Policy Address, I proposed establishing the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team to co-ordinate the departmental application of AI, making use of data to drive the efficacy of public services and social governance. To date, 30 projects have been implemented, including:

(i) The TD uses AI to tackle unfair online queuing, reducing by half the public’s waiting time in making online bookings; the LCSD uses AI to tackle touting in leisure-facility bookings, giving the public fair access in booking leisure facilities.

(ii) The EMSD uses drones and AI to detect defects and facilitate maintenance.

(iii) The EPD has introduced technologies, including AI and light detection and ranging (LiDAR), to shorten by half EIA process time.

(iv) The FEHD uses AI to facilitate the handling of refuse-related complaints, reducing processing time by up to 70%.

438. The Government will apply AI to improve efficiency, including:

(i) AI in Environmental Protection: The EPD has developed the world’s first Hong Kong Environmental Database. It provides data and analytical tools using AI and the Geographic Information System. In one case, a project’s construction cost dropped by about $40 billion by reducing the ecologically sensitive area by nearly 70% and shortening the tunnel section from about 5 kilometres to 0.8 kilometres. The EPD will also expand the application of AI technology in ecological surveys and enrich the database content, including real-time monitoring of wastewater, air and noise, for the early identification of potential pollution risks.

(ii) AI in Public Works: The Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund will expand its services to AI applications in project management, covering site supervision for public works and contract administration, as well as assistance in the procurement and tender assessment of public works projects.

(iii) AI in Estate Management: The HKHA will improve PRH estate management and service quality by using technologies, including the application of IoT real-time flooding alerts and AI video analytics for the speedy identification of misconduct such as throwing objects from height and illegal parking, as well as drone-assisted inspections of lift shafts and the external walls of buildings.

(iv) AI in Healthcare: The HA will use AI to compile clinical summaries and facilitate real-time diagnosis assistance, and apply an AI risk-prediction model for the early identification of high-risk patients. AI will also be used for facilitating service arrangements and reducing average time to triage. In addition, the HA will enhance the clinical applications of AI through the introduction of smart wearable devices, AI-assisted clinical information systems, risk prediction systems for clinical deterioration, as well as AI-assisted imaging services and medical report generation, etc, in a bid to develop global leading smart hospitals.

(v) AI in Social Welfare: The Social Welfare Department will upgrade its information technology (IT) infrastructure, enhancing service quality and efficiency through the application of AI and strengthening IT security.

Expand Drone Application in Emergency Response and Crime Prevention

439. Last year, the HKPF launched a pilot scheme for the deployment of drones to protect people’s lives and properties. To date, nearly 60 cases have been detected and 150 traffic contravention cases handled, including possession of drugs, theft and dangerous driving. The HKPF will expand the application of drones in emergency response and crime prevention areas. Automatic drone patrol coverage will be increased through a centralised drone-management system and the installation of drone docks. Drones can quickly reach sites during the early stages of emergencies, providing real-time, aerial and panoramic viewing of the scene. Complemented by AI, drones can enhance on-site assessment and control and expand the area that can be covered, strengthening the security of the community.

Customs and Excise Anti-money Laundering Big Data Platform

440. The C&ED will consolidate existing systems to build an anti-money laundering, big-data platform, using technology to boost analytical capabilities and combat cross-boundary money-laundering activities and networks.

Defence against Cybersecurity Challenges

441. The Government will launch a Cybersecurity Defence Programme to provide cybersecurity certification for local organisations and develop shared defence tools and a mechanism for sharing threat intelligence, reinforcing society’s digital security and resilience.

442. We will develop a Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence Analysis and Alert System following the requirements stipulated by the Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Ordinance. We will adopt AI technology to collect international cyber-threat intelligence, analyse threats targeting local critical infrastructure and issue risk alerts to operators.

Further Strengthen the Civil Service System

443. We will continue to improve the efficacy of civil service governance, including:

(i) In July, the Public Service Commission (Investigation) Regulation came into operation. We will implement the Heads of Department Accountability System and the Tier II investigation mechanism under the Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism. We will devise the operational system and manpower deployment arrangements for the Public Service Commission’s independent investigation.

(ii) We will improve the performance appraisal system for civil servants to differentiate the performance levels of staff more effectively, giving a clearer basis for reward and punishment. Its effectiveness will be reviewed after completing two reporting cycles. The Civil Service Bureau will continue to implement reforms.

(iii) The Government will complete the amendments to the Public Service (Administration) Order and the Public Service (Disciplinary) Regulation in the fourth quarter. They will improve the efficiency and effectiveness in handling disciplinary cases through streamlined disciplinary procedures and the extension of interdiction arrangements.

Chapter IX

Closing Remarks

444. Through the concerted efforts of the HKSAR Government and all sectors of the community, Hong Kong has repeatedly scaled new heights in global rankings over the past four years. We have been consistently ranked the world’s freest economy and have risen to become second in world competitiveness. We are the world’s number three international financial centre and have jumped to fourth globally in talent competitiveness.

445. These objective rankings clearly demonstrate our development potential, promising outlook and the international community’s confidence in Hong Kong. They also underline Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability under “one country, two systems”. We continue to make progress, with confidence but without conceit.

446. Today, Hong Kong is at a critical juncture in advancing from stability to prosperity. We are fully aware that formulating a comprehensive, strategic roadmap is integral to our long-term development. The Government has been persistent in mapping our way by driving development through reform. The primary goal of our policies is to enable economic development that can benefit the people of Hong Kong, and meet their aspirations for a better life.

447. Against the backdrop of accelerating global changes not seen in a century, there has been a profound shift in the global political and economic landscape. The next five years will be a crucial period for our country to advance Chinese modernisation. At the same time, it will also be a golden window for Hong Kong to achieve development of higher quality. The National 15th Five-Year Plan leverages the certainty of high-quality development to counter the uncertainties arising from the rapidly changing external environment, opening up boundless opportunities for Hong Kong.

448. The First Five-Year Plan of Hong Kong maps out the blueprint for how we can proactively align ourselves with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. This Policy Address, meanwhile, serves as the action agenda to propel the implementation of our own Five-Year Plan. It sets out our key policy priorities and major projects formulated in response to economic outlook and dynamics, such that we can seize both national and international opportunities. Deeply rooted in the same vision, the two documents are interconnected and inextricably related.

449. “One day the roc will rise with the wind, soaring ninety thousand miles up into the sky.” At this juncture in history, I believe that, with the solid backing of our country, together with our good minds and hardworking hands, we can ensure that the fruits of our efforts reach and enrich each and every family, building Hong Kong, our home, into a better, more prosperous place to live and flourish.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

(K) Build a Green and Liveable City

401. To achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, the Government is committed to implementing Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050, with measures including the use of zero-carbon energy, popularisation of electric vehicles (EVs) and promotion of waste reduction and recycling. Our per capita greenhouse gas emissions reached a new low of 4.41 tonnes in 2024.

Zero-carbon Energy

402. To boost the resilience of Hong Kong’s power system, stabilise electricity prices and support emerging industries, the Government is pressing ahead with the reclamation project at Area 132 in Tseung Kwan O to accommodate new strategic electricity facilities, and is working with relevant Mainland counterparts and the two local power companies to explore options for transmitting electricity to Hong Kong. These efforts aim to increase the share of zero-carbon energy in our fuel mix for electricity generation from around 25% at present to between 60% and 70% by 2035, ultimately achieving net-zero electricity generation by 2050.

Development of Hydrogen Energy

403. The Government will continue to promote the development of hydrogen energy by advancing hydrogen trial projects in areas such as transport and power generation at construction sites. This will underline Hong Kong’s role as a demonstration base for green technology and a platform for green finance and professional services.

404. The Government plans to submit the relevant subsidiary legislation under the Gas Safety (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 to the LegCo this year. It will set out implementation details for regulating the hydrogen supply chain, bolstering investor confidence in developing related businesses.

Enhance Waste Reduction and Recycling

405. The current-term Government promotes the circular economy. The disposal rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) has declined for four consecutive years, with an average of 10 326 tonnes per day last year, a decrease of 9.1% compared to 2021. The recovery amount climbed to about 2.02 million tonnes in 2024, a recovery rate rise from 28% to 34%.

406. I·PARK1 will come into full operation this year, processing 3 000 tonnes of MSW each day. The I·PARK2 project has also begun, with an operational target in the early 2030s, moving towards “Zero Landfill”.

407. The Government has implemented the five-year waste reduction and recycling plan to optimise recycling facilities, starting in 2026-27. All Recycling Stores under GREEN@COMMUNITY across the territory have introduced self-service time slots since August this year and are being progressively upgraded into 24-hour, self-service smart facilities. The first 24-hour self-service smart Recycling Store will begin operation by year-end, and the rest will be completed in 2027. The number of smart recycling bins will gradually increase from about 140 sets at present to around 3 000 sets starting in mid-2027. The GREEN@COMMUNITY will also be consolidated into a district-based recycling network to create economies of scale.

408. Our average daily quantity of food waste collected increased from about 130 tonnes in 2021 to about 400 tonnes in the first half of this year. The number of food waste, smart recycling bins will increase by 600, to approximately 2 500 in the first quarter of 2028. We will achieve “one bin per block” in PRH estates across the city by the end of the year, as scheduled.

Promote the Popularisation of Electric Vehicles

409. The Government has been vigorously promoting the popularisation of EVs. There are now over 180 000 EVs in Hong Kong, and more than 7 out of every 10 first registered private cars are EVs. That growth rate ranks among the world’s highest.

410. Parking spaces with charging-enabling infrastructure have increased from about 28 000 in 2021 to over 170 000. The number of public chargers has increased by more than twofold, from around 4 700 to approximately 17 300. The overall charging infrastructure is sufficient to support more than 270 000 EVs. We will continue to adopt fast chargers as the future backbone of our public charging network, with plans to increase the number of fast chargers to 5 000 within five years, supporting some 250 000 more EVs.

411. Our country leads the world in innovative charging technology. The megawatt-level, flash-charging technology can fully charge a private car in just nine minutes, while the battery swapping technology can replenish a vehicle in about 100 seconds at its fastest. With Government support, it is expected that these charging technologies will soon be adopted in Hong Kong. The Environment and Ecology Bureau, in collaboration with the National Energy Administration, will construct the first ChaoJi charging technology demonstration station in Hong Kong in 2027, showcasing its compatibility with national and European charging standards.

412. The Government will promote the adoption of electric commercial vehicles (e-CVs)⁴⁵ in a pragmatic manner. We have set up a working group to explore the introduction of suitable vehicle types for public light buses as a first step. We will also promote the use of mobile charging robots to offer a more flexible quick-charging solution for e-CVs.

Promote Animal Care and Control and Ecological Conservation Animal Care and Control

413. The Government will consult the LegCo on legislative proposals to step up efforts to combat cruelty to animals, and the illegal possession or use of hunting appliance at the end of the year. It will work to complete the legislative amendment exercise in 2027. We will also review the provisions on pet ownership and control, including those under the Dangerous Dogs Regulation, to further optimise the regulatory framework while enhancing publicity and education on the proper care of animals by pet owners.

Align with the National Biodiversity Strategy in a Proactive Manner

414. We will proactively align with the national biodiversity strategy by implementing the priority actions outlined in the Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2035. In addition, we will take forward various habitat conservation projects, such as beginning the first phase of construction for the Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park, designating the Sharp Island Marine Park, consolidating local ecological conservation red lines, strengthening the conservation of wetlands and coral communities and offering a more diverse and high-quality eco-recreational experience. We will also begin the legislative process to amend the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance, to strengthen the protection of cetaceans in Hong Kong waters.

Underground Common Utility Tunnels

415. Hong Kong’s roads are more than 2 200 kilometres long in total, with various utilities buried underground spanning an aggregate length of about 110 000 kilometres. The excavation and road works conducted for the laying and maintenance of utilities cause inconvenience to the public.

416. In recent years, the Government has started to design and construct underground common utility tunnels under selected suitable major roads in NDAs on a pilot basis. Appropriate utilities⁴⁶ will be centrally accommodated in these tunnels, enabling inspection and maintenance to be carried out without the need for excavation and road works. Real-time sensor monitoring systems and AI technologies will also facilitate the detection and identification of abnormal conditions, enabling the issuance of alerts to prompt early inspection and maintenance. They include:

(i) Construction of the first underground common utility tunnel in the Kai Tak Development Area has been completed.

(ii) An underground common utility tunnel in the Tung Chung New Town Extension is expected to be completed in phases, starting from year’s end.

(iii) In the NM, a section of an underground common utility tunnel is under construction in Yuen Long South and one in San Tin Technopole is being designed.

417. In light of the relatively high construction cost of an underground common utility tunnel, the Government will assess the implementation of the projects and proceed in a pragmatic manner.

Chapter VIII

Uphold a Reformist Mindset and Adopt a Holistic Approach to Development and Security

(A) Enhance City Governance, and Strengthen Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Response Capabilities

Set up an “AI City Brain” Integrated City Management System

418. To enhance city management and strengthen emergency response capabilities, the Government will examine and set up an “AI City Brain” integrated city management system that links up and consolidates relevant big data of departments with city governance matters such as works, environment, transportation and emergency response, to create a data-sharing environment for multi-directional empowerment. Through big data analytics, departments will receive real-time information, improving their day-to-day city management and handling of emergencies.

419. I will set up a Task Force on the “AI City Brain” System, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, with members from bureaux including the SB, the ITIB, the DEVB, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, to examine and develop the “AI City Brain” system. In the first phase, the digital infrastructure of the SB’s Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre will be integrated into the system. That will provide early warnings of risks and trend forecasts powered by AI analysis, improving inter-departmental collaboration in response to situations such as extreme weather, major incidents and the daily maintenance of public order, with a view to developing the system progressively into a comprehensive and integrated city management system.

420. Government departments will concurrently develop or upgrade their existing digital infrastructure to integrate into the “AI City Brain” system, including:

(i) The DEVB will further upgrade the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure, and continue to enhance the 3D Digital Map by collecting and making use of more BIM data, facilitating the development of the digital twin city.

(ii) The HKPF will build a new “Inter-departmental Major Incident Platform” to support the exchange of real-time data from all emergency response units when handling major public incidents. This will enable more comprehensive information on casualties and missing persons. It will also make use of AI technology to expedite understanding regarding the circumstances of those affected by an incident and provide timely support.

(iii) The TD will study the setting up of a traffic management platform using AI and big data to access real-time traffic information and enable relevant departments and public transport operators to formulate contingency plans during extreme weather or major events. Aberdeen has been chosen as the first pilot site. The platform’s function related to responses to extreme weather will be launched in 2027, and its remaining functions in 2028. The application will progressively be extended to other areas.

(iv) The DEVB will expand the cross-departmental, smart drone-management platform (“SmartAERO”) to strategic regions throughout Hong Kong. The support of beyond-visual-line-of-sight inspections, automated surveillance and AI data analysis will speed up the response to emergencies such as landslides, flooding and fallen trees. It will also help to enforce the targeting of unauthorised building works and assist in the monitoring of safety of public works site. The data will be consolidated in the Common Operational Picture for rapid analysis with the use of AI tools, strengthening the cross-departmental co-ordination of emergency response and the deployment of resources.

Enhance Climate Adaptation and Resilience

421. In the face of global warming and extreme weather, we continue to enhance climate adaptation and resilience in Hong Kong, including:

(i) The Climate Change Working Group on Infrastructure, led by the Civil Engineering and Development Department, will co-ordinate with works departments in adapting to climate change. The Working Group has updated design standards to strengthen infrastructure and enhance its resilience. It will also share its findings with public organisations, public utilities, the AAHK and the MTR Corporation Limited.

(ii) In 2025, the Government published district-wide studies on flood risks due to extreme rainfall, storm surge, wave- and sea-level rise under the influence of climate change, as well as the impact on Hong Kong coastal areas. Flood- and coastal-management measures are being implemented in an orderly manner⁴⁷. Among these, 14 on-going drainage improvement projects will continue in various districts across Hong Kong such as the Eastern District, Wong Tai Sin and northern New Territories. They include construction of stormwater storage tanks, barrages and drainage tunnels. The projects are expected to be completed progressively by the end of 2031. The Government has also identified 37 coastal low-lying or windy areas for improvement works, including the provision of wave walls and demountable flood barriers. Works for 20 areas have been completed, while the remaining areas are scheduled for progressive completion by the end of 2030.

(iii) The Hong Kong Observatory will apply new technologies to enhance its capabilities and accuracy in monitoring, warning and forecasting extreme weather.

(iv) The IA has set up a Climate Insurance Laboratory in collaboration with the industry, universities and stakeholders to improve risk-data analysis and encourage the industry to develop innovative insurance products.

(v) The HKMA will issue transition-planning guidance for the banking sector in the third quarter to boost the capability of banks in risk management. Through practical guidance and case studies, the HKMA will also scale up the development of transition and adaptation finance in Asia, while identifying financing needs and capability gaps.

Enhance the Programme on Replacing, Repairing and Managing the Water Supply Network

422. Hong Kong’s water supply network is vastly extensive and complex. The conditions of some of the aged water mains have deteriorated, and those made of cast iron and asbestos, which was commonplace in the past, are relatively vulnerable. In response, the Government will launch a water supply network upgrading programme to accelerate the handling of aged water mains and upgrade the system, as follows:

(i) By adopting a risk-based approach, we will replace or rehabilitate a total of 350 kilometres of aged water mains with higher risk of leakage over the coming five years, at an average rate of 70 kilometres per year, double that for 2026-27. In the first few years, we will focus on replacing cast iron and asbestos cement pipes in areas such as Shau Kei Wan, Wong Tai Sin and Kwai Tsing, where there are more PRH estates and elderly residents. The target is to have all cast iron and asbestos cement pipes phased out over an estimated 10-year period. With the pipe replacement and other related improvement measures under the programme, we expect to reduce the number of water pipe bursts and serious leakage incidents by around 20 to 30 per cent in the first five years.

(ii) We will replace existing valves and install additional ones for water pipes, lay two backup cross-harbour fresh water mains, and upgrade the salt water supply system to reduce the risk of failure.

(iii) We will establish an Intelligent Water Network Closed-loop Management Chain featuring real-time monitoring, intelligent prediction, precise leak detection and high-quality maintenance, and perform AI predictive maintenance in collaboration with universities and enterprises. We plan to fully implement dynamic pressure adjustment of the Government’s water supply network within five years following the commencement of the Smart Water Supply System.

(iv) We will use the Underground Utilities Information System and 3D spatial analysis to raise the efficiency of inspection and maintenance.

(v) We will upgrade the existing inter-departmental task force to a steering committee led by the DEVB for more effective work co-ordination. An International Expert Group on Waterworks will also be set up, bringing together local, national and overseas experts to assist in reviewing the water supply network’s long-term management strategy.

Reform the System for the Maintenance of Old Buildings

423. After the fire at Wang Fuk Court, I established an independent committee to investigate the causes of the fire and its rapid spread. I have also made it clear that we will pursue those responsible. The Police and the ICAC have so far laid prosecution charges against seven people and two companies with a total of 25 counts of offences, including suspected manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The LD has initiated a total of 25 prosecutions against a contractor, a project consultant and so on for contraventions of OSH legislation. The Buildings Department has filed a total of 259 charges against four individuals and two companies, including the suspected use of materials which do not comply with the relevant provisions. I consider that some reform initiatives should be prioritised. Therefore, the Government has taken forward a number of enhanced measures to strengthen regulation and enforcement, and initiated legislative amendments, including:

(i) Implement a comprehensive smoking ban on construction sites after legislative amendments to the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and related anti-smoking legislation.

(ii) Embark on the amendment of the Fire Services Ordinance to enhance regulation on fire service installations and equipment (FSI) and their contractors, introduce the FSI responsible persons’ regime, raise penalties and expand the enforcement powers of the Fire Services Department (FSD), with an aim to submit relevant proposals to the LegCo this year.

(iii) Expand the scope of amendments to the Buildings Ordinance, including the enhancement of the statutory control regime for major building maintenance works, imposing more stringent regulation and heavier penalties, and tightening the disciplinary mechanism for professionals and contractors to impose stringent penalties on non-compliance. The relevant proposals will be submitted to the LegCo this year.

(iv) Take forward legislative amendments to the Building Management Ordinance to impose a higher attendance requirement and voting threshold for decisions on large-scale maintenance procurement, improve the system for proxy instruments and optimise the system for declaration of interests. The relevant public consultation has been completed, with the target of submitting the proposal to the LegCo this year.

(v) Conduct a legal study on the criminalisation of bid-rigging in major building maintenance works and submit the relevant proposal to the LegCo this year.

(vi) Launch, for the first time, tender invitation and evaluation services for owners in engaging consultants and contractors.

(vii) Establish more rigorously vetted “pre-qualified lists” of consultants and contractors to complement owners’ support services, including conducting background checks by law enforcement agencies. Invitation for applications will begin in September this year, and the lists will be available, progressively, from the end of 2026.

424. The Government is also looking into feasible options to better assist members of the public in handling matters involving professional knowledge in major building maintenance.

425. The independent committee is reviewing and analysing numerous written statements, reports and evidence, and will submit its report by the end of October. The Government will study the report and follow up on its recommendations, implementing reform and announcing the details.

Enhance Fire Safety and Emergency Response Measures

Promote the Internet of Things Fire Detection System Improve Building Fire Safety

426. The FSD will expand the scope of application of the Internet of Things (IoT) Fire Detection System to cover old buildings of seven storeys or above by the end of the year. Owners may choose to install the system as an alternative to traditional FSI⁴⁸. It offers real-time detection and rapid transmission of fire-alarm signals, enhancing building fire safety.

Leverage Fire Technology Strengthen Cross-boundary Fire Services Co-operation

427. The FSD will optimise the mobilisation protocol, command systems and casualty handling procedures, upgrade the overall configuration of the Fire Services Communications Centre, and place special focus on introducing next-generation technological tools (such as lightweight firefighting robots) to improve its capabilities to respond comprehensively to ultra-large-scale incidents. The FSD will also explore the application of AI to raise decision-making efficacy.

428. The FSD has co-ordinated with the Fire and Rescue Corps of Guangdong Province and the Macao Fire Services Bureau to form a “Cross-boundary Firefighting and Rescue Team”. It will ensure the swift activation of co-ordinated response plans in the event of ultra-large-scale fire incidents through regular joint exercises, technical exchanges and equipment alignments, thereby consolidating regional joint prevention and control capabilities.

Combat Illicit Fuelling

429. The FSD will combat illicit fuelling activities by introducing legislative amendments to raise criminal penalties. It will also leverage big data for intelligence analysis to step up law enforcement efforts (e.g. deploying drone fleets to patrol remote black spots). Inter-departmental collaboration will be expanded to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Enhance 999 Emergency Call Services

430. We will introduce three new functions: providing real-time audio, image and video data to assist the console in appraising on-site situations; transmitting relevant reporting information to the FSD instantly to expedite rescue deployment; and employing new technology to triage incoming calls, prioritising the most critical cases in the event of major incidents or busy line conditions.

Further Enhance District Governance

431. The Steering Committee on District Governance and the Task Force on District Governance, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration respectively, will continue to perform top-level supervision and co-ordination in addressing district issues of public concern and enhancing policy measures.

432. The HYAB and the HAD will continue to improve the effectiveness of DCs, “the three district committees” and Care Teams and strengthen their collaboration. A new district governance training programme for young people will be launched and “job shadowing schemes” will be implemented in District Offices and DC members’ ward offices, to nurture more young people to engage in district work.

Enhance 1823 services to achieve the goal of “prompt referral and successful resolution”

433. Members of the public normally make requests to the Government via the 1823 Contact Centre. In the first seven months of this year, the centre received over 1.4 million calls and more than 600 000 written requests. The customer satisfaction rate is 4.6 points on a five-point scale.

434. With the target of ensuring “prompt referral and successful resolution”, we have reviewed the current mechanism and considered that there is room for improvement in handling inter-departmental cases. The following enhancement measures will be adopted:

(i) A lead department will be designated to co-ordinate the handling of inter-departmental service requests and complaints. Departments will handle cases within their respective purview under the co-ordination of the lead department and report on case progress. The lead department shall promptly report any co-ordination issues to the Chairman of the Task Force on District Governance, i.e. the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, who will intervene and give instructions to ensure that departments will collaborate effectively to address the issue and inform the complainant of the result.

(ii) Each department will assign a directorate officer to monitor its efficiency and effectiveness in handling service requests and complaints lodged by members of the public.

(iii) The DPO will use AI technology to identify recurring problems among the cases received by 1823. Departments will review and formulate targeted solutions, shifting from post-complaint management to a proactive approach, whereby issues are managed even in the absence of complaints.

(iv) The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration will review the implementation progress of the new initiative regularly and brief the Steering Committee on District Governance.

(B) Reinforce Public Integrity as the Bedrock of our Society

Promote Integrity Building

435. Integrity is a core Hong Kong value and a key element supporting Hong Kong’s competitiveness. The ICAC will regularly update its strategies to consolidate integrity building in Hong Kong, including stepping up law enforcement efforts to combat corruption. It will use technology to assist in corruption prevention and strengthen internal supervision, enhancing organisational governance through advisory services. It will also boost the effectiveness of anti-corruption education and publicity by making good use of social media and promoting public engagement.

Preparatory Work for the GlobE Network Asia Pacific Regional Bureau of the United Nations

436. With the support of the ICAC, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime will establish in Hong Kong its GlobE Network Asia Pacific Regional Bureau. This will help deepen international co-operation in law enforcement against corruption, while confirming the international community’s confidence in and recognition for Hong Kong’s anti-corruption system.

⁴⁵For example, medium and heavy goods vehicles and public light buses.

⁴⁶Including water supply pipes, cables, chilled water pipes of district cooling systems and communications facilities.

⁴⁷These measures will address flood risks up to the middle of this century (i.e. 2050). We will monitor climate change and review the flood risks of various districts, formulating appropriate measures and initiating necessary flood-prevention works to mitigate flood risks towards the end of this century (i.e. 2100).

⁴⁸Fire hydrants/hose-reel systems and manual fire-alarm systems.

(To be continued.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

(G) Support the Local Economy

Ten Measures to Support Small and Medium Enterprises

362. In the face of uncertainty over the global economy and trade, the Government will implement 10 measures to support the diversified development of SMEs, as well as their upgrading and transformation:

(i) The CEDB will expand the geographical scope of the BUD Fund to cover Uzbekistan and Qatar, encouraging SMEs to tap into emerging markets.

(ii) The Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation will extend the 20 free-buyer credit checks for one year to September 2027 to continue to cover all of its insured markets.

(iii) The HKTDC will strengthen the services of E-Commerce Express, promoting the awareness of Hong Kong brands and expanding their coverage in e-commerce markets outside Hong Kong. The Trade and Industry Department will co-ordinate with the “Four-in-One” Integrated Services of SME Centres to organise branding seminars and workshops to assist SMEs in formulating brand development strategies.

(iv) The Government will continue to encourage more government departments and institutions, including the Business Registration Office of the Inland Revenue Department and the eMPF Platform, to connect to the HKMA’s CDI and explore the feasibility of automated payment. This will enable banks to conduct business registration search through CDI, enhancing efficiency in credit approval. The CDI has helped reduce the borrowing costs of companies by an average of 36 basis points.

(v) The HKMA, in collaboration with the Shanghai Data Bureau, will implement a pilot project on trade data connectivity this year, covering Hong Kong SME traders exporting goods from the Mainland. Starting from this year, Project Cargoˣ will progressively connect the CDI with the Trade Single Window, the Port Community System and the Digital Corporate Identity (CorpID) platform. It will also explore connections with ASEAN’s electronic port systems to enable the one stop access to data for approval by banks.

(vi) Starting from this year, the Hong Kong Technology and Innovation Support Centre will provide qualitative, patent evaluation services and offer funding support to SMEs for conducting valuation of their IP assets to facilitate relevant financing.

(vii) The Government raised the funding ceiling of “Easy BUD” applications under the BUD Fund to $150,000 in June. The BUD Fund also provides more targeted funding support for AI projects.

(viii) The Government will enhance the DTSPP by providing subsidies on a matching basis to support more SMEs in applying AI and cybersecurity-related solutions.

(ix) The HKPC will expand the functions of its “Digital DIY Portal” to integrate advisory services for SMEs. It will also assist enterprises in assessing and addressing cybersecurity risks, as well as providing professional advice and technical support on AI application scenarios.

(x) The Future Innovative Logistics Acceleration Scheme will provide subsidies to SMEs using innovative logistics solutions to interface with the Port Community System.

Report on Manpower Projection

363. Due to the structural impact of an ageing population, Hong Kong’s labour force will gradually decline over the coming years, leading to manpower shortages. The current-term Government’s measures to attract talent and allow the limited importation of labour, subject to appropriate approval, have relieved manpower shortages. The LWB will release a mid-term update of the Manpower Projection this month. It indicates that manpower remains tight across most key industries, including I&T, aviation, health services and construction.

Safeguard the Environment for Fair Competition

364. The Government will consult the LegCo this year on a legislative proposal to endow the Competition Commission with compulsory information-gathering powers for conducting market assessments. This will ensure that the Commission may, upon having reasonable cause to suspect that any feature in the market affects competition, mandate enterprises to submit information and identify potential issues, thereby maintaining a conducive environment for fair competition.

Promote Textiles and Fashion Brands

365. The Hong Kong Fashion Fest has recently been held in conjunction with CENTRESTAGE hosted by the HKTDC for an elevated scale and an enhanced business-matching platform. We will expand collaboration and exchange with fashion shows in the Mainland and overseas, promoting collaboration between fashion design and the textiles industry. This will promote the development of Hong Kong’s fashion brands and strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a fashion design hub in Asia.

Promote the Development of the Agriculture and Fisheries Industries

366. The Government will continue to offer the industry financial and technical support for the development of deep-sea mariculture, with a target of increasing local mariculture production to about 2 000 tonnes within five years. The Government will also set up a Fish Processing Centre in collaboration with the Fish Marketing Organization, to drive industrial upgrading.

367. The Government is facilitating the construction of the industry’s first modernised and environmentally-friendly, multi-storey pig farm, in Sheung Shui. Site formation works will be completed this year. We will assist the selected organisation in finalising the design and financial arrangements next year.

368. The Modernised Techno-Agricultural Park, established through a public-private partnership, has been gradually leasing land to farmers. The Government will continue to take forward Agricultural Park Phase 2, while promoting the development of leisure farming and fisheries.

Promote Innovation in Municipal Services

369. In last year’s Policy Address, I proposed three novel initiatives in response to public aspirations for greater benefits and convenience. These include allowing applications from restaurants for the admission of dogs, implementing the “joint-vetting” mechanism to expedite approval of applications for outside seating accommodation of restaurants, and leveraging technology and new investigation procedures to prompt owners to speed up water seepage repairs in buildings.

370. Continuing this reformist spirit, and in view of structural changes in people’s grocery shopping habits, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology will lead an inter departmental working group to explore alternative uses for vacated market spaces (e.g. community facilities).

371. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) also plans to try out the more agile single-operator model in individual new public markets, whereby operators enjoy greater flexibility in adjusting operating strategies to better meet public needs. Stall enhancement will also become a priority under the Market Modernisation Programme to improve customer experience.

(H) Strengthen the Protection for People’s Livelihood

Targeted Support

372. The Government has been implementing a host of education, healthcare, housing and labour welfare measures to empower those who can help themselves achieve self-reliance and to provide a safety net for those unable to support themselves. The current-term Government has increased efforts to identify target groups according to the principle of targeted poverty alleviation, focusing resources on those most in need.

373. In June, the Commission on Poverty (renamed the Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation), led by the Chief Secretary for Administration published the Report on Impact of Targeted Poverty Alleviation Strategy in Hong Kong. The Report summarises the impact of and experience derived from the Strive and Rise Programme, the Pilot Programme on Community Living Room, the School based After School Care Service Scheme and other initiatives. These projects have all achieved their key performance indicators, raising the standard of living and personal development of service beneficiaries.

374. The Report also highlights that we will shift from the traditional mindset of offering “relief” towards a strategy of proactive identification and targeted support. The new-term Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation has included carers in need (particularly elderly carers who look after elderly or disabled persons, and carers who look after children with special needs) among the groups for targeted poverty alleviation. It will provide specific services tailored to their needs.

375. The Government will:

(i) Following the launch of the 16 Community Living Rooms, launch two more by the end of this year, expanding the reach to about 10 000 SDU households.

(ii) Establish a Welfare Information Sharing E-platform in phases to integrate the social welfare data of relevant government departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and use AI to enable the early identification of high-risk individuals or families, for timely intervention and targeted response. Data analysis would facilitate targeted support, resource allocation and service deployment in a scientific manner. We will initiate a trial of data integration and analysis, involving selected government departments and NGOs, in the first half of 2027.

(iii) Run the “Community Dining Hall” to optimise the use of Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres during off peak hours, providing affordable and nutritious meals for elderly persons living alone and in couples, PWDs, carers, children with special needs and their families. This will encourage them to integrate into the community, while giving social welfare organisations the opportunity to identify their needs and offer assistance. We will also launch the “Wellness-on-Wheels” project to provide more convenient service points via mobile service vehicles, for elderly persons and their carers living in aged buildings.

(iv) Spearhead the establishment of a matching platform to institutionalise tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community in supporting the disadvantaged. The platform will enable the matching of resources from family offices and the business sector with community social welfare projects. The first round of matching will be arranged this year. The Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation will determine the target groups and themes before inviting NGOs to submit proposals.

(v) In collaboration with the HKEX, explore providing listed companies with further guidance on the preparation of ESG reports, encouraging them to engage in community and charitable activities, and promoting closer and more effective partnerships between the business sector and social welfare organisations.

(vi) Narrow the digital divide by organising more experiencing and training activities on I&T and AI for children and young people from grassroots families.

Support Carers

376. The Government will strengthen its support for carers:

(i) Increase the amount of allowance under the Scheme on Living Allowance for Carers of Elderly Persons from Low-income Families and the Scheme on Living Allowance for Low-income Carers of Persons with Disabilities by 10% to $3,300 per month. It is expected to benefit more than 10 000 low income families.

(ii) Enhance the automated operation of the Carer Support Data Platform and expand its coverage.

(iii) Optimise the system of the Designated Hotline for Carer Support and enhance its efficacy.

(iv) Increase the manpower of the District Support Centres for PWDs for better early identification of and support for high risk carers.

(v) Regularise the Pilot Scheme on Training for Foreign Domestic Helpers in Elderly Care and the Pilot Scheme on Training for Foreign Domestic Helpers in Care for PWDs, starting from April 2027.

Support Persons with Disabilities and Persons in Rehabilitation

377. To strengthen rehabilitation services for PWDs, the Government will provide about 460 additional places for day, residential and pre-school rehabilitation services.

Protect Children

378. The Government is closely monitoring the implementation of the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, which took effect in January, to ensure adequate support measures are in place.

379. Four new Community Parents and Children Centres have begun operation in the first half of this year, with an estimated 40 000 beneficiaries a year. We are closely monitoring service implementation to ensure that the families and children concerned receive suitable and effective support.

Support Students with Special Needs

380. The Government is committed to increasing the quotas for pre-school rehabilitation service to achieve zero-waiting time for on-site support. We will exempt kindergarten children with special needs from going through the Central Waiting List, so that they receive better and earlier support through personalised services designed by their kindergartens and multi-disciplinary service teams.

381. We will launch the “Enhanced Support for Students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder” Project in the 2026/27 school year and pilot the project for three years, starting from the 2027/28 school year. It will provide small group training and other support services for students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder studying in public sector ordinary primary and secondary schools, thereby enhancing their performance in behavioural, social and learning adaptation.

(I) Enhance Labour Protection

Combat Illegal Employment

382. The Government will step up efforts to combat illegal employment on all fronts and reduce economic incentives for potential non-refoulement claimants to come to Hong Kong. Relevant measures include:

(i) Strengthen the functions of the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment and review the membership of the task force in a dynamic manner.

(ii) Appoint industry representatives from specific sectors as “Anti-Illegal Employment Ambassadors” to assist in intelligence collection and step up publicity and education.

(iii) Leverage technology to enhance the effectiveness of “cyber patrol” and intelligence collection.

(iv) Review the penalty for illegal employment and strive for sentences with a greater deterrent effect to be handed down by courts.

(v) Enhance inter-departmental joint operations to combat illegal employment in a targeted manner.

Stringent Vetting of Applications for Limited Supplementary Labour

383. The Government has always been committed to ensuring employment priority for local workers, while allowing only employers facing genuine recruitment difficulties and shortages of local manpower to import labour, on a limited scale, following approval. Employers are granted approval for limited importation of labour only upon meeting the manning ratio of local employees to imported workers, and proving that vacancies could not be filled by local workers after undertaking local recruitment. The wages of imported workers should not be lower than the median wages of local workers. In addition, the Labour Department (LD) has, since June, implemented a tiered vetting mechanism under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS). Job categories falling under the Tier 2 mechanism are subject to more stringent requirements in such areas as manning ratio and local recruitment, including a requirement for employers to attend in person recruitment fairs held at designated job centres, and an extension of the local recruitment period from four weeks to six weeks. The Tier 2 mechanism is currently applicable to key posts in the kitchen and table services of the food and beverage services sector. The ratio of imported workers approved has fallen accordingly. The Government will closely and dynamically monitor the employment situation and include more industries and posts in the Tier 2 vetting mechanism, as necessary. The LD actively investigates and follows up on suspected violations of ESLS requirements. It imposes administrative sanctions on non-compliant employers, to ensure employment priority for local workers.

384. The LD is also developing a new digital application platform for ESLS with enhanced data collection and analysis, to strengthen the monitoring of applicant employers’ compliance.

Formulate New Legislation to Strengthen Protection for Delivery Workers

385. The Government is developing new legislation to provide digital platform workers engaging in food and goods delivery services with statutory compensation for injuries at work. We will also strengthen communication with stakeholders.

Enhance Occupational Safety and Health

386. The Government is deeply concerned about occupational safety and health (OSH) issues in the construction industry. Apart from ongoing surprise inspections and enforcement actions against non-compliance, we are using innovative technologies to boost enforcement effectiveness and efficiency. We will also step up publicity and education efforts to raise safety and law abiding awareness among contractors and workers.

387. The Government has launched the Smart Site Safety System (4S) labelling scheme in collaboration with the CIC. We will continue to fund private works projects through the CITF to enhance site safety by using innovative construction methods and new technologies (including 4S).

Enhance the Mandatory Provident Fund System

388. We will introduce an amendment bill into the LegCo by the end of the year, to enhance the process of recovering default MPF contributions from employers. With Phase One of MPF “Full Portability” scheduled for implementation this year, we are also preparing a legislative proposal on the implementation of Phase Two of MPF “Full Portability” to benefit the remaining employees.

Encourage Re-employment

389. As of July, the Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme had recorded over 53 000 placements, about a quarter of which were filled by individuals aged 60 and above. The Government will provide additional resources to disburse re employment allowance to all eligible participants. The LD will also announce the results of the Scheme’s mid-term review by the end of the year to facilitate the refinement of further measures to encourage re employment.

(J) Concerted Efforts to Build a Thriving Age friendly Society

Cope with an Ageing Society

390. Last year’s Policy Address announced the establishment of the Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies, to formulate strategy responses and submit a report under the steer of the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration.

391. The report is now completed and is set to recommend about 70 measures covering 11 areas, including healthcare, technology, economy, transport, elderly care, finance, learning, social life and age-friendly city design. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration will announce the report later this month.

Foster a Sense of Security among the Elderly

392. Adhering to the principle of “ageing in place as the core, with institutional care as back up”, the Government promotes ageing in place with the following measures:

(i) Increase the number of Community Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly by 2 000, to 18 000 in the 2027 28 financial year.

(ii) Increase the number of Residential Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly by 1 000, to 8 000.

(iii) Set up five new subsidised, day-care facilities for the elderly, providing about 200 service places.

(iv) Set up five new Neighbourhood Elderly Centres to support the elderly in integrating into the community. The facilities are expected to serve about 5 000 persons a year.

393. The Government will continue to set up new residential care facilities and improve relevant services, including:

(i) Set up three new residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), providing about 400 residential care places.

(ii) Provide newly built government RCHE premises for self financed operation by the sector on a pilot basis, allowing greater flexibility in offering diversified residential care services for the elderly.

(iii) Continue to expand the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong by identifying more RCHEs in the Mainland cities of the GBA to join the Scheme, providing more RCHE choices for Hong Kong’s elderly persons. To date, the number of participating RCHEs in Guangdong has reached 29, accommodating over 1 400 Hong Kong elderly residents.

(iv) Explore further enhancement to the Incentive Scheme to Encourage Provision of RCHE Premises in New Private Developments, such as allowing developers to use part of the floor area exempted from the gross floor area calculation to provide day-care facilities for the elderly.

(v) Provide additional resources for subvented RCHEs to offer end of life care services over a three year period.

394. To facilitate Hong Kong elderly persons to receive medical treatment in the Mainland cities of the GBA, the Government will explore extending the service points under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme to cover the “community health centres” operated by the current participating medical institutions, and including additional pilot medical institutions in the scheme.

395. With reference to the existing regime for admitting foreign domestic helpers, the Government will admit foreign domestic carers with more advanced training and experience in elderly care on a pilot basis. This will help meet the care needs of elderly persons living at home.

Promote a Sense of Worthiness among the Elderly

396. We will launch a three year “Young-Old Mentorship Programme”, establishing a mutual support network for young-olds with vitality and the skills to make the most of their abilities, share their experience and integrate into society, raising their sense of self worth and enjoying active ageing.

397. The LWB will collaborate with Octopus Cards Limited to launch the mobile version of JoyYou Card by the end of the year. It will offer elderly persons an option to enjoy the “$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount” concession without a physical card. We will also explore making better use of the mobile platform in disseminating useful information to elderly persons via push notifications.

Continuously Build a Gerontechnology Ecosystem

398. The Government has been subsidising social welfare service units in procuring or renting relevant products under the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care.

399. The HKHA will launch a pilot scheme introducing suitable household gerontechnology equipment to elderly singletons of advanced years and all-elderly households in selected public housing estates with a higher elderly population. The scheme will gradually be extended to other public housing estates.

400. The Government will earmark $100 million to launch the Gerontechnology Promotion Scheme. It will encourage and support local technology enterprises in developing elderly-care products and solutions, accelerating product optimisation for the benefit of the people of Hong Kong.

(To be continued.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

(E) Enhance Transport and Commuting Convenience

Transport Infrastructure

335. The Central Kowloon Bypass (Kowloon Bay Section) project will be completed this year, marking the full commissioning of Route 6 (including the Central Kowloon Bypass and Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel). It is anticipated that the journey time between Tseung Kwan O and Yau Ma Tei during peak hours will be substantially reduced from about 65 minutes before the commissioning of Route 6, to about 12 minutes.

336. The implementation milestones of smart and green mass transit systems are to:

(i) Award the contract for the Kai Tak project this year for completion in 2031.

(ii) Award the contract for the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen NDA project next year for first-phase completion in 2031.

(iii) Award the contract for the East Kowloon project next year for completion by 2033.

Regulatory Regime for Ride-hailing Services

337. The current-term Government has successfully introduced the regulatory regime for ride-hailing services, with most of the legal provisions coming into effect on August 3 this year. The Government is now inviting applications for ride-hailing service licences, and will issue driving permits to drivers and vehicles beginning from the fourth quarter this year, providing the public with safe and compliant ride-hailing services. The TD is pressing ahead with the development of a ride hailing vehicle data management system to monitor the compliance of operation, and comprehensively safeguard data security. We will also oversee market development and collect relevant data for the dynamic assessment of supply and demand to enhance personalised, point-to-point transport service.

Promote the Use of Automated Parking Systems

338. With a view to expanding the use of automated parking systems, the TD will establish a one-stop co-ordination office to co-ordinate the efforts of relevant departments in expediting the approval of automated parking-system applications submitted by operators of short-term tenancy car parks.

(F) Deepen the Integrated Development of Culture, Sports and Tourism

339. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) is pressing ahead with the integrated and synergised development of culture, sports and tourism. It fosters sports development by promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports, maintaining Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, advancing professionalism in sports and developing sports as an industry. In building facilities, implementing system reform, optimising resource allocation, nurturing talent and hosting mega events, the CSTB is deepening the integration of culture, sports and tourism to drive economic development.

Shape Tourism with Cultural Activities and Promote Culture through Tourism

340. Hong Kong is blessed with a unique cultural vision, shaped by both Chinese and foreign influences. We will continue to engage and collaborate with Mainland and overseas culture, arts and creative sectors to consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a hub for the exchange, collaboration and promotion of culture, arts and creativity. We will also host international cultural and arts exhibitions and performances to attract visitors to Hong Kong.

Support Hong Kong’s Film Industry and Promote “Film + Tourism”

341. We will conduct a comprehensive review of the Film Development Fund with a view to attracting more private investment to ensure sustainable development. We will also explore venue provision for constructing film sets to encourage local filming. The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency will set up the Support Unit for Non-local Film Productions, which will provide one stop services for Mainland and overseas film crews filming in Hong Kong, attracting the production of more quality films to promote Hong Kong.

342. The HKTB will offer visitors an immersive experience of Hong Kong’s unique urban landscape and lifestyle, weaving together classic Hong Kong films, district characteristics and local culture, including a route in Yau Ma Tei that integrates memorable scenes and locations from classic Hong Kong police-and-crime films, complemented by authentic local night markets and dining experiences.

Sports Development

Support the Kai Tak Sports Park to Promote “Sports + Mega Events”

343. The KTSP has substantially expanded Hong Kong’s capacity to host international mega events. To date, more than 170 sessions of international and local sports and cultural entertainment mega events have been held there, attracting over 2.6 million spectators. In 2025, the KTSP’s main stadium achieved the highest gross revenue and ticket sales in Asia.

344. To strengthen the promotion of “sports + mega events”, we will explore the redevelopment of Victoria Park Centre Court and other ancillary facilities into an iconic all-weather, multi-purpose venue for holding larger-scale and higher-level sports events, as well as performance activities as required.

Training for Sports Executives

345. The Hong Kong Sports Institute will introduce a new three-year Sports Executive Training Programme. The programme will provide transformation opportunities for and expand the career ladder of retired athletes, while helping train professional management for the sports sector.

Promote Sports for All

346. To encourage the general public to exercise regularly, the Government will enhance outdoor basketball facilities and the content of the Hong Kong Games.

Participate in Our Country’s Sports Events and Boost Co-operation and Exchanges

347. We will continue to send delegations and teams to participate in our country’s sports events and promote sports exchange within the GBA, including supporting NSAs in the organisation of GBA leagues.

Strengthen the Governance of National Sports Associations

348. Early next year, the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China will, taking into account NSAs’ implementation of the Code of Governance promulgated earlier, issue certificates of compliance to NSAs meeting the governance standards. Future government funding will be linked to the compliance status to establish a fairer, more impartial and more transparent system for promoting sports development.

Tourism Development

349. Hong Kong’s tourism industry is performing well. In 2025, the total number of visitor arrivals reached 49.9 million, a 12% year on year increase. Total tourism expenditure associated with inbound tourism is estimated at $238.1 billion this year, an increase of about 10% over last year.

350. The proportion of overseas visitors travelling onwards to the Mainland via Hong Kong has continued to rise, exceeding 20% in the first half of 2026. We will continue to capitalise on measures introduced by the Central Government to facilitate visits by foreign travellers to the Mainland, deepen collaboration with Mainland provinces and municipalities, and explore with the country additional immigration facilitation arrangements for international visitors. The HKTB will promote multi destination travel itineraries to overseas visitors, partner with airlines to roll out relevant tourism products and promotional offers, and intensify publicity overseas.

Take Forward “+ Tourism” Joint Initiatives

351. We will integrate various events with tourism to raise their appeal, aiming to extend visitor stays in Hong Kong and generate value-adding momentum:

(i) “Mega Events + Tourism”: To solidify Hong Kong’s reputation as the Events Capital of Asia, the HKTB will demarcate a period each year for the International Arts Season⁴¹ (February to May), the Chinese Arts Season⁴² (June to September) and the Festive Mega Events Season⁴³ (October to February the following year), setting a mega-event framework under these three themes to boost visitor spending and extend their stay in Hong Kong. Flagship events hosted by the HKTB attract millions of citizens and visitors each year. The Government will regularise the additional annual funding currently provided for hosting flagship events, allowing the HKTB to draw up and implement sustainable and forward-looking market promotion strategies in a more systematic manner.

(ii) “Finance + Tourism”: The refurbishment of the HKEX Connect Hall and the Museum of Finance at the HKEX is scheduled for completion next year. The Government will link up key financial landmarks around Central to create an urban landmark that showcases Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre and the city’s cultural appeal.

(iii) “Industrial brand + Tourism”: We will continue to develop Hong Kong’s industrial brand tourism routes with varying themes to promote more in depth tour experiences.

(iv) “Ecological conservation + Green tourism”: The Government promotes eco-tourism that advances tourism alongside conservation, enabling the public to get close to and appreciate Hong Kong’s unique and precious scenery in the countryside. In early September this year, the Government launched a trial online reservation system for visitors going to the High Island Geo Trail-Po Pin Chau Section of the High Island Reservoir East Dam in Sai Kung during weekends and long holidays. A visitor cap is set to alleviate ecological pressure while enhancing visitor experience. The pilot reservation arrangement will continue during the Golden Week in October this year. We will review the trial outcome and develop a long-term country park management strategy.

(v) “Heritage + Tourism”: The Government has opened over 200 Government-owned declared monuments and graded historic buildings to the public. It will upload more information to its websites and step up publicity, enabling the trade to develop and promote signature tourism products.

Ticket Stub Economy

352. We will promote ticket stub offers as a means of attracting visitors to extend their stay and increase their spending in Hong Kong, including announcing the calendar of mega events as soon as practicable. The HKTB will provide one-stop contact services to connect event organisers, retail and catering associations and tourism related organisations, fostering a consumption chain that extends from the event venue to the community.

353. The HKTB will enhance Discover Hong Kong’s digital platform, consolidate the ticket stub discounts of mega events hosted and promoted by the HKTB and launch a new mobile application to facilitate visitor access to, and merchant provision of, ticket stub offers.

Yacht Economy

354. Last year’s Policy Address put forward the development of yacht economy. A variety of new yacht berth projects are now moving ahead, including the tender for the composite development project in Aberdeen comprising a marina, recreational facilities and residential development scheduled for the first half of 2027, and the yacht bay project under the Airport City “SKYTOPIA”. In addition, starting from May, Hong Kong and Macao yachts may navigate in nine GBA cities, with the requirement for guarantee exempted and under temporary ship nationality registration. The first northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong set sail in June. The Marine Department will soon sign an MoU with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration for the implementation of southbound travel for yachts from Guangdong, adding impetus to cross-boundary leisure consumption.

355. Following the introduction of the Marine Department’s three facilitation measures⁴⁴ , the first batch of Mainland yacht masters completed the examination and assessment in mid June. We will extend our online, short-term training courses to overseas, enabling yacht masters of visiting yachts to obtain qualifications from abroad to navigate Hong Kong waters.

Renewal of Central

356. Phase 1 of the Lan Kwai Fong Streetscape Beautification Works will be gradually completed, beginning in October. The consultancy study for Phase 2 will start soon. We encourage private developers to participate in the renewal of Central, which will give Hong Kong’s first-generation central business district a fresh face while preserving its heritage.

Muslim Tourism

357. Hong Kong’s ranking as a Muslim-friendly destination has risen for two consecutive years, securing second place among non-Organisation of Islamic Co-operation destinations, according to the latest Global Muslim Travel Index. The HKTB will extend the Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme to the end of 2027, encouraging the industry to provide more Muslim friendly food options.

Facilitate the Operation of Home-stay Lodgings on the Outlying Islands

358. To facilitate the operation of home-stay lodgings on the outlying islands, the HAD will remove barriers by exempting consideration of use restrictions on guesthouse purposes in the deeds of mutual covenant of the buildings, when processing guesthouse licence applications for buildings of three storeys or less on the outlying islands.

Enhance the Professional Standards of Tourism Practitioners

359. To increase the supply of professional tourist guides, the Travel Industry Authority has launched the “specialised tourist guide licensing programme” this year for Geopark guides and reception services. The programme will be expanded to cover other fields, such as in-depth tours focusing on history and culture at the next stage.

Enhance Passenger Clearance Experience

360. The Immigration Department will launch the Automated Transportation On-board Clearance System (“AUTOS”) Pilot Scheme at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port in December. It will use AI and facial recognition technology to automatically verify the identities of registered, eligible, cross-boundary private car drivers and passengers, enabling “contactless on-board clearance”.

361. The redeveloped Huanggang Port is expected to come into operation in the fourth quarter of this year, implementing the co-location arrangement and the novel “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode, to significantly enhance passenger clearance experience and efficiency.

⁴¹During the International Arts Season, cultural mega events such as the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Art Basel, Art Central, the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the French May Arts Festival will be hosted, consolidating Hong Kong’s position as the East meets West centre for international cultural exchange.

⁴²The Chinese Arts Season will cover the Chinese Culture Festival and the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month,  promoting the sophisticated traditional Chinese culture for citizens and visitors to experience its charm.

⁴³The Festive Mega Event Season will offer a line up of festive events such as Mid Autumn Festival and Halloween mega events, the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, Hong Kong Winterfest, immersive light shows, Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations and the International Chinese New Year Night Parade, showcasing Hong Kong’s festive ambiance and convergence of Chinese and international cultures to visitors from around the world.

⁴⁴These include enhancing the Electronic Business System to allow one stop online completion of arrival and port formalities, setting up designated anchorage areas and relaxing berthing requirements, and authorising Mainland institutions to conduct examinations and provide training for yacht masters.

(To be continued.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:

The Chairman of the Education Commission (EC), Dr David Wong, welcomed the strategic directions and major initiatives for education announced in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address (Policy Address) delivered today (September 16).

The chapters regarding education in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan set out a clear blueprint for the city’s future educational development, while the Policy Address puts forward the implementation of the key annual priorities and policy measures. The two closely related policy documents are in the same vein, closely aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, providing a complete strategic framework and deployment for Hong Kong’s educational development. This comprehensive strategic layout is expected to create synergies, developing Hong Kong as an international hub for education and high-calibre talent, fostering mutual empowerment between innovation and technology and talent cultivation, further consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s position in the international education area, so as to better serve the country’s endeavour to develop into a leading country in education.

Dr Wong said, “The construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town is a crucial layout for Hong Kong’s long-term development in education. The EC supports expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, strategically positioning as an integrated hub for ‘talent cultivation, scientific research, transformation of outcomes, and industrial development’, pressing ahead with the synergistic development among the Government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors, in a bid to achieve the integrated development of education, technology and talent. Furthermore, the Government is gradually increasing the number of publicly funded research postgraduate places and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme quotas, promoting the ‘Study in Hong Kong’ brand, as well as deepening international exchanges and co-operation, promoting collaboration between local post-secondary institutions and academic and research institutions in the Mainland and overseas, with a view to attracting more outstanding talent to further their studies and development in Hong Kong. The EC also supports the Government to continue advancing the development of universities of applied sciences, strengthening applied education and vocational and professional education, and cultivating more high-calibre and multi-skilled talent, so as to align with the needs of the high-quality development of Hong Kong and the country.”

To equip students in the face of future challenges, Dr Wong said he was delighted to see the Government progressively pushing forward related work such as the orderly promotion of digital education in primary and secondary schools, as well as digitalisation in kindergarten education administration, including enhancing digital equipment and artificial intelligence tools in kindergartens, promoting technological ethnics and digital literacy to parents. Dr Wong said, “The heart of digital education lies in the cultivation of students’ scientific spirit, digital literacy, problem-solving skills and creativity, enabling them to meet future social and industrial changes. The EC supports the Government to holistically enhance students’ artificial intelligence literacy while strengthening teachers’ professional capability, promoting the progressive integration of artificial intelligence into different key learning areas and cross-disciplinary domains, fostering cross-sector collaboration, forging a digital education ecosystem together.”

Dr Wong added, “Cultivating values and nurturing people is the fundamental mission of education. The EC agrees with the Government on deepening patriotic education, national education, national security education and values education, and through updated curriculum framework, abundant learning and teaching resources, as well as teacher training programmes, nurturing a new generation with both virtue and ability, an affection for our country and Hong Kong, cultural confidence, proper values, and a global perspective.

“Education is the essential cornerstone for nurturing talent, and talent is the key to sharpening the competitive edge of Hong Kong. The EC will continue to render advice to the Government regarding the long-term direction and development of Hong Kong’s education, work hand in hand with the Government and stakeholders across sectors, and commit fully in nurturing high-calibre talent with a global perspective, innovative mindsets and affection for our country and Hong Kong, with a view to advancing the higher-quality development of education and contributing to the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the country.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Vowing to strengthen Hong Kong’s international advantages, Chief Executive John Lee said in today’s 2026 Policy Address that the Government will strive to deepen the city’s development as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre, and an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

In terms of dispute mediation and resolution, Mr Lee said that the Government will support the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law in establishing its inaugural overseas liaison office in Hong Kong, support the Judiciary in advancing the development of the International Commercial Court in Hong Kong, and advance construction of the Hong Kong International Legal Service Building. Programmes organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy will also be expanded, and it will explore research on cross‑jurisdictional topics.

Mr Lee said Hong Kong’s development as a regional IP trading centre will continue, and that in order to ensure solid legal protection of outcomes from research and development, innovation, and cultural and creative efforts, the in-house examination capacity under the city’s original grant patent (OGP) system will be strengthened. Moreover, pilot facilitation measures for OGP applications in major technology fields will be introduced next year.

A public consultation on the regulatory framework for local patent agents will be held before the end of this year, and specific legislative proposals will be formulated next year. In addition, the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Academy will officially launch in the fourth quarter of this year.

In the realm of culture, Mr Lee said the Government will expand the scale of arts, culture and the creative industries in Hong Kong, while reinforcing the city’s role as an international arts trading platform.

The WestK Performing Arts Centre, featuring four performance venues built to top international theatre standards, will open next year.

Meanwhile, the newly established WestK Academy will organise an international fellowship programme for auctioneers and offer courses on Chinese arts and heritage conservation.

The Chief Executive added that the Government will inject $200 million into the Arts & Sport Development Fund (Arts Portion) to promote sustainable development and the industrialisation of the performing arts.

Visit Chapter IV of the Chief Executive’s Policy Address for more details.

Source: Government of Singapore

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee has announced a comprehensive set of measures in his Policy Address to proactively align the city with overall national development. The blueprint focuses on deepening regional collaboration with the Mainland, while simultaneously boosting international exchanges, co-operation and participation to promote Chinese standards and the Belt & Road (B&R) Initiative.

High-quality development

To foster synergistic development and regional connectivity, the integration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) will be strengthened. Key initiatives include supporting high-quality development of co-operation platforms in Qianhai and Nansha.

Mr Lee noted that the Hong Kong SAR Government will further enhance Qianhai’s role as a vital liaison point, strengthening connections between Hong Kong’s legal and professional services and GBA enterprises by leveraging the city’s unique professional strengths to help Mainland enterprises “go global”. Additionally, Hong Kong will back Nansha’s development as a national pilot area for climate investment and financing within the GBA.

The Chief Executive added that the Hong Kong SAR will participate in drafting national standards for hydrogen energy.   

Boosting connectivity

The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to broaden international exchange networks and high-quality co‑operation under the B&R Initiative, focusing specifically on the “five areas of connectivity”. Mr Lee emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government will promote diverse, comprehensive and pragmatic collaboration while supporting community organisations in expanding international networks to achieve extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits

Furthermore, the Hong Kong SAR Government will launch the Green Technology Bridgehead Programme. This initiative will bring together technology firms from the Mainland and overseas, utilising Hong Kong’s legal, financial and environmental expertise as a springboard to export green solutions to B&R countries.

To attract exceptional talent, the annual quota for the B&R Scholarship will increase to 200 places starting from the 2027-28 academic year. The scholarship scheme attracts outstanding students from B&R regions to pursue higher education in Hong Kong. As of the 2025-26 academic year, the initiative has benefitted students spanning 57 countries.

International platforms

The Chief Executive highlighted plans to deepen co-operation with the International Chamber of Commerce to elevate Hong Kong’s status as an international financial rule-maker, with the goal of attracting more global financial institutions to establish a presence in the city.

The Hong Kong SAR Government has dedicated full support to organise the upcoming Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled to be held in the city in October.

To further cement Hong Kong’s role as a premier global platform for high-quality financial dialogue, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to host major flagship events.

Visit Part VI of the Chief Executive’s Policy Address for more details.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

A suite of newly announced initiatives across housing production and enterprise growth formed the core of Chief Executive John Lee’s Policy Address delivered today, prioritising community well-being alongside business expansion.

Subsidised housing supply will speed up, with all 30,000 Light Public Housing units launched by the current-term Government set for completion by end-March next year, ahead of the original target.

Public housing production is projected to exceed 35,000 units per year on average in the next five years from 2027-28, representing an increase of about 73% compared to the five-year period since the current-term Government took office.

To boost economic growth, the Policy Address introduces ten small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) support measures, including expanding the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading & Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) to Uzbekistan and Qatar and offering targeted funding for artificial intelligence (AI) projects under the scheme.

To support SME business and financing, the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation will extend its 20 free-buyer credit checks for one year. Concurrently, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Trade & Industry Department will assist SMEs with cross-border e-commerce and brand development.

To facilitate banks’ granting credit approvals to SMEs, connections to the Commercial Data Interchange will be strengthened, while the Hong Kong Monetary Authority advances trade data sharing with Shanghai and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) electronic port systems.

Subsidies will be provided for intellectual property asset valuations and innovative logistics technology interfacing with the Port Community System. Additionally, Cyberport will offer matching funds for AI and cybersecurity digital solutions.

To further improve living conditions, a three-tier mechanism for resolving building management disputes will be introduced, using District Council members for early intervention, Home Affairs Department mediation services, and court recourse if needed.

Visit Chapter IV and Chapter VII of the Chief Executive’s Policy Address for more details.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The 2026 Policy Address, delivered this morning by Chief Executive John Lee, includes extensive measures to support youth employment and the elderly, and to promote fertility.

Among other policies, Mr Lee announced the launch of a youth employment scheme, increased newborn baby bonuses, and an expansion of voucher schemes for the elderly.

The two-year “30,000 Youth Employment & Internship Programme” is designed to facilitate youth employment and development, especially among those with limited or no work experience. The Government will mobilise the business sector, including major employer and trade associations, to provide an additional 10,000 full‑time jobs lasting six months or more within a two‑year period starting from the first quarter of next year. The jobs will be open to young people newly entering the workforce, with the Government providing a portion of the wages.

In addition, the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) will launch an International Young Talent Exchange Base before the end of the year. The base will offer a new HYAB-United Nations Youth Leaders Internship Programme, providing internship placements at various United Nations agencies.

Eleven measures in total were outlined to promote fertility in Hong Kong.

These include an extension of the $20,000 newborn baby bonus for another three years, and an increase in bonuses for a second or subsequent child from $20,000 to $30,000, with the increase taking effect immediately for children born today or later. The relevant tax allowance for a second or subsequent child will increase from $140,000 to $160,000, with this rate being effective for two years following childbirth.

In addition, eligible families purchasing a residential property within the period of one year preceding or two years following the birth of a child will be granted a stamp duty waiver of up to $20,000. The maximum mortgage loan-to-value ratio for White Form family applicants with newborns will be raised to 95% starting from the next Home Ownership Scheme sales exercise.

Moreover, the Hospital Authority will increase the provision of in-vitro fertilisation treatment in phases over the next three years to 1,900 treatment cycles per year, and the Primary Healthcare Commission will gradually extend its free pre-pregnancy, antenatal and postnatal classes to all District Health Centres (DHCs) and DHC Expresses. The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong will launch a publicity campaign this year to promote healthy fertility.

Other measures include setting up three more aided standalone child care centres, which are expected to provide around 1,800 additional day care places for children under the age of three by the end of 2030. The School-based After School Care Service Scheme will be regularised starting from the 2027-28 school year, and professional support for the After School Care Programme for Pre-primary Children will be strengthened.

With regard to Hong Kong’s elderly population, the Government will strive to foster a sense of security and worth among senior residents, in adherence with the principle of promoting “ageing in place as the core, with institutional care as back-up”.

The number of Community Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly will be increased by 2,000 to 18,000 in the 2027-28 financial year, while the number of Residential Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly will rise by 1,000 to 8,000.

Five new subsidised day care facilities, providing about 200 services places, and five new Neighbourhood Elderly Centres, expected to serve about 5,000 persons each year, will be set up. Three new residential care homes for the elderly will also be set up, providing about 400 places.

A sum of $100 million will be earmarked for the launch of the Gerontechnology Promotion Scheme, which will support local technology enterprises in developing elderly-care products and solution. In addition, a mobile version of the JoyYou Card will be launched before the end of this year, bringing added convenience to elderly users.

View Chapter VII of the Chief Executive’s Policy Address for more details.