Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Posted on

Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drug case and seizes suspected ketamine worth about $22 million

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drug case and seizes suspected ketamine worth about $22 million (with photo)      
     Through risk assessment, Hong Kong Customs on that day inspected a seaborne consolidated consignment, declared as carrying grease, arriving in Hong Kong from the Netherlands at Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected ketamine from seven metal barrels containing grease. Upon a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted controlled delivery operations and arrested two male consignees, aged 59 and 58, in Kwai Chung and Tuen Mun on May 12 and 14 respectively.
      
     The investigation is ongoing and the two arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.
      
     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:38

NNNN

Posted on

Speech by SHYA at 2026 APEC Women and Economy Forum High-Level Policy Dialogue on Women and Economy (English only)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Speech by SHYA at 2026 APEC Women and Economy Forum High-Level Policy Dialogue on Women and Economy (English only)       
     Thank you Chair and good morning fellow colleagues.
      
     I would like to first express our sincere appreciation to our country, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), for hosting the Women and the Economy Forum (WEF) this year. The theme, “Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment to Prosper Together in the Asia‑Pacific”, is both timely and relevant.
      
     Economies across the Asia Pacific are navigating rapid shifts in technology, demography and sustainable development.  These changes are reshaping labour markets and creating new demands for skills, adaptability, and innovation. It is essential to ensure women’s full and equal engagement in the economy to sustain a long-term and inclusive growth that benefits all.
      
     The PRC hosted the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women held in Beijing in 2025 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and called for accelerating the new process for women’s all-round development. Hong Kong, China (HKC) fully supports the call and is committed to carrying forward the spirit of the Beijing Conference in advancing the high-quality development of the women’s cause.
      
     This year’s WEF highlights three interconnected issues that are reshaping opportunities across the Asia Pacific and represent the frontiers of a transformation vital to our future generations, including digital and smart development, green and low‑carbon development, as well as employment and entrepreneurship. Women are the drivers of these strategic focus areas and HKC is firmly committed to fostering an enabling environment that enables their meaningful and sustained involvement in our economy. From robust legal protections against discrimination on gender and family status, to enhanced childcare and after‑school care services, as well as efforts to promote family‑friendly employment practices, these measures form the foundation for women to participate fully and equally in our economy.
      
     To fully leverage women’s roles as key actors and agents of change in economic development, we root our policy direction in strengthening women’s empowerment and capacity building. In this regard, HKC has introduced targeted initiatives that expand women’s access to skills, opportunities and resources. Our flagship initiative, the Women Empowerment Fund established in 2023, subsidises community-led projects that equip women with future‑ready capabilities, including digital literacy and technology adoption, entrepreneurial skill-building, such as knowledge to launch and scale businesses, as well as access to digital marketing. We are mindful that this programme must support women in tackling the challenges highlighted in today’s high-level forum – the impact of AI on our workforce, our responsibility to preserve the Earth for our children’s children, and the pursuit of individual agency and fulfillment.
      
     The Fund has now completed six rounds of applications, approving over 450 projects with a total funding allocation of over HK$66 million, benefitting over 87 000 women in person-times in less than three years. The strengthened efforts will better position women to take up opportunities in new areas of growth and to contribute immensely to HKC’s continued economic development. I am pleased to share with you that we have recently increased our annual allocation to the Women Empowerment Fund by 50% from 20 to 30 million Hong Kong dollars a year, a step taken to scale our impact and further empower women’s all-round development.
      
     We witness the seeds of future leadership taking root when females account for more than half of our student enrolments in undergraduate programmes today. HKC is investing in the next generation of women leaders through our “She Inspires” Mentorship Programme. The programme pairs local female university students with seasoned female leaders in various areas. Through mentors’ guidance and career-focused training, we equip young women with the necessary skills and networks to shatter glass ceilings, and to nurture future women leaders who are represented not only in the workforce, but also in decision-making roles or as trailblazing entrepreneurs who can shape policies, drive innovation and influence the future of our region.
      
     For HKC, we accord high priority to facilitating women’s participation in policy-making. We have long adopted a 35 per cent benchmark for women’s participation in the statutory and advisory bodies, a target we have consistently met year after year, ensuring women’s perspectives are embedded in our policy deliberations. Furthermore, we host flagship events such as the Family and Women Development Summit, bringing together cross-sector stakeholders for meaningful dialogue to explore targeted and effective support for women’s advancement.
      
     As HKC continues to navigate economic transformation, we echo the four proposals raised by President Xi at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in advancing women’s all-round development, and are committed to turning these visionary proposals into actions. As part of this shared journey, we stand ready to collaborate with fellow APEC economies in championing women’s economic empowerment, so that the progress we make today will lay the foundation for a more inclusive and prosperous tomorrow.
      
     Thank you.
Issued at HKT 12:28

NNNN

Posted on

General holidays for 2027 published

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

General holidays for 2027 published 

Every Sunday     A Government spokesman said, “As the second day of Lunar New Year in 2027 falls on a Sunday, the fourth day of Lunar New Year will be designated as a general holiday in substitution.”
Issued at HKT 11:00

NNNN

Posted on

Cross-Agency Steering Group welcomes first sector-based operational guide on transition finance

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Cross-Agency Steering Group welcomes first sector-based operational guide on transition finance      
     Building on the Steering Group’s strategic priorities for 2026 to 2028      
     The working group has selected information and communications technology (ICT) as a pilot sector to develop the operational guidance. The first-phase Report focuses on entity-level financing and investment, exploring how financial institutions can support a company’s overall climate transition strategy through general corporate-purpose financing.
      
     Notably, the Report highlights commonalities across recognised international frameworks and identifies a core set of entity-level transition-related information and metrics that are material and relevant to the ICT sector. This is central to how such information may be utilised by financial institutions to better understand and assess an entity’s transition strategy.
      
     The Report also addresses market feedback on implementation challenges by setting forth case studies to illustrate how to apply international principles and guidance on transition finance in practice.     
      
     The working group will continue its efforts, with subsequent phases of its work covering activity-level financing and investment, as well as stewardship and engagement.
      
     Co-Chair of the Steering Group and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “I am encouraged by the release of the Report, which demonstrates the industry’s ambition and dedication to developing practical approaches to transition finance. We encourage market participants to apply insights from the Report to action, leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths as Asia’s sustainable finance hub to scale up transition finance.”
      
     Co‑Chair of the Steering Group and the Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ms Julia Leung, said, “This reference guide reflects the Cross-Agency Steering Group’s commitment to work with the industry to distill high-level international principles and standards into actionable, objective and accessible guidance. This is one of the first efforts to ground transition finance in sector-specific and real-world context to facilitate better disclosures, foster efficient capital allocation, and align stakeholders’ expectations.”
      
About the Steering Group
 
     Established in May 2020, the Steering Group is co-chaired by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission. Members include the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Insurance Authority, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council, and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. The Steering Group aims to coordinate the management of climate and environmental risks to the financial sector, accelerate the growth of green and sustainable finance in Hong Kong and support the Government’s climate strategies.
Issued at HKT 16:00

NNNN

Posted on

OSH INNO Expo opens for enrolment

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Labour Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Council will hold the OSH INNO Expo on June 2 and 3. The Expo will introduce and showcase innovative solutions, products and technologies in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH), with a view to promoting the application of innovative technologies to further elevate the standards of OSH. The Expo is now open for online registration and interested parties are welcome to participate.
 
The Expo will mainly consist of two parts, namely an exhibition and a conference. The 2nd OSH Innovation & Technology Award will also be presented at the event. The exhibition will bring together over 100 organisations from Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and overseas to showcase technological breakthroughs and the latest applications in OSH, such as smart systems integrated into personal protective equipment to monitor high-risk operations; wearable exoskeleton devices designed to reduce physical strain on workers; and temperature-controlled vests and heat-stress management platforms that help mitigate the risk of heat stroke.
 
The Expo will also feature a conference with local, Mainland and international OSH experts to discuss the application and effectiveness of innovative OSH technologies. In addition, the 2nd OSH Innovation & Technology Award Sharing Session and Presentation Ceremony will be held during the event. Shortlisted entries from primary schools, secondary schools and open categories will also be displayed at the Expo.
 
The Expo will be held at Exhibition Hall 1C, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, from 9am to 6pm on June 2 and 3. The exhibition, conference and awards presentation ceremony are open to the public for free, but preregistration is required. Interested parties may register online (www.oshexpo.hk/osh-inno-expo/registration). For details of the Expo, please visit the event website (www.oshexpo.hk).

Posted on

Education Bureau to hold Information Expo on Multiple Pathways 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Information Expo on Multiple Pathways 2026 (Info Expo), organised by the Education Bureau (EDB), will be held from 10am to 6pm on May 22 (Friday) and 23 (Saturday) at Hall 3G of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. 
 
A spokesman for the EDB said today (May 15), “The Info Expo aims to provide the latest information on multiple pathways for senior secondary school students, parents and teachers; and to help students make good preparations for different articulation and career plans. Around 30 post-secondary institutions and organisations will set up exhibition booths to provide information on locally accredited post-secondary programmes (including programmes eligible for various government subsidy schemes, vocational and professional education and training programmes and applied degree programmes) and the Diploma of Applied Education programmes, as well as relevant online platforms such as the Information Portal for Accredited Post-secondary Programmes (iPASS), the Electronic Advance Application System for Post-secondary Programmes (E-APP), the Concourse for Self-financing Post-secondary Education (Concourse) and the Qualifications Framework.”
 
In addition, Hok Yau Club and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups will offer studies and career guidance services to students at the Info Expo. There will also be talks on multiple pathways, preparation and strategies for articulation to post-secondary education, and experience sharing by post-secondary students. Institution and industry representatives will also provide first-hand information about various programmes and career development. 

Admission is free and prior registration is not required. For details of the Info Expo, please visit the event website at www.cspe.edu.hk/en/Resources-CareerGuidance-MultiplePathwaysExpo.html.

Posted on

Correctional officers stop person in custody from attempting to commit suicide by hanging

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Correctional officers stopped a 35-year-old male person in custody from attempting to commit suicide by hanging in Stanley Prison today (May 15).
 
At 0.26am today, a correctional officer found the person in custody attempting to commit suicide by hanging with a bedsheet tied to the window grille bars of his cell. The officer immediately called for reinforcements to rescue and provide first-aid treatment to him. The person in custody was found unconscious at the time and was subsequently sent to a public hospital for further treatment. The case has been reported to the Police.
 
A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, “The department uses all possible measures to prevent persons in custody from attempting suicide or self-harm. These measures include administrative arrangements, improvement of institution facilities, staff training and first-aid services.”
 
The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of rape in 2025.

Posted on

SCS visits Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA) this afternoon (May 15) to learn about the department’s recent efforts in applying technology and enhancing service quality and efficiency. She also exchanged views with staff representatives from various grades in the department.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Ms Shirley Lam, Mrs Yeung first met with the Head, WFSFAA, Mr Gilford Law, and the directorate staff and received a briefing on the latest developments of the department, as well as various dedicated financial assistance and loan schemes to support children and youths receiving education and encourage household members to stay in active employment. 

     Mrs Yeung then proceeded to the Counter Service Unit to understand the work of frontline staff in vetting financial assistance and loan applications. During the visit, the staff introduced the department’s Online Counter Appointment System, which allows applicants to make appointments for services, reducing on-site waiting time. It also enables front-line staff to prepare for cases in advance, thereby enhancing processing efficiency.

     The WFSFAA staff demonstrated to Mrs Yeung the department’s AI chatbot mascot S. Buddy on-site. Since its launch in 2023, the chatbot has been providing round-the-clock instant enquiry services on the department’s website, handling an average of about 15 000 enquiries per month in the last financial year. In addition to providing information on various application schemes, S. Buddy is the first chatbot on government websites to provide real-time updates of application progress. 

     Mrs Yeung encouraged the department to make good use of technology, optimise the use of civil service manpower resources and continue to enhance work effectiveness.

     In the Loan Management Division, staff introduced the work on processing applications for non-means-tested loan schemes for post-secondary and tertiary students, and arranging repayments. Through continuous enhancement of the Student Finance Office E-link service on the e-service platform “eWFSFAA”, services under student financial assistance schemes are digitised to facilitate applicants’ online submissions of applications as well as financial assistance and loan account management, including uploading supporting documents, checking application progress, viewing loan statements and repayment statuses, and making online repayments. In addition, the WFSFAA has established a data matching mechanism with relevant government departments and tertiary institutions to more effectively verify the authenticity of application materials.

     The WFSFAA is currently exploring the use of an in-house developed computer programme to automate certain repetitive and simple workflows. Examples include instructing the loan management system to automatically update repayment records based on autopay repayment failure reports, and assisting in collecting and organising public transport fare information available online to facilitate the calculation of student travel subsidy amounts. These save certain manual data entry work and improve efficiency and service quality.

     Before concluding her visit, Mrs Yeung met with staff representatives from various grades in the department to exchange views on matters of concern to them.

           

Posted on

Office of The Ombudsman holds learning and exchange session to enhance alignment with National 15th Five-Year Plan

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

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

     The Hong Kong International Ombudsman Academy (HKIOA) under the Office of The Ombudsman today (May 15) held a learning and exchange session on the National 15th Five-Year Plan for investigation and administrative staff of the Office. The session aimed to deepen staff members’ understanding of the National 15th Five-Year Plan and explore how their work can be aligned with and integrated into the Plan.