Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announces that a tender of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes will be held on May 22, 2026 (Friday) for settlement on May 26, 2026 (Tuesday), as set out in the published tentative issuance schedule. This is to roll over an issue of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes maturing on the same day. 
 
A total of HK$1,200 million 2-year Notes will be on offer, of which HK$5 million will be made available for offer to members of the public who wish to submit non-competitive tender bids through Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (HKSCC). If the Notes reserved for non-competitive tender are under-subscribed, the non-subscribed amount will be added to the portion of notes for competitive tender (initially set at HK$1,195 million). The Notes will mature on May 26, 2028 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.52 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears.
 
Members of the public who wish to submit non-competitive tender applications for Notes that are open to HKSCC may do so through Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for those who hold Investor Accounts of the Central Clearing and Settlement System (CCASS) at the HKSCC, directly through HKSCC, for submission to the HKMA for processing. Competitive tender applications for the Notes must be submitted through any of the Eligible Market Makers appointed by the HKMA, with the current published list available on the HKMA’s website at www.hkma.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof for both competitive and non-competitive tender.
 
The tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Refinitiv screen (HKMAOOE), and Bloomberg. Applicants who submitted non-competitive tender bids through HKSCC may also obtain the tender results from Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for applicants who hold Investor Accounts at HKSCC’s CCASS from the CCASS terminal for CCASS Broker/Custodian/Participants and CCASS Phone System.
 
HKMA Exchange Fund Note Programme Tender Information
——————————————————————
Tender information of 2-Year Exchange Fund Notes:
 

Price/Yield Table of the new EFN at tender for reference* only:
 

 
*Disclaimer: The information provided here is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, the HKMA does not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects. You are encouraged to conduct your own enquiries to verify any particular piece of information provided on it. The HKMA shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any use or reliance on any of the information provided here.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​To combat the illegal online sale and illegal import of controlled anti-obesity injections, the Department of Health (DH) and Hong Kong Customs carried out a joint enforcement operation yesterday (May 12) in Tin Shui Wai, arresting a 31-year-old woman suspected of illegally selling Part 1 poison and an unregistered pharmaceutical product, and importing a pharmaceutical product not under and in accordance with a licence.
 
Following up on a complaint, the DH and Hong Kong Customs purchased two boxes of an anti-obesity injection (see photos) from the woman in question via an online social media platform. The product packaging indicated in Japanese that it contains tirzepatide, a substance classified as Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (PPO). The product is suspected to be an unregistered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong.
 
The DH and Hong Kong Customs will continue to investigate the case, and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.
 
Tirzepatide is used for the treatment of obesity, and its side effects include hair loss, nausea and diarrhoea. Medicines containing tirzepatide should be used under a doctor’s direction and must be supplied on the premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (commonly known as a pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor’s prescription.
 
The DH strongly urged members of the public not to self-purchase or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. Purchasing controlled medicines (including anti-obesity injections) online poses health risks. Besides the lack of a doctor’s assessment of an individual’s health condition, it is difficult to ascertain the legitimate source of the drugs. It is also impossible to know whether the drugs were properly stored during transportation (especially for drugs requiring cold-chain storage). This leaves their safety, quality and efficacy unguaranteed.
 
The DH also reminded the public that selling medicines controlled under the PPO illegally, regardless of the sales channel (including online sales platforms, instant messaging applications or social media), carries criminal liability. Do not risk breaking the law.
 
According to the PPO, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Additionally, pharmaceutical products containing Part 1 poisons could only be sold at the registered premises of a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. If any contravention of the law is suspected, the DH will follow up and carry out enforcement action. After seeking advice from the Department of Justice, prosecutions against relevant persons may be initiated. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
 
Hong Kong Customs reminded the public that under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), import or export of all controlled items (including pharmaceutical products and medicines) must be accompanied by a valid licence issued by the relevant authorities. Any person who brings any controlled item into/out of Hong Kong (whether in person, by post, or through purchasing agents or consolidated consignments) without a valid licence may be prosecuted, in addition to the confiscation of the subject item. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
 
The DH reminded the public that all registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of “HK-XXXXX”. The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.  
 
Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before consuming any medication for weight control. They may visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for “Health message on overweight problem and slimming products” for information.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today welcomed the passage, by the Legislative Council, of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions, Concessionary Deductions & Allowances) Bill 2026, which allows implementation of the concessionary tax measures proposed in the 2025 Policy Address and the 2026-27 Budget. 

The legislation will be published in the Government Gazette on May 22.

The measures include increasing the basic allowance, the married person’s allowance, the single parent allowance, the basic and additional child allowance, and the basic and additional allowance for dependent parents/grandparents, as well as raising the deduction ceiling for elderly residential care expenses and extending the claim period for additional child allowance for newborns starting from the year of assessment 2026-27. About 2.09 million taxpayers will benefit, reducing tax revenue by about $5.51 billion per year.

A one-off 100% reduction of salaries tax, tax under personal assessment and profits tax for the year of assessment 2025-26 will also be granted, subject to a ceiling of $3,000 per case. This is expected to benefit about 2.12 million taxpayers and 170,000 businesses, with about 24% of the former and 18% of the latter not needing to pay tax for the year of assessment 2025-26. Government revenue will be reduced by about $5.78 billion.

The one-off tax concessions, increased allowances and deduction ceilings will be reflected in taxpayers’ final tax payable for the year of assessment 2025-26 and tax payable for the year of assessment 2026-27.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) of Taiwan today (May 12) announced Taiwan’s results at the 2026 Edison Awards, marking another landmark year for the country at what is widely regarded as “the Oscars of Innovation.” In total, Taiwan received 16 awards this year, joining other winners including Dell, Medtronic, and Dow.

MOEA-affiliated research institutions took home three gold, six silver, and three bronze awards. Winners included the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC), and the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI). The awarded technologies have been commercialized through partnerships with companies such as Mizuno and Sangtech Lab, helping accelerate industry transformation.

ITRI claimed three gold and two silver awards. Its LigamiX, co-developed with TTRI, earned a gold award for addressing long-standing limitations of conventional artificial ligaments, including poor biocompatibility, inflammation and rejection risks, and material degradation that can lead to breakage. Combining polymer-bioceramic composite fibers with a porous bionic textile structure, the technology delivers up to three times the strength of commercially available products while promoting bone regeneration and tissue adherence. Through collaboration with traditional textile manufacturers, ITRI transformed a textile material originally worth less than US$1 into an artificial ligament commanding a unit price of US$2,500.

Another gold winner, Prognosis Monitoring System (PMS), addresses the costly risks of sudden production line failures that lead to product loss and unplanned downtime. Using AI to continuously monitor equipment conditions and predict anomalies before failure, PMS significantly reduces unexpected shutdowns. In a single instance during semiconductor manufacturing, the system prevented an estimated loss of US$5 million. The technology has since expanded into industries including machine tools, energy, and petrochemicals.

Also earning gold, Sustainable Pavement Material Recycling introduces a first-of-its-kind asphalt-aggregate separation process that resolves the longstanding disposal burden of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Using a proprietary biological agent and a water-based heating process, the technology converts 100% of RAP into reusable paving material, generating approximately US$50 in value per ton of recycled material. At scale, the technology could help Taiwan reduce quarrying by approximately 4.85 million tons annually while cutting carbon emissions by 270,000 tons per year.

MIRDC took home two silver and two bronze awards. The silver award-winning ThermoMind Smart Energy-efficiency Combustion System tackles the longstanding inefficiencies of traditional furnaces, which have traditionally struggled with significant heat loss and a heavy reliance on manual adjustment. Targeting energy-intensive industrial furnace applications, ThermoMind delivers real-time combustion adjustment and waste heat recovery, helping industries reduce carbon emissions by over 110,000 metric tons to date.

Also earning silver, MagicABC addresses the shortage of Mandarin-speaking speech-language pathologists and the limitations of one-way training systems. Through an AI-powered Speech-Language Pathology Agent (SLP-Agent) and interactive lesson plans, MagicABC helps children with language delays practice verbal expression. The system has already been adopted by more than 10 medical and educational institutions, including Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital.

TTRI claimed two Silver and one Bronze awards. The silver award-winning A Slice of Running Shoe disrupts traditional footwear assembly by integrating precision melt-blown automation to slash the conventional eight-step process down to just two. This leap in efficiency allows a shoe upper to be completed in a six minutes; furthermore, its mono-material construction ensures the product is both ultra-lightweight and fully recyclable, addressing critical goals in the circular economy.

Securing another Silver, the CellNet Leukocyte Reduction Filter, co-developed with Sangtech Lab, enhances transfusion safety by removing white blood cells from blood products. The manufacturing process replaces conventional solvents and heavy water usage with supercritical carbon dioxide fluid technology, enabling a cleaner, lower-carbon production of medical devices under entirely solvent-free and waterless conditions.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply today announced that the Government will waive 50% of the toll for commercial vehicles using government tolled tunnels, and the Tsing Sha Control Area, from May 17 to July 16.

Commercial vehicles include buses, goods vehicles, light buses and taxis registered with the Transport Department. Private cars and motorcycles are not eligible for the waiver.

The two-month measure aims to alleviate operating costs for commercial vehicles, and to assist drivers and operators in coping with rising fuel prices, the task force explained.

The department said it has steered the toll service provider to adjust the HKeToll system. Commercial vehicle owners only need to pay the reduced amount, as displayed via the system. Payment methods and time limits remain unchanged.

Separately, taxi passengers are reminded that they must continue to pay statutory tolls in full during the waiver period. Placards will be displayed in taxi compartments regarding the tolls. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs(MOEA) announced on April 14 that the “2026 Auto Parts, EV, and Motorcycle Procurement Meeting” would be held in Hall 1 of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center to help local suppliers secure overseas orders. The event attracted 92 international buyers from 37 countries, who held over 480 one-on-one meetings with 241 Taiwanese companies, generating US$280 million in business opportunities, while showcasing Taiwan’s strong competitiveness in global supply chains.

Leading buyers included major e-commerce platforms for U.S. auto parts, fuel system and engine management manufacturers, a Thai Tier 1 supplier, and a French off-road motorcycle brand. Buyers praised Taiwan’s consistent quality, flexible customization, and reliable delivery, with several indicating plans to expand sourcing. Amid shifting geopolitical patterns, Taiwan is increasingly seen as a key supply chain partner.

The event also featured a policy brief on sourcing in Taiwan, with a European distributor sharing market trends to help firms switch from passive order-taking to proactive market alignment.

The MOEA added that the “2026 Global Sourcing Day-Kaohsiung” on April 21 would further drive business opportunities with over 150 international buyers expected to participate. The government will continue to support firms through, “Taiwan Excellence Pavilions,” buyer matchmaking, and AI-driven digital marketing to expand global market opportunities.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The world’s largest hardware trade fair, EISENWARENMESSE, successfully concluded on March 6, 2026 at Koelnmesse. The event featured nearly 2,500 exhibitors from over 50 countries. Taiwan stood out with its first-ever “Team Taiwan Flagship Pavilion,” which featured 263 companies from the hand tools and fastener sectors, making Taiwan the second-largest exhibitor. The pavilion showcased Taiwan’s strong supply chains and innovation, generating US$120 million in business opportunities.

In response to the restructuring of global supply chains and the impacts of U.S. tariff, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has expanded support through special budget measures. These include enhanced subsidies for exhibitors, the establishment of Taiwan pavilions at major global trade shows, buyer-sourcing programs, AI-driven marketing, and one-stop services via Taiwan Trade and Investment Centers.

To boost order acquisition, integrated marketing activities were held during the fair, including buyer delegations, product launches, industry seminars, and networking events. These efforts facilitated strong engagement with buyers from Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, which resulted in on-site deals and positive feedback from exhibitors.

Looking ahead, Taiwan will set up flagship pavilions at 10 major international trade shows across Europe, the U.S., and Japan, focusing on industries affected by U.S. tariffs, to enhance global visibility and expand market opportunities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit to Stockholm, Sweden on May 12 (Stockholm time).
 
     In the morning, Professor Sun visited the Uppsala University and met with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anders Hagfeldt. The Uppsala University is one of the leading comprehensive research universities in Sweden, actively promoting global sustainable development and technological innovation in recent years. Professor Sun invited the University to participate in the establishment of Life and Health Technology Research Institute in Hong Kong.
 
     Professor Sun was then briefed on the Uppsala Innovation Centre and STUNS, as well as the development of various start-ups nurtured by the University, gaining an in-depth understanding of how the local innovation system promotes close industry-academia-research collaboration, and drives the transformation and commercialisation of research and development (R&D) outcomes. The participants also exchanged views on the future collaboration in R&D, application, and commercialisation of technologies. STUNS is a foundation focusing on promoting collaboration among universities, business and society in the Uppsala region.
 
     Professor Sun then departed for Helsinki, Finland for his visit. Upon arrival, he met with the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Finland, Mr Chen Huixin, to introduce the latest progress of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting innovation and technology (I&T) development, as well as the related work on fully propelling the development of the Northern Metropolis and accelerating the construction of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. He also elaborated on Hong Kong’s continuous efforts in actively integrating into the overall development of the country and serving the nation’s I&T development.
 
     Professor Sun will continue his visit to Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 12) that a sample of frozen confection was found to contain coliform bacteria and its count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. 

A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected the above-mentioned frozen confection sample from a licensed frozen confection factory in Tsim Sha Tsui for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 240 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit.”

“The CFS has informed the frozen confection factory concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling and to dispose all the affected frozen confection immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the frozen confection factory, who have also been requested to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises,” the spokesman said.

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.