Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, and Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU) Mr Abror Mirzo Olimov, exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Belt and Road Summit 2026 today (September 9) to foster closer gold market co-operation between the two sides.

The MOU signifies a fruitful outcome of the successful visit to Central Asia in June this year by a high-level Hong Kong delegation led by the Chief Executive, further deepening government-to-government ties between Hong Kong and Uzbekistan under the Belt and Road Initiative.  

Uzbekistan is one of the world’s most gold-rich countries by production, geological endowment and official holdings. The MOU provides a structured framework for Hong Kong and Uzbekistan to explore how Hong Kong’s international financial platform and precious metals market infrastructure can complement Uzbekistan’s strengths as a major gold-producing and reserve-holding jurisdiction. The two sides will work closely on key areas of mutual interest, including exchanging information, knowledge and experience on the gold and precious metals market and operating related financial market infrastructure; services provided by the gold central clearing and settlement system of the Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company Limited (HKPMCC); and opportunities and conditions for the CBU’s potential participation in precious metals operations in Hong Kong through the HKPMCC. 

Mr Hui said, “The National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline explicitly supports Hong Kong in building a comprehensive commodity trading ecosystem. Today’s MOU with the CBU is a concrete step forward towards realising the important strategy of our nation and Hong Kong by deepening the ties with one of our key partners under the Belt and Road Initiative. As I have shared with my counterparts during the meetings with the CBU in May and June earlier this year, Hong Kong’s internationalised and trusted financial market and Uzbekistan’s rich gold endowment and its drive to attract international capital investment are a perfect pairing. I look forward to working closely with the CBU to exchange experience, study market infrastructure including the HKPMCC, and explore practical pathways for future co-operation that can benefit both sides and the wider region.”

     Mr Abror Mirzo Olimov, said, “This MOU marks an important step forward in the growing financial partnership between financial authorities of Uzbekistan and Hong Kong. As one of the world’s leading gold-producing nations, Uzbekistan places great importance on diversifying and strengthening the infrastructure that supports our precious metals sector. We look forward to working close with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and Hong Kong’s financial institutions to pursue co-operation that supports the long-term diversification and resilience of our gold market.”

Mr Hui also joined today the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, to co-host a roundtable meeting with the Hong Kong financial sector and companies. At the meeting, participants engaged in fruitful discussions on deepening practical co-operation and exploring concrete investment opportunities in Uzbekistan, with a focus on expanding Hong Kong enterprises’ international footprint and establishing long-term strategic partnerships.

     The FSTB will host a bilateral meeting with the CBU tomorrow (September 10) to discuss in detail the visions outlined in the MOU. The FSTB will also continue to work with other Belt and Road partners, industry and regulators to advance Hong Kong’s development as an international gold and commodities hub.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit to Beijing. He met with officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), and visited facilities of the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid), the Science and Technology Research Center of China Customs and a food enterprise in Beijing yesterday (September 8) and today (September 9).
 
Yesterday morning, Mr Tse met with Vice Minister of the MEE Mr Li Gao and had in-depth exchanges on the work of the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) in environmental protection, including projects related to carbon neutrality and green transformation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as well as the work progress of building a pilot zone for a Beautiful China in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), “Beautiful Bays”, “Zero Waste Bay Area” and Green Belt and Road.
 
Mr Tse said that the HKSAR will further promote green living and green and low-carbon transition, strengthen ecological and environmental protection, build a green and livable city, as well as advance new energy, green technology and innovative applications. The HKSAR will also capitalise on its unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and actively integrate into the country’s overall development.
 
He added that the HKSAR Government will, as always, under the guidance and leadership of the MEE, work with other GBA cities to continuously promote policy innovation and technical exchanges, play well the roles of “super connector” and “super value-adder” connecting the Mainland and international markets, and contribute to building a Beautiful China and a Beautiful Hong Kong, in order to achieve national green transition and high-quality economic development.
 
Afterwards, Mr Tse visited the State Grid Simulation Center, the State Grid Center of Metrology and the State Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Grid-Integration of the State Grid, and was briefed by the State Grid representatives on key technologies on power grids, electricity meters and research outcomes of renewable energy grid integration.
       
This morning, Mr Tse visited a food enterprise in Beijing to learn about its standardised production, quality traceability system and experience in product exports.
 
In the afternoon today, Mr Tse met with Vice Minister of the GACC Mr Zhang Baofeng. Both sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on the Registration and Administration of Manufacturers of Food Import and Export (the MOU). Under the MOU, the GACC and the EEB will co-operate on the batch registration of manufacturers for food exported from Hong Kong to the Mainland and food supplied to Hong Kong from the Mainland. They will also strengthen exchanges on safety supervision policies and regulations for manufacturers of food imports and exports, and provide timely updates regarding laws and regulations, regulatory procedures, technical standards, and hygiene requirements concerning the management of overseas manufacturers of food imports and exports, thereby safeguarding food safety in both Hong Kong and the Mainland.
 
Mr Tse then visited the Science and Technology Research Center of China Customs to be briefed on the Center’s testing work and technology regarding food safety and discuss scope for future co-operation. He also met with representatives of a state-owned enterprise with its core business in modern agriculture and agri-food trade.

Mr Tse will attend the Asia-Pacific Forum on Energy Sustainable Development and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Ministerial Meeting tomorrow (September 10) and on September 11.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, today (September 9) led a delegation comprising the heads of the six disciplined services, namely the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming; the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat; the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing; the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung; and the Controller of the Government Flying Service, Captain Eddie Liu, to attend the 2026 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang) in Jiangsu.

The conference seeks to advance public security governance together and bring stability to a turbulent world. Participants from law enforcement agencies and international organisations as well as experts, scholars and corporate representatives from the relevant fields from around the world engaged in in-depth discussion and exchanges on major current global public security issues. The conference also featured eight sub-forums and organised site visits, focusing on areas such as international drug control, counter-terrorism and cybersecurity, to explore room for cross-regional collaboration.

Mr Tang and other officials also attended the Third Public Security Tech Expo to learn more about the latest developments in and technological trends of advanced police equipment. With the theme “Technology Empowers Win-Win Cooperation” this year, the exhibition aimed to modernise public security capabilities through innovative technology, and advance global public security governance by facilitating information exchanges and technology sharing through the display of high-end police technical equipment.

In addition, Mr Tang met with the Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, Mr Luong Tam Quang. Mr Tang said that exchanges of experiences and information in relation to counter-terrorism, combating cross-jurisdictional crime, developing police co-operation and immigration matters between the two places have been enhanced since the signing of memoranda of understanding on co-operation on the aforesaid matters in recent years, strengthening law enforcement efficiency. Both sides discussed the deepening of collaboration in different areas, including combating cross-jurisdictional crimes and illegal immigration, police co-operation, emergency management, the flow of talent, and training and exchanges, to enhance collaborative development and law enforcement capabilities of the two places. Mr Chow, Mr Kwok and Mr Yeung also attended the meeting.

Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (September 10).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs mounted special enforcement operations in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok on September 3 and yesterday (September 8) to combat the sale of counterfeit goods, and seized about 3 100 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $1 million.

Customs earlier conducted patrols at popular visitors’ spots and discovered some traders selling suspected counterfeit goods in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok. After investigations, Customs officers took enforcement actions during the abovementioned dates and raided nine fixed-pitch hawker stalls on Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei and eight fixed-pitch hawker stalls on Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok. A batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including handbags, clothes, and toys, was seized.

During the operations, Customs arrested one man and six women, aged between 34 and 65. An investigation is ongoing.

With the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat different kinds of counterfeit goods activities in order to safeguard local consumers’ and visitors’ rights at full strength.

Customs appeals to local consumers and visitors to purchase goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Customs also reminds traders not to sell counterfeit goods and to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The 11th Belt and Road Summit, which opened today (September 9) and runs for two days, brings together over 6 000 participants, including over 100 government and business speakers, as well as over 100 delegations. More than 60 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) will be witnessed during the Summit, exploring opportunities of co-operation for mutually beneficial development. A number of senior government officials from different Belt and Road countries also gathered at the Summit, reflecting a shared aspiration to enhancing co-operation.
 
     Hosted by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) since 2016, the Summit is a premier business and investment platform for Hong Kong’s participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Under the theme “Advancing High-quality Development • Embarking on a New Journey”, the 11th Summit aims to foster high-quality, sustainable and innovative development.
 
     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, delivered remarks at the opening session. The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Mr Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, the Vice President of Uruguay, Ms Carolina Cosse, and Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, gave special addresses. Vice Minister of Commerce Mr Yan Dong, and Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council Mr Li Zhen also delivered speeches.
 
     Mr Lee said the BRI is a shared blueprint for the future, rooted in a rich history of cross-cultural collaboration. Hong Kong, as a place where East meets West, is where capital, talent, businesses and opportunities converge.
 
     “In addition to strengthening our relations with traditional partners, Hong Kong continues to expand our network of friends along the Belt and Road,” Mr Lee said. “I have led high-level business delegations to explore opportunities in 13 Belt and Road countries across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Middle East and Central Asia, focusing on specific areas to explore new markets. These missions delivered over 250 MOUs and other agreements, from policy co-ordination and trade and investment, to expanded connectivity and support for companies. They underline Hong Kong’s long-standing focus on opening new markets, forming new partnerships and advancing regional co-operation.” Mr Lee said.
 
     Mr Lee said the achievements from his visits demonstrate the value of a hub-to-hub co-operation model, where Hong Kong can serve as Belt and Road economies’ gateway to the Chinese Mainland and global markets and the economies can connect Hong Kong with relevant regions. This inter-connected network of hubs will amplify regional strengths through enhanced connectivity and unleash fresh opportunities.
 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, delivered welcoming remarks at the keynote luncheon, where the Secretary-General of the ASEAN, Dr Kao Kim-hourn was the keynote speaker. Mr Chan said ASEAN had consistently outpaced the global economy and was becoming an increasingly important partner in technological advancement and industrial upgrading. Two-way trade between China and ASEAN surpassed US$1 trillion last year, reflecting the reshaping of industrial chains across the region.
 
     ASEAN’s demographic, market and technology dividends offer growth opportunities through its young population, expanding middle class, trade agreements and artificial intelligence (AI). Turning these advantages into sustained growth requires patient capital, open, well-regulated testing grounds and a strong talent base. Hong Kong can connect global investors with innovative companies, drawing on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s frontier research, advanced manufacturing and substantial consumer market. The Northern Metropolis will facilitate the flow of technology, talent and capital, strengthening connections between research, commercial application and production to foster shared prosperity across the region.
 
     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, gave welcome remarks at a thematic breakout session titled “Hong Kong: Super Connector‧World-class Springboard – Professional Services Empowering Global Expansion”. He highlighted that the National 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Hong Kong in leveraging its strength in professional services to assist enterprises to go global. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, and pursuant to the Basic Law, Hong Kong has unique legal, financial and other systems which are highly international in nature. Hong Kong serves not only as a “super connector” between the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world but also a “super value-adder”.
 
     He said that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China, and the world’s only bilingual common law jurisdiction using both Chinese and English. Hong Kong’s business law is consistent with prevailing international standards and practice, remaining one of the best options as the governing law for international transactions. Hong Kong have concluded mutual legal assistance arrangements with the Mainland in civil and commercial matters. The arbitration ecosystem in Hong Kong is equally world-renowned, and they city is the second most preferred arbitral seat in the world, and the most preferred arbitral seat in Asia Pacific. Together with the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation, which is dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation, established in Hong Kong, all these reinforce the city’s status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre.

     The internationalised, high quality and reputable legal and dispute resolution services provided by Hong Kong’s legal professionals can undoubtedly assist in safeguarding the interests of enterprises involved in the BRI to go global effectively and efficiently, Mr Lam added.

     The First Deputy Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan, Mr Umiraliyev Zhandos Zhanibekovich, also spoke at the session, highlighting the importance and cross-regional nature of professional services.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, chaired the policy dialogue on “Building Resilient Trade and Investment Frameworks in a Diverse Global Landscape” at which he discussed with other participating ministers on how to address pressing economic challenges. He highlighted that Hong Kong is steadfast to promote trade for the benefit of all, through upholding a rules-based multilateral trading system, implementing transparent and non-discriminatory regulations, and facilitating customs and digital interoperability. Mr Yau will give opening remarks in a thematic breakout session titled “Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global: Driving Mutual Growth Across Belt and Road Economies” tomorrow.

     The Summit witnessed seven MOUs between the HKSAR Government and their overseas counterparts to promote bilateral co-operation and exchanges, covering the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Belt and Road Office, Invest Hong Kong and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, with Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Thailand, Türkiye, Zimbabwe, and Uzbekistan. The Summit also witnessed around 55 other MOUs in various areas. The total value of these MOUs, together with new projects and deals finalised before and during the Summit, is over US$3.1 billion.

     The Summit brough together business leaders to discuss how to foster co-operation for a more prosperous and connected future, covering a wide range of areas including trade and commerce, legal services, green technology, logistics, AI and new quality productive forces. The Summit will open with a special address session by the Secretary-General of the International Organization for Mediation, Professor Teresa Cheng on the second day. Debuting this year is a Think Tank Dialogue to promote exchanges with experts and scholars. Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will give keynote speech in a thematic session on aligning Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy with the BRI.

A roundtable session with the theme of “Innovative and Health Silk Road: Collaborating for a Better Future” was held today to share Hong Kong’s experience of promoting AI adoption and public health, thereby fostering development for a more prosperous future through knowledge exchange. And, there are two Belt and Road signature projects sessions featuring development projects in Kazakhstan and Türkiye respectively to facilitate deal matching.
 
     This year’s Summit assembles local universities to showcase their research and development outcomes and talent advantages, consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international education hub. To encourage youth to learn more about the latest Belt and Road developments and opportunities, over 300 Belt and Road Scholarship recipients, local university students, Youth Link members and Youth Development Commission Youth Ambassadors were invited to attend the year’s Summit. A session on dialogue with youth business leaders will also be held tomorrow to share their experience of entrepreneurship and spotlight Hong Kong’s unique advantages as an international hub for high-calibre talent.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     To align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline, which calls for the strengthening of intellectual property (IP) protection and utilisation, and support for Hong Kong in deepening its development as a regional IP trading centre, and to promote Hong Kong’s professional IP services to enterprises in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, led a delegation of over 30 representatives from the Hong Kong professional services sector to Guangzhou today (September 9) to attend a Synergising with the GBA: Advancing IP Trade and Business Opportunities seminar (the seminar) organised by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office. The seminar attracted over 300 industry representatives from Hong Kong and various GBA Mainland cities.
 
     The seminar aimed to promote Hong Kong’s strengths as a regional IP trading centre to Mainland enterprises in the GBA, and to demonstrate how Hong Kong’s professional IP services can assist Mainland enterprises in leveraging IP to expand overseas. It also sought to establish a co-operation platform between Hong Kong professional service providers and GBA enterprises.
 
     Delivering her opening remarks, Miss Lam said that amid the current global economic restructuring, technological innovation has become the core engine of high-quality development. IP is not only about a legal safeguard, but also a core corporate asset and a strategic resource for market competitiveness, representing a substantial source of economic value. The GBA has close to 820 000 valid invention patents, accounting for nearly one-sixth of the national total, fully reflecting its innovation strength. The World Intellectual Property Organisation released yesterday (September 8) the Global Innovation Index 2026 ranking of the top 100 innovation clusters, in which the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster once again ranked first globally, reaffirming the GBA’s leading position on the international innovation stage. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths in areas such as legal, taxation and professional services, to seize the opportunities arising from national support for deepening the development of Hong Kong as a regional IP trading centre, strengthen full-spectrum IP protection, and facilitate the commercialisation and industrialisation of innovations.
 
     The seminar was supported by the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department, relevant Mainland government authorities and business organisations, with the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre as the implementing organisations. Three experts were invited to deliver keynote speeches on “Strategic Roadmap for End-to-end IP Management”, “Intellectual Property Trading, Valuation, and Financing”, and “Cross-Border Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution”. Two panel discussions were also held, during which Assistant Director of Intellectual Property Mr Derek Lau together with five Hong Kong experts and representatives of Mainland enterprises, shared practical experience on how Mainland enterprises leveraged Hong Kong’s professional services to expand overseas, as well as success stories of GBA enterprises in IP commercialisation.
 
     Corporate representatives actively asked questions, creating a lively and interactive atmosphere that reflected the strong interest of GBA enterprises in leveraging IP to expand business opportunities, and their keen demand for Hong Kong’s professional services. Hong Kong will continue to play the roles of “super connector” and “super value-adder”, joining hands with GBA Mainland cities to promote the development of IP trading and jointly explore further co-operation.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The 11th Belt & Road Summit opened today, bringing together over 6,000 participants, including over 100 government and business speakers, as well as over 100 delegations. More than 60 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) will be witnessed during the Summit.

Under the theme “Advancing High-quality Development • Embarking on a New Journey”, the Summit aims to foster high-quality, sustainable and innovative development.

Speaking at the opening session, Chief Executive John Lee said, in addition to strengthening the city’s relations with traditional partners, Hong Kong continues to expand its network of friends along the Belt and Road.

“I have led high-level business delegations to explore opportunities in 13 Belt and Road countries across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Middle East and Central Asia, focusing on specific areas to explore new markets,” Mr Lee said.

“These missions delivered over 250 MOUs and other agreements, from policy co-ordination and trade and investment, to expanded connectivity and support for companies. They underline Hong Kong’s long-standing focus on opening new markets, forming new partnerships and advancing regional co-operation.”

Mr Lee said these achievements demonstrate the value of a hub-to-hub co-operation model, where Hong Kong can serve as Belt and Road economies’ gateway to the Chinese Mainland and global markets and the economies can connect Hong Kong with relevant regions. This interconnected network of hubs will amplify regional strengths through enhanced connectivity and unleash fresh opportunities.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said ASEAN has consistently outpaced the global economy and is becoming an increasingly important partner in technological advancement and industrial upgrading. Two-way trade between China and ASEAN surpassed US$1 trillion last year, reflecting the reshaping of industrial chains across the region.

He stated that ASEAN’s demographic, market and technology dividends offer growth opportunities through its young population, expanding middle class, trade agreements and AI. Turning these advantages into sustained growth requires patient capital, open, well-regulated testing grounds and a strong talent base. Hong Kong can connect global investors with innovative companies, drawing on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s frontier research, advanced manufacturing and substantial consumer market. The Northern Metropolis will facilitate the flow of technology, talent and capital, strengthening connections between research, commercial application and production to foster shared prosperity across the region.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam noted that the arbitration ecosystem in Hong Kong is equally world-renowned, the city is the second most preferred arbitral seat in the world, and the most preferred arbitral seat in Asia Pacific. Together with the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation established in Hong Kong, which is dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation, all these reinforce the city’s status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau highlighted that Hong Kong is steadfast in promoting trade for the benefit of all, through upholding a rules-based multilateral trading system, implementing transparent and non-discriminatory regulations, and facilitating customs and digital interoperability.

The Summit witnessed seven MOUs between the HKSAR Government and their overseas counterparts to promote bilateral co-operation and exchanges, covering the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Belt and Road Office, Invest Hong Kong and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, with Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Thailand, Turkey, Zimbabwe, and Uzbekistan.

The Summit also witnessed around 55 other MOUs in various areas. The total value of these MOUs, together with new projects and deals finalised before and during the Summit, is over US$3.1 billion.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong and Macau youth joined a “Tiangong Class” today to engage with space experts and the Shenzhou-23 crew currently carrying out a manned space mission on the Chinese Space Station.

Mission commander Zhu Yangzhu, astronaut Zhang Zhiyuan and Hong Kong’s first payload expert Lai Ka-ying served as “space teachers” to deliver expert lectures to students, conduct real-time science experiments, and engage in an interactive “dialogue between space and Earth”.

Organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Macao SAR Government, and the China Manned Space Agency, the “Tiangong Class” Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session was held at Ms Lai’s alma mater, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College.

Over 200 participants attended the session, which featured in-orbit demonstrations, expert lectures and a question-and-answer session. The participants included primary and secondary school teachers and pupils from Hong Kong and Macao, alongside tertiary students, researchers, technology professionals, and youth organisation representatives.

The session lasted approximately 1.5 hours, during which Ms Lai introduced the operational process of the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO). Developed by the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, MUSICO undertakes the important task of monitoring global greenhouse gases, contributing to national aerospace programmes and global sustainable development.

The astronauts also introduced the Tiangong Space Station’s facilities, including the core module instruments and experimental facilities, the space vegetable garden, the space kitchen and space food, and shared their daily lives and scientific research work on the space station.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive John Lee thanked the China Manned Space Agency for its support, as well as the various organisations and departments for their joint efforts, which have enabled students from Hong Kong and Macao to learn from the astronauts aboard the Tiangong Space Station.

Mr Lee noted that, over the more than 30 years of the development of China’s manned space programme, every step has embodied the Chinese nation’s indomitable spirit of self-improvement and courage in exploration.

He added that when the delegation from China’s manned space programme visited Hong Kong in 2023, it sowed three important seeds for the city: a seed to foster national pride, a seed to explore science and technology, and a seed to encourage the pursuit of dreams. As Hong Kong’s aerospace research and development has progressed from ground-based support to in-orbit operations in space, enabling Hong Kong people to explore the cosmos, it demonstrates that these seeds have not only taken root and sprouted, but are also thriving.

Mr Lee also encouraged all sectors of society, particularly young people, to actively participate in the science popularisation and awareness-raising activities currently organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government under the theme “A Shared Cosmic Vision for National Rejuvenation”.

He expressed the hope that the younger generation would look to astronauts as role models, serving the nation in building a strong aerospace country, thereby writing a brilliant chapter for the Chinese nation.