Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The 10th Belt and Road Summit which opened today (September 10) and runs for two days brought together over 6 000 participants, including more than 90 government and business speakers, as well as over 100 delegations, to explore the opportunities arising from areas such as trade and commerce, investment, innovation and technology and green development, and yielded a record high of about 50 government and enterprise memorandums of understanding (MOUs), highlighting Hong Kong’s role as the functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI).

Hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government since 2016, the Summit is a flagship event for Hong Kong’s participation in and contribution to the B&RI, and has become the premier B&R business and investment platform for local, Mainland and overseas enterprises. Under the theme “Collaborate for change • Shape a shared future”, the 10th Summit featured new elements such as market spotlights, signature projects and collaborative capacity for sustainable development, exploring further collaboration opportunities for enterprises, the local professional services sectors and people-to-people exchanges.

Speaking at the opening session, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said the Belt and Road Summit has united governments, businesses, peoples and cultures in collaboration for change. He said that over the past 10 years, more than 45 000 people from some 120 countries and regions have participated in the summit, with over 2 800 projects presented, shaping a shared vision through collaboration and connectivity, which are the fundamental values of the B&RI.

Mr Lee said, “The HKSAR Government is rapidly expanding Hong Kong’s global trade networks. I have visited 12 Belt and Road countries in the past three years, leading high-level business delegations from Hong Kong to most of them and witnessing some 160 MOUs, and co-operation agreements and deliverables with the respective economies. We have signed free trade agreements with 14 Belt and Road countries, and investment agreements with about 20 Belt and Road economies, as well as Comprehensive Avoidence of Double Taxation Agreements with 37 Belt and Road jurisdictions. Our external trade with Belt and Road countries exceeded US$276 billion last year, up about 80 per cent since 2013 and three times the average growth rate of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade over the same period. ”

Mr Lee also introduced Hong Kong’s advantages and developments in such areas as trade and investment, competitiveness, talent, connectivity, green and sustainable development and the legal system, highlighting that Hong Kong is an ideal B&R hub. He remarked that as the only world city that converges both the China advantage and the global advantage, Hong Kong stands as the premier gateway for co-operation, bridging people, trade, business, education, culture and values across the region, connecting Asia and the world. He said that Hong Kong’s “dual superpower” as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” injects vigour, innovation, sustainability and strategic value to capital and projects, and will continue to drive high-quality development along the B&R.

Also addressing the opening session were Vice Minister of Commerce Mr Yan Dong; Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council Mr Li Zhen; and Deputy Secretary General of the National Development and Reform Commission Mr Xiao Weiming. Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Mr Sun Chanthol delivered a keynote speech at the opening session.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, gave welcome remarks at the Keynote Luncheon titled “Fostering Regional Co-operation through Concrete Business Partnerships”. He shared with the audience how Hong Kong is fostering more partnerships and contributing to regional connectivity through leveraging on two important global trends – green and sustainable development, and digital innovation.

On green and sustainable development, Mr Chan highlighted the Government’s vision for Hong Kong to become an international centre for green technology and green finance, playing its pivotal role in driving global green transition. In the area of green finance, the Government is actively promoting the development of transition finance, while also addressing the diverse needs of emerging economies through innovative financial instruments such as catastrophe bonds and the securitisation of infrastructure debt. At the same time, Hong Kong is accelerating its development into a green technology hub, contributing to regional decarbonisation efforts through cutting-edge innovation.

Turning to digital innovation, Mr Chan said that for Belt and Road economies and the Global South, Hong Kong and the Mainland offers a wide spectrum of digital solutions, from fintech and smart health to cloud computing, 6G, and digital city management. Hong Kong has made AI one of our key strategic priorities, and is committed to building an open, collaborative and inclusive AI community. Meanwhile, it is embracing blockchain technology at the heart of financial innovation, leveraging on its potential to make cross-border transactions more efficient.

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, gave welcome remarks at the thematic breakout session titled “Synergy in Legal Solutions: Co-creating a Shared Silk Road Vision”. He stated that the conclusion and execution of Belt and Road projects are bound to involve transboundary legal issues, in which international legal services are inevitable. Noting that Hong Kong international civil and commercial law and practice under its common law system are highly recognised by the international business community, Mr Lam highlighted Hong Kong’s advantages in various areas including the abundant legal professionals with rich experiences in international business law, credible and high-quality legal and dispute resolution services, and close legal collaborations with Belt and Road countries.

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, chaired the policy dialogue on “Embracing emerging opportunities in times of economic uncertainty” at which he discussed with overseas government officials on forging economic co-operation with innovation, such as green economy and digitalisation, amid the uncertain geopolitical situation. Mr Yau also highlighted that the B&RI provides a readily available platform for international co-operation in facilitating trade and economic integration. Citing infrastructure development as one of the key strengths of the B&RI, he said that it helps enhance market access and reduce trade barriers, thereby generating investment, creating jobs and improving living standards.

The Summit featured nine MOUs between the HKSAR Government and related organisations and their overseas counterparts to promote bilateral co-operation and exchanges, covering the Department of Justice, the Financial Services Development Council, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong Customs, the Hong Kong Observatory, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and the Securities and Futures Commission, and Pakistan, Indonesia, Hungary, Qatar, Cambodia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The Summit also led to some 36 other MOUs in various areas. The total value of these MOUs, together with new projects and deals finalised before the summit, is close to US$1 billion.

Under the themes of “ASEAN: Unveiling new opportunities for growth and collaboration” and “Exploring frontiers in new markets and industries”, the plenary sessions gathered business leaders to discuss Hong Kong’s role in facilitating trade and business co-operation under the B&RI. A number of thematic breakout sessions covering areas such as legal services, trade and commerce, insurance, architecture, green finance and logistics were also held to focus on fostering a more prosperous, green and interconnected future for B&R countries and regions.

The HKSAR Government is proactively expanding overseas markets, especially the markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Middle East which present great potentials. The new B&R signature projects sessions at the Summit introduced tenders of urban development projects in Thailand and Saudi Arabia. The Belt and Road Office (BRO), together with the Hong Kong Construction Industry Council and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, launched an information sharing mechanism to assist Hong Kong enterprises and professional services in tapping the business opportunities in projects in ASEAN and the Middle East.

The Summit was attended by over 200 Belt and Road Scholarship recipients, local university students, Youth Link members and Youth Development Commission Youth Ambassadors. A Youth Chapter will be held tomorrow (September 11) for young business leaders from Hong Kong, the Mainland and B&R countries to share their experience. The chapter’s new feature to foster exchanges among the participants will enable them to learn more about the latest B&R developments and opportunities.

For enhanced synergies, the Government has encouraged various groups and organisations to host more than 20 B&R-related activities in the months around the Summit period, covering areas such as trade and business, arts and culture, music, sports and academia, for the business and professional sectors as well as the general public to take part and experience in person the achievements of global collaboration under the B&RI. The BRO also published a booklet on Hong Kong as a participant, contributor and beneficiary of the B&RI. Details of the activities and the booklet are available on the BRO’s website www.beltandroad.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The 10th Belt & Road Summit opened in Hong Kong today, bringing together over 6,000 participants, including more than 90 government and business speakers, as well as over 100 delegations to explore opportunities in areas such as trade and commerce, innovation and technology.

Speaking at the opening session, Chief Executive John Lee said the summit has united governments, businesses, peoples and cultures in collaboration for change.

Mr Lee said that over the past 10 years, more than 45,000 people from some 120 countries and regions have participated in the summit, with over 2,800 projects presented, shaping a vision through collaboration and connectivity, which are the fundamental values of the Belt & Road Initiative.

“To mark this 10th edition, we are introducing a new session on signature Belt & Road projects. It will be complemented by project investment sessions on energy, natural resources, public utilities and urban development, including Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis, which takes up one-third of Hong Kong’s geographical area and is fast rising as an innovation and technology hub.”

He added that Hong Kong’s “dual superpower” as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” injects vigour, innovation, sustainability and strategic value to capital and projects, and will continue to drive high quality development along the Belt & Road area.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan gave welcome remarks at the keynote luncheon, where he highlighted the Government’s vision for the city to become an international centre for green technology and green finance, playing its pivotal role in driving global green transition. 

The Government is actively promoting the development of transition finance, while also addressing the diverse needs of emerging economies through innovative financial instruments such as catastrophe bonds and the securitisation of infrastructure debt, he added.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam gave opening remarks at the thematic breakout session, noting that Hong Kong international civil and commercial law and practice under its common law system are highly recognised by the international business community.

The summit featured nine memorandums of understanding between the Government and related organisations and their overseas counterparts, and yielded a record high of about 50 government and enterprise memorandums of understanding, highlighting Hong Kong’s role as the functional platform for the Belt & Road Initiative.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Second Reading of the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill was voted down by the Legislative Council today, with 14 votes in favour, 71 votes against and one vote abstaining. The Government said it respects LegCo’s decision and lawmakers’ voting results.

The Government added that it all along respects the rule of law and fulfils the requirements of the court’s ruling.

It highlighted that the bill was introduced in exercising the responsibility of the executive authorities empowered by the Basic Law to propose and introduce bills. In accordance with the Basic Law, LegCo has the functions and powers to scrutinise and pass bills.

The Government also pointed out that the introduction and scrutinising of the bill has demonstrated the shouldering of responsibilities among the executive authorities, LegCo and the Judiciary in exercising their constitutional functions and discharging their respective duties effectively.

As the bill has been voted down, the Government will not apply to the court for an extension of the suspension period and will further discuss and study the issue with the Department of Justice.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) today (September 10) urged members of the public to stay vigilant to fraudulent calls purporting to be made by the staff members of the Communications Authority (CA) or OFCA. 

    OFCA received reports from members of the public stating that they had received phone calls claiming to be made by the CA or OFCA’s staff, alleging that there were a large number of fraudulent short messages sent from mobile phone numbers registered under their identities on the Mainland. They were requested to co-operate with investigation or else all their telecommunications services would be terminated. 

    OFCA solemnly clarified that the CA and OFCA have never made and will not make such phone calls. Members of the public should hang up immediately if they have received these calls, and under no circumstances should they disclose their personal information or transfer money to the callers. 

    In case of doubt, members of the public may call the Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 for enquiries. They may also report cases of suspected phone scam to the Police. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Second Reading of the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill (the Bill) was voted down by the Legislative Council (LegCo) today (September 10), with 14 votes in favour, 71 votes against and one vote abstaining.

“The Government all along respects the rule of law and fulfils the requirements of the court’s ruling. The Bill was introduced in exercising the responsibility of the executive authorities empowered by the Basic Law to propose and introduce bills. In accordance with the Basic Law, the LegCo has the functions and powers to scrutinise and pass bills. The Government respects LegCo’s decision and voting results of the LegCo members,” a Government spokesman said.

“The introduction and scrutinising of the Bill has demonstrated the shouldering of responsibilities among the executive authorities, the LegCo and the Judiciary in exercising their constitutional functions and discharging their respective duties effectively.”

“The Government understands that the issue of same-sex partnership is highly controversial and stakeholders in society hold different views. The Government respects the rule of law and has submitted a proposal on an alternative framework to the LegCo in accordance with the court’s judgment. As the Bill has been voted down, the Government will not apply to the court for an extension of the suspension period and will further discuss and study the issue with the Department of Justice.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Chong Zheng Chinese Orchestra presented “Sounds of Joy and Abundance: A Harvest Celebration in Gongs and Drums” at the historic NSW State Library in Sydney CBD. Jointly organised by the Chong Zheng Foundation and the Sydney Taiwan Festival Committee, the concert drew a full house, with the NSW Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, the Hon. Scott Farlow MLC, attending as a VIP guest.
In his remarks, Director-General David Cheng-Wei Wu emphasized that culture is the soul of a nation and the roots of its people. He noted that Taiwan is more than high technology and semiconductors; it is also renowned for its vibrant blend of tradition and modernity, qualities vividly reflected in the performance of the Chong Zheng Chinese Orchestra.
DG Wu also introduced TECO Sydney’s 2025 signature project, “Soft Power: Three Episodes”, which showcases the diversity and inclusiveness of Taiwan’s society through three initiatives: Taste of Taiwan – the International Tour of Taiwan Gourmet Cuisine, the Taiwan Film Festival in Australia, and the upcoming Cultural Goodwill Mission by the Formosa Melody Music Centre on September 22 at the Chatswood Concourse.
Based on the shared values of liberal democracy and human rights between TW and AU, we are confident that cultural exchanges like this will bring people together, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen the friendship between our two nations.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Invest Oman of the Sultanate of Oman (Oman) during the Belt and Road Summit today (September 10). The agreement aims to enhance bilateral economic and investment co-operation, further solidifying Hong Kong’s role as a global business hub and a gateway to the Mainland and beyond.
      
     The signing of this MOU comes on the heels of the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee’s successful Middle East visit in May this year, which elevated Hong Kong’s relations with the Middle East to new heights. During the visit, Mr Lee emphasised Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle and its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” in facilitating international exchanges and co-operation.
      
     The MOU was signed by the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, with the Chief Executive Officer of Invest Oman, Mr Nasser Al Kindi. The agreement underscores the commitment of both parties to fostering both inward and outward investment and exploring new opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment, and technology.
      
     Ms Lau said, “Oman is a key player in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The signing of this MOU with Invest Oman during the Belt and Road Summit today marks a significant milestone in Hong Kong’s efforts to strengthen its economic ties with the Middle East. Hong Kong’s world-class financial services, professional expertise, and strategic location make it an ideal partner for businesses looking to expand their global footprint. We look forward to working closely with our counterpart in Oman to unlock new opportunities for mutual growth, particularly in the context of the BRI.”
      
     The MOU focuses on sharing information on investment environments and opportunities, encouraging local companies to establish or expand businesses in each other’s regions, supporting and facilitating incoming missions and business programmes, and organising joint investment promotion events and activities.
      
     To download the event photo, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720328938057.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, at a media session after the Second Reading debate on Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill at the Legislative Council today (September 10):
 
Reporter: Now that the Bill was voted down, what would be the Government’s next step and whether the Government would seek extension of time from the Court? Would there be any adverse impact to the rule of law of Hong Kong?
 
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: As I just said, the Government is not going to apply for any extension of time from the Court for the moment but we will further discuss with the DoJ (Department of Justice) to see how to take forward the matter.
 
As regards the rule of law of Hong Kong, the Government has all along fully respected the rule of law of Hong Kong as well as the Court’s ruling. And that’s why we introduced the Bill this time to discharge our positive obligations under the Hong Kong BoR (Bill of Rights) as ruled by the court. And throughout the whole legislative process, you can see that from our detailed analysis of the judgement to see how to fulfil the requirements as set out by the court, to the drafting of the Bill, the introduction of the Bill, and also all the explanatory and lobbying work that we have done to solicit support from the Legislative Council as well as the public. You can see that we have tried our best to pursue the legislative process as well as to fulfil our obligations. As regards of the Legislative Council, you can see that they have dutifully and effectively discharged their functions and obligations under the Basic Law to closely scrutinise the Bill, and to render advice to the Government, and also to reflect the views of the public to us. So, I don’t see any question about the rule of law of Hong Kong being adversely affected in any way. Thank you.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)