Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The kick-off ceremony of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2026 (HSODC 2026) jointly organised by the Digital Policy Office (DPO) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data was held at the InnoEX on April 13. Themed “Co-creating a Data Industry Platform for the Two Cities”, this year’s competition is based on open data of the governments of the two places and their latest urban development needs. It reflects the search for open data resources that drive social development while exploring collaborative models for open data and industry data, thus promoting the collaborative development of smart city construction between the two cities. This year’s competition incorporates more international elements, encouraging Hong Kong and Shanghai teams to explore global application scenarios, thereby promoting the advancement of digital technologies and innovation capabilities in both cities towards the global stage.

     Addressing the kick-off ceremony, the Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, stated that the HSODC 2026 provides a platform for young people, research teams and enterprises from both places to showcase their creativity within the national strategic framework, driving high-quality development of the digital economy. In recent years, the HKSAR Government has actively improved open data, data sharing and flow by optimising data governance, thereby promoting data applications within the Government and across various industries. The development and use of data elements is a long-distance journey. With Hong Kong and Shanghai joining forces, the two cities will contribute significantly to the high-quality development of the country’s digital economy.

     The Hong Kong/Shanghai Data Co-operation Pavilion (the Pavilion), staged at the InnoEX, showcased the data application achievements of last year’s competing teams in four major areas: Smart Mobility, Smart Living, Smart Environment, and Smart Economy. The Pavilion highlighted how these teams utilised data to solve real-world problems and create social value. Furthermore, a forum titled Hong Kong/Shanghai Data Co-operation was held on April 14 under the theme “Research Data Platforms”. During the forum, data experts and research institution practitioners from both Hong Kong and Shanghai shared various case studies, including the integration of industry, academia, and research; the development and application of open datasets for new energy vehicles; the core advantages and industrial practices of data intelligence; and compliant data-sharing agreements for scientific research. 

     The HSODC 2026 is now open for registration until June 15. This year’s competition continues to focus on four key areas: Smart Mobility, Smart Living, Smart Environment, and Smart Economy, encouraging participants to leverage open data resources from both cities to build innovative projects and pioneer frontier application solutions. Participants will be offered professional training to gain an in-depth understanding of the unique characteristics and advantages of urban data resources in both cities. Shortlisted teams will receive technical training from late June to August, with the opportunity to attend the grand finale to be held in Shanghai in August, showcasing their innovative and unique data technology solutions in front of judges. For more details, please visit the website: hkshadata.org.

     The DPO organised a series of innovation and technology (I&T) events in April to showcase Hong Kong’s vibrant I&T ecosystem. These include the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion at the InnoEX, the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit, organised by the HKSAR Government and co-organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, and the HSODC 2026.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The sixth-term Commission on Poverty convened its sixth meeting this afternoon (April 16).
 
At the meeting, members noted that the Report on Impact of Targeted Poverty Alleviation Strategy in Hong Kong is being finalised. The Report will elaborate on the content and impact of the Government’s targeted poverty alleviation measures. It will also reflect, from a macro perspective, how the Government’s major policies alleviate, combat and prevent poverty, thereby effectively enhancing people’s sense of achievement and satisfaction. The Report will also outline future strategies for relevant work. It is expected to be released by mid-2026.
 
Members also noted that the Government will continue to support vulnerable groups through the tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, including establishing a platform to encourage family offices involved in philanthropic endeavours to provide resources for implementing projects that benefit disadvantaged groups.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Digital Policy Office announced today (April 16) that Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC) has become a recognised certification authority pursuant to the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553) (ETO).
 
The Government established the Voluntary Certification Authority Recognition Scheme under the ETO. A certification authority may voluntarily apply to the Commissioner for Digital Policy for recognition. Recognition will only be granted to those certification authorities and digital certificates that meet the Government’s trustworthiness standards, thus protecting the interests of users of services provided by a recognised certification authority.
 
Under the Recognition Scheme, a certification authority issues digital certificates to subscribers, allowing them to conduct electronic transactions with other parties in a secure manner.
 
     The HKIRC has been granted authority to issue six types of digital certificate to individuals and organisations. The HKIRC’s recognition brings the total number of recognised certification authorities in Hong Kong to three, the other two being Digi-Sign Certification Services Limited and the Postmaster General.
 
     A spokesperson for the Digital Policy Office (DPO) said, “The Government has been encouraging organisations to provide services as certification authorities, offering the public who need certification services more choices and helping to promote and facilitate secure and reliable electronic transactions.”
 
More details of the Recognition Scheme are available on the DPO website (www.digitalpolicy.gov.hk/en/our_work/digital_infrastructure/legal_framework/regulation/eto/ca/introduction/).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for February 2026 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (April 16) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

Due to the difference in timing of the Chinese New Year holidays, it is more appropriate to analyse the trade figures for January and February taken together in making year-on-year comparison.

Comparing the first two months of 2026 with the same period in 2025, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 25.0% and 29.1% respectively.

In February 2026, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 19.5% and 23.9% respectively over February 2025.

Comparing the three-month period ending February 2026 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 14.4% and 15.5% respectively.

Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.

As regards price changes in the first two months of 2026 over the same period in 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 3.6% and 3.7% respectively.

Comparing February 2026 with February 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 4.2% and 4.3% respectively.

Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.

The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2025, the index decreased by 0.1% in February 2026, whereas it remained virtually unchanged in the first two months of 2026.
 
Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.

Comparing February 2026 with February 2025, increases were recorded for the total export volume to all main destinations: the USA (36.2%), Taiwan (26.3%), Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (16.1%), Vietnam (15.9%) and India (14.8%).

Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations increased: Taiwan (5.6%), the Mainland (4.8%), India (4.6%), the USA (2.9%) and Vietnam (2.4%).

Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.

Comparing February 2026 with February 2025, increases were recorded for the import volume from all main suppliers: Korea (90.5%), Vietnam (63.0%), the Mainland (23.1%), Singapore (14.9%) and Taiwan (2.8%).

Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Korea (9.7%), Taiwan (6.4%), the Mainland (4.1%), Vietnam (2.7%) and Singapore (1.6%).

Further information

Details of the above statistics are published in the February 2026 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).

Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3863 2599).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

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

     The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (April 16) announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the Government’s work in combating cruelty to animals by the Office of The Ombudsman (the Office), with 45 improvement recommendations made to the Government.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Education Bureau (EDB) today (April 16) announced the Values Education Curriculum Framework (2026) (Curriculum Framework (2026)) prepared by the Standing Committee on Values Education (Standing Committee) under the Curriculum Development Council as a guiding document for schools to plan and implement the values education curriculum.

A spokesperson for the EDB said, “With Chinese culture as its backbone, the Curriculum Framework (2026) sets the overarching direction of “Taking root in Chinese Culture, Connecting with the World, Embracing the Future”. It elaborates on major focuses of values education that schools should continuously strengthen, curriculum content, curriculum planning and implementation strategies, and sets out suggestions on expected learning outcomes for students at each key learning stage as well as providing relevant resources and support. It provides schools with a clearer and more forward-looking direction to further enhance values education, and supports schools in equipping students to face current and future opportunities and challenges.”  

The spokesman continued, “In response to the rapid development of society and technology, the Curriculum Framework (2026) recommends that schools continue to strengthen the learning of Chinese culture, national education, life education, sex education, health education (including anti-drug education, resistance to harmful substances and promotion of physical and psychological well-being), and the relevant content and learning elements of education for sustainable development, as well as fostering students’ media and information literacy (covering Artificial Intelligence Literacy), international perspectives, and awareness of ‘building a community with a shared future for mankind’, with a view to nurturing students to become self-disciplined, committed and aspiring future pillars of society with an affection for Hong Kong, a sense of belonging to our country, as well as an international perspective.”

Since the release of the Values Education Curriculum Framework (Pilot Version) in 2021 (Pilot Version), primary and secondary schools, taking into account their respective developmental progress, have made reference to the direction set out in the Pilot Version to review, plan, or refine their existing school-based values education curricula from different entry points. In light of the education policies and curriculum development of our country and Hong Kong, changes in social environment, technological advancement, and students’ learning and developmental needs, the Standing Committee, with reference to the Pilot Version, has continuously collected views from relevant stakeholders through various channels including talks, workshops and focus group interviews. With reference to schools’ practical experiences and in alignment with updates to various secondary and primary curricula, the Curriculum Framework (2026) was compiled for adoption by all secondary and primary schools in Hong Kong starting from the 2026/27 school year.

To support teachers in promoting values education within and beyond the classroom, the EDB not only organises a variety of teacher professional development courses such as talks, seminars, workshops, visits and study tours, interschool visits and exchanges, on-site support, film appreciation and learning communities, but also continuously develops diversified and down-to-earth learning and teaching resources. They include “Life Events” Exemplars, learning resource webpages, short videos, animations and promotional materials. These resources are progressively uploaded to the EDB’s webpage for schools’ reference and use. Furthermore, the EDB continues to organise a variety of promotional activities, including the Values Education Promotion Campaign with the theme “Building Our Dream”. Schools are encouraged to respond by organising or participating in different forms of values education activities in the 2026/27 school year, with due regard to their own characteristics, annual themes for values education, as well as students’ abilities, learning and developmental needs to deepen students’ understanding of proper values and put them into practice.

The Values Education Curriculum Framework (2026) has been uploaded to the EDB’s website for schools’ and teachers’ reference.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, witnessed the signing of strategic collaboration agreements by The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) with the Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (SZTCMH) and the Hebei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (HBHCM) respectively yesterday (April 15) and today (April 16) at CMHHK. The agreements laid a foundation and set the direction for collaboration on various fronts between CMHHK and the two Chinese medicine (CM) hospitals in Shenzhen Municipality and Hebei Province.

Professor Lo and member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Shenzhen Municipal Committee and the Party Leadership Group of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, Mr Chen Qing, witnessed the signing of the Strategic Collaboration Agreement between SZTCMH and CMHHK by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of CMHHK Operator, Mr Wong Kwai-huen, and the President of SZTCMH, Professor Zhu Meiling, yesterday. Professor Lo also witnessed the signing of the Strategic Collaboration Agreement between HBHCM and CMHHK by Mr Wong and the Director of HBHCM, Professor Zhi Zheng, today. The signing marked the official commencement of collaboration between CMHHK and the two CM hospitals.

Professor Lo said, “CMHHK has been committed to providing a key platform for promoting innovation in CM, deepening regional co-operation and leading future development through establishing closer liaison with healthcare institutions on the Mainland and internationally, thereby further strengthening Hong Kong’s role as an international hub for CM exchanges. The establishment of strategic partnerships with the CM hospitals in Shenzhen Municipality and Hebei Province also responds to the national goals, as set out in the 15th Five-Year Plan, of better integrating into the overall national development and fostering the inheritance and innovation of CM. Hong Kong will continue to leverage the institutional strengths of ‘one country, two systems’ to promote collaborations between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland in the healthcare sector. At the same time, Hong Kong will strive to serve as a bridgehead for CM to go global by leveraging its role as an important window for exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Western cultures.”

The two strategic collaboration agreements cover numerous areas, including exchange of CM talents, cross-boundary distance discussions of cases, establishment of a sharing platform for drug interaction alert notifications, organisation of CM academic conferences, development of a scientific research network, as well as other related projects on education, scientific research and healthcare services that are conducive to CM development in Hong Kong-Shenzhen and Hong Kong-Hebei. CMHHK will advance collaboration together with SZTCMH and HBHCM respectively in accordance with the strategic collaboration agreements.

Apart from the abovementioned agreements, CMHHK has already signed strategic collaboration agreements with key hospitals in several provincial-level administrative regions (namely Guangdong Province, Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality, Jiangsu Province, Shandong Province, Sichuan Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region), as well as with TCM-Klinik Bad Kötzting in Germany and Western Sydney University in Australia.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau witnessed the signing of strategic collaboration agreements by The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) with the Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (SZTCMH) and the Hebei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (HBHCM) respectively yesterday and today at CMHHK.

The agreements laid a foundation and set the direction for collaboration on various fronts between CMHHK and the two Chinese medicine (CM) hospitals in Shenzhen Municipality and Hebei Province.

Prof Lo and member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Shenzhen Municipal Committee and the Party Leadership Group of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government Chen Qing witnessed the signing of the Strategic Collaboration Agreement between SZTCMH and CMHHK by Chairperson of the Board of Directors of CMHHK Operator Wong Kwai-huen and President of SZTCMH Prof Zhu Meiling yesterday.

Prof Lo also witnessed the signing of the Strategic Collaboration Agreement between HBHCM and CMHHK by Mr Wong and Director of HBHCM Prof Zhi Zheng today. The signing marked the official commencement of collaboration between CMHHK and the two CM hospitals.

The health chief said that the establishment of strategic partnerships with the CM hospitals in Shenzhen Municipality and Hebei Province also responds to the national goals, as set out in the 15th Five-Year Plan, of better integrating into the overall national development and fostering the inheritance and innovation of CM.

“’Hong Kong will continue to leverage the institutional strengths of ‘one country, two systems’ to promote collaborations between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland in the healthcare sector. At the same time, Hong Kong will strive to serve as a bridgehead for CM to go global by leveraging its role as an important window for exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Western cultures,” he added.

The two strategic collaboration agreements cover numerous areas, including exchange of CM talent, cross-boundary distance discussions of cases, establishment of a sharing platform for drug interaction alert notifications, organisation of CM academic conferences, development of a scientific research network, as well as other related projects on education, scientific research and healthcare services that are conducive to CM development in Hong Kong-Shenzhen and Hong Kong-Hebei.

Apart from these two agreements, CMHHK has already signed strategic collaboration agreements with key hospitals in several provincial-level administrative regions, namely Guangdong Province, Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality, Jiangsu Province, Shandong Province, Sichuan Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region, as well as with TCM-Klinik Bad Kötzting in Germany and Western Sydney University in Australia.