Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, continued her visit to Bordeaux, France, in the company of the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Dr Peter Lam.

On the morning of July 7 (Bordeaux time), Miss Law met with the President of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB), Mr Allan Sichel. The CIVB, responsible for promoting Bordeaux wines globally, discussed opportunities to enhance collaboration with Hong Kong. Miss Law highlighted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG)’s efforts to host signature mega events, including the annual Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, which provides unique experiences for visitors. She invited the CIVB to make further, and even better, use of Hong Kong as a platform to promote Bordeaux wines to the Mainland of China and other markets in Asia. Both parties exchanged ideas on creative approaches to attract a global audience and elevate the event’s appeal.

Later, Miss Law met with the Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Pierre Hurmic; the Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux, Ms Céline Papin; and the President of the Bordeaux Tourism and Conventions Office, Ms Brigitte Bloch. During the meeting, Miss Law highlighted the HKSARG’s and the HKTB’s intention to build on the unique brand of the Wine and Dine Festival to make it a platform for fostering cultural exchanges and strengthening ties between Hong Kong and Bordeaux. Mr Hurmic expressed enthusiasm for increasing the presence of Bordeaux wines in the Chinese and Asian markets through a strong presence in the festival.

In the afternoon, Miss Law held discussions with the President of Great Wine Capitals Global Network, Mr Jacques Faurens; the Director General of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Mr Pascal Faugère; and the Chief Executive Officer of Vinexposium, Mr Rodolphne Lamseyse. They discussed the challenges of marketing Bordeaux wines during the current economic conditions and explored best practices for organising international trade shows and events. Miss Law emphasised the potential for Hong Kong and Bordeaux to collaborate in enhancing each other’s attractiveness as global tourism destinations.

Miss Law also met with France’s Minister for Tourism, Ms Nathalie Delattre, to explore ways to strengthen tourism connectivity between Hong Kong and France. She highlighted Hong Kong’s unique offerings, including its gastronomy, arts, sports, traditional festivals, mega events and stunning outdoors as key attractions for French audiences. Miss Law introduced the 2025 Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, scheduled for October, as an excellent opportunity for Bordeaux wines to gain greater visibility. Ms Delattre reaffirmed the strong relationship between Hong Kong and France with regards to wine and other fields, and expressed her commitment to fostering collaboration in bilateral tourism.

Miss Law was given a guided tour of La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s iconic cultural centre and wine museum dedicated to promoting the universal culture of wine. The immersive and sensory exhibits provided an inspirational exploration of wine’s journey from ancient civilisations to modern-day winemaking. Miss Law was impressed by its creative storytelling and remarked on the potential for similar initiatives to promote cultural heritage in Hong Kong.  

On July 8 (Bordeaux time), Miss Law visited two Bordeaux wineries, Château L’if and Château Le Pin, where she deepened her understanding of Bordeaux’s winemaking traditions and explored potential synergies to incorporate Bordeaux wines into Hong Kong’s wine tourism initiatives.  
 
Miss Law will conclude her visit to France and depart for Hong Kong on the morning of July 9 (Bordeaux time). 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (July 8) the appointment of 16 individuals as non-official members to the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel (UFAP) for a term of two years from July 1, 2025. 

The new non-official members are Ms Winnie Cheng Mee-kun, Professor Huang Songyi, Professor Jim Chi-yung, Professor Derrick Lai Yuk-fo, Dr Peter Yau and Dr Allen Zhang Hao. The reappointed non-official members are Mr Paul Chan Yuen-king, Professor Wendy Chen Yan, Professor Chu Lee-man, Dr Dong Hui, Professor Anthony Leung Kwan, Mr Hincent Ng Yu-hin, Dr Shi Shulin, Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet, Professor Charles Wong Man-sing and Mr Yiu Vor. 

A spokesman for the DEVB said, “The UFAP comprises local and overseas experts from different fields including urban forestry, plant science, engineering and landscape architecture related academics, professionals and experts, and provides advice on urban forestry policies and initiatives from multiple perspectives.”

Appointed by the Secretary for Development, members of the UFAP advise the DEVB on management strategies, applied research and development in respect of urban forestry, as well as positive capacity building initiatives for the urban forestry related industries. 
​
The membership of the new term of the UFAP is set out below:  

Chairman
————
Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, DEVB

Non-official members
—————————
Mr Paul Chan Yuen-king
Professor Wendy Chen Yan
Ms Winnie Cheng Mee-kun*
Professor Chu Lee-man
Dr Dong Hui
Professor Huang Songyi*
Professor Jim Chi-yung*
Professor Derrick Lai Yuk-fo*
Professor Anthony Leung Kwan
Mr Hincent Ng Yu-hin
Dr Shi Shulin
Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet
Professor Charles Wong Man-sing
Dr Peter Yau*
Mr Yiu Vor
Dr Allen Zhang Hao*

Official members
———————
Head of Tree Management Office, DEVB
Representative of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Representative of Highways Department
Representative of Housing Department
Representative of Leisure and Cultural Services Department

* New non-official members

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Commissioner for Transport, Ms Angela Lee, today (July 8) expressed profound sadness at the sudden passing of a Clerical Assistant of the Transport Department (TD) and extended her deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. The TD will strive to provide assistance to the family as appropriate.

     This morning, the staff member collapsed at an office in the Harbour Building, Central, and was rushed to Ruttonjee Hospital, but passed away later. Police investigations into the incident are underway and the TD will render full assistance.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The first Digital Education Week (DEW) organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) concluded yesterday (July 7). The two flagship events of the DEW, including the Learning and Teaching Expo 2025 (LTE 2025) and the International Summit on the Use of AI in Learning and Teaching Languages and Other Subjects and Post-Summit Workshop Series, attracted over 24 000 participants altogether, providing opportunities for education professionals to gain further insights into the latest developments in educational technology and inspiring them to apply emerging technologies to enhance learning and teaching effectiveness.

The Summit, jointly organised by the EDB, the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the Hong Kong Education City (EdCity), was held from July 4 to 7, attracting over 4 500 participants. The LTE 2025, was held from July 2 to 4, supported by the EDB, presented by EdCity and organised by the Smart City Consortium, attracted over 20 000 participants, setting a new record for attendance. Themed “Education: A Shared Future for All”, the LTE 2025 convened global educators, education leaders and innovators. Through keynote speeches, seminars, workshops and product showcases, participants explored innovative pedagogies and educational technology applications while shaping future educational directions.

The LTE 2025 featured over 600 exhibition booths and introduced the Mainland and International Pavilions (including Singapore and Korea) to foster cross-regional collaborative exchanges. The Principals’ Conference, for the first time, brought together over 200 Hong Kong school principals for a 1.5-day “VASK” immersive experience, comprising seminars and expert discussions focused on “Values, Attitudes, Skills, and Knowledge”. A newly introduced Kids’ AI Summit engaged approximately 100 Hong Kong primary and secondary school students in a three-minute speech session, where they shared insights on AI in education, child well-being, and future careers. Additionally, over 270 keynote speeches, seminars, and demonstration classes showcased innovative teaching solutions and trends in technology applications, with more than 300 experts sharing their experiences in integrating AI and educational technology into teaching.

The Summit included three main components: the Summit itself, a series of workshops, and the technology showcase. Participants engaged in different segments based on their backgrounds, needs, and interests. The first two days of the Summit featured keynote speeches from five top experts in AI education, namely Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University, the United States, Professor Victor Lee; the Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Competency Education Centre at the Education University of Hong Kong, Professor Kong Siu-cheung; Professor of the School of Animation and Digital Arts at the Communication University of China Professor Lyu Xin; Professor of Sociolinguistics at the University of Reading, the United Kingdom, Professor Rodney Jones; and the Director for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Mr Andreas Schleicher. In addition to keynote speeches, the Summit arranged for scholars from around the world to present 83 papers and conducted seven teaching demonstrations by frontline teachers from Hong Kong and the Mainland.

In the following two days, 11 workshops were held in Cantonese, Putonghua, or English, allowing participants to experience various AI educational tools and engage in in-depth discussions on ethical issues related to AI literacy and applications. Additionally, 20 exhibiting organisations and technology companies participated in the technology showcase, displaying cutting-edge tools and software to demonstrate the potential of AI in the teaching and learning of languages and other subjects.

The first DEW has made a positive impact on the education sector, enhancing teachers’ and students’ understanding of digital education and the application of related educational technologies. The rich activities provided during the DEW comprehensively showcased the latest educational technologies, resources, and teaching methods from around the world, inspiring innovative thinking among educators. Through various rich interactive sessions, participants not only had the opportunities to engage with a wide range of effective innovative technology solutions to enhance learning and teaching, but the public awareness of future educational trends has also been strengthened.

The series of activities during this year’s DEW was well received by various sectors, with total participation exceeding 24 000 visitors. Despite teachers and students being busy with post-examination activities, they actively supported the events, fully demonstrating the appeal and foresight of the themes of the two flagship events of this year’s DEW. It also reflected the intensive attention and support from the academic community and relevant stakeholders for the development of digital education in Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (July 8) cohosted the “Shaanxi-Hong Kong Collaboration: Leveraging Hong Kong Strengths to Support Shaanxi Tech Companies in Going Global” seminar in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, in collaboration with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government and the Shaanxi Association for Science and Technology. The event was also co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu (CDETO), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s Shaanxi Liaison Unit, Shaanxi Province Xixian New Area Development and Construction Management Committee, and the Xi’an High-Tech Industries Development Zone Management Committee.
      
     The Director of the CDETO, Mr Enoch Yuen; the Director-General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Shaanxi Provincial Government, Ms Yao Hongjuan; and Vice President of the Shaanxi Association for Science and Technology Mr Lv Jianjun delivered welcome remarks to guests and the media. Mr Yuen said, “The National 14th Five-Year Plan explicitly designates Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub, while Shaanxi serves as a key national base for technology and industry, with strong capabilities in energy and chemical engineering, equipment manufacturing, and aerospace, among others. Both Hong Kong and Shaanxi place great importance on the development of the innovation and technology industry, and frequent high-level exchanges between the two places have continued to deepen in recent years. We look forward to deeper collaboration, leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths in taxation, finance, and global connectivity, while combining them with Shaanxi’s strong industrial foundation and innovative vitality, to achieve a mutually beneficial partnership.”
      
     Ms Yao stated that efforts will be made to actively promote and deepen economic, trade, and investment co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong, particularly in the fields of innovation and technology, as well as new quality productive forces. These efforts aim to help enterprises in both regions seize development opportunities and achieve complementary advantages. Mr Lv also delivered remarks at the event.
      
     One of the key highlights of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between InvestHK and the Xi’an High-Tech Industries Development Zone Management Committee, marking a solid step forward for Shaanxi and Hong Kong in promoting the international development of enterprises in the central and western regions.
      
     Xi’an High-tech Zone is one of the first national high-tech zones approved by the State Council. In 2024, Xi’an High-tech Zone ranked fifth in the country and first in the central and western regions in the comprehensive evaluation of national high-tech zones. The zone focuses on developing innovative industries such as optoelectronic information, smart manufacturing, biomedicine, automobiles, new materials and energy. It has successfully built two “hundred-billion-level industrial clusters” in the automobile industry and electronic information. At present, the zone has become the world’s largest production base for flash memory chips and new energy vehicles.
      
     Under the MOU, the Xi’an High-Tech Industries Development Zone Management Committee will encourage enterprises in the zone to utilise Hong Kong as a base for expanding overseas business. InvestHK will provide enterprises with information on the business environment and policies in Hong Kong, as well as support services for companies investing and operating in Hong Kong. The signing of this MOU establishes a structured collaboration framework, combining Hong Kong’s unique strengths as an international financial centre and Xi’an High-Tech Zone’s innovation capabilities to empower enterprises in accessing global resources efficiently and seizing early opportunities in international markets.
      
     The Head of the Go Global Unit/Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of Western China of InvestHK, Mr Jason Gan, and the Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau of the Xi’an High-Tech Industries Development Zone, Mr Gao Yuntian, signed the memorandum of co-operation on behalf of their respective sides. Mr Gan said after the signing, “There are tremendous opportunities for co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong in developing new quality productive forces and contributing to China’s high-quality development. As a vital bridge between the Mainland and international markets, Hong Kong has long been committed to providing comprehensive support for Mainland innovation-driven enterprises. We hope to further leverage the complementary advantages of the two places to assist high-quality enterprises in the zone to go global via Hong Kong, and work together to explore new innovative co-operation.”
      
     The Head of Innovation & Technology of InvestHK, Mr Andy Wong, delivered a keynote speech and highlighted Hong Kong’s competitive edge in the I&T sector. “We possess a number of competitive advantages in developing innovation and technology, including world-class academic research and talent, cutting-edge R&D infrastructure, robust intellectual property protection, and the strong support of the HKSAR Government. In 2024, InvestHK supported 120 innovation and technology companies to set up or expand in Hong Kong, making it the top sector among those we assisted. This reflects the international community’s confidence in and recognition of Hong Kong’s I&T development, and further affirms the city’s strategic role as a two-way platform between the Mainland and global markets. Hong Kong’s innovation and technology sector has recently made remarkable progress in several areas. For example, the first batch of regulatory sandbox pilot projects for the low-altitude economy has been launched, serving as a new engine for Hong Kong’s future development. In addition, the city’s new drug approval mechanism has been updated to accelerate the market entry of new pharmaceuticals. I sincerely hope that I&T enterprises in Shaanxi will seize the diverse opportunities offered by Hong Kong to expand into international markets,” he said.

     Senior Manager of the Leasing and Operations Department of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited Mr Tandy Tan and Associate Director of the Research and Innovation Office of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Mr Victor Zhao also shared the opportunities of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Center and highlighted Hong Kong’s R&D capabilities in empowering new quality productive forces raised from Hong Kong universities. Deputy Director of the Science, Technology Innovation and New Economy Bureau, Shaanxi Province Xixian New Area Ms Han Ping also shared the latest developments on Shaanxi’s I&T industry construction centre.
      
     This event featured a panel discussion with industry leaders from professional services in Hong Kong, especially in financial professional services. Guest speakers from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, HSBC and Deloitte Tax shared insights on how Hong Kong’s financial and professional services can accelerate Mainland firms’ global expansion.
      
     The seminar included a dedicated exchange session to provide on-site consulting services for corporate representatives interested in expanding to Hong Kong. The event attracted 190 representatives from Shaanxi enterprises, institutions and local media.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs on June 27 detected a suspected smuggling case involving a river trade vessel. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $34 million was seized.

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, a river trade vessel departing from Hong Kong for Macao was selected for inspection on June 27. Upon examination, Customs officers onboard the vessel found a large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including about 570 000 suspected pharmaceutical products, about 1 500 kilograms of dried shark fins, about 47kg of shisha tobacco, about 42kg of bird’s nests, about 38kg of cigars and 1 380 mobile phones.

An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant activities.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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:

[PRESS RELEASE] – Samoa’s national women’s cricket team are travelling to Port Moresby to compete in the Inaugural PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational. The team will be battling against an Australian Indigenous team and teams from Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu from Saturday 15 June – Saturday 21 June in an action-packed draw.

Captain Tuaoloa Helen Semau of Vailuutai, Falelatai and Iva Savaii said the team is “incredibly excited and honoured to be part of the Pacific Invitational Tournament. Competing against strong teams like the Australian Indigenous Women’s Team, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu is both a challenge and a privilege we embrace wholeheartedly.

This is an amazing opportunity for us to test ourselves and grow as a team. We’ve been training hard, and the spirit within the squad is strong. We’re not just here to participate – we’re here to compete, represent Samoa with pride, and show the progress we’ve made in our cricket journey.”

The Samoa national women’s team is currently ranked 45 th , and prior to COVID-19 it had been ranked 16th in the world. The Invitational presents an opportunity for the team to face up against old rivals PNG and Vanuatu. Coach Perelini Mulitalo said “I’m really happy about the squad we’ve assembled for this Pacific Invitational, especially with the inclusion of our young talents from the U19 Women’s Team – Avetia Mapu, Olive Lefaga Lemoe, Angel Sootaga So, Masina Faimafili Tafea and Norah Jade Salima. These girls have shown great potential, composure, and hunger to compete at the senior level.

“This tournament will be an invaluable experience for them, and it is a big step forward in our pathway for women’s cricket in Samoa. Bringing in youth adds fresh energy, and it also signals the growth and future of our program. We are not only building for now—we are building for sustained success in the years to come.

“It is going to be a tough competition, but these young players bring new strengths and fearless intent that will boost our team. I am proud of how far they’ve come and excited to see them rise to this challenge.

“These types of tournaments are so important for women’s cricket in the Pacific. They push us to raise our standards and inspire the next generation back home. Win or lose, we’ll leave everything on the field and carry our flag with pride.”

Carol Agafili, a fresh addition to the team is feeling calm and confident ahead of the matches and will be another strong addition to the team.

The T20 tournament is supported through the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program, which creates opportunities for Pacific athletes, coaches, officials and administrators to access high performance training and elite competition.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Samoa, HE Will Robinson said, “the Australian Government is proud to partner with the Samoa International Cricket Association to help the Samoan team to attend the inaugural PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational. Manuia le fa’amoemoe Samoa!”

The Invitational builds on previous investment in Samoa cricket from the Australian Government, with PacificAus Sports supporting a visit to Samoa from Australian cricket legend Cathryn Fitzpatrick last year to support the U19 women’s team prepare for the T20 World Cup.

The competition is set to be fierce, with Cricket Australia’s CEO Todd Greenberg expecting “this tournament will showcase high-performance cricket while continuing to strengthen shared cultural connections”. Mr Greenberg also added that “the Australian Women’s Indigenous squad brings together skill, determination, and a proud legacy of Indigenous cricket”. Mr Greenberg is looking forward to seeing the Australian team perform their at their best in PNG.

The tournament is being played in Papua New Guinea as part of the celebration of the nation’s 50th anniversary of independence, Cricket Papua New Guinea will be the hosts for the tournament, with support from Cricket Australia.

END.

July 8, 2025