Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Department of Food Safety Sampling and Monitoring of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on food safety co-operation today (May 12). The MOU aims to strengthen the exchanges on food sampling and surveillance, and enhance the co-operation in the field of food safety between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The MOU was signed by the Controller of the CFS, Dr Christine Wong, and the Deputy Director General of the Department of Food Production and Operation Safety Regulation of the SAMR, Ms Zhang Shixia. It was witnessed by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Donald Ng, and the Chief Inspector of Food Safety of the SAMR, Mr Sun Huichuan.

The MOU seeks to deepen the exchanges and co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong on food safety. Specifically, the MOU covers enhancing the exchanges of information related to food safety sampling and monitoring; discussing co-operation in the fields of food safety risk alert and risk communication; and establishing a mechanism to exchange views on important issues of common concern.

​A spokesman for the CFS said, “We expect that the signing of the MOU can enhance communication on food safety between the Mainland and Hong Kong to better ensure public food safety.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, attended the Seventh Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting (HRDMM) in Jeju, Korea, today (May 12), during which he delivered speeches at two plenaries.
 
     With the theme “Sustainable Labour Markets and Jobs for the Future”, the HRDMM aimed to promote a flexible, inclusive, and resilient labour market to further the collective commitment to labour market reforms that support today’s workforce. It consisted of two plenaries with the morning plenary themed “Flexible and Vibrant Labour Market”. Delivering his keynote speech, Mr Sun said that to address the challenges posed by the emergence of the platform economy, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government has long been committed to protecting platform workers, including the exploration of feasible measures for strengthening the protection for platform workers through a liaison group comprising representatives of the Government, platform companies and labour organisations. According to the Thematic Household Survey conducted by the SAR Government, platform workers are most concerned about work injury compensation. The SAR Government will introduce a proposal within this year on ways to further enhance the rights and benefits of platform workers and will initiate relevant legislative exercises when necessary. Furthermore, he also introduced to participants the various initiatives implemented by the SAR Government to unleash the potential of the labour force amid the evolving landscape of employment, including the well-received Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme launched last year and the enhanced Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged.
 
     In the afternoon plenary themed “Responding to Future Jobs and Active Labour Market Policies”, Mr Sun gave a presentation on the manpower policies and talent attraction measures of the SAR Government. He stressed that the main thrust of the SAR Government’s manpower policy is to nurture local talent, complemented by the attraction of outside talent, to enrich the local talent pool for meeting the needs in social and economic developments. Mr Sun introduced the multipronged strategy of training and retraining, including the establishment of two universities of applied sciences, as well as enhancing employees’ professional skills through the Vocational Training Council. Mr Sun also briefed the attendees on the array of measures rolled out by the SAR Government to attract talent proactively and aggressively. He also gave an account of how Hong Kong could leverage its unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, in order to better realise its role as an international hub for high-calibre talent.
 
     Upon his arrival in Jeju yesterday (May 11), Mr Sun first called on the Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia, Mr Steven Sim, who was attending the HRDMM. Mr Sun said he is delighted to meet Mr Sim again after his visit to Kuala Lumpur in mid-April. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on issues including unleashing local workforce, enhancing occupational safety and health, improving the rights of platform workers, and ways to enhance vocational training and employee retraining with a view to alleviating manpower shortages.
 
     Afterwards, Mr Sun held a bilateral meeting with the Acting Minister of Employment and Labor, Republic of Korea, Mr Kim Min Seok, during which they had an in-depth discussion on matters including foreign domestic helpers and the importation of labour. At the meeting, Mr Sun briefed Mr Kim on the manpower shortage encountered by the SAR Government due to an ageing population, resulting in the need for Hong Kong to continue attracting outside talent and labour as appropriate in the future to fill the manpower and skills gaps.
 
     Mr Sun will conclude his visit tomorrow morning (May 13) and depart for Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Housing Bureau (HB) organised the Construction Robots for Housing – RoboPaint Master Competition x Arena of Construction Robots today (May 12) to promote the adoption of industry technologies and advance public housing developments into a new era of smart construction.
 
     To expedite the speed and efficiency of increasing the public housing supply and address the challenge of an ageing workforce and construction manpower shortages, the HB and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) are leveraging innovative construction technologies to boost productivity and improve safety. As part of the Housing•I&T initiative, the HB will host a series of events, including today’s robotics competition, a housing construction robot design competition for secondary school students in September, and an international summit in November aimed at fostering the development of a construction technology market. The Construction Robots for Housing – RoboPaint Master Competition x Arena of Construction Robots is the first highlight of this initiative. The event provides the industry with a platform to test and demonstrate their technological products, allowing participants to fully explore and maximise the development potential of innovative construction technologies.
 
     A Mainland robotics company has already partnered with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to establish a joint research institute for a few years to promote and strengthen co-operation between the university and industry in the development of robotics technology. The HKHA anticipates that the use of robotics will gradually become more prevalent, and has thus incorporated requirements for such use in its tender documents. By leveraging the stable and substantial volume of public housing projects and diverse application areas, the HKHA aims to attract Mainland robotics companies to progressively deploy their technologies in public housing initiatives. Acting as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”, the HKHA actively seeks and validates tailored robotics solutions that meet industry needs while promoting successful cases to the sector. As a result, several robotics companies subsequently have decided to expand their business operations in Hong Kong, using it as a springboard to enter markets in Singapore, the Middle East and Europe. It is believed that the establishment of more innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises in Hong Kong will further drive the vibrant development of the city’s I&T ecosystem.
 
     At the event’s opening ceremony, the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said, “According to the indicators for specific tasks as in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address on construction robots, the HKHA will specify in tender documents the construction processes where robots can be employed to enhance site safety and construction efficiency. The highlight of today’s event is the painting robots participating in the Construction Robots for Housing – RoboPaint Master Competition. The application of construction robots not only boosts productivity and quality but also creates a safer and healthier working environment for frontline workers. This advancement elevates the technological standards and professional image of the industry, making it more appealing to young professionals. A recent case of a public housing project demonstrates that collaborative painting robot systems can enhance the efficiency of indoor painting works by over 50 per cent and improve works quality. For instance, in a public housing project with a standard floor comprising 24 units, traditional methods require eight skilled workers for wall finishing, while only two operators are needed when using a robotics system.”
 
     In addition to contractual requirements, the HKHA will continue to expand the scope of subsidies available for contractors adopting construction robots through the Government’s Construction Innovation and Technology Fund. This two-pronged strategy will encourage the industry to widely adopt innovative technologies and establish a new “human-machine collaborative housing construction model”.
 
     The robots participating in today’s Construction Robots for Housing – RoboPaint Master Competition were evaluated by a jury panel, comprising Ms Ho and representatives from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Construction Industry Council and industry experts. The judging criteria encompassed technical performance, efficiency and productivity, quality of painting and safety.
 
    The results of the Construction Robots for Housing – RoboPaint Master Competition are as follows:
Grand Award: Bright Dream (HK) Construction Technology Limited, Weibuild Technology HK Limited
1st Runner-up: Fangshi Technology Company Limited, Fulltime Robotics Company Limited
2nd Runner-up: HONGKONG DAFANG AI CO., LIMITED
 
     The Construction Robots for Housing – Arena of Construction Robots showcased six types of robots with potential applications in public housing construction. These included a rebar-tying robot, a floor-tiling robot, a steel frame-cutting robot, a six-metre tall three-in-one wall-painting robot, a concrete internal wall-grinding robot and an autonomous small unmanned aircraft for scanning. Live demonstrations of these robots provided contractors with insights into the latest developments in innovative construction technologies, encouraging broader industry adoption and further advancing the sector’s development.
 
     Currently, construction robotics systems have been implemented in over 20 public housing development projects, with an additional 30 projects expected to follow by 2027.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu was honored to attend the Buddha’s Day Ceremony hosted by Tzu Chi Australia. Joined by Tzu Chi Australia CEO Randy Sung, Ryde City Mayor Trenton Brown, Clr. Lyndal Howison, and hundreds of members, DG Wu prayed for purity in people’s hearts, harmony in society, and a world free of disasters.
For 59 years, Tzu Chi has dedicated itself to its Four Great Missions: Charity, Medicine, Education, and Humanistic Culture. These efforts have established Tzu Chi as a vital force for stability in Taiwan and a shining example of Taiwan’s role as a global force for good.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at the plenary session themed “Flexible and Vibrant Labour Market” at the Seventh Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in Jeju, Korea, today (May 12):
 
     Good morning, chair and distinguished fellow Ministers.
 
     Let me start off first of all by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to Korea for your warm hospitality and the very thoughtful arrangement over every detail this meeting. Flexibility and vibrancy have long been embedded in the DNA of Hong Kong, China. However, in the face of changing landscapes, we cannot stand still and must evolve and improve.
 
     In a world where social media and artificial intelligence keep on reshaping the scope and meaning of work, it is all the more important for policymakers to focus on making employment more flexible, boosting labour productivity, and putting in place sustainable protection for workers. Today I will highlight Hong Kong, China’s initiatives to address the challenges posed by the platform economy, and our efforts to enhance protection for employees across various sectors.
 
     The platform economy is developing rapidly around the world. In Hong Kong, China, platform workers engaging in food and goods delivery services are common. Similar to other economies, their mode of co-operation with platform providers involves complex and various modes of work, which are not entirely akin to the traditional employment relationship.
 
     Hong Kong, China attaches great importance to protecting the rights and benefits of platform workers. We have set up a tripartite liaison group to explore possible measures for strengthening protection for platform workers in collaboration with platform companies and labour organisations. We are glad to see that members of the liaison group are working together to forge consensus. The general directions are to enhance communication between platform companies and workers, increase the level of compensation for work-related accidents, and crack down on illegal workers. The aim is to enhance protection for platform workers through tripartite consultation while at the same time facilitating the sustainable development of the industry to achieve win-win outcome.
 
     In parallel, the Government of Hong Kong, China has conducted a thematic household survey to collect major data of local platform workers. We have also conducted an opinion survey and focus groups among platform workers. Platform workers in Hong Kong, China are mostly concerned about the protection for work-related accidents and urged platform providers to provide them with protection comparable to the work injury compensation offered to employees in general. Capitalising on the work of the liaison group and the survey findings, we will map out the way forward within this year and enact necessary legislation once we have decided on the direction.
 
     At the same time, we are addressing broad concerns through refining the scope of the Employment Ordinance in Hong Kong, China. At present, all employees covered by the Employment Ordinance are entitled to basic protection, including wage payment and granting of statutory holidays. Employees who are employed under a continuous contract are further entitled to benefits such as holiday pay, paid annual leave, sickness allowance, maternity leave, etc.
 
     Under the current law, an employee is required to work at least 18 hours a week for four weeks in a row so as to remain engaged in continuous contract. This means an employee who occasionally works less than 18 hours in a week will fall short of the continuous contract requirement.
 
     We have recently introduced legislative amendment to revise the threshold of the continuous contract requirement. First of all, we lower the weekly work hour threshold from 18 to 17 hours. More importantly, we make it clear that even if an employee works less than 17 hours a week, the continuous contract still remains valid if the aggregate work hours reach 68 hours or more in a designated four week period including the week in issue.
 
     We expect that the legislative amendment will soon be passed into law. The expanded coverage of continuous contract will enable more employees with shorter and flexible work hours to enjoy full employment benefits. We believe the relaxation will also encourage more people to join the labour market.
 
     Hong Kong, China is facing a shrinking workforce against our ageing population. To sustain the development of our workforce, we have been incentivising older people to rejoin the labour market and employers to hire older people.
 
     First of all, we have introduced a Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme for three years. The aim is to encourage persons aged 40 or above who have not been employed for three months or more to work again. Eligible participants will be given an allowance of HK$10,000, which is equivalent to around US$1,300, if they remain employed for six months in a row. If they remain employed for a full year, they will receive an additional allowance of HK$10,000. Up to March this year we have received 38 000 participants with 16 000 placements recorded.
 
     Turning to employers, we are rewarding those who hire and provide on-the-job training to older people. Eligible employers will receive a monthly allowance of HK$5,000 per employee per month for six to 12 months if they hire persons aged 60 or above. A smaller allowance and shorter period will be given to those employing persons aged 40 to 59.
 
     To conclude, Hong Kong, China remains steadfast in its commitment to enhance the protection for the workforce and raise labour productivity. We will continue to explore innovative solutions and engage in meaningful and pragmatic dialogue with all stakeholders to create a fair and equitable labour market that empowers all individuals to thrive.
 
     Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the pre-recorded video speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the HKQAA International Sustainability Forum – Hong Kong 2025 today (May 12):

Chairman Ho (Chairman of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA), Mr Ho Chi-shing), Chin-wan (Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It is my great pleasure to address you at the HKQAA’s annual international sustainability forum, a platform gathering relevant stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to discuss important issues of sustainability. This year’s theme, “Seizing Green Finance Opportunities in the Low-Carbon Transition of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area (GBA)”, is highly relevant and timely amid the global shift and increasing awareness towards sustainability, and the rising importance of green and sustainable finance in supporting green transition and achieving carbon neutrality for the world. Pursuing the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, both our country and our city look beyond the current geopolitical environment and the instability it brings, and are committed to promoting a low-carbon economy, green finance, and supporting green development in the Belt and Road region.
 
Hong Kong as a premier international financial centre
 
     Being a premier international financial centre, Hong Kong also plays a part in supporting green development and transition in the region by mobilising cross-border investments to address climate and sustainability challenges. The Government, along with financial regulators and stakeholders, has been making efforts in enhancing the ecosystem of the green and sustainable finance market through a multipronged approach, namely (i) providing diversified green investment products; (ii) aligning with international standards; and (iii) supporting market development.
 
Providing diversified green investment products
 
     Our capital market provides a wide range of green and sustainable investment products. In 2024, the volume of green and sustainable bonds arranged in Hong Kong amounted to around US$43 billion, ranking first in the Asian market for seven consecutive years since 2018 and capturing around 45 per cent of the regional total. As of March this year, the number of ESG (environmental, social and governance) funds authorised by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) was around 220 with assets under management of around HK$1.1 trillion – an increase of 80 per cent over the past three years.
 
     The Government Sustainable Bond Programme, formerly known as the Green Bond Programme, continues to play a leading role in funding local green initiatives. Since 2019, we have issued an equivalent of over HK$220 billion in green bonds across multiple currencies and tenors, including institutional, retail and tokenised tranches. Last year, we expanded the programme to include sustainable projects, reinforcing our commitment to broader environmental and social goals while setting important benchmarks for the market.
 
     We are also building the market infrastructure needed to connect capital with carbon-related products in Hong Kong, the Mainland, Asia and beyond. In 2022, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) launched the Core Climate, an international carbon marketplace. It facilitates transparent, efficient trading of high-quality carbon credits from certified projects across Asia, South America, and West Africa. Sectors such as forestry, wind, solar, and biomass are represented, offering opportunities for enterprises in the GBA and Belt and Road economies to support their own Net Zero transitions.
 
Alignment with international standards
 
Sustainability reporting
 
     As global awareness of sustainability grows, consistent and reliable information becomes essential for investors and businesses to manage risk and allocate capital effectively. We launched in December last year the Roadmap on Sustainability Disclosure in Hong Kong. This provides a clear path for large publicly accountable entities to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) by 2028. This move places Hong Kong among the first jurisdictions to align local reporting requirements with the global baseline, enhancing transparency and comparability in sustainable finance. The roadmap not only reflects our commitment to the global green transition but also offers clarity and guidance to market participants.
 
Taxonomy
 
     A shared understanding of what constitutes “green” is vital. In May 2024, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance. This important tool supports the market by offering a standardised classification of green activities, aligned with the Common Ground Taxonomy to ensure interoperability with taxonomies in Mainland China and the European Union. The initial phase of the taxonomy covers 12 activities across four key sectors: power generation, transportation, construction, and water and waste management. As a living framework, the taxonomy will continue to evolve. The HKMA has embarked on the next phase development to expand the scope of sectors and economic activities, including transition activities.
 
Supporting market development
 
     To promote the green financing activity in Hong Kong, we launched the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme in 2021. The scheme offers subsidies to eligible bond issuers and loan borrowers to help cover issuance and external review costs. Extended to 2027, its scope now also includes transition bonds and loans. This expansion will help encourage industries across the GBA and Belt and Road economies to leverage Hong Kong’s platform to finance their low-carbon transitions and contribute to global sustainability goals.
 
     We are also investing in innovation. Green fintech is an important enabler of scalable sustainability solutions. We launched the Green and Sustainable Fintech Proof-of-Concept Funding Support Scheme in June last year to provide early-stage funding to support technology companies or research institutes conducting green fintech activities to collaborate with local enterprises, and to co-develop new projects in the market addressing industry pain points. So far, 60 projects have been approved, reflecting the vibrant potential of Hong Kong’s green fintech ecosystem.
 
Hong Kong’s unique position to support countries of the Belt and Road Initiative
 
     Hong Kong continues to serve as a bridge between Mainland China and the wider Belt and Road region. We actively promote regional co-operation through strategic platforms and exchanges. In April this year, the HKEX and the SFC co-hosted the inaugural International Carbon Markets Summit. The event brought together more than 200 global participants, including regulators, carbon trading platforms, corporates, and investors. The Summit marked a step forward in building trusted, effective carbon market ecosystems that support the sustainable development goals of Belt and Road economies.
 
     We also continue to convene the annual Asian Financial Forum (AFF) to foster international dialogue. In January this year, the 18th AFF featured a new milestone: the launch of a dedicated chapter co-hosted with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This marked an important milestone in fostering collaboration in financial services such as investments in green energy between Hong Kong and GCC member states.
 
     Climate change presents one of the greatest risks to our global economy. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters require new financial tools to build resilience. Hong Kong is taking a leading role in this area by developing the insurance-linked securities (ILS) and catastrophe bonds market.
 
     Since the launch of our ILS framework in 2021, seven catastrophe bonds have been issued in Hong Kong, raising over US$800 million in coverage against risks such as typhoons and earthquakes. These instruments provide critical risk mitigation solutions for both corporates and governments. To further support this market, we extended our Pilot ILS Grant Scheme to 2028, providing subsidies to issuers of ILS and supporting the growth of Hong Kong-based service providers. These efforts reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a centre for innovative risk management in the face of climate change.
 
HKQAA’s contributions
 
     I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the HKQAA for its contributions to the development of green finance in Hong Kong. The HKQAA has been participating in the development of international standards for sustainable finance and launched the Green and Sustainable Finance Certification Scheme (formerly called Green Finance Certification Scheme) in 2018.
 
     I am delighted to know that the HKQAA also supports the development of a roadmap for sustainability disclosure in our country by contributing to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Finance and Economy’s pilot project for sustainability disclosure and talent development. At home, it has supported Hong Kong’s own disclosure roadmap by establishing industry-specific climate risk tools to help local businesses prepare for future reporting requirements.
 
     The HKQAA has also forged partnerships with the Belt and Road International Green Development Alliance, helping regional partners access global capital markets and implement green financing solutions. Its work exemplifies the kind of cross-sector, cross-border collaboration that is essential for sustainable growth.
 
Closing
 
     Looking forward, I am confident that the opportunities in green finance – particularly in supporting the low-carbon transition of the Belt and Road region and the GBA – will continue to expand. Today’s forum offers valuable insights into the path toward sustainability, a journey that calls for steadfast commitment, continuous innovation, and deep cross-regional collaboration. As we move forward, the Government remains committed to working hand in hand with the industry and all stakeholders to build a greener, more resilient future for Hong Kong and the wider region. Thank you.