Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LegCo to debate motion on “Continuously reviewing the targeted poverty alleviation strategy”
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (June 24) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on “Continuously reviewing the targeted poverty alleviation strategy”. The motion, moved by Mr Lam Chun-sing, is set out in Appendix 1. Ms Elaine Chik, Mr Chan Cho-kwong, Mr Lee Chun-keung and Mr Tang Ka-piu will move separate amendments to Mr Lam’s motion.
Mr Tam Chun-kwok will move a motion on “Accelerating the planning and establishment of the New Territories North hospital cluster and promoting healthcare development in New Territories North”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Chong Ho-fung and Mr Holden Chow will move separate amendments to Mr Tam’s motion.
Meanwhile, Mr Chan Pui-leung will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending subsidiary legislation. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 3.
On Government Bills, the Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2026, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Preferential Tax Regimes for Funds, Family-owned Investment Holding Vehicles and Carried Interest) Bill 2026, and the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions for Shipping-related Activities and Physical Commodity Trading) Bill 2026 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debates on the Bills will be adjourned.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury will move a proposed resolution under the Public Finance Ordinance. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 4.
Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:16
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Director of Audit to visit Qinghai
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Director of Audit to visit Qinghai
During the trip, Professor Lam will have exchanges with officials from the Audit Office of Qinghai Province, meet leaders of the Qinghai Provincial Government and visit facilities and organisations relating to new energy in Qinghai, with a view to gaining an understanding of local development and the latest situation of auditing in the area of new energy and to exchanging views on related issues with relevant officials.
Issued at HKT 10:00
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Fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission convenes sixth meeting
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The sixth meeting of the fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission was held today (June 22).
At the meeting, the Office of the Government Economist briefed members on Hong Kong’s latest economic performance and labour market situation. Members noted that Hong Kong’s economy expanded robustly in the first quarter of 2026, growing by 5.9 per cent over a year earlier, marking the strongest economic growth in nearly five years. The labour market showed moderate improvement in recent months, with the latest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (for March 2026 to May 2026) dropping from 3.9 per cent to 3.7 per cent compared with the period from November 2025 to January 2026. Looking ahead, Hong Kong’s economic outlook remains largely resilient, with the real Gross Domestic Product growth forecast for 2026 projected at 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent.
In addition, the Security Bureau briefed members on the various immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses. These included measures facilitating the southbound and northbound two-way flow of talent, and visa and immigration facilitation measures. Through the immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will actively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and fully leverage Hong Kong’s unique role as a “super connector” under “one country, two systems” to better integrate into and serve the overall national development. Members welcomed the enhancement measures, noting that they would further enrich Hong Kong’s talent ecosystem and inject new momentum into the city’s long-term economic development.
Members also noted that the Health Bureau had commissioned the Hospital Authority (HA) to carry out a new round of healthcare manpower projections this year. The purpose of the projection exercise is to ensure that there are sufficient healthcare professionals to meet the ever-evolving demand for healthcare services in society, and that the relevant training policies remain aligned with actual circumstances. The Government and the HA will further refine the methodology for this round of projection and promote data collection simultaneously. This includes systematically compiling relevant data such as overall service volume statistics, human resource distribution, and local training scale from the industry and various medical specialties. Views regarding future population changes and the status of technology application raised by members will be incorporated. The results are expected to be published in mid-2027. Based on the projection results, the Government will revisit the existing strategies for local healthcare manpower in tandem with the next University Grants Committee triennium, as well as the reviews of other schemes, in making further recommendations on the relevant healthcare training places. With a continuously ageing population, the demand for healthcare services is facing structural growth. Members supported the HKSAR Government’s proactive efforts in conducting the healthcare manpower projection, utilising data analysis to guide policy and service planning, thereby enhancing the precision and forward-looking nature of public health policies.
Updates on cluster of Candida auris cases in Kowloon Central Cluster
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Updates on cluster of Candida auris cases in Kowloon Central Cluster
The ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for necessary follow-up.
Issued at HKT 18:45
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CHP investigates suspected case of paralytic shellfish poisoning
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP investigates suspected case of paralytic shellfish poisoning
The case involves two males, one aged 57 and the other aged 17. Their family member bought whelk from a seafood store in Causeway Bay and cooked it at home yesterday (June 21). About 30 minutes after eating it, they developed dizziness, generalised weakness in their limbs, blurred vision, diplopia, facial numbness on one side and vertigo. Both patients attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Ruttonjee Hospital on the same day. The 57-year-old patient was discharged after receiving treatment, while the 17-year-old patient was transferred to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for treatment. He remains hospitalised and is in stable condition.
Preliminary investigation revealed that both patients had consumed whelk, including its organs, and they are suspected of poisoning as a result. The CHP has referred the case to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for follow-up. The CHP’s investigation is ongoing.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin is a natural toxin sometimes found in bivalve shellfish. It is heat-stable and cannot be destroyed through cooking.
The symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning are predominantly neurological, and the onset is usually within minutes to hours after ingestion of the shellfish. Initial symptoms may include tingling, numbness of the mouth and extremities, a headache, dizziness and gastrointestinal discomfort. In the majority of cases, symptoms are resolved completely within a few days. In severe cases, difficulty in swallowing and speech, paralysis with respiratory arrest and even death may occur.
Members of the public should seek medical advice immediately if they develop shellfish poisoning symptoms, and save any leftovers for investigation and laboratory testing. Issued at HKT 18:55
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High-Level Meeting and Fifth Plenary Session of Hong Kong-Fujian Cooperation Conference held in Fuzhou
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Mr Zhou Zuyi, leading the delegations of the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Fujian respectively, held the High-Level Meeting and the Fifth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong-Fujian Cooperation Conference (meeting-and-plenary) in Fuzhou, Fujian, today (June 22). The Director of Bureau III of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zou Jinsong, also attended the meeting-and-plenary.
Officials of the HKSAR Government that attended the meeting-and-plenary included the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip; the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; and the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai.————————————————————————————————–
Leverage the roles of platforms including the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global of the HKSAR Government and the “Fujian Enterprises Going Global” Professional Services Alliance of the Fujian Province to support Fujian enterprises to go global by making good use of the advantages of Hong Kong professional services.——————————————————————————————————————-
Strengthen two-way exchanges and visits between young people from Fujian and Hong Kong, and effectively take forward programmes such as the Youth Internship Programme at Wuyishan on Biodiversity Conservation.
Continue to enhance and expand the various flagship youth exchange and internship programmes, and organise more Hong Kong youth to undertake internships and participate in exchange activities in Fujian.
Health and Chinese medicine
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Tourism
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Facilitation measures for Hong Kong people on the Mainland
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At the meeting-and-plenary, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and Vice Governor of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government Mr Zhao Zenglian signed the Co-operation Memorandum of the High-Level Meeting and the Fifth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong-Fujian Cooperation Conference. The document (Chinese only) is in Annex 1.
In addition, six co-operation agreements were signed by government departments and statutory bodies of the two places:
Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic activity for the first quarter of 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic activity for the first quarter of 2026
GDP figures by economic activity show the value of production in respect of individual economic activities. The value of production is measured by value added or net output, which is calculated by deducting intermediate input consumed in the process of production from the gross value of output. Volume measures of GDP by economic activity, expressed in terms of chain volume measures net of the effect of price changes, enable analysis of the output growth profiles of individual economic sectors in real terms.
According to the preliminary figures, overall GDP increased by 5.9% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 4.0% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Analysed by constituent services sector and on a year-on-year comparison, value added in respect of all the services activities taken together increased by 6.1% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the growth of 3.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Value added in the import and export, wholesale and retail trades sector increased by 14.5% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 8.0% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Value added in the accommodation and food services sector increased by 0.5% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Value added in the transportation, storage, postal and courier services sector increased by 4.3% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 4.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Value added in the information and communications sector increased by 3.8% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Value added in the financing and insurance sector increased by 8.0% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 5.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Value added in the real estate, professional and business services sector registered an increase of 2.7% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Value added in the public administration, social and personal services sector rose by 2.1% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, after the increase of 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
As for sectors other than the services sectors, value added in the local manufacturing sector increased by 3.1% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 5.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Value added in the electricity, gas and water supply, and waste management sector increased by 1.6% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier. When compared with a year earlier, value added in this sector remained virtually unchanged in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Value added in the construction sector increased by 7.6% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, as against the decrease of 7.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Further information
The year-on-year percentage changes of GDP by economic activity in real terms from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026 are shown in Table 1. More detailed statistics are given in the report “Gross Domestic Product by Economic Activity”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1030004&scode=250
Figures of chain volume measures of GDP by economic activity for the first quarter of 2026 are only preliminary at this stage. When more data become available, the preliminary figures will be revised accordingly and can be found at the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode250.htmlIssued at HKT 16:30
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Statistics on persons engaged and vacancies for March 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
According to the statistics on persons engaged and vacancies released today (June 22) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total number of persons engaged in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.4% or 10 100 persons in March 2026 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 48 610, representing a decrease of 12% or 6 560 over the preceding year.
Persons engaged statistics”Quarterly Report of Persons Engaged and Vacancies Statistics, March 2026″
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452″Quarterly Report of Manual Workers and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2026″
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452
Balance of Payments, International Investment Position and External Debt statistics for the first quarter of 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 22) the preliminary Balance of Payments (BoP), International Investment Position (IIP) and External Debt (ED) statistics of Hong Kong for the first quarter of 2026.
I. Balance of Payments
Woman sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for illegally importing alternative smoking products
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
A woman was sentenced today (June 22) at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts to two months’ imprisonment for illegally importing 18 000 alternative smoking products. The Department of Health (DH) welcomed the verdict and reminded members of the public and visitors not to bring alternative smoking products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products or herbal cigarettes into Hong Kong, and not to use any alternative smoking products.
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH was notified by Hong Kong Customs on June 19 that 18 000 alternative smoking products had been intercepted in the luggage of the aforesaid woman arriving from Japan. TACO immediately arrested and prosecuted the individual.
Since the amendments to the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, which conferred arrest powers on TACO inspectors, took effect on September 19, 2025, TACO has prosecuted 26 cases involving the importation of large quantities of alternative smoking products. Twenty-nine persons have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four weeks to eight months.
According to the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), a person who imports alternative smoking products, including electronic smoking products, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years; or liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), no person may promote, manufacture, sell, or possess for commercial purposes alternative smoking products. An offender is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
TACO will continue to closely monitor and enforce the law to combat related offences.
In addition, the DH also cautions the public that alternative smoking products are addictive and are not effective smoking cessation tools. E-cigarettes may increase the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Smokers are urged to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For assistance, please call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183, or visit www.livetobaccofree.hk for information on quitting.