Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6 600 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for four unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 1 500 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 5 100 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.———————————————————-
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tender for re-opening of 2-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds to be held on February 5 An additional amount of RMB1.0 billion of the outstanding 2-year Bonds (issue no. 02GB2711001) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on November 17, 2027 and will carry interest at the rate of 1.71 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on January 30, 2026 are 100.07 with a semi-annualised yield of 1.670 per cent.
Issue Number9.30am to 10.30amRemaining maturity:Approximately 1.77 yearsThe accrued interest to be paid by successful bidders on the issue date (February 9, 2026) for the tender amount is RMB196.77 per minimum denomination of RMB50,000. (The accrued interest to be paid for tender amount exceeding RMB50,000 may not be exactly equal to the figures calculated from the accrued interest per minimum denomination of RMB50,000 due to rounding).the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong LimitedIssued at HKT 17:07
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK):
In response to media enquiries regarding reports on the promotion of Chinese medicine practices, the CMCHK issued the following statement today (January 30):
The Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (the Board) of the CMCHK is a statutory body established under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549) (the Ordinance) and its primary function is to enforce and implement the regulatory measures for Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs) stipulated in the Ordinance. To ensure high standards of practising conduct within the Chinese medicine profession, the Board has established the code of conduct for CMPs (CoP), which regulates CMPs’ conduct in areas including professional ethics, professional responsibility, professional conduct, practising rules, medical practice and practice advertising, enabling CMPs to meet the standards of the Chinese medicine profession.
The Board persistently maintains a high level of vigilance regarding cases involving the professional conduct of CMPs and has established stringent requirements for their professional ethics, including promotion activities. According to the provisions regarding practice promotion in the CoP, practice promotion refers to the adoption of various promotion measures to enhance the popularity of a CMP so as to gain benefits from his/her business, including the promotion of a CMP, his/her work or his/her practice, by himself/herself or others. The measures may include the provision of information to, and soliciting business from the public or patients. Any information provided by a CMP must be lawful, honest, truthful and not exaggerated. Such information must not solicit patients or solicit business, or arouse unjustifiable public concern or anxiety. Furthermore, it must not be used for commercial promotion of any medical or health-related products or services. The provisions of the CoP concerning an Internet website also apply to social media platforms.
The CoP also clearly stipulates that if a CMP who has any kind of financial or professional relationship with a health care organisation, including using the facilities of or accepting patients referred by the organisation, must exercise due diligence to ensure that the organisation does not advertise in contravention of the principles and rules applicable to individual CMPs, and to discontinue the relationship with an organisation in case of contravention. Regarding the issuance of receipts, the CoP stipulates that a CMP must not issue professional certificates which are untruthful or misleading.
The Board and its Disciplinary Committee of Chinese Medicine Practitioners (Disciplinary Committee) have consistently endeavored to prevent violations of practice promotion through public education and disciplinary procedures. In addition to regularly reminding all CMPs in Hong Kong of the relevant clauses for practice promotion through its newsletters (including last month’s issue), it follows up on each case in a rigorous manner in accordance with the procedures set forth in the subsidiary legislation of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance, the Chinese Medicine Practitioners (Discipline) Regulation, and the CoP.
Over the past five years, the Board and the Disciplinary Committee have investigated a total of 410 cases involving suspected violations of the CoP regarding practice promotion by CMPs. For substantiated allegations, the Disciplinary Committee issued advisory letters to CMPs involved in 365 cases after confirming that the irregularities had been rectified. Should a CMP fail to comply with the requirements of an advisory letter, the Board and the Disciplinary Committee will take further disciplinary action. If, during the course of handling a case, the Board or the Disciplinary Committee suspects that illegal activities are involved, the matter will be immediately referred to the law enforcement authorities for follow up.
Regarding the media report today alleging that online posts by certain individuals or organisations may have violated relevant provisions of the CoP, the Disciplinary Committee is investigating and taking appropriate follow-up actions.
The CMCHK urges members of the public to verify the qualifications of service providers before receiving Chinese medicine services. Members of the public should not blindly trust individuals without professional registration qualifications who claim to offer unique treatments. Since these individuals lack professional training and qualifications, the safety and efficacy of the “treatment” are not guaranteed, and it may even aggravate the condition or cause injuries. Moreover, if members of the public suffer injuries or encounter other problems after receiving the services provided by these individuals, they will not be able to file complaints and hold the individuals accountable for their professional responsibilities with the professional regulatory bodies. Members of the public who suspect that someone is practising without registration and/or unlawfully using the title of a registered healthcare professional should report the matter to the Police. The CMCHK and the Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office of the Department of Health will provide professional support to the Police as appropriate.
Regarding the names on the list of CMPs on the CMCHK website, the CMCHK registers them based on the information shown on the applicants’ identity documents. The Chinese names displayed on the website will be shown in either traditional or simplified Chinese characters according to the relevant documents.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly disapproves of a court ruling that the Panamanian government’s renewal of contracts with Hutchison Ports Panama Ports Company, was unconstitutional.
The contracts involve two ports in Panama.
In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said that in view of the current situation in Panama, Hong Kong enterprises should carefully review their existing and future investments there
It said it strongly opposes any foreign government using coercive, repressive or otherwise unreasonable means in international economic and trade relations to seriously harm the legitimate business interests of Hong Kong enterprises.
The statement added that such actions also seriously harm the business environment in Panama, undermine investor confidence, and adversely affect the bilateral relations and long-term economic development of the two places.
The Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that the Panamanian government should respect the spirit of contracts and provide a fair and just business environment for companies operating there legally.
It added that the Panamanian government should ensure that the legitimate rights of enterprises are free from any interference, and that Hong Kong enterprises operating and investing in Panama should be treated and protected fairly and reasonably.
The projected private flat supply for the next three to four years is 104,000 units, 2,000 more than the previous estimate.
The Housing Bureau said today there were 23,000 unsold units in completed projects at the end of December last year.
There were also 61,000 units under construction, excluding those pre-sold by developers; and 20,000 units from disposed sites where construction may start at any time.
The number of flats under construction in the fourth quarter last year was 1,900, while 5,100 units were completed during the same period.
As the competent authority of weights and measures in Taiwan, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs is responsible for establishing and maintaining the nation’s highest measurement standards. By providing precision measurement technologies and application services across diverse industries, the BSMI has established 133 sets of national measurement standards across 17 fields, which have achieved mutual recognition with 102 economies worldwide.
To showcase Taiwan’s achievements in establishing the highest measurement standards and its innovative R&D in calibration and measurement technologies, the BSMI held a press conference titled “Precision Measurement Technology: Supporting Industry and Safeguarding Public Livelihoods,” highlighting its achievement in ” Harmonizing the Use of Weights and Measuring Units to Ensure Measurement Accuracy.”
To ensure fairness in commercial transactions and the credibility of law enforcement, the BSMI has designated 22 categories of legal measuring instruments subject to mandatory verification. Every unit-including electricity meters, water meters, diaphragm gas meters, weighing instruments, taximeters, breathe alcohol testers and analyzers, oil meters, and speedometers used in law enforcement-must undergo verification before being imported or released from the factory.
The BSMI annually verifies over 4 million metrology devices. Besides, the BSMI conducts market surveillance and inspections and sample testing on more than 60,000 metrology devices currently in use each year, ensuring that every device bearing the “Verification Mark” (the Chinese character ‘Picture as attachment file’) remains accurate and reliable.
To facilitate industrial advancement, BSMI’s National Measurement Laboratory (NML) provides over 5,000 standard calibration services annually. By disseminating the highest measurement standards to 2,200 calibration and testing laboratories, the BSMI supports 4 million testing services across various industries, generating an estimated NT$20 billion in testing output value.
In addition, the BSMI continues to develop advanced applications on calibration and measurement technologies. Key achievements include:
1.Nanoscale Measurement Technology
New advances in nanoscale metrology are helping the semiconductor industry achieve tighter control over critical dimensions (CD), boost chip performance, ensure material purity, and raise overall production yields.
2.Self-Calibrating Temperature Sensors for Industrial Equipment
A new generation of self-calibrating temperature sensors now enables online calibration without dismantling equipment, cutting calibration time from 12 days to just 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the Digital Linear Guide Adjustment Technology reduces the assembly and alignment time for machine tool linear guides from 90 minutes to 30 minutes.
3.Acoustic-AI Inspection for Wind Turbines
An integrated acoustic and AI system now allows wind turbine blades to be inspected without shutting down operations. Inspection time has dropped from 30 minutes to 5 minutes, with accuracy surpassing 90%, significantly lowering operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.
4.Domestic Calibration for Railway Boundary Measuring Instruments
A new locally developed calibration capability for railway boundary measuring instruments is significantly reducing both turnaround time and associated costs.
The BSMI emphasized its commitment to not only maintaining the alignment of national standards with international benchmarks but also continuing to develop forward-looking measurement technologies. By providing a foundation of precision measurement to support scientific and technological progress, the BSMI aims to build a reliable and secure living environment for the public.
30 January 2026 – Singapore and Rwanda have launched an application call for carbon credit projects under their Implementation Agreement on carbon credits cooperation. This is Singapore’s fourth call for project applications, following earlier calls under bilateral Implementation Agreements with Ghana, Peru and Bhutan.
2 Authorised projects will unlock additional carbon mitigation projects in Rwanda and advance both countries’ climate ambitions through targeted financing. These projects will promote sustainable development and benefit local communities through job creation, clean water access, improved energy security, and reduced environmental pollution.
3 Authorised projects can generate carbon credits aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Under Singapore’s International Carbon Credit (ICC) Framework, these credits will be eligible for use by Singapore-based carbon tax-liable companies to offset up to 5% of their taxable emissions.
4 Interested parties may submit applications for their carbon credit projects in Rwanda to be authorised. Applications submitted will be reviewed by the Singapore and Rwanda governments.
Application and Authorisation Process
5 The application and authorisation process comprises three stages, each corresponding to a different stage of implementation for the carbon credit project (See Annex A). The first two stages require applicants to submit details on the design and implementation plan for the carbon credit project in the lead-up to project authorisation. The final stage is for corresponding adjustments to be applied to the carbon credits generated from the authorised project, in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Paris Agreement. Detailed steps on the application process can be found at Singapore’s Carbon Markets Cooperation website, at www.carbonmarkets-cooperation.gov.sg/overview-rwanda/.
6 Singapore and Rwanda will assess applications in accordance with each country’s respective requirements. For Singapore, these projects must meet Singapore’s eligibility criteria for ICCs. The eligibility criteria, and the list of eligible carbon crediting programmes and methodologies under the Singapore-Rwanda Implementation Agreement, are at Annex B, and on the Carbon Markets Cooperation website.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders will be able to enjoy visa-free travel to Azerbaijan, the Immigration Department announced today.
The arrangement will allow Hong Kong SAR passport holders to visit the country up to three times, for as long as 30 days each time, from February 2, 2026 to February 2, 2027.
Highlighting that Azerbaijan is a member of the Belt & Road Initiative, the department said the arrangement will bring travel convenience, and strengthen tourism-related, cultural and economic ties between the two places.
Including Azerbaijan, 175 countries and territories allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders.
The Government today published a notice declaring Kwong Fook Tsz, in Sheung Wan, and the Main Building of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital, in Sai Ying Pun and, as monuments.
Located on Western Street in Sai Ying Pun, Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital was established by the Chinese Public Dispensaries Committee and opened in 1922 to provide maternity services for local Chinese women.
Following the hospital’s 1955 relocation to new premises on Hospital Road, the main block at the original site has been used as a community centre since 1961.
The red-brick building features a granite portico at its main entrance and an interior spiral staircase. It stands as a symbol of co-operation between Chinese community leaders and Western medical professionals in the early development of the city’s maternal health services.
Kwong Fook Tsz, also known as Pak Shing Temple, was built in 1895 with funds raised by Chinese elites.
The temple houses the soul tablets – or ancestral name plates – of mainland Chinese workers who died in Hong Kong without having family members to perform burial rites for them here. It enshrines deities such as Ksitigarbha and Chai Kung.
In its early years, the temple also provided refuge and medical services for the destitute and elderly. It later contributed to the establishment of Tung Wah Hospital.
Kwong Fook Tsz has a “three-hall-one-bay” layout, and has two courtyards, making it rare among Hong Kong temples. The Shiwan ceramics on the ridge of the entrance hall are the most prominent external architectural feature.
President Lai meets delegation led by Micron Technology President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra
On the afternoon of January 29, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Micron Technology President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. In remarks, President Lai thanked Micron for making Taiwan a key link in its plans to expand global capacity, demonstrating the importance and confidence Micron places in Taiwan. The president pointed out that Taiwan and the United States recently completed tariff negotiations and signed an MOU on investment cooperation, and that the two sides will sign the Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, deepening bilateral investment and trade and positioning Taiwan and the US as important strategic partners. He also expressed hope that Taiwan and the US will work side by side to strengthen the key memory technologies essential for AI infrastructure and together build more resilient and competitive supply chains, creating a future of shared success.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
Today, I am delighted to meet with Mr. Mehrotra once again at the Presidential Office. Micron Technology has planted deep roots in Taiwan over the past three decades. Its cumulative investments here have exceeded NT$1.2 trillion, and it has trained and employed over 10,000 engineering professionals. I would like to thank Micron for making Taiwan a key link in its plans to expand global capacity. Mr. Mehrotra’s leading a delegation to visit further demonstrates the importance and confidence Micron places in Taiwan.
Recently, Taiwan and the US completed tariff negotiations and signed an MOU on investment cooperation. And moving forward, the two sides will sign the Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. This will position Taiwan as a strategic partner to the US and deepen bilateral investment and trade. US enterprises will increase their investments in memory, IC design, and cloud services in Taiwan. Meanwhile, Taiwanese companies are investing in logic chips and associated supply chains in the US. This demonstrates the longstanding strategic partnership between Taiwan and the US in the information and communications technology sector. It also signifies that in the AI era to come, Taiwan and the US will remain essential strategic partners.
I believe that Micron’s investment in Taiwan is one of the finest demonstrations of Taiwan-US cooperation. As one of Taiwan’s largest foreign investors, and through its longstanding presence, Micron has not only created numerous job opportunities but also heightened the importance of Taiwan’s semiconductor sector. And that is why the government’s support for Micron remains steadfast and will not waver. At the end of last year, Micron secured a new round of subsidies under the Ministry of Economic Affairs A+ Program. Over the next three years, this initiative is expected to drive additional investment from Micron in Taiwan, accelerating high-bandwidth memory (HBM) research and development while expanding production capacity.
Micron’s expansion in Taiwan is an ongoing process. It is also one of the most important investments following the recent Taiwan-US trade negotiations. Just this month, Micron and Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation signed a letter of intent regarding cooperation. This collaboration is highly significant, proving that Micron’s strategic deployment in Taiwan has risen to new levels of partnership with local enterprises as we seek to jointly strengthen competitiveness in the memory industry.
In the AI-driven world of the future, chips and memory will both remain indispensable. With Micron’s assistance, we will expand HBM-related advanced manufacturing capacity and cutting-edge technologies in Taiwan. In turn, Taiwan will support Micron in keeping pace with its international competitors. And Taiwan and the US will work together to expand global strengths in AI chips while fostering mutual prosperity and development.
We look forward to Micron’s future investments in Taiwan continuing to set new milestones. Let us work side by side to strengthen the key memory technologies essential for AI infrastructure. Together, we can build more resilient and competitive supply chains and create a future of shared success.