Category: MIL-OSI

Steering Committee on APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting 2026 preparatory work convenes first meeting  
     Mr Hui said, “The year 2026 marks the APEC ‘China Year’, with the theme of ‘Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together’. Hong Kong’s inaugural hosting of the FMM signifies our country’s recognition of Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths in internationalisation and financial development, while being guided by the three priorities – openness, innovation, cooperation – of the ‘China Year’, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will spare no effort in focusing on the new opportunities and challenges facing Asia-Pacific development, integrating the building of an Asia-Pacific community into concrete actions for regional co-operation.
 
     “The Steering Committee comprises senior representatives from 20 policy bureaux, departments, and organisations. It will make every effort to co-ordinate interdepartmental collaboration in preparing for the FMM and provide advice on its preparatory work to assist our country in organising a well-executed and smoothly run FMM. I am confident that through collective wisdom and close collaboration, the members of the Steering Committee will offer invaluable insights and robust support for the preparatory work. This will ensure the successful organisation of the FMM while showcasing to the international community the unique appeal and boundless opportunities of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.”
 
     In addition to reviewing preliminary preparatory work, members of the Steering Committee also discussed multiple follow-up tasks for the FMM during the meeting today, including the meeting venue, accommodation and security arrangements, and publicity.
 
     China, as the host of APEC 2026, is responsible for preparing for and chairing the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, as well as a series of ministerial and other meetings. The Central People’s Government announced earlier that the FMM will be hosted by the Ministry of Finance and will be held in Hong Kong under the arrangements and organisation of the HKSAR Government.
Issued at HKT 19:08

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Tenders invited for road improvement works at Tai Kei Leng Road and Yuen Ching Road for Yuen Long South New Development Area Second Phase Development 
     The works mainly include:
(1) site clearance and formation (including land decontamination works), together with the provision of associated engineering infrastructure;
(2) realignment and widening of the existing Tai Kei Leng Road;
(3) extension of the existing Yuen Ching Road to connect Long Ho Road;
(4) construction of associated works including Pai Laus, noise barriers, junction improvement works, cycle tracks, footpaths, water supply system, sewerage system, drainage system, nullah deckings, slope works, retaining walls, landscaping works, electrical and mechanical works and other ancillary works; and
(5) implementation of environmental mitigation measures for the works mentioned above. 

     The works are scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2026 and will take about 38 months to complete.
      
     The CEDD has commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors may download the tender forms and other particulars from the e-Tendering System (e-TS). Tenderers must submit tenders in electronic format via the e-TS.
      
     Details of the tender notice are available on the CEDD website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.htmlIssued at HKT 11:00

CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Chinese New Year Golden Week of Mainland       
     The meeting was chaired by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, with representatives from government departments including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, Hong Kong Customs, the Transport Department, and various District Offices attending. Representatives from various tourism-related organisations including the Travel Industry Authority, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, major tourist attractions and the hotel industry also attended.
      
     Miss Law said, “We are approaching the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, and various districts in Hong Kong will host a variety of festive events to create a rich New Year ambience for residents and visitors. We estimate a notable increase in visitor arrivals during the Chinese New Year Golden Week. Relevant departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will maintain close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to make early preparation and planning with a view to providing a high-quality travel experience for visitors, allowing them to enjoy Hong Kong’s unique festive atmosphere.”
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     Relevant parties will continue to maintain close communication before the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland to plan and take forward various preparations for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong and report the latest situation in a timely manner to the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration.
Issued at HKT 16:43

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Light Public Housing to open for Phase 3 application from January 30       
     Eligible applicants will receive the application forms by post on or before January 30, sent by the HB in batches. Application forms submitted between January 30 and February 20 will be handled with priority. Those who have submitted an application form before do not need to make another application.
      
     A spokesman for the HB said, “The LPH application has received an overwhelming response, with over 27 700 applications received as of mid-January. Under the leadership of the HB, six projects providing a total of about 9 500 units were progressively completed for tenant intake last year. Among these, four projects (including Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long; Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok; Choi Yuen Road, Sheung Shui; and Shun On Road, Kwun Tong) with over 4 600 units have already completed full intake. This fully demonstrates that with affordable rent, comprehensive facilities and services, as well as a better living environment, LPH is highly popular among citizens in need.”
      
     The spokesman added, “The Phase 3 LPH projects are located in various districts in Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the New Territories, with different scales and merits. We believe that they can cater for the needs of different applicants. More importantly, the living environment and ancillary facilities of all LPH projects are far better than any inadequate housing, such as substandard sub-divided units. There are also special allowances for residents and various services and supports provided by the operating organisations for the tenants. As regards the special allowance for residents, the Commission on Poverty earlier approved an additional allocation of $57.05 million from the Community Care Fund to expand the Trial Scheme on Special Allowance for Households of Light Public Housing (Trial Scheme) to comprehensively cover all 13 LPH projects, extending it until March 31, 2028, with a view to providing timely support to more residents in need (including LPH Phase 3 applicants) and assisting them in adapting to their new communities more quickly. We encourage eligible citizens in need to submit their applications as soon as possible.”
      
     Same as the present, the expanded Trial Scheme will continue to provide a one-off special allowance to LPH residents to alleviate their pressure arising from expenditures during removal and adaptation to the new living environment and communities (such as children’s school transfer, purchasing furniture and electrical appliances and re-establishing community networks). There is no restriction on the use of the allowance so as to allow households to meet their own needs in a more flexible manner. In response to the increase in living costs, the amounts of special allowance under the Trial Scheme have been slightly raised. The new amounts will come into effect from March 1. The amounts of allowance depending on the number of family members living together in the household and the location of the LPH projects are listed in the table below: