Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 MAY 2025 12:46PM by PIB Delhi

Distinguished delegates, Esteemed scientists, Innovators, Astronauts, And, Friends from across the globe,

Namaskaar ! 

It is a great pleasure to connect with all of you at the Global Space Exploration Conference 2025. Space is not just a destination. It is a declaration of curiosity, courage, and collective progress. India’s space journey reflects this spirit. From launching a small rocket in 1963, to becoming the first nation to land near the South Pole of Moon, our journey has been remarkable. Our rockets carry more than payloads. They carry the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians. India’s achievements are significant scientific milestones. Beyond that, they are proof that the human spirit can defy gravity. India made history by reaching Mars on its first attempt in 2014. Chandrayaan-1 helped discover water on the Moon. Chandrayaan-2 gave us the highest-resolution images of the Moon. Chandrayaan-3 increased our understanding of the lunar South Pole. We built cryogenic engines in a record time. We launched 100 satellites in a single mission. We have launched over 400 satellites for 34 nations on our launch vehicles. This year, we docked two satellites in space, a major step forward.  

Friends,

India’s space journey is not about racing others. It is about reaching higher together. Together, we share a common goal to explore space for the good of humanity. We launched a satellite for the South Asian nations. Now, the G20 Satellite Mission, announced during our Presidency, will be a gift to the Global South. We continue to march ahead with renewed confidence, pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration. Our first human space-flight mission, ‘Gaganyaan’, highlights our nation’s rising aspirations. In coming weeks, an Indian astronaut will travel to space as part of a joint ISRO-NASA Mission to the International Space Station. By 2035, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station will open new frontiers in research and global cooperation. By 2040, an Indian’s footprints will be on the Moon. Mars and Venus are also on our radar.

Friends,

For India, space is about exploration as well as about empowerment. It empowers governance, enhances livelihoods, and inspires generations. From fishermen alerts to GatiShakti platform, from railway safety to weather forecasting, our satellites look out for the welfare of every Indian. We have opened our space sector to startups, entrepreneurs, and young minds. Today, India has over 250 space start-ups. They are contributing to cutting-edge advancements in satellite technology, Propulsion systems, imaging, and much more. And, you know, it is even more inspiring that many of our missions are being led by women scientists. 

Friends,

India’s space vision is grounded in the ancient wisdom of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, that is, the world is one family. We strive not just for our own growth, but to enrich global knowledge, address common challenges, and inspire future generations. India stands for dreaming together, building together, and reaching for the stars together. Let us together write a new chapter in space exploration, guided by science and shared dreams for a better tomorrow. I wish you all a very pleasant and productive stay in India. 

Thank you. 

***

 

MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2127421) Visitor Counter : 273

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Security Bureau held an interdepartmental pre-typhoon tabletop exercise today (May 7) at the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) in the Central Government Offices to enhance the emergency response and collaboration of bureaux, departments and other parties concerned in handling possible emergency situations if Hong Kong is struck by a super typhoon.
 
     According to the Hong Kong Observatory’s forecast, five to eight tropical cyclones are expected to hit Hong Kong this year. The tropical cyclone season will begin in June or earlier, and end in October or later. To ensure comprehensive preparedness, representatives from around 40 bureaux, departments and other parties concerned participated in this year’s exercise. 
 
     The exercise simulated a scenario in which a super typhoon and heavy rainstorm battered Hong Kong, causing widespread destruction, property damage and serious blockage of main thoroughfares. Participants were required to outline their response measures under different scenarios. The exercise served as an interdisciplinary platform for the participants to share their experience and expertise, and allowed the participating parties to gain a deeper understanding of the operation of the EMSC as well as their respective roles and responsibilities, with a view to enhancing the preparedness and interdepartmental collaboration in responding to threats posed by super typhoons. 
 
     The Government will continue to strengthen the overall preparedness and response capabilities to address the challenges posed by extreme weather, protecting Hong Kong people’s lives and properties.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs recently mounted an operation codenamed “Cutflow” to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities and dismantled a transnational illicit cigarette smuggling syndicate. During the operation, Customs seized a total of about 49 million suspected illicit cigarettes from 20 containers, with an estimated market value of about $220 million and a duty potential of about $162 million, and arrested two men.
 
Through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs on March 28 selected and inspected a 40-foot container, arriving from Singapore to Hong Kong and declared as carrying tumbler mug, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers found about 4.7 million suspected illicit cigarettes in the container.
 
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers on the same day seized about 8.2 million suspected illicit cigarettes, believed to have come from two containers, inside a logistic warehouse in Yuen Long and arrested two men who came to pick up the goods.
 
Subsequently, Customs further seized large batches of illicit cigarettes in 17 containers arriving from Singapore within a month. 
 
Investigations revealed that the illicit cigarettes were originated from different Southeast Asian countries, and some of the brands were uncommon in Hong Kong. It is not ruled out that part of the illicit cigarettes would be transshipped overseas.
 
Investigations of the cases are ongoing. Customs will continue to trace the source and flow of the illicit cigarettes. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
 
The outcomes of the operation fully illustrate Customs’ enforcement effectiveness in intercepting illicit cigarettes at the source. Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at the source, as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling, to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities.
 
Customs stresses that 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. Moreover, under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
​
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases today (May 7).
 
     The value of total receipts of the restaurants sector in the first quarter of 2025, provisionally estimated at $28.0 billion, decreased by 0.6% over a year earlier. Over the same period, the provisional estimate of the value of total purchases by restaurants decreased by 1.5% to $8.8 billion.
 
     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total restaurant receipts decreased by 1.8% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with a year earlier.
 
     Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the first quarter of 2025 with the first quarter of 2024, total receipts of Chinese restaurants decreased by 4.9% in value and 6.5% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants increased by 2.4% in value and 2.1% in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops increased by 1.9% in value and 0.3% in volume. Total receipts of bars increased by 6.5% in value and 4.0% in volume. As for miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts decreased by 1.8% in value and 3.8% in volume.
 
     Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of total restaurant receipts decreased by 1.3% in value and 1.2% in volume in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the preceding quarter.
 
     To facilitate further understanding of the short-term business performance of the restaurants sector, statistics in respect of the restaurant receipts and purchases in individual months of the reference quarter are also compiled.
 
     Analysed by month, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total receipts of the restaurants sector increased by 4.4%, decreased by 5.9% and decreased by 0.6% respectively in January, February and March 2025, compared with the corresponding months in 2024.
 
     After discounting the effect of price changes, it was provisionally estimated that the volume of total restaurant receipts increased by 2.9%, decreased by 6.9% and decreased by 1.7% respectively in January, February and March 2025, compared with the corresponding months in 2024.
 
Commentary
 
     A Government spokesman said that the value of total restaurant receipts saw a modest year-on-year decline of 0.6% in the first quarter of 2025, after registering a mild increase in the preceding quarter.
 
     Looking ahead, the change in consumption patterns continues to affect the performance of the restaurants sector. While the increased uncertainties in the external environment may affect consumer confidence, the rise in local employment earnings, the Government’s proactive efforts to promote mega events and tourism, as well as the sustained steady growth of the Mainland economy, will help boost consumption sentiment in the domestic market, providing support to the business of restaurants.
 
Further information
 
     Table 1 presents the revised figures of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant and total purchases by the restaurants sector for the fourth quarter of 2024 as well as the provisional figures for the first quarter of 2025.
 
     Table 2 and Table 3 present the revised value and volume indices respectively of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant for the fourth quarter of 2024 and the provisional indices for the first quarter of 2025.
 
     Table 4 presents the year-on-year rate of change in total restaurant receipts in value and volume terms based on the original quarterly series, as well as the quarter-to-quarter rate of change based on the seasonally adjusted series.
 
     The revised figures on restaurant receipts and purchases for the first quarter of 2025 (with breakdown by month) will be released through the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode540.html) and relevant publications of the Department from June 20, 2025.
 
     The classification of restaurants follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
 
     More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Quarterly Survey of Restaurant Receipts and Purchases”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080002&scode=540).
 
     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel.: 3903 7401; e-mail: qsr@censtatd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Jimmy Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (May 7):

Question:

The 2024 Policy Address proposed to extend an array of measures to revitalise industrial buildings (IBs) until the end of 2027, including continuing to allow an increase in plot ratio of up to 20 per cent for IB redevelopment projects and exempting the restriction that 10 per cent of the gross floor area of IBs constructed before 1987 (pre-1987 IBs) be used for purposes designated by the Government after conversion. Moreover, at the end of 2023, the Government has extended the arrangement for charging land premium at standard rates for lease modifications to IBs for special industrial use. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of applications under the various IB revitalisation measures received, approved and rejected by the Government in the past three years, with a breakdown by individual measure; the average time required to vet and approve applications under the various IB revitalisation measures;

(2) given that the authorities currently allow an increase in plot ratio of up to 20 per cent for redevelopment projects of pre-1987 IBs, whether it will consider extending the scope of the relevant arrangement to include IBs constructed after 1987 (post-1987 IBs); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) of the number of applications received, approved and rejected by the Government to date under the arrangement for charging land premium at standard rates in respect of lease modifications involving IBs for special industrial use; whether it will study extending the scope of the arrangement to include post-1987 IBs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) as the Government indicated last year that it would consider approving individual units on the lower floors of IBs to be used as eating places, whether any such cases have been approved to date; if so, of the details of such cases; whether it will consider allowing lower floor units in IBs that meet the relevant safety standards to be used for more purposes, e.g. retail and exhibition use; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(5) given that the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 proposes to encourage the trade to develop tourism products featuring the elements of Made in Hong Kong industries, whether the Government will introduce further IB revitalisation measures to support the aforesaid work, e.g. whether it will consider relaxing the policy on waivers of land lease restrictions to allow enterprises in the industrial tourism sector to operate in individual units within existing IBs without having to separately apply for waivers of land lease restrictions or pay the waiver fee; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(6) whether it will study extending the scope of the Youth Hostel Scheme and the student hostel pilot scheme to include IBs after wholesale conversion; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(7) whether it will regularise all existing measures to revitalise IBs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Government reactivated the Revitalisation Scheme for Industrial Buildings (Revitalisation Scheme) in 2018 which encourages redevelopment or wholesale conversion of aged industrial buildings (IB), mainly to make more effective use of the sites on which IBs are situated or the existing IBs per se to optimise the use of precious land resources, and to address fire safety and unauthorised use issues of aged IBs more effectively.

​My reply to various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) On the redevelopment of IBs, the prevailing policy allows relaxation of the maximum permitted non-domestic plot ratio up to 20 per cent to provide incentives to private owners to redevelop IBs constructed before 1987 (pre-1987 IBs). In the past three years (viz. April 2022 to end-March 2025), excluding applications withdrawn by applicants, the Town Planning Board (TPB) received a total of 11 applications for relaxation of plot ratio for redevelopment of IBs, among which nine cases (involving eight sites) were approved, and the remaining two cases are being processed. Planning applications submitted in accordance with section 16 of the Town Planning Ordinance are to be considered by the TPB within two months upon receipt. Among the nine approved planning applications, six of them have applications made to the Lands Department (LandsD) for lease modification which shall be subject to payment of premium, among which two cases have been withdrawn by the applicants and four cases have been approved and are currently under land premium assessment. The owners of these four applications opted for conventional premium assessment (viz. not opting for standard rates arrangement for charging land premium). As for the remaining three cases among the aforesaid nine approved planning applications, the LandsD has yet to receive relevant application for lease modification.

For wholesale conversion of IBs, the prevailing policy exempts waiver fees so as to encourage private owners to convert IBs aged 15 years or above in “Commercial”, “Other Specified Uses” annotated “Business” and “Industrial” zones for uses permitted under the relevant Outline Zoning Plans. The condition is that for IBs constructed in or after 1987, not less than 10 per cent of the converted floor space must be used for purposes designated by the Government (such as arts and cultural studios, incubators for innovation and technology start-ups). Such requirement on 10 per cent floor space does not apply to pre-1987 IBs. In the past three years (viz. April 2022 to end-March 2025), excluding applications withdrawn by applicants, the LandsD received a total of two applications for wholesale conversion of IBs, with one case approved and the other one being processed. The processing time for the approved case was around 20 months. The relatively long time taken was mainly due to the negotiations regarding the specified use and the related arrangement for the 10 per cent designated floor space when the owner submitted the waiver application to the LandsD. It is worth noting that, under the first round of Revitalisation Scheme launched by the Government from 2010 to 2016, around 110 applications for wholesale conversion were received. We do not rule out the possibility that a significant portion of the IBs suitable for wholesale conversion in the market may have already undergone conversion works. After the Revitalisation Scheme was reactivated in 2018, the number of applications received and cases approved for redevelopment of IBs have been significantly higher than that of the first round, reflecting greater market interest in the redevelopment measure in the current round.

(2) The measure for encouraging redevelopment of IBs as mentioned in part (1) above targets pre-1987 IBs situated outside “Residential” zones in main urban areas and new towns. We have designated 1987 as the dividing line because the fire safety installations and equipment of pre-1987 IBs may not comply with the Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment as revised by the Fire Services Department (FSD) in 1987, including the requirement of installing automatic sprinkler systems. From the perspective of public safety, there is a need to provide policy incentives to encourage foremost the redevelopment of pre-1987 IBs so as to meet modern standards of fire safety installation. As for post-1987 IBs, the Government currently has no plan to extend the measure concerning redevelopment to these IBs. Nevertheless, if owners wish to redevelop these IBs for non-industrial uses, they may still submit a planning application to the TPB for increasing the plot ratio. The TPB will consider the applications from a planning perspective based on the actual circumstances of each case.

(3) The Government provides a regularised standard rates arrangement for charging land premium for the redevelopment of pre-1987 IBs as an alternative to the conventional premium assessment mechanism. The policy objective is to continuously incentivise the redevelopment of aged IBs, giving IB owners greater certainty in planning redevelopment. This encourages the redevelopment of aged IBs for optimising land utilisation, expediting urban renewal and revitalisation of IBs to meet the current needs of the society.

The Government announced in December 2023 to expand the coverage of the standard rates arrangement for charging land premium to cover redevelopment of pre-1987 IBs for special industrial uses (e.g. leather tanning, garment manufacturing and food production). Regarding IBs for special industrial uses, in the past three years (viz. April 2022 to end-March 2025), the LandsD has received a total of four applications for lease modification for redevelopment of such pre-1987 IBs, among which one case is currently under land premium assessment with the applicant having opted for conventional premium assessment. The remaining three cases are being processed.

The policy objective as mentioned in part (2) above, viz. to encourage redevelopment of pre-1987 IBs, also applies to the lease modification of IBs for special industrial uses. Therefore, we currently have no plan to extend the standard rates arrangement for charging premium to post-1987 IBs for special industrial uses.

The Government will continue to closely monitor the implementation of standard rates arrangement for charging premium for redevelopment of IBs and make adjustments as and when necessary. The latest enhancement measure was rolled out last month, which separated the standard rates for the two uses under the previous “commercial/modern industrial” use after lease modification, into “modern industrial” and “commercial” uses respectively. Such separation can better reflect the land value of redeveloped IBs intended for modern industrial use and cope with the increasing demand for modern industrial sites.

(4) Having balanced the need for public safety and optimisation of IB floor space, the Government would also exercise discretion in allowing the co-existence of industrial and non-industrial uses. Under the Revitalisation Scheme, apart from the measures mentioned in part (1) above, the Government has since 2018 relaxed the waiver application policy for IBs with fragmented ownership and yet to undergo wholesale conversion, so as to allow individual units of existing IBs to be used for specified non-industrial uses other than those permitted under the relevant land leases. Specifically, owner of individual IB units may use the units, without having to apply for a short-term waiver from the LandsD and pay waiver fees, for five specified non-industrial uses, which include “Art Studio”, “Office (Design and Media Production)”, “Office (Audio-visual Recording Studio)”, “Office (used by “specific creative industries” including design and media production companies, printing and publishing, film companies and industry organisations related to the film industry), as well as “Research, Design and Development Centre”.

As IBs are supposed to be used for industrial purposes, and the risk of fire and other accidents involved in these industrial purposes is relatively higher, in view of public safety, the uses covered by the above relaxation measure do not include any uses or activities that directly provide services or goods to attract public visits. If IB owners intend to convert some units for industrial tourism uses (e.g. opening up production line for the public and tourists to visit), we will consult the FSD and relevant departments when we receive the waiver applications.

If there is a buffer floor within an IB which completely separates the lower floors from the upper portion with industrial uses, an owner may convert the premises on the lowest three floors of the IB to other non-industrial uses, including shops and services, restaurants, or arts and cultural activities, subject to payment of waiver fees and compliance with planning and other relevant requirements. Earlier, we have also broadened the permissible uses of buffer floors to cover “telecommunications exchange centres” and “computer/data processing centres”. In the past three years (viz. April 2022 to end-March 2025), the LandsD has not received any waiver application for partial conversion of the lowest three floors of IBs (including for eating place use). 

(5) The Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 promulgated by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau in December 2024 puts forward four major development strategies covering product development, visitor source expansion, technological innovation and service enhancement, as well as 133 measures to be implemented between 2025 and 2029 to promote development, including promoting the development of tourism products related to “Made in Hong Kong” industrial elements. The Development Bureau (DEVB) will provide facilitation as and when necessary. 

(6) As announced in the 2024 Policy Address, in order to strengthen the position of Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education, the Education Bureau and the DEVB will launch a scheme in the first half of 2025 to streamline the processing of approvals in respect of planning, land administration and approval of building plans, so as to encourage the market to convert hotels and other commercial buildings into student hostels on a self-financing and privately-funded basis, thereby increasing the supply of student hostels. This scheme will apply to commercial buildings which are wholesale-converted from aged IBs.

On the other hand, in response to young people’s aspirations of having their own living space, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) will, as announced in the 2022 Policy Address and the Youth Development Blueprint, expand the Youth Hostel Scheme (YHS) and continue fully funding non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to construct youth hostels on under-utilised sites, and subsidise NGOs to rent suitable hotels and guesthouses for converting into youth hostels. The HYAB will also explore with the DEVB the launching of a site under the Land Sale Programme whereby developers will be required to reserve a certain number of flats to support the YHS on a pilot basis. So far, seven youth hostels have been launched for operation under the YHS, and the number of hostel places has increased substantially from 80 at the commencement of the current-term Government to about 3 000 at present. 

(7) To continue encouraging redevelopment and wholesale conversion of aged IBs, the Government announced in the 2024 Policy Address the extension of the time-limited revitalisation measures for IBs up to December 2027, with enhancement of the measure on wholesale conversion. We will review the effectiveness of the Revitalisation Scheme in transforming industrial areas, and make reference to the results of a territory-wide Area Assessment on industrial land to be carried out by the Planning Department, with a view to announcing the way forward for the revitalisation measures before expiry in end-2027.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Fok and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (May 7):
 
Question:
 
The Government in the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development (the Blueprint) published in November last year explicitly proposed that Hong Kong should be developed into a “capital of pop culture”. Measures include promoting the development of the pop culture industry, supporting the innovative development of pop culture, and promoting the organisation of more events such as concerts and music festivals. However, some members of the industry have relayed that the existing measures on venue provision, ancillary support and talent nurturing are not in line with the policy objectives, which affect the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s pop culture. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the details of the use of the venues under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) for organising pop culture activities in the past three years, including the venues involved, the number of sessions of the programmes held, the types of activities, the number of participants and the utilisation rates of seats (set out in a table);
 
(2) as some members of the industry have relayed that it is difficult for emerging artists and independent groups to be allocated time slots in LCSD venues, whether the Government will review the existing venue allocation mechanism and scoring criteria, so as to address the industry’s demand for small and medium-sized commercial performance venues; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) given that the 2022 Policy Address has proposed to increase the number of seats at performance venues by about 50 per cent, of the number of newly-built or converted venues and the number of additional seats at present, and whether it has reviewed if the progress of work in achieving this policy objective is in line with expectations;
 
(4) whether the authorities will comprehensively enhance the relevant measures to solve the problem of insufficient performance venues for the pop culture industry (including reviewing the Venue Partnership Scheme to increase the quota for small and medium-sized performing groups; enhancing the transparency of the scoring criteria for booking LCSD venues; relaxing the restriction on the use of some government venues (e.g. sports grounds and vacant school premises) for performances; and studying the provision of dedicated venues for pop culture); if so, of the specific plans; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(5) given that the Blueprint has proposed to promote the private sector to organise more pop culture events in Hong Kong, of the authorities’ specific plans in place to encourage enterprises and investors to support the development of local pop culture, and whether it will provide incentives to attract more market resources, so as to assist the industry in exploring commercial performance opportunities and support the nurturing of talents for the industry?
 
Reply：
 
President：
 
Hong Kong’s unique pop culture is an important brand of our culture. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region  Government endeavours to promote the development of pop culture, with a view to developing Hong Kong into the “capital of pop culture”, in accordance with the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development (the Blueprint), consolidating Hong Kong’s role as an East-meets-West Centre for international cultural exchange.
 
In consultation with the Development Bureau, my reply to the question raised by the Hon Kenneth Fok is as follows:
 
(1) The number of performances and attendance of pop culture activities held at the performance venues under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in the past three years are tabulated as follows (with numbers of attendance in parenthesis):
 

Venue / Year	2022 (Note 3)	2023	2024
Stadia (Note 1)	90 (667 954)	114 (803 632)	117 (938 522)
Performing arts venues (Note 2)	420 (82 562)	607 (125 764)	721 (133 318)

 
Note 1: Stadia include the Hong Kong Coliseum and the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
Note 2: Performing arts venues include the Hong Kong Culture Centre, the Hong Kong City Hall, the Sheung Wan Civic Centre, the Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, the Ko Shan Theatre, the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, the Sha Tin Town Hall, the North District Town Hall, the Tsuen Wan Town Hall, the Kwai Tsing Theatre, the Tuen Mun Town Hall and the Yuen Long Theatre. The Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre was closed for the renovation and improvement project since April 2022.
Note 3: Owing to COVID-19, all performance venues were closed for 104 days in 2022.
 
(2) to (4) The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), the LCSD and the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) etc., endeavour to provide venues for various arts and culture activities. We are aware that there has been a strong demand for performance venues from the public as well as the arts and culture sectors. Therefore, we have been building new performance venues and upgrading existing facilities over the past few years. The newly built East Kowloon Cultural Centre and the upgraded Tai Po Civic Centre and Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre are expected to open in full this year; The WestK Performing Arts Centre is expected to be completed in 2026; and we are also building the New Territories East Cultural Centre. A total of around 8 300 seats will be available at these performance venues. Besides, the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) officially commissioned on March 1, 2025, providing venues for hosting large-scale pop culture events.
 
Since its full commissioning in March 2025, the KTSP has provided an option of a brand-new and attractive venue for sports and cultural mega events in Hong Kong, including concerts and pop culture events. The KTSP features a 50 000-seat Kai Tak Stadium, a 10 000-seat Kai Tak Arena, a 5 000-seat Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground and other ancillary facilities. In the past two months, various large-scale concerts of various renowned international, Asian and local bands and singers took place at the Kai Tak Stadium and Kai Tak Arena.
 
The Government has also been supporting small and medium-sized arts groups and emerging artists through various measures, such as providing funding support for large-scale and cross-year arts and cultural initiatives/activities through the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme. Programme offices of the LCSD also provide support to local small and medium-sized arts groups and emerging artists through different modes of collaboration to promote continuous innovation and development of arts groups in Hong Kong.
 
We are reviewing the usage and hiring arrangements of our venues (including reviewing the Venue Partnership Scheme), with an aim to make more effective use of venues resources, offer more booking slots for use of different arts groups and cater for the needs of the arts and culture sectors, thereby building a vibrant, diverse and flourishing ecosystem. On setting up of a dedicated venue for pop culture, the LCSD is currently identifying a suitable site for the Pop Culture Centre, and will discuss with and consult various stakeholders and expert advisers on related matters, such as the long-term planning and facilities of the Pop Culture Centre etc., with a view to formulating appropriate plans for developing it into a cultural landmark and tourism hotspot.
 
The public pleasure grounds under the LCSD have all along been open to applications for non-designated uses, such as charitable activities or festive celebrations. When processing relevant applications, the LCSD will consider factors such as the proposed duration of hire, the area to be hired, as well as the purpose and nature of the activity. Given the very keen public demand for sports facilities, the LCSD will strive to strike a balance to meet the needs of different venue users.
 
On the use of school venues, the Government has launched the Pilot Scheme on the Use of School Venues by Arts Groups in 2024 to open up parts of school venues for rehearsals by arts groups after school hours on a pilot basis. Any organisation/institution that wishes to use vacant school premises (VSP) for long-term or short-term uses could liaise and seek support from the relevant policy bureau(s) for its application of using the VSP.
 
(5) On promoting the development of local pop culture and industries, LCSD has been collaborating with the sector to organise the annual Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival (PCF) since 2023. The first two editions of PCF attracted about 530 000 and over 640 000 participants respectively. The third edition of PCF is being held from April to July 2025 with the theme “More Than Joy” to promote Hong Kong’s unique comedy. PCF offers rich and diverse activities, supports local young artists and emerging art groups, and promotes cross-generation and cross-genre collaboration. We will step up the promotion of pop culture programmes to the Mainland and overseas facilitate Hong Kong’s pop culture to “go global”, thereby establishing overseas collaboration networks for local artists and the brand of PCF.
 
The CSTB has been supporting mega arts and cultural events organised by the private sector or non-governmental organisations in Hong Kong through the Mega Arts and Cultural Events (ACE) Fund, including mega events on pop culture such as ComplexCon Hong Kong 2025 and Hypefest Hong Kong 2024. The Mega ACE Fund has enhanced its operation since January 1, 2025. To enhance the level of participation of commercial organisations, matching grant has been introduced in the new application mechanism. The initiative aims to encourage the event organisers to solicit commercial sponsorship, thereby boosting the market feasibility and business potential of events and to follow the over-arching principle of industry building.
 
Besides, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) actively makes use of its museums, performing arts venues and public spaces to promote pop culture through various cultural and artistic programmes. For example, the WKCDA held “WestK POPFEST” in 2023 and 2024, which has been sponsored by private enterprises for two consecutive years, has brought together local young singers and groups, blending pop culture with artistic creation. The events were well-received by music fans, attracting over 60 000 participants in 2024, breaking the attendance record for different types of music festivals held in the WKCD over the years.
 
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) continues supporting the co-production of television variety programmes by local television stations with their counterparts in the Mainland and Asia through the CreateSmart Initiative, so as to help the industry explore business showcasing opportunities in the Mainland and overseas, uplift the soft power of Hong Kong pop culture and enhance economic benefits. The scheme has so far accepted two rounds of applications. Eight project had been approved, among which five were broadcast.
 
On talent nurturing, sponsored by the CCIDA, the “Make Music Work – Music Creation and Production Talents Nurturing Scheme” was launched in 2019 to support the development of emerging local music talent. In the latest edition, 12 units each comprising a composer, lyric writer and arranger were matched with experienced music producers and singing units for a series of support and training to produce original songs, and were provided with a platform and live concert to release and perform their original songs, so as to promote local original music development. 
 
We will continue to foster the industry to explore private market and investment actively, as well as exploring business showcasing opportunities and support talent nurturing of the industries, so as to align with the strategic directions of the Blueprint.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (May 7):
 
Question:
 
     Recently, I, together with representatives of The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC), have organised a community talk on “Wills and Reverse Mortgages” to promote early retirement planning and legal knowledge of estate inheritance among the public. During the session, many members of the public have expressed keen interest in the “Reverse Mortgage Programme” (RMP) of “housing-for-pension”, and the demand for reverse mortgages is particularly high among those who do not intend for their children or family members to inherit their owner-occupied property upon their death. In addition, many members of the public have further inquired why the Government does not allow them to use their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions to purchase their first home, so that they can buy their own home during a property price downturn and use the property for a reverse mortgage in their old age, thereby ensuring a comprehensive and adequate retirement protection. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the expenditure and manpower allocated in each of the past three years to promote the “Retire 3” Programme operated by HKMC (i.e. the HKMC Annuity Plan, the RMP and the Policy Reverse Mortgage Programme) (set out by year and plan/programme); the results of the promotional efforts; whether performance indicators have been established for such promotional efforts;
 
(2) as there are views that reverse mortgages have not yet gained popularity in Hong Kong, whether the Government has studied the underlying reasons;
 
(3) whether it has studied if allowing members of the public to use MPF contributions for first home purchases, thereby enabling them to “reverse-mortgage their homes” upon retirement, can help develop the reverse mortgage market and alleviate the Government’s burden in meeting the housing needs of the elderly; if such studies have been conducted, of the findings; if not, whether the Government can commence such a study immediately; and
 
(4) some members of the public have reflected that the Government has repeatedly “backtracked” on the issue of using MPF contributions for first home purchases in the past (including the former Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury indicating in his reply to my question on November 29, 2017 that the issue would be studied, and the Chief Executive also stating prior to the delivery of this year’s Budget that the Government would study the issue), with none of the commitments having been implemented to date, and there are views pointing out that each instance of “backtracking” by the Government has left the public deeply disappointed, whether the authorities will, in the light of the potentially significant public demand for a housing-for-pension scheme coupling MPF first home purchases with reverse mortgages, listen carefully to public opinion and consider the home for retirement plan of “MPF first home purchases plus reverse mortgages”; if not, of the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Housing Bureau and the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC), the reply to the four parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) One of the missions of the HKMC is to promote the development of the retirement planning market. To this end, the HKMC launched the brand of “HKMC Retire 3” in mid-2021 to promote the HKMC Annuity Plan, the Reverse Mortgage Programme (RMP) and the Policy Reverse Mortgage Programme (PRMP). With ongoing efforts in promotion and education, public receptiveness to the three products has been enhanced. The business performance of the three products over the past three years is tabled below:
 

	2022	2023	2024
RMP (Number of approved applications)	938	797	1 033
PRMP (Number of approved applications)	41	44	55
HKMC Annuity Plan (Number of policies)	3 254	2 205	10 835

 
     The daily operations of the HKMC Annuity Plan, the RMP and the PRMP involve various areas of work, including customer service, promotion, underwriting, finance, actuarial analysis, and information systems. The HKMC and its relevant subsidiaries deploy manpower resources as appropriate according to actual needs to properly operate and promote the products. For instance, as the Hong Kong community returned to normalcy after the epidemic, the HKMC has resumed promoting the “HKMC Retire 3” substantially since 2023, with 76 and 133 promotional events held in 2023 and 2024 respectively, including seminars and information booths. There were about 15 staff members directly planning and organising the promotional events. The expenses for the promotional activities were absorbed by HKMC’s internal resources.
 
(2) The RMP has become increasingly popular since its launch in 2011. As of end-April 2025, a total of over 8 200 applications have been approved, with a year-on-year increase by around 30 per cent in the number of approved applications in 2024. As the RMP is by nature a loan arrangement, its demand depends on various factors, such as the personal needs of individual retired homeowners, the condition of the residential property and financial markets (including interest rate fluctuation), etc. The HKMC will continue its public education and promotion to help the elderly make proper financial arrangements for retirement.
 
(3) and (4) The Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) system is set up to assist the public to save up for their retirement. Any proposals allowing early withdrawal of accrued benefits, including for the purpose of first-time home ownership, must take into consideration the corresponding reduction of scheme members’ accrued benefits meant for their retirement. The MPF is a long-term investment with compounding effect, designed to allow the MPF benefits to accumulate steadily and be kept in the accounts for value growth during the working life of scheme members. Therefore, accrued benefits should be preserved in the system as far as possible and should only be withdrawn upon retirement of the employed persons. If we were to relax the preservation requirement on accrued benefits and allow scheme members to make early withdrawal to meet home ownership needs, the accrued benefits would be leaked from the system and fail to accumulate for value growth, thereby undermining the integrity of the MPF system and rendering it difficult to achieve the purpose of assisting the working population to save for their retirement.
 
     Therefore, we should carefully assess the implications of allowing scheme members to withdraw their the MPF accrued benefits early for the purposes of first-time home ownership and future application for reverse mortgage on their retirement savings. These considerations include: when comparing with other countries and regions, Hong Kong’s current MPF mandatory contribution rate is relatively low, and it may undermine the intended purpose of the MPF of providing basic retirement protection for employed persons if the preservation requirement on accrued benefits were relaxed; investments in real estate bear higher risks than those in the MPF funds, and purchasing properties with the MPF would diminish the MPF system’s benefits of investment risk diversification; the arrangements regarding whether the proceeds from the sale of a property of which the down payment for its purchase was paid for with the MPF funds should be reinvested in MPF, etc. The Government and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority will continually review the operation of the MPF system taking into account different factors, and welcome views regarding the MPF system reform from various sectors.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon William Wong and a reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (May 7):

Question:

     In the country’s Report on the Work of the Government this year, the Central Government for the first time highlights the need to support the development of gazelle enterprises. Gazelle enterprises refer to high-growth small and medium-sized scientific and technological enterprises characterized by strong innovation capabilities, new fields of expertise and great development potential. It is learnt that a number of Mainland provinces and municipalities have introduced preferential measures such as incentive subsidies and interest-free loans to accelerate the development of gazelle enterprises. In particular, Hangzhou implemented support policies for eligible gazelle enterprises as early as 2020, encouraging them to collaborate with higher education institutions and scientific research institutes on research and development. This, complemented by other innovation and technology (I&T) support, has fostered a robust innovation ecosystem in Hangzhou, thereby nurturing a number of I&T enterprises, among which the six companies collectively known as Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons” are particularly outstanding. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will set a definition for gazelle enterprises in Hong Kong and compile statistics on the number of gazelle enterprises in the territory;

(2) whether it has studied the provision of targeted policy support for gazelle enterprises; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will conduct a study; and

(3) as it has been reported that Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons” are interested in strengthening cooperation with Hong Kong, and the Chief Executive has also indicated that assistance will be provided to them, whether the Government will take the initiative to liaise with and invite such enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong, so as to inject new momentum into the I&T ecosystem?

Reply:

President,

     Thank you Professor the Hon Wong Kam-fai for the question. My consolidated reply is as follows.

     The National “Government Work Report” of this year strongly supports the development of innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises of all development stages, comprehensively planning to accelerate the growth of emerging and future industries. To proactively align with the national development strategy and to promote technological and industrial innovation, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been adopting a multi-pronged strategy under the overarching framework of the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint over the past two years. On one hand, we are striving to nurture local I&T start-ups; on the other hand, we are actively attracting enterprises to set up businesses in Hong Kong. This fully leverages our unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle, that is, enjoying strong support from the Motherland and being closely connected to the world, with a view to seizing the historic opportunity of this new round of technological innovation and industry transformation.

     On nurturing Hong Kong’s I&T start-ups, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) has provided a full range of support services to start-ups through the two Hong Kong I&T flagships, namely the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and Cyberport. The HKSTPC has been committed to providing support for entrepreneurial technology talent through various incubation programmes, including the provision of research and development (R&D) space and supporting facilities, funding, technical and management assistance, investor matching, mentorship support, promotion and business development support. Meanwhile, Cyberport has provided different financial and professional support through various public mission-driven incubation, accelerator, and support programmes tailored to the different development stages of start-ups. Also, with the imminent opening of the Hong Kong Park in the Loop within this year, the HSITPL (i.e. the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Parks Limited) will also launch an incubation programme to provide funding support and comprehensive support services to start-up teams and enterprises in the Park that have development potential and are engaged in life and health technologies. The number of start‑ups in Hong Kong surged from around 1 000 in 2014 to around 4 700 in 2024, reflecting the increasingly vibrant I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong. Our policy objective is to nurture I&T start-ups with independent R&D capabilities which can make substantive contributions to the economy and society, with a view to fostering the high-quality development of Hong Kong’s economy.

     We also recognise the importance of and the long-term need for supporting the development of start-ups as well as the necessity to keep abreast of the times in our policy initiatives. In recent years, the ITIB and the Innovation and Technology Commission have introduced and implemented a number of policies to enhance support for start-ups at various development stages, including the nurturing of start-ups. For example, the $10 billion Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme was launched in 2023, which aims to fund, on a matching basis, research teams from universities with good potential to become successful start-ups to transform and commercialise their R&D outcomes.  To attract more venture capital to co-invest in local I&T start-ups, we launched the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund enhanced scheme in end-2024 by redeploying up to $1.5 billion to set up funds jointly with the market, on a matching basis, to invest in start-ups of strategic industries, thereby empowering start-ups with more financing support.

     Furthermore, we are preparing for the launch of the Pilot I&T Accelerator Scheme, which aims to attract professional start-up service providers with proven track records in and beyond Hong Kong to set up accelerator bases in Hong Kong to foster the robust growth of start-ups and enhance the I&T ecosystem.

     Apart from nurturing Hong Kong’s I&T start-ups, we have also taken the initiative to assist Mainland enterprises to “go global” and attract overseas resources, and strive to play the roles of “super connector” and “super value-adder”, thereby bringing new opportunities and opening up new horizons for Hong Kong’s I&T development. As at April 2025, in collaboration with other government departments, the ITIB has negotiated with more than 200 high-potential or representative enterprises to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong. During his recent visit to Zhejiang, the Chief Executive invited I&T enterprises such as “Hangzhou’s Six Little Dragons” to set up businesses in Hong Kong, encouraging them to make use of Hong Kong’s strengths to actively expand their business overseas. The ITIB is following up on these co-operation opportunities with a view to bringing them to fruition as soon as possible. We believe that the establishment of more I&T enterprises in Hong Kong will further promote the vibrant development of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem, bring new impetus to the local I&T ecosystem, and further enhance the development of related industries.

     We will continue to strengthen our I&T ecosystem in the following ways: first, continue to optimise our existing policies to enhance our support for I&T start-ups; second, facilitate more I&T enterprises in strategic industries to set up their businesses in Hong Kong; and third, engage with enterprises through various channels to understand their needs timely, dynamically adjust relevant policies and roll out new initiatives so as to ensure that our support measures align with industry needs to accelerate Hong Kong’s I&T development.

     Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Siu-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 7):

Question:
 
     The Environment and Ecology Bureau implemented the first phase regulation on disposable plastic products (the Regulation) in late April last year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of verbal warnings issued and prosecutions initiated to catering premises violating the Regulation to date;
 
(2) given that some catering premises have reportedly purchased through online shopping platforms products claimed to be paper straws and paper tableware for use in their premises, but it is difficult to tell simply by visual inspection whether such products contain plastic components or other impurities, how the authorities ensure that the tableware used by these catering premises is in compliance with the “plastic-free” requirement of Hong Kong;
 
(3) as there are views pointing out that replacing plastic tableware with paper tableware may result in waste diversion, and it is learnt that paper tableware can be recycled into paper hand towels after proper cleaning, whether the authorities have plans to step up efforts to promote the clean recycling of paper tableware, and provide appropriate support to reduce the cost burden on the industry; and
 
(4) given that the Government advised in its reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on the 16th of last month that before implementing the second phase of the Regulation, it would thoroughly consider the maturity, availability, and affordability of the non-plastic alternatives and would consider the programme of further regulation in light of the prevailing circumstances, of the current progress of the Government’s evaluation of such alternatives, and the estimated timeline for implementing the second phase of the Regulation?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The regulation on disposable plastic products (the Regulation) commenced its first phase on April 22, 2024. It regulates the supply of disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products and encourages the public to go “plastic-and-disposable-free”. Since the implementation of the Regulation, the trades have actively complied with the Regulation by stopping the sale or provision of regulated disposable plastic products. The public’s habit of using relevant products in their daily lives has also changed, with “bring your own reusable tableware” and “plastic-free” cultures being developed gradually in the society, resulting in effective waste reduction.
 
     The reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Siu-hung is as follows:
 
(1) Since the implementation of the Regulation, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has arranged for staff to inspect about 48 000 catering premises, retail stores, hotels and guesthouses in Hong Kong. As at April 22, 2025, the EPD issued a total of 144 written warnings to cases of suspected violations, requiring the persons-in-charge to make improvements within 10 working days; otherwise, a fixed penalty notice would be issued. The EPD has followed up all the cases, of which 21 premises being persistently incompliant after receiving written warnings were issued with fixed penalty notices of $2,000 by the EPD staff. The incompliances have then been corrected.
 
(2) According to the Regulation, should relevant disposable tableware be wholly or partly made of plastic (including plastic lining), it will be regarded as regulated disposable plastic tableware. Testing or material analysis could determine whether or not a product contains plastic content. The EPD had engaged the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency to establish the Green Tableware Platform (the Platform) (www.greentableware.hk) in January 2022. Currently, the Platform has enlisted more than 170 tableware suppliers and more than 2 000 non-plastic disposable tableware products for the catering trade’s reference. We encourage the catering trade to use the Platform to source non-plastic alternatives (such as paper straws and paper spoons) which meet their operational needs in terms of quality and functionality, or to contact the EPD for enquiries through the hotline at 2838 3111. 
 
     The EPD will also continue to monitor the latest development of the non-plastic alternatives market and identify alternatives which meet the needs of the trades and the public. If a paper tableware is suspected of containing plastic content during our inspections, the EPD will collect samples for testing and notify the relevant persons-in-charge of the result for switching to an alternative fulfilling the requirement of “plastic-free”.
 
(3) As mentioned above, the primary objective of the Regulation is to reduce the use of plastic at source with a view to minimising the harm brought by waste plastics to the environment and human health. As such, we encourage the public to reduce waste at source by bringing their own reusable tableware and avoiding the use of any disposable tableware. Only if the use of disposable tableware is unavoidable should non-plastic tableware be used, rather than a mere waste diversion.
 
     Paper-based disposable tableware is one of the common types of non-plastic alternative tableware nowadays. Given that used paper-based disposable tableware is likely to have residual grease or oil and is prone to mould growth in case they are not dried after washing, it would cause potential contamination of other waste papers (such as cardboard, office paper or newspapers) during the recycling process, thus affecting the recovery process and quality. We therefore do not recommend the recycling of the relevant paper-based disposable tableware. 
 
     In fact, since the commencement of the first phase of the Regulation on disposable plastic tableware, the public has progressively switched to reusable tableware. Some businesses reported that a surging number of customers not requiring disposable cutlery when ordering takeaways, indicating that the society has begun to accept and develop the habit of using reusable tableware which is conducive to the environment in the long run. The EPD will continue to strengthen publicity and education, and encourage the members of the public to use reusable tableware.
 
(4) Since March 2025, the EPD has been meeting with various catering trade associations to gather their views and concerns regarding the second phase of the Regulation, as well as to exchange on the latest development of non-plastic alternatives. While there are currently several alternative options available in the market with steady reduction in prices, the diverse range of food items provided by the catering industry necessitates varying requirements for food containers. As the second phase of the Regulation would cover soup containers and plastic lids etc., some members of the trade reflected that such takeaway containers used for serving items like sauces, soups and beverages require a higher standard of safety and sealing performance, and thus requiring identification of suitable and practical alternatives. The Government will continue to actively collaborate with the suppliers of non-plastic alternatives to explore ways to enhance the quality of their products, accommodating the practical needs of the catering trade. We expect to partner with some large chain restaurant groups to conduct testing of various alternatives available in the market in mid-2025, and review the testing outcomes afterwards. 
 
     Before implementing the second phase of the Regulation, the Government will thoroughly consider the maturity, availability and affordability of the relevant non-plastic alternatives with a view to striking a balance between environmental protection and sustainable development of the trades. While there is no implementation timetable at the moment, we will consider the progress of further regulation in light of the prevailing circumstances. The Government will continue to promote going “plastic-and-disposable-free” and join hands with different sectors of the community to promote a culture of green and low-carbon living in Hong Kong.