Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Yung Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (April 30):
Question:
It has been reported that the global Muslim population currently exceeds 2 billion, representing about 25 per cent of the world’s total population. Based on the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2022 released by DinarStandard in 2023, Muslims spent US$2.29 trillion in 2022 on, among others, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fashion and travel, and the global Islamic finance assets are expected to reach US$5.96 trillion by 2026. There are views that Hong Kong should expand its share of the international halal market in the countries along the Belt and Road, and strengthen industrial co-operation with the relevant countries. Regarding the development of the halal market, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has kept information on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contributed to Hong Kong by the halal industry; if so, of the respective GDP generated in Hong Kong in each of the past five years by the products or industries in the halal market (i.e. (i) food and beverages, (ii) pharmaceutical and health products, (iii) cosmetics, (iv) fashion, (v) hotel and tourism, and (vi) financial services); if not, whether it has plans to compile statistics and keep the relevant information from now on;
(2) whether it has kept information on Hong Kong enterprises which have exported goods to Muslim countries; if so, of the number of Hong Kong enterprises which have exported goods to Muslim countries in each of the past five years, the types of their goods and the respective GDP involved; if not, whether it has plans to compile statistics and keep the relevant information from now on;
(3) whether it knows if the products currently re-exported through Hong Kong can be sold in the relevant Muslim countries after being certified by the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong in accordance with Islamic law and procedures; if so, of the details; if not, what channels are available for such re-exported products to be sold in Muslim countries; and
(4) whether it has plans to introduce a “halal certification system” and conduct mutual recognition of halal certification with major Muslim countries, so as to become a core corridor for certification and trade between related Mainland production enterprises and the halal consumer market, thereby promoting a steady growth in the trading volume of halal products in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Upon consulting the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the consolidated reply to the Hon Yung Hoi-yan’s question is as follows:
Emerging markets such as the Middle East, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries along the Belt and Road (B&R) have been the Government’s valued trade and economic partners. These countries’ economic development is growing rapidly and their markets possess vast potential, alongside enormous population of Muslims. The Government has been actively encouraging various sectors of society to seize business opportunities in these markets, so that they can develop in areas such as trade, tourism and finance and provide products and services tailored to the needs of these emerging markets, including the Muslim population therein.
According to the information provided by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the total value of Hong Kong’s domestic exports to Muslim countries (Note) increased from HK$2.7 billion in 2020 to HK$5.5 billion in 2024 whilst the total value of Hong Kong’s re-exports to Muslim countries increased from HK$178.8 billion in 2020 to HK$215.8 billion in 2024, recording an average annual growth rate of about 19.0 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively in the past five years. The values of Hong Kong’s domestic exports and re-exports to individual Muslim countries in the past five years are at Appendices 1 and 2 respectively. Amongst others, major commodities of Hong Kong’s domestic exports to Muslim countries include “beverages”, “jewellery, goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares, and other articles of precious or semi-precious materials” and “petroleum, petroleum products and related materials”, whilst major commodities of Hong Kong’s re-exports to Muslim countries include “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment”, “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” and “office machines and automatic data processing machines”. The C&SD does not separately maintain information about the number of companies in Hong Kong exporting products to Muslim countries nor the relevant value of gross domestic product.
Besides, although the “halal industry” does not have standard international industrial classifications like the retail and the catering industries rendering it impossible to draw up corresponding statistical coverage of the “halal industries” for compiling relevant information, the Government has been actively encouraging various sectors of society to seize opportunities in these halal markets, including promoting developments in areas such as trade, tourism and finance.
In terms of trade, meeting the requirements for relevant halal product certifications and understanding the opportunities and challenges within the relevant markets are crucial. In this regard, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has been conducting research on individual key halal markets to understand their latest developments, and providing practical information to Hong Kong businesses, including the information on relevant product certification bodies. Furthermore, the HKTDC has also been providing various platforms to promote business opportunities in the halal market. For example, the HKTDC has been promoting different high-quality halal products and food, as well as related trading of products, at its annual Food Expo PRO to help the catering industry to expand its network and businesses. To assist Hong Kong enterprises in grasping the opportunities of the halal food market and facilitate buyers in procurement, the HKTDC introduced the Halal Showcase and added halal food and beverage labels to relevant exhibitors in the 2024 Food Expo PRO. The event also offered different seminars, explaining the requirements of halal food certification and analysing market opportunities and challenges, in order to promote multi-faceted business opportunities relevant to halal food to the businesses.
In 2025-26, the HKTDC will arrange for local halal food manufacturers to participate in its Food Expo PRO to strengthen their collaboration with other halal food markets, as well as set up relevant pavilions at the Food Expo PRO to showcase more halal food and products and further explore Islamic business opportunities.
At the same time, the Government strives to assist Hong Kong enterprises in developing more diversified markets and enhancing their competitiveness through various funding schemes and support measures. Among others, the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales provides funding support for enterprises to develop business in 40 economies with which Hong Kong has signed free trade agreements and/or investment promotion and protection agreements (IPPAs), including seven Muslim countries. Also, the SME Export Marketing Fund provides funding support for enterprises to participate in export promotion activities, promoting appropriate products and services to the Muslim population in markets outside Hong Kong.
The Government will continue to actively explore emerging markets, including ASEAN, the Middle East and markets along the B&R, which have large Muslim population. The Government has been actively visiting ASEAN Member States to maintain close communication. For example, from 2022 to 2024, the Chief Executive led delegations to visit seven ASEAN Member States, concluding nearly 90 memoranda of understanding (MOU) and agreements, which helped create business opportunities for Hong Kong and strengthened friendships between the two places. The Government has also been actively reaching out to potential partners in the region, and signed an IPPA with Bahrain in March 2024, which is the third IPPA signed with economies in the Middle East region after the ones with Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, we are exploring the signing of IPPAs with Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt and Peru.
In view of the huge economic potential of the countries along the B&R (including those with large Muslin population), Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) set up consultant offices in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, and Izmir, the third largest city in Türkiye, within 2024-25 according to the 2023 Policy Address and 2024-25 Budget. This will be beneficial to attracting capital and enterprises from these two member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and seizing relevant business opportunities.
In respect of tourism, the Chief Executive stated in the 2024 Policy Address that the Government would actively develop visitor sources from the Middle East and ASEAN which have large Muslim population to seize opportunities. It is estimated that by 2028, there will be 250 million Muslim visitors worldwide and tourism receipts will reach US$225 billion.
To encourage the travel trade to enhance Muslim-friendly tourism facilities, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has commissioned the internationally recognised halal travel promotion company CrescentRating since 2024 to carry out a series of work to study how Hong Kong can further enhance its “Muslim-friendly” tourism facilities, and assess local hotels, attractions and meetings, incentive travels, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) venues based on categories and standards on par with international benchmarks while taking into account Hong Kong’s actual situation. As at mid-April this year, 61 hotels, and five attractions and MICE venues have successfully applied for and obtained the ratings from CrescentRating.
Besides, to encourage restaurants to obtain halal-related certification, the HKTB works with local halal certification authority, the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong (Board of Trustees, BOT), to promote existing accreditations in the city and encourage food and beverage establishments to apply for certification. As at mid-April this year, the number of certified restaurants has increased from about 100 at the beginning of 2024 to more than 170, which also include high-end Chinese restaurant, Cantonese restaurant and contemporary Hong Kong-style noodle restaurants. In addition, four brands in the city are now offering halal-certified bakery products to provide more choices of souvenirs for Muslim visitors.
Regarding financial services, the Government amended the laws in 2013 and 2014 to provide a tax structure for sukuk comparable with that for conventional bonds, and to allow for the issuance of sukuk under the Government Bond Programme. Thereafter, the Government issued three sukuk, totalling US$3 billion, under the Government Bond Programme, to demonstrate the viability of Hong Kong’s finance platform and that our legal, regulatory and taxation framework can readily support sukuk issuances of different structures. Besides, an array of Islamic financial products and services have been introduced in Hong Kong, including the listing of global sukuk on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), Shariah-compliant equity indices and Islamic banking windows. Asia’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking the Saudi Arabia market was also listed on the HKEX in November 2023.
In the area of investment co-operation, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority signed an MOU with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) to jointly anchor a new investment fund of US$1 billion to facilitate companies with nexus to Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to develop their business in Saudi Arabia. The Government will continue to expand market development efforts, including promoting the advantages of Hong Kong’s financial system and market, so as to explore further collaboration with Islamic markets in the area of finance.
Note: The “Muslim countries” as mentioned in this reply refer to the 57 Members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Provisional financial results for year ended March 31, 2025 Expenditure and revenue for the year ended March 31, 2025 amounted to HK$753.2 billion and HK$564.9 billion respectively, resulting in a deficit of HK$80.3 billion after taking into account HK$130 billion received from issuance of Government Bonds and repayment of HK$22 billion principal on Government Bonds.
Expenditure and revenue for the year were 3 per cent (HK$23.7 billion) and 10.8 per cent (HK$68.1 billion) lower than the original estimate respectively.
The consolidated deficit for the year was HK$80.3 billion, i.e. HK$6.9 billion lower than the revised estimate of HK$87.2 billion. Revenue was HK$5.3 billion (1 per cent) higher than expected, mainly attributable to stamp duties ($5.9 billion higher) and salaries tax ($0.9 billion higher). Expenditure was HK$1.5 billion (0.2 per cent) lower than the revised estimate mainly due to lower-than-expected requirements.
The fiscal reserves stood at HK$654.3 billion as at March 31, 2025.
A Government spokesperson said that these are provisional figures pending the final closing of the annual accounts. According to experience, any changes to the provisional figures are unlikely to be significant.
March 31, 2025 HK$ millionMarch 31, 2025 HK$ millionand repayment of Government Bondsissuance of Government BondsGovernment Bonds*and repayment of Government BondsGovernment Debts as at March 31, 2025 (Note 3) HK$299,344 million Debts Guaranteed by Government as at March 31, 2025 (Note 4) HK$127,472 million
TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES (PROVISIONAL)
March 31, 2025 HK$ millionMarch 31, 2025 HK$ millionissuance and repayment of Government Bonds(Note 5)Notes:
1. This Account consolidates the General Revenue Account and the following eight Funds: Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Civil Service Pension Reserve Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund, Land Fund, Loan Fund and Lotteries Fund. It excludes the Bond Fund, the balance of which is not part of the fiscal reserves. The Bond Fund balance as at March 31, 2025, was HK$225,261 million. (i) the Green Bonds (equivalent to HK$194,375 million as at March 31, 2025) issued under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme. They were denominated in US dollars (US$9,950 million with maturity from January 2026 to January 2053), euros (4,580 million euros with maturity from February 2026 to November 2041), Renminbi (RMB34,000 million with maturity from June 2025 to July 2054) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$42,000 million with maturity from May 2025 to October 2026);
(ii) the Infrastructure Bonds (equivalent to HK$50,177 million as at March 31, 2025) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. They were denominated in Renminbi (RMB13,500 million with maturity from December 2025 to November 2034) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$35,730 million with maturity from November 2025 to March 2045); and
(iii) the Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$54,792 million (with maturity in October 2027 and may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme.
They do not include the outstanding bonds with nominal value of HK$176,340 million and alternative bonds with nominal value of US$1,000 million (equivalent to HK$7,778 million as at March 31, 2025) issued under the Government Bond Programme with proceeds credited to the Bond Fund. Of these bonds under the Government Bond Programme (including Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$96,340 million, which may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders), bonds with nominal value of HK$6,500 million were repaid upon maturity on April 14, 2025; bonds with nominal value of HK$68,590 million will mature within the period from May 2025 to March 2026 and the rest within the period from April 2026 to May 2042.Issued at HKT 16:30
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ18: Supply of seawater for flushing Question:
It is learnt that in order to help save fresh water resources, the Water Supplies Department has successfully extended the coverage of the seawater supply network for flushing (network) to about 85 per cent of the population in Hong Kong. However, some residents of housing courts in Sham Tseng have relayed to me that as the Government’s network does not cover their housing courts, residents can only use fresh water to flush toilets or purchase their own pumps to bring in seawater, and they have to pay the Government rent for the mains laid on Government land. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the housing courts that are currently not supplied with seawater for flushing and the number of households involved, as well as the reasons why they are not supplied with seawater for flushing, together with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory;
(2) whether the Government has plans to extend the network to cover all the housing courts in the vicinity of Tsuen Wan and Sham Tseng; if so, of the relevant timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) as it is learnt that residents of housing courts who have brought in seawater themselves for flushing purposes currently have to bear the double expenses of the cost of the seawater supply facilities and the Government rent arising from the seawater mains laid on Government land, whether the Government will, on the basis of the principle of fairness, exempt such residents from paying the Government rent; if not, of the specific reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Salt water has been used for flushing in Hong Kong since the 1950s. Over the years, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) has been progressively extending the salt water supply network which, nowadays, has covered about 85 per cent of Hong Kong’s population. The network supplies about 300 million cubic metres per annum of salt water to consumers.
The reply to the various parts of the question raised by Dr the Hon Chan is as follows:
(1) The accounts still using temporary mains fresh water for flushing (TMF) are scattered throughout the territory. The approximate number of accounts according to District Council districts is tabulated below (Note 1):
DistrictNote 1: The number of TMF is counted by the WSD on an account basis. TMF accounts are normally registered by management offices, agents, owners’ corporations and developers (not registered by individual households) for the purpose of collecting water fees relating to TMF. Meanwhile, there are no separate TMF accounts for domestic and non-domestic consumers. Therefore, the WSD does not maintain statistics on the number of households and housing courts using TMF in each district.
Note 2: The reclaimed water supply network in the North District was commissioned in March 2024. The WSD is supplying the reclaimed water to consumers progressively.
The WSD is further extending the salt water supply network to Shui Chuen O Estate in Sha Tin, Tung Chung New Town and its extension, and anticipates to commence the supply of salt water progressively from the second half of 2025 onwards.
In general, in the study of the extension of salt water supply network, the WSD takes into account the actual situation of the areas, including the proximity to the seafront, terrain, population distribution, cost effectiveness and technical feasibility, etc, ensuring the proper use of public funds. To supply salt water for flushing to individual areas that are remote, scattered, with low density or distant from the seafront, etc, the Government needs to lay water mains of long distance and construct pumping stations, which do not constitute the most cost-effective solution. Therefore, consumers in these areas use TMF for flushing. Meanwhile, the Government is promoting the use of recycled water in the Northern Metropolis for flushing and other non-potable uses. This will also help reduce the use of fresh water for flushing. The WSD will take into account the consideration of cost-effectiveness in reviewing the feasibility of extending the salt water and recycled water supply network to the districts listed above in a timely manner.
(2) In 2023, the WSD reviewed the cost effectiveness of extending the salt water supply network to Tsing Lung Tau and Sham Tseng. The review result revealed that although the areas are located in the proximity to the seafront and have a considerable size of population, the population and housing courts are scattered there, which require the laying of long water mains, resulting in higher construction and operating costs (If a salt water supply system is to be provided in Sham Tseng, it is necessary to construct an intake opening and a pumping station at the seawall for pumping salt water to the salt water service reservoir, and to lay water mains with several kilometres long. Such works are of larger scale and involve higher capital cost). Therefore, the extension of salt water supply to the vicinity of Tsing Lung Tau and Sham Tseng is not cost-effective at this stage, and thus the WSD has no relevant extension plan. The WSD will continue to monitor the situation and conduct review in a timely manner, taking into account factors including future developments in the area, engineering technology and cost considerations.
(3) Currently, for some private developments in seafront areas where the WSD does not supply salt water for flushing due to cost-effectiveness considerations, the Government will consider imposing lease conditions to require developers to construct flushing systems for residents, and to pay the licence fees/short term tenancy rentals for supply facilities that occupy Government land. The Sham Tseng housing court referred in the question falls under this situation.
Prior to signing of the land lease, developers have acknowledged these terms and reflected the costs of constructing the flushing system into the land premium payable to the Government. This effectively means the Government shares a definite responsibility for these construction costs through the reduced land premium. Daily expenses being borne by individual property owners typically include (i) licence fees/short term tenancy rentals for water supply facilities occupying Government land; and (ii) maintenance and repair costs for the housing court’s salt water supply system. Regarding the cost of item (i), regarding the mentioned case of Sham Tseng housing court, based on the current licence fees and short term tenancy rentals charged by the Lands Department, and calculated across the approximately 2 200 households in the concerned housing court, the average annual cost per household amounts to over $500. As for the cost regarding item (ii), while specific data for the concerned court is unavailable, the maintenance costs are expected to be reasonably affordable for the majority of households because salt water supply system is not a complex technology and the associated maintenance and repair costs are shared collectively among all households.
For future development projects, the WSD will consider whether to include the relevant conditions in land leases for developers to construct salt water flushing systems based on the factors mentioned in (2) above. If such water supply facilities occupy Government land, the Government currently charges licence fee/short term tenancy rental according to general land administrative policy. For similar new development projects in the future, we will consider whether waivers should be granted for such licence fees/short term tenancy rentals, and will make appropriate announcements before the implementation of development projects. Issued at HKT 16:55
PM to visit Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh on 1st and 2nd May PM to inaugurate the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai
India to host the Global Media Dialogue with Ministerial participation from around 25 countries
PM to dedicate to the nation Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala
It is India’s first dedicated container transshipment port
PM to lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati
In a major boost to connectivity in the region, PM to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple road and rail projects in Andhra Pradesh
Posted On: 30 APR 2025 1:00PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh on 1st and 2nd May. He will travel to Mumbai on 1st May, and at around 10:30 AM, he will inaugurate the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES).
Thereafter he will travel to Kerala and on 2nd May, at around 10:30 AM, he will dedicate to the nation Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.
Further, he will travel to Andhra Pradesh and at around 3:30 PM, he will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati. He will also address the public function.
PM in Maharashtra
Prime Minister will inaugurate WAVES 2025, India’s first-of-its-kind World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai. The four-day summit with tagline “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries” is poised to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation by bringing together creators, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers from across the world.
In line with Prime Minister’s vision of leveraging creativity, technology, and talent to shape a brighter future, WAVES will integrate films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting, and emerging tech, making it a comprehensive showcase of India’s media and entertainment prowess. WAVES aims to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029, expanding India’s footprint in the global entertainment economy.
At WAVES 2025, India will also host the Global Media Dialogue (GMD) for the first time, with ministerial participation from 25 countries, marking a milestone in the country’s engagement with the global media and entertainment landscape. The Summit will also feature the WAVES Bazaar, a global e-marketplace with over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and 2,100 projects. It aims to connect buyers and sellers locally and globally, ensuring wide-reaching networking and business opportunities.
Prime Minister will visit the Creatosphere and interact with creators, selected from the 32 Create in India Challenges launched nearly a year ago, which garnered over one lakh registrations. He will also visit the Bharat Pavilion.
WAVES 2025 will witness participation from over 90 countries, with more than 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups. The summit will feature 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses spanning diverse sectors including broadcasting, infotainment, AVGC-XR, films, and digital media.
PM in Kerala
Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport worth Rs 8,900 crore. It is country’s first dedicated container transshipment port that represents the transformative advancements being made in India’s maritime sector as part of the unified vision of Viksit Bharat.
Vizhinjam Port, having strategic importance, has been identified as a key priority project which will contribute in strengthening India’s position in global trade, enhance logistics efficiency, and reduce reliance on foreign ports for cargo transshipment. Its natural deep draft of nearly 20 meters and location near one of the world’s busiest sea trade routes further strengthens India’s position in global trade.
PM in Andhra Pradesh
Prime Minister will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati.
In line with his commitment to ensure world-class infrastructure and connectivity across the country, Prime Minister will inaugurate 7 National Highway projects in Andhra Pradesh. These Projects include widening of various sections of National Highways, construction of Road over bridge and subway among others. These projects will further enhance road safety; create employment opportunities; provide seamless connectivity to religious and tourist places like Tirupati, Srikalahasti, Malakonda and Udayagiri Fort among others.
Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation railway projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting capacity. These projects are doubling of the rail line between Bugganapalle Cement Nagar and Panyam stations, enhancing connectivity between Rayalaseema and Amaravati and construction of a third rail line between New West Block Hut Cabin and Vijayawada stations.
Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of 6 National Highway projects and one Railway project. These Projects include widening of various sections of National highways; construction of elevated corridor, half clover leaf and Road over bridge among others. These projects will improve connectivity, inter-state travel, reduce congestion and improve overall logistics efficiency. Construction of Rail over Rail between Guntakal West and Mallappa gate stations aims to bypass freight trains and reduce congestion at the Guntakal Junction.
Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for multiple infrastructure projects that include the Legislative Assembly, High Court, Secretariat, other administrative buildings and housing buildings for over 5,200 families, worth over Rs 11,240 crore. It will also include trunk infrastructure and flood mitigation projects featuring a 320 km world-class transport network with underground utilities and advanced flood management systems, worth over Rs 17,400 crore. The Land Pooling Scheme Infrastructure projects will cover 1,281 km of roads equipped with central medians, cycle tracks, and integrated utilities across the capital city of Amaravati, worth over Rs 20,400 crore.
Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of Missile Test Range at Nagayalanka in Andhra Pradesh worth around Rs 1,460 Crore. It will comprise a launch center, technical instrumentation facilities, Indigenous Radars, Telemetry and Electro-Optical systems enhancing the country’s defence preparedness.
Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of PM Ekta Mall at Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam. It has been envisioned with the objective of fostering national integration, supporting the Make in India initiative, promoting One District One Product, generating employment opportunities, empowering rural artisans, and enhancing the market presence of indigenous products.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (April 30) that the New Home Association Limited (NHAL) has been commissioned to provide Social and Care Support Service under the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong starting from tomorrow (May 1) to provide support to elderly participants and their families.
The Social and Care Support Service is one of the measures announced in the 2024 Policy Address to help elderly participants of the Scheme better adapt to the life in the residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) on the Mainland and receive timely assistance when needed.
The NHAL will provide support services for the elderly participants under the Scheme, especially during the initial six-month trial period upon admission into the RCHEs, to assist them in understanding the Mainland’s medical systems and care services, maintain connections with their families in Hong Kong, and provide them with suitable advice and assistance in handling such matters as housing, medical care, financial matters, etc in Hong Kong. Continuous support will also be rendered in accordance with their needs upon completion of the trial period.
The Social and Care Support Service will also conduct assessments under the Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services and follow up applications for those Hong Kong elderly who have settled in Guangdong Province and are interested in joining the Scheme at their places of residence.
In the run-up to Independence Day Ceremony 2025 (IDC-2025), the Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with My Gov, will conduct a national-level ‘Competition for Design of Formation on Gyanpath’ from May 01st to 15th, 2025. The competition aims to instill patriotic spirit and foster creative expression among the youth and citizens across India. Participants will have to conceptualise and design a formation to be created by cadets of National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme volunteers, and school children, along with an appropriate backdrop, that will be showcased during the IDC 2025 at Gyanpath, Red Fort, Delhi. Individuals can refer to the previous years’ designs for ideas. For more information, please visit the site: https://www.mygov.in/
Salient Features of the Competition:
· The top three winning entries will receive a cash prize of ₹10,000/- each.
· The top 250 participants, along with one companion each (guardian/spouse/relative), will receive e-invitations to witness the IDC 2025 at Red Fort.
· All participants will be awarded an online Certificate of Participation issued by MyGov.
Terms & Conditions
a) Participants to the competition must be a Citizen of India.
b) An individual can participate only one time.
c) Entries should be in JPG/PDF/any other format whether hand designed or computerised as per the requirement of MyGov portal. If the reference of any image/logo has been taken in the preparation of Design for competition, participant is required to upload the referred image along with the final design.
d) Use of any unfair/spurious means/ malpractices including but not limited to impersonation, double participation etc. during the participation in the competition, will result in rejection of participation.
e) No copyright image should be used and an undertaking regarding the same to be furnished. Non-furnishing of the same will render the selection null and void. Furthermore, the organizers of the competition or any agency acting on their behalf reserves all rights in this regard.
f) One mobile number & one email ID cannot be used by more than one participant for one competition/quiz during IDC-2025.
g) Ministry of Defence will only issue an e-invitation for the event and all the expenses related to travel, lodging, food etc. to attend the IDC-2025 will be borne by the individual himself/herself.
h) Employees, directly or indirectly connected with organizing the competition, are not eligible to participate in the competition. This ineligibility also applies to their immediate family members.
i) Winners will be announced on the basis of screening of the entries by a designated Screening Committee in Ministry of Defence.
j) Designs furnished by any participant may be used by Ministry of Defence partially or fully for the purpose of design of Gyanpath at Red Fort. Any claim for the copyright of the designs submitted during the ibid competition will not be made by the participants at any span of time.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ1: Costs of developing and operating public housing Question:
The 2025-2026 Budget mentioned that the total public housing supply would reach 190 000 units in the next five years. Regarding the costs of developing and operating public housing, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that the Government has been granting land for the development of public housing at nominal premium, premium below the market value or nil premium, of the respective amounts of land premium waived for public housing projects of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) as well as the number of units involved in each of the past five and the coming three financial years, and set out in the table below a breakdown by projects (i.e. (i) public rental housing (PRH)/Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) and (ii) other subsidised sale flats under HA, as well as (iii) rental estates and (iv) subsidised sale housing projects under HKHS):
Financial year(2) of the respective average construction costs (including (i) per square foot of the construction floor area and (ii) per flat) of PRH/rental housing units and subsidised sale flats constructed by HA and HKHS in each of the past five and the coming three financial years, with a breakdown by type of projects;
(3) of the respective expenditures spent by HA and HKHS on site formation and infrastructural works for public housing in each of the past five and the coming three financial years, and the respective numbers of flats involved, as well as the respective ratios of expenditures on PRH/rental estates and subsidised sale flats;
(4) given that according to the paper on the budgets and financial forecasts issued by HA in January this year (the paper), the largest expenditure item under the rental housing operating account is the item “other recurrent expenditure”, of the expenditure/estimates incurred by each of the sub-items of this item in each of the past five and the coming three financial years;
(5) of the actual expenditure involving government rent and rates in HA’s rental housing operating account in each of the past five financial years, and the amount of rates concession provided by the Government in each of these years; and
(6) given that according to the paper, HA’s construction expenditure included items such as “Government non-reimbursement projects”, “Government-funded projects” and “in-house supervision and administration costs”, of the specific work covered by these items?
Reply:
President,
In consultation with the Lands Department, the reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Wendy Hong is as follows:
(1) In the past five and coming three financial years, the number of units involved in the public housing projects of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), and the respective amounts of land premium waived, are set out by year at Annex.
(2) As a financially autonomous public body, the HA funds its public housing programmes with its own resources. Each year, the Housing Department (HD) prepares the average construction costs per flat of Public Rental Housing (PRH)/Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) and other Subsidised Sale Flats (SSF) projects based on the cost of building tenders approved by the HA in the preceding financial year. The construction costs will be released by the HA Finance Committee after being considered in its meeting.
As the number of building tenders approved by the HA in each financial year and factors such as scale and design of projects, market conditions, etc. are different, the average construction cost per flat varies year to year. From 2020-21 to 2023-24 financial years (Note 1), the average construction costs per flat of PRH/GSH projects and other SSF projects based on the cost of building tenders approved by the HA are set out below:
Financial YearEach year, the HD also reports the average construction costs for superstructure (Note 2) of the preceding financial year to the HA. From 2020/21 to 2023/24 financial years (Note 3), the average construction costs per square foot of construction floor area (ft2-CFA) for superstructure are set out below:
Financial Yearfor superstructure ($) (approx.) According to existing mechanism, the HD closely monitors changes in market conditions. In compiling and managing the cost budget of new projects, the HD will take various factors into consideration, including tender price trend, anticipated rate of price increase, development programmes, etc. to ensure smooth implementation of public housing schemes.
To further enhance cost-effectiveness of public housing construction, the HD will continue to explore and implement enhancement measures on construction cost control.
The study direction includes the development of a framework for optimising construction cost control, covering areas such as planning, design, application of advanced technologies and innovative construction methods, procurement models, and approval processes. The framework enables a thorough review and optimisation of various processes to effectively manage the construction costs. It also acts in concert with the inter-departmental “Action Group for Expediting Construction for Public Housing” led by the Secretary for Housing, which identifies, streamlines, and resolves inter-departmental issues encountered during public housing developments through strengthening inter-departmental co-operation so as to expedite the progress and further enhance cost-effectiveness of public housing projects.
According to the information provided by the HKHS, from 2020/21 to 2023/24 financial years (Note 4), the average construction cost per rental flat remained at around $1.1 million based on the project contract sum awarded by the HKHS. As for the HKHS’s SSF, each of which is equipped with a green balcony and utility platform, interior finishes such as tiled flooring, partition walls and doors for each room, as well as household appliances such as air conditioners, water heater, cooking hobs, etc., the average construction cost per flat was around $1.6 million.
Due to the differences in design and provisions of the HKHS’s and the HA’s projects, generally speaking, the average construction cost per flat of the HKHS would be about 15 to 30 per cent higher than that of the HA.
The HKHS is actively enhancing its cost efficiency as well as promoting construction digitalisation by applying Digital Works Supervision System and Smart Site Safety System, with a view to enhancing quality control and project management efficiency.
(3) The Government’s expenses under the Capital Works Reserve Fund (CWRF) Head 711 are for the implementation of public housing-related site formation and infrastructure projects undertaken by the Government, while the HA is responsible for the expenditure on the construction of public housing. Besides, quite a number of projects associated with the supply target of public housing are funded by other heads of expenditure under the CWRF.
As for Head 711 under the CWRF, the yearly expenditures of works projects in the past five and current fiscal year (Note 5), including infrastructure works with funding approved or pending funding approval by the Finance Committee to support the implementation of public housing developments undertaken by the HA, are tabulated below:
Financial Year($ million) As for Head 711 under the CWRF, the expenditures for the past five financial years involve about 98 000 flats for completion in 2024/25 or before, comprising about 83 000 PRH/GSH flats and about 15 000 other SSF flats. The expenditure ratio of the two is about 74 per cent and 26 per cent.
Besides, for Head 711 under the CWRF, some 64 000 flats are estimated to be completed in the coming five-year period (Note 7) (i.e. 2025/26 to 2029/30), comprising about 44 000 PRH/GSH flats and about 21 000 other SSF flats. The expenditure ratio of the two is about 56 per cent and 44 per cent. During project development, the HA will maintain flexibility in housing types and make timely adjustments of the respective supply in order to respond more appropriately to the needs of the community.
As regards the HKHS’s rental and SSF projects, most of the sites handed over to the HKHS by the Government have had the site formation and infrastructure works completed. From 2020/21 to 2025/26 financial years, the HKHS’s total expenditure on site formation works (such as slope maintenance and stabilisation) and infrastructure works (such as temporary roads, road widening, etc.) was approximately over $300 million, concerning six projects.
(4) “Other recurrent expenditures” of the Rental Housing Operating Account are mainly expenses related to estate management, including security, cleansing, electricity charges, estate property management and management fees for estate common areas. The related expenditure for the past five financial years and the next three financial years are as follows:
Financial Year($ million)(5) The actual annual expenditure on government rent and rates of Rental Housing Operating Account in the past five financial years, as well as the rates concessions provided by the Government each year, are as follows:
Financial Year($ million)($ million)# The rates of public rental housing as assessed by Rating and Valuation Department are on a block/floor basis, the HA will pass on the rates concession to tenants according to the respective unit’s share of internal floor area against the total rates of the whole domestic block. As the amount of rates concession is deducted from the rates payable of individual properties, the HA has not calculated the actual total amount of rates concession.
(6) Government non-reimbursable projects mainly include public transport interchanges (PTI) within development projects. Except individual projects which have been committed, the HA is no longer responsible for committing the expenditure related to PTIs after 2007.
The HA provides supervision services and construction of Government-funded projects in new development projects including welfare and community facilities such as schools, residential care homes for elderly, day care centres for the elderly, child care centres, etc.
In-house supervision and administration costs are mainly expenses of the relevant divisions of the HA responsible for supervision of construction projects, including personal emoluments, administrative costs, etc.
Note 1: The figure for 2024/25 financial year is not yet available. Note 2: The construction cost for superstructure excludes costs of demolition, site formation, foundation, underground drainage, external works, other separate contracts for works such as utilities connection/road diversion, etc. These costs vary a lot from project to project subject to site constraints. Note 3: The figure for 2024/25 financial year is not yet available. Note 4: The figure for 2024/25 financial year is not yet available. Note 5: As the estimate beyond 2025/26 financial year will be subject to the project implementation schedule and works progress, the estimated expenditures of 2026/27 and 2027/28 will be published in the related budgets of the Government in future. Note 6: 2020/21 to 2023/24 are actual expenditures; 2024/25 expenditures refer to the Revised Estimate; and 2025/26 expenditures refer to the Estimate. Note 7: Based on the forecast as at December 2024. Note 8: The figures from 2020/21 to 2023/24 are actual expenditures. The figure of 2024/25 is the Revised Budget and 2025/26 is the Approved Budget. Issued at HKT 17:15
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The Judiciary today (April 30) announced the appointment of one Recorder and the reappointment of two incumbent Recorders of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. All appointments are made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission.
Mr Eric Kwok Tung-ming, SC, is newly appointed as Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. The appointment will be effective from May 1, 2025, for a term of three years.
Miss Maggie Wong Pui-kei, SC, and Mr Derek Chan Ching-lung, SC, are reappointed as Recorders of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. The reappointments will be for three years commencing on May 1, 2025, upon expiry of their current terms.
The biographical notes of the appointees are as follows:
Mr Eric Kwok Tung-ming, SC
Mr Kwok, SC, was born in 1959 in Hong Kong. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, in 1983. He completed the Bar Final Examination of the Council of Legal Education in the United Kingdom in 1984. He was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 1985. He was appointed as Senior Counsel in 2004. He served in the then Attorney General’s Chambers between 1985 and 1988. He has been in private practice since 1988. He was appointed as Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court for periods from 2022 to 2025.
Miss Maggie Wong Pui-kei, SC
Miss Wong, SC, was born in 1973 in Hong Kong. She obtained her LL.B. from the University of Hong Kong in 1995. She further obtained her P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1996. She was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2000, and in Brunei Darussalam on an ad hoc basis in 2004 respectively. She has been in private practice in Hong Kong since 2001. She was appointed as Senior Counsel in 2018. She was appointed as Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court for periods from 2020 to 2022. She has been appointed as Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court since 2022.
Mr Derek Chan Ching-lung, SC
Mr Chan, SC, was born in 1979 in Hong Kong. He obtained his LL.B. and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, in 2001. He further obtained his P.C.LL. from the City University of Hong Kong in 2003. He was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2004. He has been in private practice in Hong Kong since 2004. He was appointed as Senior Counsel in 2018. He was appointed as Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court for periods in 2020 and 2021. He has been appointed as Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court since 2022.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ12: Advance medical directives Question:
The Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance (the Ordinance), which was passed by this Council on November 20 last year, aims to establish legislative frameworks for “advance medical directives” (AMDs) and “do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders” and provide legal protection to patients, medical professionals, as well as rescuers, where terminally-ill patients are empowered with a greater degree of autonomy. However, a survey has discovered that approximately 75 per cent of adult respondents have never heard of AMDs. There are views that given the complex medical ethics and legal issues involved in the Ordinance, the Government should enhance public awareness of the Ordinance and establish supporting systems in the long run. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the respective numbers of AMDs signed by and DNACPR orders issued to patients of the Hospital Authority each year since 2019;
(2) whether the Government has currently provided necessary training for frontline staff of medical institutions and relevant organisations regarding the implementation of the Ordinance; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether it knows the progress made by relevant stakeholders in updating their protocols, records and systems in response to the implementation of the Ordinance;
(3) given that the Ordinance will come into effect in May next year, whether the Government has formulated specific plans to publicise the importance and signing procedure of AMDs among the public; if so, of the details (including publicity channels); if not, the reasons for that;
(4) whether the authorities will consider strengthening life and death education among the public, and incorporating the content of the Ordinance into such education (particularly by updating the existing curriculum framework for primary and secondary schools) to promote rational discussions in society over the right to a good death; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(5) given that the Government plans to progressively introduce the full electronic route of AMDs, with the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth) serving as the designated electronic system to support the making, storage, revocation and retrieval of electronic AMDs, of the authorities’ specific plans and implementation timetable for the relevant work?
Reply:
President,
The Government’s policy objective is to provide quality and comprehensive end-of-life (EoL) care services to patients and their families. Advance decision instruments (i.e. advance medical directives (AMDs) and do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders) are integral components of EoL care, aiming to respect patients’ autonomy and shield them from enduring ineffective and unnecessary treatments in their final stages of life, thereby enhancing the quality of life of terminally-ill patients. Since 2010, the Hospital Authority (HA) has been allowing its patients to make or sign advance decision instruments when necessary according to common law practices. Passed by the Legislative Council in November 2024, the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance (the Ordinance) establishes a corresponding legal framework for and provides clearer legal status for advance decision instruments, safeguarding the makers and subject patients of advance decision instruments, as well as providing legal protection for healthcare professionals in following the directives and orders. The Ordinance is planned to take effect 18 months after its passage (i.e. around mid-2026).
In consultation with the Department of Health (DH), the HA, the Education Bureau and the Security Bureau, the reply to the question raised by Hon Edward Leung is as follows:
(1) According to the Ordinance, pre-existing advance decision instruments made before the commencement of the Ordinance will remain valid and applicable after its commencement, provided that they meet the specific conditions set out in the Ordinance. The number of AMDs made within the HA from 2019 to 2024 is tabulated as follows:
Year The number of DNACPR orders made within the HA from 2019 to 2024 is tabulated as follows:
Year(2) To ensure smooth implementation of the Ordinance, the Health Bureau (HHB) is arranging briefing and training sessions for relevant organisations, such as disciplined services departments and other rescue teams, regarding the legal framework and protection provisions outlined in the Ordinance. The HHB is also co-ordinating with various stakeholders to update relevant guidelines. For instance, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine released the “Best Practice Guidelines on Advance Medical Directives” (BPG) in April this year. The BPG offers practical advice on clinical decision-making, doctor-patient communication and ethical considerations for healthcare professionals’ reference, with a view to enhancing their professional capabilities in handling advance decision instruments while upholding patients’ autonomy and complying with the legal framework of the Ordinance. Moreover, relevant policy bureaux, departments, the HA and other related organisations are currently formulating services and operational guidelines in alignment with their specific operational needs. These guidelines will among other things encompass protocols and precautions for implementing DNACPR orders outside hospital settings. Training sessions will also be conducted for rescue personnel to ensure their readiness to make prompt and accurate decisions in accordance with the legal requirements during emergencies.
(3) and (4) To enhance public understanding of the Ordinance, the HHB, in collaboration with the Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project (JCECC) and the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Hong Kong, co-organised a series of eight community talks to elucidate the provisions of the Ordinance. Additionally, the HHB further disseminated information about the Ordinance to the general public through promotional pamphlets, mobile van publicity campaigns and a designated website.
In fact, advance decision instruments under the Ordinance form part of advance care planning (ACP), which is an overarching and preceding process for patients to communicate their preferences regarding medical and personal care. The scope of ACP includes not only the advance decisions concerning life-sustaining treatments documented in AMDs, but also the patient’s previously expressed wishes, personal goals to be accomplished, preferences for EoL care, and treatment expectations, among other aspects. The Ordinance presents an opportunity for patients and their families, as well as the society as a whole, to understand and engage in discussions about ACP, enabling carers to provide suitable EoL care according to patients’ wishes.
By fostering collaboration across departments and sectors, the Government is proactively implementing a range of public education and promotional initiatives within the community and establishing collaborative networks with social service organisations to enhance public awareness and understanding of topics like ACP and life and death education, thereby facilitating rational discussions on life and death matters within society. The DH also disseminates public education on life and death issues through various channels including media interviews, websites, publications, and online videos. In the meantime, the HA actively organises seminars, events, and talks on life and death education, including the advocacy of ACP concept.
Beyond promotional campaigns targeting the general public, the Government has also implemented other targeted promotional initiatives. Specifically tailored for the elderly population, the multidisciplinary Visiting Health Teams of the Elderly Health Service (EHS) of the DH deliver health education on ageing, life and death education, managing loss and grief, and psychological needs of patients needing EoL care. These health talks are conducted for the elderly and their carers at residential care homes for the elderly, elderly centres and elderly health centres. From 2008 to 2025, the EHS has organised over 2 600 relevant health talks.
As for patients, the HA’s “Smart Patient Website” provides diverse information related to palliative care, such as symptom management, caregiving tips and community resources for patients and carers to reference. In mid-2025, the HA will launch a “Smart Patient” talk series on EoL care for patient groups and the general public.
In the context of school education, life education (including life and death education) is an integral part of values education. The Values Education Curriculum Framework (Pilot Version) (2021) has identified “enhancing life education” as one of its major focuses and has included “understanding the course of life: birth, ageing, illness, and death” as one of the suggested proposed learning expectations for students. Relevant learning elements have been incorporated into the primary and secondary school curricula. Schools will align with students’ cognitive development and life experiences to help them understand topics related to ACP both within and beyond classroom.
(5) The Ordinance provides that the Secretary for Health may designate an electronic system, enabling makers to electronically make, store and revoke AMDs. The HHB is currently enhancing eHealth, which will serve as the designated electronic system, to support the implementation of AMDs.
We will introduce electronic AMDs in phases. In the first phase, paper AMDs and the electronic storage of such AMDs will be implemented. After making a paper AMD, the public can opt to electronically store an electronic image of the paper AMD, such as a scanned copy or a photo, on eHealth to serve as a validating copy of the paper directive. The electronic storage will allow both the makers and medical institutions to access the directives through eHealth whenever needed. We plan to launch the first phase with the commencement of the Ordinance in mid-2026. Once the relevant functions of eHealth, along with the electronic systems of medical institutions and related organisations, are in place, we will proceed to enable the electronic making and storing of AMDs directly within eHealth. Issued at HKT 16:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Post-office employment for former politically appointed official The Advisory Committee considers and advises on the post-office employment or appointments for former politically appointed officials. In considering each case, the Advisory Committee has regard to the information provided by the former politically appointed official concerned, the assessments by relevant government bureaux or offices, and the criteria for advice as stipulated in the guidance notes on post-office employment for politically appointed officials. Mr Simon Ip Sik-on (Chairman) Mrs Margaret Leung Ko May-yee Mr Cheng Yan-kee Ms Lo Wing-sze Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah Issued at HKT 16:00