Government launches Future Innovative Logistics Acceleration Scheme to promote digitalisation of logistics trade

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government today (June 1) launched the Future Innovative Logistics Acceleration Scheme (FILAS) to spur the development of information technology (IT) onboarding solutions that facilitate logistics enterprises to use logistics data platforms operated by the Government or public organisations, including the Port Community System and the HKIA Cargo Data Platform, with a view to promoting digitalisation of the industry.

A spokesman for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, “The level of digitalisation of some logistics enterprises, especially the small- and medium-sized ones, is relatively low, which presents an obstacle for them to use existing logistics data platforms. By encouraging the development of innovative IT onboarding solutions through FILAS, we hope to bridge the digital divide and facilitate the wider use of logistics data platforms by the industry, thereby enhancing its competitiveness and fostering Hong Kong’s development as an international smart logistics hub.”

As part of the Government’s continual effort in promoting the digitalisation of Hong Kong’s logistics trade, the Financial Secretary announced in the 2026-27 Budget that FILAS would be established under the Pilot Subsidy Scheme for Third-party Logistics Service Providers (Pilot Scheme). The target number of logistics enterprises that will benefit from FILAS is 100.

Under FILAS, third-party logistics service providers (3PLs) may apply for funding support for subscribing to or using pre-approved solutions listed on a white list. Same as the Pilot Scheme, applicant enterprises for FILAS must be non-listed enterprises registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) with substantive business operations related to either inbound or outbound third-party logistics services in Hong Kong, and funding support will be provided based on the subsidy ratio of 2 (Government) to 1 (enterprise). Each eligible enterprise may receive funding support of up to $2 million under the Pilot Scheme (including FILAS).

Solution providers may apply for their IT onboarding solution, no matter whether it is developed or under development, to be listed on a white list of pre-approved solutions under FILAS. Solution providers, which must be enterprises registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310), can submit only one proposal for IT onboarding solution for one or more logistics data platform(s) for inclusion on the white list. As the first stage, FILAS is now open to white list applications with the submission of the first batch of applications closing on June 30, 2026.

White list applications will be subject to a three-tier assessment mechanism, namely, (i) an initial assessment by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), the Secretariat of FILAS, on the eligibility of solution providers; (ii) a two-stage technical assessment via preliminary interviews by logistics data platform operator(s) on, among others, the compatibility of the solutions with the platform(s) concerned, their compliance with the relevant security and technical requirements and their relevance to the industry; and (iii) final endorsement by the Management Committee for the Pilot Scheme from the perspective of the alignment of the proposed solutions with FILAS policy objectives and overall benefits to the logistics sector.

Upon inclusion on the white list, such solutions will be deemed capable and practical for helping logistics enterprises to use the specified logistics data platform(s), and can be chosen by interested 3PLs, who can then apply for a subsidy under FILAS for subscribing to or using the solutions.

Details of FILAS are available on the Pilot Scheme’s dedicated website (tplsp.hkpc.org). Interested solution providers may contact the HKPC for enquiries and submission of applications (Tel: 2788 6077; email: tplsp_sec@hkpc.org). 

Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework and Amended Common Reporting Standard) Bill 2026 to be introduced into LegCo for First Reading and Second Reading

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (June 3) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework and Amended Common Reporting Standard) Bill 2026 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
 
     On Members’ motions, Mr Ken Wong will move a motion on “Promoting digital education in Hong Kong’s primary and secondary schools to cultivate future digital talents”. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Chong Ho-fung, Mr Chu Lap-wai, Dr Elvin Lee, Mr Dennis Leung and Dr Junius Ho will move separate amendments to Mr Wong’s motion.
 
     Mr Andrew Fan will move a motion on “Advancing the development of marine economy in Hong Kong”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Steven Ho and Mr Lam Wai-kong will move separate amendments to Mr Fan’s motion.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Trending Mainland cosmetics brand JudyDoll opens first Hong Kong store, leveraging Hong Kong to further expand into new overseas markets

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Trending Mainland cosmetics brand JudyDoll opens first Hong Kong store, leveraging Hong Kong to further expand into new overseas markets       
     The Mainland cosmetics industry continues to grow at pace, with all-channel transaction value surpassing RMB1.1 trillion in 2025, maintaining its leading position in the world’s cosmetics markets. Mainland cosmetics brands have lifted their domestic market share to nearly 60 per cent, winning the affection of young consumers through deep engagement on social media.
      
     The Deputy Head of Consumer and Hospitality of InvestHK, Miss Angelica Leung, said, “We welcome JudyDoll opening its first physical store in Hong Kong. We look forward to the fresh makeup experience and culture brought by JudyDoll’s physical store, alongside its creative online interactions, adding new vibrancy to this city as an international trend hub. We hope the brand will leverage Hong Kong as a go-global platform and further expand into new overseas markets.”
      
     The Senior Sales and Marketing Manager of JudyDoll Hong Kong, Ms Clair Chau, said, “Hong Kong is where global trends meet. The city’s vibrant makeup culture is deeply connected to its fashionable spirit. We hope to showcase the brand’s vitality, attitude and aesthetics to a wider range of consumers in Hong Kong’s growing and trusted retail market.”
      
     Founded in 2017 by Shanghai-based Joy Group, JudyDoll appeals to young consumers with its creative use of colour and product quality. The brand also offers Halal-certified products to tap into markets with diverse cultural backgrounds. InvestHK has been providing practical information and support for JudyDoll’s Hong Kong launch, and will continue to support the brand as it grows, including its plan to expand to other core retail districts in Hong Kong. Regarded as a pioneer among Mainland cosmetics brands in expanding into overseas markets, JudyDoll’s footprint spans Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East and North America.
      
     For more information about JudyDoll, please visit www.judydoll.comIssued at HKT 17:30

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Director-General David Cheng-Wei Wu Meets with Australian Baseball League Team CEO to Strengthen Taiwan-Australia Sports Exchange

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Chief Executive Officer representing the Perth Heat and the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League (ABL) paid a courtesy visit to Director-General David Cheng-Wei Wu. The two sides engaged in a productive discussion on promoting sports events in Australia and highlighted the prowess of baseball, Taiwan’s national sport.
During the meeting, both parties expressed optimism about future sports and culture collaborations between Taiwan and Australia. By fostering friendship through sports, they aim to further deepen cultural and athletic exchanges. With upcoming initiatives in motion, a thrilling Sydney Game and expanded baseball exchanges may be just around the corner, promising exciting experiences for baseball fans in both nations.

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu Meets NSW Legislative Council Opposition Leader and Shadow Attorney General Damien Tudehope

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu visited the Parliament of New South Wales and met with the Hon. Damien Tudehope MLC, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and Shadow Attorney General, to exchange views on Taiwan–Australia relations, regional developments, and issues of mutual interest.
DG Wu thanked Mr Tudehope for his longstanding support for democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. He also briefed him on President Lai Ching-te’s “New Population Strategy for Taiwan,” announced earlier that day, which includes increased childbirth and childcare subsidies, extended parental leave, expanded child and youth allowances, and enhanced student loan support. DG Wu noted that addressing demographic challenges is essential to national competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and social resilience.
Mr Tudehope expressed strong interest in the policy measures and noted that Taiwan and Australia share democratic values and open societies, with close cooperation across trade, education, technology, and people-to-people exchanges. He also welcomed the opportunity to continue strengthening engagement between New South Wales and Taiwan.

Vice President Hsiao to lead delegation to Republic of Palau

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the morning of June 1, the Presidential Office held a press conference to announce that Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao will lead a delegation to the Republic of Palau, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, from June 6 to 10. President Lai Ching-te expressed hope that the delegation will achieve the three core objectives of deepening diplomatic ties, assisting Palau in promoting sustainable tourism, and witnessing the achievements of Taiwan-Palau cooperation through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. The president also expressed hope that Taiwan and Palau will continue deepening cooperation in various areas, demonstrating to the international community the robust, profound bilateral relations and cooperative achievements between Taiwan and Palau.
At the press conference, Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Taiwan and Palau have maintained a close and friendly partnership, and that President Lai’s first overseas visit after he assumed office in 2024 was to Palau. She noted that Palauan President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. has also visited Taiwan multiple times in recent years, demonstrating through his concrete actions his high regard for the diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Palau. The spokesperson mentioned that this year, Taiwan was once again honored to receive President Whipps’ invitations for President Lai and Vice President Hsiao to visit. To deepen the friendship and promote people-to-people exchanges, she said, President Lai has especially appointed Vice President Hsiao to lead a delegation to Palau from June 6 to 10 in response to President Whipps’ gracious invitation.
Spokesperson Kuo stated that the name of this visit is the “Palau Prosperity Project,” which symbolizes the hope that, on the foundation of our deep diplomatic ties, Taiwan and Palau will continue to provide mutual assistance for shared prosperity, create greater well-being for both peoples, and jointly promote progress for the two countries and the world. President Lai has set three core objectives for the visit:
1. To deepen diplomatic ties. The vice president’s trip will include meetings with President Whipps and political figures, with the aim of strengthening interactions and further deepening the friendship between the two nations.
2. To assist Palau in promoting sustainable tourism. Since tourism is a key pillar of Palau’s national development, Vice President Hsiao will visit well-known sustainable tourism attractions in Palau and jointly promote Palau’s tourism with President Whipps.
3. To witness the achievements of Taiwan-Palau cooperation through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. In recent years, the governments of Taiwan and Palau have jointly promoted the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. On this trip, Vice President Hsiao will witness firsthand the tangible results of the project as well as our cooperative achievements in recent years in such areas as medicine and public health, agriculture and fisheries, and public infrastructure.
The spokesperson mentioned that the “Palau Prosperity Project” delegation will include Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger (葛葆萱), as well as a team composed of personnel from the Presidential Office, the National Security Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other agencies.
Vice Minister Ger subsequently provided further details on the itinerary:
1. Official visits: As part of her itinerary, Vice President Hsiao will meet with President Whipps and other key leaders of the Palauan government. She will also visit the Palau National Congress to engage with members of the Senate and the House of Delegates.
2. Witnessing the achievements of Taiwan-Palau cooperation through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project: Vice President Hsiao will visit the demonstration farm of the Taiwan Technical Mission in Palau, the National Aquaculture Center, and Belau National Hospital, among other sites. She will also attend an inauguration ceremony for an infrastructure project built with Taiwan’s assistance, and alongside members of the Palauan government, review cooperative achievements from recent years resulting from the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in areas such as agriculture and fisheries, medicine and public health, and infrastructure.
3. Promoting Palau’s sustainable tourism attractions: Vice President Hsiao will be personally accompanied by President Whipps, at his invitation, to visit several of Palau’s sustainable tourism attractions. Through these firsthand visits, they will jointly promote Palauan tourism, with the hope of introducing more of Taiwan’s citizens to the beauty of Palau and sparking greater interest in traveling there.
4. Attending the Palauan government’s welcome banquet and hosting Taiwan’s appreciation banquet: At the invitation of the Palauan government, Vice President Hsiao will attend a welcome banquet hosted by President Whipps. She will also host an appreciation banquet on behalf of the government of Taiwan to express gratitude for Palau’s hospitality.
5. Other itinerary items: In addition to the aforementioned itinerary, Vice President Hsiao will engage with the Palauan community and visit local cultural businesses to foster closer interaction and exchanges with the Palauan people. She will also visit the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Republic of Palau to show her support for frontline diplomatic personnel, members of the technical mission, medical staff stationed in Palau, volunteers, and members of the overseas Taiwanese community.
Vice Minister Ger stated that conducting head-of-state and vice-head-of-state diplomacy through visits to strengthen ties with diplomatic allies has always been a key focus of the government’s foreign policy. This will mark Vice President Hsiao’s first visit to a diplomatic ally since taking office, making it especially meaningful, and all official meetings and visits are being meticulously planned and coordinated. The vice minister said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work closely with relevant agencies and the Palauan government to ensure that all arrangements for the visit are comprehensive and that its objectives will be smoothly accomplished, demonstrating to the international community the robust, profound bilateral relations and cooperative achievements between Taiwan and Palau.

HKUST med school dean appointed

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today welcomed the appointment of Prof Li King-chuen as the Founding Dean of Medicine at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (UST).

It added that the appointment, which takes immediate effect, marks a new milestone in the university’s preparatory work for the establishment of the city’s third medical school.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau iterated that the establishment of the third medical school is of great importance to the long-term development of Hong Kong’s healthcare system.

He highlighted that Prof Li served as Founding Dean of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States and possesses relevant practical experience that will be invaluable.

“I look forward to the UST’s medical school continuing to smoothly advance the relevant preparatory work under his leadership,” the health chief added.

Such work includes recruitment of teaching and research teams; the formulation of teaching programmes; participation in overall planning for the Ngau Tam Mei campus and the new integrated teaching and research hospital; deepening collaboration with local healthcare institutions and teaching partners; and co-operating with the Medical Council of Hong Kong with regard to accreditation for the curriculum.

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin said Prof Li possesses outstanding leadership experience in medical education, an interdisciplinary academic background, and extensive experience in establishing a medical school.

“It is hoped that, with his global vision, academic and clinical experience, and extensive connections in the international medical community, he will lead the HKUST’s medical school in leveraging the strengths of clinical medicine, engineering, data science, and emerging technologies to develop an innovative education model that meets local professional standards, while also being forward-looking and internationally oriented.”

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Prof Li is an internationally renowned physician-scientist, biomedical innovator, and academic leader. He is currently Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor of Radiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine in the United States. 

Civil Aid Service Cadet Corps Presentation Ceremony 2026 held

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Civil Aid Service (CAS) Cadet Corps held the Cadet Corps Presentation Ceremony 2026 today (May 31) at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum. The ceremony was officiated by the Director of Government Logistics, Mrs Vicki Kwok. She presented awards to cadets in recognition of their achievements and contributions.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Kwok said that the CAS has always upheld its objective of serving the community, shouldering important mission of providing public safety, emergency responses, mountain search and rescues, wildfire support, and support during major incidents. At the same time, it has always placed great importance on youth development. The CAS Cadet Corps serves as an excellent platform for passing on the spirit of selfless service and cultivating youth qualities. Through rich and solid training, and diverse and beneficial activities, it cultivates leadership skills, a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and positive civic virtues, guiding young people to establish positive values ​​from a young age and aspire to become pillars of society who shoulder responsibilities and give back to the community.
 
     She said that in recent years, the Cadet Corps has continuously enriched the content of its activities and broadened the dimensions of its development, incorporating diverse content such as science and technology experiences, patriotic education, discipline training, and volunteer services to help members to improve their overall quality, deepen their understanding of people’s livelihood in society and the country’s development, while broadening their horizons to lay a solid foundation for their growth.
  
     At the ceremony, about 300 cadets were presented with the following awards:

  • Hong Kong Award for Young People Silver and Bronze Awards
  • Hong Kong Award for Young People Green Bird Action Award
  • Grantham Uniformed Youth Groups Outstanding Service Award
  • CAS Outstanding Service Award
  • CAS Outstanding Cadet Certificates
  • CAS Commander’s Commendation Certificates
  • CAS Senior Cadet Leader appointments

 
     The ceremony celebrated the cadets’ achievements in training and service, reaffirming the CAS’s mission to encourage youth participation in wholesome activities and to nurture the next generation of patriots who will contribute to the country and Hong Kong.
 
     Recruitment of CAS cadets is open for application throughout the year. Recruitment details and application forms are available on the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk/eng/org/cadet_corps.html).

Remarks by S for Health at media session on tobacco control measures

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following are the remarks made by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (May 30):
 
Reporter: What is the next step in the Government’s anti-smoking policies, and how would that further contribute to making Hong Kong a smoke-free city? And in terms of your mentions on alternative smoking products, how does that pose impact towards the number of smokers, and when will the next measures towards these products take place? 
 
Secretary for Health: We have already systematically implemented the anti-tobacco measures, including increasing the penalty for illegal import of tobacco products, as well as the implementation of prohibition or the ban on possession of alternative smoking products since the end of last month. So far, the measures are very smoothly implemented. And the next measure is the duty stamp as well as the uniform packaging for tobacco products, which will be fully implemented by the end of next year. These are very important countermeasures against illicit smoking products. The next step will be, after all these measures including the duty stamp, starting implementing the possible measure against additives into tobacco products. These additives are in fact attracting the younger generation as well as a lot of women into nicotine addiction. So, this is a very important measure. 

     So, after all these short-term measures, we’ll be considering other middle or long-term measures, including the prohibition or the ban of smoking while walking. But we will look into the short-term measures before we implement these long-term measures. We have reached a smoking rate of 8.5 per cent in the year 2025, and this is a historic low in the history of Hong Kong. We will continue to move towards a smoke-free Hong Kong, a Healthy Hong Kong and in accordance with our national policy of Healthy China. So, after considering and monitoring the effect of all these measures, we will consider the next stage.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

EDB and SCOLAR organise Student Language Ambassador Programme: Self-directed Language Learning Fair (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Education Bureau (EDB) and the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) today (May 30) held the Student Language Ambassador Programme: Self-directed Language Learning Fair to showcase to the public the fruitful achievements of the Student Language Ambassadors in developing biliterate and trilingual abilities, and to share their growth and transformation during their self-directed learning journeys.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, emphasised that the EDB has always been committed to nurturing students’ biliterate and trilingual abilities. The EDB has provided schools with the One-off Grant for Promotion of Self-directed Language Learning, helping schools to employ effective strategies to create an environment for students to learn and use languages.

Dr Choi said that the Student Language Ambassador Programme enables students to experience the joy of language learning through a wide range of diverse and enriching language activities, and that the theme of this Fair, “Language Life through Self-directed Learning”, also provides an opportunity for Student Language Ambassadors to showcase their creativity and achievements. She encouraged the Student Language Ambassadors to continue to serve as role models both within and beyond the campus by taking the initiative in exploring learning opportunities in their daily lives. They are also encouraged to continually enhance their language proficiency while actively sharing and promoting their practical experience in language use, with a view to inspiring their peers to grow together.

At the ceremony, the Chairperson of SCOLAR, Dr Anissa Chan, highlighted that the Student Language Ambassador Programme is a significant initiative that has achieved great success with the active participation of Student Language Ambassadors. The Fair provides a collaborative platform for sharing effective strategies and showcasing schools’ efforts in fostering a language-rich environment through self-directed learning. She also expressed gratitude to schools and teachers for their support in promoting biliteracy and trilingualism to the wider community.

The Student Language Ambassador Programme aims to build a platform for language practice for students across Hong Kong, encouraging them to explore and share the joy of learning Chinese and English, leverage peer motivation and interaction, and thereby promote the practical use of both languages in the community. The Programme has received an enthusiastic response, with 166 schools and over 2 700 students participating in the current school year.

The Fair attracted more than 500 (TBC) secondary and primary school principals, teachers, parents, students, and members of the public. Through a variety of language-themed booths and games, Student Language Ambassadors had the opportunity to demonstrate their language proficiency. The event also featured guest speakers, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Mrs Cindy Chow, and a non-Chinese-speaking lawyer rooted in Hong Kong, Mr Mohan Datwani, who shared their personal journeys of striving for success. Their stories inspired students to harness the power of language as a bridge for communication, thereby unlocking boundless opportunities for the future.

As SCOLAR approaches its 30th anniversary, this event also marked the first public appearance of the Committee’s new partner, Ming. Ming is a sparrow who, having worked hard to learn languages, has been invited to join hands with Student Language Ambassadors to encourage the public to make good use of both languages and learn with confidence, and to bravely immerse themselves and master languages proficiently, just like Ming.

For details of the Student Language Ambassador Programme and the latest news on SCOLAR’s activities, please visit the SCOLAR website (scolarhk.edb.hkedcity.net/en/promotion_of_languages/sla.html) or social media pages.