Category: MIL-OSI

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LCQ5: Developing industrial brand tourism

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Jimmy Ng and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):

Question:

The Government’s Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots announced in May 2025 nine tourism hotspot projects, among which the Hong Kong Industrial Brand Tourism Scheme (the Scheme) aims to showcase to visitors through tour groups formed by the tourism industry Hong Kong’s industrial story and the “Lion Rock spirit” to rise above the odds. Both the public and the industry have expressed concerns about the Scheme’s effectiveness. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) since the launch of the Scheme, how many applications from travel agents have been received; among them, how many visit sessions are involved;

(2) as the Government has previously stated that the implementation agent for the Scheme is currently discussing the details with brands interested in participating in the Scheme, of the relevant details and time of launch; whether the Government will introduce more measures to encourage industrial brands to participate in the Scheme; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether the Government will draw on the successful experience of the Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme to launch an “industrial tourism incentive scheme” to provide cash incentives for travel agents based on the number of participants in order to enhance the industry’s incentives to promote such projects; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The tourism industry in 2026 is showing strong momentum. In the first four months of this year, the number of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong reached approximately 18.5 million, representing a year-on-year increase of about 15 per cent. During the Chinese New Year Golden Week and the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, the number of Mainland visitors to Hong Kong was approximately 1.5 million and 1.01 million respectively, representing increases of 14 per cent and 10 per cent compared to the same periods last year. The results are very encouraging. We expect total visitor arrivals for the whole year to reach 53.8 million, an increase of about 8 per cent over last year.

The travel patterns of visitors have changed significantly after the pandemic. Hong Kong’s tourism industry needs to transform and adapt to better meet the needs of global travellers. The Government has been proactively seizing opportunities and has put forward the “+Tourism” development strategy under the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 to deeply integrate Hong Kong’s rich cultural heritage, unique urban and natural landscapes, and various large-scale cultural and sports events with tourism, thereby providing visitors with distinctive travel experiences. 

Our consolidated reply to Hon Jimmy Ng’s question is as follows:

The 2024 Policy Address announced the establishment of the Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots (Working Group) to identify and develop popular and attractive tourist hotspots across districts. On May 20, 2025, the Working Group announced the implementation of nine projects, including the launching of the Hong Kong Industrial Brand Tourism Scheme (the Scheme), which seeks to align with the development trend of in-depth travel and to develop “Made in Hong Kong” industrial tourist hotspots that visitors can visit, experience, and make purchases. Under the premise of complying with relevant land lease/tenancy conditions and other regulatory requirements, without affecting the daily production operations, staffing arrangements of the industrial brands, while remaining commercially viable, the Scheme integrates Hong Kong’s industrial brands with tourism to provide visitors with diversified local tourism product options and novel experiences.  

The Scheme has been open for applications from travel agents since November 2025. The pilot phase covers the factories of Lee Kum Kee, Kee Wah Bakery, and Yakult located in the Tai Po Innopark. Through a “group-in, group-out” mode, visitors can tour the factories, participate in product making, purchase souvenirs and cultural and creative products, and take photos with brand mascots to experience the “Made in Hong Kong” unique culture. The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) organised a trade familiarisation visit to these factories on November 6, 2025. The travel trade responded very positively and recognised the potential of industrial tourism, especially for student groups, business travellers and visitors seeking unique travel experiences.

The Government has commissioned the TIC as the implementing agent of the Scheme to assist participating brands in planning itineraries and co-ordinating the details of tour group visits. Travel agents may submit applications to the TIC through the booking system to arrange visits for inbound tour groups. At this stage, the visiting hours offered by brands are limited to weekdays. Travel agents will co-ordinate closely with the TIC and the brands, taking into account the tour group’s needs, specific visit dates, and available booking slots offered by factories, to ensure suitable guided tours are arranged without disrupting factory operations.

Since the factories of the participating industrial brands are still engaged in manufacturing activities, the TIC needs to negotiate individually with each brand regarding their capacity, available opening hours (including the possibility of weekend openings) and visit arrangements. For brands, industrial production remains their core business, and they need to ensure that they can receive visitors without affecting their production processes. Since “Industry+Tourism” helps enhance brand value and awareness, and the number of visitors that can be accommodated depends primarily on the brand’s reception capacity, as well as constraints such as factory space and opening hours, we do not consider that providing financial incentives would effectively benefit more visitors.

The Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme was a special support measure introduced by the Government during the pandemic to support the hard-hit tourism industry. With the tourism sector currently experiencing a strong recovery and industrial brands themselves being highly appealing, though each has its own limitations in terms of capacity, we believe resources should be concentrated on providing appropriate administrative and co-ordination support to the participating industrial brands and travel agents, such as establishing a booking system and assisting with itinerary planning, thereby enhancing the industry’s incentive to promote the project and ensuring the quality of visits.

The Tourism Commission is actively preparing for the next phase of the Scheme and has made initial contact with around 10 industrial brands that have expressed interest in joining. The aim is to include more industrial brands into the Scheme, subject to compliance with land lease/tenancy conditions and other regulatory requirements, and to continuously optimise and enhance the Scheme’s content to ensure its steady development. Depending on the preparation progress of each industrial brand, we will make announcements as appropriate.

The Scheme has successfully highlighted the unique “Made in Hong Kong” travel experience. We are pleased to see more and more Hong Kong industrial brands participating in the Scheme and launching their own exhibitions, displays and souvenirs related to their brand history and products, thereby introducing the “Made in Hong Kong” culture to locals and visitors. The Government will continue to support and promote the development of industrial tourism, offering visitors more “Only in Hong Kong” unique travel experiences.

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LCQ22: Enhancing visa arrangements for entry into Hong Kong for training or internships

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Sunny Tan and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):

Question:

     It has been reported that there are over 50 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Mainland. There are views pointing out that, given the opportunities presented by the 15th Five-Year Plan, many Mainland SMEs require support from Hong Kong in serving as a platform for them to go global. These Mainland SMEs also hope that they can send their staff to Hong Kong for training. However, under the existing visa arrangements for entry into Hong Kong for training, the Administration will only consider applications from Mainland residents who are employees and business associates of well-established and multinational companies based in Hong Kong. In addition, there are views pointing out that, while quite a number of the organisations in Hong Kong offer global internship opportunities or internship opportunities open for application by non-local university students, the existing mechanism for entry visas lacks a dedicated channel for Mainland students from leading Mainland universities to apply for visas to undertake internships in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will strengthen communications and collaborations with the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global to expeditiously review and relax the eligibility criteria for entry visas for undergoing training in Hong Kong, so as to include Mainland residents who are employees and business associates of Mainland SMEs, thereby providing a more convenient visa application mechanism for them to undergo training in Hong Kong; and

(2) whether the Immigration Department will strengthen communications and collaborations with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau to study the establishment of a visa mechanism for internships in a wider range of industries targeting Mainland students from leading Mainland universities, by drawing on experience from the implementation of the GBA Fintech Two-way Internship Scheme for Post-secondary Students, with a view to effectively expanding the pool of high-calibre talents in Hong Kong?

Reply:

President,

     The Government is committed to building Hong Kong into an international hub for high calibre talents, with a view to fully leveraging Hong Kong’s strategic role in “connecting with both the Mainland and the world”, contributing to our country’s high‑standard opening up, and better integrating into and serving the overall national development. While maintaining effective immigration control, the Government continues to enhance visa arrangements for entry, so as to facilitate the convergence of talents for exchanges in Hong Kong.

     In consultation with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) and the Immigration Department (ImmD), my reply to the question raised by the Hon Tan is as follows:

(1) According to the prevailing entry policy for training, non-local persons may apply to enter Hong Kong for training for a limited period (not more than 12 months) to undergo employment-related activities such as on-the-job training, secondment or internship, with a view to acquiring special skills and knowledge not available in their country/territory of domicile. For Mainland residents, if they are Mainland employees and business associates of well-established and multinational companies based in Hong Kong, or if their applications are sponsored by bureaux/departments (B/Ds) or statutory bodies, they may also apply to enter Hong Kong for training.

     The entry arrangement for training aims at facilitating persons with genuine needs to enter Hong Kong for training, enabling them to acquire local knowledge, experience or skills. It also helps promote and consolidate Hong Kong’s role in assisting Mainland enterprises in going global. This arrangement plays a vital role in consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s competitive advantages and in developing the city into an international hub for high calibre talents.

     In 2025, a total of 6 938 applications for training visa/entry permit were approved by the ImmD, of which about 32 per cent (2 244 cases) were from Mainland residents. In the first quarter of 2026, a total of 1 582 applications for training visa/entry permit were approved by the ImmD, of which about 34 per cent (538 cases) were from Mainland residents.

     The Government reviews the entry arrangement for training from time to time, to ensure that the arrangement keeps pace with the times and meets the development needs of Hong Kong, while ensuring that the risks are manageable. In considering whether to further relax the entry arrangement, the Government will take into account the impact on the local workforce and training opportunities for local talents, as well as the risk of abuse (including illegal employment or exploitation of those coming for training in Hong Kong as cheap labour).

     The Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (Task Force) mentioned in the question was established in October 2025. The Task Force is steered by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development to co-ordinate efforts across relevant bureaux, departments and agencies, and work together to provide one-stop support for Mainland enterprises to go global through Hong Kong. As a member of the Task Force, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) supports Mainland enterprises in establishing presence in Hong Kong through assisting them in applying to relevant departments for the required documents, such as visas/entry permits for staff. In addition, InvestHK stays attuned to the challenges and difficulties faced by those enterprises when setting up businesses in Hong Kong, in order to timely reflect the issues to relevant departments for exploring suitable solutions as appropriate. The ImmD has been in communication with InvestHK and provided assistance to staff of Mainland enterprises in applying for visas/entry permits.

     The Government will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the entry arrangement for training, as well as the views of the relevant departments and sectors concerned, and timely review the entry arrangement for training to strike an appropriate balance between immigration control and facilitation.

(2) The GBA Fintech Two-way Internship Scheme for Post-secondary Students mentioned in the question was launched in 2023 by the FSTB through the existing entry arrangement for training. The internship programme subsidises, inter alia, Mainland students studying fintech-related subjects in post-secondary institutions in Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to undertake internships at fintech companies in Hong Kong. Apart from this internship programme, the ImmD also actively collaborates with various B/Ds or their statutory bodies to enable Mainland students or youths to participate in internship programmes in relevant sectors through the entry arrangement for training, thereby expanding the talent pool of Hong Kong. These internship programmes include:

(a) The InnoTalent Programme launched by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) in 2020. Under this programme, university students from renowned Mainland and overseas institutions can participate in work shadowing at the HKPC, engaging in practical research and development (R&D) and project management work, as well as conducting field studies at factories and enterprises in the GBA. The programme covers cutting-edge fields such as new industrialisation, artificial intelligence (AI), green technology and smart cities;

(b) The STEM Internship Scheme launched by the ITC in 2020. The internship programme subsidises university students taking STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programmes in designated local universities to undertake short-term internships, thereby letting them to gain innovation and technology (I&T)-related work experience, including AI, biotechnology, fintech and other I&T areas, and fostering their interest in pursuing a career in I&T after graduation. In June 2023, the scheme was expanded to cover government-funded R&D centres and the HKPC, providing internship opportunities in Hong Kong for STEM students from both local and overseas universities (including GBA campuses established by designated local universities); and

(c) The GBA Youth Aviation Industry Internship Programme launched by the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (established and managed by the Airport Authority Hong Kong) in 2023. The internship programme paves the way for Mainland youths aspiring to pursue careers in the aviation industry within the GBA to undertake internships at the Hong Kong International Airport.

     The Government will continue to review various visa policies in a timely manner and, subject to the premise of ensuring effective immigration control, help facilitate more non-local talents in visiting Hong Kong for exchanges, thereby expanding the local pool of high-calibre talents and consolidating Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector”.

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Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from May 28 to June 1

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Transport Department (TD) today (May 13) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on May 28 (Thursday) to noon on June 1 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
 
     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
 
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
 
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
 
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

  • completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
  • making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

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Registration for public tours of LCSD’s “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours” starts on May 15

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Registration for public tours of LCSD’s “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours” starts on May 15  
     Highly acclaimed last year, the tours will expand to a total of 40 field trips this year, extending the coverage to eight districts. Apart from the two popular routes from last year in Islands District and Yau Tsim Mong District, seven new routes across six new districts will also be introduced, including Wan Chai (two routes), Kowloon City, Kwai Tsing, North, Sai Kung and Sham Shui Po Districts, offering a total of nine different ICH-themed routes. Each route has two public tours and accommodates 20 participants, and is conducted in Cantonese.

     The dates and relevant ICH items of the public tours are as follows:
 

Date      Members of the public can register through the ICHO’s website (www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2026_tours.html     
     The Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 is presented by the LCSD and organised by the ICHO, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as the sole sponsor of “Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series”, and ICH June as a strategic partner. For details of the programmes, please visit the website www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2026.htmlIssued at HKT 18:40

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Tender of 2-Year Exchange Fund Notes to be held on May 22

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announces that a tender of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes will be held on May 22, 2026 (Friday) for settlement on May 26, 2026 (Tuesday), as set out in the published tentative issuance schedule. This is to roll over an issue of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes maturing on the same day. 
 
A total of HK$1,200 million 2-year Notes will be on offer, of which HK$5 million will be made available for offer to members of the public who wish to submit non-competitive tender bids through Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (HKSCC). If the Notes reserved for non-competitive tender are under-subscribed, the non-subscribed amount will be added to the portion of notes for competitive tender (initially set at HK$1,195 million). The Notes will mature on May 26, 2028 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.52 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears.
 
Members of the public who wish to submit non-competitive tender applications for Notes that are open to HKSCC may do so through Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for those who hold Investor Accounts of the Central Clearing and Settlement System (CCASS) at the HKSCC, directly through HKSCC, for submission to the HKMA for processing. Competitive tender applications for the Notes must be submitted through any of the Eligible Market Makers appointed by the HKMA, with the current published list available on the HKMA’s website at www.hkma.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof for both competitive and non-competitive tender.
 
The tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Refinitiv screen (HKMAOOE), and Bloomberg. Applicants who submitted non-competitive tender bids through HKSCC may also obtain the tender results from Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for applicants who hold Investor Accounts at HKSCC’s CCASS from the CCASS terminal for CCASS Broker/Custodian/Participants and CCASS Phone System.
 
HKMA Exchange Fund Note Programme Tender Information
——————————————————————
Tender information of 2-Year Exchange Fund Notes:
 

Issue Number : 02Y2805 
Stock code : 4111 (EFN 2.52 2805) 
Tender date and time : Friday, May 22, 2026
9.30 am to 10.30 am
Issue and Settlement Date  : Tuesday, May 26, 2026 
Amount on offer : HK$1,200 million
(up to HK$5 million for non-competitive tender) 
Commencement of/
Deadline for
submission of non-competitive tender bids by retail investors through HKSCC 		 : Please refer to requirements as set down by HKSCC
Maturity : Two years 
Maturity Date : Friday, May 26, 2028 
Interest Rate : 2.52 per cent p.a. 
Interest Payment Dates : November 26, 2026
May 26, 2027
November 26, 2027
May 26, 2028 
Tender amount : Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof for both competitive and non-competitive tender. Members of the public who wish to apply for the Notes through non-competitive tenders that are open to HKSCC may do so through Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for those who hold Investors Accounts at HKSCC’s CCASS, directly through HKSCC. Members of the public who wish to apply for the Notes through competitive tender may only do so through any of the Eligible Market Makers on the current published list. 
Other details : Please see Information Memorandum published or approach Eligible Market Makers, HKSCC, or brokers who are Exchange Participants of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. 
Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong : Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Price/Yield Table of the new EFN at tender for reference* only:
 

Yield-to- Maturity Price Yield-to-Maturity Price
1.520  101.97 2.520  100.03
1.570  101.88 2.570  99.93
1.620  101.78 2.620  99.84
1.670  101.68 2.670  99.74
1.720  101.58 2.720  99.65
1.770  101.48 2.770  99.55
1.820  101.38 2.820  99.46
1.870  101.29 2.870  99.36
1.920  101.19 2.920  99.27
1.970  101.09 2.970  99.17
2.020  101.00 3.020  99.08
2.070  100.90 3.070  98.99
2.120  100.80 3.120  98.89
2.170  100.70 3.170  98.80
2.220  100.61 3.220  98.70
2.270  100.51 3.270  98.61
2.320  100.41 3.320  98.52
2.370  100.32 3.370  98.42
2.420  100.22 3.420  98.33
2.470  100.13 3.470  98.24
2.520  100.03 3.520  98.14

 
*Disclaimer: The information provided here is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, the HKMA does not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects. You are encouraged to conduct your own enquiries to verify any particular piece of information provided on it. The HKMA shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any use or reliance on any of the information provided here.

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DH holds I’m So Smart Community Health Promotion Programme Recognition Ceremony to encourage community partners to work together in promoting weight management

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

DH holds I’m So Smart Community Health Promotion Programme Recognition Ceremony to encourage community partners to work together in promoting weight management           
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Controller of the CHP of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui, said, “The I’m So Smart Programme has long advocated two major components of weight management, namely healthy eating and regular physical activity, through cross-sectoral collaboration to encourage members of the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle. In the past year (2025-26), participating organisations organised over 1 300 activities of various kinds, attracting nearly 50 000 attendees. I would like to express my gratitude to all partner organisations and community members for their enthusiastic support, which has contributed to the smooth implementation of the programme. On the occasion of today’s ceremony, I am pleased to announce that, starting from this year (2026-27), at least 60 public housing estates will take part in the I’m So Smart Programme each year. Our goal is to organise weight management promotion activities in all public rental housing estates under the Hong Kong Housing Authority within three years so that more than 2 million residents at public rental housing estates can benefit and develop healthy living habits.”
           
     Body weight is closely related to health. Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for many non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and sleep apnoea.
           
     Dr Tsui added, “In response to the national Weight Management Year initiative and the World Health Organization (WHO)’s WHO Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity global framework, the DH launched Hong Kong’s inaugural Action Plan on Weight Management in March this year. The Action Plan is based on scientific evidence, building a systematic strategy that spans the entire life cycle and covers the entire social environment. The I’m So Smart Programme will continue to roll out various activities in support of the Action Plan, working with citizens to build a healthy and vibrant city.”
           
     To encourage more organisations and members of the public to participate in the I’m So Smart Programme, the CHP has set up a dedicated webpage           
     Other officiating guests at today’s ceremony included Chief Manager (Management) of the Housing Department Mr Choy Kwan-wing; the Executive Director of the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China, Dr Sam Wong; and representative of the Hong Kong Dietitians Association media team Mr Wong Siu-cheung.
Issued at HKT 16:45

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LCQ6: Soliciting business, attracting investment and assisting enterprises in developing global business

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Hung Kam-in and a reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):
 
Question:
 
     In recent years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively soliciting business and attracting investment, and has set up the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (Task Force) to assist Mainland enterprises in leveraging the Hong Kong platform to develop global business. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the overall effectiveness of the investment promotion activities and measures to solicit business and attract investment implemented by the Government in the past three years, including the amount of inward investment attracted, the number of job opportunities created and the number of strategic enterprises introduced; given that the Government has set up the Steering Committee on Preferential Policies for Attracting Industries and Investment to formulate preferential policy packages for enterprises, of the progress and timetable of the relevant work, as well as the specific effectiveness expected to be achieved by the relevant measures;
 
(2) whether statistics have been compiled on the number of Mainland enterprises which have established operations in Hong Kong to develop global business since the establishment of the Task Force, as well as the industry distribution of such enterprises; whether it has assessed the specific effectiveness of the Task Force’s interdepartmental collaboration mechanism in supporting enterprises; and
 
(3) whether it will, by making reference to the practice of the Task Force, strengthen the Government’s role, and enhance the co-ordination and collaboration of statutory bodies and overseas economic and trade offices, so as to take the lead in providing enterprises with more services for tapping into both the domestic and overseas markets in the form of one-stop support?
 
Reply:

President,
 
     As an investment promotion agency of the Government, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) has been proactively assisting Mainland and overseas enterprises to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong by providing them with one-stop customised support, thereby attracting more enterprises and direct investment from outside Hong Kong. As this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, the CEDB will accelerate the integration into the overall national development. We will consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international trade centre and fully leverage our strengths in professional services to help enterprises to go global, serving the country’s needs with Hong Kong’s advantages.
 
     The consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Hung Kam-in is as follows:
 
     Regarding supporting Mainland enterprises to go global, the CEDB established the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force) last October. It serves as a one-stop platform to actively attract Mainland enterprises to go global through Hong Kong. Since the establishment of the GoGlobal Task Force, I have convened three Steering Committee meetings to formulate a comprehensive work plan. Through the cross-bureau and cross-departmental collaboration mechanism, the GoGlobal Task Force is proactively taking forward various tasks:
 
(i) First, the GoGlobal Task Force proactively attracts key Mainland enterprises to set up businesses in Hong Kong, assisting them in progressively developing various corporate functions and business operations that satisfy overseas market standards, thereby preparing them for going global. For example, enterprises may establish regional headquarters and corporate treasury centres to fulfil relevant requirements on corporate structures, cross-border capital, industry certifications, compliance, etc. Among the 560 enterprises that have set up or expanded businesses in Hong Kong with InvestHK’s assistance in 2025, the top three sectors are financial services and fintech, innovation and technology, and family office. About half of them (298 enterprises) came from the Mainland, the vast majority of which plan to go global or are going global through the platform of Hong Kong. The GoGlobal Task Force will engage these enterprises that have set up presence in Hong Kong to understand their go global needs and target destinations in order to assist them in preparing for global expansion.
 
(ii) As one of the GoGlobal Task Force members, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) formally launched the cross-sectoral professional services platform GoGlobal Connect in April this year, bringing together eight groups of Hong Kong professional service providers, including legal services, accounting, financial services, testing and certification services, etc, to precisely match the services needs of go global Mainland enterprises and provide them with professional and customised consultation services. At present, the platform has already followed up on over a hundred enquiries regarding enterprises going global.
 
(iii) On publicity and promotional work, the GoGlobal Task Force has so far organised over 10 promotional events in Hong Kong and Mainland provinces and municipalities, engaging a total of over 3 000 representatives of Mainland enterprises. In addition to general promotional events that cover multiple industries, many of the events focused on specific industry themes including financial services, innovation and technology, and manufacturing. These industry-specific events provide enterprises from the relevant sectors with more focused and pertinent information and support. To enhance online publicity, the GoGlobal Task Force launched a dedicated website (www.goglobal.gov.hk) in March this year, providing practical information and success stories on enterprises going global and connecting to the HKTDC’s cross-sectoral professional services platform.
 
(iv) The GoGlobal Task Force will also organise outbound missions, which will be led by government officials, to enable Mainland enterprises to visit overseas markets, including high-potential markets of Belt and Road countries, to allow the enterprises to understand the local market situation.
 
(v) To step up the collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the CEDB and the Ministry of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in February this year. The MOU seeks to strengthen co-operation and exchange in the provision of comprehensive overseas services and enhance the capacity of supporting Mainland enterprises to go global. In addition, we will engage with government authorities and chambers of commerce from different provinces and municipalities in the Mainland to discuss collaboration on overseas expansion, amplifying cross-regional synergy.
 
     In the past three years, InvestHK has assisted a total of over 1 400 enterprises to establish or expand businesses in Hong Kong. These enterprises are expected to bring in direct investment of around $200 billion and create over 21 000 jobs in total in the first year of their establishment or expansion. InvestHK is proactively working towards the new performance indicator set out in the 2025 Policy Address to attract at least a total of 1 200 enterprises, including Mainland enterprises planning to go global through Hong Kong, to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong within two years’ time between 2026 and 2027.
 
     To meet the new performance indicator and attract more high value-added industries and enterprises to set up in Hong Kong while promoting the development of the Northern Metropolis, the Financial Secretary has established the Steering Committee on Preferential Policies for Attracting Industries and Investment (Steering Committee). The Steering Committee formulates preferential policy packages to promote industry development and investment, covering land grants, land premiums, financial subsidies, and tax incentives, etc. Currently, the Steering Committee has formulated a preliminary framework of the preferential policy packages, with details to be tailored based on industry, technology level, economic contributions, and employment opportunities of individual enterprises.
 
     InvestHK will negotiate with enterprises on settlement details using the preferential policy packages. It will also act as the “relationship manager” to provide enterprises with customised services to ensure that they can smoothly establish a presence in Hong Kong, including in the Northern Metropolis. InvestHK and relevant members of the Steering Committee are proactively taking forward the work related to the preferential policy packages. When cases become mature, the Government will announce them in due course.
 
     Looking ahead, we will expedite the aforementioned investment promotion work. We will also step up the co-ordination of the trio of overseas Economic and Trade Offices, InvestHK and the HKTDC under the CEDB through the Economic and Trade Express platform, thereby enhancing synergy in supporting enterprises to explore new overseas markets through Hong Kong.

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SHYA to attend APEC Women and Economy Forum in Shanghai

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

SHYA to attend APEC Women and Economy Forum in Shanghai      
     The 2026 APEC Women and the Economy Forum, themed “Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment to Prosper Together in the Asia-Pacific”, will focus on exchanges and discussions on key topics including women’s participation in digital and smart development, green and low-carbon development, as well as employment and entrepreneurship.
      
     Miss Mak will attend the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy with ministers from other member economies and deliver a speech at the session. She will also participate as a guest speaker in a panel discussion on “Advancing Economic and Trade Cooperation” under the Public-Private Dialogue on Women and the Economy.
      
     In addition to attending the APEC meetings, Miss Mak will conduct visits and exchange views on co-operation between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong in promoting women’s development and family building affairs.
      
     During the visit, the Chairperson of the Women’s Commission, Dr Eliza Chan, and the Deputy Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs (Home Affairs), Mr Paul Wong, will also attend the activities.
      
     Miss Mak will return to Hong Kong on the evening of May 16. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, will act as the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs.
Issued at HKT 17:00

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DH and Hong Kong Customs carry out joint operation to crack down on illegal online sale and illegal import of controlled anti-obesity injection

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​To combat the illegal online sale and illegal import of controlled anti-obesity injections, the Department of Health (DH) and Hong Kong Customs carried out a joint enforcement operation yesterday (May 12) in Tin Shui Wai, arresting a 31-year-old woman suspected of illegally selling Part 1 poison and an unregistered pharmaceutical product, and importing a pharmaceutical product not under and in accordance with a licence.
 
Following up on a complaint, the DH and Hong Kong Customs purchased two boxes of an anti-obesity injection (see photos) from the woman in question via an online social media platform. The product packaging indicated in Japanese that it contains tirzepatide, a substance classified as Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (PPO). The product is suspected to be an unregistered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong.
 
The DH and Hong Kong Customs will continue to investigate the case, and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.
 
Tirzepatide is used for the treatment of obesity, and its side effects include hair loss, nausea and diarrhoea. Medicines containing tirzepatide should be used under a doctor’s direction and must be supplied on the premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (commonly known as a pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor’s prescription.
 
The DH strongly urged members of the public not to self-purchase or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. Purchasing controlled medicines (including anti-obesity injections) online poses health risks. Besides the lack of a doctor’s assessment of an individual’s health condition, it is difficult to ascertain the legitimate source of the drugs. It is also impossible to know whether the drugs were properly stored during transportation (especially for drugs requiring cold-chain storage). This leaves their safety, quality and efficacy unguaranteed.
 
The DH also reminded the public that selling medicines controlled under the PPO illegally, regardless of the sales channel (including online sales platforms, instant messaging applications or social media), carries criminal liability. Do not risk breaking the law.
 
According to the PPO, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Additionally, pharmaceutical products containing Part 1 poisons could only be sold at the registered premises of a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. If any contravention of the law is suspected, the DH will follow up and carry out enforcement action. After seeking advice from the Department of Justice, prosecutions against relevant persons may be initiated. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
 
Hong Kong Customs reminded the public that under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), import or export of all controlled items (including pharmaceutical products and medicines) must be accompanied by a valid licence issued by the relevant authorities. Any person who brings any controlled item into/out of Hong Kong (whether in person, by post, or through purchasing agents or consolidated consignments) without a valid licence may be prosecuted, in addition to the confiscation of the subject item. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
 
The DH reminded the public that all registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of “HK-XXXXX”. The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.  
 
Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before consuming any medication for weight control. They may visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for “Health message on overweight problem and slimming products” for information.

     

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LCQ20: Handling of cases of unauthorised building works

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ20: Handling of cases of unauthorised building works 
Question:
 
     In recent years, the Government has indicated that it will step up efforts to combat unauthorised building works (UBWs). However, it is learnt that UBWs remain prevalent in the southwest New Territories (including Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan districts), with many cases involving serious structural or fire safety risks. There are views that if a large number of UBWs involving serious safety hazards are left unaddressed for a long time, they will not only pose threats to public safety, but also constitute major obstacles to the overall maintenance and management of the buildings. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of cases among the UBW reports received and those identified through proactive inspections by the Buildings Department over the past three years, which were assessed as “posing safety risks” or “posing imminent danger to the public”, together with a breakdown by district and building age;
 
(2) whether the authorities have compiled statistics on (i) the number of buildings for which mandatory building inspections or maintenance works of the entire building have been delayed; and (ii) the number of cases in which an application for an extension to the time limit for a mandatory building inspection was required, due to serious UBWs in individual units;
 
(3) in respect of UBWs in the southwest New Territories over the past three years, of (i) the number of cases in which the authorities proactively intervened to carry out defaulted works (i.e. first removing UBWs and then recovering the costs of the works from the owners), and the average time taken from the issuance of a removal order to the actual commencement of removal works; (ii) the number of cases in which criminal prosecutions were instituted against owners who failed to comply with removal orders, the number of convictions and the average amount of fine imposed;
 
(4) whether the authorities have set a clear “mandatory removal deadline” for UBWs; whether they have compiled statistics on the number of “high-risk UBW” cases in the southwest New Territories for which removal orders have been issued but not complied with to date, as well as the average backlog time; and set out the details of the 10 cases that have taken the longest time to handle (from receipt of the removal order to completion of removal);
 
(5) regarding the long-standing and risky UBW cases, whether the authorities have assessed the removal progress for the coming three years; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(6) regarding UBW locations prone to danger during the rainy season and under extreme weather conditions (e.g. loose UBWs on external walls or those on slopes), whether the authorities have set up a priority monitoring list; whether it has assessed the effectiveness of the large-scale enforcement operations proactively conducted by the authorities over the past year (including the numbers of prosecutions and convictions)?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     If an unauthorised building work (UBW) constitutes an obvious hazard or imminent danger to life or property, serious hygiene or environmental nuisance, the Buildings Department (BD) will accord priority to enforcement in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO) by issuing a removal order to the owner and registering the order at the Land Registry (commonly known as “imposing an encumbrance”). If the owner fails to rectify the situation within the specified period without reasonable excuse, the BD will consider instigating prosecution against the owner concerned. In special circumstances (such as when the owner has passed away, is missing, or is an elderly and unable to arrange the demolition work by himself/herself), the BD will carry out the works on behalf of the owner in respect of removal orders that pose a higher risk or are outstanding for a long period of time. In addition, if an UBW becomes dangerous, the BD will also arrange emergency work to ensure public safety.
      
     A reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
      
(1) From 2023 to 2025, the number of UBWs, with breakdown by district and building age, identified by the BD as “higher-risk” (i.e. posing potential risk to structural or fire safety) through public reports received and proactive large-scale operations are set out in Annex 1.
 
(2) If building owners receive statutory notices served under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme, they must carry out the prescribed inspection and prescribed repairs for the building within the time limit specified in the statutory notice. A registered inspector must conduct an inspection of the entire building to identify and record all UBWs in the inspection report for submission to the BD. If it is found that such UBWs pose an obvious hazard or imminent danger to residents or the public, the BD must be notified immediately. If the prescribed inspection or prescribed repairs cannot be completed within the specified timeframe due to the need to handle the UBWs, building owners may submit a written application to the BD requesting an extension of time for completing the prescribed inspection or prescribed repairs. The BD will consider granting an extension on a case-by-case basis.
 
     It is uncommon that the handling of UBWs would result in delay in carrying out the prescribed inspections and repairs under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme, but the BD does not maintain relevant statistics.
      
(3) From 2023 to 2025, the number of works carried out by the BD in default of owners in Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan Districts in respect of outstanding removal orders, the average duration of such works, as well as the number of prosecutions instigated, the number of convictions and the average fines are set out in Annex 2.
 
(4) Depending on the nature of the case, the BD generally grants the relevant owners a period of 60 to 180 days to comply with the removal order. If an owner encounters practical difficulties in complying with the order and needs to apply for an extension, the BD will consider whether to grant the extension based on the actual circumstances of each individual case. As of March 2026, in the southwestern New Territories, there were 129 removal orders issued against “higher-risk” UBWs that had not been complied with, of which 46.5 per cent had been overdue for three years or below. The average overdue period for other more complex cases exceeded three years, the majority of which involved prosecution. In quite some other cases, the owners faced practical difficulties requiring assistance, or UBWs involved property ownership issues or legal disputes.
 
     According to the BD’s historical records, among the removal orders issued against “higher-risk” UBWs in the southwestern New Territories that have been complied with, the cases with the longest processing time took over 10 years. These cases involved special and complex circumstances, such as legal disputes, the passing away of the owner, the unit being vacant, or the owner only rectifying part of the irregularities, thus resulting in a longer period in complying with the removal orders. However, during this period, the BD conducted inspections from time to time to ensure that the UBWs did not pose an imminent danger. In the southwestern New Territories, approximately 2 600 removal orders issued against “higher-risk” UBWs have been complied with, and the average time required for compliance is 2.5 years.
      
(5) The BD issues approximately 7 000 to 10 000 removal orders every year. The number of unauthorised structures removed and irregularities rectified in existing buildings is about 20 000 every year (involving approximately more than 10 000 removal orders).
 
     The BD has a dedicated special duties unit to follow up on non-compliant cases in order to expedite the clearance of outstanding removal orders. In recent years, there has been a downward trend in terms of the annual number of non-complied removal orders. The BD will continue to review and set targets for handling non-compliant removal orders annually. The BD will take appropriate follow-up actions, including initiating prosecutions and arranging default works, in order to expedite the handling and actively clear the backlog of non-complied removal orders.
      
     The Development Bureau (DEVB) will amend the BO, including rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. On one hand, we will tackle “minor UBWs” in a pragmatic and facilitating manner; on the other hand, we will enhance the effectiveness of enforcement against “serious UBWs” by focusing enforcement resources through measures such as increasing penalties. The DEVB aims to introduce the bill into the Legislative Council for scrutiny in the second half of this year. The BD will adjust its enforcement policies regarding UBWs in accordance with the amended BO.
      
(6) Given the large number of cases, the BD adopts a pragmatic “risk-based” approach to determine enforcement priorities and selects target buildings for large-scale operations. Various factors will be taken into account, including reports and referrals received from the public and other relevant information. Priority is given to buildings with UBWs that constitute an obvious hazard or imminent danger to life or property. In addition, the BD will adjust enforcement priorities from time to time in light of actual circumstances. For example, the landslide at Redhill Peninsula after the series of torrential rains in 2023 revealed that UBWs in detached houses located on slopes would pose safety risks. In response, the BD, in collaboration with the Lands Department, inspected many detached houses situated on slopes and took enforcement action based on the findings of the investigation.
 
     The number of removal orders issued, cases prosecuted and convictions resulting from large-scale operations conducted by the BD proactively between 2023 and 2025 are set out in Annex 3. These large-scale operations target buildings were selected on a risk-basis, enabling the BD to make effective use of limited resources to identify and prioritise the handling of “higher-risk” UBWs.
Issued at HKT 17:35

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