Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Library 4, 8 and 11 services
Mobile Library 8 will suspend services from July 6 to 18. The affected service points are Laguna City in Lam Tin; On Tai Estate, Po Tat Estate and Yau Lai Estate in Kwun Tong; Tai Hang Tung Estate on Tai Hang Tung Road; Laguna Verde in Hung Hom and Choi Fook Estate in Kowloon Bay. For enquiries about Mobile Library 8 services, please call 2926 3055.
Mobile Library 11 will suspend services from July 15 to 21. The affected service points are Kwong Yuen Estate in Sha Tin, Cheung Ching Estate and Easeful Court in Tsing Yi, Tin Wah Estate in Tin Shui Wai, Cho Yiu Chuen in Kwai Chung and Po Tin Estate in Tuen Mun. For enquiries about Mobile Library 11 services, please call 2479 1055.
Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hkIssued at HKT 14:52
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Home and Youth Affairs Bureau launches second round of applications for 2026-27 HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Home and Youth Affairs Bureau launches second round of applications for 2026-27 HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland
Through the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Youth Development Commission (YDC) provide funding for NGOs to organise youth exchange projects on the Mainland for Hong Kong young people to enhance their awareness and understanding of the country’s development, foster exchanges with Mainland people and strengthen their sense of national identity. The Pilot Scheme on Subsidy to Grassroots Youth for Participating in Exchange Activities Outside Hong Kong that launched earlier will also continue to provide additional subsidies to grassroots youth with financial needs to participate in exchange projects under the 2026-27 funding scheme.
Details of the second round are available on the YDC website (www.ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/ep/ep_fundingscheme.htmlIssued at HKT 16:00
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Innovation and Technology Commission and Competition Commission collaborate to combat anti-competitive conduct
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Innovation and Technology Commission and Competition Commission collaborate to combat anti-competitive conduct
A spokesman for the ITC said, “The ITC and the Secretariat rigorously review all information submitted by applicants and continuously enhance checking mechanisms to ensure that procurement is conducted on an independent, open, fair and competitive basis. The current case was identified and proactively reported by the ITC and the Secretariat, and certain disbursements were withheld after detection of irregularities. This reflects the effectiveness of the checking mechanisms and the high vigilance of ITC and HKPC colleagues handling the case. We have zero tolerance for anti‑competitive conduct involving funding schemes and will pursue any such cases to the end.”
The TVP was launched in 2016 to subsidise local enterprises/organisations in using technological services and solutions on a matching basis, to improve productivity, upgrade or transform their business processes. The HKPC serves as the TVP’s Secretariat. As the TVP had achieved its original objectives, it had ceased to accept new applications after December 31, 2024.
The ITC will continue to process all applications of funding schemes to the highest standards and maintain a high level of vigilance. In recent years, the ITC has also strengthened the use of technology to analyse data concerning applicants and service providers, in order to identify suspected cases more precisely and refer them to law enforcement agencies for follow‑up.
Issued at HKT 18:11
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External merchandise trade statistics for May 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 25) the external merchandise trade statistics for May 2026. In May 2026, the values of Hong Kong’s total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 40.8% and 42.0% respectively.
In May 2026, the value of total exports of goods increased by 40.8% over a year earlier to $611.2 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 42.9% in April 2026. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 42.0% over a year earlier to $655.4 billion in May 2026, after a year-on-year increase by 44.4% in April 2026. A visible trade deficit of $44.2 billion, equivalent to 6.7% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in May 2026.
Government posts fifth batch of land resumption notices for Second Phase development of Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government posts fifth batch of land resumption notices for Second Phase development of Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area
The 71 private lots to be resumed this time involve the two sites of withdrawn in-situ land exchange applications, and a small amount of third-party land that requires acquisition by the Government for the remaining two in-situ land exchange applications.
The above 71 private lots will be reverted to the Government upon the expiry of a period of three months from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. September 26, 2026). The Government will release the ex-gratia land compensation to the relevant land owners after the land reversion.
The land reversion date is the date of vesting of the ownership of the land in the Government. It is not the departure deadline of the affected households and business undertakings. Three months before the departure deadline of the affected households and business undertakings, the LandsD will post notices in the relevant areas. It is now estimated that the affected households and business undertakings will have to move out in December 2026 at the earliest. The LandsD is handling the compensation and rehousing matters of the affected persons at full steam, and will endeavour to arrange rehousing for or release compensation to eligible persons before the departure deadline. The LandsD and its appointed Community Liaison Service Team will maintain communication with the affected households and business undertakings, and provide them with updated information.
The first four batches of land resumption notices, involving about 198 hectares of land in total for the Second Phase development of HSK/HT NDA, were posted on May 30 and September 19, 2024, and May 8 and July 10, 2025, respectively. The land under the first four batches of notices had already been reverted to the Government and is gradually being handed over to the Civil Engineering and Development Department for site formation and engineering infrastructure works.
Upon full development, the HSK/HT NDA will provide about 66 700 additional housing units capable of accommodating a population of about 184 000, and create about 150 000 job opportunities.
Issued at HKT 12:13
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Applications selected for 57th personalised vehicle registration marks exercise
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Applications selected for 57th personalised vehicle registration marks exercise
A spokesman for the TD said, “The applicants have already been sent an acknowledgement of receipt bearing an application number. They may check the list to see whether their applications have been selected. Applicants will also be notified of the ballot results by post in batches.”
The TD will later check the proposed PVRMs selected against the basic combination requirements. If, among the selected applications, more than one applicant proposes the same PVRM, only the one on which the lot falls first out of those applications will be further processed.
If the selected PVRMs meet the basic requirements, the TD will send notices by registered mail to the applicants in batches, requiring them to pay a deposit of $5,000 within the period specified in the notice. If an applicant fails to pay the deposit within that period, his or her application will be cancelled automatically and will not be further processed.
Upon receipt of the deposit, the Commissioner for Transport will determine, with the assistance of a vetting committee, whether an application should be approved or rejected. PVRMs approved in the 57th exercise will be put up for auction in batches. Auction details will be published in newspapers and on the TD’s website in due course.
For enquiries, applicants can call the TD Hotline at 2804 2600.
Issued at HKT 17:00
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Tender results of 7-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tender results of 7-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds
A total of RMB1.25 billion 7-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of RMB10.593 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 8.47. The average price accepted is 100.30, implying an annualised yield of 1.742 per cent.
Tender results of 7-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
| Tender Date* Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.
Note: The yields stated above are annualised yields. For reference, the semi-annualised yields corresponding to the average price accepted, lowest price accepted, and average tender price are 1.734 per cent, 1.750 per cent, and 1.823 per cent respectively. NNNN Government posts land resumption notices for Development of San Tin Technopole (Phase 1) (Second Batch)Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4 The Lands Department (LandsD) today (June 25) posted land resumption notices in accordance with section 4 of the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124) for the development of the San Tin Technopole (STT) (Phase 1) (Second Batch). The 45th Young Designers' Exhibition 2026 Opens: Industry-Academia Collaboration Explores the Fluid Boundaries Across Diverse FieldsSource: Republic of China Taiwan The 45th Young Designers’ Exhibition 2026 will take place from May 22 to May 25 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2. Speaking at the opening ceremony today (May 22), Deputy Minister of MOEA Chin-Tsang Ho noted that the exhibition has long served as an important platform connecting Taiwan’s design education and industry. This year’s exhibition responds to emerging trends in innovation and industry, encouraging young designers to adopt issue-driven approaches that address contemporary social and industrial needs. It demonstrates that design today extends far beyond aesthetics, becoming an integral part of everyday life and a key driver of social transformation and industrial upgrading, while showcasing Taiwan’s continually accumulating innovative energy and design soft power. Centering on the theme “Fluid Boundaries,” this year’s exhibition responds to the trend of cross-disciplinary development in today’s society to uncover diverse and innovative possibilities. The event brings together 55 domestic universities, 110 departments, and approximately 9,000 emerging design talents to showcase nearly 3,500 brilliant works. Furthermore, 22 schools from 10 countries – including the United States, Thailand, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, and Australia – are participating in the grand event. Through the “YODEX Industry-Academia Cooperation” project, 8 companies and organizations have partnered with 38 student teams for co-creation, demonstrating the successful integration of design education with industry practice. This year’s “Design Matchmaking Stage” event, scheduled for May 25, introduces a new format. Participating companies’ recruitment needs and students’ project information were released in advance, while design-sharing sessions and guided exhibition tours facilitated meaningful exchanges between young talent and employers. The event has attracted approximately 100 domestic and international companies, helping students explore career opportunities while injecting fresh creativity and vitality into the industry. With cross-disciplinary industry-academia collaboration and international academic exchange at its core, this year’s exhibition presents the diverse landscape of contemporary emerging design. The exhibited works address a wide range of topics spanning the environment, technology, and the humanities. Visitors are invited to discover how young designers observe and respond to contemporary challenges, and to explore the multiple possibilities of future living through creativity. MOEA and Poland’s NCBR Launch Bilateral R&D Cooperation Platform First Joint Call in 2027 to Connect Taiwan and Europe’s Innovation EcosystemsSource: Republic of China Taiwan The Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced on 24rd June that it has signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on Taiwan-Poland Industrial Innovation and R&D Cooperation” with Poland’s National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) during the “2026 Taiwan Expo in Europe”. Cynthia Kiang, Deputy Minister of the MOEA, stated that Poland is one of Taiwan’s vital strategic partners. Poland locates in the heart of Europe, serving as a bridge connecting Eastern and Western Europe. Meanwhile, Taiwan holds a critical position in the global supply chain, possessing the most advanced chip manufacturing technologies and being as a major provider of AI servers. Taiwan and Poland are poised to collaborate across several key areas, such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and green energy. The signing of this MOU symbolizes the extension of Taiwan-Poland relations from economic and trade exchanges into forward-looking scientific research cooperation. The newly established R&D cooperation platform, along with subsequent joint calls for proposals, is expected to leverage the industrial strengths and complementarities of both sides to co-create a new future. The MOEA stated that it will establish a bilateral industrial R&D cooperation platform and plans to officially launch the first Taiwan-Poland industrial scientific research joint call for proposals in 2027. This initiative will encourage Taiwanese and Polish enterprises, as well as research institutions, to leverage each other’s innovation capabilities, enhance industrial competitiveness, and jointly invest in market-oriented R&D cooperation with international market potential. Jerzy Malachowski, Director of NCBR, noted that Poland and Taiwan boast thriving innovation clusters and deep scientific research foundations. The two sides have long promoted cooperation based on knowledge, trust, and shared values. The signing of this MOU with the DoIT/MOEA will further expand the scope of cooperation, focusing on fields such as green energy, semiconductors, digital technology, biomedical technology, and smart manufacturing. This will create new opportunities for industries, accelerate the commercialization of innovative achievements, foster links between European and Asian industrial partners, and jointly open a new chapter in Taiwan-Poland technological cooperation. The DoIT explained that it has accumulated extensive experience in joint calls for proposals with Poland through the EUREKA Globalstars international R&D cooperation platform. Poland participated in and served as the lead nation for these calls in 2023 and 2025, laying a solid foundation for upgrading the partnership to a bilateral industrial R&D cooperation platform. Taiwan and Poland are highly complementary in fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, drones, electric vehicles, and green energy. In the future, through joint calls for proposals and R&D subsidy mechanisms, the initiative will help Taiwanese manufacturers connect with Polish and European innovation ecosystems, strengthen their global R&D footprint, and further expand global market opportunities. The DoIT emphasized that Taiwanese enterprises can participate in international innovative R&D cooperation through the “A+ Industrial Innovation R&D Program” of the DoIT/MOEA, with subsidies covering up to 50% of the total R&D budget. Polish enterprises can obtain R&D funding support through NCBR’s INNOGLOBO program. Looking ahead, both nations will encourage enterprises to jointly submit R&D project proposals. This initiative seeks to integrate Taiwan’s leading capabilities in semiconductors, ICT, and advanced manufacturing with Poland’s core competencies in drones, electric vehicles, and smart city innovations, further capitalizing on Poland’s robust connectivity within the Central and Eastern European markets. This will accelerate technology commercialization and internationalization, opening new avenues for Taiwan-Poland industrial cooperation. For detailed project application information, please refer to subsequent announcements on the “A+ Industrial Innovation R&D Program” website (https://service.moea.gov.tw/EE514/tw/aiip/). |