Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Police announced today (October 30) that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Central from October 31 to November 1 to facilitate the celebration of Halloween.

Road closure
————
 
     The following roads will be closed from 2pm on October 31 to 5am on November 1:

– D’Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Wellington Street;
– Lan Kwai Fong;
– Wing Wah Lane;
– Wo On Lane;
– Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D’Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.

     Depending on the crowd situation, the following roads may be closed from 2pm on October 31 to 5am on November 1:

– Stanley Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
– Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen’s Road Central;
– D’Aguilar Street between Queen’s Road Central and Wellington Street;
– Wellington Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
– Cochrane Street between Wellington Street and Stanley Street;
– Lyndhurst Terrace; and
– Queen’s Road Central between Pedder Street and Pottinger Street.

Suspension of parking spaces
—————————-

     All parking spaces and motorcycle parking spaces on the following closed roads will be suspended from 1pm on October 31 to 5am on November 1:

– Stanley Street near D’Aguilar Street;
– On Lan Street; and
– Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.  

     The Police will implement appropriate arrangements subject to the prevailing traffic and crowd conditions. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience, and take heed of instructions of police officers on site.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

To promote national security education in kindergartens, the Security Bureau today (October 30) launched the Andy & Bear KinderFest school tour featuring workshops to be conducted in kindergartens themed around national security comics and Andy and Security Bear, with an aim of disseminating national security messages to young children to prepare them to grow into law-abiding citizens with an affection for the country and Hong Kong.
 
Addressing the ceremony, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, said that since the launch of the national security comics, Andy and Security Bear, these two main characters have been well received. The Andy & Bear KinderFest was therefore established to organise workshops in kindergartens. Accompanied by volunteers from the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum, the two adorable main characters will visit kindergartens to interact with students. Through storytelling and games, the workshops aim to teach young children basic concepts of national security in a fun and engaging environment, helping them understand the importance of safeguarding the homeland.
 
During the ceremony, Mr Tang and the other officiating guest, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, appointed some 90 members of the Leaders Forum as leaders of the Andy & Bear KinderFest and witnessed 30 representatives pledging to take on the mission of national security promotion and education by disseminating national security messages to schools. Mr Tang and Dr Sze were joined by the Permanent Secretary for Security, Mr Patrick Li, and the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, to launch the Andy & Bear KinderFest school tour during the ceremony.
 
     Afterwards, the Andy & Bear KinderFest held its first workshop. Members of the Leaders Forum told a story from the national security comics Andy and Security Bear, and interacted with the young children through a question-and-answer session, inculcating basic national security concepts in a relaxed atmosphere.
 
Before concluding the ceremony, Mr Tang reminded the audience that the 2025 Legislative Council General Election will be held on December 7 and appealed to the public to cast their votes. Holding promotional items showing election messages, the guests chanted the election slogan “Join the Election Together We Create the Future”.
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

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

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (October 30) that a tender of 10-year HKD institutional Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 10-year Government Bond issue 10GB3507001 under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, for settlement on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
 
An additional amount of HK$1.0 billion of the outstanding 10-year Bonds (issue no. 10GB3507001) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on July 24, 2035, and will carry interest at the rate of 3.17 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on October 30, 2025, are 102.81 with an annualised yield of 2.857 per cent.
 
Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.
 
Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK ) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3.00 pm on the tender day.
 
HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Information

Tender information of 10-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

Issue Number	:	10GB3507001
Stock Code	:	4294 (HKGB 3.17 3507)
Tender Date and Time	:	Wednesday, November 5, 2025 9.30 am to 10.30 am
Issue and Settlement Date	:	Thursday, November 6, 2025
Amount on Offer	:	HK$1.0 billion
Maturity	:	10 years
Remaining maturity	:	Approximately 9.72 years
Maturity Date	:	Tuesday, July 24, 2035
Interest Rate	:	3.17 per cent p.a. payable semi-annually in arrear
Interest Payment Dates	:	January 24 and July 24 in each year, commencing on the Issue Date up to and including the Maturity Date, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Institutional Issuances Information Memorandum of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and Government Sustainable Bond Programme (Information Memorandum) published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.
Method of Tender	:	Competitive tender
Tender Amount	:	Each competitive tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any tender applications for the Bonds must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the latest published list. The accrued interest to be paid by successful bidders on the issue date (November 6, 2025) for the tender amount is HK$455.96 per minimum denomination of HK$50,000. (The accrued interest to be paid for tender amount exceeding HK$50,000 may not be exactly equal to the figures calculated from the accrued interest per minimum denomination of HK$50,000 due to rounding).
Other Details	:	Please see the Information Memorandum available on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website or approach Primary Dealers.
Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited	:	The tender amount is fully fungible with the existing 10GB3507001 (Stock code: 4294) listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
Use of Proceeds	:	The Bonds will be issued under the institutional part of the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Proceeds will be invested in infrastructure projects in accordance with the Infrastructure Bond Framework published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

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

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (October 30) that a tender of 3-year HKD Institutional Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 3-year Government Bond issue 03GB2804001 under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, for settlement on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
 
An additional amount of HK$2.25 billion of the outstanding 3-year Bonds (issue no. 03GB2804001) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on April 25, 2028 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.76 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on October 30, 2025 are 101.16 with an annualised yield of 2.289 per cent.
 
Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.
 
Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK ) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day.
  
HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Information

Tender information of 3-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

Issue Number	:	03GB2804001
Stock Code	:	4291 (HKGB 2.76 2804)
Tender Date and Time	:	Wednesday, November 5, 2025 9.30am to 10.30am
Issue and Settlement Date	:	Thursday, November 6, 2025
Amount on Offer	:	HK$2.25 billion
Maturity	:	3 years
Remaining maturity	:	Approximately 2.47 years
Maturity Date	:	Tuesday, April 25, 2028
Interest Rate	:	2.76 per cent p.a. payable semi-annually in arrear
Interest Payment Dates	:	April 25 and October 25 in each year, commencing on the Issue Date up to and including the Maturity Date, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Institutional Issuances Information Memorandum of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and Government Sustainable Bond Programme (Information Memorandum) published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.
Method of Tender	:	Competitive tender
Tender Amount	:	Each competitive tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any tender applications for the Bonds must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the latest published list. The accrued interest to be paid by successful bidders on the issue date (November 6, 2025) for the tender amount is HK$ 37.81 per minimum denomination of HK$50,000. (The accrued interest to be paid for tender amount exceeding HK$50,000 may not be exactly equal to the figures calculated from the accrued interest per minimum denomination of HK$50,000 due to rounding).
Other Details	:	Please see the Information Memorandum available on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website or approach Primary Dealers.
Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited	:	The tender amount is fully fungible with the existing 03GB2804001 (Stock code: 4291) listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
Use of Proceeds	:	The Bonds will be issued under the institutional part of the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Proceeds will be invested in infrastructure projects in accordance with the Infrastructure Bond Framework published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, today (October 30) attended the 36th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in Gyeongju, Korea.

     The theme for APEC this year is “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow”. At a discussion session entitled “Innovate and Prosper”, Mr Yau shared with other ministers Hong Kong’s efforts to promote digitalisation for the prosperity of people and future generations.

     Mr Yau said that the rapid development of digital technologies, particularly AI, is fundamentally changing societies at an unprecedented pace. To fully harness the benefits and smoothen the transformation process, Hong Kong strongly supports deepening APEC’s digital co-operation to foster economic growth and address common challenges.

     He highlighted the importance of strengthening infrastructure and adopting an application-oriented approach to promote deep integration of AI across the economy. To this end, Hong Kong has been taking concrete actions, such as developing an additional high-performing data facility cluster to provide advanced computing power for innovation, promoting AI adoption by accelerating the digital transformation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and upgrading Hong Kong’s trade architecture with AI.

     Mr Yau added that with a people-centred approach, Hong Kong is tackling key challenges such as digital divides and job displacement that are impeding an inclusive digital transition. Apart from incorporating AI literacy into schools’ core curriculums and enhancing teacher training, Hong Kong is also reforming retraining programmes and strengthening re-employment support for the current workforce.

     Speaking at another session entitled “Connect”, Mr Yau stressed that in navigating the increasingly complex landscape, the multilateral trading system underpinned by the World Trade Organization (WTO) continues to play a pivotal role.

     “The WTO, with its core principles of non-discrimination and co-operation as well as various critical roles and functions, has led world trade to flourish for decades. In these unprecedented and challenging times, we believe that an open, stable, transparent, inclusive and predictable rules-based international trading environment is more crucial than ever, particularly for less developed economies, enabling them not just to survive but also to thrive on emerging opportunities,” he stressed.

     Mr Yau said that APEC itself has also been active in addressing issues that affect the region, such as enhancing the resilience of supply chains against shocks and threats. Being an externally oriented economy, seamless and effective supply chains are essential to Hong Kong.

     He added that Hong Kong has leveraged technological innovations in this context, such as the application of AI to facilitate customs enforcement, cargo clearance and matching for airline partnerships. Hong Kong is also actively building connectivity on trade single window with key trading partners such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

     On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr Yau separately met with the Vice Minister and Deputy China International Trade Representative of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Ling Ji; the Deputy Minister for Trade of Korea, Mr Park Jong-won; the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, Ms Teresa Stella Mera Gómez; the Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand, Mr Todd McClay; and the Minister of Trade of Indonesia, Mr Budi Santoso, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (October 31).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the High-Level Forum on Generative AI (Gen AI) Governance and Cultural Co-Creation today (October 30):
 
Provost Professor Guo (Provost of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Guo Yike), Professor Song (Director, Media Intelligence Research Center of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Celine Song), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,  
 
     A very good afternoon. It is a great pleasure to address this assembly of distinguished scholars and industry leaders and kick off the panel discussion on “Credibility and Accountability in the Era of Generative AI”.
 
     The choice of topic is most timely as the Chief Executive just announced last month in this year’s Policy Address that the Department of Justice will form an interdepartmental working group to co-ordinate the responsible bureaux to review the legislation needed to complement the wider application of artificial intelligence. This raises an important question: why is there an imminent need for such a review of legislation?
 
     While providing convenience and enhancing efficiency, AI, as we all know, is also open to abuse and sometimes, even with the best of intentions, may be misused. Here comes the question of credibility and accountability.
 
     Currently, Hong Kong has no bespoke legislation governing AI. To harness the potential benefits this new technology may bring, it is incumbent upon the Government to take the lead in reviewing the relevant law so as to provide a facilitative yet properly controlled legal environment for AI’s development. This is not easy as it requires us to strike a balance, even if it is going to be a fine balance, between the need to encourage and promote innovation and technology development on the one hand, and that to ensure credibility and accountability in the use of AI on the other hand. This balancing exercise is highly relevant to the rule of law. Let me explain why.
 
     There are many attempts to identify and articulate what should be regarded as the core or fundamental principles of the rule of law. This is how I would encapsulate the concept: there must be the existence of laws and regulations which can be enforced effectively to govern human activities so as to ensure that such activities will be conducted in a fair and proper manner, without causing any harm to or prejudicing the rights of others. To uphold this principle, it is essential for our legal framework to evolve in a timely manner to protect the legitimate rights and interests of different stakeholders affected by the use of AI.
 
     I now wish to underscore five issues which are non-exhaustive concerning the credibility and accountability in relation to the use of AI.
 
     First, AI-generated content depends on the dataset on which the AI tool is trained and the information uploaded to it to obtain a response. A reliable dataset and machine learning may involve the use of copyrighted materials. This raises questions on whether the current copyright law can tackle new issues involving the relative rights and liabilities among copyright owners, generative AI providers and its users, such as the use of copyrighted materials without authorisation and ownership of AI-generated work.
 
     Second, as the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.”  Sometimes, AI may generate false or inaccurate content due to the incomplete or flawed information uploaded. Recently, the High Court of England and Wales has also warned that GenAI can produce apparently coherent and plausible but in fact entirely incorrect responses to prompts, make confident but untrue assertions, cite sources that do not exist.
 
     Third, deepfakes generated by AI may present substantial risks by producing highly realistic but in fact fake audio and visual content. The complaint against a law student using AI to create over 700 pornographic female images is telling. The implication is that, among other things, in any process of evidence-based inquiries, what appears to be very compelling may in fact be fabricated.
 
     Fourth, Professor Cecilia Chan, an education academic, has recently said that the rapid advancement of GenAI presents a serious threat to higher education, particularly with the emergence of the so-called “AI-giarism”, i.e. the misuse of AI tools by students and researchers to present AI-generated work as their own. In the long run, it may risk eroding an individual’s critical thinking skills in reasoning through the questioning of assumptions and the evaluation of information before reaching independent judgement.
 
     Fifth, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) expresses concern that AI may pose risks to children as it can instantly create persuasive disinformation, as well as harmful and illegal content. AI may also influence children’s perceptions and attributions of intelligence, cognitive development, and social behaviour as it blurs the line between animate and inanimate, given the human-like tone of chatbots. Even for mature and seasoned decision-makers, reliance on AI may risk systemic discrimination which reinforces existing biases or even amplify inequalities, prejudices and stereotyping.
 
     The Government has already been putting in much effort to tackle these issues. On the intellectual property front, the Government is introducing, among other things, a new “text and data mining exception” in the Copyright Ordinance (Cap 528), which would allow copyright users to make copies of copyright works for computational data analysis and processing, without a licence from copyright owners.
 
     We also see over time the issuance of guidelines from different quarters. Examples include “Guidelines on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Judges and Judicial Officers and Support Staff of the Hong Kong Judiciary”, “Hong Kong Generative Artificial Intelligence Technical and Application Guideline” issued by the Government’s Digital Policy Office and those from local universities.
 
     While these guidelines are flexible and sector-specific, they do not have the force of law. Whether they are sufficient and effective to address the above-mentioned issues is yet to be seen and requires further study. In any event, proper co-ordination and overall supervision may well be required to prevent and reconcile possible inconsistent or even conflicting measures on the same or similar issues.
 
What is happening elsewhere?
 
     On the Chinese Mainland, the “Interim Measures for the Administration of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services”, jointly issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China and other authorities, took effect in August 2023. GenAI service providers must now, for example, take effective measures to make GenAI services more transparent and AI-generated content more accurate and reliable, protect users’ inputted information and use records, and label AI-generated content. Service providers will be punished by the supervising authorities for violation after inspection. Under a departmental regulatory document effective in September 2025, service providers who provide text generation or editing services conducted through simulation of natural persons, etc, shall add explicit labels to AI-generated or synthesised content.
 
     The European Artificial Intelligence Act, binding and directly applicable in all EU (European Union) member states, commenced in August 2024, with its requirements applying incrementally. Certain requirements on credibility and accountability will start on August 2 next year and providers of GenAI systems shall ensure that systems’ outputs are marked in a machine-readable format and detectable as AI-generated or manipulated. Subject to some exceptions, deployers of an AI system that generates or manipulates content constituting a deepfake, shall disclose that the content has been artificially generated or manipulated.
 
     Most recently, in Italy, Law No. 132/2025 just took effect on October 10, 2025. This is the first domestic law in the European Union on the use of AI. The fundamental principles underpinning the legal framework governing the use of AI in different sectors, including healthcare, employment, professional services, and intellectual property, are transparency, proportionality, security, protection of data, accountability, gender equality and non-discrimination. That Law also seeks to combat crimes committed with AI support. The unlawful dissemination of AI-generated or altered content e.g. deepfake is a standalone offence, whereas market manipulation offences committed through AI are subject to increased penalties. To protect minors, children under the age of 14 may use AI only with their parents’ consent.
 
     For us, Hong Kong must of course design its own approach based on its own circumstances. This requires collective wisdom from all sectors. With this in mind, the Government will engage with all relevant stakeholders to build a legal framework to promote AI in a way which is reasonably flexible to cater for its fast development and wide application, but without compromising the rule of law.

     That’s why as I have mentioned over lunch during my discussion with Professor Song, I am very excited at the establishment of the new centre. One of the focuses of the centre concerns AI governance and I certainly look forward to more collaborations between the Department of Justice, or perhaps the HKSAR Government as a whole, and the centre and, of course, the university. Indeed, more stakeholders will share common interest in this very important area.
 
     Before I conclude, I would like to take the opportunity to mention another very important thing. I would like to invite you to exercise your right to vote in the upcoming Legislative Council General Election on December 7. Your active participation is not merely an exercise of an extremely valuable and important constitutional right. Your active participation will also make a very impactful decision on the future well-being of our society. On this note, I wish you a fruitful, meaningful and enjoyable discussion and exchanges this afternoon.
 
     Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, chaired the 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) today (October 30) to discuss the strategies and measures for tackling NCDs.
 
Professor Lo said, “Like many other countries and regions, Hong Kong is confronted with the threats arising from an ageing population and NCDs. In 2024, over half (53 per cent) of all registered deaths in Hong Kong were caused by NCDs, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and chronic respiratory diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80 per cent of all premature NCD deaths can be prevented through management of risk factors and adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, prevention as well as early detection and proper treatment are the most cost-effective long-term strategies in reducing the burden of NCDs.”
 
During the meeting, members examined the progress of the nine local targets in the prevention and control of NCDs. Professor Lo emphasised, “Through the collaborative efforts of various parties, the risk of premature mortality from four major NCDs in Hong Kong has declined continuously, with a reduction of over 25 per cent when compared to 15 years ago, indicating that we have achieved certain results in this regard. Also, the smoking prevalence rate in Hong Kong has reduced significantly from 23.3 per cent in 1982 to a historical low of 9.1 per cent in 2023. However, other risk factors for developing NCDs like obesity and insufficient physical activity are still common. As such, the Chief Executive announced in his 2024 and 2025 Policy Address respectively that the Government would devise health promotion strategies by adopting a life-course framework and weight management action plan, with a view to raising public health awareness and practices through strengthening health education and promotion, cultivating a supportive environment in the community, strengthening health service delivery, and more.”

The Department of Health (DH) has set up a task force to devise health promotion strategies by adopting a life-course framework. During the meeting, the task force briefed members on the latest local epidemiological data and scientific evidence, as well as priority areas and necessary health promotion measures for different age groups formulated by making reference to the WHO’s latest recommendations and using an evidence-based approach, covering various stages including infancy, entering school, adulthood, employment, as well as pre- and post-pregnancy, and transition to older age. Furthermore, within the context of health and medical innovation development, the strategies also include the use of innovative technologies to enhance public health in a comprehensive, systematic, and efficient manner. 

The Government has been actively establishing a prevention-oriented primary healthcare system according to the reform measures set out in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint. The Health Bureau (HHB) launched the three-year Chronic Disease Co-Care (CDCC) Pilot Scheme in 2023. Under a co-payment model, participants can receive hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia screenings in the private healthcare sector for early treatment and long-term health management. According to the 2025 Policy Address, the HHB will gradually develop the CDCC Pilot Scheme into the CDCC Platform to integrate primary healthcare resources and gradually extend it to cover more types of chronic diseases. More health empowerment elements and preventive care programmes will also be added to establish a more systematic and coherent integrated primary healthcare platform in the community.

Members also received a briefing on the new phase of tobacco control measures in Hong Kong to further alleviate the threat posed by tobacco to public health through a multipronged tobacco control strategy, namely, Regulate Supply, Suppress Demand; Ban Promotion, Reduce Attractiveness; Expand No Smoking Areas, Mitigate Harm; and Enhance Education, Support Cessation. Smoking is the most important but preventable risk factor leading to death and disease. Members unanimously agreed with the Government’s comprehensive tobacco control strategy, which aims to further reduce the smoking prevalence in Hong Kong and minimise the impact of secondhand smoke on citizens, thereby preventing the heavy price imposed on the whole society and the healthcare system by smoking-induced diseases.

To ensure effective surveillance of NCDs in Hong Kong to support the formulation of public health policies, the DH commenced the fourth territory-wide Population Health Survey (PHS) last month to collect pertinent information on the health status and lifestyles of the local population, with a view to updating and enriching the Government’s database on population health. Findings from the PHS will facilitate the review of the various targets under the Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control NCDs in Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) announced the Community Drug Formulary (CDF) mechanism and promulgated the Guidelines of Practice for Community Pharmacy (Guidelines) today (October 30) to establish a clear framework for the services of community pharmacies and their pharmacists, with a view to paving the way for the launch of the Community Pharmacy Programme (CPP). The CPP is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of next year, offering more convenience for citizens to obtain affordable primary healthcare drugs and professional community pharmacy services.

The Primary Healthcare Blueprint recommended to enhance the role of community pharmacies and to develop community pharmacy services. The 2024 Policy Address announced the development of a CDF and the launch of a CPP, including the formulation of relevant practice guidelines for community pharmacies in primary healthcare, setting reference requirements for the CPP.

Community Drug Formulary mechanism

According to the mechanism of the CDF, drugs listed therein will be mainly selected from the Hospital Authority (HA) Drug Formulary. The HA will co-ordinate the procurement through a collaborative mechanism established between the Government and the HA. Leveraging the HA’s comprehensive drug assessment and inclusion mechanism, stringent procurement standards and large-scale procurements, the relevant mechanism not only can ensure that all drugs listed in the CDF are safe, efficacious and of quality, but also can achieve cost reductions through joint procurement.

The CDF will cover drugs commonly used in primary healthcare, including preventive drugs, drugs for managing chronic diseases (such as drugs for diabetes and hypertension), and drugs for treating episodic illnesses. The CDF will be classified into three tiers, each with different drug inclusion mechanisms, scope of applications, as well as co-payment models. Tier 1 will mainly comprise non-patented drugs; Tier 2 will cover individual patented drugs and specified drugs; and Tier 3 will consist of drugs classified as special category.

The drug application of the CDF will be launched in the second half of next year in an orderly manner. By then, citizens participating in the Government’s primary healthcare programmes, such as the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme), can be provided with primary healthcare drugs listed in the CDF with doctors’ prescriptions under a co-payment model through doctors under the programmes (family doctors) or community pharmacies participating in the CPP. 

The PHC Commission is currently formulating the CDF drug list, and establishing procurement agreements with drug suppliers and pressing ahead with the preparatory work of relevant information systems through the HA. The CDF will be based on the drug list of the CDCC Pilot Scheme and cover over 100 drug items upon its launch. It will be gradually expanded based on patient needs, with the long-term scope of covering up to 200 to 400 drug items. The Government will review the drug list in a timely manner and allow flexibility to include new drugs in the future to meet the needs of the society.

Guidelines of Practice for Community Pharmacy

To pave way for the upcoming CPP, the PHC Commission promulgated the Guidelines to devise clear standards and to establish a service framework, with a view to promoting community pharmacies and their pharmacists to play a more crucial role in the healthcare system, enhancing professional standards and service quality, and ensuring members of the public can receive consistent, high-quality and safe care services. 

The Guidelines cover four key areas of community pharmacies: (1) standards for management and staff involved in the operation; (2) requirements for the premises; (3) daily operation procedures; and (4) scope of services. The Guidelines stipulate the operation models and practical guidance of service provisions of a community pharmacy under the existing legal and regulatory framework in a systemic manner. The appendix of the Guidelines includes an assessment checklist for community pharmacies to review their operations, thereby promoting continuous improvement in service quality. 

The Guidelines will serve as the fundamental standard for the CPP. In the long term, only registered pharmacies that have been vetted by the Government as meeting the service standards and quality assurance requirements outlined in the Guidelines will be recognised as community pharmacies under the primary healthcare service network. The Guidelines will initially apply to community pharmacies participating as service outlets in the District Health Centre network. The PHC Commission will closely monitor the needs for the development of primary healthcare and community pharmacies, maintaining close communication with the Working Group on Community Pharmacy, the Advisory Group on Community Pharmacy and the Task Group on Guideline Formulation, and regularly update the content of the Guidelines for industry reference.

For the Community Drug Formulary mechanism and the full text of the Guidelines, please refer to the PHC Commission website.

Community Pharmacy Programme

The PHC Commission will launch the CPP in phases starting from the fourth quarter of next year. The CPP will adopt two service models, namely the Community and the Residential Care Homes (RCH). Under the CPP (Community), participating community pharmacies will dispense designated drugs in batches to patients of the HA’s Family Medicine Out-patient Services eligible for drug dispensing services before their next follow-up consultation with a view to enhancing patients’ drug compliance and avoiding excess storage of drugs, thereby reducing risks and potential wastage. As for patients enrolled in primary healthcare programmes, such as the CDCC Pilot Scheme, they may also opt to obtain drugs from community pharmacies under the CPP, offering them a convenient alternative for obtaining drugs and medication counselling services other than their family doctors’ clinics.

Under the CPP (RCH), HA-prescribed drugs will be regularly dispensed to HA patients residing in RCHs for the elderly and persons with disabilities to improve the current practice of daily drug sorting and distribution by RCH staff, with a view to enhancing patients’ drug compliance and reducing the risks associated with overstocking of drugs. The services of the CPP (RCH) include drug distribution, reconciling, and prepackaging of the daily required drugs. In addition, pharmacists will assist RCHs in adopting information technology for drug management to enhance drug safety in RCHs.

Pharmacies participating in the CPP will also provide a range of professional value-added pharmaceutical services according to the actual needs of patients and RCHs. Apart from general drug consultations and counselling, drug reconciliation and drug safety information, pharmacies under the CPP (Community) also provide services such as drug management, chronic disease management, smoking cessation and oral health promotions. As for the CPP (RCH), value-added services include establishment of drug administration systems, drug management and storage for RCHs, health education and staff training, thereby ensuring safe and accurate drug administration, as well as enhancing management of drug safety in RCHs.

The first-stage tender exercise for the CPP (Community) will commence in the fourth quarter of this year, with phased implementation starting from the fourth quarter of next year. In the initial phase, the CPP (Community) will be piloted at four districts, each with approximately four to five community pharmacies, and will be extended to cover all 18 districts across the city by the fourth quarter of 2027. Meanwhile, the first-stage tender exercise for the CPP (RCH) is expected to commence in the first quarter of next year, with phased implementation beginning in the first quarter of 2027.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

On a visit to Saudi Arabia, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, leading a delegation, participated in activities of the Future Investment Initiative, engaged in exchanges with local political and business leaders, visited local innovation and technology (I&T) institutions, and viewed urban planning and conservation projects.

In the morning, Mr Chan attended a breakfast session of the Future Investment Initiative and took part in a fireside chat to share his views on the prospects for strengthening economic, trade and financial ties between Hong Kong and the Middle East.

Mr Chan noted that against the backdrop of increasing global geopolitical and economic fragmentation, economic and financial links between China as well as other parts of Asia and the Middle East continue to deepen, and Hong Kong will further leverage its role to support Mainland enterprises in going global, expanding their industrial and supply chains, and tapping into overseas markets.

Hong Kong, while standing ready to offer capital and professional services to Middle Eastern businesses seeking to enter the Mainland and Asian markets, is well placed to promote cross-border capital flows as well as provide diversified infrastructure financing models, he stressed.

The finance chief added that Hong Kong is accelerating cross-border financial and I&T collaboration with the Middle East, with a number of startups and tech companies from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area establishing a presence in the Gulf.

Later in the day, the Financial Secretary and the delegation met Saudi National Bank’s senior management. The Hong Kong delegates introduced their respective businesses and conveyed interest in connecting with financial institutions, investors and enterprises in Saudi Arabia in order to explore business opportunities. In concluding remarks, Mr Chan highlighted Hong Kong’s active role in supporting investment and capital flows with Saudi Arabia.

The delegation called on the Digital Cooperation Organization in the afternoon. Its Director-General Hajar El Haddaoui expressed interest in facilitating greater exchanges between startups and innovative enterprises from its member states and the Hong Kong delegation.

The delegation also visited The Garage, an I&T incubation platform under the King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology, to understand its operations and the local government’s policies in nurturing startups. Both sides discussed potential collaboration in areas such as incubation, talent exchanges and scientific research.

Afterwards, the Hong Kong group toured Diriyah and the At-Turaif district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to learn about urban revitalisation initiatives there.

In the evening, Mr Chan attended a welcome dinner hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade for Chinese and Saudi business communities.