Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, will depart for Beijing this afternoon (October 17) to attend the 2025 Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference tomorrow (October 18).

The 2025 Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference will be hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The theme for this year is “Driving Green Development Together”, aligning with the core agenda of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference will focus on the achievements of the Green Silk Road building, building of platforms for exchange and co-operation in green finance, green and low-carbon development, as well as green technology and innovation, which aims to facilitate the integration of green industries with technologies.

Mr Tse will speak at the opening ceremony of the conference and share Hong Kong’s experiences in green innovation with the Belt and Road counterparts so as to deepen exchange and co-operation. The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, will also join the visit.

Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong tomorrow evening. During his absence, the post of the Secretary for Environment and Ecology will be taken up by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government declared by notice in the Gazette today (October 17) the existence of a vacant ex officio member seat in the Islands District Council.

The ex officio member, Mr Chow Yuk-tong, passed away on September 28, 2025. Pursuant to section 19A(1)(a) of the District Councils Ordinance (Cap. 547), his office has become vacant.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

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

The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) announced today (October 17) the successful completion of its third infrastructure loan-backed securities (ILBS) issuance. This is executed through a Hong Kong special purpose vehicle (SPV), Bauhinia ILBS 3 Limited (Bauhinia 3) and it builds on the HKMC’s aim of developing the ILBS asset class through regular issuances after successful issuances in 2024 and 2023. The Bauhinia issuances offer professional investors exposure to a diversified portfolio of project and infrastructure debt across multiple geographies and sectors.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the HKMC, Mr Colin Pou, said, “It is another successful issuance demonstrating the HKMC’s continued commitment to ILBS and the support for the development of Hong Kong as an infrastructure financing hub. The ongoing strong demand from new and existing investors shows that investor interest continues to grow and they increasingly recognise the benefits and diversification this asset class brings.”

The Bauhinia 3 issuance received another strong response from investors, both from new and repeated investors, with growing demand from investors outside Asia. The expanded investor base is well diversified, including asset manager, corporate, family office, financial institution, insurer, private banking, and security firm investors.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) continued to support the HKMC’s ILBS issuance as an anchor investor through its US$300 million investment programme. AIIB’s investment programme continues to fulfil its objective to mobilise private capital into the infrastructure sector.

Bauhinia 3 has a portfolio of 33 project and infrastructure loans across 28 individual projects spreading across 12 countries and 9 sub-sectors, with a total value of approximately US$450.5 million. In total, five classes of notes are issued (Class A1-SU, Class A1, Class B, Class C and Class D), with aggregate principal of US$427.9 million. The issued notes are listed on The Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The quality of the portfolio and increasing investor interest in ILBS allowed the HKMC to issue Class D at non-investment grade, the first of its kind in Asia, which further enhanced the efficiency of the capital structure. The HKMC acts as the sponsor, collateral manager and risk retention holder of the transaction.

Within the capital structure of Bauhinia 3, there is an US$117 million sustainability tranche (Class A1-SU) backed by sustainable, green and social assets. Class A1-SU is issued in accordance with the HKMC’s Social, Green and Sustainability Financing Framework, which aligns with the Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles and Sustainability Bond Guidelines released by the International Capital Market Association.

Standard Chartered Bank is the Sole Global Co-ordinator. BNP Paribas, China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited, ING Bank N.V., Singapore Branch, MUFG Securities Asia Limited and Standard Chartered Bank are the Joint Bookrunners. Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited is the Co-Manager.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Deputy Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Dr Jimmy Chiang, visited Beijing from October 15 to 17 to meet with a range of strategic institutions, including a research institute, an innovation park, and foreign official trade and investment offices. The visit aimed to strengthen the close ties between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and international partners, and foster collaboration in innovation and technology (I&T), as well as industrial development.

     “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address” outlines the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s commitment to actively nurture emerging industries, including advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, new energy, artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. The HKSAR Government will step up its efforts to nurture emerging industries locally and attract those from outside Hong Kong, promoting the diversified development of the economy. Dr Chiang’s visit reinforced these policy directions through a series of targeted engagements.

Dr Chiang first met with representatives of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to exchange views on agricultural innovation, smart farming, and advanced manufacturing of agricultural equipment. He also introduced Hong Kong’s unique advantages in research transformation, international connectivity, and market access. Both sides explored the feasibility of bringing agricultural research outcomes to Hong Kong and expressed interest in establishing a long-term collaboration, aligning with the Policy Address’s emphasis on AI applications.

Dr Chiang then visited the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing and met with the Deputy Director, Miss Amy Yuen. They discussed ways to further support strategic enterprises operating in Hong Kong and Beijing, and to enhance regional co-ordination and policy alignment to facilitate strategic enterprise developments.

In the I&T sector, Dr Chiang visited Zhongguancun, a leading innovation hub in Beijing. He toured the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center to learn about the latest local technological achievements and the development of innovative enterprises. He also attended a roundtable at the Zhongguancun Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation Center, where he engaged with young entrepreneurs and introduced Hong Kong’s start-up support policies and funding schemes, encouraging high-potential tech ventures to establish a presence in Hong Kong. 

Dr Chiang also met with representatives of the Swiss Business Hub China, under the Embassy of Switzerland in China, to explore opportunities for Swiss strategic enterprises to set up in Hong Kong. Both sides agreed to strengthen information exchanges and investment promotion collaborations, and to jointly explore development opportunities for Swiss strategic enterprises in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Dr Chiang remarked that the visit was highly fruitful and further reinforced Hong Kong’s position as a premier gateway for enterprises around the globe. He emphasised that OASES will continue to align with the policy direction in nurturing emerging industries, maintain close ties with strategic institutions, and attract high-potential enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong, driving long-term growth in I&T and high-value industries.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, chaired the 10th meeting of the Committee on Promotion of Breastfeeding today (October 17) to review and discuss with members of the Committee the local breastfeeding situation, work progress made by the dedicated working group under the Committee in enhancing baby-friendly measures in maternity hospitals, and matters related to the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (HKBMB) established early this year, with a view to formulating strategic directions for promoting breastfeeding. 

     At the meeting, representatives of the Department of Health (DH) reported to the Committee the local breastfeeding situation. Breastfeeding rates in Hong Kong have shown significant improvement over the past 25 years. Among others, the breastfeeding rate on hospital discharge reached 81 per cent in 2024, marking a substantial increase when compared to the 55 per cent in 2000. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding until 4 months of age also rose from 8 per cent in 2000 to 18 per cent in 2024. The above figures indicate the wide community support for breastfeeding, as well as the effectiveness of the Government’s measures in promoting breastfeeding over the years. Nevertheless, the DH has noted a downward trend in local breastfeeding rates in recent years. Key contributing factors include insufficient self-efficacy and motivation among women to breastfeed, as well as discontinuation of breastfeeding due to work commitments. This reflects that support from partners, family, peers, workplaces, and communities, as well as fostering a breastfeeding-friendly environment and culture, are critical to promoting breastfeeding.

     The first few hours and days after birth are critical for establishing lactation and success of breastfeeding, and the immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby in the delivery suite is particularly important. According to scientific evidence, this helps breastmilk secretion and increases the chances of successful breastfeeding. To strengthen and consolidate the breastfeeding-friendly measures in maternity hospitals (including both public and private hospitals), the Government has specially set up a dedicated working group under the Committee, members of which include representatives from the accreditation body, namely the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association, and local maternity hospitals. The Chairman of the working group reported on the work progress at the meeting, including the enhancement of the monitoring system for existing maternity hospitals in the middle of this year to more accurately capture breastfeeding data prior to infant discharge, as well as a detailed assessment and analysis of the implementation of breastfeeding-friendly measures in local maternity hospitals to be completed within this year. Based on this information, strategic recommendations will be provided as appropriate to enhance the implementation of baby-friendly measures.  

     In addition, the HKBMB located at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital has officially commenced operations since this January to provide breastmilk for infants and young children who cannot be breastfed by their biological mothers, thereby minimising the chance of serious illness in premature or severely ill babies. Since this March, the HKBMB has supplied processed donated breastmilk to nine public hospitals in Hong Kong equipped with neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). As of October 6 this year, the HKBMB had registered 368 breastmilk donors and collected over 2 013 litres of breastmilk to be supplied to extremely premature and critically ill newborns, providing the best possible nutrition. Meanwhile, public hospital NICUs have distributed processed donated breastmilk to 309 infants with clinical needs. 

     Moreover, the Committee has proposed two main strategic directions on the promotion, protection and support for breastfeeding based on local circumstances, namely (1) strengthening and consolidating professional support from healthcare institutions, and (2) enhancing support for breastfeeding mothers from various sectors. 

     Regarding professional support from healthcare institutions, at present, all eight public hospitals with obstetrics departments are accredited Baby-Friendly Hospitals (BFHs). Two private hospitals offering delivery services have activated the accreditation procedures, with one already accredited. Of the 29 Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) currently providing services under the DH, 15 of them have been accredited as Baby-Friendly MCHCs, with others expected to be accredited gradually starting from next year. The Government will continue to promote breastfeeding-friendly measures in local maternity hospitals and encourages more private hospitals to participate in the BFHs accreditation through the aforementioned dedicated working group.  

     As regards to strengthening support for breastfeeding mothers from various sectors, the Government has long been committed to creating a breastfeeding-friendly environment. Apart from the amendments made to the Sex Discrimination Ordinance to prohibit discrimination against and harassment towards breastfeeding women, and the extension of statutory maternity leave from 10 to 14 weeks, the Government also mandated the provision of baby-care and breastfeeding facilities in newly built government premises for public and staff members’ use since early 2019. Moreover, since 2017, the Government has included detailed requirements, including the area and number of baby-care rooms and/or lactation rooms that shall be provided in the commercial development projects, in the Conditions of Sale of new commercial land sale sites (excluding land designated for hotel use only). The Government also encourages more enterprises to implement a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace policy to enable working mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. The DH issued relevant guidelines for employers and employees with specific advice on supporting breastfeeding.

     Dr Fan said, “Breast milk is the most ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean, and contains antibodies which can help prevent many common childhood illnesses. Protecting breastfeeding is a collective responsibility of the entire society. A mother being able to continue breastfeeding relies on collaboration and support from all sectors of the community. I call upon all sectors of the community to attach great importance to breastfeeding and work together to provide support on all fronts to foster a friendly environment and atmosphere. The Government will continue to promote and support breastfeeding with dedicated efforts, and collaborate with all sectors of the community to increase the sustainability of breastfeeding and enhance the overall maternal and child health.”

     Established in April 2014, the Committee comprises members from relevant healthcare professions and academia as well as representatives of organisations promoting breastfeeding. The Committee is responsible for providing recommendations on the strategies and action plans for further strengthening the promotion, protection and support for breastfeeding as well as overseeing the relevant progress, with a view to enhancing the sustainability of breastfeeding and advocating breastfeeding as the mainstream baby-care mode to be widely accepted by the general public.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The 2025 final register for the Rural Representative Election (RRE) was published today (October 17). The final register contains the particulars of the registered electors of Existing Villages, Indigenous Villages, Composite Indigenous Villages and Market Towns. Registered electors may log into the RRE Voter Registration Information Enquiry System through the RRE website (www.had.gov.hk/rre) for perusal of their own registration particulars. They may also call the RRE hotline at 2152 1521 during ordinary business hours for enquiries about the relevant information.

A full copy of the final register is placed at the office of the Electoral Registration Officer located at the Home Affairs Department (HAD), 30/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. Copies of the specific divisions of the final register for Rural Areas that belong to the Rural Committees concerned are placed at the offices of the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers in the respective New Territories District Offices (NTDOs), the office addresses of which are set out on the RRE website. Pursuant to section 30 of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Registration of Electors) (Rural Representative Election) Regulation (Cap. 541K), specified persons including members of the press (meaning persons who subscribe to the Government News and Media Information System maintained by the Director of Information Services), political parties (i.e. political bodies/organisations that meet the specified requirements under the Regulation), Heung Yee Kuk, respective Rural Committees for the relevant Rural Areas, indigenous inhabitants of the relevant Indigenous Villages or Composite Indigenous Villages, as well as residents of the relevant Existing Villages or Market Towns can inspect the aforementioned final register of electors for purposes relating to the RRE, by making an appointment through the RRE hotline or the relevant NTDOs during ordinary business hours starting from today.

The ordinary business hours of the HAD and NTDOs in respect of the above matter are from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except general holidays).

Statistical information about the final register is available on the RRE website.

For enquiries, please visit the RRE website or call the RRE hotline.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the press conference on Hong Kong Fintech Week x StartmeupHK Festival 2025 today (October 17):
 
     Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us today.
 
     The StartmeupHK is an initiative which aims at helping founders of innovative and scalable start-ups from outside Hong Kong to set up or expand here. Through this initiative, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) offers information about our start-up ecosystem, connects people to the start-up community, and fosters a positive environment for start-ups to thrive.
 
     Start-ups are an important part of any economy. Behind every start-up, there must be an innovative business idea. These new ideas call for changes and refresh our economy. And Hong Kong is just the right place not only for start-ups to be created, but also for them to grow and scale. Apart from the favourable business environment in Hong Kong, the start-ups here are supported by a strong network of incubators and accelerators, a pool of experienced angels and venture capitalists, a host of government-backed programmes and a welcoming business community.
 
     Attracting and grooming start-ups are an important aspect of InvestHK’s work. And it has done a great job. The number of start-ups in Hong Kong has nearly tripled, from about 1 600 start-ups 10 years ago to around 4 700 last year. The impressive expansion is a result of the pro-startup measures taken by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government over the years.
 
     While it is common for start-ups to be set up by local people, it is worth noting that 28 per cent of the founders of our start-ups are from outside Hong Kong. This is obviously a testament to Hong Kong’s appeal as Asia Pacific’s top destination for start-up investment and a start-up talent magnet. Going forward, we will continue to focus on assisting high potential unicorns and scale-ups worldwide across various sectors to grow.
 
     This year, the StartmeupHK initiative has evolved by collaborating with Hong Kong FinTech Week, under the theme “Curating the New Fintech Era”. Building on the success in the past, the 2025 edition highlights the growing convergence of fintech with other frontier technologies – artificial intelligence (AI), greentech, healthtech, and Web3 – which are increasingly deployed as part of comprehensive tech start-up solutions. The Festival offers a unique opportunity to engage with the fintech ecosystem and reinforces Hong Kong’s position as a hub for scalable start-ups and cross-border innovation.
 
     To bring this theme to life, we will expand the main conference from eight to 11 fora, introducing new sessions like “Healthtech & Insurtech” and the “China‑Global Innovation Forum”. We will also cover wider cross-sector themes such as “Blockchain & Web3” and “Digital Finance”. These fora will address important global issues including asset tokenisation, responsible AI, and the growing convergence of healthtech and insurtech. Besides, there will be a new “TechX Forum” to explore how emerging technologies are moving from experimentation to large-scale deployment. These additions encourage earlier practical conversations between founders, regulators, and corporates, helping start-ups move faster from pilot projects to full production.
 
     InvestHK’s Global Fast Track 2025 programme has also grown to include seven verticals, adding “Innovation & Technology” to expand beyond fintech. This reflects the increasing overlap of technology across multiple industries. The year-long hybrid programme provides participants with one-on-one meetings, live pitching opportunities, mentorship, and tailored business matching with corporate clients, investors and service providers. I strongly recommend that the global start-up community joins this programme to assist your start-ups in scaling up by leveraging Hong Kong’s advantages.
 
     Looking ahead, with the StartmeupHK Festival at the heart of this partnership, we are not just celebrating success – together, we are shaping Hong Kong’s future of innovation.
 
     We look forward to welcoming the global start-up community to join us this November. Please come to Hong Kong to connect, to build and to scale. I am sure that you will always find unlimited business opportunities in our city, your ideal destination for business and investment.
 
     Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (October 17) released the third batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in October, covering 11 survey areas, as follows:
 

District	Survey Area	October 2025
		First Phase Gravidtrap Index	First Phase Density Index
Central and Western	Central and Admiralty	1.9%	1.0
Yau Tsim	Tsim Sha Tsui East	1.8%	1.0
Wong Tai Sin	Wong Tai Sin Central	0.0%	N/A
Wong Tai Sin	Diamond Hill	3.5%	1.0
Kwun Tong	Yau Tong and Cha Kwo Ling	0.0%	N/A
Kwun Tong	Kowloon Bay	1.9%	1.0
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun West	2.0%	1.0
Tuen Mun	So Kwun Wat	3.4%	1.0
Kwai Tsing	Tsing Yi North	7.4%	1.5

 

District	Survey Area	October 2025
		Area Gravidtrap Index	Area Density Index
Central and Western	Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun	4.5%	1.4
Sha Tin	Sha Tin East	0.8%	1.0

Among the third batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering nine survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering two survey areas in October, all were below 10 per cent.

The FEHD has so far released three batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in October 2025, covering 23 survey areas. Among these 23 survey areas, 15 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. September 2025, representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Eight other areas recorded a slight increase, but the indexes were lower than 10 per cent.

Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

• tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;
• remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
• check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
• change the water in flower vases and saucers of potted plants at least once every seven days;
• properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water; and
• properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as empty lunch boxes and cans.

Starting in August this year, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD will disseminate the relevant information through press releases, its website, and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

Following the recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 64 survey areas of the community. During the two weeks of surveillance, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (October 17) announced the launch of a full investigation into the procedures and mechanisms currently employed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in handling dog licence applications and renewals.

The Rabies Regulations require all dogs in Hong Kong reaching the age of 5 months or above to be licensed, vaccinated against rabies and microchipped. The AFCD’s Animal Management Centres provide anti-rabies dog inoculation and licensing and microchipping services.

The Office of The Ombudsman received a public complaint that the complainant recently brought his microchipped dogs to an AFCD Animal Management Centre to apply for their first dog licences. Upon arrival, he was informed that the AFCD had introduced a new requirement whereby dog owners must provide proof of the legal origin of their dogs, such as a receipt for purchasing the dog from a pet shop or the dog’s vaccination record, in order to apply for a dog licence. Eventually, the complainant had to return home with his dogs to obtain the required proof and revisited the centre to complete the procedure. The complainant alleged that the AFCD was unable to reasonably explain the rationale for the new requirement, and there was a lack of information about the new requirement on its website. 

Mr Chan said, “Keeping pet dogs is increasingly common in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address also includes measures to promote a pet-friendly culture. Our society is gradually embracing pet inclusivity. It is crucial for the AFCD to establish reasonable procedures and requirements for dog licence applications and renewals and to provide clear information to the public so as to facilitate dog owners in licensing, vaccinating and microchipping their dogs, as well as renewing dog licences and re-vaccinating their dogs in a timely manner. These measures are essential for preventing the outbreak of rabies and effectively monitoring whether dog owners have fulfilled their responsibilities, thereby protecting the rights and welfare of dogs. In this light, I have decided to launch a full investigation into the AFCD’s mechanisms and procedures for handling dog licence applications and renewals to identify any areas for improvement. Pertinent recommendations will be made for enhancing the AFCD’s services, with a view to facilitating dog owners in taking proper care of their dogs.”

The Ombudsman welcomes views from members of the public on this topic. Written submissions should reach the Office of The Ombudsman by November 17, 2025: 

Address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168–200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong  
Fax: 2882 8149 
Email: cic-afcd@ombudsman.hk

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Two women who went missing in Tsuen Wan have been located.

     Two Filipino women, Pabuaya Imee-mahilum and Tibay Aleli-perez, aged 24 and 33 respectively, went missing after they were last seen on Yeung Uk Road on October 4 afternoon. Police has respectively received the reports on October 8 and October 6.

    Two women were located at a shopping mall on Sui Wo Road, Sha Tin last night (October 16). They sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.