Bus services to be enhanced to ease passenger flow amid ferry service adjustments on July 6

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Bus services to be enhanced to ease passenger flow amid ferry service adjustments on July 6 

RouteBus services to be enhanced

     During the affected period, operators will enhance bus services in Mui Wo, Discovery Bay and Ma Wan to ease passenger flow:
 In-harbour ferries’ temporary service adjustments

     Passengers should note that, during the affected period, there may be temporary service adjustments of up to around 30 minutes for nine in-harbour ferry routes, namely Wan Chai – Tsim Sha Tsui, Central – Tsim Sha Tsui, North Point – Hung Hom, North Point – Kowloon City, Central – Hung Hom, North Point – Kwun Tong, Water Taxi, Sai Wan Ho – Kwun Tong and Sai Wan Ho – Sam Ka Tsuen, subject to the actual situation.Issued at HKT 10:00

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Secondary One places allocation results to be released tomorrow

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Secondary One places allocation results to be released tomorrow 
SSPA allocation results
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     A total of 48 545 students participated in the SSPA System for this allocation cycle. Based on the total number of students allocated DP and the first three choices through CA, the overall satisfaction rate is 95 per cent. According to the number of students allocated DP and the first choice through CA, the satisfaction rate is 84 per cent.
 
     The respective satisfaction rates for DP and CA this year are:
 
* Among the students allocated DP, 68 per cent were allocated the first choice; and
 
* For students allocated through CA (including Part A for Unrestricted School Choices and Part B for Restricted School Choices), 91 per cent were allocated the first three choices and 74 per cent were allocated the first choice.
 
     The EDB hopes that parents and students will maintain a positive attitude towards the allocation results. The learning effectiveness of students does not hinge merely on the schools to which they are allocated but rather on whether they have a proactive mindset in learning. It is important for parents to continue to support and encourage their children, avoiding placing a burden on them due to personal expectations.
 
Announcement of allocation results
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     All current Primary Six students participating in this year’s SSPA System should return to their primary school tomorrow to collect the Allocation Slip and Admission Slip. Parents can obtain the allocation results by the following means:
      Please refer to the series of related videos and the Parent’s Guide on the bureau’s homepage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/secondary-spa/general-info/sspa_eplatform_parents_guide.html 
Completion of registration procedure
———————————————————
 
     All students must register at their allocated secondary schools this Thursday or Friday (July 9 or 10). In case neither the students nor their parents or guardians are able to return to the school to collect the Allocation Slip and Admission Slip in person, the parents or guardians should authorise a representative in writing in advance to collect the documents and complete the registration procedure on their behalf.
 
     Should any parent or guardian have genuine difficulties in collecting the Admission Slip and registering with the allocated school personally or through an authorised representative, he or she should inform the secondary schools concerned or the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB before the registration deadline to make appropriate registration arrangements. Failure to do so will be taken as giving up the place allocated.
 
Arrangements under inclement weather
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     In case of inclement weather or other special circumstances on the day for the announcement of the allocation results or on the days for registration, all schools and parents should pay attention to announcements on radio or television for special arrangements for the announcement of the allocation results or registration.
 
Enquiries
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     For enquiries about the allocation results, students and parents may call the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB on 2832 7740 and 2832 7700 during office hours.
Issued at HKT 14:30

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Northern Metropolis Development Bill to be introduced into LegCo for First Reading and Second Reading

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Northern Metropolis Development Bill to be introduced into LegCo for First Reading and Second Reading 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (July 8) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Northern Metropolis Development Bill, the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Employees Retraining (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debates on the Bills will be adjourned.
 
     Meanwhile, the Second Reading debate on the Stamp Duty (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2026 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     On government motion, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury will move a proposed resolution under the Banking Ordinance. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.
 
     On Members’ motions, Ms Nixie Lam will move a motion on “Enhancing the governance efficacy of civil service”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Wu Yingpeng, Mr Chau Siu-chung, Mr Chan Cho-kwong and Mr Dennis Leung will move separate amendments to Ms Lam’s motion.
 
     Ms Julia Lau will move a motion on “Seizing the development opportunities of the Northern Metropolis and green transport and building an innovation-driven smart city”. The motion is set out in Appendix 3. Ir Michelle Tang, Mr Kenneth Lau and Mr Yiu Ming will move separate amendments to Ms Lau’s motion.
 
     Meanwhile, Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending subsidiary legislation. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 4.
 
     During the meeting, Mr Chan Yung and Mr Chan Hok-fung will present the “Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Annual Report 2025 and Reports of ICAC Advisory Committees” and the “ICAC Complaints Committee Annual Report 2025” respectively, and address the Council.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:10

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Adjudication training course opens

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Greater Bay Area Foreign-Related Adjudication Talent Training Course, jointly organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the High People’s Court of Guangdong Province, started today in Guangzhou.

During the opening ceremony, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam highlighted that the course is tailored for judges from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and nearby provinces. The initiative follows collaborations between the academy and the Supreme People’s Court and the Shanghai High People’s Court.

Mr Lam noted that the course aims to deepen judicial exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan’s goals to strengthen co-ordination in regional development and boost the GBA’s role as an engine for high-quality development. This effort contributes to the construction of a collaborative mechanism for cultivating foreign-related legal talent within the GBA.

The training course focuses on Hong Kong’s common law system and the practical application of guarantee law in foreign-related hearings through lectures and dialogues.

To enhance participants’ cross-border case capabilities, judges from Hong Kong’s Court of First Instance of the High Court and senior legal professionals have been invited to deliver lectures.

More than 100 senior judges specialising in foreign-related and bankruptcy adjudication from 68 courts across 32 cities in Guangdong Province and neighbouring areas, such as Guangxi, Hainan and Hunan are taking part in the three-day training course.

School places to be announced

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Education Bureau today reminded parents that this year’s secondary school places allocation results will be announced tomorrow.

The current allocation exercise involves 48,545 students. Within this cohort, 95% of participating students have been allocated discretionary places or one their first three choices during the central allocation stages, while 84% secured a discretionary place or their top choice.

Among the segment of students who obtained their placements through the central allocation stages, 91% were allocated one of their first three choices, and 74% received their first choice.

All participating students must collect their allocation and admission slips tomorrow, and proceed to register at their allocated secondary school on July 9 or 10.

Call the bureau’s School Places Allocation Section at 2832 7740 or 2832 7700 for enquiries.

Direct remittance for HK elderly

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Social Welfare Department announced today that elderly Hong Kong residents receiving portable cash assistance can now choose to have their payments remitted directly into their designated Mainland bank accounts in Hong Kong dollars free of charge.

The service is available to eligible applicants and beneficiaries under the portable scheme for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, the Old Age Living Allowance and the Old Age Allowance under the Guangdong and Fujian social security allowance Schemes.

The department stipulated that the accounts must be Hong Kong dollar accounts opened by the recipients at branches of the Bank of China or the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China located in the provinces of Guangdong or Fujian.

Recipients who wish to apply for the service must provide documentary proof of their Mainland bank accounts during the application process.

For enquiries, contact the relevant Social Security Field Unit, the New Home Association for Guangdong Province at 2815 7399 or the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch for Fujian Province at 2755 6800.

Presidential visits to Turkiye for NATO, Mongolia

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Foreign Affairs

President Lee Jae Myung from July 7-11 will visit Turkiye to attend the NATO summit, followed by a state visit to Mongolia. From July 7-8, he will attend the summit in Ankara at the invitation of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Next will be the state visit to Mongolia from July 9-11 at the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh.

MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Pakistan foreign ministers

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Pakistan foreign ministers

January 6, 2026  

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar cochaired the seventh round of the China-Pakistan foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue in Beijing on January 4. The joint communiqué issued after the meeting contained statements that blatantly contradicted the facts, including the claim that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.” 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns the Chinese government for continuing to spread absurd and distorted information in the international community that denigrates Taiwan’s sovereignty, and expresses deep regret at the government of Pakistan’s repeated submission and compliance with China’s authoritarian behavior.

MOFA reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other, and that the Chinese Communist Party regime has never governed Taiwan. No country has the right or the power to deny the objective existence of Taiwan through a so-called joint press communiqué. MOFA calls on Pakistan to stop complying with China’s disregard for the truth and cease its endorsement of declarations that have aggressive intentions and undermine regional peace and stability.

Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs to the people of Taiwan. Only they can decide Taiwan’s future. Global peace, stability, and prosperity must be upheld by all nations. As a force for good in the international community, Taiwan will continue to defend the values of freedom and democracy and strengthen cooperation with its partners in the democratic camp to jointly curb authoritarian expansionism, safeguard cross-strait peace and security, and maintain freedom and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

MOFA response to joint statement by foreign and defense ministers of Australia and UK reaffirming importance of Taiwan Strait peace and stability

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to joint statement by foreign and defense ministers of Australia and UK reaffirming importance of Taiwan Strait peace and stability

Date:2026-06-12
Data Source:Department of European Affairs

June 12, 2026  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung greatly affirms and welcomes the joint statement issued following the Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) on June 10. The statement reiterated the critical importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposed any unilateral action to change the status quo, and encouraged dialogue rather than coercion or the use of force. 

The statement also expressed concern at China’s destabilizing military exercises around Taiwan. It recognized that the international community benefits from the expertise of the people of Taiwan. And it conveyed the two countries’ commitment to supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and deepening relations with Taiwan in the economic, trade, scientific, technological, and cultural fields.

The consultations were held in London. They were attended by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Defence Secretary John Healey, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, and Minister for Defence Richard Marles. 

The statement marked the third consecutive year that Australia and the United Kingdom have jointly issued such a public declaration of support for Taiwan.

The United Kingdom, Australia, and Taiwan are like-minded partners that share such universal values as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. They play a key role in ensuring stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific. 

As an indispensable member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to work closely with like-minded countries to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, expand Taiwan’s international participation, defend the rules-based international order, and jointly promote security and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Govt respects medical council ruling

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government said today it respects the judgment made by a panel set up under the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) in relation to a 2009 case of cerebral palsy in a newborn baby.

The MCHK’s Inquiry Panel restarted a disciplinary inquiry into the case of Li Yuanjian in November last year, following a review of the matter. 

In a statement, the Government said it fully supports the panel’s decision and stressed that the inquiry’s conclusion helps to clarify the facts of the incident, and cuts short any prolonged pressure on the doctor and on the child’s family.

The Health Bureau again extended its sympathies to Yuanjian and his parents. It said it hopes the judgment can bring them some solace, and allow them to focus fully on Yuanjian’s care while maintaining their confidence in Hong Kong’s healthcare system and institutional framework.

Relevant departments will continue to follow up on Yuanjian’s medical and welfare needs, the bureau added.

The Government said there is an urgent need to improve the MCHK’s complaint handling mechanism, as was clearly stated in two reports – one submitted by the MCHK to the bureau in December, and a report issued by the Ombudsman in February concerning a direct investigation into the council’s secretariat.

To this end, the bureau announced the start of legislative procedure for the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2026 on on June 26.

The bill puts forth a series of recommendations to reform the MCHK’s complaint handling mechanism, and will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first reading on Wednesday.