Category: MIL-OSI

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LCQ2: Improving harbourfront facilities in Hong Kong Island East

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ2: Improving harbourfront facilities in Hong Kong Island East        
Question:
 
     Given that it has all along been the Government’s objective to link up and enrich the harbourfront development on both sides of Victoria Harbour, regarding the enhancement of the harbourfront sections in Quarry Bay, Sai Wan Ho and Shau Kei Wan (such sections), will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether the authorities have undertaken any works projects or studies to upgrade the facilities and optimise the design of such sections, as well as to improve the accessibility between the harbourfront and the surrounding areas over the past five years; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) given that the Government has undertaken to implement the open management mode of “Harbourfront Shared Space” in more harbourfront sites, whether the authorities have plans to optimise such sections so as to provide additional harbourfront shared space, and to extend the harbourfront concept of fostering a water-friendly culture further eastwards from the East Coast Boardwalk in North Point to such sections; and
 
(3) given that such sections are in close proximity to a number of harbourfront attractions with development potentials in Hong Kong Island East, including SoHo East in Sai Wan Ho, the Tam Kung Temple in Shau Kei Wan and the Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter, etc, whether the authorities will, by drawing on the successful experience of the East Coast Boardwalk in North Point, further extend the East Coast Boardwalk to the Shau Kei Wan area, so as to promote the attractions along the route, invigorate the local economy and enable more members of the public and tourists to enjoy higher-quality harbourfront facilities?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Following the full opening of the East Coast Boardwalk, the approximately 13-kilometre long harbourfront on Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan has been connected. Regarding the harbourfront section from Quarry Bay through Sai Wan Ho to Shau Kei Wan as mentioned by the Hon Elaine Chik, which forms the easternmost part of this 13-kilometre stretch and spans about 2.5 kilometres long, it has been fully connected and is situated adjacent to residential areas, linking various public and private housing estates along the waterfront. The waterfront section also provides access to multiple waterfront parks, which were developed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in earlier years and have since been managed by the department, with facilities therein primarily serving local residents.
 
     In consultation with the relevant bureaux and departments, the reply to various parts of the question is as follows:
      
(1) As the approximately 2.5-kilometre harbourfront section from Quarry Bay to Shau Kei Wan has been connected, we are planning to take forward various enhancement projects under the “incremental approach” as follows:
 
(i) Enhancement works for Hoi Yu Street, Quarry Bay: We are enhancing the East Coast Boardwalk and its adjacent facilities, including modifying the road alignment of Hoi Yu Street at the eastern entrance/exit of the Boardwalk to widen the pedestrian passage, adding toilets and shower facilities, and introducing more vending machines thereat. These works are expected to be completed by mid-2026, which will further enhance the connectivity and supporting facilities;
 
(ii) Enhancement works for the promenade at Hoi Yu Street, Quarry Bay: We plan to relocate the temporary car park currently at Hoi Yu Street to the adjacent site at Hoi Shin Lane by mid-2027 to free up more harbourfront spaces. Thereafter, we will carry out basic enhancement works at the original site of the temporary car park at Hoi Yu Street and relocate the pet garden currently in Quarry Bay Promenade to the site at Hoi Yu Street. Upon vacating the space after relocation, the public will be able to enjoy the harbourfront parts in Quarry Bay Promenade more seamlessly; and
 
(iii) Improvement works on connectivity in the Shau Kei Wan waterfront area: For the existing pedestrian connectivity between the Aldrich Bay Promenade and the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence, we plan to widen the footpath at Tam Kung Temple Road near A Kung Ngam Shipyards and improve the pedestrian crossing within 2027, thereby enhancing accessibility and the walking environment.
 
(2) Regarding the Harbourfront Shared Space, it is an innovative design and management model introduced by the Development Bureau and the Harbourfront Commission in recent years for seven newly opened harbourfront sites. To become shared spaces, implementation begins with design, whereby play facilities and other installations inside these spaces such as seating are primarily movable, allowing users to freely arrange them according to their needs and create a space of their own. In shared spaces, we also minimise management rules and restrictions, encouraging members of the public to enjoy the harbourfront in their own ways with mutual respect and inclusiveness.

     As the waterfront public open spaces from Quarry Bay to Shau Kei Wan currently managed by the LCSD, with facilities primarily serving local residents, were developed in earlier years, most of these spaces are equipped with fixed children’s play equipment or elderly fitness facilities, and the existing space constraints may not allow for different activities to take place simultaneously. In view of the above, we have no plans at this stage to change the function of the existing parks or to add new shared spaces along this section of the harbourfront. However, the LCSD has enhanced the park facilities in this area in recent years to continuously meet the needs of users, including the upgraded public play space at Quarry Bay Park completed last year, which adopted Ocean Adventure as the design concept based on public opinions, providing various inclusive play facilities making the new play space more creative and fun. Additionally, to allow the public and pets to better enjoy the waterfront together, the LCSD has designated a specific area at the North Point Promenade and Quarry Bay Park Phase II as Inclusive Park for Pets, enabling pets to share space with other users within designated areas.
 
(3) As I mentioned at the beginning, the harbourfront section from Quarry Bay to Shau Kei Wan has been connected and linked up with the East Coast Boardwalk, thereby forming a seamless extension of the Boardwalk. There are definitely a number of attractions worth promoting in this area, including the Tam Kung Temple in Shau Kei Wan and the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence. In addition to improving pedestrian connectivity in the harbourfront along Shau Kei Wan as mentioned above, we will also study how to connect Shau Kei Wan to Heng Fa Tsuen, which is rather difficult to connect, under the Round-the-Island Trail project, hoping to link better the Museum with nearby attractions. We will strive to substantially complete the connection works by end-2031. In terms of promotion, the Tourism Commission and the Hong Kong Tourism Board have installed directional signs in the Eastern District to guide visitors to major attractions such as Tam Kung Temple in Shau Kei Wan and Hong Kong Film Archive. 
 
     These multi-pronged measures will bring more footfall and business opportunities to the eastern part of the harbourfront on Hong Kong Island. In taking forward the Round-the-Island Trail or enhancing the harbourfront, we will continue to adopt the approach of “tackling the simple issues first before the difficult ones” as well as the “incremental approach”, and make good use of harbourfront resources to create a more attractive and vibrant harbourfront for both the public and visitors.
Issued at HKT 16:26

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FEHD expedites approval of applications for outside seating accommodation of restaurants through new “joint-vetting” mechanism

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (April 1) that, starting from today, it will collaborate with relevant departments to implement a new “joint-vetting” mechanism and streamline procedures for processing applications for outside seating accommodation (OSA) of restaurants, with the aim of facilitating business operations.

A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Previously, the median processing time for OSA applications was 12 months from receipt of application to approval. Under the new arrangements, applications which are simple and straightforward are expected to be approved in principle within about one month, with applicants informed of the detailed licensing requirements.”

The spokesman added, “Application requirements have also been suitably relaxed. For example, eligible restaurants will not be required to increase food room areas and sanitary fitments for the OSA. Applications involving walkways with a remaining width of 3 metres or more after the provision of OSA will generally be considered as meeting the traffic requirements. Each relevant department will also assign a dedicated case manager to handle applicant’s enquiries.”

Under the new arrangements, the application form has been enhanced to ensure that each relevant department receives necessary information upfront, expediting the approval process. District Offices will conduct local consultations in parallel. If no objections are raised, applications will be approved in principle; formal approval will be granted once applicants comply with licensing requirements and inspections are completed by the FEHD and relevant departments. For complex cases arising during the “joint-vetting”, the relevant Permanent Secretaries and even the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration will step in to resolve issues. After approval of OSA, the departments will conduct audit checking as necessary to ensure that there are no violations.

​The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address that the FEHD and relevant departments would expedite OSA applications of restaurants and streamline procedures. Under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, the FEHD and relevant departments had earlier streamlined procedures, formulated internal guidelines, and briefed the trade on the new arrangements. Details of the new application arrangements and forms are available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/guide.html#OutsideSeatingAccommodation). The application forms also provide enquiry hotlines for each relevant department.

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Provisional statistics of retail sales for February 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (April 1).

     The value of total retail sales in February 2026, provisionally estimated at $35.0 billion, increased by 19.3% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in January 2026 increased by 5.5% compared with a year earlier. For the first two months of 2026 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales increased by 11.8% compared with the same period in 2025.

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IRD issues profits tax, property tax and employer’s returns for 2025-26

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

IRD issues profits tax, property tax and employer’s returns for 2025-26      
     The IRD encourages taxpayers to file their tax returns through eTAXreturns      
     Employers may use the IR56 Forms Preparation Tool to prepare and submit all types of IR56 Forms (i.e. Forms IR56B/E/F/G/M) electronically when filing their employer’s returns. This tool can be used online without installation. Employers can learn about the details of the tool on the IRD’s website      
     Profits tax payers are also encouraged to file tax returns electronically together with supporting documents (including financial statements and tax computations) in inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL) format. The IRD provides the IRD Taxonomy Package (the Taxonomy) and the IRD iXBRL Data Preparation Tools (the Tools) to help taxpayers prepare the required iXBRL data files. Taxpayers may visit the IRD’s websitesystem      
     The first phase of mandatory electronic filing of profits tax returns also came into effect today (April 1). The relevant entities of in-scope multinational enterprise groups subject to the global minimum tax regime are required to file their profits tax returns electronically from the year of assessment 2025-26 onwards. Details are available on the IRD’s website      
     The IRD reminds taxpayers and employers to pay sufficient postage to ensure timely delivery if they submit their returns by mail. Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the IRD. Postage rates are available on Hongkong Post’s websiteIssued at HKT 16:30

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LCQ12: Combatting illicit fuelling activities

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Jody Kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (April 1):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that amid the rising international oil prices and varying fuel duties, illegal mobile refuelling activities in Hong Kong have increased significantly and become more covert in terms of the locations of these activities. According to the information from the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD), 221 complaints about illicit fuelling were received in the first two months of this year, representing an increase of 42 per cent as compared with the monthly average last year, while the number of prosecutions rose by 85 per cent over last year’s monthly average. Also, locations of illegal refuelling stations have shifted from remote areas or outdoor car parks to places near the urban areas, where operations are carried out in a more mobile manner. Some operators even make use of modified goods vehicles to provide “on-the-spot” refuelling services on the roadside, posing significant threats to public safety. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of reports and complaints received by various law enforcement agencies concerning illegal refuelling stations since 2025, the number of inspections conducted, quantity of illegal fuel seized, number of refuelling vehicles confiscated, number of individuals convicted and the corresponding penalties imposed; whether the authorities will consider increasing the corresponding penalties given that the problem of illicit fuelling is becoming more serious;
 
(2) as it has been reported that given the more “fragmented” and “concealed” mode of operations of mobile illegal refuelling stations, such as converting ordinary light goods vehicles into “illegal refuelling vehicles” for conducting mobile transactions, of the effectiveness of the FSD’s measures to deploy drones for patrolling so as to strengthen law enforcement efforts; whether the FSD has applied alternative technologies for law enforcement or formulated targeted measures in response to the increasing difficulties in detection of illicit fuelling activities; and
 
(3) as it has been reported that illegal fuel is primarily smuggled into Hong Kong by cross-boundary goods vehicles with modified fuel tanks, of the targeted measures currently put in place by the authorities against such illegal acts, including whether technology, big data, etc have been used to analyse the border-crossing patterns, driving records, fuel transaction records of and other information about suspicious vehicles, and whether studies will be conducted regarding the establishment of a notification mechanism with the law enforcement departments in the Mainland to share cross-boundary data and jointly and precisely intercept fuel smuggling at source?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government attaches great importance to combating illicit fuelling activities. In response to the evolving scale and modus operandi of these activities, the Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy. The strategy includes intelligence-led targeted deployments, the application of innovative technologies, facilitation of public reporting, enhanced inter-departmental and industry collaboration, review of relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks, and close co-operation with mainland law enforcement agencies. These measures aim to curb illicit fuel activities and protect public safety.
 
     Regarding the question from the Hon Jody Kwok, our reply is as follows:
 
(1) The numbers of complaints received by the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) about illicit fuelling activities and relevant enforcement figures are as follows:
 

  FSD C&ED
  2025 2026
(as at February)		 2025 2026
(as at February)
Complaints about illicit fuelling activities (Note 1) 931 221 662
(Note 5)		 157
(Note 5)
Inspections and blitz operations (Note 2) 2 067 349 (Note 6)
Quantity of illicit fuel seized (Litres) 538 703 193 217 96 211 16 339
Number of vehicles seized  Not Applicable
(Note 3)		 Not Applicable
(Note 3)		 15 12
Number of prosecutions instituted 239 73 14 3
Number of persons convicted (Note 4) 89 9 15 5
Penalties
(Note 4)		 A fine of $1,000 to $25,000 and an imprisonment of 14 days to one month A fine of $2,000 to $8,000 A fine of $1,500 to $15,000 and an imprisonment of 14 days to six months A fine of $3,000 to $15,000 and an imprisonment of seven days to six months

Note 1: The figures include complaints referred by the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police) or other government departments.
Note 2: The FSD and the C&ED conducted 25 and seven joint inspection operations in 2025 and 2026 (as at February) respectively, which are included in the above table. In addition, if intelligence indicates any involvement of other criminal acts, the Police will also participate in the joint operations as necessary.
Note 3: According to existing legislation, the FSD can stop, board, and search vehicles involved in a case at the scene, but does not have the authority to seize the vehicles. The Government is currently actively reviewing the FSD’s enforcement powers as detailed below.
Note 4: Cases convicted during the year.
Note 5: Complaints received about illicit fuel activities, including smuggling, dealing with, possession of, and selling or buying illicit fuel, etc.
Note 6: Apart from officers dedicated to handling complaints about illicit fuel activities, frontline officers deployed at various boundary control points also carry out enforcement actions against illicit fuel during their routine inspections. As such, the C&ED does not maintain statistics on the number of inspections and enforcement actions targeting illicit fuel activities.
 
     In view of the increasingly serious risks that illicit fuelling activities pose to public safety, the Government is actively reviewing relevant fire safety legislation with a view to comprehensively strengthening the regulatory regime. The review includes exploring the possibility of increasing penalties for related offenses, enhancing the enforcement powers of the FSD in areas such as arresting individuals and seizing vehicles involved in such activities, as well as examining the legal liability of purchasing illegal fuel, all in an effort to more effectively combat illicit fuelling activities.
 
(2) Based on the aforementioned multi-pronged strategy, the FSD has strengthened its investigation and enforcement efforts in the following four areas to tackle the increasing fragmentation and concealment of illicit fuelling activities:
 
     First, to adopt an intelligence-led enforcement strategy. The FSD systematically integrates and analyses intelligence from various sources, including public complaints and referrals from other departments, suspicious equipment and installations identified during inspections, and past prosecution records, to build a comprehensive picture regarding illicit fuelling activities. By analysing the temporal and spatial patterns of such activities through a data system, the FSD continuously identifies new black spots and shifting trend of operational patterns, thereby enabling targeted deployment of patrols and strategic timed surprise operations to ensure enforcement resources are focused where they are the most effective.
 
     Second, on the basis of intelligence-led operations, the FSD proactively introduces innovative technological equipment to enhance frontline investigation capabilities. The FSD has deployed unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for routine patrols, particularly in remote and secluded locations, to strengthen surveillance and facilitate the early detection of suspicious activities. Unlike traditional intelligence-gathering methods, the UAS can conduct wide-area aerial surveillance from strategic positions. When suspicious activities are detected, the ground-based anti-illicit fuelling activities task force can be immediately notified for enforcement action. Since their introduction in October 2025, the UAS have conducted 76 missions, successfully assisting in the detection of six cases and the initiation of 20 prosecutions. Aerial surveillance intelligence gathered is also fed back into the aforementioned data analysis system to enrich the intelligence database.
 
     Third, to facilitate public reporting and strengthen community surveillance networks. In October 2025, the FSD launched the Illicit Fuelling Activities on the Fire Hazard Electronic Complaint Portal and a 24-hour “Oil Strike” reporting hotline (5577 9666) to make it convenient for members of the public to report suspected illicit fuelling activities at any time. The platform allows users to submit videos and photos, providing precise information for intelligence analysis and follow-up enforcement. From October 2025 to February 2026, the FSD received 134 pieces of intelligence through these channels, which assisted in identifying 18 new black spots. In the first two months of this year, a total of 221 reports were received, representing a 42 per cent increase over the previous monthly average. This surge in reporting reflects increased public awareness, while the straightforward reporting process also helps translate vigilance into concrete action, providing first-hand leads for intelligence-led enforcement.
 
     Fourth, to promote inter-departmental and industry collaboration to achieve comprehensive and precise enforcement. The FSD has been working closely with the C&ED and the Police, combining the enforcement powers and intelligence resources of different departments to conduct regular joint operations. In addition, in October 2025, the FSD established the Anti-Illicit Fuelling Activities Strategy Group, with membership covering multiple government departments and oil-related businesses. By gathering professional views and intelligence from different stakeholders through the Strategy Group, the FSD can more effectively identify higher-risk black spots for illicit fuelling activities across the territory, enabling precise enforcement.
 
(3) The C&ED has been closely monitoring the smuggling of illicit fuel at various boundary control points. In addition to risk management facilitated by data analytics, the C&ED deploys advanced inspection equipment, such as the Gantry Type X-Ray Vehicle Inspection Systems, Mobile X-Ray Vehicle Scanning Systems, Smart Under Vehicle Robots, etc, to enhance its detection capabilities in combating illicit fuel smuggling. Among these, the Smart Under Vehicle Robots are equipped with an AI-enabled image comparison function, which can scan vehicle licence plates and compare vehicles with their past image records to assist in detecting vehicle modifications, such as additional fuel tanks, as well as dutiable goods or contraband hidden beneath the vehicles.
 
     Besides, the C&ED has maintained close contact and intelligence exchange with the Chinese Mainland law enforcement agencies. Both sides discuss co-operation and exchange intelligence through meetings to combat revenue crimes, and take intelligence-led actions against fuel smuggling and local illicit fuel activities. The most recent meeting was held in February 2026. Since the beginning of 2026, a total of 12 cases involving illicit fuel were detected in joint operations mounted by the C&ED with the FSD and the Police. These joint operations include the territory-wide joint operation of the C&ED with the FSD codenamed “Knockout” from January 5 to 18, 2026 targeting illicit fuel activities, and the joint operation of the FSD with the C&ED and the Police codenamed “Flow Stopper” on February 13, 2026 targeting illicit fuelling activities.

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LCQ17: Care services for terminally-ill patients

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ17: Care services for terminally-ill patients 

 (Actual)(Total number of inpatient and day inpatient discharges and deaths) (Number of attendances) (Number of attendances)(Number of attendances)     Support for dying-in-place is an integral component of EoL care.  For terminally ill patients who choose to pass away in their place of residence, we have been providing appropriate support. In terms of hardware, the SWD has been supporting RCHEs and residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) in adopting various models to provide EoL care services.  Since September 2017, all newly established contract homes have been equipped with an EoL care room, allowing residents to face death with dignity and peace in a familiar environment. The SWD also encourages existing RCHEs and RCHDs to make flexible use of space to provide the relevant services. Regarding legislation, under the Coroners Ordinance (Cap. 504), deaths that meet specified conditions and occur at home are not required to be reported to the Coroner. To facilitate terminally ill patients residing in RCHDs and RCHEs that are not nursing homes in opting for dying-in-place arrangements, we amended the relevant provisions of the Coroners Ordinance and the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance (Cap. 174) in June 2024 to provide that deaths complying with the statutory conditions are also exempt from the requirement of reporting to the Coroner. The Government has been collecting relevant information through various channels to keep track of service trends, including the on-going collection of service utilisation data related to EoL care through the CGATs.  Notably, the number of deaths in RCHEs participating in the Jockey Club End‑of‑Life Community Care Project (JCECC) (Note 3) was 27 between 2016 to June 2024. Following the implementation of the legislative amendments in June 2024, the figure rose to 75 by the end of 2025 (Note 4). Such increase demonstrates that, with the gradual enhancement of service support and the flexibility brought about by the legislation, there has been growth in the number of cases choosing to pass away in residential care homes, reflecting a steady increase in the acceptance of dying-in-place arrangements among terminally ill patients and their families. The Government will continue to collect relevant data for reference when reviewing the planning of EoL care services.

(4) The number of AMDs made within the HA from 2023 to 2025 is tabulated as follows:
 

Year      The number of DNACPR orders made within the HA from 2023 to 2025 is tabulated as follows:
 

Year(5) and (6) To ensure the smooth implementation of the Ordinance in mid-2026, the Government has allocated an adequate preparation period following its passage to allow healthcare institutions, relevant departments, and organisations to make the necessary transitional arrangements. The latest progress of the relevant preparation work is summarised as follows:

     On formulating or updating guidelines, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine has issued the “Best Practice Guidelines on Advance Medical Directives”, which elucidates the application of the Ordinance and provides practical operational guidance to better equip doctors with the knowledge of the legislative requirements when formulating and implementing AMDs and DNACPR orders.  In addition, the HA has revised the “Guidelines on Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients Approaching End of Life” in October 2025 for reference by healthcare staff. For RCHEs and RCHDs, the SWD has provided reference guidelines on EoL care services to residential care homes in May 2024, offering practical advice on implementing EoL care services (including formulating advance care plans and AMDs).Issued at HKT 16:40

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LCQ22: Protection of endangered species

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (April 1):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that there are notable discrepancies between Hong Kong’s import and export data for certain species regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), such as Podocnemis unifilis (yellow-spotted river turtle) and Anguilla anguilla (European eel), and there are views that there may be loopholes in the transparency and regulatory regimes governing trade in endangered species. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given that, according to the data from the CITES Trade Database, Hong Kong imported nearly 3 million yellow-spotted river turtles but re-exported only around 5 000 between 2015 and 2023, and that this species is not commonly found in local pet shops, whether the authorities are aware of the whereabouts of those yellow-spotted river turtles that were not exported;
 
(2) according to data from the CITES Trade Database, Morocco exported 4 500 kilograms of captive European eel to Hong Kong in 2021, but the figure shown in Hong Kong’s import records was 4 750 kilograms, representing a discrepancy of 250 kilograms; given that Hong Kong has no eel farms, whether the authorities have a clear understanding of the flows and uses of these European eels;
 
(3) regarding the discrepancies between import and export data for the species involved in (1) and (2) above, whether the authorities will conduct a follow-up investigation to ascertain the reasons;
 
(4) given views that the data search function of the CITES Trade Database is not easy to use, whether the authorities will consider providing a platform or search engine that is simpler and easier to use than the CITES Trade Database for members of the public to access data on the trade flows of endangered species via Hong Kong;
 
(5) under sections 18 and 21 of the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) (the Ordinance), a person may import or have in his possession or under his control a specimen of an Appendix II species if he can prove that the species is “not” a live animal or plant “of wild origin”; how the authorities define a live animal that is “not of wild origin” (for example, whether endangered wild species that have been taken from the wild and reared in captivity are included); whether the Government will consider amending the Ordinance to prevent lawbreakers from engaging in illegal trade while exploiting the “not of wild origin” provision to circumvent the Ordinance; and
 
(6) whether the authorities will consider amending the Ordinance to include species that are “not of wild origin” into the possession permit system and introduce unique identifiers (such as microchips or labels) to track the origins and flows of endangered species, thereby ensuring that Hong Kong fulfils its conservation obligations as a CITES contracting party?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) establishes regulatory principles for international trade in endangered species. According to the degree of endangered status, CITES classifies and lists species in Appendices I, II and III. The Government has been implementing CITES through the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) (the Ordinance). The Ordinance stipulates the requirements for Licence to Import and Licence to Possess administered by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to strengthen the regulation of trade in endangered species. In response to the questions raised by Hon Elizabeth Quat, we reply as follows.
 
(1), (2) and (3) The Yellow-spotted River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) and the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) are Appendix II species listed to CITES. According to the Ordinance, their export must be accompanied by an export permit issued by the place of export, which should specify the source of the specimens. If the specimens are taken from the wild, a Licence to Import issued by the AFCD is also required for their import. In addition, any person who possesses such specimens for commercial purposes is required to hold a Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD. According to records of the AFCD, there were approximately 2.88 million Yellow-spotted River Turtles imported into Hong Kong between 2015 and 2023, and about 85 000 individuals re-exported during the same period. In 2021, Hong Kong imported a total of 4 750 kilograms of European Eels from Morocco. All the specimens mentioned above were captive animals as indicated on the export permits, and thus no Licence to Import or Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD was required. Nevertheless, AFCD officers conduct inspections of these imported Yellow-spotted River Turtles and European Eels to ensure that they were consistent with the information stated in the export permits (such as quantities and species) issued by the place of export before allowing their legal import and re-export.
 
     The above-mentioned Yellow-spotted River Turtles and European Eels were all legally imported into Hong Kong. Concerning legally imported CITES specimens, CITES does not require tracking of their subsequent movement. Since the above imported specimens were all captive animals, the importers were not required to obtain Licence to Import or Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD, and thus the AFCD does not keep records on their subsequent movement. Notwithstanding this, the AFCD and the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department maintain high vigilance and work closely together, conducting joint operations at various control points to strengthen cargo inspections, including using technology, to combat the smuggling of endangered species. Regarding the discrepancies of trade data on European Eels recorded in the CITES Trade Database, the AFCD had consulted the CITES Management Authority of Morocco and the CITES Secretariat, and was informed that Morocco had submitted erroneous trade records. The CITES Secretariat has then rectified the relevant record.
 
(4) The CITES Trade Database is the most comprehensive global repository of data on international trade in flora and fauna species. Established in 1975, the database contains official trade records submitted by the Parties in their annual reports made in accordance with the requirements of the CITES. It fully provides an overview of international trade in species conducted within the framework of CITES. The CITES Trade Database also provides detailed user guidelines for users’ reference, which are available at trade.cites.org/cites_trade_guidelines/en-CITES_Trade_Database_Guide.pdf. Currently, the Government has no plan to develop another platform or search engine for trade data of endangered species outside the CITES Trade Database. Members of the public who wish to obtain trade data on the import and export of endangered species in Hong Kong may contact the AFCD directly for information.
 
(5) The Ordinance only requires Licence to Import or Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD for all Appendix I species (regardless of whether they are taken from wild or captive), and for wild specimens of Appendix II species (excluding those captive) for commercial purposes. That said, sections 18 and 21 of the Ordinance also stipulate that any person who imports or possesses live specimens of Appendix II species, even if claimed to be captive, must provide documentary proof, such as an export permit issued by the place of export, to substantiate that the specimens are not taken from the wild, hence exempted from the requirements for obtaining Licence to Import or Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD. Otherwise, the person concerned would commit an offence. In this regard, the AFCD conducts inspections and requests those persons possessing captive Appendix II specimens to provide proof. There were successful prosecutions against offenders in the past. Therefore, unscrupulous traders cannot evade regulation by falsely claiming wild-caught specimens as captive ones under the existing control regime.
 
(6) Under the Ordinance, any person who possesses live specimens of Appendix I species or Appendix II species of wild origin for commercial purposes must obtain a Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD. The existing licensing requirement under the Ordinance strikes a balance between species conservation and operational needs of the trade. The Government has no plan to extend the licensing requirement to other live animal or plant species at this stage. As regards the implantation of unique identification tagging in live animals, it is generally required to be carried out during the captive-breeding process in the place of export in order to enable effective traceability of origin. For instance, CITES stipulated that specimens of Appendix I species bred in registered captive-breeding facilities must bear unique identifiers before they can be traded internationally. The AFCD has been strictly enforcing the relevant provisions of CITES. All Appendix I animals imported into Hong Kong (for example Asian Arowanas and Radiated Tortoises) must be implanted with tagging in their place of export, and all tag numbers must be submitted to the AFCD when applying for Licence to Import and Licence to Possess. AFCD officers will scrutinize the tags upon importation to verify the origin of the animals.

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LCQ7: Digitalisation of trade documents

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ7: Digitalisation of trade documents 
Question:
 
     In the 2025-26 Budget and the 2025 Policy Address, the Government announced that it would make reference to the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) advocated by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and consider legislative amendments to facilitate the digitalisation of “Business-to-Business” (B2B) trade documents. In December 2025, the Government published a consultation paper proposing the addition of a new part to the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553), which would provide a legal basis for the use of B2B trade documents such as electronic bills of lading and bills of exchange. It is learnt that the full digitalisation of such documents is expected to generate net cost savings of approximately $34.9 billion for the industry between 2027 and 2036. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given the Government’s proposal in the consultation paper to rely on the factors set out in MLETR without introducing a mandatory accreditation regime, and to allow the market to assess the reliability of trade documents based on industry practices and market needs, how the Government will ensure that, in the absence of official accreditation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can demonstrate the validity of electronic trade documents in a simple and low-cost manner to address potential disputes that may arise;
 
(2) how the Government assesses the current level of digitalisation of cross-border trade documents between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and what plans are in place to further develop or enhance such digitalisation; and

(3) as there are views that the digitalisation of B2B trade documents involves relatively complex and novel technologies, such as encryption protocols and blockchain, which may impose technology costs on enterprises, whether the Government has corresponding support measures in place to assist SMEs in upgrading and transformation?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government is committed to maintaining an environment conducive to preserving and enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international trade centre. Digitalisation of “Business-to-Business” (B2B) trade documents may reduce processing time and costs, enhance transparency and integrity, and facilitate international trade. However, transactions involving certain B2B trade documents, including negotiable instruments such as bills of lading and promissory notes, still rely largely on paper-based means because of legal requirements and industry practice. As technology advances, the digitalisation of these documents has emerged as a new trend. We hope that the legislative proposal will empower the industry to develop technical solutions that suit their actual needs, thereby further enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international financial, maritime and trade centre.
 
     The Government has earlier sought industry opinions on the proposed legislative framework for facilitating the digitalisation of B2B trade documents with reference to the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) and the experience of common law jurisdictions that have enacted local legislation in line with the MLETR (primarily Singapore and the United Kingdom). The three-month consultation period has just concluded on March 27. We are carefully studying the views received and will maintain communication with the industry so that we may refine our proposal with a view to introducing the legislative proposal within 2026. 
(1) The MLETR advocated by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law aims to provide a legal framework to ensure that electronic transferable records (ETRs) would have the legal recognition equivalent to their paper-based counterparts, thereby facilitating the use of ETRs. The MLETR is functionality-oriented, ensuring that ETRs possess the necessary characteristics to attain their legal recognition and functionality, while upholding the principle of technology neutrality by not specifying which technology or platform to be used, thereby promoting cross-boundary interoperability. 
     Notwithstanding that, we suggest adopting the “proven-in-fact” approach advocated in the MLETR to enhance legal certainty, whereby the reliability of a method that is proven to have achieved its intended function need not be assessed with reference to the standard of the factors-based assessment.
 
     Among the industry views received, most respondents support the suggestion set out in the consultation paper to use the series of factors set out in the MLETR provisions and the aforementioned “proven-in-fact” method to consider whether a method is reliable, without introducing a compulsory accreditation regime. We will carefully study all views received and consider the way forward.
 
(2) The Chinese Mainland has been actively promoting trials and the application of electronic trade documents in recent years, including making amendments to the Maritime Code of the People’s Republic of China (Maritime Code) in October 2025 with reference to the MLETR and relevant international conventions, thereby providing legal basis to transport documents such as electronic bills of lading. The amended Maritime Code will come into effect in May 2026. We may enhance the cross-boundary acceptability of the relevant documents with the Chinese Mainland upon Hong Kong’s completion of the relevant legislative amendment.
 
     In addition to legal compatibility, on the aspect of relevant trials, the HKMA launched Project Ensemble in March 2024. Through experimentations under the Ensemble Sandbox, it aims to enable industry participants to explore leveraging the blockchain technology to build innovative financial infrastructure. Relevant experimentations include applying the tokenisation technology on electronic bills of lading and tracking the flow of goods through blockchain, providing the basis for enhancing the level of digitalisation of trade documents across borders in practice. To promote further cross-boundary interoperability with the Chinese Mainland, the HKMA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Shanghai Data Bureau and the National Technology Innovation Center for Blockchain in March 2026, exploring cross-boundary financial co-operation under Project Ensemble including the use of electronic bills of lading, so as to promote digitalisation of trade documents and trade finance between the two places.
 
(3) The Government is dedicated to promoting the upgrading and transformation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and enhancing their competitiveness through various support measures. Since 2019, the Government has consolidated the four SME centres, namely the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs under the Trade and Industry Department, the SME Centre under the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the SME One under the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the TecONE under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, to provide “four-in-one” integrated services, such that SMEs can receive consultation and referral services in any one of the aforementioned centres.  The Government has also established the SME ReachOut, which is operated by the HKPC, in January 2020 to provide SMEs with capacity building services. Depending on the needs of SMEs, the SME ReachOut would provide one-on-one technology or business know-how consultation meetings, assisting SMEs in enhancing their capacities and leveraging new technologies to strengthen competitiveness. In addition, the HKPC through the one-stop digital transformation consultancy service provides enterprises with support on blockchain and its integration with other relevant emerging technologies. Such support covers areas such as blockchain-based system design, application development and security assessment. The HKPC’s Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team issues advice from time to time about cybersecurity, data protection policy formulation, secure content management and secure account management. These services assist enterprises, based on their actual needs, in upgrading and transforming their operational processes in a progressive manner, supporting the digitalisation of B2B trade documents.
Issued at HKT 16:43

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Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from April 16 to 20

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (April 1) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on April 16 (Thursday) to noon on April 20 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”

     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:

(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.

(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.

(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

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

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.

     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

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LCQ18: BUD Fund

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ18: BUD Fund 
     The Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) is one of the initiatives of the Government in supporting SMEs, aiming at assisting local enterprises in upgrading, transformation and development of diversified markets. It is learnt that the approval rate, funding ratio and funding ceiling of the Fund are of great concern to enterprises. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of applications under general applications, “Easy BUD” and the “E-commerce Easy” of the BUD Fund received each year since the launch of the initiative; among them, the respective numbers of applications which were (i) approved, (ii) not approved and (iii) withdrawn by enterprises, as well as the respective amounts of average funding per approved application;
 
(2) whether it has assessed the impact on enterprises’ desire to apply for the Fund after the funding ratio of the BUD Fund was adjusted to 1 (Government): 3 (enterprises) in March 2025; if so, of the details;
 
(3) whether it will consider further expanding the geographical coverage of the BUD Fund, such as unifying the geographical coverage for general applications and “E-commerce Easy” of the BUD Fund, and including locally-conducted projects for brand promotion and building within the funding scope; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(4) it is learnt that the approval rates for applications under “Easy BUD” and “E-commerce Easy” were below 40 per cent in the past, whether the authorities have put in place measures to support enterprises, so as to enhance the success rates of applications; if so, of the details; and
 
(5) of the number of enterprises that have fully utilised the funding ceiling under the BUD Fund at present; whether the Government will adopt the suggestion from some enterprises to increase the funding ceilings for the respective application schemes under the Fund; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) has been providing funding support to the trade since its establishment in 2012 to encourage non-listed Hong Kong enterprises to develop business in 40 economies with which Hong Kong has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) and/or investment promotion and protection agreements (IPPAs) through branding, upgrading and restructuring, and promoting sales. To strengthen the support for enterprises, the Government launched “Easy BUD” in June 2023 to expedite the vetting of applications involving designated measures, and launched “E-commerce Easy” in July 2024 to encourage enterprises to make use of the funding flexibly to implement electronic commerce projects.
 
     The reply to the questions raised by the Hon Jimmy Ng is as follows:
 
(1) Since the establishment of the BUD Fund, the number of applications received, approved, rejected and withdrawn by enterprises, as well as the average approved funding amount per application each year are as follows:
 

Year(i)

Year”Easy BUD”: 90)”Easy BUD”: 68,000″Easy BUD”: 421,
“E-commerce Easy”: 7)”Easy BUD”: 75,000
“E-commerce Easy”: 466,000″Easy BUD”: 301,
“E-commerce Easy”: 110)”Easy BUD”: 68,000
“E-commerce Easy”: 566,000(ii)

Year(General applications: 353, “Easy BUD”: 34)(General applications: 583, “Easy BUD”: 194, “E-commerce Easy”: 10)(General applications: 1 467, “Easy BUD”: 324, “E-commerce Easy”: 160)(iii)

Year(General application: 1 356, “Easy BUD”: 197)(General application: 1 619, “Easy BUD”: 530, “E-commerce Easy”: 50)(General application: 1 471, “Easy BUD”: 472, “E-commerce Easy”: 194)(2) The Government implemented rationalisation measures in March 2025 such that the BUD Fund would be utilised in the most productive manner and its financial sustainability be ensured. As at end-February 2026, the BUD Fund received a total of over 32 000 applications. In 2025, the BUD Fund received around 5 350 applications, an increase of over 210 per cent as compared with that in 2019, reflecting that the trade’s demand for the BUD Fund has remained strong.
 
     The funding ratio of the BUD Fund was adjusted in March 2025, and its effectiveness needs to be reviewed over time. In addition, we have relaxed the frequency for submitting “Easy BUD” applications and provided more targeted funding support for projects on green transformation and restructuring of production lines, etc. since March 2025. Meanwhile, we plan to implement a series of enhancement measures in the second quarter of 2026, including expansion of the fund’s geographical scope and enhancing promotion and facilitating enterprises’ participation in exhibitions and export promotion activities through “Easy BUD”, which were announced in the 2025 Policy Address; as well as increasing the funding ceiling per “Easy BUD” application by 50 per cent from $100,000 to $150,000 and providing more targeted funding support for enterprises to implement BUD Fund projects involving artificial intelligence elements, which were announced in the 2026-27 Budget. In this connection, we need time to review the relevant financial implications. We will continue to manage the fund prudently to ensure its financial sustainability, and utilise the public funds in a timely and focused manner to enable more enterprises to receive funding support and to maintain a wide spread of beneficiaries.
 
(3) The current geographical scope of the BUD Fund covers 40 economies (Note 5) with which Hong Kong has signed FTAs and/or IPPAs, accounting for more than 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s total trade in goods in 2025. The 2025 Policy Address announced the expansion of the geographical scope of the fund by 20 per cent to cover eight more economies (Note 6). We plan to seek approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in the second quarter of 2026, with a view to implementing the expansion of the geographical scope of the fund to a total of 48 economies in the same quarter. The geographical scope of the BUD Fund will also be correspondingly expanded as Hong Kong signs more FTAs and/or IPPAs with other economies in the future.
 
     “E-commerce Easy” was launched for less than two years and its geographical scope was expanded to the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in March 2025. The Government will therefore continue to review its operational arrangements and consider making adjustments and enhancements, having regard to the market situation, practical experience and provided that the financial sustainability of the fund is ensured.
 
     The BUD Fund was established with the aim of assisting Hong Kong enterprises in developing more diversified markets outside Hong Kong, thereby enhancing their competitiveness. Enterprises will receive funding support to implement project measures covered by the BUD Fund (including measures implemented locally) to develop their businesses in markets covered by the geographical scope of the fund, provided that the existing guidelines and other funding criteria can be satisfied. If participation in a Hong Kong exhibition is involved, the applicant enterprise needs to demonstrate the direct relevance between the exhibition and its business development in the target market, such as the past editions’ effectiveness. The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), the Programme Secretariat of the BUD Fund, will overall consider the specific circumstances of each individual case when vetting the applications.
 
(4) As at end-2025, the approval rates of “Easy BUD” and “E-commerce Easy” are 60 per cent and 41 per cent respectively. The HKPC, the Programme Secretariat of the BUD Fund, has been vetting all the applications stringently by following the criteria stipulated in the Guide to Application to ensure that only eligible applications can be approved. Therefore, the approval rates depend on the merits of individual applications and whether the funding conditions could be fulfilled. The major rejection reasons for “Easy BUD” and “E-commerce Easy” applications include the failure in fulfilling the eligibility of having substantive business operations in Hong Kong or the failure in obtaining the necessary licenses to start their businesses in the target markets by the applicant enterprises. As “E-commerce Easy” was launched for less than two years and submission of supporting documents in respect of some applications made by the applicant enterprises are pending, the approval rate has yet to take into account those applications.
 
     The Government has, since 2020, provided an online application system for the BUD Fund, and simplified the application form. The dedicated webpage of the BUD Fund already provides information on the application process, frequently asked questions, application tip, success stories, etc., for enterprises to refer to when planning their projects. The HKPC and the “SME ReachOut” also provide free one-on-one consultation services to answer enquiries relating to application. The Programme Secretariat has also been promoting the BUD Fund to enterprises, including their understanding of “Easy BUD” and “E-commerce Easy”, through a series of measures, including participating in exhibitions or information expos, placing advertisements, and distributing promotional leaflets.
 
(5) As at end-February 2026, no enterprise had exhausted the $7 million cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise under the BUD Fund thus far, and the enterprises which had utilised the cumulative funding amount of $4 million or more is around 1 per cent. Hence, the current funding ceiling of $7 million should be sufficient to meet the needs of enterprises. Enterprises can freely allocate the funding ceiling of $7 million among different application types, i.e., general application, “Easy BUD” or “E-commerce Easy”, based on their own needs. As mentioned above, the Government announced in the 2025 Policy Address and the 2026-27 Budget that further enhancement measures (including the increase of the funding ceiling per “Easy BUD” application by 50 per cent from $100,000 to $150,000) will be rolled out. The Government will continue to keep in close touch with the trade, and to review the BUD Fund’s implementation from time to time to provide adequate support to small and medium enterprises, while taking into account the financial capacity and sustainability of the BUD Fund.
 
Note 1: Applications received may not be processed in the same year. The figures include applications that could not be processed owing to incomplete information and those withdrawn voluntarily by enterprises afterwards.
 
Note 2: “Easy BUD” was launched in June 2023.
 
Note 3: “E-commerce Easy” was launched in July 2024.
 
Note 4: The figures include applications that could not be processed owing to incomplete information and those withdrawn voluntarily by enterprises afterwards.
 
Note 5: The 40 economies currently covered include the Chinese Mainland, 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (comprising Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), Australia, Chile, the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Georgia, Macao, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Austria, Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Bahrain and Peru.
 
Note 6: The eight economies are Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Brazil.
Issued at HKT 16:50

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