Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Environment and Ecology Bureau invites Xizang Autonomous Region delegation to Hong Kong to deepen co-operation in food, green development and trade
The delegation was led by the Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region, Mr Zhao Peng, and comprised representatives from the Department of Commerce and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Xizang Autonomous Region, and Lhasa Customs. The delegation concluded its visit and departed from Hong Kong today (August 15).
The Xizang Autonomous Region delegation met with the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, on August 12. The two sides exchanged views on the trade of agricultural products and food, as well as green development, and discussed ways to strengthen co-operation between the two places in the food industry, and areas of conservation and environmental protection.
On August 14, the EEB hosted a business luncheon for the delegation, which was attended by leaders from Hong Kong’s four major chambers of commerce and trade associations, as well as hotels and catering organisations to jointly explore co-operation opportunities.
On the same day, the Xizang Autonomous Region delegation attended the Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products “Going Global” Exchange and Matchmaking Event. At the event, the EEB and the Department of Commerce of the Xizang Autonomous Region signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen co-operation in the food sector, open up broader markets for quality agricultural products and food from Xizang, and promote the high‑quality development of the food industries in both places.
The EEB also arranged for the delegation to visit the Chinese Culinary Institute and the International Culinary Institute, and to meet with the Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council, Mr Donald Tong , laying a good foundation for future collaboration between the two sides.
During their stay in Hong Kong, the Xizang Autonomous Region delegation also met with the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; and the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan. The delegation also visited the Hong Kong Palace Museum.
A spokesman for the EEB said that the visit marks a new chapter in the co-operation between Xizang and Hong Kong. Leveraging Hong Kong’s unique strengths in food trade, green development, and other areas, the EEB will maintain close liaison with the authority of the Xizang Autonomous Region, with a view to jointly contributing to the nation’s high-quality development and the building of a beautiful China.
Issued at HKT 22:55
NNNN
Flags to fly at half-staff
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
As a token of mourning by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for the late former Premier Zhu Rongji, flags on display at the Central Government Offices, Government House, all Hong Kong SAR boundary control and check points, and at Hong Kong International Airport, will be flown at half-staff on August 18, following notification by the Central People’s Government.
Both the national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong SAR will be flown at half-staff at each location.
Building smarter, faster in Hong Kong
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Facing a chronic labour shortage and soaring construction costs, Hong Kong’s infrastructure sector is turning to advanced materials, technical innovation and standardised quality assurance to speed up constructions works.
Leading this effort is the Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi), established in August 2024 and wholly owned by the Financial Secretary Incorporated. Since its inception, the BTRi has advanced more than 45 innovative initiatives to modernise local practices towards high-efficiency development.
Pioneering concrete
An embankment at Yuen Long’s Shap Pat Heung Interchange has become Hong Kong’s first roadwork project to deploy Low Density Engineered Cementitious Composites (LD-ECC).
Despite its appearance as ordinary concrete, the locally developed material boasts higher compressive strength at roughly a quarter of traditional concrete’s weight and density, alongside self-healing micro-cracks properties and enhanced fatigue resistance.
Civil Engineering & Development Department (CEDD) Engineer Derrick Kwok explained that the team used 400mm x 400mm LD-ECC precast panels to build the permanent formwork before filling the interior with the material.
“It has completely transformed Hong Kong’s traditional retaining wall design, which relies on reinforced concrete. LD-ECC precast panels are relatively light,” Mr Kwok said.
“Workers do not need to lift heavy loads during assembly, which reduces the risk of injury.”
Slashing costs
He added that the new approach minimises heavy, noisy machinery, making it particularly well-suited for Hong Kong’s dense, space-constrained construction sites.
“The LD-ECC lightweight filling method eliminated complex workflows such as scaffolding, formwork and fixing reinforcement. The project construction time was cut by 50% and direct building costs dropped by 20%.”
Throughout the project, technical document reviews by the BTRi supported the team in transitioning this innovative material to real-world application.
New guidelines
To drive wider adoption, the CEDD has commissioned the BTRi to draft technical guidelines for LD-ECC, slated for release in the second quarter of 2027.
According to BTRi’s Deputy Section Head (Standards Advancement) Edwin Tang, the forthcoming guidelines will be highly comprehensive.
“They will cover the definition of LD-ECC, raw material performance specifications, testing standards, structural design methodologies, construction procedures and quality control requirements,” Mr Tang said.
He noted that the guidelines will serve as a key reference standard for future civil engineering projects.
“They are particularly applicable to road expansion works in constrained sites, lightweight backfilling and fast-track infrastructure projects with tight commissioning schedules,” Mr Tang said.
Driving innovation
The BTRi drives construction innovation through three core missions: leading research and development for innovative materials like LD-ECC, advancing standards, and providing accreditation, certification and testing for construction products and Modular Integrated Construction manufacturers.
“To date, the BTRi has undertaken more than 45 innovation initiatives, which are projected to save the construction industry up to $3.1 billion annually,” said BTRi’s Chief Executive Officer Alfred Wong.
The 2026-27 Budget earmarked $100 million for the BTRi to conduct various studies, with a focus on updating construction standards and integrating artificial intelligence applications into construction projects.
“As new technologies, materials and construction machinery emerge, existing standards may not adequately address them,” said Mr Wong.
“To bridge this gap, we are developing dedicated technical guidelines, while harmonising regional standards with the Greater Bay Area. These efforts will provide the construction industry with a clear and reliable framework for the wider adoption of innovation.”
Mr Wong added that the institute plans to establish a benchmark assessment mechanism for artificial intelligence applications to ensure new solutions strictly align with government public works standards.
Over 5k take part in port drill
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government conducted its second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area today to further test the overall management of passenger and vehicular flows at the port building and the public transport interchange (PTI).
An inter-departmental counter-terrorism and major incident exercise was also held to strengthen the response capabilities of various departments in emergency cases.
The exercise mobilised about 5,000 civil servants from around 30 departments. During the drill, participants took various modes of public transport to arrive at the port. They then proceeded to the departure hall and the arrival hall of the port building. Subsequently, they left the port by taking public transport as instructed.
Participants and vehicles dispatched by various public transport operators took part in cyclical trials involving more than 250 departures to simulate the flow of people and vehicles arriving and departing from the port.
Participants in the drill simulated queuing for immigration clearance procedures in the departure hall and the arrival hall to test the relevant crowd-control arrangements.
This drill also featured a new “crowd concentrated-flow test”. A large number of participants were first held on designated floors, in order to create a short-term unforeseen surge pressure subsequently by simulating a situation where an influx of passengers arrive and proceed to the PTI.
This is to test inter-departmental co-ordination arrangements and further test the effectiveness of the management of passenger and vehicular flows and various supporting measures.
During the drill, different types of tests were also featured. These included simulating the operational arrangement of small vehicles crossing the boundary; simulating a large number of departing passengers queuing to use the clearance facilities; and a large number of passengers gathering at the PTI to wait for individual public transport services.
Other tests involved the Department of Health’s quarantine station discovering suspected infection cases and requesting ambulancemen to co-operate in handling the situation; and the taxi management arrangements being activated in response to a large number of taxis going to the PTI.
The flow test was followed by an inter-departmental counter-terrorism and major incident exercise conducted at the departure hall on the fifth floor of the port building.
The exercise simulated a scenario in which extremists launched a shooting attack after they were discovered to possess firearms and ammunition, causing mass casualties and requiring immediate evacuation.
The exercise aimed to enhance departments’ co-ordination and response capabilities in handling terrorism and violence-related intelligence, and responding to different forms of terrorist attacks.
Next, different departments conducted a major-incident exercise, which simulated a serious traffic accident on the new connecting road to the port, thereby hindering vehicles from using the original route to enter the port.
Traffic was redirected under police instruction to use the southbound route, with one-lane two-way, intermittent access to the port’s PTI. Vehicles were also directed to leave the port and return to the urban area.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung inspected the drill on-site, which was conducted smoothly. He held a meeting with the participating departments afterwards to review the flow and suggestions given by the participants, in order to make further enhancements in subsequent drills.
Diverse transport to Huanggang Port
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The new Huanggang Port operates 24 hours a day, featuring a dedicated public transport interchange within the Hong Kong Port Area, allowing travellers easy commutes to and from various districts across Hong Kong.
According to Assistant Commissioner for Transport/New Territories Amy Tse, the port is well connected by a comprehensive public transport network. This includes seven franchised bus routes, six green minibus routes, five short-haul cross-boundary coach routes and various long-haul services, as well as direct taxi access.
Seven franchised bus routes operated by three bus companies serve the port, including six daytime routes and one overnight service.
For daytime bus services, Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) operates Route B10 to Kwai Tsui Estate in Kwai Fong via the Tai Lam Tunnel Bus-Bus Interchange and Route B11 directly to Tin Fu in Tin Shui Wai via Yuen Long MTR Station. New Lantao Bus operates Route B12, connecting the port with Wu Kai Sha and passing through Science Park and Tai Po.
Citybus runs three daytime routes: Route B13 to Siu Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island and Route B14 to Kai Tak in Kowloon, both stopping at the Tai Lam Tunnel Bus-Bus Interchange, along with Route B15 running to Castle Peak Bay in Tuen Mun via Tuen Mun MTR Station.
For late-night travellers, KMB runs overnight Route NB73 serving Sha Tin.
In addition, six green minibus routes are available. Daytime services comprise Route 44B to Tuen Mun Station, Route 44B1 to Tuen Mun Ferry Pier and Route 78 to Pat Heung Road. Overnight minibus services include Route N44B to Tuen Mun, Route 79S to Tin Shui Wai and Route 616S to Mong Kok.
Travellers can also utilise five short-haul cross-boundary coach routes serving major hubs, including Mong Kok, Austin Road in Jordan, Lam Tin, Exhibition Centre Station in Wan Chai and Tsuen Wan.
Passengers wishing to travel by taxi can take fleet, urban or New Territories taxis directly to the port area.
Miss Tse noted that the Transport Department and transport operators are fully prepared to deliver a seamless, efficient and convenient travel experience for passengers journeying between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
Chinese agricultural goods go global
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today attended a promotional matchmaking event aimed at helping Mainland premium agricultural products leverage Hong Kong’s international trade platform to expand into overseas markets.
The “Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products ‘Going Global’ Exchange and Matchmaking Event” was jointly organised by the Hong Special Administrative Region Government’s Environment & Ecology Bureau (EEB), the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
Other officiating guests included Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR Zhang Yong, Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center under the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs Peng Tingjun, and Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan. Around 250 representatives from Mainland provincial and regional governments, enterprises and Hong Kong industry professionals also took part.
Addressing the event, Mr Chan stated that expanding premium agricultural and food products into overseas markets requires an efficient international trade platform, professional marketing services, and seamless alignment with international standards, all of which are Hong Kong’s unique strengths.
He added that Hong Kong serves as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” for enterprises. By utilising the city as a springboard to “go global”, Mainland companies can achieve a multiplier effect without having to build their overseas presence from scratch.
Also speaking at the event, Mr Tse noted that the Mainland has long been Hong Kong’s primary source of fresh food, creating a deep foundation for bilateral co-operation. He expressed hope that the event would help Mainland enterprises connect with overseas buyers, facilitating a transition from “supplying to Hong Kong” to “going global via Hong Kong”.
Mr Tse highlighted that the event, now in its fourth year, set new records for both scale and outcomes. It also marked the first time EEB participated as a co-organiser.
During the event, the EEB also signed Memoranda of Understanding on agricultural and food products co-operation with representatives from Hunan Province, Xizang Autonomous Region and Shandong Province to further deepen economic ties.
CE awards govt teams
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Chief Executive John Lee today presented award certificates to two civil service teams under the Chief Executive’s Award for Exemplary Performance scheme.
The recipients are the Inter-departmental Team for Wartime Bomb Disposal with Emergency Relief and Support Services (Bomb Disposal Team), and the Inter-departmental Team for Light Public Housing (LPH).
Addressing the presentation ceremony, Mr Lee praised the teams for fulfilling their duties with exceptional competence and winning public trust through tangible results. He added that they demonstrate the Government’s “people-oriented” approach and responsible and results-driven governance philosophy, setting an example for the entire civil service.
The Bomb Disposal Team was recognised for its swift response in September 2025, when a 1,000-pound wartime bomb was discovered at a Quarry Bay construction site. The operation was further complicated by the approach of Super Typhoon Ragasa.
The Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department and the Home Affairs Department immediately activated an emergency mechanism. Their co-ordinated efforts ensured the orderly evacuation of nearly 2,900 residents across 18 buildings and the safe defusal of the bomb.
Senior Bomb Disposal Officer (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau) Suryanto Chin-chiu thanked the Chief Executive for the recognition. He noted that the crisis was handled safely because every department demonstrated a high level of professionalism and the solidarity of “One Government”.
The LPH Team, led by the Housing Bureau in collaboration with the Architectural Services Department, achieved remarkable results in a short period to break Hong Kong construction records.
The Yau Pok Road project in Yuen Long was completed in approximately 12 months. Meanwhile, the foundation and 18-floor superstructure at Choi Hing Road in Ngau Tau Kok were completed in less than 18 months. As a result, the Composite Waiting Time for Subsidised Rental Housing dropped from 6.1 years to 4.8 years.
Then-Deputy Secretary for Housing (Special Duties) Winnie Wong stated that providing a comfortable and safe environment for those previously living in inadequate housing was the team’s greatest motivation for rapid delivery.
The nomination exercise for this round of the Chief Executive’s Award for Exemplary Performance commenced in May. The Civil Service Bureau invited bureaus to nominate outstanding teams or colleagues for the honour.
Five-Year Plan consultation concludes
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Government concluded a two-month public consultation for Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan today, drawing an enthusiastic response from the community.
Speaking at a media session this afternoon, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Janice Tse said the general public and various sector stakeholders have taken the plan’s formulation very seriously and contributed keen insights.
The Government organised over 100 consultation sessions throughout the period. The Chief Executive personally led about 30 of these sessions to listen directly to views from different industries and sectors.
“As of today, we received over 16,000 submissions from different sectors, the general public and stakeholders from different backgrounds. The public’s very strong support for our effort is most appreciated,” Ms Tse said.
She added that the plan will help the city better seize both international and national development opportunities.
“Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan is a major initiative to integrate into and serve the overall development of the country, and at the same time, a milestone for public administration in Hong Kong,” she remarked.
Ms Tse also noted that the Government will continue its efforts to collate and analyse the views and suggestions, and strive to publish the formal document within September.
Govt completes fight incident review
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) announced today that the Government has received and completed the review of the full investigation report submitted by Cathay Pacific Airways (CPA) regarding a flight that temporarily lost communication with air traffic control.
The incident occurred on a London-bound flight from Hong Kong on July 4.
The report indicated that the aircraft’s communication equipment was operating normally. The loss of communication happened because the flight crew mistakenly responded to air traffic controllers’ instructions meant for another flight, leading to an incorrect radio frequency selection. The crew did not subsequently realise that communication had been lost.
Following the incident, CPA implemented a series of improvement measures in mid-July. These include enhancing operational and monitoring procedures for flight crews regarding communication systems, as well as reminding crews to maintain high vigilance at all times.
The department expressed serious concern over the incident and instructed CPA to robustly follow up on the relevant improvement measures. This includes providing additional training and assessments for the involved flight crew.
The department reiterated that maintaining good communication between flight crews and air traffic controllers is vital to ensuring aviation safety. It also instructed CPA to enhance its overall reporting mechanism for aviation safety incidents.
The CAD stressed that it will continue to closely monitor the effectiveness of the safety measures implemented by CPA.
Kai Tak transit system draws 2 bids
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Government has received two tenders for the Smart & Green Mass Transit System (SGMTS) in Kai Tak following the closure of the open tender at noon today.
The Tender Assessment Panel will evaluate the submissions immediately, with the target of awarding the contract within the year.
The Government said it is pleased to see the market’s positive response, noting that bids came from consortia comprising both Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises. These include companies with extensive experience in railway construction, public transport operation and property development.
Implementing the SGMTS will benefit the community, foster corporate collaboration and drive economic growth, the Government added.
A two-envelope approach will be adopted for the assessment. The non-price and price proposals will carry weightings of 60% and 40% respectively. Tenderers must possess experience in operating mass transit systems, undertake the design and construction of system infrastructure, and have the financial capacity to leverage property development for project financing.
Spanning approximately 3.5km, the system will feature six elevated stations. Its termini will connect to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the MTR Kai Tak Station. It aims to provide a convenient feeder transport service between the former runway area and the MTR station, strengthening connectivity among local residential, commercial, tourism, cultural, sports and recreation, and community facilities.
Targeted for completion in 2031, the project is Hong Kong’s first SGMTS launched through open tender and a transit-oriented development (TOD) approach.
To provide financial support, the Government has reserved the property development rights for three nearby sites on the former Kai Tak runway: Kai Tak Area 4B Site 5, Kai Tak Area 4C Site 4 and Site 5.
The Government explained that the TOD approach allows the winning tenderer to formulate a holistic plan tailored to the Kai Tak Development Area’s specific needs. This will foster synergy to unleash the area’s development potential while boosting ridership.
Awarding both the transit system and the property development of the three sites to the same entity will also enhance overall efficiency, the Government said.