Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appointments to Board of Financial Services Development Council announced
Announcing the appointments, a spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, “The reappointees are all seasoned practitioners in the industry with extensive knowledge of global financial markets. We believe that they will continue to offer valuable advice to the FSDC, assisting the FSDC with conducting policy research, promoting market development and nurturing talent, thereby enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.”
The FSDC was established in 2013 by the Government as a high-level advisory body to engage the industry in formulating proposals to promote the further development of Hong Kong’s financial services industry and to map out strategic directions for development.
The membership list of the FSDC Board of Directors with effect from January 17, 2026, is as follows:
Chairman
———–
Mr Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng
Vice-Chairmen
—————-
Ms Ding Chen
Mr Daniel R Fung, SC
Mr Andrew Walter Bougourd Ross Weir
Members
———–
Mr Edward Au Chun-hing
Mr Ronald Chan Wai-yan
Mr Ben Chan Wei-beng
Dr Adrian Cheng Chi-kong
Mr Damien Allen Green
Mr Jeremy Dinshaw Lam
Ms Luanne Lim Hui-hung
Ms Amy Lo Choi-wan
Ms Aveline San Pau-len
Ms Jennifer Tan Yuen-chun
Mr Tony Tang Xiaodong
Ms Daisy Yeung
Executive Director of the FSDC
Ex-officio member
——————–
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
Issued at HKT 16:00
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Vetting Committee supports one more application under New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Vetting Committee supports one more application under New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “We are glad that one more enterprise is planning to establish new advanced production facilities in Hong Kong through the NIAS. This project will not only bring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies to Hong Kong, but also further improve and upgrade the industrial chain, thereby enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness. The Government will continue to support enterprises, driving new industrialisation and promoting high-quality economic development in Hong Kong.”
The NIAS provides funding support on a 1 (Government): 2 (enterprise) matching basis for enterprises engaging in industries of strategic importance (i.e. life and health technology, AI and data science, advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies) and contributing no less than $100 million to setting up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong. Each enterprise can receive up to $200 million of funding under the NIAS. In addition, the Government also provides additional funding for relevant enterprises to engage research talent and/or technical personnel.
The NIAS is open for applications throughout the year. Details are available on the website of the Innovation and Technology Fund (www.itf.gov.hkIssued at HKT 11:00
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Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in November 2025
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for November 2025 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (January 15) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In November 2025, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 15.4% and 15.1% respectively over November 2024.
Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
Property owner fined over $130,000 for not complying with removal orders
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Property owner fined over $130,000 for not complying with removal ordersIssued at HKT 11:00
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Appointments to Quality Education Fund Steering Committee announced
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appointments to Quality Education Fund Steering Committee announced————-
Mr Dieter Yih Lai-tak—————————
Ms Rita Chan Yin-nei
Dr Susan Fan Yun-sun
Dr Daphne Ho Kin-yi
Ms Eva Charisa Hsu
Ms Lam Wing-sze #
Ms Lee Yi-ying
Dr Promail Leung Kin-yi
Mr David Leung Yiu-fai
Dr James Li Tsz-shu
Mr Benjamin Ng Yau-keung
Dr Winnie Tang Shuk-ming
Mr Richard Tsang Lap-ki
Mr Simon Wong Hin-wing
Mr Wong Kam-po
Mr Addy Wong Wai-hung
Ms Wong Yuk-hing————————-
Deputy Secretary for Education (5) Issued at HKT 11:30
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FSD and BD conduct joint inspection and enforcement operation against industrial buildings
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FSD and BD conduct joint inspection and enforcement operation against industrial buildings
The FSD and the BD inspected a total of nine industrial buildings located in various districts in Kowloon and the New Territories during the joint operation. The fire personnel identified a total of 261 irregularities related to various fire hazards, such as obstruction or locking of means of escape, defective or wedged-open smoke stop doors, as well as fire service installations or equipment (FSIs) that were defective or not in efficient working order. The FSD took immediate enforcement action against the persons concerned.
Among the cases related to obstruction of means of escape, the FSD instituted three prosecutions and issued 22 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices (FHANs), requiring the persons concerned to abate the fire hazards within a specified period. Should they fail to comply with the requirements of the FHANs within the period, the FSD will institute resolute prosecution. In addition, inspections revealed that some buildings had defective smoke stop doors and FSIs. The FSD will issue FHANs to the persons concerned and continue to take follow-up action.
The BD identified 13 subdivided flats suspected of being used illegally for domestic purposes. Further investigations are now under way, and letters have been sent to the relevant owners and occupiers asking them to contact the BD as soon as possible to arrange an inspection of their flats. Otherwise, the BD will consider applying for a court warrant to enter the premises for inspection. If it is confirmed that the flats in question have been used for illegal domestic purposes, the BD will take enforcement action in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance, including ordering the cessation of illegal domestic use and rectify the dangerous situations. The BD also identified in the operation that there was dilapidation in the exit staircases of one of the industrial buildings, but no obvious danger to the overall building structure was noted. The BD has issued a repair order to the owners’ corporation for conducting the necessary repair work.
Apart from inspection and enforcement, the FSD also carried out fire prevention education and publicity at the same time during the operation to enhance fire safety awareness among owners and occupiers of industrial buildings, thereby mitigating fire risk from the source. The BD has also long been promoting building safety and the proper use of buildings through various channels, including distributing themed posters to management offices of industrial buildings for displaying in prominent places to serve as a reminder to owners and occupiers that industrial buildings must not be used illegally for domestic purposes.
Issued at HKT 12:04
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Lands Department releases figures on registered lease modifications, land exchanges, private treaty grants and lot extensions in fourth quarter of 2025
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (January 15) that it registered 12 lease modifications and two land exchanges in the Land Registry during the quarter ending December 2025, of which two were modifications of a technical nature involving nil premium.
Among these 14 land transactions, three are located on Hong Kong Island, six are in Kowloon and five are in the New Territories. The transactions exclude Small House cases.
Another lot was granted by private treaty for an electricity substation in Kwun Tong.
There were no lot extensions registered during the quarter.
The above land transactions realised a total land premium of about $3,571.61 million.
Transaction records of the lease modifications, land exchanges, private treaty grants and lot extensions, including those registered recently, are uploaded to the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/land-disposal-transaction/land-transaction.html) on a monthly basis. Details of the transactions may be obtained by searching the registered documents in the Land Registry.
Taiwan FDI Statistics Summary Analysis (Dec 2025)
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
According to the statistics, from January to December 2025, 2,216 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total approved amount of US$ 11,392,819,000 were recorded. This represents a 0.23% decrease in the number of cases, but a 44.98% increase in the FDI amount compared with the same period in 2024.
Regarding inward investment from Mainland China, 19 cases with a total approved amount of US$102,740,000 were recorded from January to December 2025. This reflects a 47.22% decrease in the number of cases and a 65.43% decrease in the investment amount compared with the same period in 2024.
In terms of Taiwan’s outbound investment (excluding Mainland China), 817 projects were registered from January to December 2025, with a total amount of US$ 38,432,263,000. This represents a 4.48% increase in the number of cases, but a 14.47% decrease in the investment amount, compared with the same period in 2024.
As for Taiwan’s outward investment to Mainland China, 241 applications were approved from January to December 2025, marking a 22.26% decrease compared with the same period in 2024. The approved investment amount totaled US$ 1,498,870,000, representing a 58.98% decline compared with the same period in 2024.
Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for European Parliament delegation
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for European Parliament delegation
Date：2026-01-07
Data Source：Department of European Affairs
January 7, 2026No.008On behalf of the Taiwan government, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on January 6 to warmly welcome a 10-member delegation from the European Parliament. The two sides exchanged views on such issues as Taiwan-EU economic and trade cooperation, developments across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, and combating disinformation and cyberattacks.In his remarks, Minister Lin stated that Taiwan and the European Union shared the common values of democracy, freedom, and human rights. He noted that he had accompanied Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim to Brussels last year, where she attended the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China annual summit and delivered a keynote address at the European Parliament. He said that their trip had fully demonstrated the flourishing relations and ever-closer mutual trust between the two sides. Minister Lin thanked the members of the delegation for continuing to take concrete action to support and deepen bilateral relations. He also expressed hope that Taiwan and the European Union would further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in such domains as ensuring undersea cable security and resilience, building democratic supply chains, and countering authoritarian expansionism and hybrid security threats.Michael Gahler, head of the delegation and Chair of the European Taiwan Friendship Group, observed in his remarks that at a time of growing uncertainty worldwide, Taiwan and Europe were facing a number of common challenges. He anticipated that the visit would enhance the delegation’s understanding of developments in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. He also conveyed the delegation’s desire to further explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration in areas including the economy, security, and technology.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanks the European Parliament for its long-standing and steadfast support of Taiwan through concrete action. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to advance bilateral dialogue and exchanges and work hand in hand with the European Union to consolidate the mutually beneficial partnership grounded in democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. (E)
71 blaze patients discharged
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Health Bureau said today that as of Tuesday, 71 of the 79 patients admitted to Hospital Authority (HA) hospitals following November’s fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had recovered and been discharged, while the remaining eight were in a stable condition.
All individuals injured in the fire and admitted to public hospitals are entitled to receive full fee waivers for all necessary healthcare services throughout the entire process of their treatment and rehabilitation, the bureau added.
All residents of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court, including foreign domestic helpers, are eligible for full medical fee waivers until December 31 of this year. As of Tuesday, the HA had provided such services to around 1,800 affected residents.
District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses across all of the city’s 18 districts have set up hotlines to provide personalised case management services for affected residents. As of Tuesday, the hotlines had received 320 enquiries.
Regarding mental health services, the bureau said that from the time of the Tai Po blaze to January 13, the 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline had received over 15,000 calls, around 730 of which were related to the fire. An associated WhatsApp service has handled over 700 messages, with about 50 of these concerning the fire.
The HA’s 24-hour Mental Health Direct hotline had received 95 calls related to the blaze, with 35 of these coming from affected citizens.