Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Annual update of aggregate list of eligible universities under TTPS
The TTPS aims to attract talent in the following three categories:
Category A: persons with annual income reaching HK$2.5 million or above in the year immediately preceding the date of application;
Category B: full-time bachelor’s degree graduates of the universities/institutions prescribed in the aggregate list (eligible universities/institutions) with at least three years of work experience over the past five years immediately preceding the date of application; or
Category C: full-time bachelor’s degree graduates of eligible universities/institutions in the past five years immediately preceding the date of application with less than three years of work experience.
At present, the aggregate list comprises the top 100 universities/institutions in four world university rankings (namely the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Global Universities Rankings and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities) in the past five years; the top five universities/institutions providing specialised hotel programmes on the QS World University Rankings in the discipline of “hospitality and leisure management” in the past five years; the top five specialised institutions on the QS World University Rankings in the discipline of “Art and Design” in the past five years; and the top 20 ranked Mainland universities under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Best Chinese Universities Ranking in the past five years.
The number of eligible universities/institutions in the updated aggregate list (see Annex) will increase from 199 to 200, reflecting the changes to the relevant university rankings.
The updated list will be uploaded onto the online platform of Hong Kong Talent Engage (www.hkengage.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:00
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Final Kilometre of East Coast Boardwalk to open tomorrow connecting 13 km long harboufront on Hong Kong Island (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Final Kilometre of East Coast Boardwalk to open tomorrow connecting 13 km long harboufront on Hong Kong Island
Spanning some 2.2 kilometres underneath the Island Eastern Corridor, the East Coast Boardwalk is divided into the eastern and western sections, each with a length of 1.1 kilometres. The Western Section, connecting the East Coast Park and the North Point Promenade, was opened earlier this year, and has been well received by the public. The Eastern Section, opening tomorrow, will further connect the North Point Promenade to Hoi Yu Street in Quarry Bay, realising the vision of “Seamless Boardwalk Linking Island West and East”.
Similar to the Western Section, the Eastern Section will open be 24 hours a day (except for the experiential glass observatory deck), and will offer a number of special features, including:
Similar to the Western Section, the Eastern Section adopts the management approach of a Harbourfront Shared Space and a pet-friendly venue. It features a shared path for visitors to engage in activities, such as strolling, jogging and cycling, while also providing a dedicated walkway for pedestrians as an additional option. Pet owners and their leashed pets can enjoy the facilities together. A movable bascule bridge has also been installed near Man Hong Street to facilitate marine operations.
The five access points to the Eastern Section (see Annex) are listed below from west to east:
An additional access point with a lift and staircase next to Tin Chiu Street Playground will be available in the first quarter of next year.
Issued at HKT 12:00
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Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds and duty-not-paid cigarettes at airport (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport today (December 28) and seized about 12 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.5 million. 100 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were also seized from the carry-on baggage of the passenger.
A male passenger, aged 31, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 12kg of suspected cannabis buds in 20 vacuum-sealed plastic bags in his check-in suitcase and 100 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and one count of failing to declare them to Customs officers. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 29).
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Government launches industry consultation on proposed legislative amendments to facilitate digitalisation of business-to-business trade documents
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government launches industry consultation on proposed legislative amendments to facilitate digitalisation of business-to-business trade documents
International trade involves presentment or submission of various trade documents, including “Business-to-Government” (B2G) documents (such as import and export declarations, cargo manifests and various licences or permits) and B2B documents (such as bills of lading and bills of exchange). While the trade may already submit most of the B2G trade documents through the Government Electronic Trading Services and the Trade Single Window, transactions involving certain B2B trade documents still rely largely on paper-based means due to legal requirements and industry practice. As technology advances, the digitalisation of these documents has emerged as a new trend.
As announced in the 2025-26 Budget and the 2025 Policy Address, the Government will 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 digitalisation of trade documents. Upon careful consideration by relevant authorities, the consultation paper outlines and seeks industry opinions on the proposed framework to amend the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553) (ETO) and relevant legislation for implementing MLETR provisions, covering various key aspects including the scope of application, assessment of reliability and operational requirements.
The legislative amendments will provide the legal basis for the use of electronic transferable records, which are the electronic version of transferable documents or instruments. Suitable MLETR provisions will be codified into the ETO as far as practicable, with a view to aligning with international standards and promote cross-border interoperability.
A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said, “The Government endeavours to maintain a business-friendly environment to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in international trade. Digitalisation of B2B trade documents may reduce processing time and costs, enhance transparency and integrity, and facilitate international trade. We hope that the legislative proposal would 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 consultation paper is available on the CEDB website (www.cedb.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:30
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Civil Aid Service holds Passing-out Parade for 91st Recruits
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Civil Aid Service holds Passing-out Parade for 91st Recruits
Speaking at the parade, Mr Chan said that as an excellent auxiliary emergency service of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the CAS has always adhered to the spirit of “Serving the Community with Passion, Courage and Commitment”. In September this year, when Super Typhoon Ragasa approached Hong Kong, the CAS quickly mobilised over 500 members to assist in emergency rescue operations during the heavy rain and strong winds, as well as the community recovery work after the typhoon. Last month, a major fire occurred in Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, causing significant casualties. The whole city was in mourning. The CAS immediately activated the command centre and to date has deployed over 2 200 personnel to support the evacuation and resettlement of the affected residents, distribution of supplies, and other tasks, standing firm on the front line of disaster relief.
He said that at the 15th National Games held last month and the 2025 Legislative Council General Election held earlier this month, the CAS, with efficient and professional services, assisted in crowd management at various sports venues and polling stations across the territory, ensuring the events were conducted safely and in an orderly manner.
In terms of youth development, Mr Chan said that the CAS and the Customs and Excise Department share the same goal. Since the establishment of the Cadet Corps in 1968, the CAS has been encouraging young people to develop their potential and establish positive values through various activities. This coincides with Hong Kong Customs’ “Customs YES” programme, which aims to cultivate a new generation with a sense of national identity, social responsibility, and an international perspective, supporting young people to integrate into the country’s overall development.
During the ceremony, Mr Chan presented awards to outstanding recruits. The graduates staged demonstrations of vegetation firefighting and rescue techniques.
A total of 29 officer trainees and 83 recruits participated in the passing-out parade. All graduates are from diverse backgrounds. The CAS Recruit Training Certificate Programme has been recognised under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework as meeting the accreditation standards at Level 3 by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications. Graduates will be awarded the Certificate in Auxiliary Forces Basic Training (Civil Defence). The graduates will apply their acquired knowledge and skills to serve society.
Recruitment of CAS Grade IV Officers and Grade I Members is open for application throughout the year. Recruitment details and application forms are available on the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk/eng/adult_recruitment.htmlIssued at HKT 17:00
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Government, business sector and community partner with mentees to nurture dreams in third graduation ceremony of Strive and Rise Programme (with photo/video)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
​The Graduation Ceremony of the Strive and Rise Programme (Third Cohort 2025) was held at the Kai Tak Arena today (December 28). Nearly 4 000 graduates, having completed their one-year intensive foundation programme with the support of the government, the business sector and the community, demonstrated their achievements in the ceremony and expressed their gratitude to the mentors.
The ceremony was officiated by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki. The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai; the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To; and the Acting Director of Home Affairs, Ms Belinda Wong, also attended the ceremony to witness the graduation of the mentees.
Mr Chan expressed his gratitude to all partners and mentors in the ceremony. He remarked that the successful implementation of the Programme hinges on the close collaboration among the government, the business sector and the community in supporting mentees in pursuing their dreams, while participating partners and departments also offered a wealth of group activities and nominated outstanding mentors to inspire mentees for personal growth and exploration.
Reflecting on the past three cohorts of the Programme, Mr Chan noted that the number of enterprises and groups supporting the Programme increased from over 100 in the first cohort to over 400 in the third cohort. The number of Mainland study and exchange tours rose from five in the first cohort to 35 in the third cohort, setting footprints in an array of destinations such as Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Ningxia, Sichuan, Xian, Wuhan, Hainan and the Greater Bay Area. The number of star mentors also registered a significant jump from over 10 in the first cohort to 50 in the third cohort, testifying that the Programme is keeping pace with the time in various dimensions.
In particular, Mr Chan thanked the mentors for their outstanding contributions to nurturing the younger generation. They have walked alongside the mentees, boosting their self-confidence, developing a positive outlook on life, and helping them set clear goals for the future and pursue with resilience. About 400 mentors have participated in the Programme for all three cohorts, with some continuing their support in the fourth cohort.
Mr Chan encouraged the graduates to actively participate in the activities of the Alumni Club to expand their social networks and sustain the Programme’s effectiveness.
Among the graduates of the third cohort of the Programme, 150 mentees were awarded for their active participation, improvement and outstanding achievements. Performances by mentees, including band shows and singing, dancing and ocarina, were also featured at the ceremony to showcase their achievements to the audience. Videos were also shown at the ceremony to feature the thoughts of mentors and mentees.
The Programme is formulated and implemented by an interdepartmental task force led by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Through the tripartite collaboration among the government, the business sector and the community, the Programme provides focused support for Secondary One to Secondary Four students from underprivileged families. It comprises three key elements, including mentorship, personal development plans and financial support. The fourth cohort of the Programme will soon commence and offer a one-year intensive foundation training. Through mentorship and a structured programme, mentees will broaden their horizons, reinforce self-confidence, develop a positive outlook on life, explore more possibilities for personal development, set goals for the future and strive for upward mobility.
HKSAR Government sets up Hong Kong Cross-boundary Public Services self-service kiosk and “iAM Smart” self-registration kiosk in Macao (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Digital Policy Office (DPO) announced today (December 29) the setting up of a Hong Kong Cross-boundary Public Services self-service kiosk in Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao), enabling residents and enterprises in Macao to access public services of Hong Kong without the need to travel to Hong Kong in person.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively advancing the initiative of Cross-boundary Public Services. Following the installation of the self-service kiosks earlier in the nine Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the newly set up Cross-boundary Public Services self-service kiosk in Macao provides a total of 70 public services from 14 Hong Kong government bureaux and departments as well as related organisations, encompassing areas commonly used by enterprises and the public. These include taxation, company registration, property and vehicle enquiry and registration, personal identification documents and talent admission applications, welfare and education, healthcare, immigration clearance, urgent assistance, culture and tourism as well as voter registration.
Starting today, the public can use the Hong Kong Cross-boundary Public Services self-service kiosk located at the Macao Government Services Centre to perform data entry, document scanning and result printing, enabling one-stop access for applying various public services of Hong Kong.
The opening hours of the self-service kiosk at the Macao Government Services Centre are 9am to noon and 1pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays in Macao). An “iAM Smart” self-registration kiosk is also set up at the Services Centre to enable Hong Kong residents working and living in Macao to register for “iAM Smart+” and directly access over 1 300 online services provided by the Government and public/private organisations and e-Forms through the “iAM Smart” mobile app. These include eMPF registration, renewal of vehicle licences, applications for International Driving Permits and eHealth registration.
The Hong Kong Cross-boundary Public Services self-service kiosks and “iAM Smart” self-registration kiosks have fully covered the nine Mainland cities of the GBA and Macao. The DPO will continue to enhance the Cross-boundary Public Services, with a view to coping with the demands of residents and enterprises in the GBA for Hong Kong public services.
For details, please visit the Hong Kong Cross-boundary Public Services website at www.crossboundaryservices.gov.hk/en/home/index.html and the “iAM Smart” website at www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/reg.html.
Results of applications for Signature Performing Arts Programme Scheme announced
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Results of applications for Signature Performing Arts Programme Scheme announced
On the advice of the Assessment Panel, among the 21 applications received, the Government selected two productions, namely “My Life as McDull Stage Show” by Bliss Concepts Limited and “Art Tech Dance Drama: Storm Clouds Realm of Infinite” by the Hong Kong Dance Company Limited and Pash Limited. Embodying distinctive Hong Kong characteristics and local brand intellectual property, the selected productions showcase the capacity and creativity of local arts talent, highlight the performing arts capability of Hong Kong and have potential to become long-running performances. The productions are expected to be staged in 2027.
The Assessment Panel comprises experts, veteran arts and cultural practitioners, professionals with rich business acumen and experience and representatives from the Government. The Assessment Panel has examined each application’s artistic merits, effectiveness in consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for cultural exchange, representativeness of Hong Kong, marketing and promotion strategy, attractiveness to a broad range of local and overseas audience, as well as viability and potential for being a long-running performance.
SPAPS aims to nurture world-class performing arts productions and international cultural brands that represent Hong Kong. Each selected production must stage at least 15 performances in Hong Kong and attract at least 10 000 paid audience members. Each selected production will receive a direct subsidy of up to $10 million and a matching subsidy of up to $5 million.
Issued at HKT 14:30
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Special traffic and transport arrangements for Kai Tak Stadium concerts on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Transport Department (TD) today (December 29) said that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented to facilitate the holding of concerts at Kai Tak Stadium on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day evenings. As the traffic in the vicinity of the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) is expected to be heavy, concertgoers should opt for public transport and avoid driving or taking private cars (including cross-boundary private cars).
The TD has co-ordinated with local and cross-boundary public transport operators to strengthen their services during dispersal. The Tuen Ma Line (TML) and East Rail Line (ERL) of MTR will shorten the interval between trains or arrange standby trains to strengthen services when necessary. Franchised bus companies will provide 11 special bus routes at the Sung Wong Toi Road Pick-up/Drop-off Area (PUDOA) to Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and Airport, and major districts across the territory.
The Kai Tak Stadium Taxi PUDOA will be open. The Sung Wong Toi Road PUDOA will be open for taxi drop-off only during admission (6.30pm to 9pm on New Year’s Eve and 4.30pm to 7pm on New Year’s Day) and suspended for taxi pick-up/drop-off during dispersal. The expected waiting time will be longer amid the outflow of spectators, and passengers’ patience is appreciated.
According to the organiser, the two concerts are expected to end at around 0.30am and 10.30pm on New Year’s Day. Concertgoers who plan to return to the Mainland on the same day should pay special attention to the operating hours of public transport services to boundary control points:
(1) Lo Wu Control Point: Travellers should catch the last relevant MTR TML train, followed by interchanging at Tai Wai Station on the ERL to Lo Wu Station. They should plan their journeys ahead and arrive at the station platform in advance. Departure times of relevant trains are as follows:
| Concert on December 31, 2025 | Concert on January 1, 2026 | |
| Sung Wong Toi Station | 0.58am on New Year’s Day | 10.59pm |
| Kai Tak Station | 1am on New Year’s Day | 11.01pm |
(2) Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang (LMC/HG) Port (operating 24 hours): Travellers may also take the ERL to Sheung Shui Station and then KMB route No. 276B or N73, or take the special bus route No. SP12 directly at the Sung Wong Toi Road PUDOA to the Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange, and transfer to the LMC-HG cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) for their journey to the Mainland.
(3) Shenzhen Bay Port (passenger clearance services to operate round the clock on New Year’s Eve): Franchised bus companies will operate two special bus routes, Nos. NB2 and NB3, during the small hours, providing services to and from Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai, and to and from Tuen Mun, respectively. Travellers of the New Year’s Eve concert can also take the TML to Yuen Long Station/Tin Shui Wai Station and Tuen Mun Station, and interchange with special bus routes, Nos. NB2 and NB3 respectively, to the Shenzhen Bay Port.
In addition, concertgoers may take the KTSP’s cross-boundary coach services to return to the Mainland during dispersal. Passengers should purchase tickets from the operators’ online platforms in advance. On-site ticket sales will not be available during dispersal.
Spectators are advised to heed the real-time information via the on-site broadcast and the “Easy Leave” platform (easyleave.police.gov.hk) as well as the latest traffic news through the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk), the HKeMobility mobile app and radio and television broadcasts.
Additional batch of Approval Letters to be issued to successful applicants under White Form Secondary Market Scheme 2024
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Additional batch of Approval Letters to be issued to successful applicants under White Form Secondary Market Scheme 2024
Following the issuance of a batch of Approval and Confirmation Letters in October 2025 to successful applicants who have passed detailed vetting of their eligibility under the White Form Secondary Market (WSM) Scheme 2024 (WSM 2024), the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) will issue an additional batch of Approval and Confirmation Letters tomorrow (December 30).
“The HA’s Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) endorsed in November 2025 a series of measures that encourage upward mobility through the housing ladder, which include, amongst others, enhancing the arrangements of the WSM. We noted that some successful applicants under the WSM 2024 awarded with a quota in October 2025 did not apply for the Certificate of Eligibility to Purchase (CEP) within the specified six-week period for purchasing a subsidised sale flats (SSF) with premium unpaid in the secondary market. To ensure full utilisation of WSM 2024 quotas, we will issue an additional batch of Approval Letters to successful applicants according to the ballot order to cover unused quotas. Moreover, any unused family quotas will be allocated to one-person applicants, which is consistent with the practice adopted for the primary SSF sale exercise,” a spokesman for the HA said.
Each successful applicant will be issued with one Approval Letter and two Confirmation Letters. The two Confirmation Letters are applicable to the HA’s Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Secondary Market and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS)’s Flat-for-Sale Scheme (FFSS) Secondary Market respectively. Within six weeks from the date of issuance, holders of Approval Letters may submit the Confirmation Letters to the HA and/or the HKHS respectively for application for the CEP to purchase a flat with the premium not yet paid in the HA’s HOS Secondary Market or the HKHS’s FFSS Secondary Market.
The CEP is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, and no extension will be granted upon its expiry. To complete the transaction, holders of the CEP need to apply for a Letter of Nomination from the HA or the HKHS after they have entered into a Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase (PASP). The applicant and the family member(s) named in the application form must meet the eligibility criteria of the WSM 2024 from the date of application submission up to the date of signing the PASP. Moreover, the SSF shall be occupied by the owner and all family members named in the Application Form for the purchase of the flat.
The list of successful applications will be uploaded tomorrow to the website for the WSM 2024 (www.housingauthority.gov.hk/wsm/2024
The SHC endorsed in January 2025 that the quota for the WSM 2024 will increase significantly by 1 500 to 6 000. All of the 1 500 additional quotas will be allocated to young applicants aged below 40 under the Youth Scheme (WSM) in order to encourage young people to move up the housing ladder. Among the applications received, over 80 per cent came from young applicants opting to join the newly implemented Youth Scheme (WSM), demonstrating that the scheme is well received by young applicants.
Issued at HKT 14:30
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