Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation to visit Shanghai tomorrow (November 4) and will attend the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Members of the HKSAR Government delegation include the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip.

On November 5, Mr Lee will attend the opening ceremony of the eighth CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, and he will visit the Hong Kong exhibition area to show support for Hong Kong enterprises.

Mr Lee said, “The CIIE attracts international attention and will feature participation from over 3 200 enterprises across more than 110 countries and regions in the Enterprise and Business Exhibition, offering vast business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises.

“Hong Kong has always actively participated in and supported the CIIE. In addition to the attendance of senior government officials, over 350 Hong Kong enterprises from various industries are exhibiting at the Expo this year. This record-high participation reflects that Hong Kong enterprises consider the CIIE the premier platform for tapping into the domestic market and showcasing Hong Kong brands and their innovative strengths.”

In addition, Mr Lee will officiate at the Hong Kong – The Ideal Platform for Mainland Enterprises in Going Global Promotion Conference hosted by the HKSAR Government. This will be the first large-scale publicity event on the Mainland organised by the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, newly established by the HKSAR Government, bringing together cross-sector speakers to highlight the strengths of Hong Kong as an international platform for going global.

Mr Lee will meet with leaders of Shanghai during his visit to deepen Hong Kong-Shanghai co-operation. He will also engage with Hong Kong people and representatives of Hong Kong enterprises in Shanghai.

Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on November 6. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) announced a sentinel event involving a patient suspected suicide today (November 2):

A 52-year-old male patient was admitted to a ward of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics in PWH on October 20 because of abdominal pain.

At around 6.45pm today, the patient was found missing in the ward. The ward staff promptly notified hospital security to conduct a local search within the hospital compound, reported the incident to the Police for assistance, and kept communicating with the patient’s family. The hospital was informed by the Police at around 7.20pm that the patient was found fell from height and was subsequently certified dead.

The patient was not found to have suicidal risk during admission screening, and his emotional status was stable all along. The hospital was deeply saddened by the incident and expressed deep condolences to the patient’s family. The hospital will provide assistance to the family and will co-operate with the Police investigation.

The hospital is very concerned about the incident. The incident has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. A root cause analysis panel will be formed to investigate the incident.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, at the Biopharmaceutical Session of the Global Bay Area Economic Forum 2025 today (November 3):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It is my honour to join you at the Biopharmaceutical Session of Global Bay Area Economic Forum 2025. On behalf of the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, I extend my thanks to Our Hong Kong Foundation, the Guangzhou Institute of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Macao Foundation for convening this meaningful dialogue.

In an era of complex global dynamics, the vibrant economic Global Bay Area clusters serve as engines of innovation and growth. Today, I will articulate the role and outlook of Hong Kong, not merely as a participant, but as a critical “super connector” within the biomedical innovation ecosystem of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Just two years ago, in late 2023, the HKSAR Government articulated a clear and ambitious vision to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub. This was a strategic imperative, supported by our nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan. This vision aligns perfectly with the decisions of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which emphasised deepening healthcare reform and establishing robust mechanisms to support innovative drugs and medical devices. The HKSAR is uniquely positioned to advance these national priorities, with our intrinsic strengths such as our international connectivity, rule of law, high-quality and efficient healthcare systems, robust data integrity, world-leading financial centre, and life-science research backed by two of the world’s top medical schools.

We are systematically transforming that vision into tangible reality in the GBA. A world-class biomedical innovation hub requires a world-class regulatory regime. We embarked on a landmark reform towards primary evaluation for medical products. Our first step was the launch of the “1+” mechanism in November 2023, which allows new drugs supported by local clinical data, to be registered in Hong Kong with approval from just one reference regulatory authority, instead of two. Today, we have already approved 15 new drugs under this mechanism, with seven of them being listed on the Hospital Authority (HA) Drug Formulary, bringing real benefits to patients.

In June this year, we announced a roadmap to establish the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation next year, with a view to establishing the centre as an internationally recognised regulatory authority for medical products. we will start implementing “primary evaluation” for new drug registration in phases. To further accelerate patient access to the most advanced treatments, we will also pilot a priority evaluation and approval of innovative drugs recommended by the HA for treatment of clinically urgent, severe or rare diseases. Furthermore, the HA is establishing a dedicated Office for Introducing Innovative Drugs and Medical Devices. It will proactively facilitate the entry of innovative, cost-effective treatments into Hong Kong, ensuring our patients are among the first to benefit from global breakthroughs.

The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI), which we envisioned in 2023, is now fully operational in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. Operating under the innovative “one zone, two parks” model with our Shenzhen counterparts, BAY TRIAL (Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center) in Shenzhen park, the GBAICTI combines Hong Kong’s world-class clinical standards, data integrity, and international recognition with the vast patient population and diverse disease profile in the GBA.

In May this year, the GBAICTI started a partnership with the medical faculties of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong to provide comprehensive support for over 70 new clinical trial projects in the coming year. This will effectively consolidate Hong Kong’s world-class research capabilities into a unified force.

At the same time, we establish collaboration across the boundary. In July, the GBAICTI signed a pivotal MOU with its Shenzhen counterpart, the GBA International Clinical Trials Center, or BAY TRIAL, and established a unified GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform. This platform streamlines matching services through artificial intelligence, provides a one-stop platform for applications, protocol approval and execution; and builds shared talent pools. This partnership has already yielded its first major project, a cross-border Phase II clinical trial for ICVAX, a therapeutic HIV vaccine co-developed by ImmunoCure and the AIDS Institute of HKU.

The Real-World Study and Application Centre is set to launch by the end of this year. Its core function is to systematically harness the high-quality and comprehensive real-world data from Hong Kong’s public healthcare system, which covers over 11 million patient records.

The Centre will provide robust real-world evidence to support multiple functions, such as to accelerate the development, regulatory approval, and market access of innovative medical products, particularly through data integration across the GBA. A key part of this strategy is the establishment of a unified GBA Real-World Data Platform, which will standardise and connect clinical data from both sides of the boundary, creating a seamless data ecosystem.

Ladies and gentlemen, the biomedical innovation landscape is rapidly evolving, and so are we. Over the past two years, we have systematically transformed vision into infrastructure, infrastructure into capability, and capability into tangible results – 15 new drugs approved, over 70 clinical trials in the pipeline, and a regulatory body ready to serve the region and the world. But our ambition extends beyond our shores. We envision Hong Kong as the nexus where Eastern and Western medical innovation converge.

For international companies, we offer a trusted gateway: conduct trials here under globally accepted standards with patients recruited from the 86 million population in the GBA. Our legal framework, intellectual property protection, and capital mobility provide the confidence needed for bold investment. For our nation’s burgeoning biotech sector, we provide the springboard to the world: leverage our ecosystem to conduct international multicentre trials, access global capital markets, and use Hong Kong registration as your passport to international markets.

Hong Kong will continue to strengthen its role as the unparalleled “super connector” in the global biomedical landscape, building a healthier future for the region and the world. The Government’s good efforts need the support of the community. The Legislative Council (LegCo) election day, the important day, will be on December 7 this year. We will be electing a highly competent and supportive LegCo for the new term. And hopefully, the new LegCo will work with the Government together and with all the stakeholders here to drive Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub. Thank you so much and I wish you a wonderful afternoon. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Hong Kong Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (HKIAA) Inauguration Ceremony & the First HKIAA Symposium today (November 3):

Professor Zhang Xiang (President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong), Professor Zhang Bing (Founding Director of the HKIAA and Chair of Astrophysics, Department of Physics of the University of Hong Kong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Good morning. It is my great pleasure to witness the inauguration of the Hong Kong Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics today. On behalf of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the University of Hong Kong for reaching this significant milestone.

     Hong Kong has always been a place where curiosity meets opportunity. With the establishment of the HKIAA, we are taking a vital and visionary step to position our Hong Kong at the forefront of astrophysical research and technological innovation. Astronomy and astrophysics study the stars, planets, galaxies, and the universe itself, seeking answers to fundamental questions about dark matter, dark energy, black holes, the origins of the universe, and even the possibility of life beyond Earth. Addressing these profound mysteries requires brilliant ideas, advanced technology for developing state-of-the-art telescopes, and fruitful collaboration among scientists from diverse backgrounds.

     The HKIAA will serve as a dynamic platform where scientists, researchers and students from around the world can collaborate on frontier projects that expand our understanding of the cosmos. It will strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a global hub for scientific excellence, attracting top talent and fostering partnerships with leading international institutions. It will also create unique opportunities to promote collaboration on emerging industries between Hong Kong and the Mainland, especially within the Greater Bay Area.

     Astronomy and astrophysics are deeply intertwined with the aerospace industry. The former inspires the scientific vision and theoretical foundation, while the latter provides the engineering solutions such as satellites, telescopes and probes, that make explorations possible. To promote the development of aerospace science and technology, and support space economy, the Hong Kong Space Robotics and Energy Centre has been set up under the InnoHK research clusters to support the country’s Chang’e-8 mission. The Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology has also allocated funding of more than $100 million to support six R&D (research and development) projects of universities.

     The establishment of HKIAA aligns with the Government’s vision to cultivate a thriving I&T (innovation and technology) ecosystem and provides academic and R&D support to building a robust space economy in Hong Kong. It is not just an academic study, it is about igniting the spark of innovation here on Earth. I am confident that the HKIAA will become a beacon of knowledge and discovery, illuminating the path toward a brighter and more innovative Hong Kong.

     Last but not least, December 7 is a big day for Hong Kong. Please call on your family, friends and colleagues to vote at the Legislative Council General Election together, to create a brighter future for Hong Kong. Let us embrace this new chapter with enthusiasm and chart a bold course towards the stars.

     May I wish the first HKIAA Symposium a great success. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Local young guzheng virtuosi Grammy Yeung will grace the stage this early December as the grand finale of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s (LCSD) “Hong Kong Artists” Series. In this recital, Yeung will collaborate with esteemed artists of both Chinese and Western instruments, presenting a curated programme of classic and contemporary guzheng compositions, which include a world premiere work by renowned local composer Professor Chan Hing-yan. Through her exquisite artistry, Yeung will reveal the multifaceted expression of guzheng. This highly anticipated collaboration is not to be missed by music lovers.
 
     In the first half of the recital, Yeung will open with the Henan zhang piece “Song of the Homebound Fishermen”, performed with huqin artist Chan Pik-sum. She then will take the stage alone with the modern solo “The Ballad of Lotus Flower”, followed by “Qin River on My Mind”, a piece infused with Shaanxi tongzhou bangzi music elements, alongside celebrated pianist Colleen Lee. Subsequently, the three musicians will combine with percussionist Abby Chan to present the world premiere of Professor Chan’s new commissioned work “Three Realms of Awakening” – a three-movement pieces feature guzheng in dialogue with erhu, piano and percussion, showcasing the sublime harmony of Eastern and Western soundscapes with different perspectives in Buddhist iconography.
 
     The second half will feature two guzheng duets with Yeung’s guzheng teacher Chin King, including “Sound of Emerald”, which is inspired by tea-picking motifs, and “Suo-Ma”, enhanced with percussion. In addition, Yeung will present the delicate Cantonese tune “Lament in Autumn” on a steel-string guzheng accompanied by Chan Pik-sum on the yehu. A highlight follows as Yeung will collaborate with Lee in the Hong Kong premiere of “A Tender Dream”, a guzheng-piano duet that gracefully transforms jazz melodies into Eastern poetic tones, weaving an elegant cross-cultural dialogue. The recital will conclude with the duo performing “Calming Storms and Waves”, ending the evening on a profoundly expansive and reflective note.
 
     Yeung is currently the Education University of Hong Kong’s guest instrumental tutor. She holds a master’s degree in music (zheng) from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and is a music major graduate from the University of Hong Kong. Yeung received a gold medal in the 6th International Zheng Contest (Professional Youth Group), and was featured as one of the finalists in the Young Music Makers 2017 of RTHK 4. She was also invited to perform in Bali, Singapore and Macao, and has held various solo recitals at Tai Kwun, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Palace Museum and universities in Hong Kong.
 
     The “Hong Kong Artists” Series: Guzheng Recital by Grammy Yeung will be staged at 8pm on December 1 (Monday) at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $200 and $240 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Package discounts will be available for purchasing different recitals under the “Hong Kong Artists” Series 2025 (including the Vocal Recital by Viola Cheung on November 13). For discount schemes and programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1838.html.
 
     The “Hong Kong Artists” Series of the LCSD aims to provide a platform for local artists to showcase their remarkable talent. In addition to individual performances, it also encourages cross-genre works to highlight their unique styles. This year’s series introduces 12 distinguished musicians in seven stunning programmes, featuring violin, piano, cello, guzheng and vocal arts. Among them, a cross-genre performance of music and painting was staged to showcase Hong Kong’s unique cultural character, embracing diversity and innovation. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1823.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Fire Services Department (FSD) held the Winter Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Promotional Months launching ceremony and Fire Services Department Community Emergency Responder (FSDCER) award ceremony at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin today (November 1). The event officially commenced a series of winter disaster preparedness promotional activities, while a number of organisations actively promoting the FSDCER scheme in the community were commended.

This year, three techniques on emergency preparedness, namely “seal the door and wait for rescue”, “put on fire escape hoods for protection”, and “detection and early warning”, are featured areas of the Promotional Months. Members of the public are encouraged to learn skills of sealing door gaps with adhesive tapes and wearing fire escape hoods to filter smoke and hazardous gases, so as to stay safe when waiting for rescue at home in cases of infeasible fire evacuation. They can also install stand-alone fire detectors to receive early alert and make a timely escape when a fire breaks out. At the event, the FSD targeted to enhance public awareness of disaster and emergency preparedness through door-sealing demonstrations, fire escape hood and stand-alone fire detector displays, interactive exhibition areas, booth games, and more.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Director of Fire Services (Public Safety and Corporate Strategy), Mr Wong Ka-wing, expressed his gratitude to the 18 District Fire Safety Committees for strengthening community efforts in promoting disaster and emergency preparedness education. Under the co-ordination of the Fire Services Department Community Collaboration Network, all districts have successfully met the target set in key performance indicators (KPIs) for public safety strategy and made a remarkable achievement. The KPIs concerned include efforts in promoting fire safety information to residents of buildings with potential risks of fire hazards, assisting residents to install stand-alone fire detectors, and distributing “The Three Treasures for Fire Protection”.

Mr Wong said that over 6 500 citizens from various age groups and sectors have received training under the FSDCER scheme to grasp basic skills on firefighting, self-rescue and first aid. He thanked community groups and organisations for arranging their staff members to receive training, in support of the scheme. At the event, 17 organisations were presented with certificates at the FSDCER award ceremony in recognition of their contribution to promoting disaster preparedness across public and private sectors.

Mr Wong emphasised that voting is a civic responsibility for every voter. He called on the public to cherish and cast their votes in the Legislative Council General Election on December 7, electing competent representatives to help turn Hong Kong into an even better home for everyone.

Throughout the promotional months, the FSD will collaborate with various District Offices, District Fire Safety Committees, and community partners to host a range of disaster and emergency preparedness events including carnivals, fire station open days and publicity events at shopping malls. The FSD’s mobile publicity vehicle will also tour the city to disseminate disaster and emergency preparedness messages to the public. Latest information of the activities will be available at the FSD’s social media platforms and the Hong Kong Fire Services Department Mobile Application.

The Winter Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Promotional Months is one of the key initiatives under the Fire Services Department’s Disaster Management Programme funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, with an aim to enhance the community’s resilience to disasters. The FSDCER Scheme is also funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Sau Mau Ping this afternoon (November 2), in which a male worker, while erecting a bamboo scaffold on the external wall of a building under construction, fell from height. He was certified dead at the scene. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

     The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the erection, alteration, dismantling and use of bamboo scaffolds on the external walls of the buildings in the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”

     The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”

       To prevent workers from falling from height while engaged in scaffolding work, the LD reminds employers to take suitable safety measures, including providing every scaffolder with a suitable safety harness that is attached continuously to a suitable and secure anchor point, an independent lifeline or a fall arresting system, and ensuring the proper use of the safety equipment by the workers concerned throughout the work. 

     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

     In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of the family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

       A spokesman for the Development Bureau (DEVB) said today (November 3) that the contractor involved in the fatal industrial incident that happened on November 2 at a non-governmental construction site in Sau Mau Ping was on the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works. 
 
      The DEVB, being the party to procure services for public works, attaches great importance to the site safety performance of all construction sites under the purview of contractors on the List, regardless of whether the sites are public works construction sites or not. The DEVB issued a notification to the contractor concerned today to suspend it from tendering for public works contracts in the buildings category with immediate effect pursuant to the regulating regime. The contractor concerned has to conduct an independent safety audit to review its safety management system. Taking cognisance of the outcome of the independent safety audit, the contractor is required to submit an improvement action plan and implement improvement measures, with a view to demonstrating that it has an effective safety management system before the lifting of the suspension from tendering can be considered. The suspension from tendering is not only confined to tender exercises within the period of suspension from tendering, but is also applicable to tender exercises with procedures initiated but not concluded.

      The Labour Department is investigating this industrial incident and will handle it in accordance with the law. Subject to the investigation findings, the DEVB may impose further regulating actions on the contractor concerned later on, including extension of the period of suspension from tendering for public works contracts and even removal from the List.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met the media in Gyeongju, Korea, this afternoon (November 1) after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting and other related activities. Following are Mr Lee’s remarks:

Reporter: Good afternoon, Mr Lee. How were your encounters with President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit? Was there any important message on Hong Kong? With Shenzhen being the host city for next year’s APEC summit, any plans and expectations as to how Hong Kong can co-operate or facilitate with the summit? During this time, how would you capitalise on the outcomes that you have made during your time in Gyeongju? Thank you.

Chief Executive: President Xi cares very much about Hong Kong. And I was very glad that I could make use of this opportunity to report to him the latest social and economic developments of Hong Kong. We also very slightly touched on the political situation that we’re facing. I feel all along the sincere care of President Xi  for Hong Kong and his staunch support for Hong Kong. I am very grateful for that. He is a very affectionate leader. Each and every time he will be encouraging me to continue to do my job well, so I sincerely thank President Xi for that.

I’m of course very motivated to know that APEC 2026 will be held in our country – in Shenzhen. We’re thrilled, particularly when Shenzhen is our very neighbouring city. Our relationship is very close. The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government will do all our best to support and co-operate with all the possible arrangements that will be of help to the overall launching of the meeting. I believe that of course the Central Government will take into consideration the whole arrangement of different setups of the APEC conference, and also will make reference to the guidelines that is laid down by APEC in respect of the arrangement for the meeting. The Hong Kong Government is fully prepared and will be very excited to be able to take any part to support the arrangement and the successful conduct of the APEC conference.

You asked about the achievements of my attendance at this APEC conference. We have made achievements in several areas. Through the participation in the APEC meeting, we contributed to the promotion of free trade and economic integration. First of all, the APEC economies jointly adopted and issued the Leaders’ Declaration, which is very important, because its emphasis on economic co-operation, connectivity and also the building of resilient supply chains. The Declaration addresses the importance of shared opportunities and challenges facing us, and important goal of “Connect”, “Innovate” and “Prosper”.

The second achievement is that, through the participation in these APEC meetings and activities, we further strengthened our ties with the host country – Korea. Different Secretaries of the Hong Kong SAR Government have attended APEC meetings in the two weeks prior to the actual summit, including the Financial Secretary, the Secretary for Justice, and also the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development. Korea is the fifth-largest trading partner of Hong Kong. And the trade has been increasing in the rate of 20 per cent year-on-year. On tourism, we welcomed , in 2024, 850 000 visitors from Korea. This is double the figure of the previous year. With the Kai Tak Sports Park opened, we have been welcoming a lot of K-pop performances, and we look forward to welcoming more Korean visitors as we have more exceptional performances. We signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Busan Asian Film School in September to allow Hong Kong filmmakers to participate in an eight-month training course in Busan. Also, the number of flights between Hong Kong and Busan has increased by about 70 per cent year-on-year in October this year, pursuing the increase in the number of exchanges both ways. We also opened up a new flight route to Daegu in June this year.

The third achievement is that we have strengthened relations and exchanges with various ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. I had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lawrence Wong. We touched on a wide range of issues that the immediate results of the discussions is that there will be a Hong Kong delegation comprising Permanent Secretaries to visit Singapore. This will be the second visit after the last visit in 2023 by Permanent Secretaries from the Singaporean Government. Also, I discussed with the President of Indonesia, and we agreed to explore the possibility of Indonesian cultural and arts delegations visiting Hong Kong to perform. In regards to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (ETO) which we want to set up in Malaysia, I’m glad to be informed that, in the discussion with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, both of us are very keen and optimistic that the ETO will be in operation before the end of this year in Kuala Lumpur.

The fourth achievement is that we have deepened exchanges and co-operation with the Middle East. I met with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and we talked about various issues. He indicated that Hong Kong is a very attractive place for investments, certainly one of the focus areas. And one important thing is Hong Kong is a bridge to Mainland cities, so he has indicated that he will be paying a lot of attention to the Hong Kong market. We welcomed that very much.

The fifth achievement is that we have strengthened exchanges with the international organisation of IMF (International Monetary Fund). I met with the Managing Director, and I first of all talked about Hong Kong’s strengths as an international financial centre. In fact, the IMF did an article for consultation a year before, and confirmed Hong Kong’s position as the one of the world’s three major international financial centres and recognising the resilience and strengths that are in our regime.

We will capitalise on the visit on this occasion, so that we will continue to strengthen ties with different economies and also follow up some of the issues that we brought up in the discussion.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (November 3) reminded members of the public that, starting from January 25, 2026, all public transport and commercial vehicles’ seated passengers must wear seat belts. From the same day onwards, all drivers must not use more than two mobile telecommunications devices (MTDs) during driving. Both new requirements aim to further enhance road, passenger and driving safety.

(1) Extending requirements for mandatory fitting and wearing of seat belts

     All passenger’s seats in public and private buses (including franchised buses and student service vehicles (SSVs)); rear passenger’s seats in private light buses (including SSVs) and goods vehicles (GVs); and driver’s seats and all passenger’s seats of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) must be equipped with seat belts for these vehicles first registered from January 25, 2026. From the same day, passengers occupying the seats of these vehicles (whether newly registered or not), where seat belts are fitted, will be required to wear them. Any vehicle owner, driver or passenger breaching the seat belt-fitting or wearing requirements will be liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for up to three months.

     Of note, any driver who still operates the vehicle with a passenger aged under 15 seated in the rear seat of a GV or the passenger’s seat of an SPV without wearing a seat belt will be subject to a maximum fine of $2,000. All passengers seated in the seats shall be responsible for wearing the seat belts.

     In addition, to strike a balance between enhancing protection for students and addressing the trade’s operational needs, existing SSVs must retrofit seat belts and safer seats on all passenger seats before December 31, 2028. From that day onwards, vehicles failing to meet such requirement will no longer be permitted to carry students. As for franchised buses, all newly procured buses have been equipped with seat belts on every seat since July 2018 and operators have retrofitted seat belts on all upper deck seats of about 1 900 existing buses.

     A spokesman for the TD said, “Wearing seat belts offers effective protection to passengers in an accident. Studies show that it will reduce the risk of death and serious injury of drivers and passengers in head-on collisions by about 40 per cent and 70 per cent respectively. Further, the full implementation of the fitting of seat belts in SSVs helps cultivate the habit of wearing seat belts from an early age, thereby strengthening students’ awareness of road safety.”

(2) Tightening use of MTDs during driving

     Driving attentively is key to road safety. Balancing considerations including the transport trades’ needs and technological advancements, from January 25, 2026, any driver must not place more than two MTDs (i.e. mobile phones, tablet computers or laptop computers) in front of them during driving. The diagonal length of their screen must not exceed 19 centimetres. The MTDs must not obstruct the driver’s view of the road and traffic as well as any mirror, device or camera-monitor fitted for viewing the roads.

     Drivers contravening the new requirements may be liable to a maximum fine of $2,000, the spokesman added.

     The TD will work with the Police, relevant departments, the Road Safety Council and public transport operators to step up publicity and public education for drivers and passengers on the legal requirements. The TD will also conduct publicity works for transport trades gradually. Members of the public may refer to the TD’s webpage on seat belts (www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/sb) and the use of MTDs during driving (www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/mtd) or the Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk), or call the hotline 2804 2600 for details.

     Following the passage by the Legislative Council, the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2025, the Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 and the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2025 will come into effect on January 25, 2026.