Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Yung Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (October 15):

Question:

To support the exhibition industry in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government provides funding to organisers and exhibitors through schemes such as the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions (ISRE), the ISRE 2.0 and the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the following information (i) since the launch of the ISRE, and (ii) since the introduction of special measures under the EMF on April 30, 2021: the respective numbers of applications received and approved, together with the names of the organisers of the subsidised eligible exhibitions, their exhibition content, dates, venues, amounts of funding received, numbers and proportions of local and overseas exhibitors, numbers and proportions of local and overseas visitors and the regions of origin of overseas exhibitors and visitors (set out in a table);

(2) as some members of the industry have relayed that the ISRE 2.0 launched by the Government on July 1 this year does not have a specified end date, which affects the industry’s cost budgeting for organising exhibitions, when the Government will announce the end date of the ISRE 2.0, and whether it will optimise the ISRE 2.0 by, for example, adjusting the quota for non-local participants and relaxing requirements such as the gross floor area used for demonstrating or displaying products, materials and services; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) given that the EMF will be consolidated into the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales after June 30, 2026, with adjustments to the funding ceiling, matching ratio, etc, whether the Government has assessed the impact of these adjustments on the industry (e.g. the number of applications and the scale of activities); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(4) apart from the aforementioned funding schemes, whether the Government has other policy measures to support the exhibition industry, with a view to maintaining its competitiveness and encouraging further investment; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The convention and exhibition (C&E) industry is crucial to Hong Kong as an international trade centre. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been promoting the long-term development of the C&E industry through various measures.

The HKSAR Government first launched the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions (ISRE) in July 2023, providing venue rental incentives to attract local and international exhibitions of different scales to be staged recurrently in Hong Kong. The maximum incentive for each exhibition was capped at $20 million. The ISRE ended on June 30, 2025, and was very well received, supporting around 220 eligible exhibitions with the total incentive amount exceeding $1.2 billion. The requirements for eligible exhibitions were clearly set out in the Application Guide promulgated by us, and all applications met the eligibility criteria. The exhibitions supported by the ISRE attracted numerous participants (including exhibitors and buyers), not only benefitting the C&E industry but also bringing in high-spending business travellers that drive economic activities in such related sectors as accommodation, catering, retail, entertainment, etc, thereby benefitting various industries.

To further promote the development of the C&E industry and the mega event economy, thereby generating overall economic benefits for Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government announced in the 2024 Policy Address the allocation of an additional funding of $500 million for launching the ISRE 2.0 on July 1 this year. The ISRE 2.0 focuses on supporting the venue rental expenses for new and recurrent international exhibitions of a large scale with a view to boosting the vibrancy of the C&E industry in Hong Kong. Taking into account the industry’s views and the operational experience of the original ISRE, a number of new features have been introduced under the new scheme, including:

(a) only international exhibitions attracting at least 1 500 non-local participants (including exhibitors and buyers) will be covered;
(b) the maximum venue rental incentive for each eligible exhibition is capped at $10 million; and
(c) the Central Harbourfront Event Space and relevant parts of the West Kowloon Cultural District are included as new specified venues, alongside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE).

The above arrangements aim to focus on international events, benefit more eligible exhibitions and offer more venue options to the organisers.

According to the Application Guide, organisers may submit applications within two months after completion of the eligible exhibitions. As the ISRE 2.0 is still in the inception stage, we have received and processed about 10 applications so far, involving a total incentive amount of around $40 million. As stipulated in the Application Guide and explained to the industry on various occasions earlier on, the ISRE 2.0 will end upon exhaustion of the funds. Subject to the actual utilisation of the funds, we will announce the end date of the ISRE 2.0 in good time. We will maintain close liaison with the relevant venue operators and the industry in this regard.

In addition, the HKSAR Government provides funding support through the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF) to encourage Hong Kong small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in export marketing activities and tap into non-local markets. To support enterprises to conduct more promotion during the pandemic and the post-pandemic recovery periods, special measures have been implemented under the EMF since end-April 2021 to expand the funding scope to cover exhibitions targeting the local market and online exhibitions, as well as relaxing the eligibility criteria to cover non-SMEs. Relevant special measures have been extended to end-June 2026.

From May 2021 to end-September 2025, around 42 150 applications involving exhibitions targeting the local market and online exhibitions have been received under the EMF, among which around 30 700 applications have been processed and approved. As the EMF targets at enterprises promoting their products/services, the Trade and Industry Department only collects information about applicant enterprises and their participation in exhibitions, but does not maintain other exhibition-related statistics mentioned in the question.

In March 2025, the HKSAR Government announced the implementation of various measures under the EMF and the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) with a view to providing support to SMEs in a more focused and sustainable manner. Currently, the matching ratio of the EMF has been adjusted from 1 (Government): 1 (enterprise) to 1:3 of the total approved expenditure. There is no change to the funding ceiling per application of $100,000.

As the current business environment is rife with uncertainties and challenges, it is imperative for enterprises to upgrade and diversify away from traditional markets to remain competitive. Traditional modes of business (such as mere product listing or publicity) may not suffice. To focus our limited resources to equip enterprises for upgrading and transformation, the EMF will be consolidated into the BUD Fund after June 30, 2026. Starting from July 1, 2026, enterprises may, in the context of upgrading and transformation, apply for the BUD Fund to participate in exporting marketing and promotional activities. To assist enterprises in adapting to the arrangements of the consolidation, it has been announced in the 2025 Policy Address that we will enhance promotion and facilitate the participation of companies in exhibitions and export promotion activities through “Easy BUD” under the BUD Fund, thereby developing more diversified markets.

Currently, most enterprises have not yet fully utilised the $7 million cumulative funding ceiling under the BUD Fund. We believe that enterprises can still flexibly utilise the BUD Fund after the consolidation to implement marketing activities.

To consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international C&E hub in the long run, apart from the abovementioned incentive and subsidy schemes, the HKSAR Government will continue to take forward the expansion projects of C&E facilities. The Airport Authority Hong Kong has commenced the construction works for the AWE expansion, which is expected to be completed in 2028. Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government continues to take forward the Wan Chai North Redevelopment project near the HKCEC as planned, including the redevelopment of the sites of the Wan Chai Government Offices Compound, Gloucester Road Garden and Kong Wan Fire Station into C&E facilities, hotel, etc. The AWE Phase 2 expansion project and the Wan Chai North Redevelopment project are expected to provide an additional 63 750 square metres of rentable C&E space. While implementing these two projects, the HKSAR Government will strive to flexibly utilise the existing venues and facilities for meeting the market demand.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A Government spokesman said today (October 15) that consent has been given to resume the socketed steel H-pile works of the proposed MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) Oyster Bay Station project on Lantau Island today.

The spokesman said that since the upheaving readings recorded on July 15 at five monitoring checkpoints installed on a section of the MTRCL’s Tung Chung Line (TCL) ballasted railway tracks near Siu Ho Wan Depot had exceeded the preset trigger level of 20 millimetres for works suspension, the socketed steel H-pile works of the aforementioned project were suspended on the same day. The situation occurred under the preset mechanism that aims to monitor the potential impact of construction works in the vicinity of railways under operation. Once the exceedance of the preset trigger level is observed, works will be suspended, and mitigation measures will be explored, ensuring the safety of the railway. The Government announced the situation on July 17 (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202507/17/P2025071700605.htm). In accordance with the established procedures, resumption of works will only be allowed when the Buildings Department (BD) is satisfied with the mitigation measures adopted by the project team; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is satisfied with the enhanced monitoring measures by the MTRCL; and the MTRCL has confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safety of the railway operation.

The registered building professional of the Oyster Bay Station project has earlier submitted to the BD an incident report, a proposal of mitigation measures and the associated amendment plans. After review, the BD has agreed to the mitigation measures and the amendment plans, as these measures can effectively minimise the potential risk of the upheaval and settlement of the relevant tracks beyond the preset threshold upon the resumption of works, and has accepted the enhanced monitoring measures taken by the MTRCL.

The EMSD has reviewed the monitoring data and assessment report submitted by the MTRCL in relation to the safe operation of the railway and confirmed that the condition of the railway and the MTRCL’s monitoring measures meet the operational safety requirements.

In addition, the MTRCL has confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway.

The staff of the BD and the EMSD inspected the concerned railway tracks at midnight on October 8, and reconfirmed that the maintenance works completed and the reconditioned ballast track after the incident of July had no impact on the structural safety of the railway facilities and operational safety of the railway.

The BD, the EMSD and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the situation, including the continuous monitoring of upheaval and settlement levels against the triggering limit, to ensure the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, will depart for Haikou, Hainan, this afternoon (October 15) to attend the 2025 Hainan Free Trade Port Legal Week to promote Hong Kong’s legal services and strengthen co-operation between Hainan and Hong Kong to seize the opportunities arising from the official launch of an island-wide independent customs operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port, scheduled to commence this December.

Dr Cheung will speak at the opening ceremony of the Hainan Legal Week themed “Law-based Free Trade Port‧Sharing New Opportunities”. During his visit to Haikou, Dr Cheung will also meet with leaders of the Department of Justice of Hainan Province and the High People’s Court of Hainan Province, as well as the local legal community to strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and Hainan.

​Dr Cheung will return to Hong Kong on October 17.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 15):
 
Question:
 
     It is reported that some individuals come to Hong Kong under the talent admission schemes but leave after giving birth to their children, with the sole purpose of obtaining the Hong Kong permanent resident status for their children, rather than a true intention to pursue their career in Hong Kong. There are views pointing out that such practice not only goes against the original intent of the talent policy, but also creates uncertainty to resource planning of various social services in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether there is any mechanism under the current talent policy to prevent situations where individuals come to Hong Kong under the guise of career development but actually just to give birth;
 
(2) to avoid the recurrence of a large number of doubly non-permanent resident children (i.e. children born in Hong Kong but whose parents are non-permanent residents of Hong Kong), whether the Government has considered establishing a mechanism requiring talent coming to Hong Kong and their dependants to sign a declaration confirming their intention to remain in Hong Kong for career development when making delivery bookings at public or private medical institutions in Hong Kong, or requiring them to submit supporting documents (such as proof of employment in Hong Kong or immigration records) to confirm that they have met the requirement of staying in Hong Kong for a certain number of days; and
 
(3) whether it has assessed the impact of the talent admission schemes on Hong Kong’s long-term population scale and structure, with a view to precisely controlling the allocation of resources for public services such as social welfare, housing, healthcare and education?
 
Reply:
 
President,

     As an international talent hub, Hong Kong has been welcoming outside talent to come to the city for development, thereby enriching the local talent pool. To address the challenges posed by an ageing population and manpower shortage, the current-term Government has since end-2022 implemented a series of measures to trawl for talent. These include the launch of the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) targeting talent with high income and academic qualifications, as well as enhancement of the various existing schemes. To date, more than 240 000 global elites from diverse backgrounds have been attracted to come to Hong Kong for development. Among others, the TTPS has received enthusiastic responses, with over 90 000 talents having arrived in Hong Kong. Among the first batch of TTPS entrants whose visas have expired, more than half successfully secured extension of stay. Most of them have joined key industries and earn competitive salaries, demonstrating strong market competitiveness. In the World Talent Ranking 2025 published recently by the International Institute for Management Development, Hong Kong’s ranking leapt markedly to fourth globally, marking the highest-ever ranking topping Asia. This is clear evidence that the talent attraction policies are in the right direction with effective outcomes.
 
     Nevertheless, after the talents have been successfully attracted to come to Hong Kong, the greater challenge lies in retaining them. In addition to continuing the efforts in boosting the economy and the growth of emerging industries to provide a favourable environment for the development of local and overseas talent, the Government is committed to providing the necessary support for talent, encouraging them to settle down and contribute to Hong Kong’s development.
 
     In consultation with the Health Bureau (HHB), Housing Bureau (HB), Education Bureau (EDB), Immigration Department (ImmD) and Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), my reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) As mentioned earlier, in the global competition for talent, our real challenge lies in how to retain them.
 
     The majority of talents admitted to Hong Kong under the various admission schemes are very young, with 70 per cent under the age of 40. In particular, nearly all admitted under Category C of the TTPS are aged 30 or below. They are at critical stages in their careers and also within the prime age range for starting families. The Government’s follow-up surveys have revealed that family considerations, such as arrangements for children’s education, are among the top priorities for incoming talent when making a relocation decision. This reflects that talent retention is not only driven by career opportunities but also has to take into account the overall needs of their families. More comprehensive support should be offered to strengthen the sense of belonging of talent and their families to Hong Kong.
 
     Outside talents is a vital driving force for our economic development. Taking the TTPS as an example, the entrants are estimated to contribute directly to Hong Kong’s economy by an amount of some HK$34 billion per annum, which is equivalent to about 1.2 per cent of the local Gross Domestic Product. We hope to regard these talents as part of our community, and therefore must address their family needs just as we do for other Hong Kong residents, so as to help them live and work in contentment in the city.

     The current dependant policy allows talent to bring their spouses and minor children to reside in Hong Kong. We also welcome them to start families and give birth to children in Hong Kong so as to establish roots in the city. These new additions to our population are and will continue to be an important source of the local labour force, which would help improve the demographic structure and alleviate the challenges posed by the local ageing population and the low birth rate, providing long-term manpower support for Hong Kong’s sustainable development.
 
     I must emphasise that the various talent admission schemes with different positionings all have clear eligibility criteria and vetting procedures. Under current laws, anyone who furnishes false information or makes false representation to the ImmD are liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. The ImmD has a rigorous and effective mechanism in place for assessing each application under the talent admission schemes in a rigorous manner. This is to ensure that only applicants meeting the relevant eligibility criteria and immigration policies will be admitted into Hong Kong for stay. The approved applicants are all talents with competitiveness that Hong Kong aims to attract. Based on our observations, talent who have not yet secured employment are genuinely interested in pursuing long-term development in Hong Kong. We are not aware of anyone coming to Hong Kong under the guise of career development just to give birth.
 
     The Government understands the public expectation about proper use of limited public resources. At present, the incoming talent represents only a small fraction of Hong Kong’s overall population, and have not put pressure on local resources. The HHB has no plan at the moment to impose different restrictions or requirements on maternity service bookings based on the route through which individuals obtain their Hong Kong residency. However, the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) will continue to keep in view the settlement of incoming talents in Hong Kong, including collecting data on talent’s childbirth, to facilitate better resource planning by relevant policy bureaux. If any abuse of the talent admission schemes is detected, the Government will take appropriate action.
 
(3) To provide the basis for the Government’s planning in various policy areas and resource allocation, the C&SD and the LWB regularly compile updated population and manpower projection respectively to understand the trend of change in Hong Kong’s population and manpower needs during the projection period. Currently, these two sets of projections have taken into account the impact of the major talent admission schemes. The next population census is scheduled to be conducted in 2026, and the LWB is now conducting a mid-term update on the manpower projection, with the results expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2026. 
 
     The various policy bureaux will continuously review the implementation and effectiveness of the measures under their respective purviews in response to the latest demographic and manpower trends. For instance, the HB will continue to closely monitor the supply and demand of different types of housing and adjust the corresponding policies in a timely manner where necessary. The HHB will continue to deepen the reform of the healthcare system to ensure the viability of Hong Kong’s healthcare system. The EDB will review education policies from time to time, with a view to meeting the needs of the society.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     With a view to facilitating and encouraging civil servants in receiving influenza vaccinations, the Civil Service Bureau and the Department of Health continue to implement the Civil Service Eligible Persons (CSEPs) Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Pilot Scheme this year. For the first time, outreach vaccination services are being conducted at specified government offices on a pilot basis. About 110 CSEPs received influenza vaccines at the outreach station at the Central Government Offices (CGO) this morning (October 15).

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, spoke with civil servants receiving the influenza vaccines to listen to their views. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, also received their vaccines at the outreach station. 

     Mrs Yeung said, “It is better to receive the influenza vaccine sooner rather than later. As civil servants frequently interact with the public, being vaccinated can better protect their health and the health of the members of the public they serve, reduce the risk of workplace and community transmission of influenza, and minimise the impact on the delivery of public services due to illnesses in the civil service. I encourage more civil service colleagues to receive their vaccinations early, and I am pleased with the good response from colleagues today. The outreach vaccination service is efficient and convenient, allowing colleagues to complete their vaccinations with only a brief absence from work.”

     The CSEPs Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Pilot Scheme in 2025/26 has commenced and is open to all CSEPs aged 6 months or above. Those who have made an appointment can receive free seasonal influenza vaccines at families clinics. For details, please visit www.csb.gov.hk/english/admin/benefits/66.html.

     In addition, this year’s pilot scheme provides vaccination services by appointment through the outreach stations, on a pilot basis, at specified government offices (the CGO, the Queensway Government Offices, the West Kowloon Government Offices, and the North Point Government Offices) on several dates between mid-October and November.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (Cyberport), announced today (October 15) the second cohort of the Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenA.I.) Sandbox. Building on the foundation of the first cohort, this coming cohort demonstrates a significant industry shift from experimenting with AI’s capability to enabling its secure and reliable implementation.
 
From over 60 proposals, a total of 27 use cases from 20 banks and 14 technology partners have been selected (see Annex). All submissions were prioritised based on innovation, technical complexity and potential value to the industry.
 
A defining theme of this cohort is the proactive approach to AI governance, with use cases pioneering “AI vs AI” strategies, such as leveraging AI to conduct automated quality checks on AI-generated outputs, improving accuracy and consistency at a scalable level.
 
In response to the emerging risk of deepfake-related fraud, the Sandbox will also serve as a testing ground for advanced defence mechanisms. Several participants will conduct adversarial simulations, using AI to stress-test and fortify their systems against sophisticated digital fraud.
 
     Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA Mr Arthur Yuen said, “The second cohort represents a major leap forward in making AI adoption safer and more robust. The diverse representation of banks in this cohort highlights the industry-wide consensus on AI’s transformative potential. The growth in collaboration between the banking, technology, and academic sectors is a testament to our commitment to fostering the local fintech ecosystem. I would also like to express my gratitude to Professor Chan (Note 1), Professor Yang (Note 2) and Professor Yiu (Note 3) for their valuable expert advice as members of the selection committee.”
 
Participants will gradually onboard to the designated platform by Cyberport’s Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Centre later this year, with trials commencing in early 2026. Leveraging the GenA.I. Sandbox as the core, the HKMA will continue to share good practices and promote the responsible adoption of AI within the financial sector.

Note 1: Professor Chan Chun-kwong, Programme Director, MSc/PgD in Financial Technology, Faculty of Engineering; and Professor of Practice in Financial Technology, Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Note 2: Professor Yang Hongxia, Executive Director of PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence; Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences; Director of the University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics; and Professor, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Note 3: Professor Yiu Siu-ming, Master Programme Director and Professor, School of Computing and Data Science, The University of Hong Kong

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
 
     The Eighth Seminar of Senior Judges from across the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao, hosted by the Hong Kong Judiciary, successfully concluded yesterday (October 14). The two-day event, themed “The Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in Judicial Work”, brought together senior judges from across the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao for in-depth discussions on various topics related to judicial work.
 
     At the closing ceremony, several distinguished speakers delivered concluding remarks: Mr Deng Xiuming, Vice-President of the China Association of Judges; Mr Justice Jeremy Poon, Chief Judge of the High Court of Hong Kong; Mr Tong Hio-fong, President of the Court of Appeal of Macao; and Mr Huang Shui-tung, Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Society of Law of Taiwan. All delegation heads were in attendance, including Mr Zhang Jun, President of the China Association of Judges; Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong; Ms Song Man-lei, President of the Court of Final Appeal of Macao; and Mr Chen Tzung-chen, Chairman of the Chinese Society of Law of Taiwan.
 
     During the seminar, the delegation heads also visited the Court of Final Appeal and took part in a roundtable discussion on the application and development of mediation.
 
     The seminar concluded successfully, yielding fruitful outcomes. It aptly showcased the professionalism and active engagement of the judicial and legal sectors from across the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao. The event will continue to serve as an important platform for fostering judicial co-operation, exchange, and mutual learning among participating jurisdictions.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Maggie Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (October 15):

Question:

The Government has indicated in the 2025 Policy Address that the Northern Metropolis (NM), which covers a land area and planned population intake accounting for about one-third of Hong Kong’s total, is our city’s strategic development area. There are views that the development of the NM provides opportunities for young people in Hong Kong to achieve upward mobility and build a happy life. Regarding measures in the NM to support upward mobility for young people, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the Government has planned an upward mobility ecological chain for young people, covering such areas as education, employment, home ownership and entrepreneurship, in relation to the future development of the NM; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) given the projection in the 2025 Policy Address that the NM will create about half a million new job opportunities, of the distribution and proportions of such jobs by type; whether it has formulated training programmes and strategies for nurturing local talent in close alignment with such new jobs to assist young people in seizing the relevant opportunities;

(3) in light of the population influx into the NM brought by the aforementioned half a million new job opportunities, whether it has assessed the sufficiency of residential units in the NM to meet the demand of young families; if so, of the housing plan formulated based on the assessment results, as well as the respective numerical proportions of public housing units, Home Ownership Scheme units and private residential units therein; and

(4) whether it has planned to build facilities (including youth hostels, Youth Post hostels, childcare service centres, kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools) in the NM to support the working youth and their families; if so, of the details of the plan; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Northern Metropolis (NM), a strategic development area in Hong Kong, is a major investment and construction we have made for the future, including the next generation. With an area and planned population accounting for around one-third of Hong Kong’s totals, the NM will provide more than 3 000 hectares of new development land. The land for different industries in the NM would drive the development of innovation and technology (I&T) and other industries, and create more than 500 000 quality and diversified job opportunities. The NM is also a key source of public and private housing supply in the future, which will provide approximately 500 000 new residential units. The planning of the NM will also promote better home-job balance, bringing jobs closer to homes, as well as providing supporting facilities for residents and workers which improve the quality of life.

In response to the question raised by the Hon Maggie Chan, after consulting the relevant bureaux, the reply is as follows (as Parts 1 to 3 are related, we prepared a consolidated reply for these parts):

(1) to (3) In planning the land use in new development areas (NDAs) in the NM, the Development Bureau, in collaboration with relevant departments, has been adopting a diversified development approach in order to accommodate the needs of young people at different stages of life (such as education, employment and housing).

On education, during the planning of the NDAs within the NM, we have reserved sufficient land for the development of primary and secondary schools in accordance with the requirements of the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines and relevant government departments, as well as land or floor space for kindergartens and other government, institution and community facilities to meet the demands assessed by the relevant departments. To support Hong Kong’s development into an international hub for post-secondary education, the Government has reserved land for the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town. This initiative will not only meet the demand of young people for post-secondary education, but also support Hong Kong to build the “Study in Hong Kong” brand. Furthermore, a considerable amount of land has been reserved in the NM for cultural and sports development, providing ample space for young people with diverse interests to unleash their full potentials.

On employment and entrepreneurship, the NM adopts an “industry-driven” development mode, offering vast development space for various industries and creating a huge number of quality and diverse jobs, thereby meeting the employment needs of young people while fostering a favourable environment for entrepreneurship. To take the I&T industry as an example, the San Tin Technopole in the NM, including the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Hetao Hong Kong Park), will provide 300 hectares of land for I&T, capable of offering a gross floor area of about 7 million square metres, equivalent to 17 Hong Kong Science Park, and significantly enhancing space for the development of the local I&T industry and start-ups. In addition, Lau Fau Shan will be positioned as a digital technology hub to capitalise on advanced technologies and promote integration of new and traditional economies, as well as to serve as an incubation base for young talent and start-ups. The NDAs within the NM are currently at various planning and construction stages. Based on the assumptions adopted at the planning stages, more than 500 000 new jobs are expected to be created with the estimations of distribution by industry set out in the Annex. Regarding these new jobs, relevant bureaux and departments will provide corresponding local talent training programmes in response to the latest development and manpower requirements across various industries.

On housing, the NM will be the major source of future housing supply in Hong Kong, which is estimated to provide approximately 500 000 new residential units to meet the demand for housing of families of different strata (including young families). The NDAs would also provide opportunities to respond to the public aspiration for larger home space. In line with the recommendations in the Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030 (Hong Kong 2030+), an enhanced home space by 10 to 20 per cent on average is assumed for the residential sites in the NDAs within the NM under more recent planning (including San Tin Technopole, Ngau Tam Mei, the Lau Fau Shan area, New Territories North New Town and Ma Tso Lung), offering flexibility for creating more quality living space in the future. In addition, we have allowed flexibility in adjusting the public/private split of housing supply in individual NDAs, taking into consideration the industry positioning of these NDAs and the needs of people from different strata. The respective public/private splits of housing supply in Kwu Tung North/Fanling North and Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen NDAs are approximately 70:30 and 60:40, with both public rental housing and subsidised sale flats in the public housing development. The public/private splits of housing supply in other NDAs will be flexibly determined at the later implementation stage, taking into account the positioning of respective NDAs and the overall supply and demand for public and private housing.

(4) On the childminding service, there will be 100 aided child care centre service places per 25 000 general population in accordance with the planning ratio on a population basis, so as to cater for the service demand brought about by the population inflow in the NDAs within the NM. On youth support, one integrated children and youth services centre will be planned for every 12 000 children/young persons in the 6-24 age group. The NM could also provide suitable sites for relevant facilities such as Youth Post hostels and youth hostels, subject to policy support. In line with the policy objectives of the Youth Development Blueprint, the Government plans to build youth facility buildings and relevant facilities in the NM (for example, in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen NDA) to support youth development. The facilities will include venues for exchange, interaction and collaboration between young people from the Mainland and Hong Kong, spaces for youth interactions and activities, innovation and entrepreneurial bases for young people, and base facilities for youth uniformed groups. As for the planning of kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools, please refer to the reply above.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Education Bureau (EDB) today (October 15) held the “Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country” Joint School National Education Activities Kick-off Ceremony in celebration of the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In view of the regularisation and popularisation of the “Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country” series of activities starting from the 2025/26 school year, the EDB will continue to lead government schools and collaborate with more school sponsoring bodies (including Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Po Leung Kuk, the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China, the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui) and school councils to jointly plan and implement the “Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country” series of activities. It will foster patriotic education through collaboration across school sponsoring bodies and among schools, with a view to strengthening students’ sense of national identity and cultural confidence.

The Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, together with representatives from school sponsoring bodies, school councils and school head associations involved in organising the activities, jointly officiated at the kick-off ceremony. About 2 500 representatives from the EDB and school sponsoring bodies, principals, teachers, students and parents attended.

Addressing the event, Dr Sze said that starting from this school year, as announced by the Chief Executive in the 2025 Policy Address, the “Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country” series of activities will be regularised and popularised to further strengthen collaboration across school sponsoring bodies and among schools. The EDB will invite all schools in Hong Kong to apply for the Title Scheme for the “Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country” series of activities to organise quality joint school national education activities, thereby pooling the resources and strengths of different schools to maximise the impact of patriotic education.

This year marks the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Dr Sze emphasised the importance of remembering the history of the Chinese people’s perseverance and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression, jointly safeguarding national security, and cherishing the hard-earned peace. The EDB will continue to support schools in integrating patriotic education into daily learning and teaching through a multipronged and co-ordinated approach, with the aim of deepening students’ affection for and sense of belonging to the country. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the school sponsoring bodies, school councils and fellow educators for their continuous collaboration in fostering national education and nurturing a healthy new generation with affection for the country and Hong Kong.

The kick-off ceremony featured a variety of programmes, including the performance of the magnificent “Yellow River Cantata” by a joint school Chinese orchestra comprised of nearly 80 students; lion dances, literary recitation and Cantonese opera performances by over 100 students; and a song performed by a choir composed of 80 students from different school sponsoring bodies, school councils and government schools, marking the finale of the ceremony. All the participants joined together to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and witness the “Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country” series of activities embark on a new chapter.

Highlights of the kick-off ceremony will be broadcast on RTHK TV 31 at 2pm on November 22 (Saturday).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech (translated from Chinese) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, in presenting the Government Minute in response to the Annual Report of The Ombudsman 2024/25 in the Legislative Council today (October 15):
 
Mr President,

On July 2 this year, I submitted the Annual Report of The Ombudsman 2024/25 to the Legislative Council.  Today, I submit the Government Minute (GM) to comprehensively respond to the recommendations as set out in the Annual Report.

The Government attaches importance to the practical, constructive, and actionable recommendations made by the Office of The Ombudsman (the Office) concerning the provision of public services, with a view to further promoting an efficient and citizen-oriented public administration.  In the year 2024-25, the Office concluded 40 complaint cases by full investigations and completed eight direct investigations, making a total of 254 recommendations – a record high number in recent years.  All relevant government bureaux, departments and public bodies have seriously examined the Office’s reports and accepted all recommendations, reflecting the current-term Government’s commitment to enhancing the management and efficacy of public services.  Departments concerned have either implemented or are actively pursuing the follow-up actions to the Office’s recommendations. Detailed responses are set out in the GM. 

In addition, in recent years the Office has actively used mediation to handle complaints which do not involve or only involve minor maladministration, with a view to resolving issues in a non-adversarial manner and achieving win-win for all parties concerned. All relevant government bureaux, departments and public bodies have also fully supported and cooperated with the Office’s mediation efforts. In 2024-25, the Office handled 555 cases through mediation – a threefold increase as compared with the previous year, and mediations were typically completed within just one day or a few days. The Government will continue to collaborate with the Office to promote mediation, aiming to expedite the assistance rendered to the public in resolving complaints.

To recognise government bureaux, departments and public officers’ outstanding performance in complaint handling and public service delivery, the Office held The Ombudsman’s Awards Presentation Ceremony in October 2024, presenting awards to six departments and organisations and 79 public officers.

We understand the community’s rising expectations on public service delivery. In May this year, I met with The Ombudsman to discuss on strengthening the systems on departmental management and performance accountability. In this year’s Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the establishment of the Heads of Department Accountability System with a view to continuously strengthening departmental performance through institutionalised and systematic management, thereby fostering a culture of continuous improvement and boost public confidence.  
  
Mr President, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to The Ombudsman and his professional team for their independent, objective and fair work in their investigations and mediation efforts, which provided support for the effective governance of the Government. A robust monitoring mechanism is the cornerstone of social progress; the work of the Office and government administration are complementary to each other. The Government will, as always, fully support the work of the Office and continue to provide efficient, quality and people-oriented public services to the citizens.

Thank you, Mr President.