Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

An Education Bureau (EDB) spokesperson said today (September 30) that the rankings of Hong Kong’s universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027 continue to be highly commended, fully demonstrating the robust strength of Hong Kong’s higher education system and its world-class levels in teaching, research, and international outlook, and also reflecting the Government’s continuous resource investment and policy support over the years, which have successfully laid a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s higher education institutions.

According to the latest THE World University Rankings, the University of Hong Kong ranks globally at 33rd, the Chinese University of Hong Kong at 42nd, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology at 58th, and the City University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have risen to 70th and 79th respectively, continuing to rank among the global top 100. 

The spokesperson said, “The long-standing high rankings of Hong Kong’s universities at the forefront of international rankings not only reflect the achievements of the local higher education sector in striving for excellence and scaling new heights, but also bear witness to the Government’s proactive leadership in guiding the post-secondary education sector to achieve outstanding results through policy measures such as seeking innovation and change, and expanding capacity while enhancing quality. The Government will continue to spare no effort in promoting the comprehensive integration of the higher education sector into the overall national development, contributing to the country’s endeavour to build a leading country in education.”

The recently promulgated First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address further strengthen Hong Kong’s development momentum and build the city into an international hub for high-calibre talent. Measures include driving the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT) under “One Town, Five Elements” to promote capacity expansion and quality enhancement of post-secondary education. The Government will consolidate Hong Kong’s internationalised and diversified educational advantages under “one country, two systems”, align with the strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, strengthen basic, emerging, and cross-disciplinary development and the nurturing of top-notch talent, deepen international co-operation, and promote the integrated development of education, technology, and talent to better serve the country’s endeavour to develop into a leading country in education.

To dovetail with the development of the NMUT, the Government will implement a series of measures, including increasing the number of the University Grants Committee-funded research postgraduate places to 9 600 by the 2030/31 academic year; gradually increasing the annual quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme to 550 places by the 2029/30 academic year; providing additional funding of $20 million per academic year to support knowledge transfer; and allocating $40 million annually to the Fund for Innovative Technology-in-Education. With the continuous relaxation of the ceiling for non-local students enrolled in self-financing local post-secondary programmes, and the intensified promotional efforts through the cross-departmental Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, local institutions will continue to attract exceptional students from over 100 countries and regions across the globe, consolidating Hong Kong’s leading position as an international post-secondary education hub.

The spokesperson concluded, “Even in the face of intense global competition, the performance of Hong Kong’s universities continues to remain stable and excellent. Looking ahead, with the comprehensive implementation of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, the promotion of the integrated development of education, technology, and talent, and the development of the NMUT, Hong Kong’s higher education is ushering in a golden period of development full of promising potential. We will continue to promote the all-round connectivity in areas such as talent training, frontier scientific research, and industry-academia-research collaboration, optimise resource allocation, support various institutions in consolidating their existing advantages while pioneering innovation, and nurture more outstanding talent equipped with both international perspective and exceptional capabilities, thereby making greater contributions to the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the country.”

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) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Mastercard relating to a fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA.
 
The fraudulent website reported by the retail payment system (RPS) operator known at the time is as follows:
URL: hxxps[:]//masternbeg[.]com
 
The HKMA wishes to remind the public that anyone who has provided his or her personal information or account credentials, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website concerned, should contact the relevant RPS operator, and report to the Police or contact the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre of the Police at 18222.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (September 30) that a first batch of seven pilot cases of the Intellectual Property Financing Sandbox (Sandbox) have successfully completed credit approval. The Government also launched the Pilot Patent Valuation Support Scheme (Pilot Scheme) to strengthen support for enterprises in valuation of their intellectual property (IP) assets. The two complementary measures not only signify an important step forward for Hong Kong in promoting enterprises’ use of IP assets as a financing tool, but also help accumulate practical experience and enhance the relevant support measures for the further local development of IP financing, in line with the direction set out in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address to deepen Hong Kong’s development as a regional IP trading centre.

     The seven pilot cases that have successfully completed credit approval cover the electronics, construction, toy manufacturing and medical device sectors, involving IP assets comprising patents and trade marks, with loan amounts ranging from $1 million to $39 million. Details of the participating banks and enterprises are available at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)’s website (www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/news-and-media/press-releases/

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) announced today (September 30) that the participating banks in the Intellectual Property (IP) Financing Sandbox have completed credit approvals for seven pilot cases, covering industries including electronics, construction, toy manufacturing and medical device (see Annex). The loan amounts range from HK$1 million to HK$39 million and will be used for working capital, business expansion and market promotion. This first batch of pilot cases has demonstrated the potential for leveraging IPs such as patents and trade marks to access financing, laying a practical foundation to bolster the IP financing ecosystem in Hong Kong.
 
The HKMA, in collaboration with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and Intellectual Property Department, launched the IP Financing Sandbox in December 2025. The initiative is supported by the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB). Three major banks (Note) in Hong Kong took the lead in joining the Sandbox where they piloted IP financing arrangements with corporate customers from various industries and professional service providers under a risk-controlled environment. By incorporating IP valuation reports issued by valuation service providers into their credit assessment and approval processes, banks can offer higher loan amounts or more favourable interest rates to borrowers based on independent professional valuations, thereby enhancing the financing capability of small and medium enterprises which are rich in IP assets.  
 
The first batch of pilot cases has provided valuable practical insights for banks, valuation service providers and other relevant professions. Participating institutions in the Sandbox also saw room to further enhance the broader IP financing ecosystem, including strengthening funding support for IP-related professional service fees, optimising the IP valuation process, and raising market awareness and professional capabilities. 
 
The HKMA will continue to collaborate closely with the Government, HKAB, the banking sector and other relevant stakeholders to promote the development of Hong Kong as a regional IP trading centre.

Note: Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will launch one-month special operations starting tomorrow (October 1) to step up patrols and enforcement at various blackspots for illegal feeding of wild animals, including Kam Shan Country Park and Lion Rock Country Park, with a focus on combating the illegal feeding of wild animals such as monkeys and wild pigs.

A spokesman for the AFCD said, “Feeding wild animals causes them to rely on human feeding, weakens their ability to forage for food independently, and may lead to the congregation of wild animals, causing a nuisance to members of the public and affecting public safety. It also has adverse impacts on wild animals and the natural ecology. After frequent contact with humans, wild animals such as monkeys and wild pigs may lose their natural fear of humans, and may even become aggressive, actively snatching plastic bags or food held by members of the public, which may result in injury cases. Food residues left by feeders and animal faeces also soil public places and give rise to public hygiene problems.”

The newly amended Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170), which came into effect on August 1, 2024, introduced a fixed penalty of $5,000, and increased the maximum penalty for the illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year to enhance the overall deterrent effect. As at August 31, 2026, the AFCD has issued 86 and 59 fixed penalty notices in respect of illegal feeding of monkeys and wild pigs respectively. There were 12 successful summons prosecutions, with the highest fine imposed at $10,500.

The AFCD has installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems equipped with AI technology at the car parks in Kam Shan Country Park to effectively identify illegal feeding activities, thereby assisting the department in deploying enforcement operations. From the commencement of the trials of the AI-enabled CCTV systems in early 2024 to August 31, 2026, there were 13 successful prosecution cases, with two other cases still under investigation.

In addition, the AFCD will continue to strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders to carry out diverse publicity and education activities, including a series of campaigns themed “All for No Feeding”, to raise public awareness of the negative impacts of feeding wild animals and feral pigeons, as well as the feeding ban and associated penalties. Meanwhile, to step up publicity targeted at visitors to Hong Kong, during the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland, the AFCD will display promotional materials of “All for No Feeding” at MTR, cross-boundary coaches and boundary control points, and distribute leaflets at boundary control points to remind the public and visitors not to feed wild animals or feral pigeons.

The public may report any suspected illegal feeding activities by calling 1823.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (September 30) that starting from 0.00am tomorrow (October 1), the operating hours for fresh produce imported via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will be extended to 24 hours a day, to give the trade greater flexibility in scheduling the arrival of fresh food to better accommodate the diverse operational needs of different food sectors.

Vehicles transporting designated categories of fresh food (frozen and chilled poultry, meat and game, eggs, milk, fresh aquatic products, vegetables and fruits) from the Mainland to Hong Kong via land will then be able to enter the territory via the HZMB at any time in order to further facilitate the trade and supply of fresh food.

To ensure food safety, the CFS will inspect the vehicles importing fresh food via the Hong Kong Port of the HZMB. This includes examining the details of import documents, conducting physical inspections and taking fresh food samples for testing.

The spokesman added that the operating hours and arrangements for vehicles transporting imported fresh food into Hong Kong via the Man Kam To Boundary Control Point remain unchanged.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government announced today (September 30) its financial results for the five months ended August 31, 2026.

Expenditure and revenue from April to August 2026 amounted to HK$311 billion and HK$249.2 billion respectively, resulting in a deficit of HK$19 billion after taking into account HK$56.2 billion received from issuance of Government Bonds and repayment of HK$13.4 billion principal on Government Bonds. The fiscal reserves stood at HK$646.5 billion as at August 31, 2026.

A Government spokesperson said that the deficit for the period was mainly due to the fact that major revenue items including salaries and profits taxes are mostly received towards the end of a financial year.

Detailed figures are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT (Note 1)

	Month ended August 31, 2026 HK$ million	Five months ended August 31, 2026 HK$ million
Revenue	55,564.5	249,188.0
Expenditure	(61,280.1)	(310,957.1)
Deficit before issuance and repayment of Government Bonds	(5,715.6)	(61,769.1)
Proceeds received from issuance of Government Bonds	8,005.3	56,151.9
Repayment of Government Bonds*	(1,691.3)	(13,372.2)
Surplus/(Deficit) after issuance and repayment of Government Bonds	598.4	(18,989.4)
Financing
Domestic
Banking Sector (Note 2)	(873.4)	17,293.5
Non-Banking Sector	275.0	1,695.9
External	–	–
Total	(598.4)	18,989.4
* Being repayment of principal on Government Bonds and does not include the associated interest and other expenses.

 
Government Debts as at August 31, 2026 (Note 3)
    HK$455,536 million
Debts Guaranteed by Government as at August 31, 2026 (Note 4)
    HK$105,239 million

TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES
 

	Month ended August 31, 2026 HK$ million	Five months ended August 31, 2026 HK$ million
Fiscal Reserves at start of period	645,952.8	665,540.6
Consolidated Surplus/(Deficit) after issuance and repayment of Government Bonds	598.4	(18,989.4)
Fiscal Reserves at end of period (Note 5)	646,551.2	646,551.2

 
Notes:

1. This Account consolidates the General Revenue Account and the following eight Funds: Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Civil Service Pension Reserve Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund, Land Fund, Loan Fund and Lotteries Fund. It excludes the Bond Fund, the balance of which is not part of the fiscal reserves. The Bond Fund balance as at August 31, 2026, was HK$60,526 million.
 
2. Includes transactions with the Exchange Fund and resident banks.
 
3. The Government Debts, with proceeds credited to the Capital Works Reserve Fund, comprise:
 
(i) the Green Bonds (equivalent to HK$189,041 million as at August 31, 2026) issued under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme. They were denominated in US dollars (US$9,050 million with maturity from July 2027 to January 2053), euros (6,550 million euros with maturity from November 2026 to November 2041), Renminbi (RMB31,000 million with maturity from November 2026 to July 2054) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$22,500 million with maturity from October 2026 to November 2027);
 
(ii) the Infrastructure Bonds (equivalent to HK$158,229 million as at August 31, 2026) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. They were denominated in US dollars (US$500 million with maturity in May 2031), Renminbi (RMB59,750 million with maturity from November 2026 to May 2056) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$84,730 million with maturity from November 2026 to May 2056); and
 
(iii) the Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$108,266 million (with maturity in October 2027 and October 2028 and may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme.
 
They do not include the outstanding bonds with nominal value of HK$47,100 million and alternative bonds with nominal value of US$1,000 million (equivalent to HK$7,840 million as at August 31, 2026) issued under the Government Bond Programme with proceeds credited to the Bond Fund. Of these bonds under the Government Bond Programme, bonds with nominal value of HK$16,600 million will mature within the period from September 2026 to August 2027, and the rest within the period from September 2027 to May 2042.
 
4. Includes guarantees provided under the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2001, the Special Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2008, the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme launched in 2012, the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Cross-boundary Passenger Transport Trade, the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Battery Electric Taxis and the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Travel Sector launched in 2023, and the commercial loan under Guaranteed Medium Term Note Programme of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited.
 
5. Includes HK$249,845 million, being the balance of the Land Fund held in the name of Future Fund, for long-term investments up to December 31, 2030. The Future Fund also includes HK$4,800 million, being one-third of the actual surplus in 2015-16 as top-up.

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 announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for August 2026.
 
     The number of mortgage applications in August decreased month-on-month by 8.3 per cent to 8 446.
 
     Mortgage loans approved in August decreased by 28.2 per cent compared with July to HK$32.2 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions decreased by 31.8 per cent to HK$9.1 billion and those financing secondary market transactions decreased by 36.7 per cent to HK$15.3 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing increased by 6.8 per cent to HK$7.8 billion. 
 
     Mortgage loans drawn down during August increased by 11.6 per cent compared with July to HK$32.8 billion. 
 
     The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR decreased from 61 per cent in July to 57 per cent in August. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates increased from 1.3 per cent in July to 1.9 per cent in August.
 
     The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.6 per cent to HK$1,975.4 billion at end-August. 
 
     The mortgage delinquency ratio stood at a low level of 0.11 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio was unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

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

According to statistics published today (September 30) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions increased by 1.4 per cent in August 2026. Among the total, Hong Kong dollar deposits and foreign currency deposits increased by 2.2 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively in August. In the year to end-August, total deposits and Hong Kong dollar deposits increased by 7.3 per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong decreased by 2.1 per cent in August to RMB1,101.5 billion at the end of August. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB1,537.6 billion in August, compared with RMB1,383.7 billion in July. It should be noted that changes in deposits are affected by a wide range of factors, such as interest rate movements and fund-raising activities. It is therefore more appropriate to observe the longer-term trends, and not to over-generalise fluctuations in a single month.
 
Total loans and advances increased by 0.3 per cent in August, and increased by 7.0 per cent in the year to end-August. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) increased by 0.4 per cent, while loans for use outside Hong Kong remained virtually unchanged in August. The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio decreased to 69.3 per cent at the end of August from 70.7 per cent at the end of July, as Hong Kong dollar deposits increased at a faster pace than Hong Kong dollar loans.
 
Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both increased by 2.1 per cent in August, and both increased by 9.9 per cent when compared to a year ago. The seasonally-adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 increased by 3.5 per cent in August, and increased by 4.7 per cent compared to a year ago, reflecting in part investment-related activities. Total M2 and total M3 both increased by 1.4 per cent in August. Compared to a year earlier, total M2 and total M3 both increased by 11.0 per cent.  
 
As monthly monetary statistics are subject to volatilities due to a wide range of transient factors, such as seasonal funding demand as well as business and investment-related activities, caution is required when interpreting the statistics.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The 2025 Annual Report on Justices of Peace (JP) Visits was published today (September 30). The report provides an account of the work of JPs in the year 2025.

The primary role of a JP is to visit various institutions, such as prisons, detention centres, hospitals and remand/probation homes under the JP visit programme. The objective of the visits is to ensure that the rights of the inmates in the institutions are safeguarded through a system of regular visits by independent visitors.

In 2025, JPs visited 114 institutions under the JP visit programme. They received and handled 484 requests/enquiries and 43 complaints during JP visits. In addition, JPs also made comments and suggestions on ways to improve the management of facilities and quality of services provided by the institutions.

The annual report on JP Visits is available on the JPs website (www.info.gov.hk/jp).