Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Applications for funding from Elder Academy Development Foundation invited
The Elder Academy Scheme aims to promote continuous learning for elderly people, active ageing and intergenerational harmony. The EADF mainly provides funding for primary and secondary schools as well as post-secondary institutions to set up EAs to provide learning opportunities in a school setting for the elderly. Funding is also provided for activities that encourage elderly learning and intergenerational harmony.
Each approved EA in a primary or secondary school will be provided with funding of $122,000 for implementing a three-year programme. EAs which completed the first three-year programme may apply for funding of $60,000 for running a two-year programme.
As regards applications for organising EA courses in post-secondary institutions and other applications, the Committee on EADF will assess and decide the funding amount according to the merits of individual proposals.
Details of the funding applications can be downloaded from the website of the EA Scheme (www.elderacademy.org.hkIssued at HKT 15:00
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Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information on cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information on cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland
During the upcoming Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland (from May 1 to 5), the Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that around 5.71 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points. The ImmD, in consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection and other Mainland authorities, estimates that around 4.90 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points. The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be relatively higher on May 3 (Saturday) and May 5 (Monday), with around 590 000 passengers and 580 000 passengers respectively.
The ImmD estimates that the passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 230 000, 210 000 and 150 000 passengers respectively.
To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has minimised leave for frontline officers for flexible deployment and the operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks.
Furthermore, the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point to make necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with Mainland authorities, including the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. To ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary.
To avoid congestion and longer-than-usual waiting times for immigration clearance, the ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The busy times at boundary control points are available on the website of the ImmD at www.immd.gov.hk
For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to the reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. To further enhance the clearance efficiency of control points and allow more Hong Kong residents to use the fast and convenient e-Channel service, starting from March 31, the ImmD has adjusted the applicable age for e-Channel service for holders of smart identity cards. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents aged 7 to 10 years old, who are at least 1.1 metres tall and hold a smart identity card and a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, can use the e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via face recognition technology at all control points. Moreover, the Contactless e-Channel service is available at all control points now. All eligible Hong Kong residents, after enrolment, can generate an encrypted QR code through the Contactless e-Channel mobile application to enter the e-Channel and then verify their identity with the facial verification technology for automated immigration clearance.
In addition, all control points have introduced self-service departures for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure), which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment.
Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile App, send a message to 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form.
The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.
Issued at HKT 17:15
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Applications invited for Equal Opportunities (Sexual Orientation) Funding Scheme
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Applications invited for Equal Opportunities (Sexual Orientation) Funding Scheme
“The Government is committed to fostering the culture and values of inclusiveness, mutual respect and non-discrimination, and promoting equal opportunities for people of different sexual orientations and transgenders. The funding scheme provides funding support to worthwhile community projects which aim at promoting equal opportunities on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, or seek to provide support services for the sexual minorities,” a spokesman for the CMAB said.
Information on making applications is available on the CMAB website (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/equalsdofs_sex.htm
An online briefing session will be held on May 9, 2025, to brief interested parties on the scope and operation of the Funding Scheme.
For enquiries, please contact the Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Unit of the CMAB at 2810 3205.
Issued at HKT 15:00
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Hong Kong Customs seizes smuggled goods worth about $4 million (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs seizes smuggled goods worth about $4 million
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods. Enforcement operations were thus formulated, with two suspicious containers scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to Iraq and Malaysia via ocean-going vessels being selected for inspection.
Customs inspected the two abovementioned containers that were declared as carrying shoes, clothes and bags, and metal copper plate and integrated circuit parts on April 11 and 17. Upon examinations, Customs officers found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including household products, small electrical appliances, kitchenware and printed circuit boards in the containers.
An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to disrupt relevant crimes.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:16
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Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards opens for enrolment
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards opens for enrolment
The first Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards focuses on fostering stable family relationships for building good family values and virtues and promotes good family values to the public. The awards recognise families that cultivate a positive and supportive family relationship built on love and respect as well as care and support, and pass on good family traditions and virtues to younger generations. There are 15 awards in this event, including 10 Excellent Families Awards and five Passage of Good Family Values and Virtues Awards. The winning families will receive trophies, admission tickets and a hotel stay at a theme park, family photography services and gift coupons.
Participating families are required to submit a written narrative in either Chinese or English, sharing their family’s real-life experiences and stories together with not more than five family photos, on or before June 27. The narrative should demonstrate strong family bonds, the family’s ability to cope with various challenges in life together, and passing on of good family traditions and virtues to the younger generation. Participants can submit the entries online or download the entry form from the thematic webpage, and submit the completed form along with the narrative and photo(s) in person or by post to the HYAB Family Council Secretariat (13/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong). Shortlisted families will be invited to attend a meeting in early August.
Details of the awards are available on the thematic webpage (www.familycouncil.gov.hk/en/promotion/hkefa.htmlIssued at HKT 15:00
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HKMA establishes Expert Panel on Project CargoX to support digital trade finance ecosystem
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (April 28) the establishment of an Expert Panel on Project CargoX (the Expert Panel) to enhance the digital ecosystem for trade finance by harnessing the power of cargo data.
Riding on the HKMA’s Commercial Data Interchange (CDI) (Note), Project CargoX is a multi-year, public-private collaboration, focusing on three key areas:
- leveraging cargo data to streamline and enhance trade finance processes;
- developing digital solutions to improve accessibility to trade finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and
- exploring connections with international data partners to facilitate the trade financing use case for banks in Hong Kong.
To achieve these objectives, the HKMA has established an Expert Panel comprising industry experts and key stakeholders from cargo data providers, trade associations, banks, credit reference agencies and government agencies. The Expert Panel will formulate a roadmap for digitising cargo data (encompassing sea, road and air transportation data), and integrating relevant cargo data sources across jurisdictions with CDI, by the end of 2025. A list of the Expert Panel members can be found in the Annex.
With the guidance and recommendation from the Expert Panel, the HKMA will conduct proof-of-concept (PoC) studies and develop new solutions with strategic partners such as the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) and the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) as well as pilot banks to improve digital trade finance through the use of cargo data and CDI in 2025 and 2026.
The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “In today’s complex global trade landscape, many businesses, in particular SME traders, need more digitalised and efficient trade finance solutions to transform their business models and supply chains. By uniting a diverse group of experts from public and private sectors, the Expert Panel will play a pivotal role in driving the advancement of our digital trade finance ecosystem, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a premier trade finance hub and fostering the growth of SMEs. Leveraging cargo data and our next-generation CDI data infrastructure, CargoX will help resolve some long-standing pain points in trade finance for banks, ultimately boosting efficiency and driving industry-wide innovation.”
The Commissioner for Maritime and Port Development of the TLB, Miss Amy Chan, said, “The Transport and Logistics Bureau is developing the Port Community System for completion by end of this year to provide cargo track-and-trace across sea, road, and air transport, which is expected to lead the maritime, port, logistics and trading industries to new heights of digitalisation. The Port Community System makes use of blockchain technology to record cargo flows, hence ensuring the integrity and reliability of cargo flow information. We look forward to working with the Expert Panel and strategic partners to unlock the enormous potential of the Port Community System in facilitating trade finance, supporting SMEs, and strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a global maritime hub.”
Executive Director, Commercial of the AAHK, Ms Cissy Chan, said, “The AAHK is committed to driving innovation and digitalisation in the air cargo industry. Since launching the HKIA Cargo Data Platform in 2021, we have been working with a vast range of ecosystem partners in enabling efficient information and cargo flow via Hong Kong International Airport. The successful use case co-created with the HKMA’s CDI further synergises the capital flow and exemplifies the benefits on trade financing leveraging cargo data and cross-industry ecosystem collaboration. We welcome the HKMA’s effort to continue this momentum through CargoX initiative and look forward to working with like-minded organisations to continue contributing to the development of Hong Kong’s digital trade finance ecosystem.”
Note: Launched by the HKMA in October 2022, CDI is a consent-based financial data infrastructure that aims to enhance data sharing by facilitating financial institutions’ retrieval of enterprises’ commercial data, in particular the data of SMEs, from both public and private data providers.
DH proactively promotes arrangement of streamlining approval procedures for HK-registered proprietary Chinese medicines for oral use to be registered on the Mainland to further promote healthcare collaboration in GBA (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH proactively promotes arrangement of streamlining approval procedures for HK-registered proprietary Chinese medicines for oral use to be registered on the Mainland to further promote healthcare collaboration in GBA Issued at HKT 18:00
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Response to issues related to High Island Reservoir East Dam
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Response to issues related to High Island Reservoir East Dam The relevant departments will continue to properly deploy and enhance the supporting facilities and measures in the area around the East Dam, making it more convenient for visitors.
Issued at HKT 16:00
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WAVES Animation Film-makers’ Challenge brings to the fore 42 amazing animation films
Source: Government of India
WAVES Animation Film-makers’ Challenge brings to the fore 42 amazing animation films
Animation Films: 18 short films, 12 feature films, 9 TV series and 3 AR/VR projects make it to WAVE Summit
Posted On: 28 APR 2025 2:41PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 28 April 2025
The 42 finalists of the Animation Film Makers Competition (AFC), held as part of the ‘Create in India Challenge Season-1’ of World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025, were declared in the second week of April. Dancing Atoms Studios, which collaborated with the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in organizing the national level challenge since its inception, has brought out a comprehensive creative catalogue on the best 42 projects to be showcased in the WAVE Summit to be held in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025. This unique initiative aims to connect talented creators with like-minded individuals, producers, and distributors, fostering collaborations between creators and the industry that transcend geographical boundaries.
These best 42 projects that came up from after a rigorous nine-month evaluation process of the competition, have shown a focus on original storytelling across the entire spectrum of animation, encompassing traditional animation, VFX, Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR), and virtual production. The creative catalogue features a diverse range of innovative projects, including – 12 feature films, 18 short films, TV Series: 9 TV/Limited Series and 3 AR/VR experiences. All 42 shortlisted film projects will be showcased to industry stakeholders through this unique initiative.
The shortlisted 18 short animation film creators and their projects are as follows:
1) Shreya Sachdev – Vani
2) Shrikant S Menon – Odiyan
3) Prasanth Kumar Nagadasi – Best Friends
4) Shweta Subhash Marathe – MELTING SHAME
5) Anika Rajesh – Achappam
6) Martand Anand Ugalmugle – Chandomama
7) Kiruthika Ramasubramanian – A Dream’s Dream
8) Harish Narayan Iyer – KARABI
9) Triparna Maiti – The Chair
10) Arundhati Sarkar – So close yet so far,
11) Gadam Jagadish Prasad Yadav – Symphony of Darkness
12) Vetrivel – The Last Treasure
13) Gargi Gawthe – Godva
14) Shreeyaa Vinayak Pore – Kali (Bud)
15) Harshita Das – Luna
16) Sandhra Mary – MISSING
17) Richa Bhutani – Climatescape
18) Hirak Jyoti Nath – Tales From The Tea House
The 12 finalists of animation feature films creators and their projects are:
1) Catharina Dian Wiraswati S – Fly!
2) Shubham Tomar – Mahzun
3) Srikanth bhogi – Rudhra
4) Anirban Majumder- BABAR AUR BANNO – A friendship saga
5) Nandan Balakrishnan – The Dream Balloon
6) Jacqueline C Ching – Lykke and the Trolls
7) Rohit Sankhla – Dwarka The Lost City of Shree Krishna
8) Bhagat Singh Saini – RED WOMAN
9) Abhijeet Saxena – Arise, Awake
10) Vamsi Bandaru – Ayurveda Chronicles – Search for the Lost Light
11) Piyush Kumar – Wrong programming..the unleashed wars of ai.
12) Khambor Batei – Kharjana – Lapalang – A Khasi Folklore Reimagined
The 9 shortlisted animation TV/Limited Series creators and their projects are:
1) Jyothi Kalyan Sura – Jackie & Jilal
2) Tuhin Chanda – Chupi : Silence behind laws
3) Kishore Kumar Kedari – Age of the Deccan: The Legend of Malik Ambar
4) Bhagyashree Satapathy – Pāśa
5) Rishav Mohanty – Khatti
6) Sukankan Roy – Sound of Joy
7) Atreyee Poddar, Sangeeta Poddar and Bimal Poddar – MORAY KAKA
8) Prasenjit Singha – The Quiet Chaos
9) Segun Samson,Omotunde Akiode – Maapu.
The 3 AR/VR experience creators and their projects are:
1) Sundar Mahalingam – Ashvamedha – The Unsealed Fate
2) Anuj kumar Choudhary – Liminalism
3) Isha Chandna – Toxic Effect Of Substance Abuse On Human Body.
For the first time, bringing all 42 projects together in one creative catalogue is a testament to the sheer talent we have discovered, stated Saraswathi Buyyala, Founder and CEO of Dancing Atims Studios. The Waves Advisory Board, comprising industry veterans and influential figures in media and entertainment, will play a crucial role in evaluating the potential of these projects and guiding them towards production and distribution, she added. Ms. Buyyala also informed, the global revenue generated by these dynamic verticals underscores the immense potential within the animation industry. In 2024, the global animation market witnessed substantial growth. Short Films contributed an estimated $20 billion in revenue through various platforms including online streaming, festivals, while educational content is projected to reach $70 billion USD by 2032. Feature Films, which represents the largest segment, generated approximately $30 billion USD to $32.3 billion USD at the global box office and through ancillary markets. Animation TV Series experienced a boom driven by streaming services, accounting for around $512 billion USD in production and licensing revenue. AR/VR and immersive entertainment market, including AR/VR animation is a burgeoning sector. It reached an estimated USD 22.12 billion and USD 79.36 billion, with significant growth projections. AR/VR technologies are transforming sectors including gaming, healthcare, retail, education, and manufacturing, fueled by demand for immersive experiences and substantial investment. While North America holds a significant share, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated for the fastest growth, she added.
For more details on the WAVES 2025 Animation Filmmakers Challenge, please see:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2122837
Click here to view the catalogue on the 42 finalists of Animation Filmmakers Challenge.
The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.
Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.
WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).
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Two-Day Interactive Workshop on Adoption of Industry & Quality Assurance for Defence Production held in New Delhi
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 28 APR 2025 3:27PM by PIB Delhi
A two-day interactive workshop on adoption of Industry 4.0 & Quality Assurance (QA) 4.0 for Defence Production was conducted by Ministry of Defence (MoD) & Department of Defence Production (DDP) on April 24 & 25, 2025 at HQ Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA). The workshop was aimed at brainstorming the nuances for implementation of automation in different Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSUs) and learning from each other’s experience.
The workshop was inaugurated by Joint Secretary (Land Systems) MoD/ DDP, Dr Garima Bhagat. Dr Bhagat highlighted that MoD is committed to working with DPSUs and the Industry to use niche technologies like loT, Big data Analytics, Al & Block Chain etc. for Adoption of Industry 4.0 and QA 4.0 towards producing World Class Defence Products. During the interactive workshop, Director General, DGQA Shri N Manoharan, informed that a National Level Defence Quality Conclave is scheduled on May 08, 2025 wherein the vision document of Adoption of Industry 4.0 & QA 4.0 will be released and an expert panel discussion on the subject will be held.
The workshop was conducted under the ‘Year of Reforms’ initiative as per the directions of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar.
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