Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui had a bilateral meeting with Ambassador of Jordan to China Hussam Al Husseini in Beijing today, and signed on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with the Jordanian government.

 

In accordance with the CDTA, Hong Kong residents can avoid double taxation in that any tax paid in Jordan will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in Hong Kong in respect of the same income, subject to the provisions of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Moreover, Jordan’s withholding tax rates for Hong Kong residents on dividends, interest and royalties, currently at up to 10%, will be capped at 5%.

 

At the bilateral meeting, Mr Hui presented to the Jordanian official the advantages and latest developments of Hong Kong’s financial market, including the efforts made to promote the growth of the financial market and establish the city as an international gold trading centre.

 

Mr Hui said, “The CDTA signifies the determination of the Hong Kong SAR Government in expanding Hong Kong’s CDTA network and its enhanced collaboration with tax jurisdictions participating in the Belt & Road Initiative.”

 

He also highlighted that the CDTA sets out the allocation of taxing rights between Hong Kong and Jordan, which will help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities.

 

“I have every confidence that it will be an excellent starting point to enhance the financial, economic and trade connections between the two places.”

 

Additionally, Mr Hui stated that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to expand Hong Kong’s CDTA network to enhance the city’s attractiveness as a business and investment hub, and consolidate its status as an international economic and trade centre.

 

The Hong Kong-Jordan CDTA is the 53rd such pact that Hong Kong has concluded. It will come into force after completion of ratification procedures by both sides.

 

In Hong Kong, the Chief Executive in Council will, under the Inland Revenue Ordinance, make an order which will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Bill 2025 will be published in the Government Gazette tomorrow with the aim of introducing a regulatory regime for ride-hailing services to enhance public safety for travellers.

 

Under the proposed regulatory regime, platforms, vehicles and drivers providing ride-hailing services must obtain appropriate licences/permits and meet their conditions as imposed by the Transport Department.

 

The Government will set entry thresholds based on operational experience, proof of financial capacity, capital investment, and directors’ qualifications for platforms applying for operation. Additionally, the company concerned must be registered in Hong Kong.

 

The platforms must also maintain appropriate and efficient services and conduct due diligence on their vehicles and drivers.

 

Regarding ride-hailing vehicles, the Government proposes that vehicles must be registered in the name of an individual and can only be operated by their registered owners. Furthermore, such vehicles must hold appropriate third-party risk insurance and display identification markings for identification purposes.

 

As for ride-hailing vehicle drivers, the applicants must meet a series of conditions and complete a specified test. These conditions include being at least 21 years of age, holding a Hong Kong permanent identity card, and having no serious traffic conviction records within the five years preceding the application date.

 

The Transport & Logistics Bureau explained that in devising the legal framework, the Government has prioritised public safety, adding that the aim is to provide the public with more safe, legally compliant and diverse travel options, while ensuring the healthy and orderly development of the overall point-to-point transport service industry and creating a competitive environment.

 

The Government also proposes introducing new measures to combat illegal activities of carrying passengers for hire or reward, the bureau added.

 

The amendment bill will be tabled at the Legislative Council on September 10 for first and second readings following its gazettal.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 4) investigating a suspected ciguatoxin poisoning case cluster, involving two patients who consumed marine fish.

A 61-year-old female and a 70-year-old male bought coral trout at the Hung Hom Market yesterday (September 3). They cooked and ate the fish at home. About three hours later, both of them developed nausea and diarrhoea. The female patient also developed symptoms of ciguatoxin poisoning, including facial and limb numbness. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital, and remains hospitalised. She is in serious condition. Symptoms of the male patient are mild and he did not experience numbness. He did not seek medical advice.

The CHP notified the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the case.

Ciguatoxin poisoning is mainly associated with the consumption of large coral reef fish that prey on small fish in coral reef areas. The small fish may have consumed toxic algae. The toxins accumulate in large coral reef fish, particularly in their internal organs. Larger fish may contain higher levels of toxins. It is difficult to tell whether a fish is toxic based on its appearance. Cooking the fish does not break down the toxin.

People affected by ciguatoxin poisoning may have symptoms such as numbness in the mouth and limbs, vomiting, diarrhoea, alternating sensations of coldness and hotness, and joint and muscle pain.

While most people affected by ciguatoxin do not suffer from long-term effects, excessive toxin intake can affect the circulatory and nervous systems. To prevent ciguatoxin poisoning, the public should:

• Eat less coral reef fish;
• Eat small portions of coral reef fish at a time, and avoid having a “whole fish feast” in which all the dishes may come from a single large coral reef fish;
• Avoid eating the head, skin, intestines and roe of coral reef fish, as these parts usually accumulate more toxins;
• Refrain from consuming alcohol, peanuts or beans when eating coral reef fish to prevent aggravating ciguatoxin poisoning;
• Seek medical treatment immediately should symptoms of ciguatoxin poisoning appear; and
• Buy coral reef fish from reputable seafood vendors. Do not buy fish of an unknown origin.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Closing Panel of the World Football Summit Hong Kong 2025 today (September 4):

Mr Jan Alessie (Co-founder and Managing Director of the World Football Summit), Eric (Chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, Mr Eric Fok), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon, and it is my great pleasure to finally join you at this Closing Panel of the World Football Summit. I actually came back from Beijing late last night to make myself available for at least the closing part of this important summit, which is a fitting final act of a thrilling international football season or football summer here in Hong Kong. So allow me to say really more than a few words, because this is the only opportunity that I can speak to such a distinguished audience. Let me first extend my very warmest welcome to all influential football stakeholders who gathered here for the first time in Hong Kong to share insightful views on trends in the global football industry. I hope everyone had fruitful and rewarding exchanges at the two-day Summit, filled with multiple panels on a wide range of topics.

Asia stands today as the world’s largest and fastest-growing football market, driven by large fan bases and rapidly expanding sponsorship opportunities. Over the last two days, many useful exchanges should have taken place on how such positive features could be utilised to better shape the future of football in Asia, both commercially and in terms of elevating the standard and quality of football in this part of the world. In this connection, I trust you also have had a glimpse of why Hong Kong stands out in Asia as holding the keys to football’s regional future. But do please allow me to share a few of my views on the strengths of Hong Kong and our collective offering.

First, Hong Kong has the infrastructure. The Kai Tak Sports Park, the US$4-billion, largest-ever sports and entertainment infrastructure that the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government has ever invested in, was commissioned officially in March this year. Some of you, such as friends from Tottenham Hotspur who played at Kai Tak Stadium just five weeks ago, and if, on top of football you are also rugby fans, you would have already experienced the state-of-the-art high-tech hardware in this 50 000-strong capacity Stadium. From what I have heard thus far from the teams that have played in the Stadium, reviews on Kai Tak Stadium since its debut have been very positive.

In just seven months since its commissioning, we have already hosted matches including Liverpool (FC), Arsenal and Spurs from the English Premier League, AC Milan from Serie A and the India national team. At the risk of “over-marketing”, Kai Tak Stadium is an all-weather, fully air-conditioned venue, which you would especially appreciate over Hong Kong’s very hot summer.

In addition to Kai Tak Stadium, the 40 000-seat Hong Kong Stadium, which some of you may have visited in the past, has also played host to a number of important football matches this year. The annual Guangdong – Hong Kong Cup and Chinese New Year Cup featuring Legends from major European leagues in the first quarter of 2025; Manchester United, my favourite but struggling team, versus the Hong Kong, China Representative Team in May; and the series of exciting games of Saudi Super Cup in August, all took place at Hong Kong Stadium, which might be less eye-catching technology-wise, but more than compensated for its nostalgic value and central location of being only a few steps away from the bustling Causeway Bay and Wan Chai area.

Together, these two large-scale venues now provide the perfect conditions for Hong Kong to serve as a launchpad of Asia’s football development.

Second, Hong Kong has the market. Located at the centre of Asia, where the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is home to more than 87 million people, where the rest of China and most East and Southeast Asian countries, which are home to half of the world’s population, are within hours’ flight time, and where more direct flights from locations, such as Riyadh, to Hong Kong are now in operation, Hong Kong has a unique global appeal to Asian markets in the world of premium international football. With our proximity to the Mainland of China, which has the largest football fan base in the world, Hong Kong is a natural gateway for clubs, federations and investors seeking collaboration opportunities across the Mainland market. And if you have just joined one of the games I mentioned just now, you will testify to the electrifying atmosphere, created by our civilised, but raving at all times fans, and agree with me that it is like the best party in the world.

On top of the games themselves, Hong Kong’s world-class tourism infrastructure, featuring a wide range of luxurious to value-for-money hotels, diverse dining options at different price points, and one of the most efficient transportation systems in the world, provides the ideal environment for hosting large-scale football events that can, most important of all, draw regional and international visitors, but also an attractive vacation destination for players, staff and their families.

Now let the numbers speak for themselves. The depth and breadth of our market is best showcased by the popularity of the several key football matches held in Hong Kong this year. The first-ever overseas North London Derby, featuring Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, held in Hong Kong on July 31, attracted a record-breaking attendance of 49 975. The series of matches in the Saudi Super Cup, which is a relatively new brand for fans in this part of the world, has achieved an aggregated attendance of over 80 000; a great number of them are actually fans from the Middle East and elsewhere.

Hong Kong’s third point of strength lies with our proven expertise in organising international matches and mega events. Eric, our Chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, will of course be even better placed to share with you the experts and professionals we possess in Hong Kong. But I believe I will sound convincing enough when I point you to the consecutive successes of all the important football matches in Hong Kong that are staged this year and the wonderful reports, social media posts and photos that accompanied these matches.

Last but not least, I should state to you clearly the commitment of the Hong Kong SAR Government in supporting football development. We invest in venues. We invest in youth training. We also invest in cultivating spectators. The solid partnership between the Government and HKFA (Football Association of Hong Kong, China) under Eric’s leadership provides a super-effective platform for the football industry to thrive.

Ladies and gentlemen, I can go on to talk more, such as about broadcast innovation, advanced technologies, live-streaming platforms, etc, which of course adds a lot of value to driving football development in Hong Kong and elsewhere. But you need to just take away these important points, and remember Hong Kong’s world-class infrastructure, huge international market, our proven capability and the positive attitude and commitment of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Joining our hands together, we will shape the future and drive the growth of football as both a sport and an industry in Asia.

On this note, I thank you all for joining us at this rewarding Summit and wish you an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong.

Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the 2025/26 School Care Subsidy Scheme is now inviting applications from schools. The deadline for applications is September 30.

The scheme aims to encourage student music groups from kindergartens and primary, secondary and special schools as well as post-secondary institutions to care for the community, and extend their good wishes to the elderly, special school students and the beneficiaries of social welfare organisations through free music performances, thereby enhancing social integration and harmony. Through the activities, students can not only gain experience from performances and serving the community but also develop stronger team spirit and better organisational skills.

Each performance is eligible for a maximum subsidy of $2,200 to cover costs including transportation, allowances for professionals and miscellaneous items.

Successful applicants must complete their performances between this December and March next year. Outstanding teams will be invited to perform at the Gala Concert to be held in April or May next year. All participating teams will be awarded certificates of commendation during the concert.

Applications will be evaluated according to the feasibility and interactive elements of the proposed programmes, as well as the music groups’ experience in organising and performing at community events. Interested schools can download application forms from the Music Office’s website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice). Completed forms must be emailed to the Music Office (cnc@lcsd.gov.hk).

Over 460 school music groups have participated in the School Care Subsidy Scheme since its launch in 2009. The scheme is sponsored by the Sino Group. For enquiries, please call 2598 8335 or 3842 7775.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Pacific Satellite International Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violating the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its director pleaded guilty at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (September 4) and were fined a total sum of $102,600.
 
     The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirements of the EO, failing to pay six employees’ wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods, totalling about $422,000. The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.

     “The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO,” a spokesman for the LD said.

     “The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees’ statutory rights,” the spokesman added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that happened in Kwu Tung this morning (September 4), in which a man died.
    
The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, led a delegation to call on the National Health Commission (NHC), the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) and the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in Beijing today (September 4) to introduce the latest developments in various healthcare policies in Hong Kong.

     During the meeting with the Commissioner of the NATCM, Professor Yu Yanhong, this morning, Professor Lo introduced her to the latest Chinese medicine (CM) developments in Hong Kong and the formulation of the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint, which will be released at the end of this year. He said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to the high-quality and high-standard development of CM on all fronts, and has continued to step up its efforts and devote more resources in recent years to pursue and implement various initiatives. The two flagship institutions for CM development, namely The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong and the permanent premises of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, with services to be commenced in phases from December this year, will be conducive to Hong Kong’s further development in areas such as CM clinical services, talent training, and testing standards.”

     He also mentioned that the HKSAR Government will host the 7th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Conference on Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in December. Representatives from the two special administrative regions and nine municipalities of the Guangdong Province of the GBA, as well as authoritative Mainland and overseas CM experts and scholars, will gather in Hong Kong for exchanges and to jointly witness various significant milestones in CM development in Hong Kong.

     Professor Lo then met with Vice-Minister of the NHC Professor Cao Xuetao, and mentioned that public hospitals in Hong Kong have been adopting various national healthcare standards for accreditation in recent years. Professor Lo said, “By adopting national healthcare standards for accreditation, healthcare institutions in the HKSAR not only can enhance their healthcare professional standards and service quality but also facilitate their alignment with the national healthcare service system. This can also demonstrate the excellence of the national healthcare standards to the international community through fully leveraging Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world, thereby facilitating the national standards to go global.”

     Following the successful accreditation of two public hospitals, namely Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital, under China’s International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version), the HKSAR Government is promoting the adoption of the Standards for accreditation in more public hospitals under the Hospital Authority (HA). Furthermore, in line with the relevant policy initiatives set out in the Chief Executive’s Policy Address, the HA is establishing chest pain centres and stroke centres in accordance with national accreditation standards at suitable public hospitals. Of these, the chest pain centre at Queen Mary Hospital was successfully accredited in May this year, becoming the first nationally accredited chest pain centre in Hong Kong.

     During the meeting, Professor Lo also touched upon co-operation with the Mainland in the field of cancer. He said, “The National Cancer Center has extensive experience in cancer prevention and treatment. Both sides will continue to strive for the goals of ‘equally high-calibre technology with the available resources, pooling our talent to strike win-win co-operation’, and uphold the principle of ‘complementarity and mutual benefits’, while deepening and expanding the strategic collaboration to continuously improve the professional standard in cancer prevention and treatment, thereby improving the health and well-being of the people.”

     In the afternoon, Professor Lo met with the Commissioner of the NMPA, Mr Li Li, to introduce various key initiatives for developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub. Professor Lo said, “The HKSAR Government is actively preparing for the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) next year, and will implement the ‘primary evaluation’ for new drugs registration in phases starting next year. The establishment of the CMPR will considerably enhance Hong Kong’s health and medical innovation, and facilitate the Mainland’s innovative drugs and medical devices to go global, benefitting the people of Hong Kong and other regions.

     “At the same time, the HKSAR Government has established the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute and is preparing to establish the Real-World Study and Application Centre in response to the national strategies and policy guidance. The HKSAR Government aspires to collaborate with the GBA cities to jointly establish the GBA as a leading hub for health and medical innovation at both national and global levels, while sparing no effort in developing new quality productive forces, and promoting the development of clinical trials and the biomedical industry, thereby serving the country’s needs with Hong Kong’s own strengths.”

     Members of the delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Libby Lee. Professor Lo will return to Hong Kong tonight. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, is the Acting Secretary for Health.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The 2025 Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) By-elections will be held this Sunday (September 7) and the polling hours are from 9am to 6pm. The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) reminds voters/authorised representatives (ARs) concerned to follow the instructions on their poll card and bring the original of their valid Hong Kong identity (HKID) card to vote at their designated polling station.

     A spokesman for the REO said today (September 4), “In accordance with the law, only registered voters/ARs in the 2025 final register of voters for Election Committee subsectors who belong to contested subsectors are eligible to vote on the polling day. The six contested subsectors are commercial (third); architectural, surveying, planning and landscape; technology and innovation; labour; representatives of members of Area Committees, District Fight Crime Committees, and District Fire Safety Committees of Hong Kong and Kowloon; and representatives of members of Area Committees, District Fight Crime Committees, and District Fire Safety Committees of the New Territories.

“Voters/ARs of the six subsectors may use ‘iAM Smart’ or the voter registration website (vr.gov.hk) to log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System to check polling information such as the name and address of their designated polling station and its location on the map, the polling hours, as well as the Introduction to Candidates. They can also call the election hotline (2891 1001) for enquiries.”

     On the polling day, there will be 28 candidates contesting a total of 21 seats in six subsectors. Five ordinary polling stations located in the Exhibition Gallery of Hong Kong Central Library, Kowloon Park Sports Centre, Wai Tsuen Sports Centre, Tiu Keng Leng Sports Centre and Che Kung Temple Sports Centre, and one dedicated polling station at Happy Valley Police Station will be set up for about 3 600 voters/ARs of the contested subsectors.

Polling arrangements

     A voter or an AR must produce the original of his/her valid HKID card at the ballot paper issuing desk in the polling station. The polling staff will scan the HKID card of the voter or AR using a tablet of the Electronic Poll Register System to verify his/her identity and issue the ballot paper(s) upon verification.

     When marking the ballot paper, voters/ARs must fill in the ovals opposite the names of the candidates of their choice with the black pen provided at the polling station, and vote for no more than the prescribed number of seats in the relevant subsector, otherwise the ballot paper will be regarded as invalid.

     The spokesman said, “Ballot paper checking machines will be set up at the polling stations for voters/ARs to check whether the ballot paper has been marked according to the electoral law. The ballot paper checking machines will not record or count the choice(s) marked on the ballot paper. Having checked the ballot paper, voters/ARs should insert the unfolded ballot paper into the ballot box with the marked side facing down. It is in principle alright for voters/ARs to bring along a piece of paper listing the names or numbers of the candidates of their choice for easy reference when marking the ballot papers. Nevertheless, voters/ARs should bear in mind that they should not show the paper to other people inside the polling station and they should take the paper with them when leaving the polling station. Otherwise, the voters/ARs concerned may violate the electoral law,” the spokesman said.

     Based on the principles of the autonomy of voting and secrecy of votes, it is prohibited under the law to have anyone (even for the voter/AR’s relative or friend) to accompany or assist the voter to cast his/her vote. If necessary, a voter/an AR may ask the Presiding Officer or his/her deputy to mark the ballot paper on the voter/AR’s behalf in the presence of a member of the polling staff as witness. It is an offence for any voter/AR to disturb others, use electronic devices for communication, take photographs, or make a video or audio recording at a polling station.

     The spokesman said that the introduction booklets on candidates printed by the REO will be displayed at all polling stations for reference by voters/ARs.

Special arrangements at polling stations

     Two queues will be set up at the polling stations. One queue is for people aged 70 or above, pregnant women and those who are not able to queue for a long time or have difficulty in queuing due to their physical condition, while the other queue is for other voters/ARs. The Presiding Officers will flexibly deploy ballot paper issuing desks depending on the queuing situation.

     A certain area outside each polling station will be designated as a no canvassing zone to ensure that voters/ARs can gain access to the polling stations without interference. A no staying zone will also be designated outside the entrance and exit of a polling station. No one is allowed to stay in the no staying zone or be allowed to canvass for votes or conduct “de-facto canvassing” such as making hand gestures and greetings in the no canvassing zone.

     Enquiries about the By-elections on the polling day can be made to the election hotline at 2891 1001, which will operate from 8.30am to 6.30pm that day. A complaints hotline (2827 7251/3707 0188) will be in service from 9am to 6.30pm that day to handle complaints about breaches of electoral rules or guidelines.

Counting arrangements

     Once the poll is closed, the ballot boxes will be delivered to the Central Counting Station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for counting. Candidates, election agents and counting agents may enter the Central Counting Station and observe the count at designated areas of the counting zone. Members of the public and media may also enter the public area of the Central Counting Station to observe the count. A notice setting out the maximum capacity of members of the public in the public area will be displayed outside the Central Counting Station.

     Once the counting of votes is completed, the Returning Officers will declare the election results at the Central Counting Station. The REO will also arrange for the Returning Officers to announce again the election results of each subsector on the stage of the Media Centre. The election results will also be displayed outside the Central Counting Station and published via press releases and the election website (www.elections.gov.hk).

     For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001 or visit the election website for more information on the By-elections.