Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Lam So-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
 
Question:
 
Regarding promoting the development of the tourism industry, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has assessed the actual effectiveness of various tourism promotional campaigns (including the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” and the “Hello Hong Kong” campaigns) in the past three years, including but not limited to (i) the growth in the number of visitor arrivals, (ii) the consumption pattern and spending of visitors, (iii) ‍the actual economic benefits to the local retail and catering industries, and (iv) the gap between the actual effectiveness and the expected targets;
 
(2) whether the Government has formulated a specific timetable and effectiveness indicators for the implementation of the 133 measures in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 (Blueprint 2.0); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) as given that it is learnt that the tourism industry and related service industries (e.g. retail and catering industries) are currently facing the challenges of manpower shortage and digital transformation, and that Blueprint ‍2.0 proposes to strengthen the cultivation of talents for the tourism industry and promote the development of smart tourism, of the Government’s specific support measures (including the relevant funding arrangements) in place to assist the industry (especially small and medium-sized enterprises) in overcoming the relevant difficulties?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
In respect of the question raised by the Hon Lam So-wai, in consultation with the Labour Department, the reply is as follows:
 
(1) With the re-opening of Hong Kong’s cross-boundary tourism activities in early 2023, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) immediately launched a large-scale global promotional campaign, “Hello Hong Kong”, in February of the same year. Through the launch of a series of promotional activities, the HKTB has made every effort to promote the recovery of tourism, spread the welcome message around the globe, reconnect with global visitors and entice them to experience the excitement and charms of Hong Kong in person.
 
Highlights of the large-scale global promotional campaign “Hello Hong Kong” included:
 

Sending the greatest welcome to the world	The HKTB invited trade representatives, celebrities and key opinion leaders (KOLs), etc, to take part in the production of more than 330 video clips featuring travel experiences in Hong Kong to send a welcome message to the world. These videos were broadcast on more than 3 000 different platforms worldwide. During the period, the “Hello Hong Kong” dance challenge launched on social media platform TikTok attracted over 1.2 million video clips from netizens with 1.5 billion global viewership. The challenge became TikTok’s promotional campaign with the highest traffic in the Southeast Asian market in the first quarter of 2023 and brought 300 000 new followers to the HKTB’s official account, increasing the total number of followers to around 2 million.   To welcome inbound visitors from all over the world, provide an additional promotional channel for local merchants and create business opportunities, the HKTB distributed about 2 million Hong Kong Goodies visitor consumption vouchers (each valued at HK$100 or more) for visitors to redeem offers or free welcome drinks at one of the 4 000 designated catering outlets, retailers or attractions across the city.   At the same time, the HKTB supported the promotion of the Airport Authority Hong Kong’s giveaway of 500 000 air tickets in various visitor source markets.
Seeing is believing – inviting guests to Hong Kong for first-hand experience	In 2023, the HKTB invited over 2 000 trade and media representatives, celebrities, KOLs and HKTB’s Hong Kong Super Fans from the Mainland, Southeast Asia and Europe, etc, to visit the city in person for tailor-made thematic itineraries to showcase Hong Kong’s diverse tourism appeal and tell good stories of Hong Kong.
Reaching out to the world – showcasing Hong Kong’s appeal	The HKTB took the initiative in leading the trade to reach out to the world by participating in more than 20 large-scale travel fairs and trade events related to meetings, incentive travels, conventions and exhibitions held in the Mainland and overseas markets in 2023, so as to demonstrate Hong Kong’s tourism appeal and help the trade explore business opportunities.

In 2024, the HKTB also actively developed diversified tourism experiences to enhance the city’s appeal as a travel destination by making use of Hong Kong movies to promote tourism, promoting panda tourism and riding on various Chinese and Western festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Halloween, as well as different themes like arts and culture, neighbourhoods, great outdoors, to bring in brand-new experiences and hype up the blissful ambience. 
 
Meanwhile, over the past two years after the pandemic, the HKTB resumed hosting of different mega events covering sports, gastronomy and entertainment elements, including the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, Hong Kong Cyclothon, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, Hong Kong WinterFest, Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations and International Chinese New Year Night Parade, while injecting new perspectives, elements and experiences to enrich the events. HKTB organised in 2023 the first “Harbour Chill Carnival” at the Wan Chai harbourfront, featuring music shows on water stage, street performances and X-Games performances; “Summer Chill Food Lane” was set up during the 2024 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races; “Cyclothon Carnival” was held in 2024 Hong Kong Cyclothon; and the previously four-day Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival was extended to five-day in 2024, attracting more locals and visitors. 
 
In addition, the HKTB presented a series of drone shows and pyrotechnic displays with different themes to tie in with festivals and events in 2024 such as the Galloping Horse in the Sky drone show and Winter Harbourfront Pyrotechnics Show, which successfully created a vibrant city-wide ambience. The events attracted both local and international media exposure and active participation of both locals and visitors, reinforcing the city’s status as the Events Capital of Asia and bringing global publicity value, thereby creating a vibrant atmosphere in the city and stimulating consumption and economy.
 
To support the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign launched by the Government in mid-September 2023, HKTB also rolled out a number of mega events and promotions to enhance ambience at night. These included the promotion support for the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, promotion of the “Hallo” Hong Kong Halloween campaign, “Hong Kong Night Treats” dining vouchers, Hong Kong Night Bus Tour visitor exclusive offers and brand-new Temple Street promotion.
 
The effectiveness of the HKTB’s tourism promotion work cannot be assessed entirely in quantifiable terms. Notwithstanding, the HKTB will set different indicators based on the nature of its promotions and events, such as website views, social media reach, global media exposure, participants’ satisfaction, likelihood to recommend to family and friends and intention to revisit, to measure the effectiveness. The various tourism promotions launched by the HKTB in the past three years received positive feedback. Not only have they successfully showcased Hong Kong’s return to normalcy after the pandemic, but also boosted the city vibe, creating more reasons for visitors to visit Hong Kong and attracting them to visit. The promotions have met their objectives.
 
(2) The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) announced on December 30, 2024, the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 (Blueprint 2.0) outlining the overall working direction for the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry from 2025 to 2030. Blueprint 2.0 proposes four-pronged positioning for tourism development and four major development strategies, covering product development, visitor source expansion, smart tourism and service enhancement, with a view to promoting the prosperous and healthy development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. At the same time, Blueprint 2.0 proposes 133 specific actions and measures that are conducive to the development of tourism, with a view to stimulating the vitality of the tourism market through diversified strategies, enriching the quality and content of tourism products and services, and further mobilising different industries to jointly promote the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. The implementation schedule of the various measures which are categorised into short- (within three years), medium- (three to six years) and long- (more than six years) term and the related performance indicators are set out in Blueprint 2.0.
 
(3) The CSTB has been maintaining liaison with tourism-related parties, including the HKTB, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), the Travel Industry Authority (TIA), the Hong Kong Hotels Association and the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, to understand the existing situation of manpower resources among different job categories in the industry and explore feasible remedial measures in a bid to cope with the short, medium and long-term needs of manpower resources.
 
Blueprint 2.0 sets out the overall working direction and strategy in the next five years and one of the development strategies is to enhance the service quality and support of the tourism industry on all fronts, and to cultivate talents, which covers 31 measures.
 
Following the related strategy, the CSTB will continue to maintain close communication with the tertiary institutions that provide hotel and tourism-related curriculum, encourage collaboration among tertiary institutions and the trade in organising career expos and seminars to enhance young people’s understanding of the development prospects of the tourism industry, make good use of various tourism volunteer and youth ambassador programmes to nurture more aspiring youth to join the tourist guide profession, as well as continue to explore with the relevant bureau further expansion of the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme to cover hotel management, tourism and hospitality related programmes.
 
On the other hand, the Government allocated $100 million in 2022-23 to subsidise the training and development of travel trade practitioners. The TIA will continue to utilise the funding to support training for travel trade and implement measures to attract more talents to pursue a career in the tourism industry and enhance the professional standards of the trade including assessing the manpower requirement for tourist guides, tour escorts and different job categories in travel agents through data collection, so that a more detailed and comprehensive manpower resources strategy can be formulated; supporting students of tertiary educational institutions to obtain a tourist guide licence; reviewing and streamlining the curriculum and requirements of the licensing examination and pre-examination training courses; launching a docent-to-tourist guide bridging programme and a specialised tourist guide licensing programme to increase the supply of professional tourist guides in the market; and engaging the TIC as a partner for placement opportunity and talents matching to improve talent supply and demand in the industry.
 
Besides, the Labour Department has implemented the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) since September 4, 2023, to alleviate the manpower shortage across different industries (including the accommodation services industry). Employers of the hotel sector may apply under ESLS to import workers at technician level or below to fill vacancies which they have genuine difficulties in recruiting suitable staff locally. As at March 31, 2025, employers of the accommodation services industry were approved to import 1 633 workers under ESLS, mainly for posts such as room attendant, waiter/waitress and receptionist.
 
On assisting the industry in digital transformation, the Government allocated a total of $70 million to the TIC under 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2023-24 Budgets to launch the Information Technology Development Matching Fund Scheme for Travel Agents, under which funding support is provided on a matching basis to each eligible travel agent. Funded projects include efficiency and productivity enhancement through big data, promotion of digital marketing, security of information technology system, development of mobile apps and website enhancement, to encourage the industry to make use of technology for upgrading and transformation, and to enhance the ability of travel agents to expand their business through information technology.
 
     The CSTB will work closely with the relevant bureaux/departments and executing organisations to actively alleviate the manpower shortage in the travel trade and the challenge of digital transformation, thereby improving service quality. This ensures that visitors get to experience Hong Kong’s zealous hospitality, thereby shaping a more attractive tourism brand.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the World Tourism Cities Federation Hong Kong Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2025 – Main Forum II: Hong Kong Tourism Development Forum today (April 16):

(Chairman of the China Tourism Group, Mr Wang Haimin), Dr Peter Lam (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board), distinguished guests, friends from the international tourism community and fellow stakeholders,

Good morning. First of all, a very warm welcome to all of you to Hong Kong once again for this important forum dedicated to the development of the tourism industry. As the Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism, I am truly delighted to see so many passionate and talented counterparts and stakeholders from tourism related industries, home and away, gathered here today with the common goal of enhancing the vibrancy and sustainability of Hong Kong’s tourism development.

For decades, Hong Kong has captivated the world as a premier travel destination. With concerted effort of the Government and our industry partners, Hong Kong’s tourism industry put up a strong comeback after the pandemic in 2023 and sustained with rising momentum in 2024, seeing a 31 per cent growth year-on-year in visitor arrivals. Stepping into the first quarter in 2025, we continued with an encouraging performance, welcoming over 12 million visitors, which represents a year-on-year increase of 9 per cent.

A bright future of tourism development does not lie with increased visitor arrival numbers though. With the advancement in digital technology and changing consumer preferences under the global tourism landscape, we must embrace innovation and adapt our offerings to maintain our competitive edge. We must also be clear about Hong Kong’s uniqueness and positioning in order to emerge stronger for future challenges.

With this in mind, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau promulgated in December last year the second Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry – we call it Blueprint 2.0, setting out our vision and mission for the next five-year period from 2025 to 2030.

Blueprint 2.0 proposes four major development strategies and 133 measures that span every facet of the industry including product development, visitor source expansion, smart tourism and service enhancement.

With Blueprint 2.0 and the strong support from the Central People’s Government in Beijing, I pledge to lead my team to strengthen ties and collaboration with stakeholders both within and outside the Government to implement Blueprint 2.0. I shall also empower and assist our trade practitioners to unleash Hong Kong’s tourism offerings in full.

Tourism is a fast-moving and ever-changing landscape. The spirit of “steering changes” in Blueprint 2.0 is a key to meeting challenges ahead and seizing opportunities for growth. I encourage stakeholders to break out from the boundaries of previous endeavours, even old patterns of success. Let us be bold to come out of our comfort zones and embrace new innovation and technology, and bring out new proposals that can inject fresh impetus into Hong Kong’s tourism industry.

Today’s forum offers great opportunity for putting our heads together for the future of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. Hong Kong’s hosting of this year’s Fragrant Hills Summit also showcases our strategic advantages in fostering deeper international exchanges and co-operation in the area of tourism development, and in bringing together industry leaders worldwide for fruitful deliberation and swift actions. I look forward to writing the next chapter of Hong Kong’s tourism story – one filled with innovation, resilience and boundless opportunities, with all of you.

Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source:

[GOVT PRESS SECRETARIAT – Thursday, 03rd April 2025] – Cabinet has approved the reappointment of Agafili Tomaimanō Shem Leo to the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (MPMC), and Secretary to Cabinet.

Agafili was initially appointed to this position in late 2015 and officially commenced his duties in 2016. He began his career as a teacher at Samoa College in 2001 and was promoted to the role of Principal Policy Analyst for the MPMC in 2007. He has remained with the Ministry for 18 years including nine years as CEO.

Agafili holds a Master of Arts in Governance, a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Education in Geography. He is a former student of Samoa College and an alumni of the University of the South Pacific in Suva.

He is an Assistant Pastor and a Bible teacher for the Laloanea Bible Fellowship. He is married with two children. He is from the villages of Tufulele, Amaile, Samusu, and Sala’ilua.

END.

TOFIAINA O AGAFILI TOMAIMANŌ SHEM LEO I LE TOFIGA OFISA SILI O PULEGA O LE MATĀGALUEGA A LE PALEMIA MA LE KAPENETA

[SO’O’UPU A LE MALO – Aso Tofi, 03 Aperila 2025] – Ua fa’amaonia e le Kapeneta le toe tofia o le tōfā iā Agafili Tomaimanō Shem Leo i le tofiga o le Ofisa Sili o Pulega o le Matāgaluega a le Palemia ma le Kapeneta, faapea le tofiga Failautusi o le Kapeneta mo le isi tolu tausaga.

Na muai tofia Agafili Tomaimanō i lenei tofiga i le faaiuga o le 2015 ma amata aloaia ai i le 2016. Na amata lana tautua i le Malo i le 2001 o se faiaoga faauuina i le Kolisi o Samoa, ona tofia lea e galue i le Matagaluega o le Palemia ma le Kapeneta i le 2007 e oo mai i le asō.

O loo umiaina e Agafili Faailoga Tau Aoaoga o le Matuaofaiva o Fa’atufugaga i Tulaga Tau Pulega [Master of Arts in Governance], Tipiloma Mauāluga i Suesuega Tau Atina’e [Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies], ma le Tikeri o Tulaga tau Aoaoga (Bachelor of Education in Geography). Sa aoaoina o ia i le Kolisi o Samoa, ma agai atu ai i le Iunivesete o le Pasefika i Saute i Fiti.

O ia o se tasi o Taitai mo le Mafutaga Faale Tusi Paia i Laloanea.

E toalua o la alo, ma o se tama fanau a afioaga o Tufulele, Amaile, Samusu, ma Sala’ilua.

MAEA.

April 16, 2025

Source:

KEYNOTE ADDRESS by the Prime Minister Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa [Thursday 3rd April 2025]

Reverend Puletua Tapumanaia,

Members of Cabinet,

Representatives of our Development Partners,

Chairpersons and members of Executive Boards of Government Public Bodies, and of Agriculture in Samoa,

Heads of Government Agencies, Private Sector and Exporters, Partners of the Samoa Export Authority,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am pleased to be here to witness the official Opening of the Office of the Samoa Export Authority and to celebrate the launch of its Corporate Plan for the first 5 years of its establishment, from the Financial Year 2025/2026 to 2029/2030.

The establishment of the Samoa Export Authority has been long in the making. An interim Board was established in February 2024 to guide the establishment phase, including consultations across the country and with communities and all stakeholders in developing the policies that underpin the establishment of the Authority and a legislation to legislate and govern its operations.

The Samoa Export Authority Bill 2024 was tabled and passed in Parliament during its sitting in August 2024, and the SEA Act 2024 came into force on 22nd August 2024 when it was signed by the Head of State. The SEA Act 2024, established the Samoa Export Authority as a Body Corporate under the Public Bodies (Performance and Accountability) Act 2001.

As well as opening the new Office, we are also this morning, launching the Corporate Plan for the Authority for the period of 2025/2026 Financial Year to the 2029/2030 Financial Year. The 5-year duration of the Corporate Plan was agreed upon by the SEA Interim Board, to align with a Cabinet decision for the Authority to be established as a Public Beneficial Body in its first 5 years, after which a review should be carried out to consider it becoming a Public Trading Body. Thus the Corporate Plan we are launching today, was developed with a view towards this review mandated by Cabinet to be carried out in August 2029, 5 years after the SEA Act 2024 came into force.

But why the need for an Export Authority? Right now, Samoa spends around $1 billion tala on imported goods. Only around 10% of that amount is earned from goods we export. It is a trade imbalance that is strangling our development and a situation we urgently need to address.

The SEA Act 2024 and the SEA Corporate Plan we are launching this morning, lays out the objectives and functions of the Authority, to address the trade imbalance mentioned-above, through effectively promoting exports or export products from Samoa.

The Objectives of the Authority are:

1. To address policy and legislative requirements to enable exports development and market access;

2. To boost exports through supporting production and productivity, development of export products, and access to export services along value-chains, in partnerships with producers, manufacturers and business operators; and,

3. To establish export markets, and strengthen capacity in standards for market access.

In performing its functions, the Authority will liaise and cooperate with other relevant organizations of the Government, such as MCIL, MFAT, MAF and SROS; private sector and civil society, to ensure that strategic planning and arrangements are in place to deal with exports from Samoa.

In addition, the Authority is to:

a) facilitate and coordinate export development;

b) facilitate and coordinate an enabling environment for the revival and growth of the export sector;

c) find new markets for Samoa’s export sector;

d) promote and facilitate compliance with market requirements; and,

e) facilitate and coordinate the availability of needed capacity building for exporters and other parties of the export value chain.

Before I conclude, I would like to acknowledge the great work by the SEA Interim Board, and the support of MPE as its Secretariat, during the establishment phase of the Authority. The leadership of the Interim Board allowed for a wide consultations process in the development of a SEA legislation, and your guidance facilitated the smooth passing of the SEA legislation through Parliament. It was an achievement to be applauded, when the SEA Act 2024 came into force on 22nd August 2024. Working closely with the new CEO, you also managed to develop a Corporate Plan to guide the work of the Authority in its first 5 years of existence. The SEA Interim Board, ladies and gentlemen comprised of:

­Afioga Tagaloa Eddie Wilson, the Chairperson;

­Afioga Fa’amausili Dr Matagialofi Lua’iufi;

­Afioga Tuisa Tasi Patea;

­And two ex-officios: Afioga Saoleititi Maeva Betham-Vaai, and Pouli Dr Keneti Faulalo.

I believe the achievements of the SEA Interim Board has set a solid foundation upon which the new SEA Board, established under the provisions of the SEA Act 2024, will guide the work of the Authority moving forward.

On that note, it is with pleasure that I welcome the members of the new SEA Board that has been approved by Cabinet:

­

Afioga Tuia’opo Andrew Aliki, Chairman;

­Afioga Tuimaseve Kuinimeri Asora-Finau;

­Afioga Peseta Peter Tone;

­Afioga Tagaloa Eddide Wilson; and,

­Afioga Vaai Kolone Vaai.

We wish you all the best in guiding the journey of the Authority. I am confident that with strong leadership and strategic guidance, and with the commitment and drive of the SEA staff, the Authority will be effective in meeting its objectives in leading, facilitating and coordinating export development and export of products from Samoa.

I am now pleased to announce the official opening of the new Samoa Export Authority, as well as the official launch of their Corporate Plan for the first 5 years of its establishment.

May God bless the Authority in its journey and May God Bless Samoa.

Soifua ma ia Manuia!

TATALA ALOAIA LE OFISA FOU O LE PULEGA O OLOA AUINA ATU I FAFO A SAMOA MA LANA FUAFUAGA AUTASI ALUALU MAMAO

SAUNOAGA AUTU a le Afioga i le Palemia, Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa [Aso Tofi 3 Aperila 2025]

Susu lau Susuga i le Ta’ita’i o le Sauniga, lau Susuga Puletua Tapumanaia, Fa’afeagaiga o le Ekalesia EFKS, Penieli Fou, Falelauniu,

Afifio Minisita o le Kapeneta,

Sui o tatou Paaga tau Atina’e,

Afifio Ta’ita’ifono o Komiti Fa’atonu ma Sui o Komiti Fa’afoe o Fa’alapotopotoga a le Malo,

Afifio Sui o Komiti Faufautua o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaiva,

Afifio Fa’auluuluga o Matagaluega ma Fa’alapotopotoga Tumaoti a le Malo,

Aufai Pisinisi Gaosi Oloa Auina atu i Fafo,

Sui o Paaga a le Pulega o Oloa Auina atu i Fafo a Samoa,

Le paia ma le mamalu o Samoa ua potopoto,

E talitonu o lea ua mapu i le tuasivi le faiva o manusina. Ua mae’a fo’i ona utu le uila o matagi auā le fa’amua ma le fa’asani i le Atua ma Lona agalelei. Ua utūialā le sasaga i le ūtugāvai a tausala, ma ua fa’atofolia i tatou i le malilie o sua o vai, auā manū fa’aifo mai le Tapa’au Silisili’ese i le Lagi.

Ou te manatu fo’i ua mae’a paelago pa’ia o Samoa ua potopoto e le Fofoga o le aso, o le a le toe o’o i ai se tala.

Ae e ia te a’u le mitamitaga tele i lenei taeao, ua tatou auai fa’atasi e molimauina le tatalaina aloa’ia o le Ofisa fou o le Pulega o Oloa Auina Atu i Fafo a Samoa. Ua le o po malaē i le tatou fa’atasiga, o le Pulega ua faitau tausaga ona fuafua ma fa’atalatalanoa, ma ua leva fo’i ona fai galuega mo lona tau fa’atūina, e aofia ai le faufauina o ana Faiga Fa’avae, ma sana Tulafono Autū.

Pei ona silafia, o le Tulafono o le Pulega o Oloa Auina Atu i Fafo a Samoa 2024, sa pasia lea e le Palemene i lana fonotaga i le masina o Aukuso 2024, ma sa sainia ai e lana Afioga i le Ao Mamalu o le Malō, i le Aso 22 Aukuso, 2024. O lea Tulafono, ua fa’atuina ai le Pulega, o se Fa’alapotopotoga ua Tu’ufa’atasia Fa’aletulafono (Body Corporate).

E le gata i le tatala aloa’iaina o le Ofisa fou, ae o le taeao nei, o le a fa’apea fo’i ona tatou amana’iaina ai le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao a le Pulega (Corporate Plan) mo lona ulua’i 5 tausaga o lona fa’atūina, mai le tausaga fa’aletupe 2025/2026 se’ia o’o i le 2029/2030. O le avea o le 5 tausaga e fa’atulaga ai le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao, ina ia o gatasi ma le fa’avae fa’ata’oto a le Malō, mo le Pulega e avea ma Public Beneficial Body i le 5 tausaga muamua mai lona fa’atuina, ona toe iloilo lea pe agava’a ona liliu e avea ma Public Trading Body.

E pei ona lau silafia, o le fa’avae autū sa a’e ai le tofā mo le fa’atuina o le Pulega, o le tau fo’ia lea o le fa’afitauli tugā, i le ova mamao o le tele o oloa fa’aulufale mai i Samoa, pe a fa’atusatusa i oloa auina atu i fafo. I le taimi nei, e tusa ma le $1 piliona Tala tupe fa’aalu a Samoa i oloa fa’aulufale mai, ae na o le 10% o lea aofa’iga, e maua mai lea i ana oloa auina atu i fafo. O se tulaga lē paleni tele lea i fefa’atauaiga o oloa, ua fa’ama’ia ai le atina’e o le tatou atunu’u, ma o se tulaga e tatau ona vave fo’ia.

O le Tulafono o le Pulega o Oloa Auina Atu i Fafo a Samoa 2024, fa’apea le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao ua tatou patipatia i le taeao nei, o lo’o fa’ata’atitia, ma aiaia ai matafaioi tau’ave, fa’apea galuega poutū a le Pulega.

O sini ma galuega autū o le Pulega, e aofia ai le fesoasoani malosi i le fa’amaopo’opoina ma le fa’afaigofieina o le auina atu i fafo o a tatou oloa, e ala i faiga fa’apa’aga ma isi fa’alapotopotoga ‘ese’ese a le Malo ua tutusa malosi’aga, e pei o le Matagalujega o Pisinisi, Alamanuia ma Leipa (MCIL) ma le Matagaluega o le Va i Fafo ma Fefa’ataua’iga (MFAT), aemaise vaega tuma’oti e i ai le Au faifa’ato’aga ma au’aunaga e mafai ona auina atu i fafo. E aofia ai fo’i le fesoasoani malosi mo alamanuia mo le aufai fa’ato’aga lima vaivai ma alalafaga o lo o gāfātia i le galuea’ina o latou fanua ma ‘ele’ele fa’aleaganu’u, e ala lea i galuega fuafuaina a le Pulega.

O galuega tau’ave autu a le Pulega, e aofia ai le fa’ateleina o fua faifa’ato’aga e fuafua mo ‘oloa, pe o le gaosia o ‘oloa e ‘auina atu i fafo, e ala lea i le fesoasoani e sui faiga faifa’ato’aga, mai i le na o le gaosia mo taumafa fa’ale’āiga (subsistence), ae faifa’ato’aga e gaosia taumafa fa’apea le faifa’apisinisi (commercialization).

E le gata i lea, o galuega tau’ave autū a le Pulega, e aofia ai fo’i le fa’amaopo’opo ma fa’afeso’ota’iga o le ‘au faifa’ato’aga, le ‘au fa’atau’oloa, ma i latou uma o lo o faia au’aunaga mo le atina’eina o oloa auina atu i fafo, aemaise o le fa’amautinoaina o lo’o iai se si’osi’omaga talafeagai mo le auina atu i fafo o a tatou oloa. O le Pulega fo’i e na te una’ia malosi le fa’alauiloaina o a tatou oloa e auina pe fefa’ataua’i atu i fafo.

I lona aotelega, o le Pulega ua fa’atuina ina ia mafai ai ona fa’afaigofie ma fa’amaopo’opo le auina atu i fafo o ‘oloa ma au’aunaga mai Samoa. O le fa’amoemoe autū, ia mafai lea ona tele ‘oloa ma au’aunaga auina atu i fafo, ina ia manuia ai o tatou tagata, o le toatele o i latou o faifa’ato’aga mai nu’u i tua.

A o le’i fa’amutaina la’u tautalaga, ou te avatu le fa’amalō tele i le Komiti Fa’atonu Le Tumau a le Pulega, o i latou ia sa latou ta’imua i le tu’ufa’atasiga o le Tulafono mo le Pulega, ma sa ta’ita’iina fo’i galuega fai mo le fa’atuina o le Pulega, e aofia ai le fa’afouina o le Ofisa, ma sa galulue fa’atasi ma le Pule Sili, i le tu’ufa’atasia o le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao ‘ua tatou patipatia i le taeao nei.

E fa’apea fo’i ‘ona momoli le fa’afetai tele i le Matagaluega o Fa’alapotopotoga a le Malō (MPE), sa ‘avea ma failautusi (Secretariat) a le Komiti Fa’atonu Le Tumau, i le 12 masina o le latou galuega. Fa’afetai i le Komiti Le Tumau, ‘ua ma’ea la outou galuega sa tofia ai ‘outou e le Kapeneta, fa’amalo le fai o le faiva:

I lau Afioga i le Ta’ita’ifono o le Komiti le Tumau, lau Afioga Tagaloa Eddie Wilson;

­Lau Afioga Fa’amausili Dr Matagialofi Lua’iufi;

­Lau Afioga Tuisa Tasi Patea;

­Fa’apea sui ex-officios: Afioga Saoleititi Maeva Betham-Vaai, ma le Afioga ia Pouli Dr Keneti Faulalo.

Talitonu ‘ua ‘outou fausia se paepae maumaututū e fai ma fa’avae malosi e fa’atino ai galuega fai a le Pulega i le ta’ita’iga a le Komiti Fa’atonu fou ua fa’atuina i lalo o le Tulafono.

Ia atonu o se avanoa lelei lenei e fa’atalofa atu ai i tou Afioga i le ulua’i Komiti Fa’atonu a le Pulega, ua fa’atuina i lalo o le Tulafono.

Fa’atalofa atu:

­Lau Afioga Tuia’opo Andrew Aliki, o le Ta’ita’ifono lea o le Komiti Fa’atonu;

Afioga Tuimaseve Kuinimeri Asora-Finau;

­Afioga Peseta Peter Tone;

­Afioga Tagaloa Eddide Wilson; ma le

­Afioga Vaai Kolone Vaai

O outou māmā na. O la outou ta’ita’iga ma le galulue faʻatasi ma le Ofisa Sili ma le aufaigaluega a le Pulega, o le a mautinoa ai le ‘ausia o sini autu ma matafaioi fa’atino a le Pulega, e pei ona fa’atulagaina i le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao mo le Tausaga Fa’aletupe 2025/2026 – 2029/2030. Ia, fa’amanuia tele le Atua i le Pulega ma le amatalia o lana folauga, ma ia fai sona ‘ai mo se manuia o tatou tagata lautele.

Ou te fiafia lava e fa’asilasila atu, ua tatala aloaia nei le Ofisa fou mo le Pulega o Oloa Auina atu i Fafo a Samoa (Samoa Export Authority), fa’apea le Fa’alauiloaina aloaia o le latou Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao (Corporate Plan) mo le ulua’i 5 tausaga o lona fa’atuina.

Soifua ma ia Manuia.

Ata Pueina – Malo o Samoa (Asuisui V. Matafeo)

TATALA ALOAIA LE OFISA FOU O LE PULEGA O OLOA AUINA ATU I FAFO A SAMOA MA LANA FUAFUAGA AUTASI ALUALU MAMAO

SAUNOAGA AUTU a le Afioga i le Palemia, Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa [Aso Tofi 3 Aperila 2025]

Susu lau Susuga i le Ta’ita’i o le Sauniga, lau Susuga Puletua Tapumanaia, Fa’afeagaiga o le Ekalesia EFKS, Penieli Fou, Falelauniu,

Afifio Minisita o le Kapeneta,

Sui o tatou Paaga tau Atina’e,

Afifio Ta’ita’ifono o Komiti Fa’atonu ma Sui o Komiti Fa’afoe o Fa’alapotopotoga a le Malo,

Afifio Sui o Komiti Faufautua o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaiva,

Afifio Fa’auluuluga o Matagaluega ma Fa’alapotopotoga Tumaoti a le Malo,

Aufai Pisinisi Gaosi Oloa Auina atu i Fafo,

Sui o Paaga a le Pulega o Oloa Auina atu i Fafo a Samoa,

Le paia ma le mamalu o Samoa ua potopoto,

E talitonu o lea ua mapu i le tuasivi le faiva o manusina. Ua mae’a fo’i ona utu le uila o matagi auā le fa’amua ma le fa’asani i le Atua ma Lona agalelei. Ua utūialā le sasaga i le ūtugāvai a tausala, ma ua fa’atofolia i tatou i le malilie o sua o vai, auā manū fa’aifo mai le Tapa’au Silisili’ese i le Lagi.

Ou te manatu fo’i ua mae’a paelago pa’ia o Samoa ua potopoto e le Fofoga o le aso, o le a le toe o’o i ai se tala.

Ae e ia te a’u le mitamitaga tele i lenei taeao, ua tatou auai fa’atasi e molimauina le tatalaina aloa’ia o le Ofisa fou o le Pulega o Oloa Auina Atu i Fafo a Samoa. Ua le o po malaē i le tatou fa’atasiga, o le Pulega ua faitau tausaga ona fuafua ma fa’atalatalanoa, ma ua leva fo’i ona fai galuega mo lona tau fa’atūina, e aofia ai le faufauina o ana Faiga Fa’avae, ma sana Tulafono Autū.

Pei ona silafia, o le Tulafono o le Pulega o Oloa Auina Atu i Fafo a Samoa 2024, sa pasia lea e le Palemene i lana fonotaga i le masina o Aukuso 2024, ma sa sainia ai e lana Afioga i le Ao Mamalu o le Malō, i le Aso 22 Aukuso, 2024. O lea Tulafono, ua fa’atuina ai le Pulega, o se Fa’alapotopotoga ua Tu’ufa’atasia Fa’aletulafono (Body Corporate).

E le gata i le tatala aloa’iaina o le Ofisa fou, ae o le taeao nei, o le a fa’apea fo’i ona tatou amana’iaina ai le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao a le Pulega (Corporate Plan) mo lona ulua’i 5 tausaga o lona fa’atūina, mai le tausaga fa’aletupe 2025/2026 se’ia o’o i le 2029/2030. O le avea o le 5 tausaga e fa’atulaga ai le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao, ina ia o gatasi ma le fa’avae fa’ata’oto a le Malō, mo le Pulega e avea ma Public Beneficial Body i le 5 tausaga muamua mai lona fa’atuina, ona toe iloilo lea pe agava’a ona liliu e avea ma Public Trading Body.

E pei ona lau silafia, o le fa’avae autū sa a’e ai le tofā mo le fa’atuina o le Pulega, o le tau fo’ia lea o le fa’afitauli tugā, i le ova mamao o le tele o oloa fa’aulufale mai i Samoa, pe a fa’atusatusa i oloa auina atu i fafo. I le taimi nei, e tusa ma le $1 piliona Tala tupe fa’aalu a Samoa i oloa fa’aulufale mai, ae na o le 10% o lea aofa’iga, e maua mai lea i ana oloa auina atu i fafo. O se tulaga lē paleni tele lea i fefa’atauaiga o oloa, ua fa’ama’ia ai le atina’e o le tatou atunu’u, ma o se tulaga e tatau ona vave fo’ia.

O le Tulafono o le Pulega o Oloa Auina Atu i Fafo a Samoa 2024, fa’apea le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao ua tatou patipatia i le taeao nei, o lo’o fa’ata’atitia, ma aiaia ai matafaioi tau’ave, fa’apea galuega poutū a le Pulega.

O sini ma galuega autū o le Pulega, e aofia ai le fesoasoani malosi i le fa’amaopo’opoina ma le fa’afaigofieina o le auina atu i fafo o a tatou oloa, e ala i faiga fa’apa’aga ma isi fa’alapotopotoga ‘ese’ese a le Malo ua tutusa malosi’aga, e pei o le Matagalujega o Pisinisi, Alamanuia ma Leipa (MCIL) ma le Matagaluega o le Va i Fafo ma Fefa’ataua’iga (MFAT), aemaise vaega tuma’oti e i ai le Au faifa’ato’aga ma au’aunaga e mafai ona auina atu i fafo. E aofia ai fo’i le fesoasoani malosi mo alamanuia mo le aufai fa’ato’aga lima vaivai ma alalafaga o lo o gāfātia i le galuea’ina o latou fanua ma ‘ele’ele fa’aleaganu’u, e ala lea i galuega fuafuaina a le Pulega.

O galuega tau’ave autu a le Pulega, e aofia ai le fa’ateleina o fua faifa’ato’aga e fuafua mo ‘oloa, pe o le gaosia o ‘oloa e ‘auina atu i fafo, e ala lea i le fesoasoani e sui faiga faifa’ato’aga, mai i le na o le gaosia mo taumafa fa’ale’āiga (subsistence), ae faifa’ato’aga e gaosia taumafa fa’apea le faifa’apisinisi (commercialization).

E le gata i lea, o galuega tau’ave autū a le Pulega, e aofia ai fo’i le fa’amaopo’opo ma fa’afeso’ota’iga o le ‘au faifa’ato’aga, le ‘au fa’atau’oloa, ma i latou uma o lo o faia au’aunaga mo le atina’eina o oloa auina atu i fafo, aemaise o le fa’amautinoaina o lo’o iai se si’osi’omaga talafeagai mo le auina atu i fafo o a tatou oloa. O le Pulega fo’i e na te una’ia malosi le fa’alauiloaina o a tatou oloa e auina pe fefa’ataua’i atu i fafo.

I lona aotelega, o le Pulega ua fa’atuina ina ia mafai ai ona fa’afaigofie ma fa’amaopo’opo le auina atu i fafo o ‘oloa ma au’aunaga mai Samoa. O le fa’amoemoe autū, ia mafai lea ona tele ‘oloa ma au’aunaga auina atu i fafo, ina ia manuia ai o tatou tagata, o le toatele o i latou o faifa’ato’aga mai nu’u i tua.

A o le’i fa’amutaina la’u tautalaga, ou te avatu le fa’amalō tele i le Komiti Fa’atonu Le Tumau a le Pulega, o i latou ia sa latou ta’imua i le tu’ufa’atasiga o le Tulafono mo le Pulega, ma sa ta’ita’iina fo’i galuega fai mo le fa’atuina o le Pulega, e aofia ai le fa’afouina o le Ofisa, ma sa galulue fa’atasi ma le Pule Sili, i le tu’ufa’atasia o le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao ‘ua tatou patipatia i le taeao nei.

E fa’apea fo’i ‘ona momoli le fa’afetai tele i le Matagaluega o Fa’alapotopotoga a le Malō (MPE), sa ‘avea ma failautusi (Secretariat) a le Komiti Fa’atonu Le Tumau, i le 12 masina o le latou galuega. Fa’afetai i le Komiti Le Tumau, ‘ua ma’ea la outou galuega sa tofia ai ‘outou e le Kapeneta, fa’amalo le fai o le faiva:

I lau Afioga i le Ta’ita’ifono o le Komiti le Tumau, lau Afioga Tagaloa Eddie Wilson;

­Lau Afioga Fa’amausili Dr Matagialofi Lua’iufi;

­Lau Afioga Tuisa Tasi Patea;

­Fa’apea sui ex-officios: Afioga Saoleititi Maeva Betham-Vaai, ma le Afioga ia Pouli Dr Keneti Faulalo.

Talitonu ‘ua ‘outou fausia se paepae maumaututū e fai ma fa’avae malosi e fa’atino ai galuega fai a le Pulega i le ta’ita’iga a le Komiti Fa’atonu fou ua fa’atuina i lalo o le Tulafono.

Ia atonu o se avanoa lelei lenei e fa’atalofa atu ai i tou Afioga i le ulua’i Komiti Fa’atonu a le Pulega, ua fa’atuina i lalo o le Tulafono.

Fa’atalofa atu:

­Lau Afioga Tuia’opo Andrew Aliki, o le Ta’ita’ifono lea o le Komiti Fa’atonu;

Afioga Tuimaseve Kuinimeri Asora-Finau;

­Afioga Peseta Peter Tone;

­Afioga Tagaloa Eddide Wilson; ma le

­Afioga Vaai Kolone Vaai

O outou māmā na. O la outou ta’ita’iga ma le galulue faʻatasi ma le Ofisa Sili ma le aufaigaluega a le Pulega, o le a mautinoa ai le ‘ausia o sini autu ma matafaioi fa’atino a le Pulega, e pei ona fa’atulagaina i le Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao mo le Tausaga Fa’aletupe 2025/2026 – 2029/2030. Ia, fa’amanuia tele le Atua i le Pulega ma le amatalia o lana folauga, ma ia fai sona ‘ai mo se manuia o tatou tagata lautele.

Ou te fiafia lava e fa’asilasila atu, ua tatala aloaia nei le Ofisa fou mo le Pulega o Oloa Auina atu i Fafo a Samoa (Samoa Export Authority), fa’apea le Fa’alauiloaina aloaia o le latou Fuafuaga Autasi Alualu Mamao (Corporate Plan) mo le ulua’i 5 tausaga o lona fa’atuina.

Soifua ma ia Manuia.

Ata Pueina – Malo o Samoa (Asuisui V. Matafeo)

April 16, 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 15 APR 2025 9:20PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, met with the Chief General Managers (CGMs) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) circles today at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, along with CMD BSNL and the board of directors of BSNL, as part of a comprehensive review and strategic alignment of BSNL’s ongoing transformation journey. Secretary Telecom and other senior officers of DoT also graced the occasion.

The meeting involved wide-ranging discussions focused on growth strategy, improvement in network performance, customer service delivery, and organizational modernization. It also reinforced BSNL’s positioning as a consumer-centric telecom service provider with a clear mandate of “Revenue First” targets across all business units.

As a government-owned CPSE, BSNL is undergoing a major service transformation and has declared April 2025 as “Customer Service Month” across all circles, business areas, and units. This initiative reflects BSNL’s renewed focus on “Customer First” culture, emphasizing proactive customer engagement, service responsiveness, and grievance redressal.

During the two-day CGM meet, Circle Heads are being briefed and aligned on re-engaging customers across rural, urban, enterprise, and retail segments. Special focus areas included:

• Reconnecting with customers across rural, urban, enterprise, and retail segments
• Enhancing Quality of Service (QoS) in mobile networks and FTTH
• Addressing customer grievances in billing, provisioning, and uptime
• Driving accountability and revenue-first targets at every operational level
• Enterprise connectivity, VPN solutions, leased line services, other new business areas.

The Hon’ble Minister appreciated BSNL’s efforts and stressed the importance of measurable outcomes in customer experience and revenue generation.

BSNL has recently launched several new initiatives to enhance service offerings and customer value:

• 4G expansion and rollout in multiple circles
• Introduction of IFTV and BiTV platforms for next-gen infotainment
• BSNL National Wi-Fi Roaming
• Tailored BSNL VPN and bundled packages for enterprise and government users
• CNPN Projects for High-reliability connectivity for mission-critical national infrastructure.
• Spam! Free Network for the First of its kind–BSNL’s solution for eliminating scam and spam communications in real-time
• Direct-to-Device Service.

With a focus on execution, BSNL is driving a renewed push towards becoming a digitally empowered, service-oriented, and financially sustainable telecom operator, committed to connecting and empowering Bharat.

****

Samrat/Allen

(Release ID: 2122005) Visitor Counter : 17

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 16 APR 2025 8:45AM by PIB Delhi

To recognize professionals delivering excellence in National Highway development, the sixth edition of ‘National Highways Excellence Awards 2023’ (NHEA 2023) were held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari along with Shri Harsh Malhotra, Hon’ble Minister of State and Dr V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog; senior officials from MoRTH, NHAI and other stakeholders were present on the occasion.   

NHEA 2023 commemorated various officials and concessionaire/contractors for their innovation and exceptional performance. Out of total 125 nominations, 22 entries were shortlisted by the jury through multiple assessment rounds and five awards for outstanding projects were awarded in different categories. In the ‘Excellence in Project Management (PPP) category, the winner H.G. Infra Engineering Ltd was conferred with the Silver Award for the project Ateli Mandi to Narnaul section of NH-11 & Narnaul Bypass as an economic corridor in Haryana. Under the ‘Excellence in Project Management (EPC)’ category, Bhartia Infra Projects was awarded the Silver Award for Hakanjuri to Khonsa section of NH-315A in Arunachal Pradesh. The ‘Excellence in Operation & Maintenance (Flexible)’ category had Nanguneri Kanyakumari Tollway Pvt Ltd being bestowed with the Gold Award for Madurai to Kanyakumari of NH-7 Package 4 in Tamil Nadu. In the Green Highways category, Ashoka Buildcon Ltd won the Gold award for Kandi to Ramsanpalle section of NH-161 in Telangana and Deccan Tollways Ltd won the Silver Award for Maharashtra-Karnataka border to Sangareddy section of NH-65 in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The Best Engineer Award was conferred to Shri Navratan, DGM & PD, NHAI, Shri Devender Kumar, GM, NHIDCL and Shri Subhash Chandra, RO Itanagar, MoRTH. Special recognition was given to Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) for its unwavering commitment to quality, transparency and social responsibility. 

During the day long event, winners of the पथ चिंतन Hackathon were also felicitated for their innovative ideas and tech-driven solutions that will contribute in transforming India’s National Highway infrastructure.

Encouraging adoption of innovative practices in National Highway development, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in his keynote address said, “Our goal is to raise the bar for quality, ownership & decision-making in road construction. With collective responsibility, we can create global benchmarks & achieve higher daily construction targets.” 

Addressing the audience, Hon’ble Minister of State for MoRTH & Corporate Affairs, Shri Harsh Malhotra said “Our highways are just not concrete roads, they are the roads of progress for our country. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is going to play a very important role in the vision of Viksit Bharat in 2047.” 

In his address Shri V. Umashankar, Secretary, MoRTH said “As we advance rapidly in National Highway development, we are equally prioritizing quality construction. The quality of highways we give right now is the legacy we will be leaving behind for the next generation. Highway construction is not just a technical endeavor, but a collective effort of vision, innovation, and pride. Our goal is to set new benchmarks in engineering excellence and embracing new technologies for highway development, that will contribute towards our shared commitment towards nation-building.”

In his address NHAI Chairman Shri Santosh Kumar Yadav highlighted the importance of enhancing collaboration between different stakeholders to achieve excellence in National highway development. He also underlined the collective impact of regular capacity-building of all stakeholders to create a world class National Highway network.  

Focused panel discussions with senior officials, academicians from various IITs, representatives of research institutes and industry experts were also held on various aspects of highway development which included deliberations on ‘New technologies in Highway Construction and Use of Technology in Quality Control’, ‘Highway Development in Hilly Areas’, ‘Rating of DPR Consultants/AEs and Road Construction Agencies’ and ‘Emergence of Indian Construction Companies as Global Players’.     

Institutionalized in 2018, National Highway Excellence Awards aims to incentivize and encourage key stakeholders and to create a spirit of healthy competition amongst all the stakeholders involved in the development of National Highway infrastructure in the country.

***

GDH

 

(Release ID: 2122004) Visitor Counter : 40

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Edmund Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
 
Question:
 
     Under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112), an individual who is either ordinarily resident in Hong Kong or a temporary resident may elect for personal assessment on the individual’s income, thereby becoming eligible for the basic personal allowance and other related tax concessions (personal tax concessions). However, there are views that such tax policy has rendered certain elderly people who have moved to reside in the Mainland for retirement and rely solely on rental income from letting properties in Hong Kong for their livelihood not being eligible for personal tax concessions. This, to a certain extent, deviates from the Government’s policy direction of encouraging elderly people to retire in the Mainland. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether, in the past three years, the Inland Revenue Department has received enquiries or requests for assistance from retired elderly people who have moved to reside in the Mainland and rely solely on rental income from letting properties in Hong Kong for their livelihood due to their ineligibility for personal tax concessions; if so, of the number of such cases, as well as the highest and average amounts of tax involved in such cases;
 
(2) whether the authorities will consider introducing property tax relief measures for elderly people who have no income other than rental income from letting properties in Hong Kong and have moved to reside in the Mainland; and
 
(3) whether the authorities will comprehensively review the tax and cash welfare policies for the elderly and, on the premise of preventing abuse, allow those elderly people who choose to retire in the Mainland to enjoy essentially the same tax and cash welfare policies as those retiring in Hong Kong, so as to prevent tax policies from deviating from the policy direction of encouraging elderly people to retire in the Mainland, and to help promote retirement in the Mainland among elderly people; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     Hong Kong has all along adopted a territorial source principle in the collection of profits tax, salaries tax, and property tax. At the same time, the Inland Revenue Ordinance provides for several allowances, deduction items and reliefs. Different eligibility criteria have been established for them, including territorial restriction for taxpayers, to meet their policy intents and to address the risk of abuse during implementation.
 
     Personal assessment is a tax relief arrangement under the Inland Revenue Ordinance. It allows proprietors or partners who operate a business to earn profits, as well as property owners who rent out properties to earn rental income to claim the deductions under salaries tax and calculate their tax amount at the progressive rates of salaries tax, thereby reducing their tax liability. One of the conditions for electing personal assessment is that the individual must be either “ordinarily resident in Hong Kong” or a “temporary resident”. If an individual is “ordinarily resident in Hong Kong”, it means that he/she resides in Hong Kong voluntarily and for a settled purpose (such as for education, business, employment or family etc.) with sufficient degree of continuity. A “temporary resident” means an individual who stays in Hong Kong for a period or a number of periods amounting to more than 180 days during the year of assessment for which the election is made, or for a period or periods amounting to more than 300 days in two consecutive years of assessment, one of which is the year of assessment for which the election is made.
 
     Having consulted the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the replies to the questions raised by the Hon Edmund Wong are as follows:
 
(1) The Inland Revenue Department handles a large number of inquiries from taxpayers regarding tax assessments, deductions, allowances, etc. through various channels such as telephone, email, mail, and counter services every year. They do not keep records by the types of inquiries.
 
(2) and (3) The inclusion of the condition of being “ordinarily resident in Hong Kong” or a “temporary resident” under personal assessment is in line with Hong Kong’s territorial source principle of taxation. If such condition is relaxed to cover elderly persons who have relocated to the Mainland and have no income other than the rental income from Hong Kong properties, it would be difficult for the Inland Revenue Department to verify the information on their residence and income in the Mainland, and thus to ascertain their eligibility. It could easily lead to abuse of the relief measure. For the same reason, the Government has no plan to introduce property tax relief for these elderly persons.
 
     The Government has put in place portable arrangements for all cash assistance schemes targeting Hong Kong elderly persons. The arrangements facilitate Hong Kong elderly persons’ retirement in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces. The relevant arrangements cover the Old Age Allowance for Hong Kong elderly persons aged 70 or above; the Old Age Living Allowance for Hong Kong elderly persons aged 65 or above in need of financial assistance; and the Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme which provides cash assistance to Hong Kong elderly persons who cannot support themselves financially.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Siu-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
 
Question:
 
It is learnt that there are different organisations in Hong Kong (e.g. research and development centres, research institutes and statutory bodies) which are responsible for promoting and co-ordinating the development of innovation and technology (I&T), and among them, some are wholly owned by or established with funding support from the Government, while some others are established as independent legal entities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following information on the aforesaid organisations, which are wholly owned by, established or operated with funding support from the Government, and statutory bodies (such as the Cyberport and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation) (including the existing ones and those under formation): (i) ‍objectives of the organisations, (ii) positioning of the organisations, and (iii) their responsibilities, together with a breakdown by their respective sectors (i.e. upstream, midstream and downstream) in the I&T ecosystem;
 
(2) whether it has examined if the organisations mentioned in (1) have overlapping or similar functions; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) whether it will adopt a “zero-based mindset” (i.e. a mindset of getting rid of the existing framework and thinking from scratch) in planning afresh the resources currently allocated to I&T development, such as by reorganising or merging organisations with similar functions, so as to better dovetail with the development strategies put forward in the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint?
 
Reply:

President,
 
The consolidated reply in response to the questions raised by the Hon Chan Siu-hung is as follows:
 
Infrastructure is the cornerstone of innovation and technology (I&T) development, while the foundation of such development is research and development (R&D). In the past years, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has devoted substantial resources to implement a series of infrastructural projects and established various R&D institutes and platforms, with a view to enhancing our local I&T ecosystem continuously. Such organisations include the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), Cyberport, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the R&D Centres under the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC).
 
Established in 2001, the HKSTPC is a statutory body wholly owned by the Government. As an I&T flagship in Hong Kong, the HKSTPC is committed to providing infrastructure facilities, incubation programmes and one-stop support services for I&T enterprises, thereby promoting the development of a comprehensive I&T ecological chain encompassing the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors in Hong Kong. The HKSTPC is responsible for managing and operating the Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, the InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong, and the three InnoParks in Tai Po, Yuen Long and Tseung Kwan O, supporting around 1 700 enterprises, covering various technology areas including biomedical technology, electronics, green technology, information and communications technology, and material and precision engineering.
 
Cyberport, a company wholly-owned by the Government, has been in operation since 2004. As Hong Kong’s digital technology flagship, Cyberport comprises more than 2 200 enterprises including over 900 onsite companies and nine Hong Kong unicorns, covering areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, smart living, financial technology and blockchain. It endeavours to promote the development of the digital technology ecosystem in Hong Kong through a series of incubation programmes and support measures targeting the development needs of digital technology start-ups at different stages. Cyberport also supports R&D and application projects of different I&T institutes and companies through its digital and computing power facilities including the AI Supercomputing Centre.
 
As for the HKPC which was established in 1967, it is a statutory organisation dedicated to promoting the productivity excellence of Hong Kong’s enterprises through advanced technologies and innovative services. The HKPC has set out development priorities focusing on, among other areas, “Intelligent Manufacturing”, “New Industrialisation – Made in Hong Kong”, “Smart and Green Living” and “FutureSkills”, to serve small and medium enterprises and start-ups and promote commercialisation in the downstream.
 
Meanwhile, the R&D Centres under the ITC (including the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre and the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI)) have been taking forward industry-driven applied R&D work that suits market needs and transferring technologies to the industries through contract researches, licensing arrangements, etc, to commercialise their R&D outcomes.
 
To expedite Hong Kong’s progress of developing into an international I&T centre, the current-term Government announced the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint (Blueprint) in end-2022. The Blueprint provides a systematic strategic plan to promote the development of I&T in Hong Kong. Alongside consolidating our strengths in upstream basic R&D, the mid-to-downstream transformation and commercialisation of the R&D outcomes would also be strengthened, with a view to further enhancing our I&T ecosystem and accelerating the development of Hong Kong’s new real economy. In the past two years or so, following the development directions and strategies set out in the Blueprint, the current-term Government has been making meticulous preparation in policy formulation and resource allocation. Layout of Hong Kong’s I&T system’s structural framework has been set, which is crucial to pooling international I&T resources and talents. The objective is to promote the innovation and diversification of industries through I&T to achieve Hong Kong’s high-quality development.
 
On the basis of the two existing major I&T parks, the HKSAR Government is taking forward the construction of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (the Hong Kong Park) with enhanced speed and efficiency. The Hong Kong Park is developed in two phases from west to east, and focuses on the development of frontier technological fields, such as life and health technology, AI and data science, as well as new technologies and advanced manufacturing. It mainly engages in R&D, pilot production and small-scale production. Batch 1 of Phase 1 of the Hong Kong Park comprises eight buildings. The first three buildings are all about to complete and the Hong Kong Park will officially enter into its operational phase later this year. The Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park Limited, vested with the responsibility to build the superstructure of, as well as to operate, maintain and manage the Hong Kong Park, is pressing ahead with the work on attracting tenants as well as the construction of the other five buildings. With the official opening of the Hong Kong Park this year, the “north, central, south” layout plan for the three major I&T parks in Hong Kong will essentially be realised. For the Hong Kong Park to the north of Hong Kong, which connects to Shenzhen in the north and the San Tin Technopole in the south, it will become a key hub for R&D as well as pilot production and transformation in Hong Kong in future. The Science Park in the central part of Hong Kong will continue to support the R&D of deep technology and nurture more local technology start-ups. As for Cyberport to the south of Hong Kong, it will continue to focus on promoting the development of the local digital technology and AI ecosystem, as well as incubating more relevant start-ups and talents.
 
Besides, taking into account the technological development and in line with the development strategies set out in the Blueprint, we will restructure the overall layout of Hong Kong’s public research institutes with a focus on frontier technological fields at the forefront of the country’s and Hong Kong’s development priorities, including life and health technology, AI and robotics and microelectronics technology. Apart from incorporating the Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre into the HKPC earlier and our plans to merge the ASTRI and the NAMI, we established the Hong Kong Microelectronics R&D Institute last year to provide targeted support for the R&D of third-generation semiconductor core technology. We are also pressing ahead at full steam to set up two third-generation semiconductor pilot lines (Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN)), striving to put them into operation next year to promote the transformation of R&D outcomes and industry development.
 
In addition, the HKSAR Government has already allocated $6 billion from the $10 billion earmarked for the promotion of life and health technology to launch the Subsidy Programme for the Setup of Life and Health Technology Research Institute(s) (the Subsidy Programme), thereby supporting local universities to set up life and health technology research institute(s). Institutions have been invited to submit proposals for the Subsidy Programme to foster cross university/institutional and multi-disciplinary collaboration.
 
Furthermore, the 2025-26 Budget announced that $1 billion has been set aside for the establishment of the Hong Kong AI R&D Institute (AIRDI), which will spearhead and support Hong Kong’s innovative R&D and industry applications of AI, facilitating upstream R&D, midstream and downstream transformation of R&D outcomes, and expanding application scenarios. The Digital Policy Office is formulating a detailed plan for the establishment of AIRDI, including drawing up its public mission, implementation strategy and work objectives.
 
We believe that, upon establishing the new I&T system with three major I&T parks and five key R&D institutes, it will create an important platform and more favourable conditions to attract international I&T resources and talents to Hong Kong, providing key support to Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre.