Category: MIL-OSI

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LCQ20: Measures to support carers

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Tik Chi-yuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that in recent years, a prolonged lack of external support has caused heavy physical and mental pressure to quite a number of carers and even led to unfortunate incidents. Hence, some community groups have advocated the establishment of a “register of carers”, with a view to accurately and promptly identifying high-risk cases and providing relevant support to prevent the recurrence of tragedies. In addition, the Government has proposed in the 2024 Policy Address the setting up of an inter-‍disciplinary and inter-organisation database for carers for early identification of high-risk cases and provision of support, and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare indicated in a media interview in February this year that the authorities were pressing ahead with the preparatory work for the database. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) how the Government defines “carers”, and what specific criteria and parameters the Government will adopt in identifying carers;
 
(2) of the specific benchmarks adopted by the Government for classifying “high-risk”, “medium-risk” and “low-risk” carers, including whether factors such as the carers’ physical and mental health, financial situation, social support network and care burden will be taken into account in classifying them;
 
(3) of the Government’s specific implementation timetable (including phased implementation arrangement) for setting up the database for carers;
 
(4) of the major difficulties currently faced by the Government in taking forward the setting up of the database for carers (including but not limited to challenges in areas such as cross-departmental collaboration, information collection, privacy protection and resource allocation); and
 
(5) apart from identifying high-risk carers, whether the Government will concurrently expand the relevant support services (including but not limited to increasing the provision of day care services and respite services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, as well as psychological support services for carers) and regularise the carer allowance schemes with the exemption from the restrictions on double benefits?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     In response to the Dr the Hon Tik Chi-yuen’s question, our reply is as follows:
 
(1) The Government is committed to providing diversified services to support carers. To meet the needs of individuals, government bureaux and departments may define carers for individual measures in ways aligned with their specific goals and target groups to ensure appropriate support is provided to carers under their respective programmes and policy objectives.
 
     As far as welfare policy is concerned, the Government has been progressively implementing a number of measures since 2023 to enhance support for carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities. The Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department are committed to providing various services to support carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities, including financial assistance, care skills training, counselling and emotional support, and in parallel, providing the elderly and persons with disabilities with personal care, home cleaning, rehabilitation training, respite services, etc, to enhance the carers’ caring capacity and relieve their pressure.
 
(2) to (4) The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the Government is exploring the setting up of an inter-disciplinary and inter-organisation database on carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities, with a view to identifying high-risk cases for early intervention and support. Preliminary, the database will cover older carers and low-income carers. As the purposes of data collection by different organisations may not have included the provision of social welfare support services to the persons concerned, the Government is in discussion with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data on the design of data-sharing schemes to ensure they qualify for the relevant exemptions under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO). Meanwhile, we are preparing data from various databases with the aim of carrying out pilot projects in full compliance with the PDPO.
 
(5) Since 2023, the Government has been progressively implementing various measures to enhance support for carers. Key support measures include:
 
(i) Designated Hotline for Carer Support (Carer Hotline): Launched in September 2023, the 24-hour Carer Hotline (182 183) offers immediate consultation and counselling, outreach, emergency support and referral services. It also matches respite services for care recipients in need and provides transportation allowances for carers, assisting them in escorting elderly persons or persons with disabilities to receive respite services;
 
(ii) Information Gateway for Carers: Launched in November 2023, the one-stop Information Gateway for Carers provides information on services for elderly persons, persons with disabilities and their carers; caring skills; and community activities and resources for carers;
 
(iii) Extension of the District Services and Community Care Teams – Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers (the Scheme): In April 2025, the Scheme extended from piloting in Tsuen Wan and Southern District to all 18 districts across the territory. Care Teams will help identify households of singleton and doubleton elderly, and carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities, with a view to providing them with care and support services including information on social welfare services and community resources, referring eligible elderly persons and persons with disabilities to install and use the indoor emergency alarm system (known as “Safety Bell”); and referring cases in need to social welfare service units for follow-up;
 
(iv) Expansion of the respite service network: Starting from October and December 2023 respectively, around 20 Homes under the Bought Place Scheme (BPS) for Private Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities and around 140 private residential care homes for the elderly participated in the Enhanced BPS, offering day respite services to persons with disabilities and elderly persons in need respectively when vacancies in residential respite placements arise. From December 2024, about 120 service units participating in the Community Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly have expanded their day care services from center-based services that only serve voucher holders to providing day respite services for any elderly persons in need, allowing carers to select respite service points in the vicinity according to their needs;
 
(v) Utilising technology to relieve carer burden and stress: The Government has injected an additional $1 billion to the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care (I&T Fund) in 2024-25, and expanded the scope of the I&T Fund to cover technology products suitable for household use. Eligible elderly and rehabilitation services units can apply to purchase suitable technology products for lending to elderly persons, persons with disabilities and their carers for use at home, so as to improve the quality of life of service users and relieve the burden and pressure of carers; and
 
(vi) Scheme on Living Allowance for Carers of Elderly Persons from Low-income Families and Scheme on Living Allowance for Low-income Carers of Persons with Disabilities (the Carer Allowance Schemes): The Carer Allowance Schemes have been incorporated into the Government’s regular assistance programmes since October 2023, providing a cash living allowance to the carers of low-income families who do not receive Comprehensive Social Security Assistance or Old Age Living Allowance, to help supplement their living expenses.

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The cumulative exports (merchandise & services) during FY 2024-25 (April-March) is estimated to grow by 5.50% at US$ 820.93 Billion, as compared to US$ 778.13 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 16 APR 2025 8:48AM by PIB Delhi

 The cumulative value of merchandise exports during FY 2024-25 (April-March) was US$ 437.42 Billion, registering a positive growth of 0.08%, as compared to US$ 437.07 Billion during FY 2023-24 (April-March).

The cumulative Non-Petroleum exports in FY 2024-25 (April-March) valued at US$ 374.08 Billion registered an increase of 6.0% as compared to US$ 352.92 Billion in FY 2023-24

Major drivers of merchandise exports growth in FY 2024-25 (April-March) include Coffee, Tobacco, Electronic Goods, Rice, Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering, Meat, dairy & poultry products, Tea, Carpet, Plastic & Linoleum, RMG of all Textiles, Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items, Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals, Engineering Goods and Fruits & Vegetables.

Coffee exports increased by 40.37% from US$ 1.29 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 1.81 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Tobacco exports increased by 36.53% from US$ 1.45 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 1.98 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Electronic Goods exports increased by 32.47% from US$ 29.12 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 38.58 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Rice exports increased by 19.73% from US$ 10.42 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 12.47 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering exports increased by 13.35% from US$ 0.34 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 0.38 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Meat, dairy & poultry products exports increased by 12.57% from US$ 4.53 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 5.1 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Tea exports increased by 11.84% from US$ 0.83 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 0.92 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Carpet exports increased by 10.46% from US$ 1.4 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 1.54 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Plastic & Linoleum exports increased by 10.23% from US$ 8.09 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 8.92 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

RMG of all Textiles exports increased by 10.03% from US$ 14.53 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 15.99 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Drugs & Pharmaceuticals exports increased by 9.39% from US$ 27.85 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 30.47 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items exports increased by 8.71% from US$ 2.85 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 3.1 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals exports increased by 6.95% from US$ 4.68 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 5.01 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Engineering Goods exports increased by 6.74% from US$ 109.3 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 116.67 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

Fruits & Vegetables exports increased by 5.67% from US$ 3.66 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March) to US$ 3.87 Billion in FY 2024-25 (April-March).

India’s total exports (Merchandise and Services combined) for March 2025* is estimated at US$ 73.61 Billion, registering a positive growth of 2.65 percent vis-à-vis March 2024. Total imports (Merchandise and Services combined) for March 2025* is estimated at US$ 77.23 Billion, registering a positive growth of 4.90 percent vis-à-vis March 2024.

Table 1: Trade during March 2025*

March 2025

(US$ Billion)

March 2024

(US$ Billion)

Merchandise

Exports

41.97

41.69

Imports

63.51

57.03

Services*

Exports

31.64

30.01

Imports

13.73

16.60

Total Trade

(Merchandise +Services) *

Exports

73.61

71.71

Imports

77.23

73.63

Trade Balance

-3.63

-1.92

* Note: The latest data for services sector released by RBI is for February 2025. The data for March 2025 is an estimation, which will be revised based on RBI’s subsequent release. (ii) Data for FY 2023-24 (April-March) and April-December 2024 has been revised on pro-rata basis using quarterly balance of payments data.

Fig 1: Total Trade during March 2025*

  • India’s total exports during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is estimated at US$ 820.93 Billion registering a positive growth of 5.50 percent. Total imports during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is estimated at US$ 915.19 Billion registering a growth of 6.85 percent.

 

Table 2: Trade during FY 2024-25 (April-March)*

FY 2024-25

 (US$ Billion)

FY 2023-24

 (US$ Billion)

Merchandise

Exports

437.42

437.07

Imports

720.24

678.21

Services*

Exports

383.51

341.06

Imports

194.95

178.31

Total Trade

(Merchandise +Services) *

Exports

820.93

778.13

Imports

915.19

856.52

Trade Balance

-94.26

-78.39

 

Fig 2: Total Trade during FY 2024-25 (April-March)*

MERCHANDISE TRADE

  • Merchandise exports during March 2025 were US$ 41.97 Billion as compared to US$ 41.69 Billion in March 2024.
  • Merchandise imports during March 2025 were US$ 63.51 Billion as compared to US$ 57.03 Billion in March 2024.

 

Fig 3: Merchandise Trade during March 2025

  • Merchandise exports during FY 2024-25 (April-March) were US$ 437.42 Billion as compared to US$ 437.07 Billion during FY 2023-24 (April-March).
  • Merchandise imports during FY 2024-25 (April-March) were US$ 720.24 Billion as compared to US$ 678.21 Billion during FY 2023-24 (April-March).
  • Merchandise trade deficit during FY 2024-25 (April-March) was US$ 282.83 Billion as compared to US$ 241.14 Billion during FY 2023-24 (April-March).

 

Fig 4: Merchandise Trade during FY 2024-25 (April-March)

  • Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in March 2025 were US$ 34.17 Billion compared to US$ 33.66 Billion in March 2024.
  • Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery (gold, silver & precious metals) imports in March 2025 were US$ 37.76 Billion compared to US$ 35.85 Billion in March 2024.

Table 3: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during March 2025

March 2025

(US$ Billion)

March 2024

(US$ Billion)

Non- petroleum exports

37.07

36.28

Non- petroleum imports

44.50

40.68

Non-petroleum & Non-Gems & Jewellery exports

34.17

33.66

Non-petroleum & Non-Gems & Jewellery imports

37.76

35.85

Note: Gems & Jewellery Imports include Gold, Silver & Pearls, precious & Semi-precious stones

 

Fig 5: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during March 2025

 

  • Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in FY 2024-25 (April-March) were US$ 344.26 Billion, compared to US$ 320.21 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).
  • Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery (gold, silver & precious metals) imports in FY 2024-25 (April-March) were US$ 453.62 Billion, compared to US$ 424.67 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).

Table 4: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during FY 2024-25 (April-March)

FY 2024-25

 (US$ Billion)

FY 2023-24

 (US$ Billion)

Non- petroleum exports

374.08

352.92

Non- petroleum imports

534.46

499.48

Non-petroleum & Non Gems & Jewellery exports

344.26

320.21

Non-petroleum & Non Gems & Jewellery imports

453.62

424.67

Note: Gems & Jewellery Imports include Gold, Silver & Pearls, precious & Semi-precious stones

Fig 6: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during FY 2024-25 (April-March)

SERVICES TRADE

  • The estimated value of services export for March 2025* is US$ 31.64 Billion as compared to US$ 30.01 Billion in March 2024.
  • The estimated value of services imports for March 2025* is US$ 13.73 Billion as compared to US$ 16.60 Billion in March 2024.

 

Fig 7: Services Trade during March 2025*

 

  • The estimated value of service exports during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is US$ 383.51 Billion as compared to US$ 341.06 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).
  • The estimated value of service imports during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is US$ 194.95 Billion as compared to US$ 178.31 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).
  • The services trade surplus for FY 2024-25 (April-March)* is US$ 188.57 Billion as compared to US$ 162.75 Billion in FY 2023-24 (April-March).

Fig 8: Services Trade during FY 2024-25 (April-March)*

  • Exports of  Coffee (39.2%), Drugs & Pharmaceuticals (31.21%), Electronic Goods (29.57%), Marine Products (28.56%), Jute Mfg. Including Floor Covering (21.67%), Meat, Dairy & Poultry Products (16.62%), Tobacco (13.95%), Tea (11.25%), Gems & Jewellery (10.62%), Fruits & Vegetables (8.57%), Rice (7.62%), Carpet (6.52%), Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals Including Processed Minerals (6.35%), Rmg Of All Textiles (3.97%), Leather & Leather Products (3.48%), Cereal Preparations & Miscellaneous Processed Items (3.35%), Cotton Yarn/Fabs./Made-Ups, Handloom Products Etc. (2.16%), and Plastic & Linoleum (1.56%) record positive growth during March 2025 over the corresponding month of last year.
  • Exports of Tea (11.84%), Coffee (40.37%), Rice (19.73%), Tobacco (36.53%), Spices (4.78%), Fruits & vegetables (5.67%), Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items (8.71%), Marine products (0.45%), Meat, dairy & poultry products (12.57%), Mica, coal & other ores, minerals including processed minerals (6.95%), Leather and leather products (2.06%), Drugs and pharmaceuticals (9.39%), engineering goods (6.74%), Electronics goods (32.47%), Cotton yarn/fabs/makeups etc (3.19%), Man-made/ yarn/Fabs/made ups etc (4.07%), RMG of Textiles (10.03%), Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering (13.35%), Carpet (10.46%), and Plastic & Linoleum (10.23%) registered positive growth during FY 2024-25 over the previous FY 2023-24.
  • Imports of Project Goods (-87.25%), Silver (-85.39%), Coal, Coke & Briquettes, Etc. (-30.18%), Transport Equipment (-25.53%), Pulses (-23.45%), Newsprint (-17.99%), Pearls, Precious & Semi-Precious Stones (-13.77%) and Pulp and Waste Paper (-11.8%) record negative growth during March 2025 over the corresponding month of last year.
  • Imports of Fertilisers, Crude & Manufactured (-2.21%), Coal, coke & briquettes (20.03%), Dyeing/tanning/colouring materials (-13.42%), Newsprint (-2.71%), Pearls, precious & semi-precious stones (-24.41%), Iron & Steel (-4.61%), Project goods (-18.45%), and Silver (-11.24%) registered negative growth during FY 2024-25 over the previous year FY 2023-24.
  • Services exports is estimated to grow by 12.45 percent during FY 2024-25 (April-March)* over FY 2023-24 (April-March).
  • Top 5 export destinations, in terms of change in value, exhibiting positive growth in March 2025 vis a vis March 2024 are U S A (35.06%), Australia (70.81%), Kenya (98.46%), Togo (46.52%) and             U K (8.43%).
  • Top 5 export destinations, in terms of change in value, exhibiting positive growth in FY 2024-25 (April-March) vis a vis FY 2023-24 (April-March) are U S A (11.59%), U K (12.08%), Japan (21.12%), U Arab Emts (2.84%) and France (11.42%).
  • Top 5 import sources, in terms of change in value, exhibiting growth in March 2025 vis a vis March 2024 are U Arab Emts (57.25%), China P Rp (25.02%), Saudi Arab (44.03%), Kuwait (93.8%) and Ireland (208.09%).
  • Top 5 import sources, in terms of change in value, exhibiting growth in FY 2024-25 (April-March) vis a vis FY 2023-24 (April-March) are U Arab Emts (32.06%), China P Rp (11.52%), Thailand (43.99%), U S A (7.44%) and Russia (4.39%).

*Link for Quick Estimates

***

Abhishek Dayal

(Release ID: 2122016) Visitor Counter : 49

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DH reminds public who plan to travel during Easter holidays to stay vigilant against infectious diseases

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

With the approach of the Easter holidays, the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui, today (April 16) appealed to members of the public who intend to travel to stay alert to the situation of infectious diseases at their destinations and to prevent various infectious diseases, in particular measles, dengue fever (DF) and norovirus infection.
 
Measles
 
Recently, the number of measles cases in some overseas countries has been increasing. The outbreaks in North America (including the United States and Canada), Europe and neighbouring areas (including Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines) are ongoing due to the relatively low vaccination rate. Furthermore, an increasing number of measles cases have also been recorded in Japan and Australia this year. Overseas cases mainly affected people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. This shows the importance of maintaining a high vaccination rate and herd immunity within the community.
 
Vaccination is the safest and most effective preventive measure against measles. For those who plan to travel to measles-endemic areas, they should check their vaccination records and medical history as early as possible. If they have not been diagnosed with measles through laboratory tests and have never received two doses of the measles vaccine or are not sure if they have received the measles vaccine, they should consult a doctor at least two weeks prior to their trip for vaccination. Healthy people in general can enjoy long-term, even lifelong protection after receiving the measles vaccination as recommended. Two doses of the measles-containing vaccine can confer protection of up to 97 per cent.
 
The incubation period of measles is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If such symptoms appear after returning from measles-endemic areas, people should wear surgical masks, stay home from work or school, avoid crowded places and contact with unvaccinated people, especially those with weak immune systems, pregnant women and children under 1 year old, and should consult their doctors as soon as possible.
 
Dengue fever

During their travels, members of the public are urged to stay vigilant against mosquito-borne diseases, including DF, Japanese encephalitis, zika virus infection, and malaria, with DF being a particular concern, and to carry out stringent anti-mosquito measures. In 2024, the World Health Organization recorded over 14 million cases of DF, which was a record number of cases. Some popular travel destinations for Hong Kong citizens, such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, are also endemic areas for DF.
​
Members of the public should follow these anti-mosquito measures when travelling to areas affected by DF to reduce the chance of acquiring mosquito-borne diseases during travels and spreading the diseases to others through mosquitoes:
 

  • Wear loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved tops and trousers;
  • Use DEET-containing insect repellent on exposed parts of the body and clothing. For details about the use of insect repellents and key points to be observed, please refer to Tips for using insect repellents;
  • When engaging in outdoor activities, avoid using fragrant cosmetics or skincare products, reapply insect repellents according to instructions, and apply insect repellents after sunscreen if both are used; and
  • Apply insect repellent for 14 days upon returning to Hong Kong from areas affected by DF.

 
Norovirus infection
 
Norovirus is more active in winter, and the virus can be transmitted through various means, such as eating contaminated food, contacting with the vomit or excreta of infected persons, and touching contaminated objects. It may lead to an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE). With the current AGE activities in popular travel destinations for Hong Kong citizens, such as Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, being higher than during the same period last year, and with temperatures in some areas remaining low, members of the public are still at risk of infection during travels.
 
Norovirus is also a common cause of food poisoning and is often related to consumption of undercooked or raw shellfish. Therefore, the following points on food safety should be observed during travels:
 

  • Patronise reliable and licensed restaurants;
  • Avoid raw food or undercooked food, especially raw seafood or meat;
  • Be careful in choosing cold cuts, including sashimi, sushi and oysters in buffets;
  • When having hotpots or barbecuing, make sure the food is thoroughly cooked before eating;
  • Drink boiled water; and
  • Wash hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water before eating and after using the toilet.

 
Dr Tsui reminded returned travellers to consult a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms such as fever, respiratory symptoms, rash or gastroenteritis symptoms, and to inform the doctor of their travel history for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
 
     “The CHP will continue to monitor the situation of infectious diseases locally and abroad and provide timely updates to members of the public to keep them informed about the development of infectious diseases and help them prepare for precautionary measures,” Dr Tsui said. 
 
The public may visit the DH’s Travel Health Service webpage for the latest information on infectious disease outbreaks in various parts of the world and the preventive measures.

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LCQ2: Organisations promoting and co-ordinating development of innovation and technology

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.

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Public welcome to watch 15th National Games Beach Volleyball test event

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Public welcome to watch 15th National Games Beach Volleyball test event 
     Nine men’s teams and eight women’s teams will participate in the three-day test event. In both the men’s and women’s tournaments, participating teams will be divided into two groups with each playing a single round robin before they reach the knockout stage. There will be two sessions on the first day, which are from 9.30am to 2.30pm, and from 4pm to 8.30pm. For the other two days, matches will be held from noon to 8.30pm on the second day and from noon to 8pm on the last day.
 
     The test event is organised by the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) and co-organised by the Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China, with the China Volleyball Association as advisor. Tickets have been distributed to the public through the Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China. Those who possess a ticket will undergo a security check at the public entrance located at a soccer pitch of Victoria Park and watch the event in the public viewing area. The public entrance is accessible from MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit E via Great George Street (please refer to the annex for the location). A small number of tickets have been reserved for distribution on-site. Members of the public who are interested may obtain a ticket at the public entrance for admission while stocks last.
 
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) will provide a live webcast of the event (RTHK weblink: www.rthk.hk/nationalgames 
The Police will set up a temporary restricted flying zone (RFZ), extending two kilometres outwards, from the competition venue from 8.30am to 9.30pm on April 18; from 11am to 9.30pm on April 19; and from 11am to 9pm on April 20. No small unmanned aircraft, except those authorised, will be permitted to enter the zone. Details of the temporary RFZ will be shown on the electronic portal for small unmanned aircraft “eSUA”.
 
In addition, the 2025 Hong Kong International Track Cup organised by the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China, which is also the 15th NG Track Cycling test event, will be staged at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O between April 19 and 21.
 
     For information on the 15th NG, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games in Hong Kong, please visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/index.htmlIssued at HKT 11:55

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LCQ14: Immigration clearance service at Hong Kong International Airport

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ14: Immigration clearance service at Hong Kong International Airport 
     It has been reported that passenger throughput at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) reached 53.1 million last year, representing an increase of more than 30 per cent compared to 2023. However, it is learnt that many overseas visitors have to wait for a long time before they could complete immigration clearance procedures at HKIA, which has adversely affected the reputation of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the annual number of inbound and outbound passenger trips at the HKIA control point in the past three years, their average waiting time for immigration clearance (including for those using the Automated Passenger Clearance System (e-Channel) service), and the proportion of cases where the waiting time exceeded the standard of the Immigration Department’s performance pledge;
 
(2) whether it has conducted a survey on the specific difference in the average time taken to clear visitors between HKIA and other major international airports, including those in Japan, Korea, Thailand and Singapore; if not, whether it has plans to conduct such a survey with a view to improving the standard of Hong Kong’s immigration clearance service; and
 
(3) of the total annual number of visitors who used the e-Channel service at HKIA in the past three years, with a breakdown by the country and place of origin; whether it has plans to consider adjusting the eligibility criteria for visitors to register for the e-‍Channel service (e.g. lowering the requirement for the number of visits to Hong Kong by a visitor), thereby broadening the coverage of the service; whether it will allow visitors to opt to use facial recognition technology for self-service immigration clearance so that more visitors who meet the basic eligibility criteria can enjoy the convenience of the automated immigration clearance service; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In 2024, a total of around 298 million passengers passed through Hong Kong’s control points, representing an increase of about 41 per cent over 2023 and a return to the level in 2019. The total number of visitor arrivals was about 44.5 million, representing an increase of about 31 per cent compared to 2023. Among them, around 9.86 million visitors travelled through the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) control point, representing an increase of about 42 per cent over 2023. In response to the significant volume of passenger traffic and adhering to the spirit of striving for excellence and innovation, the Immigration Department (ImmD) keeps leveraging innovative technologies to continuously improve its immigration clearance services. Various facilitation measures have been implemented at control points in order to provide visitors with a more convenient clearance experience.
 
     The reply to the Hon Rock Chen’s question is as follows:
 
(1) In the past three years, the annual number of inbound and outbound passenger trips at the HKIA control point was as follows:
 

Year     Regarding the clearance services at the HKIA control point, the ImmD pledges to clear 95 per cent of visitors within a 15-minute waiting time. Over the past three years, an average of over 99 per cent of visitors were cleared within a 15-minute waiting time each year. During peak passenger traffic periods at the HKIA, the ImmD would flexibly deploy manpower and optimise workflows, including operating additional counters and e-Channels when necessary, to ensure smooth passenger flow.
 
(2) According to the open information from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, in December 2024, the rate at which the major airports in Japan (including New Chitose Airport, Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, Chubu Airport, Kansai Airport, Fukuoka Airport and Naha Airport) cleared inbound visitors within 20 minutes was 66 per cent. As for other major international airports mentioned in the question (i.e. those in Korea, Thailand and Singapore), the respective authorities have not disclosed data on the average immigration waiting time. Meanwhile, in a recent World Passenger Survey commissioned by Skytrax, an international specialist research agent in the air transport industry, the ImmD won the 2025 Skytrax Award for Best Airport Immigration Service. This marks another accomplishment of the ImmD following previous awards in 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020, reflecting the global recognition of the services provided by the ImmD. The ImmD will continue to maintain close ties with immigration authorities worldwide, engaging in exchanges and sharing, as well as learning from their experiences and practices, with a view to introducing further visitor-friendly measures to enhance the level of clearance facilitation, thereby supporting the overall development of Hong Kong.
 
(3) In the past three years, the annual number of inbound and outbound passenger trips using the e-Channel service at the HKIA control point was as follows:
 

Year     The ImmD does not maintain a breakdown of other visitors by country or place of origin.
 
     To enhance the level of convenience for immigration clearance, the ImmD has been leveraging innovative technologies to boost the efficiency of e-Channels and broaden the service to cover more target groups.
 
     Currently, frequent visitors to Hong Kong (typically those who have made visits to Hong Kong via the HKIA for no fewer than three times in the past 12 months) and eligible passport holders from countries that have entered into an agreement with Hong Kong for mutual use of automated clearance services (including Korea, Singapore, Germany, Australia and Thailand) can enrol for the e-Channel service. Eligible visitors to Hong Kong holding Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Travel Passes, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards or Frequent Flyer Programme membership cards issued by relevant airlines can even enrol for the e-Channel service right upon their first arrival in Hong Kong. In addition, the ImmD launched the Smart Departure e-Channels in October 2017 which utilise facial recognition technology to verify visitors’ identities, thereby enabling eligible visitors from over 100 locations to complete self-service departure clearance without prior enrolment. Also, the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons has been launched since March 18, 2025 to provide automated clearance services for invited persons from the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
 
     For visitors from the Mainland and Macao, the ImmD lowered the eligible age from 16 to 11 years old or above for holders of the Mainland’s electronic Exit-Entry Permits for travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao to use the e-Channel service in April 2023. The ImmD also launched the “Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR and Macao SAR Clearance Service” jointly with the Macao authorities in July last year, allowing eligible residents of both places to use QR Codes to pass through the automated clearance channels.
 
     To further reduce waiting time for inbound visitors, the ImmD is actively exploring ways to enhance the e-Channel service arrangements for visitors to Hong Kong, including relaxing application requirements for frequent visitors to Hong Kong and streamlining enrolment procedures. The ImmD will also step up publicity to boost the e-Channel service enrolment rate among visitors. Additionally, the ImmD and the Airport Authority Hong Kong are exploring the feasibility of installing additional e-Channels in the HKIA arrivals hall to cater for the trend that more visitors will use automated clearance service and the increase in demand in the longer term. Taking into account the practical and unique operational needs of immigration clearance at the HKIA, the ImmD is also looking into other measures, such as optimising staff deployment, to flexibly meet service demands while ensuring quality and efficiency of service.
 
     The ImmD will regularly review existing policies and measures, striving to balance effective immigration control with facilitating inbound visitors. Furthermore, the ImmD will continuously strive for innovation in enhancing clearance efficiency as well as broadening the e-Channel service to cover more target groups.
Issued at HKT 11:58

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LCQ22: Enforcement actions against traffic offences and contraventions

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Frankie Yick and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):

Question:

It has been reported that from time to time, the Police conduct enforcement actions against specific vehicles to combat offences under the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374A). However, some commercial vehicle drivers have indicated that the Police’s enforcement actions in recent years have been too stringent (e.g. vehicles which have just passed the annual examination of the Transport Department are still subject to the issuance of vehicle examination orders or towed away for examination), thus affecting the normal operation of the trade and the livelihood of drivers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the following information on the enforcement actions taken by the Police against various types of commercial vehicles in contravention of Cap. 374A in the past two years: the number of such actions, the number of days, the locations and the police resources involved;

(2) of the following information on the offences involving contravention of Cap. 374A in each of the past two years: (i) the number of vehicle examination orders issued, (ii) the number of vehicles towed away for examination and (iii) the number of vehicles which were not found to have contravened the regulations after examination, and set out in the table below a breakdown by vehicle class (i.e. (a) taxi, (b) ‍public light bus, (c) student service vehicle, (d) tourist coach and (e) ‍goods vehicle);
 

Vehicle class (i) (ii) (iii)
2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024
(a)            
……            
(e)            

(3) of the most commonly contravened offences under Cap. 374A in the past two years; whether the authorities will step up publicity and education efforts targeting at offences relating to Cap. 374A, so as to ensure road safety; and

(4) as there are views that the Police’s enforcement actions in respect of traffic offences and contraventions “take the easy way out”, focusing only on unlawful acts relating to the construction of vehicles but neglecting the harm brought about by vehicles used for illegal carriage of passengers for reward (commonly known as “white licence cars”), whether the authorities will step up enforcement actions against white licence cars; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

In respect of the questions about traffic enforcement raised by the Hon Frankie Yick, having consulted the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Transport Department (TD), my reply is as follows:

(1) Taking enforcement action against contraventions of the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374A) is a regular duty of the HKPF. The HKPF does not keep a breakdown of the statistics being enquired.

(2) and (3) The HKPF takes enforcement actions against vehicles which do not comply with the requirements of the Regulations or are unfit for use on road from time to time, including requiring the vehicles concerned to undergo examination to ensure road safety. The vehicle examination dates specified in the vehicle examination orders issued by the TD are normally set at three weeks after the date of issue to allow sufficient time for the vehicle owners to rectify the situation.

The number of vehicles detained and examined by the HKPF for suspected non-compliance with the Regulations or being unfit for road use, the number of vehicle examination orders issued by the TD in respect of referrals made by the HKPF (excluding those which were towed away by the HKPF for examination), and the number of such vehicles which have passed the examination on the first time in the past two years are set out at the Annex. The HKPF does not keep statistics on the most commonly contravened offences under the Regulations.

Based on the number of licensed vehicles in Hong Kong in 2023 and 2024, the number of vehicles detained and inspected by the HKPF (including all types of vehicles such as private cars and commercial vehicles) only accounted for 0.3 per cent of the licensed vehicles. As regards the number of vehicle examination orders issued by the TD in response to the HKPF’s referrals, the number of taxi, light buses, buses and goods vehicles issued with examination orders only accounted for 0 per cent to 0.5 per cent of the licensed vehicles of the respective types. Most of the taxis and light buses subject to examination were able to pass the inspection on the first time.

(4) The Government has been paying close attention to the use of vehicles for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. In taking traffic enforcement actions, apart from following the established guidelines, the HKPF will also consider each case on its own merits and deploy resources flexibly to take appropriate regulatory and enforcement actions. The HKPF has been taking targeted enforcement actions and gathering intelligence through various channels, with a view to combating illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. Where sufficient evidence is found indicating that a vehicle without a valid hire car permit is suspected to be used for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, enforcement actions will be taken accordingly.

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LCQ4: Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kwok-fan and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):

Question:
 
     The Labour Department has implemented the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) since September 2023, suspending the general exclusion of the 26 job categories as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts (job categories) from labour importation for two years. The ESLS will expire in September this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the situation of labour importation for the aforesaid job categories since the implementation of ESLS, including (i) the number of imported workers who have arrived in Hong Kong to work and (ii)‍ the median wage of imported workers, as well as the respective (iii) local employment rates and (iv) median wages of local workers for such job categories;  
President,
 
     To cope with the challenges brought about by manpower shortage and on the premise of ensuring employment priority for local workers, the Government has enhanced the mechanism for importation of labour. Apart from launching sector???specific labour importation schemes for the construction sector, transport sector, and residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities, the Labour Department (LD) has implemented the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) since September 4, 2023, to suspend the general exclusion of the 26 job categories as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts from labour importation under the previous Supplementary Labour Scheme for two years.
 
     In consultation with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), our reply to the Hon Lau Kwok-fan’s questions is as follows: 
     Employers approved to import workers under the ESLS are required to arrange for their prospective imported workers to submit visa/entry permit applications to the Immigration Department within the periods specified in the approval-in-principle letters (generally within six months from the issue dates of the letters). The time of imported workers arriving in Hong Kong depends on the progress of employers’ handling of relevant procedures. The LD does not maintain the number of imported workers who have arrived to work in Hong Kong under the ESLS.
 
     As required by the ESLS, applicant employers must undertake local open recruitment and give priority to employing qualified local workers to fill the vacancies at a salary not lower than the median monthly wage of a comparable position in the market. The median monthly wage by major job categories is at Annex 2. The latest median monthly wage of other common posts is available in the List of Common Posts on LD’s ESLS dedicated webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/plan/iwESLS.htm 
     The C&SD does not compile statistics on local employment rate by job categories under the ESLS.

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Speech by FS at Deutsche Bank Emerging Markets Family Office Forum in Hong Kong 2025 (English only) (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Alexander (Chief Executive Officer Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Germany of Deutsche Bank, Mr Alexander von zur Mühlen), Marco (Head of Emerging Markets of Deutsche Bank Private Bank, Mr Marco), Salman (Vice Chairman of Deutsche Bank Private Bank, Mr Salman Mahdi), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning.

     It is a great pleasure to join you all at this year’s Deutsche Bank Emerging Markets Family Office Forum. My sincere thanks to Deutsche Bank for bringing to Hong Kong such a distinguished group of family principals, next-generation leaders and senior decision-makers from across the globe.

Stability, for family offices

     While the focus today is on family offices, it would be remiss of me not to address a broader issue: that is, the so-called “reciprocal tariffs” imposed by the US (United States) on its trading partners. And why it further illustrates that Hong Kong is the right destination for family offices. 

     Much has been said about the flip-flopping of the Trump Administration and the prospects of the tariff war. For family offices, this uncertainty and unpredictability have added new complexities to their asset allocation strategies.

     Currently, across the world, sovereign governments and investors are seeking to de-risk their allocations and expand their portfolios to markets that provide policy clarity, consistency and credibility. The same holds true for family offices looking to preserve and grow their wealth in a secure and predictable environment. 

     In this context, Hong Kong stands out as a robust destination of choice. Allow me to share a few observations.

     First, our stock market. With a capitalisation of nearly US$5 trillion, it is deep and liquid, and has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Following the tariff announcements, the Hang Seng Index saw a sharp fall on Monday last week. But the market has since been regaining ground. Trading volumes have been high, indicating the strong underlying liquidity. Over the past week, the average daily turnover of our stock market was about HK$360 billion, about 2.8 times of that in 2024. That speaks volumes about investors’ interest and confidence in our market. 

     In fact, over the past few years, the Government, along with our financial regulators, have put in place a round-the-clock, cross-market surveillance system to detect and address potential threats associated with market volatility. We focus on whether the markets are functioning in an orderly manner, and whether there are irregularities or systemic risks that will threaten Hong Kong’s financial stability. So far, there has been no cause for concern. 

     Second, the Hong Kong dollar remains firm, trading on the strong side of its convertibility range, which indicates that there is no capital flight. Indeed, our bank deposits have been on a rising trend over the past year. In February, we had over US$2.2 trillion in bank deposits, rising by some 10 per cent compared to a year ago. Our Linked Exchange Rate System continues to function smoothly, underscoring the strength and stability of our monetary system.
 
     Beyond financial security and stability, Hong Kong offers compelling reasons for family offices to anchor their operations and allocate their assets here.

     First, it is the “one country, two systems” principle which provides the foundation for long-term prosperity and reinforces the IFC (international financial centre) status of Hong Kong. President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed on multiple occasions that the “one country, two systems” arrangement will remain in place in Hong Kong in the long run. Hong Kong’s unique position as a gateway between the Mainland and the world is highly cherished by the Central Authorities. 

     In essence, Hong Kong will continue to uphold the defining features that set us apart from the rest of China: a free port; free trade policy; free flow of capital, goods, people and information; and a freely convertible currency. We remain open, diverse, cosmopolitan and committed to welcoming capital, business and talent from around the world. This is deep in our DNA.  

     A crucial element of the “one country, two systems” principle is the common law system underpinned by an independent judiciary. Despite misconceptions about our city, the facts are convincing: in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, Hong Kong ranks ahead of the US and many European countries.

     According to a recent survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong released in January this year, 83 per cent of its members expressed confidence in our rule of law. The figure has registered a consistent rise over the past two years.

     Our simple, low-tax regime is another strong advantage. We impose no capital gains tax, no estate tax and no tax on dividends, offering a highly enviable environment for wealth preservation and growth.

     Our international competitiveness is evident by various global rankings. We are the world’s freest economy, Asia’s top financial centre, and the fifth-most competitive economy globally.

     Here in Hong Kong, your capital is safe. Protection of capital and private property is enshrined in our Basic Law. We honour our international obligations and have never implemented any sanctions unilaterally imposed by other jurisdictions.

Opportunities for investments and businesses

     Ladies and gentlemen, beyond the above institutional fundamentals, Hong Kong is a city of immense opportunities. Let me highlight three points.

     First, beyond the stock market that I mentioned earlier, we offer a full range of options for you to deploy your capital. Our venture capital and private equity sector manages over US$230 billion, which is second only to the Mainland. We are Asia’s No. 1 hedge fund base. Our asset and wealth management sector oversees close to US$4 trillion of assets, with over half of them sourced internationally.

     Second, innovation and technology is powering Hong Kong’s next chapter. We are investing heavily to develop AI and other frontier technologies as new pillars of our economy. Our strategy encompasses building infrastructure, providing funding support, attracting strategic enterprises and talent, and engaging in international exchanges. Now, “AI+” is the name of the game, and we are working for its deep integration with various sectors and industries.  

     To nurture industries of tomorrow, the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, or HKIC, was established with US$8 billion in capital. It is patient capital, focusing on deep tech, biotech and new materials, and new energy. It is guiding, channelling and leveraging market capital to support tech industries and segments at their nascent stages to help build the ecosystem. So far, the HKIC has supported over 100 projects, drawing in four dollars of private capital for every dollar it invested. We welcome family offices to form partnerships and co-invest with HKIC. 

     Third, Hong Kong’s synergistic development with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, or the GBA, which is home to 87 million people with a per capita GDP of US$40,000 on a purchasing power parity basis. It is a young and massive consumer market. The increasingly affluent population has a growing demand for quality financial products and services, and a need for diversified asset allocation.  

     The GBA is also a technology and innovation hub. Home to many tech giants and start-ups, the GBA has a highly educated workforce, and exceptional commercialisation and advanced manufacturing capabilities. In fact, Hong Kong, together with Shenzhen and Guangzhou in the GBA, is ranked the second most innovative cluster in the world for five consecutive years. 

     Overall speaking, the GBA is rising as a region combining the advantages of the New York Bay Area and San Francisco Bay Area. 

Impact, philanthropy and living

     Beyond investments, Hong Kong is also blessed with a vibrant, collaborative philanthropic community. Our financial institutions, businesses, think tanks, local and global foundations and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) have come together to form partnerships that deliver projects that are scalable, and socially and environmentally impactful.

     And when it comes to lifestyle, Hong Kong is unmatched in Asia.

     Over the past few weeks, the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens and Coldplay lit up our brand new Kai Tak Stadium. Indeed, from world-class performances and Michelin-starred dining to vibrant art, heritage and hiking trails, Hong Kong offers a lifestyle that global families would dream for. 

     This city also offers the best education for children. More than 50 international schools operate in this city, providing a wide range of curricula to meet the diverse needs of global families. Five of our  universities are ranked within the global top 100.

     And Hong Kong is among the safest metropolitan cities in the world. 

     Ladies and gentlemen, it is no surprise that Hong Kong is now home to over 2 700 family offices – half of which manage assets exceeding US$50 million. We expect that number to grow to 3 000 very soon.

     To support this growth, we have introduced dedicated tax concessions for single family offices. We are currently working to expand the scope of exemptions and enlarge the eligibility for concessions. There is a bespoke service team under Invest Hong Kong to help family offices with their setup, compliance, talent sourcing, philanthropic engagement, and more. You are most welcome to approach them. 

     My thanks once again to Deutsche Bank for convening this meaningful Forum. I wish you all a productive forum and an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong – a city which I hope you will call home soon. Thank you very much. 

  

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Labour Department responds to Office of The Ombudsman’s direct investigation report

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Labour Department responds to Office of The Ombudsman’s direct investigation report 
The LD attaches great importance to the occupational safety and health (OSH) of the construction industry. The department is pleased to note that the Ombudsman affirmed and recognised its numerous effective work efforts in enhancing the OSH of the construction industry, including (i) amending the OSH legislation to increase the maximum penalties for OSH offenses; (ii) revising a number of codes of practice to strengthen safety requirements for specific work processes; (iii) conducting special enforcement operations to curb unsafe work practices; (iv) improving mandatory safety training courses and enhancing the supervision of course providers; and (v) promoting a culture of safety through various channels.
 
Meanwhile, the LD has been taking various follow-up actions on the recommendations in the report, including (i) planning to start a trial of using small unmanned aircraft to assist in law enforcement in the second half of 2025 and exploring the adoption of speech-to-text technology to assist in taking statements, thereby improving the efficiency of frontline officers in law enforcement and evidence collection; (ii) broadening the participation of safety committee meetings to cover high-risk private construction sites with a poor safety performance to enhance risk monitoring; (iii) strengthening monitoring of safety practitioners to ensure they will discharge their duties cautiously; and (iv) enhancing the monitoring of mandatory safety training course providers and instructors’ performance.
 
An LD spokesman said, “In addition to the above measures, the LD will actively study and follow up on other recommendations raised by the Ombudsman, and strengthen the collaboration with the Development Bureau and the Buildings Department. The LD will continue to adopt a three-pronged strategy, including inspection and enforcement, publicity and promotion as well as education and training, complemented by the application of technology, to actively promote and foster an OSH culture in the construction industry, enhance workers’ OSH awareness and prevent accidents.”
Issued at HKT 12:40

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