Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ15: Promoting student mental health(i) The EDB has all along been requiring primary and secondary schools to report fatal suspected student suicide cases in order to provide appropriate professional support to the schools concerned. The numbers of fatal suspected student suicide cases of primary and secondary students in Hong Kong reported in the past three years (2023 to 2025) are tabulated below. Of the total number of cases reported, about 90 per cent were cases involving secondary students, while those involving primary students accounted for about 10 per cent. Cases involving male students accounted for about 59 per cent of the total number of cases reported, while about 41 per cent were those involving female students.
Year As indicated in relevant international and local studies, suicide (including attempted suicide) is a complicated issue influenced by the interplay of multiple factors, mainly related to interpersonal relationships (including family, social or relationship problems) and personal issues (such as learning and school adjustment, depressed mood and mental illness). Each case has its unique underlying causes.
(ii) To early identify and timely support students at higher suicidal risk, the Government has implemented, through cross-departmental collaboration among the EDB, the HHB and the SWD, the Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism (the Mechanism) in all secondary schools in Hong Kong since December 2023. In the 2025/26 school year, the Mechanism is regularised in all secondary schools across the territory and extended on a trial basis to Primary Four to Six. The number of cases referred by schools/ the EDB under the second-tier mechanism to the off-campus support network teams engaged by the SWD as of end-March 2026, broken down by school year, are tabulated below:
School year(since December 2023)(as of end-March 2026) Under the third-tier mechanism, school principals can directly refer students at high suicidal risk to psychiatric specialist out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority (HA) for assessment and treatment. HA’s specialist out-patient clinics adopt a triage system to ensure that patients with urgent medical conditions requiring early intervention are given priority for follow-up and treatment.
The numbers of cases referred by school principals to HA’s psychiatric services, the percentages of such cases triaged as Priority 1 (urgent) and Priority 2 (semi-urgent), as well as the numbers of enquiry calls received through the dedicated telephone consultation hotline for school principals as of end-March 2026 are tabulated below:
School year(since December 2023)(as of end-March 2026)Note 1: Among the referral cases, the cases other than those triaged as Priority 1 (urgent) and Priority 2 (semi-urgent) were under Routine (stable) category or were already being followed up by the HA’s psychiatric services.
Note 2: The numbers of cases referred by school principals under the third-tier mechanism and the numbers of enquiry calls received through the dedicated telephone consultation hotline for school principals are provided by the psychiatric services under the HA’s hospital clusters (figures as at June 11, 2026).Issued at HKT 14:15
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ7: Recycling of construction waste Question:
According to the report “Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong – Waste Statistics for 2024” published by the Environmental Protection Department at the end of 2025, the overall quantity of construction waste generated in 2024 increased by about 4 945 tonnes per day compared to 2023, reaching an average of 50 505 tonnes per day. In papers submitted to the Public Works Subcommittee of the Legislative Council, the Government states that it encourages contractors to maximise the use of recycled or recyclable construction waste on site as far as possible, and requires them to submit a plan setting out the waste management measures and how such waste will be reused and recycled. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has collected basic data on the recycling of construction waste in Hong Kong, including the total weight (in tonnes), the types of recycled products (such as concrete and aggregates) and their respective weights, as well as the main recycling channels; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) of the existing standard procedures and specific measures for managing the recycling of construction waste, including the government departments involved and their detailed division of responsibilities, the number and locations of storage facilities for such waste and the means of transport; whether it has quantified and assessed the effectiveness of such measures; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; Reply: Most of the construction waste generated locally is inert construction waste, commonly known as public fill which includes rock, rubble, sand, concrete, asphalt, brick, tile, etc, and is non-decomposable materials that can be reused as construction materials. Non-inert construction waste (such as bamboo and wood pieces) accounts for a smaller portion of the overall construction waste. The Government has been managing construction waste through reducing generation, proper reuse and recycling, including direct reuse of public fill through matching between projects, or storage of public fill in the two fill banks for future reuse. As local projects cannot absorb all the public fill generated in Hong Kong in recent years, coupled with the limited capacities of the fill banks, surplus public fill has to be delivered to the Chinese Mainland for reuse. Non-inert construction waste that is not suitable for reuse as construction materials will be disposed of at landfills.
In consultation with the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the reply to the question raised by the Hon Tommy Chung is as follows:
(1) The Government compiles statistics on construction waste in Hong Kong regularly, including the disposal and reuse quantities of overall construction waste. According to the latest report “Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong – Waste Statistics for 2024” published by the Environmental Protection Department at the end of 2025, in 2024, an average of 45 810 tonnes per day of public fill was received by the fill banks for future reuse (including local reuse and delivery to the Chinese Mainland for reuse) and delivered to works projects for direct reuse (i.e. a total of approximately 16.8 million tonnes in the year). An average of 4 695 tonnes per day of construction waste was disposed of at landfills (i.e. a yearly quantity of about 1.7 million tonnes). The major recycled products or reuse means and the respective quantities are tabulated as follows:
Recycled products or reuse means (2) At present, the recovery rate of overall reusable and recyclable construction waste has reached about 90 per cent. The Government has been adopting a multi-pronged strategy to ensure the proper management of construction waste, primarily driven by three directions: reduction at source, beneficial reuse and recycling, with a view to making the best use of resources, reducing waste and alleviating the pressure on the environment. This work, implemented by the Public Fill Committee established by the Government, includes the vetting of public works projects to minimise the generation of construction and demolition material and maximise the use of public fill .
On the aspect of reduction, we request public works projects to enhance the planning, design and management of various engineering projects, striving to achieve on-site cut-and-fill balance as far as practicable to minimise the generation of public fill at source, thereby alleviating the pressure on existing public fill reception facilities.
Regarding proper reuse, suitable public fill is either directly reused in earth filling, reclamation projects, or transported to the two local fill banks for temporary storage for future reuse in suitable projects, thereby enabling the resources circulation. The remaining portion that cannot be absorbed locally will be transported to the Chinese Mainland for reuse.
With respect to recycling, we actively promote the reprocessing of suitable materials into usable construction materials, which not only enhances resource utilisation efficiency but also helps drive the industry towards sustainable development.
There are currently four public fill reception facilities operated by the Civil Engineering and Development Department, including the two fill banks located at Tuen Mun and Tseung Kwan O with recycling facilities, and the two public fill transfer facilities located at Chai Wan and Mui Wo (which mainly serve to receive part of the public fill generated in Hong Kong Island and Lantau Island respectively, and to transfer the material to the two local fill banks). The facilities receive public fill from the local industry that cannot be directly reused on site and temporarily store it in the fill banks, pending future reuse.
(3) The Government has been increasing land supply through reclamation, site formation or earth filling projects, etc, which serve as the main outlets for absorbing a large amount of reusable and recyclable construction waste as construction materials. Looking ahead to the coming years, the Government is progressively implementing various projects, including the site formation works for the San Tin Technopole that commenced in December 2024, the reclamation works at Area 132 in Tseung Kwan O for which funding approval will be sought from the Legislative Council later in 2026, as well as the proposed reclamation works at Area 137 in Tseung Kwan O and Lung Kwu Tan, to absorb substantial quantities of reusable and recyclable construction waste. In alignment with the implementation schedules of various projects, we will supply public fill to reclamation, site formation or earthworks projects for reuse. Meanwhile, we will continuously explore recycling public fill into useful construction materials.
(4) In the past five years, the average cost and total expenditure of handling and managing the reusable and recyclable public fill by the Government annually are as follows:
Financial year Note 3: As many of Hong Kong’s large-scale reclamation projects have largely been completed, several upcoming large-scale reclamation projects are yet to commence, the capacity of existing fill banks is nearly saturated, coupled with the gradual release of land from the fill bank at Area 137 in Tseung Kwan O for long-term development, it has become necessary to increase the quantity of surplus public fill transported to the Chinese Mainland for reuse, resulting in a corresponding increase in the expenditure.
(5) The Government will continue to create land in a resolute and persistent manner, so that a steady and continuous land supply for Hong Kong can be maintained to meet future economic and social development needs. In alignment with the implementation schedules of various projects, the Government will strive to use public fill in reclamation, site formation and earth filling projects. However, as the implementation programmes and construction arrangements of various projects will be continuously optimised as they progress, the demand for public fill will be adjusted subject to design and construction progress. It is therefore difficult to provide precise schedules at this stage.
In addition, the Government has been supporting innovative development, continuously collaborating with local universities on multiple research and development projects to recycle public fill into useful construction materials. These initiatives include sorting and recycling suitable hard materials from public fill into manufactured sand for reclamation, studying the use of public fill as final cover for landfills, and implementing a pilot scheme to produce eco-bricks using public fill. We will continue to monitor advancements in frontier technology, maintain close communication with university research teams, and continuously explore other feasible options for recycling public fill. Issued at HKT 17:23
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Lam Chun-sing and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):
Question:
The Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance (the Ordinance) aims to improve the problem of payment delays in the construction industry and provide protection for various stakeholders to receive their entitled payment on time, thereby helping reduce the occurrence of wage arrears of workers. Regarding the implementation of the Ordinance since its commencement, will the Government inform this Council:
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ19: Provision of drug subsidies for cancer patients Question:
The Hospital Authority (HA) regularly reviews and includes suitable new drugs in the Drug Formulary and the safety net coverage of HA’s Drug Formulary, which cover various drugs for treating cancer. Regarding the criteria, mechanism and actual effectiveness of HA’s introduction and subsidisation of new drugs for treating cancer, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as the Government previously indicated that when considering the inclusion of a drug in the Drug Formulary or the coverage of the safety net (including the Samaritan Fund and the Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes), HA’s Drug Advisory Committee would take into account the safety, efficacy, cost-effectiveness of drugs and other relevant considerations, including international recommendations and practices, as well as professional views, and that the evaluation of drugs would be conducted based on medical evidence, clinical developments, and market dynamics, of the respective weightings of the various aforesaid criteria in the overall evaluation, as well as the methodology and considerations for determining cost-effectiveness;
(2) given that for lung cancer treatment, various advanced precision treatment drugs have emerged in recent years, e.g. the third-generation targeted therapy drugs for treating ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase)-positive lung cancer, but it is learnt that patients are currently subsidised to use the aforesaid third-generation targeted therapy drugs only if they have developed brain metastasis, whether it knows if the HA will consider reviewing and adjusting the relevant subsidy criteria so that more eligible terminally-ill patients (including those who have not developed brain metastasis) can benefit at an early stage; if not, of the reasons for that;
(3) whether it knows the number of new drugs included by the HA in the Drug Formulary or the scope of subsidy under the safety net in the past five quarters; the respective numbers of patients who benefited from subsidies for drug expenses as a result and the total amount of subsidies involved (set out the relevant figures by quarter); and
(4) whether it knows, for the five types of cancer with the highest number of new cases recorded in the past year, the respective numbers of patients who received subsidies for cancer drug expenses for each of these cancer types, as well as the total amount of subsidies involved (with a breakdown by cancer type and cancer stage at the time of diagnosis of the patients)?
Reply:
President,
Pharmaceutical treatment constitutes an integral part of the medical services provided by the Hospital Authority (HA) for cancer patients. The HA is committed to providing appropriate treatment for all patients, including cancer patients, while ensuring equitable access to safe, effective, and cost-effective drugs prescribed under a highly subsidised public healthcare system.
DrugNote 2: Existing drug under the Samaritan Fund
Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes
Drug Furthermore, the Committee of the HA regularly reviews cancer drugs already included in the HADF. In response to clinical data and healthcare demands of the drugs, the Committee transitions self-financed drugs for the treatment of various cancers into Special Drugs in an orderly manner, and provides them at standard fees to patients who meet specific clinical criteria. Taking Dasatinib, a drug used to treat leukaemia (i.e. blood cancer), as an example, the HA transitioned the drug from a self-financed drug to a Special Drug in April this year. Consequently, patients’ drug expenses dropped significantly from approximately $20,000 to $40,000 per month to just $20 per four weeks, effectively alleviating the financial burden on patients. Following the transition of Dasatinib to a Special Drug, it is anticipated that over 400 patients will benefit from the arrangement, with the estimated additional expenditure involved being $49 million per annum.
(4) In the 2025-26 financial year, the total number of cancer patients receiving treatment under standard fees at the HA was approximately 169 600, involving a total drug expenditure exceeding $1.95 billion.
According to the latest data from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, the five types of cancer with the highest number of new cases in 2023 were lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, and liver cancer. For the 2025-26, the Samaritan Fund and Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes approved 4 865 cases for these types of cancer, totaling roughly $1.22 billion in subsidies. The number of approved subsidy applications and the approved subsidy amounts for abovementioned cancer types are set out in the table below:
Cancer Type As the condition and needs of each cancer patient vary, the HA cancer services are patient-centric and emphasise a personalised therapeutic approach. Given that clinical services are designed to focus on providing appropriate treatment and support for cancer patients, rather than being classified solely by the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis, relevant statistics are not compiled on such a basis.
To further alleviate the financial burden on cancer and critical illness patients from low-to-middle-income families, the fees and charges reform for public healthcare has relaxed the means test criteria for the Samaritan Fund. Since the implementation of the reform, numerous cancer patients have benefited. Taking the case of a lung cancer patient as an example, the patient’s out-of-pocket treatment expenses decreased by more than $27,000 after the reform, representing a reduction of more than 75 per cent. In another case involving a leukaemia (blood cancer) patient, the treatment expenses to be borne by the patient were reduced by approximately $44,000 after the reform, representing a decrease of around 62.5 per cent. The above examples demonstrate that the reform can effectively ease the financial burden on cancer patients during their treatment process.
As the largest public cancer service provider in Hong Kong, the HA adopts an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to provide cancer treatment for patients, and arranges appropriate management according to individual clinical conditions, including clinical diagnosis and assessment, cross-specialty care (such as Family Medicine and Specialist Outpatient clinics, acute care, and palliative care services), rehabilitation services, and drug subsidies. Apart from drug subsidies, the HA also maintains an exceptionally high subsidy rate for non-drug subsidised treatment items.
The HA will continue to optimise the use of public healthcare resources and incorporate more innovative cancer drugs and medical devices into the HADF and safety net subsidisation scopes, thereby providing more comprehensive support for cancer patients. Issued at HKT 17:25
To recognize the long-standing dedication and outstanding contributions of workers in industrial parks, the Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held the “2026 Labor Day Awards Ceremony” on April 27, honoring one National Model Worker and 107 Model Workers from industrial parks across Taiwan. The award recipients represent northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan and come from a wide range of industries, highlighting the solid foundation that supports the steady development of the nation’s industrial parks.
BIP Director General Yang Chih-Ching stated that the achievements of industrial parks are the result of the collective efforts of workers and enterprises alike. He noted that the awards ceremony serves not only as recognition of excellence but also as an important source of motivation for continuous improvement. Looking ahead, BIP will continue enhancing labor environments and service mechanisms to foster a more attractive industrial ecosystem. This year’s National Model Worker, Liu Yen-Hung of Asia Optical Co., Inc., was recognized for obtaining multiple patents through his professional expertise and actively participating in process optimization initiatives, significantly improving efficiency and reducing costs, thereby setting an exemplary standard for industrial park workers.
According to BIP, the awards ceremony not only recognizes individual workers but also honors enterprises with outstanding labor-management relations, exemplary labor unions, and distinguished union personnel, reflecting the collective efforts of diverse stakeholders within the industrial sector. Through public recognition and the promotion of role models, BIP aims to enhance workers’ sense of pride while encouraging enterprises to strengthen management systems and workplace practices, thereby fostering harmonious labor-management relations and improving overall industrial competitiveness. These efforts also contribute to the sustainable development of industrial parks.
In addition, the Work-Life Integration Friendly Enterprise Award was presented to FSP Technology Group, Daxin Materials Corporation, and Asia Optical Co., Inc. in recognition of their efforts to promote gender equality, family-friendly policies, and flexible working arrangements. The Community Service Contribution Award was granted to 27 enterprises, including Futaba Taiwan, NXP Semiconductors, Brogent Technologies Inc., and Canon Taiwan, for their long-term commitment to labor-management communication, workplace improvement, and corporate social responsibility. These enterprises have become an important force supporting stable business operations and reflect the industry’s gradual transformation toward people-centered and sustainable development.
BIP emphasized that this awards program not only showcases the outstanding achievements of workers and enterprises but also strengthens industrial cohesion, enhances workplace pride, and promotes team solidarity. Going forward, BIP will continue advancing its “Happy Industrial Parks” policy initiatives, improving the quality of employment environments, and fostering an industrial development model that balances competitiveness with human-centered values, thereby providing sustainable and long-term momentum for Taiwan’s industrial growth.
Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Deputy Director General, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw
The Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced on April 22 that its Tainan Branch has actively supported industrial upgrading through smart technologies. Through dedicated guidance, Chia Yi Steel Co., Ltd., located in the Minxiong Industrial Park, successfully implemented an AI-powered management system. By integrating digital supply chain connectivity and intelligent melting process analytics, the company increased its product yield rate from 85% to 95%, improved Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) from 55% to 77%, and reduced electricity consumption by approximately 1.04 million kWh. These improvements translated into production cost savings of approximately NT$52 million, demonstrating the tangible benefits of smart manufacturing and net-zero transformation for traditional industries.
BIP has been actively promoting the “Industrial Park Smart Technology Value-Added Innovation and Cross-Domain Development Program,” assisting enterprises within industrial parks in adopting digital tools and smart applications. Through technical support provided by the Metal Industries Research&Development Centre (MIRDC), Chia Yi Steel Co., Ltd. successfully prepared and secured a subsidy of NT$16 million under the MOEA’s “Smart Machinery-Digital Supply Chain Integration and AI Applications for Industrial Clusters” Program administered by the Industrial Development Administration (IDA). Through AI implementation and information integration with supply chain partners, the project has accelerated the transformation of the entire supply chain toward smart manufacturing.
According to BIP, Chia Yi Steel Co., Ltd.’s successful transformation demonstrates that traditional industries can significantly enhance productivity, reduce energy consumption and operating costs, and strengthen international competitiveness through the effective adoption of AI-enabled technologies. Amid rapidly changing global markets and increasing customer demands for flexible production, stable quality, and efficient delivery schedules, AI applications have become a critical enabler for overcoming production bottlenecks and enhancing operational resilience.
The company’s transformation centered on building a next-generation smart production line. By introducing an AI management system-often regarded as the “digital brain” of a factory-Chia Yi Steel improved manufacturing processes that previously relied heavily on human experience and judgment. Through real-time data monitoring, intelligent melting analysis, and predictive process control, the company further enhanced operational stability and product quality. In addition, Chia Yi Steel established a comprehensive production and operational big-data platform, enabling management personnel to make data-driven decisions regarding workforce allocation, inventory management, and production scheduling. This has laid the foundation for predictive maintenance and early quality anomaly detection, significantly reducing the risk of product defects.
This year, Chia Yi Steel Co., Ltd. was invited to participate in the Net Zero City Expo, where it showcased its AI-driven smart manufacturing achievements and collaborated with five upstream and downstream supply chain partners to promote a new model of green net-zero supply chain development. Looking ahead, BIP will continue to facilitate the adoption of smart technologies within industrial parks through cross-sector collaboration and technical guidance, helping more traditional industries seize AI transformation opportunities and enhance their global competitiveness.
Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Deputy Director General, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw
Contact Person: Kuo, Chung-Wen Deputy Director of Tainan Branch, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-6-3842980 ext.6312
Email: kuo1224@bip.gov.tw
The Registration & Electoral Office (REO) will hold an Electoral Information Centre Open Day on July 1 to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with members of the public.
The open day will feature talks on electoral matters, along with various interactive games. These will cover topics such as voter registration, the different stages of an election, the counting process, and clean elections, all with a view to deepening public knowledge of elections.
Participants can take photos with the Ballot Box Family mascots and will have a chance to win souvenirs.
Located at 7/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, the Electoral Information Centre will be open to visitors from 2pm to 6pm during the open day. Entry will be free of charge and on a first-come, first-served basis.
For enquiries, call the REO hotline on 2891 1001 between 8.45am and 6pm from today until June 30.
24 June 2026 – From 1 July 2026, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will strengthen regulations to enable consumers and businesses to make more informed choices and advance Singapore’s decarbonisation efforts. The Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS) and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) will introduce registration requirements for regulated goods [1] imported for own use and tighten advertising rules for regulated goods.
Extension of MELS and MEPS
2. Currently, regulated goods imported for sale in Singapore must meet the requirements of the MELS and MEPS (more information of MELS and MEPS in Annex A). Similar goods that are imported by end users, including businesses and households, for their own use are not covered. The volume of such own use imports is small, but this could grow over time as online marketplaces have made it increasingly easy for consumers to directly import goods, which are often inefficient. Some businesses have also been directly importing commercial storage refrigerators for their own use.
3. Businesses and households who import regulated goods that are energy inefficient and do not comply with the MELS and MEPS could lock themselves into higher lifecycle energy costs and carbon footprints. To ensure that Regulated Goods imported by end users for own use are MELS and MEPS compliant, the Energy Conservation Act was amended on 8 April 2026 to extend these requirements to such regulated goods.
Registration requirements
4. From 1 July 2026, end users importing regulated goods for their own use need to register such goods with NEA on https://go.gov.sg/elsportal before importing them into Singapore. This will help ensure that regulated goods that are imported for own use are energy efficient. Upon NEA’s approval, a Certificate of Registration (COR) will be issued, which is valid for three years and is renewable. The registration of the regulated goods and renewal of the COR are free, and the applications will be processed within seven working days.
5. Prior to registration, individuals and businesses should ensure that the regulated goods to be imported into Singapore meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standard requirements (refer to Annex B for detailed requirements and registration requirements).
Tighten Advertising Rules for Regulated Goods
6. From 1 July 2026, advertisements of non-compliant regulated goods, including those on online platforms, are not allowed. This regulation will ensure that non-compliant products are not offered to end users in Singapore. Visual advertisements must feature an Energy Label next to the product image or description. Where space is limited, the product’s energy efficiency rating (tick rating) and Certificate of Registration (COR) number must be prominently displayed.
Support for Business and Households
7. Businesses and households can take advantage of government schemes to support the upfront cost of energy efficient regulated goods while benefiting from long-term energy savings. Eligible Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Food Services and Manufacturing sectors can also apply for the EnterpriseSG’s Energy Efficiency Grant to support the adoption of pre-approved energy-efficient regulated goods.
8. Singaporean and Permanent Resident HDB households, as well as Singapore Citizen households living in private residential properties, can use the Climate Vouchers under the enhanced Climate Friendly Households Programme to purchase eligible energy-efficient regulated goods.
~~ End ~~
For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.
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[1] The six regulated goods are air-conditioners, refrigerators, clothes dryers, televisions, household water heaters and three-phase induction motors.
Annex A
ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS: MELS AND MEPS
Energy Efficiency standards
MELS and MEPS drive the supply and adoption of more energy efficient products in support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030’s decarbonisation targets.
Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS)
The MELS was introduced in 2008 to help consumers make informed, energy efficient purchasing decisions for major energy consuming household appliances through clear visual indicators such as the tick rating. This requires suppliers of household appliances covered under the MELS to prominently affix their products with energy labels. These labels carry information on the energy consumption and energy cost of operating the appliance.
End users that buy energy efficient appliances enjoy cost savings over the lifespan of the appliances. For example, the energy cost of operating a typical 5-tick air-conditioner is about 30 per cent less than that of a 2-tick model. The lifecycle cost of energy efficient appliances is generally lower than that of energy inefficient products, notwithstanding higher upfront costs, due to energy savings over the product lifecycle.
Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)
The MEPS was introduced in 2011 to raise the energy efficiency of household appliances by removing the least energy efficient appliances from the market. This protects end users from being locked into the high energy costs of operating energy inefficient appliances. MEPS increases the number of energy efficient models in the market, where the distribution of regulated goods gradually shifts towards higher energy efficiency models over time.
Since the introduction of the MEPS and MELS, the average energy efficiency of air-conditioners and refrigerators has improved by 61% and 45% respectively, and this translates to annual energy savings of more than $560 million [2] across all households which is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of about 447,000 4-room housing units.
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[2] Based on the energy efficiency improvement of air-conditioners and refrigerators sold between 2015 and 2024.
Annex B
MELS AND MEPS REQUIREMENTS FOR REGULATED GOODS IMPORTED FOR OWN USE
Scope of MELS and MEPS
The following regulated goods are subject to the MEPS and MELS requirements:
(b) Refrigerators: Household refrigerators and commercial storage refrigerators
(c) Clothes dryers
(d) Televisions
(e) Household water heaters
(f) Three-phase induction motors
MELS and MEPS requirements
3. Regulated goods imported by end users for own use will be required to comply with the same MEPS and MELS requirements as with current requirement for supply of regulated goods. Once regulated goods have met the MEPS, they will be assigned tick ratings and Energy Labels, where required, upon approval of the registration.
5. For details on tick ratings and Energy Labels for respective regulated goods, please refer to the following websites:
Registration of regulated goods with NEA
6. End users intending to import regulated goods for own use are required to register at https://go.gov.sg/elsportal. There are no registration and/or renewal fees for registering with NEA.
7. The following documents are required for registration at ELS Portal:
• CorpPass (For companies importing regulated goods for own use)
• SingPass (For individuals importing regulated goods for own use)
• Test report (Please refer to Paragraph 9) for model to be registered
• Any other documents (e.g. In-principal approval from SCDF for usage of flammable refrigerant in equipment)
8. A Certificate of Registration (COR) will be issued upon the approval of the registration and is valid for 3 years. End users who wish to extend the validity of the registered model (e.g. intention to import the same registered model after its 3 years validity) will be required to renew the COR at least 2 weeks, but not earlier than 90 days, before it expires.
Test reports and prescribed test standards
9. A test report of a test carried out in accordance with the prescribed test standards is mandatory. End users may rely on test reports from suppliers and manufacturers when registering their model of regulated goods with NEA.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, at Greenway 2026 – Closing and Sharing of Business Recommendations today (June 23):
Ambassador Rouse (Ambassador and Head of Office of the European Union to Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Harvey Rouse), Mr Hack (Chair of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Mr Johannes Hack), Professor Wong (Chairman of Environment and Sustainability Committee of Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Professor Steve Wong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Apart from hydrogen, we are working on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and green maritime fuels. We have started building a SAF value chain in the Greater Bay Area, and we aim to achieve a 1 per cent to 2 per cent SAF usage for flights departing from Hong Kong by the year 2030.
I would like to start by thanking the European Union Office and the European Chamber of Commerce for co-organising this marvellous event.
We are excited to unveil the Greenway 2026 Industry Recommendations just presented to me. They provide a collaborative roadmap for our partnership on green transition. They also highlight the power of open exchange between Hong Kong and our international business partners, including the vibrant community of over 1 780 European companies in Hong Kong.
It is highly encouraging to see how the Green Way insights closely align with Hong Kong’s approach. In the next few minutes, I would like to share with you how we are tackling the challenges involved through policies and new initiatives in four areas.
Firstly, new sources of energy and their efficient use. We are transforming our fuel mix and phasing out coal. Specifically, for electricity generation, we will progressively increase the use of zero-carbon energy to about 60 per cent to 70 per cent by 2035, up from 25 per cent last year. And we aim to achieve the target of “net-zero electricity generation” by 2050.
We are also working on hydrogen, which we see as a promising source of new energy. We believe hydrogen can help particularly to decarbonise heavy-duty vehicles. In this regard, we announced our strategy regarding hydrogen development back in June 2024, and are progressively establishing the relevant comprehensive safety standards and codes of practice. Currently, we are formulating a green and low-carbon hydrogen certification framework, and we aim to get it ready next year or even earlier.
Apart from hydrogen, we are working on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and green maritime fuels. We have started building a SAF value chain in the Greater Bay Area, and we aim to achieve a 1 per cent to 2 per cent SAF usage for flights departing from Hong Kong by the year 2030.
In parallel, we are gearing up to develop Hong Kong into a pre-eminent green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre. In 2025 alone, over 220 000 tonnes of green maritime fuels were bunkered in Hong Kong. This March, we performed our first green methanol bunkering operations at anchorage and at our container terminals. Both were highly successful.
Secondly, our work regarding waste reduction and the promotion of biodiversity. Our first modern waste-to-energy facility for treating municipal solid waste, I‧PARK 1, commenced its first phase of trial operation in December last year, and we will soon seek funding for the construction of I‧PARK 2. Furthermore, a recycling facility for EV (electric vehicle) batteries will commence operation in our EcoPark very soon.
As regards biodiversity, we updated the relevant Strategy and Action Plan, the so-called BSAP (Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan), in December last year. It will help align with the relevant national and global frameworks well into the next decade.
Thirdly – I think that was mentioned by Chairman Hack and Professor Wong – green tech and green finance. We see them as indispensable elements supporting our green transformation. We have established a HK$400 million Green Tech Fund. It has already approved 39 R&D (research and development) projects covering decarbonisation technologies ranging from hydrogen energy to advanced waste upcycling.
As regards green finance, we will continue to leverage our strengths as an international financial centre to connect international capital with green projects. In 2025, the total green and sustainable debt issued in Hong Kong exceeded US$76 billion. Within this amount, the volume of green and sustainable bonds arranged in Hong Kong was about US$38 billion, and this accounted for about 40 per cent of the regional total, and we ranked first in the Asian market for eight consecutive years since 2018.
My fourth and last sharing this afternoon relates to public education. Sustainable development cannot succeed without an environmentally conscious public. We have therefore included in our primary and secondary school curricula relevant content ranging from carbon neutrality to waste reduction. At the community level, we have recently launched a new campaign to let members of the public know how they can help reduce carbon through green living.
Ladies and gentlemen, the European Union business community is a critically important partner for Hong Kong. We deeply value the European Union’s pioneering contributions to green technologies and to the development of robust international standards. And I must thank our European partners again for bringing to Hong Kong their vision, their world-leading techs, and their environmentally friendly culture. Hong Kong has much to learn, and Hong Kong will do our part in contributing towards a more resilient, more sustainable world in collaboration with all like-minded partners in the European Union. Thank you all very much.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, at the United States of America (US) Independence Day reception today (June 23):
Consul General Eadeh (Consul General of the US in Hong Kong and Macau, Ms Julie Eadeh), Deputy Commissioner Hua (Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Hau You), Assistant Secretary Burke (Assistant Secretary of the US Department of the Treasury Mr Jonathan Burke), former Chief Executive Mr Donald Tsang, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to join you to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America. This year also marks the 183rd anniversary of the United States’ diplomatic presence in Hong Kong. So we indeed have a long history of partnership and friendship that is worth celebrating and nurturing.
I would also like to pay tribute to the longstanding and growing ties between the peoples of the United States and Hong Kong. Apart from our strong bilateral business and trade relations, there have always been deep-rooted cultural and people-to-people connections between us.
Hong Kong is home to around 80 000 US citizens. Last year, the number of American companies in Hong Kong increased from nearly 1 400 to 1 550, reflecting a year-on-year increase of over 11 per cent. Also last year, Invest Hong Kong, which is the business promotion arm of our Government, assisted over 40 US enterprises to establish or expand their operations in Hong Kong. It is noteworthy in the arena of trade that the United State has consistently enjoyed a significant trade surplus with Hong Kong – over US$250 billion in total in the last 10 years. So Consul General, I think that is good news to you. And I understand that this is actually one of the highest among the trading partners of the United States.
Another development in trade that is noteworthy is that Hong Kong’s exports of goods to the United States have continued to enjoy very substantial growth despite geopolitics and headwinds. It grew by 80 per cent year on year this March. This April, it grew by another 37 per cent. When I mentioned these figures at a recent gathering hosted by a leading American financial institution in Hong Kong, some members in the audience were surprised. And I said to them that the very healthy growth in our bilateral trade is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of businesses and enterprises both in Hong Kong and in the United States. Somehow, in an environment of considerable uncertainty, they are able to grasp new business opportunities and forge new partnerships. And what they do bring benefits not only to the business communities of the two places but to the peoples of the two economies. I salute them for their wonderful work and contributions.
On the global stage, Hong Kong’s strengths as a vibrant and open economy and an international financial centre are increasingly recognised by all major players. The Global Wealth Report 2026, published this May, ranked Hong Kong as the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre. The World Competitiveness Yearbook this year ranked Hong Kong as the second economy in the world in terms of our competitiveness.
These very positive international assessments are echoed by the business community in Hong Kong. The latest Business Sentiment Survey conducted by AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong) released this February reflected a substantive improvement in sentiment. Eighty-six per cent of respondents viewed Hong Kong as highly competitive or competitive as an international business hub, up from 75 per cent last year. So last year was good but this year was even better. Also, an overwhelming 92 per cent of the respondents planned to maintain their regional headquarters in Hong Kong for the next three years. And they cited efficiency, stability and the very safe business environment in Hong Kong as reasons to continue to base their regional operations in this lovely city.
The Consul General mentioned the visit to China by the President of the United States early in May. It was historic. It was a landmark. The two leaders expressed support for a constructive relationship of strategic stability. And they reached important understanding on keeping economic and trade ties stable, on expanding practical co-operation in different fields, and on properly addressing each other’s concerns. We believe that the certainty and stability that follow their meeting are beneficial not just to Hong Kong, but to the entire world.
Ladies and gentlemen, the longstanding ties between the United States and Hong Kong are the result of years of hard work and goodwill by the peoples of the two economies. These ties have been built on a foundation of mutual respect and constructive dialogue. We look forward to their continued growth and positive developments in the years to come.