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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global today held a seminar to promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages in going global and the opportunities offered by the Northern Metropolis (NM).

More than 120 representatives of central and other state-owned enterprises preparing to attend the 11th Belt & Road Summit joined the “Set Sail from Hong Kong, Harness the Power of the Northern Metropolis – Mainland Enterprises Going Global Seminar”.

Addressing the seminar, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau said that Hong Kong, with its international business environment, world-class professional services, and top-tier talent, is the best home port for enterprises setting sail overseas.

Under his leadership, the task force helps enterprises go global in an orderly manner through a three-step approach of “bringing in”, making preparations in Hong Kong for going global, and “reaching out”.

He added that the NM offers enormous development potential and ample land for industrial use, which are conducive to enterprises establishing and growing their operations in Hong Kong and venturing into overseas markets with the support of Hong Kong’s world-class professional services.

The seminar featured two thematic discussions. The first explored the industrial layout of the NM and how the opportunities arising from its modern logistics ecosystem can help internationalise the businesses of Mainland enterprises.

The second examined how Mainland enterprises can leverage Hong Kong’s advantages to respond to the new dynamics of global commodity markets and the strains on overseas supply chains, as well as how to optimise overseas trade, commodity hedging and risk management.

Source: Government of Singapore

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 results show Hong Kong continuing to score above the international average in many domains and excelling in educational equity and in “Learning in the Digital World”.

The assessment involved 91 countries and economies. The Education Bureau said 6,445 15-year-old students from 230 Hong Kong secondary schools participated.

In the study’s “Learning in the Digital World” category, Hong Kong ranked sixth globally with a score of 545, performing significantly above the international average of 500. Over 40% of the students assessed attained high proficiency levels, demonstrating their ability to manage moderate to sophisticated programming and modelling, and to apply computational logic.

While Hong Kong’s scores in mathematical, scientific and mother-tongue reading literacy saw a decline compared to PISA 2022, the overall performance remained steadily above the international average.

Research Professor Hau Kit-tai from the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Department of Educational Psychology, who joined the PISA Technical Advisory Group for 10 years, noted that learning disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during a critical stage of development contributed to the widespread decline in global scores.

Prof Hau said results around the world had declined across all subjects, particularly over the past five years, and that COVID-19 was one of the main reasons.

He added that the main Hong Kong PISA 2025 assessment was delayed as testing was pushed to June and July so as not to coincide with the Easter holiday. However, when the assessment was eventually held, many schools were holding internal examinations. Since PISA is a survey rather than a school examination, some students might not have taken it as seriously.

Hong Kong also maintained its position as one of the world’s leaders in educational equity, having consistently ranked in the top three on this metric.

In addition, the study found that local students demonstrated a high level of motivation when it came to attending school. Prof Hau stressed that Hong Kong has relatively few students who are late for school or absent without reason, reflecting a positive learning atmosphere in schools.

The Government has established the Expert Group on Educational Performance Evaluation in order to conduct a comprehensive review of Hong Kong’s performance in major international assessments. The Education Bureau will study the group’s recommendations with a view to maintaining the strengths of local schooling and further enhance Hong Kong students’ international competitiveness.

The bureau reiterated its commitment to promoting the high-quality development of Hong Kong education and referred to the Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary & Secondary Schools, which focuses heavily on artificial intelligence education. The initiative aims to equip the younger generation to embrace both the opportunities and challenges of the digital era.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets delegation from Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association
On the afternoon of September 7, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association. In remarks, President Lai thanked the association for its long-term promotion of Taiwan-Japan exchanges and parliamentary diplomacy. The president pointed out that Taiwan and Kanagawa Prefecture each have their own advantages in fields such as semiconductors, AI, R&D, and precision manufacturing, and expressed hope that both sides will continue to expand industrial cooperation and build more secure and more resilient non-red supply chains.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
First, I would like to welcome the delegation to Taiwan. In November this year, the Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association will commemorate its 60th anniversary. On this especially meaningful occasion, I am delighted to meet and exchange ideas with the delegation led by Chairman Nakanishi Kenji, and to extend my sincere congratulations. For the past 60 years, the association has been a steadfast friend of Taiwan. Through commemorative events and sending visiting delegations to Taiwan, it has continuously deepened Taiwan-Japan relations and become an important partner in promoting Taiwan-Japan exchanges and parliamentary diplomacy. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to express our sincere gratitude.
Taiwan and Japan have a deep friendship epitomized by the saying “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” I want to give special thanks to the association for launching fund-raising campaigns on multiple occasions to help Taiwan in the wake of earthquakes. When the Kumamoto earthquake struck in July this year, Taiwan also rallied government and private-sector efforts. We hope that these relief activities can help our Japanese friends who were affected by the disaster return to normal life as soon as possible and allow reconstruction work to proceed smoothly. Through mutual assistance in times of disaster, Taiwan and Japan have built family-like bonds.
Taiwan and Japan are also important economic and trade partners. Last year, Taiwan’s total trade with Japan reached US$84.851 billion, an increase of 17.36 percent. Exchanges between the two sides in industries such as electronic information and communications technology and mechanical parts are also growing closer. Kanagawa Prefecture is a hub for Japan’s high-tech and advanced manufacturing industries. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has established a design center in Kanagawa Prefecture, and 13 Taiwanese companies, including Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE), have also set up operations there. At the same time, 78 companies from Kanagawa Prefecture, including Nissan Motor, have invested in Taiwan.
TSMC and ASE are the world’s most important companies in advanced semiconductor processes and packaging and testing, respectively. Both of these companies have invested in Kanagawa Prefecture, indicating a very close relationship between Taiwan and Kanagawa. Taiwan has advantages in semiconductors and AI manufacturing, while Kanagawa has strengths in R&D and precision manufacturing. I am confident that by expanding our cooperation, we will surely be able to build more secure and more resilient non-red supply chains.
Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture is a popular travel destination for many Taiwanese, and Taiwanese visits to Japan now number some six million a year. I was pleased to learn that Yokohama will host the International Horticultural Expo next year. When I visited Yokohama some years ago, many people told me, “We really like Taiwan and have deep affection for Taiwan.” That left a very deep impression on me.
I sincerely hope that through this major event in Yokohama, Taiwan and Japan will have more exchanges in fields like green energy, sustainability, and urban tourism. I also hope that in the future, Taiwan and Kanagawa Prefecture will continue their deep friendship and that our joint efforts will take Taiwan-Japan relations to the next level. In closing, I would like to once again welcome our guests and thank them for supporting Taiwan. I wish you a smooth and successful 60th anniversary celebration. May the association continue to prosper with each passing day.
Association Chairman Nakanishi Kenji then delivered remarks, saying that the Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association sends a delegation to visit Taiwan every year. As the current visit coincides with the association’s 60th anniversary, he said, a delegation of 60 people was especially formed to visit Taiwan. It includes six members of Japan’s House of Representatives and many private citizens who hope to deepen exchanges through culture and the economy. All of them, he said, are great friends of Taiwan. He mentioned that the association plans to hold its 60th anniversary celebration activities in Yokohama on November 27.
Chairman Nakanishi mentioned that Kanagawa Prefecture is home to the famous Hakone hot springs, and that on this trip, they proposed the idea of establishing a sister relationship between the hot springs of Japan’s Hakone and Taiwan’s Beitou. Recently, he said, they held a meeting with the Taipei Hot Spring Development Association and other organizations, where the participants engaged in lively discussion. He said it is hoped that a memorandum of understanding can be signed during the 60th anniversary celebration on November 27. He added that the International Horticultural Expo will be held in Yokohama next March, and they hope that friends from Taiwan will participate to further deepen Taiwan-Japan exchanges.
Chairman Nakanishi pointed out that Taiwan provided significant aid to Japan after the recent Kumamoto earthquake, and that Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae expressed deep gratitude to Taiwan. He added that after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024, Taiwan also provided significant assistance to Japan, for which the Japanese people expressed deep gratitude. Taiwan and Japan being in areas frequently affected by natural disasters, the chairman said he believes that we still have considerable room for cooperation in disaster prevention and should continue to strengthen collaboration in the future.
Turning to the economy, Chairman Nakanishi stated that Taiwan and Japan are closely connected. He noted that Taiwan is driving economic development through the AI and semiconductor industries, while in Japan, TSMC’s presence in Kumamoto is revitalizing Kyushu’s economy, and the overall economy is also showing an upward trend.
Chairman Nakanishi mentioned that when the delegation visited the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association this morning, Chairman Frank Hsieh described the relationship between Japan and Taiwan as a “community with a shared destiny.” Chairman Nakanishi said he believes that there is room for future cooperation not just in AI and semiconductors, but in such fields as the space industry and quantum technology as well, and he expressed hope to further deepen Taiwan-Japan relations on our already solid foundation. The chairman said that they will continue to work hand in hand with all sectors to deepen exchanges and friendship between Taiwan and Japan.
The delegation also included Japanese House of Representatives Members Nakada Hiroshi, Kusama Tsuyoshi, Nitta Shobun, Maruo Natsuko, and Kanazawa Yui.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today welcomed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ranking of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster as first globally again in its Global Innovation Index 2026 top 100 innovation clusters.

The Government stated that the ranking reaffirmed the outstanding innovative capacity and the vibrant innovation and technology (I&T) financing ecosystem of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

WIPO evaluates world-class innovation hubs using three key metrics: international patent-filings via the Patent Cooperation Treaty, scientific publications and venture capital deals. For this year’s index, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster recorded 2,259 Patent Cooperation Treaty applications, 4,060 scientific articles and 138 venture capital deals per 1 million inhabitants over the past five years.

Expediting I&T development remains a top policy priority for the current-term Government, and those efforts have started to bear fruit. The number of start-ups rose from over 1,500 in 2015 to more than 5,200 in 2025, while the city’s two I&T flagships – Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport – have collectively nurtured around 20 unicorn enterprises.

Infrastructure expansion has further boosted regional integration. The Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (the Loop Hong Kong Park) officially opened in December last year, with over 100 technology enterprises and institutions already signing leases.

By leveraging the advantages of the alliance between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the Loop Hong Kong Park will serve as an international platform for basic scientific research, commercialisation and pilot production, driving high-quality development.

Additionally, the San Tin Technopole Company Limited was established in June this year to drive the development of 210 hectares of I&T land. This hub will form a vital node connecting upstream, midstream and downstream industries alongside the Loop Hong Kong Park.

Hong Kong also maintains a robust private equity market with assets under management close to US$250 billion, ranking second in Asia after the Chinese Mainland. 

Looking ahead, the Government added that Hong Kong will proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to strengthen the city’s strategic position as an international I&T centre. It emphasised that Hong Kong will further deepen collaboration with the Greater Bay Area sister cities, contributing to the country’s efforts in building a modern industrial system and achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026 top 100 innovation clusters today (September 8), among which the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster ranks first globally once again.  

A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said, “We warmly welcome the innovation cluster ranking published by WIPO, which reaffirms the outstanding innovative capacity and the innovation and technology (I&T)-supporting financing ecosystem of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

“Expediting I&T development has been a policy priority of this Government. The Government has been committed to enhancing the I&T ecosystem, as it continues to develop the original grant patent system and introduces the patent box regime, which offers tax concessions for intellectual property income to promote innovation. It is also deepening Hong Kong’s collaboration with our GBA sister cities while optimising the local I&T development paradigm and driving the in-depth integration of technological and industrial innovation. The goal is to spearhead the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T centre and contribute to building a technologically advanced nation. Our efforts have started to bear fruit. The number of start-ups rose from over 1 500 in 2015 to more than 5 200 in 2025, and Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport, the two I&T flagships, have collectively witnessed the birth of around 20 unicorns to date. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (the Loop Hong Kong Park) was officially opened in December 2025, and over 100 technology enterprises and institutions have signed leases and begun moving in. By leveraging the advantages of the strong alliance of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the Loop Hong Kong Park will be an important platform for basic scientific research, commercialisation, pilot production and international I&T collaboration in the GBA, driving high-quality development. The San Tin Technopole Company Limited was also officially established in June 2026 to press ahead with the development of 210 hectares of I&T land in the San Tin Technopole, which will form a crucial node for the integrated development of upstream, midstream and downstream industries together with the Loop Hong Kong Park.

“Hong Kong has a vibrant private equity market, with assets under management of close to US$250 billion, ranking second in Asia after the Chinese Mainland. The Government has been enhancing the development of venture financing as a key element of Hong Kong’s I&T and commercialisation ecosystem. The establishment of a HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, together with another HK$10 billion Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme and the Pilot I&T Acceleration Scheme, aims to reinforce the funding continuum from university research and seed-stage entrepreneurship to scale-up, industrial application and global market expansion. At the same time, the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited acts as patient capital, investing in smaller and early-stage ventures with a long-term horizon to steer long-term market capital towards emerging and future industries. These initiatives all help deepen the I&T cluster’s entrepreneurial and venture-financing base, thereby facilitating more new economy and technology enterprises with potential to raise funds and expand their businesses in Hong Kong.

“Going forward, we will proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to strengthen our strategic positioning as an international I&T centre. Hong Kong will further deepen collaboration with the GBA sister cities, contributing to our country’s efforts in building a modern industrial system and achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength.”

The GII Cluster ranking identifies local concentrations of world-class innovation activity using three key metrics, viz international patent filings via WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), scientific publications, and the number of venture capital deals. For this year’s ranking, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster filed 2 259 PCT applications, published 4 060 scientific articles, and had 138 venture capital deals, all per 1 million inhabitants over the last five years.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

A ceremony, attended by Chief Executive John Lee, was held today to mark the participation of a record-high 16 young public officers from Hong Kong in the United Nations Junior Professional Officer Programme.

The young officers are the third batch of Hong Kong officers to join the programme. They were recommended for participation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ceremony was held at the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR (OCMFA).

The officers will be working at the UN’s headquarters in New York and at the organisation’s offices in Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi as Chinese personnel. They will begin leaving to take up two-year tenures from this month.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lee outlined that the “The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030)” will be promulgated soon. He said the document will fully align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, improve the mechanisms for Hong Kong to assume a greater role in the country’s opening up to the world, and harness the city’s role as an important window for exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Western cultures. 

Mr Lee added that by applying their professional expertise and perseverance to the international arena, Hong Kong youths can exemplify the Hong Kong SAR’s alignment with national strategies and contribution to overall national diplomacy.

He iterated that it is Hong Kong’s mission to assist the nation’s endeavours to build a global community with a shared future, and stressed that the young public servants from Hong Kong will bring together the city’s professional strengths and practical experience across a number of key fields.

The Chief Executive urged the officers to act with three “hearts”: a heart for the nation, a heart for Hong Kong and a heart for the world.

He said they should serve as pioneers in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, as a driving force in promoting Hong Kong’s high-quality development, and contribute to the city’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” connecting the nation with the world.

Mr Lee spoke with the officers to learn about their preparations for the programme, and wished them every success in their work at the UN.

The 16 officers are from the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau; the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department; the Census & Statistics Department; the Civil Engineering & Development Department; the Customs & Excise Department; the Department of Justice; the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department; the Hong Kong Observatory; the Hong Kong Police Force; the Intellectual Property Department; the Lands Department; and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.