MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Opening Ceremony of Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2026 today (September 7):

Martin (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Martin Liao), Winfried (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

Good morning. I am pleased to welcome you to the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum, delighted to note that this is the Forum’s 10th anniversary. 

You’re here over these next two days to get the latest intelligence and insights from a wide variety of high-profile local and international speakers. And all under the innovative theme of “Leaping for Impact.” 

This year’s theme draws inspiration from the Olympic and Paralympic values. Philanthropy, like sport, required focus, discipline and resilience. It demands inclusion, a shared purpose, and the drive for excellence. And these values guide us toward greater collaboration and meaningful change. 

Hong Kong has always been a society built on compassion and a deep sense of giving. We are home to more than 11 000 tax-exempt charities. Just last year alone, we recognised more than 400 new charitable organisations.

The Hong Kong SAR Government is fully committed to raising our city as a global centre for philanthropy. 

Under the “one country, two systems” principle, and as a bridge between East and West, we are uniquely positioned to deploy global capital for the greater good.

Our status as a global business and philanthropic hub is underpinned by our simple, transparent and internationally recognised tax regime.

To encourage public generosity, donations made to approved charities in Hong Kong are tax-deductible.  

Thanks to the generosity of our people and businesses, approved donations exceeded US$1.5 billion in the 2024-25 assessment year.

Hong Kong is not just a financial hub. We are a wealth management powerhouse. We are now home to more than 3 300 single family offices – a 25 per cent increase over the past two years. And more than half of them have second-generation members in leadership roles, reflecting that ultra-high-net-worth families trust Hong Kong for generational wealth transfer. 

Projections show that over US$5.8 trillion in wealth will be handed over to the next generation in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming years. And they are choosing Hong Kong to do it.

To make that as easy as possible, the Government has created comprehensive measures in support of family offices. 

Through Invest Hong Kong’s dedicated team, we provide a seamless, one-stop service for family offices interested in setting up in Hong Kong.

And through initiatives such as our annual “Wealth for Good in Hong Kong” Summit, we are creating a home where global asset owners can meet, exchange ideas and align their financial goals with social purpose.

We are also among the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth-management centres. Last year, the sector’s total assets under management reached US$5.4 trillion, more than 12 times our GDP.

And more than half of these funds came from investors beyond Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong looks forward to working with you. With our enabling tax regime, dedicated family office strategy, and our unwavering commitment to doing good, we can make a difference for you and your philanthropic legacy.

This year’s Forum is the perfect place to start. I invite you, over these next two days, to embrace the spirit of the theme, “Leaping for Impact”. Let us work together to build a brighter, safer, and more sustainable future for us all – and for the generations to come.

I wish you all a rewarding conference and our many visitors an enjoyable stay here in Asia’s world city. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the opening ceremony of the Training Course on International Trade and International Investment Legal Practice today (September 7):
 
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the Training Course on International Trade and International Investment Legal Practice, co-organised by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. First, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to each of you for travelling to Hong Kong to participate in this course.
 
Today marks a particularly meaningful occasion for the Academy. This training course offers not only a valuable opportunity to deepen professional knowledge in international trade and investment, but also represents the first collaboration between the Ministry of Commerce and the Academy. Since its launch in November 2024, the Academy has collaborated with over 20 international organisations, central authorities and professional bodies, in delivering capacity-building training programmes in Hong Kong and beyond for over 2 000 participants. Today, we are very honoured to embark on the official partnership with the Ministry of Commerce. I would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt appreciation for the Ministry’s strong support for this inaugural collaboration, and for the confidence it has placed in the Academy.
 
Nowadays, international trade and investments, as well as economic activities, in general are increasingly intertwined with geopolitical considerations, rapid technological changes, and evolving regional or international frameworks, apart from the traditional trade practice and commercial consideration. A solid and up-to-date understanding of the relevant international development is more important than ever. Trade officials therefore not only need to have a sound understanding of trade agreements, investment rules, and the relevant work of multilateral institutions, but also need the ability to assess how broader political, technological and economic developments may have favourable or adverse influences on their national interests, businesses and investment. To respond to such needs, this course aims to strengthen participants’ capability in tackling emerging risks and challenges, acquaint with fast-moving policies and market developments, engage in exchanges with international counterparts, and develop informed responses that safeguard the interests of economies and seize the available opportunities in an increasingly complex global landscape.
 
Hong Kong is best placed to offer such valuable perspectives. As an international financial, trading and professional services centre, Hong Kong has long maintained close trade and export ties with the Chinese Mainland and the international communities. For instance, the Chinese Mainland accounted for 51.4 per cent of Hong Kong’s merchandise trade in 2025. In addition, the value of goods re-exported through Hong Kong from and to the Chinese Mainland exceeded HK$4.2 trillion, accounting for more than 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s total re-export trade value. Further, Hong Kong is the largest source of overseas direct investment for the Chinese Mainland, and is the Chinese Mainland’s second largest trading partner. Alongside the Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to CEPA (Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) Agreement on Trade in Services, which took effect in 2025, the cross-border transactions between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland are expected to become increasingly extensive and interconnected. Beyond the Chinese Mainland, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is also a key economic and trading partner of Hong Kong. ASEAN was Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner in merchandise trade in 2025 and the third largest in services trade in 2024. Total merchandise trade between Hong Kong and ASEAN amounted to HK$1,668.5 billion in 2025 and total services trade between the two sides was HK$158.3 billion in 2024.

Hong Kong’s strategic role is underpinned by its strong rule of law tradition with a sophisticated common law system, free flow of capital, simple and low tax regime, and a large pool of international talents under the principle of “one country, two systems”. We provide businesses and investors with a trusted and efficient platform for cross-border trade, investment, financing and professional services, especially with extensive connectivity with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and as a gateway for enterprises seeking opportunities in both the Chinese Mainland and international markets, particularly in the Belt and Road regions.
 
We hope that this course will not only provide an opportunity for the speakers and participants to freely exchange views and practical experience, but also better equip participants to respond to contemporary challenges for sustainable trade and investment.
 
A training programme is enriched not only by the calibre of its participants, but also by the expertise of those who lead the discussions. We are privileged to be joined by a group of distinguished speakers. They include distinguished academics, most notably Professor Zheng Yongnian, Dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, to whom I extend my special thanks. They also include seasoned practitioners from law firms, accounting firms and advisory firms, as well as representatives of my department and arbitration institutions. And moreover, we are privileged to have with us the Deputy Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, senior officials from our Trade and Industry Department and the Financial Services Development Council. Together, our speakers bring an exceptional breadth of experience across academia, private practice, government and international institutions.
 
Over the coming days, we will explore a wide range of timely and intricate issues, including the evolving geopolitical landscape of international trade, export controls and sanctions regimes, emerging trade policy instruments, dispute resolution, relevant technological developments, as well as the legal issues arising from Chinese enterprises going global.
 
This course extends far beyond the four walls of this room. Over the course of the training programme, you will have the opportunity to see Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution ecosystem up close through visits to the High Court, the Hong Kong Legal Hub, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and the International Organization for Mediation. Another special feature of this course is that you will attend the Belt and Road Summit, which brings together senior government officials and business leaders from countries and regions along and beyond the Belt and Road to exchange insights on multilateral co-operation, and explore concrete business opportunities. We have also arranged cultural and exchange activities to give you a fuller sense of this city.
 
Beyond the training course itself, I hope you will have an opportunity to experience Hong Kong firsthand, and to discover the many dimensions that make this city unique. While Hong Kong is widely recognised as an international financial, trade and legal services centre, it is also a city of remarkable energy, cultural diversity and natural beauty. As the saying goes, “seeing is believing”. I invite you to experience Hong Kong for yourselves and discover its distinctive character in your own way.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, we hope this course will provide a valuable platform for meaningful dialogue, practical knowledge-sharing and the forging of lasting professional connections. We also look forward to the perspectives, experiences and insights that you will bring to the course. We have a full week ahead, but experience tells us that it will pass quickly without you noticing. I therefore encourage you to make the most of every session and every opportunity to engage with the speakers and one another.
 
With that, I wish this course every success, and each of you a rewarding, productive and enjoyable stay in Hong Kong. Thank you very much. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the Film Development Fund and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok (Bangkok ETO), the Asian Film Awards Academy presented the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from September 4 to 6, marking the third consecutive year of the event.   

     This year’s film gala featured a curated selection of seven Hong Kong films to audiences in Cambodia. In addition to the film screenings, an Emerging Actors Forum and a Masterclass on Script Writing were organised to foster in-depth exchanges between Hong Kong filmmakers, Cambodian industry professionals and local audiences.

     Officiating at the opening reception of the film gala, the Director of the Bangkok ETO, Miss Cheng Sze-ling, highlighted that the collaboration in the creative industries between Hong Kong and Cambodia has continued to flourish over the years. She emphasised that the Bangkok ETO remains committed to fostering closer trade and investment co-operation among Hong Kong, Cambodia and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations economies, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

     The Minister of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr Jiang Nan; the Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, Mr Hab Touch; and directors and actors from Hong Kong and Cambodia also attended the opening ceremony.

     For more information on the film gala, please visit www.afa-academy.com/hkfilmgala_en.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (September 6) that the special inspection and enforcement operations on the proper control of dogs, conducted across various locations in Hong Kong on August 30, September 5 and 6, have concluded successfully.

During the three-day enforcement operations, AFCD officers stepped up inspections at public places where dogs congregate, and detected a total of three suspected cases where large dogs were not being securely held on a leash in public places. AFCD officers will follow up on these cases and institute prosecutions accordingly.

An AFCD spokesman said, “The special operation aimed to raise awareness among dog keepers to properly control their dogs in public places and to reduce incidents of dog attacks arising from improper control, while promoting the message of responsible pet ownership and explaining relevant statutory requirements to members of the public.”

Under the Rabies Ordinance (Cap. 421), dogs in a public place must be held on a leash or otherwise under control. The Dangerous Dogs Regulation (Cap. 167D), even states more explicitly that large dogs (weighing 20 kilograms or above) must be securely held on a leash not exceeding two metres in length by a person when in a public place. Contravention of the relevant requirements is liable to a fine and imprisonment upon conviction.

The AFCD emphasised that properly controlling dogs in public places is not only a legal requirement but also helps safeguard public and animal safety. The AFCD will continue to step up routine inspections and enforcement, and appeals to members of the public to be responsible pet owners by keeping their dogs under proper control at all times. Members of the public who wish to learn more about the proper control of dogs and how to be a responsible pet owner may visit the AFCD website (www.pets.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Civil Aid Service (CAS) today (September 6) held the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, and the CAS Cadet Corps Foot Drill Competition 2026 at its headquarters. The competitions and award presentation ceremony were officiated by the Head of the Government Laboratory, Government Chemist, Dr Cheung Tsz-chun.
 
     This year’s Cadet Corps Foot Drill Competition was conducted in the form of the Chinese‑style foot drill, aiming to strengthen their sense of belonging to the country, patriotism and national identity. More than 250 cadets formed into 14 teams in the competition, earning nine awards in total. A new National Security Cup (Overall Champion) was added this year to encourage and recognise members who achieve outstanding results across the various competition categories.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Cheung said that witnessing the cadets’ pursuit of “doing well and doing even better” in drills perfectly aligns with the professional spirit of their work at the Government Laboratory. Earlier, the CAS organised a summer internship and experience program for its Cadet Corps, selecting members to intern at the Government Laboratory. He observed, across various learning sessions, the curiosity and thirst for knowledge that each member displayed toward the unknown. When laboratory colleagues demonstrated to the cadets how to analyse samples with precision instruments and how to discover facts using scientific methods, many cadets eagerly asked questions, which were both deep and creative.

     He said that laboratory work is closely related to national security and citizens’ lives. From food security, biosecurity and environmental monitoring to forensic testing and public health, the Government Laboratory applies scientific knowledge every day to safeguard society, protecting the health and safety of the public. The core of laboratory work, like what the cadets demonstrate on the drill field, is the same: mission, responsibility, discipline, and a heart for serving society.
 
     He said that since its establishment, the CAS Cadet Corps has been dedicated to youth training, using discipline training, community service, and various learning activities to help young people develop proper values and a spirit of serving society. He said he hopes that, through the summer internship and the experience of visits to the Government Laboratory, a seed of scientific curiosity will be planted in the cadets’ hearts; and he encouraged them to remain curious, ask questions, and dare to try, as these qualities will become their most valuable assets regardless of the profession they choose in the future.
 
     Dr Cheung said that looking ahead, the CAS will continue to encourage cadets to participate in discipline training and community service, and to assist in promoting national security education, cultivating young people to become future leaders and responsible citizens.
 
     The CAS Cadet Corps accepts applications throughout the year. For details on recruitment and application forms, please visit the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk/eng/org/cadet_corps.html).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region