Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government announces Action Plan to Promote Development of Corporate Treasury Centres in Hong Kong The full text of the Action Plan is set out in the Annex.
In his remarks at the Forum, Mr Hui noted that Hong Kong has risen to become the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre, and has been the world’s largest offshore Renminbi business hub. Backed by a mature and robust financial market system that is well-aligned with international standards, Hong Kong has long been providing comprehensive financial and professional services to both Mainland and overseas enterprises.Issued at HKT 17:22
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Hospital Authority appeals to public regarding condition of patient requiring urgent heart and lung transplant
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following appeal today (June 9) regarding the condition of a patient who requires an urgent heart and lung transplant.
A 13-year-old girl who requires an urgent heart and lung transplant is currently in critical condition at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. In response to an urgent appeal from her parents, the HA appeals to members of the public to actively support organ donation and consider donating the heart and lungs of their deceased relatives to give new life to others.
Given the critical condition of the patient, in addition to proactively searching for suitable heart and lungs locally, the HA will also seek assistance from the Chinese Mainland through relevant procedures as soon as possible. When a patient willing to donate organs has passed away and no suitable patient is identified on the Chinese Mainland, the cross-boundary organ donation and matching mechanism will facilitate a transplant in Hong Kong to bring hope to a critically ill patient.
The spokesperson emphasised that when suitable heart and lungs are found, the HA will strictly follow the relevant organ transplant regulations and make an application with the authorities to ensure that all procedures comply with relevant standards and regulatory requirements. The HA will arrange the transplant operation with an aim to save the patient’s life as soon as possible.
For critically ill patients with organ failure, an organ transplant is often the only hope for extending life. When deceased patients and their families make the selfless decision to donate organs for patients in need of organ transplantation, it not only gives critically ill patients the hope of life but also eases their families’ hardships. The HA appeals to the public to extend their compassion, blessings, and care to those still fighting for their lives.
C&SD releases results of 2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 9) the major results of the 2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey (HES).
It is an established practice in Hong Kong to conduct an HES once every five years to collect up-to-date information on the expenditure patterns of households. The survey results serve as an important data source for updating the expenditure weights of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and can also be used to study the consumption behaviour of households in Hong Kong.
Results of monthly survey on business situation of small and medium-sized enterprises for May 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Results of monthly survey on business situation of small and medium-sized enterprises for May 2026
A Government spokesman said that business sentiment amongst SMEs was largely stable in May, though remained cautious due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The current diffusion index on business receipts for SMEs improved somewhat from the preceding month, while the outlook diffusion index fell slightly. Meanwhile, the overall employment situation held steady.
The results of the survey should be interpreted with care. The survey solicits feedback from a panel sample of about 600 SMEs each month and the survey findings are thus subject to sample size constraint. Views collected from the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own companies rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in. Besides, in this type of opinion survey on expected business situation, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the business situation accords with the underlying trends. For this survey, main bulk of the data were collected around the last week of the reference month.
More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey on the Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080015&scode=300Issued at HKT 16:30
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Quarterly business receipts indices for service industries for first quarter of 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Business receipts in value terms of almost all major service industries showed increases of varying magnitudes in the first quarter of 2026 when compared with the first quarter of 2025, according to the provisional figures of business receipts indices released today (June 9) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).
Comparing the first quarter of 2026 with the first quarter of 2025, double-digit increases were recorded in business receipts indices of the import/export trade (+33.3%), insurance (+31.0%), financing (except banking) (+19.5%), wholesale (+17.4%), retail (+12.1%) and banking (+11.7%) industries. On the other hand, the warehousing and storage industry recorded a decrease of 2.0% in business receipts index during the same period.
Resumption of airmail services to Middle East and certain destinations
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Resumption of airmail services to Middle East and certain destinations
Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Comoros, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Maldives, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Additional conveyance time may be required for mail items destined for all of the above destinations, as mail items to these destinations have to be transited via other postal administrations.
Members of the public may visit the webpage of Hongkong Post at www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/whats_new/notices/index_id_1486.htmlIssued at HKT 15:08
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Offers of 2026-27 civil service pay adjustment
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) made pay offers to the staff side of the four civil service central consultative councils today (June 9), under which the pay for civil servants in the upper, middle and lower salary bands and the directorate will be increased at the same rate of 2 per cent for 2026-27, effective retrospectively from April 1, 2026.
“The Hong Kong economy has recorded substantial growth over the past year alongside a mild rise in living expenses and an overall upward pay trend in the market. The fiscal position of the Government has improved in 2025-26. That said, the Government needs to be prudent in managing public finances to cater for future developments as well as unexpected needs arising from changes in the geopolitical situation. After holistically considering and balancing all relevant factors, including the economic outlook, the increase in the cost of living in the past year, the Government’s overall fiscal position and the principle of prudent financial management, the positive net pay trend indicators in every salary band, the claims from the staff side and civil service morale, the Chief Executive in Council (CE in Council) made the offers to increase the pay at the same rate of 2 per cent across the board,” a CSB spokesman said.
“After the CE in Council considers the response from the staff side on the pay offers and makes a decision on the 2026-27 civil service pay adjustment, the Government will submit the pay adjustment proposal to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for consideration as soon as possible,” the spokesman added.
Free use of leisure and cultural facilities on July 1 in celebration of 29th anniversary of establishment of HKSAR
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Free use of leisure and cultural facilities on July 1 in celebration of 29th anniversary of establishment of HKSAR (* Users are required to possess the relevant qualification certificates.)
From June 14 to 20, members of the public can make ballot applications on SmartPLAY as individual users. Each application can include up to three choices of sessions. Any applicant wishing to change the choices in his/her application made can do so on SmartPLAY before the closing time at 11.59pm on June 20. The computer balloting results will be announced on June 23. Successful applicants will be notified by the SmartPLAY system. Any remaining sessions will be open for application on SmartPLAY on a first-come, first-served basis from June 25 to members of the public not having been allocated any free session by ballot or not having made any application. Each successful applicant will only be allocated one free session, whether through balloting or first-come, first-served booking.Issued at HKT 14:40
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Auction of traditional vehicle registration marks to be held on June 27
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Auction of traditional vehicle registration marks to be held on June 27(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” or “The Government of the HKSAR”. (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.
(4) The display of a vehicle registration mark on a motor vehicle should be in compliance with the requirements stipulated in Schedule 4 to the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations.Issued at HKT 14:30
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Vice President Hsiao hosts banquet for traditional Palauan leaders
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
On the evening of June 8 local time (afternoon of the same day Taipei time), Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao hosted a banquet for traditional Palauan leaders. In remarks, Vice President Hsiao noted the Austronesian cultural links between Taiwan and Palau, adding that both see the ocean as a home. She stated that on the strong foundation of the quarter-century of friendship between our two peoples, Taiwan and Palau will continue to collaborate in several areas. The vice president expressed hope that, as we are in an age of geopolitical challenges, globalization, and AI, we can find a balance between advancing technology and traditional values, so that we can keep our identities alive and flourishing.
A transcript of Vice President Hsiao’s remarks follows:
It is such an honor to be able to act as host because I have been enjoying the Palauan hospitality throughout this trip so far. But it is an honor to have this opportunity to engage with the traditional leaders of Palauan society. As I said this morning at the National Congress, I think we are not separated by waters, but instead, the waters connect us; the oceans connect us. And part of that connection is deep cultural roots, bounded by the Austronesian heritage that has taken root in Taiwan, but also around the Pacific region. And many Taiwanese, or indigenous communities in Taiwan, have managed to find their relatives all over the Pacific, including here in Palau.
For tonight’s occasion, I am dressed in a shirt designed by a traditional Taiwanese indigenous artist of the Paiwan tribe. There are 16 recognized indigenous groups in Taiwan, just like you have 16 states. But the 16 recognized groups are because they have distinct languages, cultures that have been carried on over the generations.
Unfortunately, we used to have many more indigenous communities and tribes in Taiwan that have, over time, lost their heritage. And therefore, it has been a priority of our government to support the revitalization of languages and cultures in our indigenous communities. And we have recently passed laws to legislate all of the indigenous languages that have also become our national languages.
Now, I used to serve in a community or district in Eastern Taiwan. It is a community that also has many indigenous groups. And I have enjoyed and appreciated the diversity and culture that they generate and share with the people of Taiwan. Now, they have been outstanding musical performers and also sports players. And of course, among the many areas of exchange and collaboration between Taiwan and Palau, exchanges in sports and co-training – that is, exchanges between the baseball teams of Taiwan and Palau – are something that I had the honor of witnessing upon the first day of my arrival here in Palau.
But it is a true honor to be able to represent the president and the people of Taiwan in coming here. Now, this is my first official visit to a diplomatic ally since I became vice president. And I am so pleased that Palau is my destination because of the beauty, the attractions, the warmth of the people here, and all the ties that have been evolving over the years from our former presidents’ days and the deepening roots that have been carried on not only through government ties, but also through traditional cultural connections, as well as our civil society.
You know, I always run into Taiwanese people who tell me – especially recently since I announced that I was coming here – everybody has a story about Palau. About how many times they have been here, about how many friends that they had dinner with, also about the beauty of this place. And also, I have heard from younger people who have taken part in some educational exchange programs, and some have also volunteered here as part of their learning experience. So, there is so much going on.
And of course, based on the strong foundation of the quarter-century of friendship between our two peoples, that of course includes collaboration in some of the infrastructure projects. I visited some today. I was also able to witness some of Taiwan’s collaboration with Palau on the island of Peleliu a few days ago, including transportation networks that connect communities to each other.
Like Palau, as I said, in the constituency I used to serve, indigenous communities – some are high in the mountains, some are by the ocean – but we need transportation networks to bring us closer together. And I am proud to say that Taiwan has contributed to 68 percent of the land roads that connect the people of Palau with each other.
Another important area of collaboration – and I just visited our technical mission this afternoon – involves agriculture and also aquaculture in supporting sustainable fisheries that can be used not only as sustenance food, but also as economic activity of the Palauan people. And among the agricultural products that our technical mission is supporting, I am told that the favorite fruit is the dragon fruit, especially the red dragon fruit, and also the guava. But as part of our agriculture cooperation, we are honored to be able to support healthy lunches for the students in public schools of Palau with the efforts and collaboration of our technical mission.
But they do not only [do] agriculture. They also conduct education and language exchange programs. They are also working on mapping the ocean or the fishery ecosystem using AI and big data to help Palau govern your natural resources. And with the data, it would give all of us a better understanding of areas that require greater protection and of areas that could be balanced with more tourism and economic activities. This is very valuable data as both of us are ocean nations, and we have a responsibility over stewardship of our oceans around us, especially the oceans that have been such an important part of our culture.
And of course, speaking of culture, ocean countries and the peoples of ocean countries tend to be much more open-minded. We look at the ocean as our home, and we are open-minded, we are friendly, we are warm, and hospitality is part of our DNA. And so I am very glad that you are able to join us tonight for this event, for us to have an opportunity to thank the Palauan people over the hospitality for this delegation. And this has been a wonderful trip so far. We have many more activities planned tomorrow, including visiting the fishery and aquaculture center.
We are also looking forward to extended work and collaboration on promoting sustainable tourism, which was an assignment that our president gave me for this trip. And we were brainstorming ideas with the Vice Minister Lin [Ching-yi] (林靜儀) here – she is the Vice Minister of Health – over how to put our Palauan scenery into the karaoke songs, the videos for karaoke in Taiwan, and to attract more Taiwanese to Palau. But I am certainly not the only advocate for Palau. There are many advocates of Palau in Taiwan, many people who have already experienced the beauty and the warmth of Palau, and we will continue to work on those.
And finally, again, back to the cultural connections between us, the Austronesian links between us. I think this is a very valuable area. It is a priority of our government to revitalize these cultures in Taiwan, and I believe there are many opportunities for us to work together, to learn from each other in how to support and sustain the traditional cultures. As we are in an age of all kinds of geopolitical challenges, globalization, AI, artificial intelligence, and finding that balance between advancing technology and also our traditional values is critically important in keeping our identities alive and flourishing. Thank you again for joining us tonight, and it is an honor to meet all of you.
Also in attendance at the dinner were Queen Bilung Gloria Salii and several Palauan chiefs.