Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
In light of the recent outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda in Africa, the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (SCEZD) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health convened a meeting today (May 27), to review the latest epidemiological situation, recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health authorities, scientific information on the prevention and control of Ebola disease, and relevant prevention and control strategies in Hong Kong. The SCEZD noted that the Government has already implemented a comprehensive series of preventive measures to guard against the importation of Ebola disease into Hong Kong.
Following the meeting, the SCEZD released a consensus statement, which provides a risk assessment of the situation in Hong Kong and recommends that the Government continues to implement various current measures to mitigate the risk of imported Ebola disease cases and prevent potential local transmission.
Risk assessment
———————-
The WHO declared the Ebola disease epidemic in the DRC and Uganda caused by the Bundibugyo virus (one of the viruses of the Ebola virus genus) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026.
This is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak in the DRC since 1976. As of May 24, 2026, the DRC has reported 105 confirmed cases and 10 confirmed deaths (confirmed case-fatality rate of around 10 per cent), as well as 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths (suspected case-fatality rate of around 25 per cent). Uganda has also reported seven confirmed cases, including one confirmed death.
The WHO assessed the public health risk as “very high” in the DRC, “high” at the regional level and “low” at the global level. Currently, no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment has been developed for Bundibugyo virus. Prevention and control of Bundibugyo virus therefore primarily relies on non-pharmaceutical public health measures such as case identification, isolation, contact tracing, and infection prevention and control.
In Hong Kong, Ebola disease is a statutorily notifiable disease under viral haemorrhagic fever. No suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola disease have been recorded in Hong Kong so far. There are currently no direct flights between the DRC or Uganda and Hong Kong, and Hong Kong has sufficient laboratory testing, isolation and treatment capacity for the rapid diagnosis, isolation and treatment of suspected cases. At present, the risk of Ebola disease is primarily confined to outbreak areas in the DRC and the immediate public health impact on Hong Kong remains low.
Recommended measures
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The SCEZD recommended the following ongoing preventive and control measures, which the Government has already implemented:
Enhanced surveillance: Close monitoring of the latest developments in the event of an ongoing Ebola disease outbreak, including maintaining close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities, as well as liaison with the Chinese Mainland health authorities through the joint prevention and control mechanism. Information on the latest Ebola disease situation and updated reporting criteria should continue to be disseminated to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong. Healthcare professionals should continue to maintain a high level of vigilance for patients presenting with clinically compatible symptoms with Ebola and who have a recent travel history to affected areas.
Case investigation and control measures: Prompt epidemiological investigation and contact tracing should be conducted upon notification of suspected Ebola disease cases. Suspected or confirmed cases should be immediately transferred to a public hospital for isolation and treatment, and kept in isolation until the specimens collected test negative for the virus.
Quarantine facilities: Operational readiness of quarantine facilities should continue to be maintained for immediate deployment if required. Established protocols for contact tracing and quarantine arrangements are already ready for activation upon laboratory confirmation of an Ebola disease case.
Port health measures and travel advice: Temperature checks and health screenings for passengers who have visited the DRC or Uganda within the past 21 days should continue. Active medical surveillance for these passengers during their stay in Hong Kong should also continue to be conducted. Members of the public are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the affected areas. Publicity on Ebola disease for travellers and communication with stakeholders of boundary control points should continue to be strengthened.
Laboratory diagnosis: Adequate laboratory capacity to perform testing for all suspected cases of Ebola disease should continue to be ensured.
Prevention of nosocomial transmission: Healthcare professionals should continue to comply with the latest infection control guidelines for the prevention of Ebola disease. Regular training and drills on Ebola infection control practices should continue to be held in hospitals with acute services.
Risk communication and community engagement: Public health education and risk communication through various channels should continue to be enhanced. Liaison with relevant non-governmental organisations to convey targeted health information and distribute health promotional materials to relevant communities and venues should be strengthened.
The SCEZD affirmed that the Government’s multipronged approach has been effective in minimising the risk of importation of Ebola disease cases to date. Sustained implementation of these preventive and control measures is crucial for minimising importation, early detection of cases and control in case of importation.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Questions:
There are views that Chinese calligraphy is an effective means of developing students’ writing and aesthetic abilities, cultural accomplishment and patriotic sentiment. However, primary and secondary schools currently lack a comprehensive calligraphy education system. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the specific measures currently put in place by the Government to promote calligraphy education at primary and secondary school levels, including relevant guidelines, resource support and activity programmes; how the Government assesses the effectiveness of such measures, for example, in terms of the level of student participation and the enhancement of their writing ability and cultural accomplishment;
(2) as it is learnt that the Mainland has progressively made calligraphy a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools, whether the Government has, by drawing on the Mainland’s experience, studied the systematisation of calligraphy education and its integration into academic disciplines such as Chinese Language, Civic Education or Art, and its designation as a compulsory component with mandatory assessment and grading; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) whether it has compiled statistics on the current number and proportion of primary and secondary school teachers who have received professional calligraphy training or possess relevant qualifications, and how the authorities determine the criteria for qualified calligraphy teachers; whether it will consider collaborating with higher education institutions in the Mainland, educational institutions, or calligraphy groups to establish a support system to promote the development and popularisation of calligraphy education?
Reply:
President,
Calligraphy encapsulates our rich cultural heritage and serves as an essential pathway for fostering students’ writing skills, aesthetic sense, cultural confidence, and patriotic sentiments. The Education Bureau (EDB) attaches great importance to calligraphy education. Throughout the primary and secondary schooling stages, the EDB systematically and progressively promotes calligraphy education through curriculum planning, development of learning and teaching resources, the organisation of diversified activities, and the provision of teacher training. These initiatives aim to cultivate students’ writing skills, enhance their Chinese character writing proficiency, and elevate their appreciation for the art of calligraphy.
Thank you for the Hon Stanley Ng’s attention to calligraphy education. The consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng is as follows:
I. Existing measures and effectiveness assessment
In terms of the curriculum, the Chinese Language Education Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide explicitly requires the arrangement of handwriting exercises at each key learning stage, coupled with diversified and appropriate handwriting activities with the use of hard pens and Chinese brushes. This aims to cultivate handwriting skills and habits from a young age, develop students’ proper handwriting posture and habits, enabling them to learn the structure, basic strokes and stroke sequence of the characters. Furthermore, through diversified teaching approaches and the integration of learning activities within and beyond campus, students are guided to learn and practise calligraphy in everyday life, putting calligraphy education into practice. In addition, the Visual Arts Curriculum Guide encourages schools to adopt a flexible curriculum framework to strengthen the learning and appreciation of Chinese calligraphy. Meanwhile, the Values Education Curriculum Framework (2026) emphasises the learning of Chinese culture, utilising calligraphy as an effective vehicle for fostering proper values and national identity.
To assist teachers in providing effective guidance for students in writing Chinese characters while nurturing their sense of appreciation for the art of calligraphy, the EDB has developed a series of resources related to the learning and teaching of Chinese characters and calligraphy (please see the Annex for details).
Regarding activity support, the EDB actively organises and supports different sectors in holding calligraphy events, such as supporting the Hong Kong Students Calligraphy Competition, which has attracted tens of thousands of entries over the years across the Chinese brush and hard pen categories for the primary and secondary divisions. Furthermore, the EDB participates in the national-level National Painting and Calligraphy Competition for Primary and Secondary School Students to enhance students’ cultural confidence. It also fully supports the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Students Calligraphy and Master Painting Joint Exhibition to showcase students’ artworks and promote cultural exchanges within the Greater Bay Area. In addition, aligned with festive occasions, the EDB organises calligraphy events such as the Calligraphy 1000 – Celebrating the Founding of the People’s Republic of China event, the Blessing Hong Kong activity and the Chinese Classic Sayings: Selected Famous Couplets Calligraphy Collection Activity. Moreover, a Chinese Calligraphy Grand Prize is featured in the Exhibition of Student Visual Arts Work organised annually to promote calligraphy education in a lively and diversified manner. In 2025, primary and secondary school students of Hong Kong successfully challenged the Guinness World Record for the Largest Pen Calligraphy Lesson, reflecting the positive outcomes of calligraphy education.
Furthermore, the EDB has provided a One-off Grant for Promotion of Chinese Culture Immersion Activities of $300,000 for each public sector school and school under the Direct Subsidy Scheme to help them further strengthen Chinese culture education. As shown in the questionnaire survey, schools have made flexible use of the grant to organise various activities on Chinese culture, including calligraphy learning and immersion activities.
As for the assessment of the effectiveness of calligraphy education, the EDB makes continuous evaluation with reference to the participation rates in competitions, school-based questionnaires, lesson observations, and students’ writing performance in the Territory-wide System Assessment. According to observations, schools in Hong Kong generally attach high importance to calligraphy education. They offer calligraphy lessons, and organise interest groups, competitions and exhibitions, cultural festivals, etc, as part of their school curriculum and activities to create an atmosphere conducive to calligraphy learning and actively promote calligraphy education.
II. Learning from the Mainland’s experience
In fact, there are regular exchanges and collaborations between the Mainland and Hong Kong in education, allowing both sides to learn from each other. We note that on the Mainland, a one-hour calligraphy lesson per week is allocated in the subject Chinese Language from Primary 3 to 6, and this is integrated into the arts curriculum standards. When learning from the Mainland’s experience, we carefully consider the differences in curriculum systems, lesson hours, and teacher qualifications.
Currently, primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong primarily integrate calligraphy education into the existing curriculum framework. Specific learning objectives for writing and calligraphy are delineated within the subjects of Chinese Language and Visual Arts. Schools implement and assess students’ calligraphy learning through diversified modes. Furthermore, being pragmatic and keeping pace with the times, we continuously deepen calligraphy education within the existing subject frameworks and encourage schools to promote calligraphy learning through formative assessments, including the application of artificial intelligence and the use of virtual museum collections to guide students in appreciating classical masterpieces, thereby elevating their aesthetic capabilities.
III. Teacher professional training, statistics on qualifications and co-operation with Mainland institutions
Currently, we do not maintain independent statistics on the number and proportion of primary and secondary school teachers possessing professional training or relevant qualifications in calligraphy. Teachers come from diverse professional backgrounds, and the enhancement of their calligraphy attainment is primarily achieved through personal professional development and in-service training. The EDB will continue to provide teachers with diversified training opportunities and encourage them to make good use of various community resources to master calligraphy.
We have been collaborating with educational institutions and organisations to promote professional exchanges among teachers and to arrange systematic learning of calligraphy education philosophies and methodologies for primary and secondary school teachers in Hong Kong. Notably, with the consent of Dr Sze Chi-ching, President of the China Calligraphers Association-Hong Kong Branch, we have uploaded the electronic version of “Shufa Xuexi Kecheng” (calligraphy learning programme) to the EDB intranet for teachers’ reference and use. Furthermore, the EDB has distributed physical copies of the book set, printed and donated by the Hong Kong Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (Provincial) Members Association, to all primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong to promote calligraphy learning. We also support the Integrated Development of Five Disciplines campaign to enrich students’ learning experiences. Looking ahead, the EDB will continue to deepen its collaboration with units such as the Institute of Curriculum and Textbook Research of the Ministry of Education and Capital Normal University to conduct training for calligraphy teachers. We will also capitalise on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area platform to organise cross-boundary exhibitions, competitions, and teacher workshops to advance calligraphy education.
Conclusion
President, the EDB continuously promotes the popularisation and deepening of calligraphy education through multi-pronged approaches, including curriculum guidelines, resource support, extra-curricular activities, and teacher training. We will continue to listen to views from various sectors, optimise our measures in a timely manner according to the actual circumstances of Hong Kong while drawing on the Mainland’s experience, and further enhance students’ writing proficiency, Chinese cultural literacy, and patriotic sentiments.
Hong Kong is the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre, according to the Global Wealth Report 2026 published by Boston Consulting Group today.
Moreover, the report projected that from 2025 to 2030, cross-boundary wealth managed by Hong Kong will grow 9% on average annually and maintain first place globally, fully affirming the city’s position as a world-leading cross-boundary wealth management centre.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong in strengthening its functions as an international asset and wealth management centre, which is also a key component of Hong Kong’s “Finance+” development strategy.
He highlighted that as global investors are actively seeking diversified asset allocation, Hong Kong, leveraging its advantages of “one country, two systems” whilst complemented by transparent economic policies, secure investment environment and cross-market connectivity, is attracting more and more ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices to establish a presence and invest in the city.
Mr Chan added: “Benefiting from the wealth generated by technological innovation and the rapid development of industries related to artificial intelligence, demand for asset and wealth management in the Mainland and the Asian region is set to grow at an accelerated pace. This is expected to open up greater room for development for Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management sector.
“The Government will continue to grasp and propel this wave of development to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status and function as an international financial centre.”
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the current-term Government strives to reinforce Hong Kong’s competitive advantages as a leading asset and wealth management centre.
“The Government will introduce legislative proposals into the Legislative Council next month to further enhance the preferential tax regimes for funds, single family offices and carried interest, so as to further enhance the competitiveness of the tax regimes, and attract more funds and family offices to set up and operate in Hong Kong.”
Mr Hui remarked that as global economic gravity shifts eastward, geopolitical tensions further highlight Hong Kong’s role as a safe harbour and reflect Hong Kong’s appeal as an international financial centre.
“Amid the global environment of heightened geopolitical risks, we will work concertedly with the industry to continue driving the growth momentum of Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management industry,” he stressed.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appointment of Chairman of Board of Directors of San Tin Technopole Company Limited The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said that the Government promulgated the Conceptual Outline of the Development Plan for the Innovation and Technology Industry in the San Tin Technopole in November 2025, which provided a top-level design for the 210-hectare new I&T land in the San Tin Technopole in terms of development vision, objectives and positioning, industrial spatial layout, and development model, thereby setting a clear development strategy for the San Tin Technopole. As a natural extension of the Loop, the San Tin Technopole in the Northern Metropolis, together with the Hong Kong Park in the Loop, provides a co-ordinated development at the upstream, midstream and downstream levels, creating a comprehensive industrial ecosystem. While the Loop focuses on research and development (R&D), commercialisation, and pilot production at the upstream and midstream levels, the San Tin Technopole will provide a large piece of land, which can help accelerate the commercialisation of R&D results by providing industrial space for prototyping, pilot and mass production, supporting Hong Kong in establishing a new industry pattern of “South-North dual engine (finance-innovation and technology)”.
Professor Sun continued, “Dr Chai is a seasoned industrialist with rich experience in public service. He has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) since 2018, the term of which will expire on June 30, 2026. Under Dr Chai’s sterling leadership, the HKSTPC has conducted planning studies for approximately 20 hectares of land within the San Tin Technopole. Upon Dr Chai’s chairmanship of the HKSTPC expiring, he will become the first Chairman of the STTCL. I am confident that under Dr Chai’s leadership, the San Tin Technopole will become a stronghold for the future development of emerging technology industries in Hong Kong and an important base for developing new quality productive forces.
“The HKSTPC will continue to work closely with the Government and co-ordinate with the STTCL to proceed with the overall development of the San Tin Technopole and expand the I&T ecosystem. Leveraging Hong Kong’s international strengths, the HKSTPC will further reinforce the city’s role as a bridge between the Chinese Mainland and the world.”
In terms of corporate structure, the Board of the STTCL shall be appointed by the Government. The Board will comprise a chairperson, official directors, and non-official directors. The official directors will include the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury); and the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology. The Government will participate directly in the major decisions of the STTCL through the official directors to ensure the development and operation of the San Tin Technopole completely align with the principles of the country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The non-official directors will come from diverse backgrounds and sectors, allowing the STTCL to draw on the expertise from outside the Government.Issued at HKT 10:02
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Government today (May 27) announced that the Chief Executive has appointed Ms Cordelia Chung as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) for two years starting from July 1, 2026, succeeding the incumbent HKSTPC Chairman, Dr Sunny Chai, whose term of appointment will end on June 30, 2026.
Ms Chung possesses extensive experience in managing multinational enterprises in the information technology sector. She actively participated in public service, and was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the HKSTPC from 2017 to 2023.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, welcomed the appointment of Ms Chung as the new Chairman of the HKSTPC. He said, “Ms Chung has rich experience in the field of innovation and technology (I&T). Under her leadership, the HKSTPC will continue to support the development of local I&T enterprises, cultivating a more vibrant I&T ecosystem.”
Professor Sun also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Dr Chai, for his significant contributions to the work of the HKSTPC over the years. “Under Dr Chai’s sterling leadership, the HKSTPC has continuously enhanced existing I&T infrastructure and various measures to support I&T enterprises, nurtured I&T talents and promoted Hong Kong’s I&T and the development of new industrialisation, so as to strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international I&T hub. In addition, under his outstanding leadership, the HKSTPC has conducted planning studies for San Tin Technopole as requested by the Government. Under the leadership of the new Chairman, the Government anticipates that the HKSTPC would continue to provide full support and cooperation for the development of the San Tin Technopole and work closely with the soon established San Tin Technopole Company Limited to jointly strengthen the I&T ecosystem and attract enterprises and international talent,” said Professor Sun.
The Government also announced the appointment of two new members and re-appointment of seven serving members by the Financial Secretary for a period of two years from July 1, 2026.
Professor Philip Chiu and Professor Helen Meng are appointed as new Board members of the HKSTPC.
Mr Conrad Chan, Ms Dilys Chau, Ms Susanna Hui, Mr Timothy Leung, Dr Samson Tam, Ms Phoebe Tse and Ms Eunice Yung are re-appointed as Board members of the HKSTPC.
Professor Sun said, “I am confident that with their extensive experience and professional knowledge in various fields, members of the Board will continue to guide the HKSTPC to fulfil its public mission effectively and propel the I&T development in Hong Kong.”
The tenure of two incumbent Board members, Professor Stephanie Ma and Mr Daryl Ng, will expire on June 30 this year. Professor Sun also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Board members for their valuable advice on the HKSTPC and strong support for the I&T development in Hong Kong over the past six years.
Established in 2001, the HKSTPC is a statutory body wholly owned by the Government. It provides quality infrastructure facilities and support services for the I&T development in Hong Kong. The HKSTPC is responsible for managing and operating the Hong Kong Science Park, three InnoParks and the InnoCentre.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Joephy Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Question:
It has been reported that after reviewing the patronage and demand of its existing services, the Park Island Transport Company Limited (PITCL) has implemented temporary arrangements with effect from April 8 this year, including the cancellation of two ferry trips between Park Island and Tsuen Wan, as well as four weekday ferry trips between Park Island and Central, and replacing the relevant services by residents’ bus services instead. There are views pointing out that residents’ bus services do not allow the carriage of bicycles and pets, and are susceptible to road traffic conditions, which have in effect weakened the commuting choices of Park Island residents. Moreover, the PITCL has in the past resorted to substituting ferry services with bus services temporarily by reasons such as the pandemic and crew shortage. There are concerns that the PITCL may regularise the temporary arrangements in the long run, and it is considered that the Government should strengthen its regulatory efforts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the Transport Department (TD) is aware that, apart from the reason of crew shortage which the PITCL claims, the recent surge in diesel prices leading to increased operating costs is also one of the reasons for the PITCL’s current reduction of ferry trips;
(2) since 2019, (i) of the respective frequencies and average daily patronage of the ferry routes and residents’ bus services operated by the PITCL; (ii) the changes (whether temporary or permanent) in frequencies of those ferry routes and residents’ bus service routes, and whether the TD has ever rejected any applications from the PITCL for changes in frequencies; (iii) the numbers of complaints received by the TD each year about the PITCL’s services (including frequency arrangements) and the number of follow-up actions taken;
(3) of the regulatory mechanism put in place by the TD regarding the temporary changes to service arrangements by non-franchised bus and ferry companies such as the PITCL; the measures put in place by the TD to ensure that applications for frequency changes will not be abused while safeguarding the commuting convenience of residents;
(4) of the respective amounts of (i) subsidies provided under the Anti-epidemic Fund, (ii) reimbursement of differential fares under the $2 Scheme and (iii) other subsidies received by the PITCL from the Government each year since 2019; the criteria for calculating or disbursing the aforesaid subsidy amounts (e.g. number of trips operated, a certain percentage of operating expenses on an accountable basis or a one-off subsidy); and
(5) whether the authorities have entered into any agreements or other legally binding documents with the PITCL, stipulating the minimum service levels for the various ferry routes and residents’ bus service routes it operates as a pre-condition for receiving the subsidies mentioned in (4); if so, of the details; whether the PITCL has ever had its subsidies reduced or subject to any fines for breaching such agreements; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Transport Department (TD) has been closely monitoring Ma Wan ferry services and actively following up on issues such as staff shortage and suspension of sailings of the operator (i.e. Park Island Transport Company Limited (PITCL)). The TD has also maintained close communication with local residents’ representatives and District Council Members, and required the operator to expedite recruitment with a view to resuming normal ferry services as soon as possible and strengthen non-franchised public bus services (i.e. Residents’ Services (RS)) during peak hours so as to minimise the impact on residents. The reply to the question raised by the Hon Joephy Chan is as follows:
(1) The PITCL advised that it could not maintain normal ferry services due to staff shortage. Since April 8, 2026, a total of six weekday sailings of the two “Ma Wan – Central” and “Ma Wan – Tsuen Wan” licensed ferry routes have been temporarily suspended. Upon noting the situation, the TD immediately issued a written request to the PITCL on the same day, requesting a detailed explanation for the suspension of sailings; subsequently the TD met with the PITCL multiple times to closely monitor the situation. The TD has required the PITCL to expedite recruitment with a view to resuming normal ferry services as soon as possible. To minimise the impact on residents’ commute, the TD required the PITCL to provide corresponding RS. According to the TD’s observations, the strengthened RS were sufficient to meet passenger demand.
In addition, the PITCL also indicated that the sharp rise in fuel costs in recent months has put pressure on the operation of ferry services. To alleviate the impact of surging oil prices driven up by conflicts in the Middle East on the relevant trades, the Government provides public or commercial vessels and vehicles that use diesel as fuel (including ferries and non-franchised public buses of the PITCL) with diesel price subsidy for two months starting from April 30. In addition, the Government has established the Working Group on Public Transport Service Special Applications to assist, in an expedited manner, public transport operators in their applications to respond flexibly to rising fuel costs.
(2) At present, the PITCL operates two licensed ferry routes plying between Park Island and Central and Tsuen Wan respectively, and five RS routes plying between Park Island and Tsing Yi, Kwai Fong, the Airport and Central respectively. In addition, Park Island residents may also take the two RS routes plying between Ma Wan and Tsuen Wan and Tsuen Wan West respectively operated by Sun Bus Limited, or urban taxis to travel to various districts.
In 2025, the PITCL’s licensed ferry services and RS carried a daily average of about 17 000 passenger trips, representing a drop of over 10 per cent as compared with the daily average of about 20 000 passenger trips in 2019. Among these, licensed ferry services of the PITCL saw a more significant decline in daily patronage by over 40 per cent as compared with 2019. With regard to the services provided by the PITCL, only approximately 10 per cent of passenger trips on weekdays are made on licensed ferry services, with the demand concentrated on the morning and evening peak of the “Ma Wan – Central” route. According to information provided by the PITCL, for the “Ma Wan – Central” route, the average patronage and occupancy of sailings during the morning and evening peak were approximately 131 passengers and 33 per cent (7am to 9am Central bound) and 82 passengers and 20 per cent (5.30pm to 8.30pm Ma Wan bound) respectively, while the average patronage of sailings during off-peak hours was only about 31 passengers. As for the “Ma Wan – Tsuen Wan” route, the average patronage of sailings was approximately 13 passengers.
Since 2019, the PITCL had applied to the TD for adjustments to the schedules of licensed ferry services for six times, of which four were approved (including two temporary service adjustments lasting about 14 months and two months respectively during the COVID-19 pandemic), while the remaining applications were not approved. Also, the PITCL had, after direct negotiations with passenger representatives (i.e. the management company of Park Island), submitted five applications to the TD for adjustments to RS, all of which were approved.
The TD has all along followed up with all complaints received. Depending on the particulars of the case, the TD will follow up with the operator, including arranging for on-site inspections as necessary to verify service situations, and requesting the operator to provide information and responses.
The schedule arrangements, average daily patronage and complaint figures of the PITCL’s licensed ferry services and RS between 2019 and 2025 are provided in Annex.
(3) For licensed ferry services, according to the Ferry Services Ordinance (Cap. 104), unless with a reasonable excuse, a licensee must maintain proper and efficient services, including providing services in accordance with the schedule and capacity set out in the Schedule of Services attached to the licence. Otherwise, the Commissioner for Transport (the Commissioner) may revoke the ferry service licence pursuant to Cap. 104. Generally speaking, if licensed ferry operators (including the PITCL) intend to adjust the schedules, they must submit service adjustment applications to the TD. The TD will handle applications received in accordance with established procedures and, depending on the application details, arrange for local consultation to collect views from residents and local stakeholders to consider whether to approve the applications.
For RS, under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) and relevant subsidiary legislation, an operator must provide services in accordance with its Passenger Service Licence, including the routeings and schedule, etc, as specified in the Schedule of Services. If RS operators (including the PITCL) plan to adjust service details of RS (such as routeings, operating hours and fares, etc), they must obtain the consent of passenger representatives before submitting applications to the TD. If operators breach the aforementioned conditions, the Commissioner may issue warning letters, hold inquiries, or even suspend, cancel, or amend the relevant Passenger Service Licences.
Overall speaking, when considering applications for service adjustments, the TD will examine whether the proposed service adjustments can appropriately meet the changing transport demands of the district, and arrange for local consultations depending on the details of the applications. The TD will also take a holistic view of the operator’s operating conditions, including whether the proposed adjustments would facilitate the operator in making better use of resources, as well as enhancing its overall operational efficiency while safeguarding its financial sustainability, with a view to ensuring that the service remains stable.
(4) & (5) To maintain stable ferry services to meet the transport needs of outlying island residents, the Government provides Special Helping Measures for outlying island ferry routes, reimbursing outlying island ferry operators (including the PITCL) for specific operating expenses on an accountable basis, with a view to relieving the pressure of fare increases on passengers. The support provided by the Government to ferry and RS operators also includes waiving vessel licence fees, reimbursing pier rentals, waiving vehicle licence and inspection fees for registered commercial vehicles. From 2019 to 2025, the PITCL received approximately $18 million in subsidies each year on average for the aforementioned measures.
Besides, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government provided the local public transport operators with various financial support through several rounds of the Anti-epidemic Fund mainly on an accountable basis, thereby helping them cope with the challenging operating environment.
As for the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities (the $2 Scheme), it aims to enable the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on designated public transport services at a concessionary fare. The Government will reimburse participating operators on an accountable basis for the fare revenue forgone as a result of the implementation of the $2 Scheme. Under the $2 Scheme, the PITCL was reimbursed about $6.14 million every year on average between 2019 and 2025 for the difference in bus/ ferry fare.
Before disbursing the subsidies, the Government would comprehensively consider the operators’ situations, including verifying their eligibility and the operational information submitted.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ10: Effectiveness and regulation of Kai Tak Sports Park in promoting sports development Question:
In December 2018, the Government awarded a 25-year contract (the Contract) for the operation of the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) to Kai Tak Sports Park Limited (the operator). The Contract sets out a number of requirements, including key performance indicators (KPIs). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the details of sporting events held at (i) the Kai Tak Stadium, (ii) the Kai Tak Arena and (iii) the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground over the past year (set out in Table 1); whether the Government has assessed if the number of sporting events held at these venues meets the requirements of KPIs (e.g. the number of events held, the number of event days and the number of participants, etc);
Table 1
Name of venue(2) given that, as stipulated in the Contract, the operator is required to ensure that the venue hiring charges for public bookings and the holding of sporting events are comparable to those charged by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for similar facilities, yet the industry has relayed that hiring KTSP venues involves a large number of supplementary service charges (such as cleaning, security and technical support fees), resulting in the overall charges being on the high side, whether the Government has established a mechanism to review the reasonableness of overall charging levels set by the operator and to require the operator to publish a schedule of fees for the various supplementary services so as to enhance transparency; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) given that, as stipulated in the Contract, the operator has committed to implementing the Raising the Game Scheme (formerly known as the Sports Events Support Scheme) with a total commitment of $1.583 billion to support major sporting events, of the details of the operator’s sponsorship of sporting events in the first operating year (set out in Table 2); and
Table 2
Name of project supported by the Raising the Game Scheme(4) given that the Contract stipulates that if the operator fails to fully realise the commitment for the relevant operating year, the outstanding commitment shall be paid to the entities nominated by the authorities (such as national sports associations), how the Government will specifically handle such funds, and how it will ensure that, under the existing vetting and approval mechanism, the subsidies allocated to nominated entities will precisely deliver on the five major policy objectives of promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports, maintaining Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism and developing sports as an industry;
(5) given that the Government has undertaken to establish a Joint Review Committee (the Committee) with the operator to review the operational effectiveness of KTSP and the operator’s performance in fulfilling its contractual obligations, and that the Committee is to meet on a quarterly basis, with its subordinate monitoring subcommittee(s) meeting on a monthly basis, in respect of the aforementioned structure over the past year, of its (i) actual operation; (ii) progress of agenda items; (iii) accountability functions; and (iv) future plans; and
(6) as the industry has relayed that the operator’s charging lacks transparency and that the priority accorded to sporting events in venue scheduling has been squeezed, in the event that conflicts arise in the venue booking schedules between cultural and entertainment performances (such as concerts) and sporting events, what mechanism the authorities have in place to effect a rational allocation, so as to ensure that KTSP does not deviate from its role and positioning as Hong Kong’s landmark sports venue?
Reply:
President,
Since its official commissioning in March last year, the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), has successfully hosted numerous mega events and its promising achievements in advancing sports development and mega-event economy have been evident to all. The Kai Tak Stadium, in merely nine months after its opening, achieved the third-highest ticket sales and the fifth-largest gross revenue among major global venues in 2025. It was also ranked eighth globally and first in Asia out of 28 shortlisted venues in the Stadium of the Year 2025 awards organised by StadiumDB.com, an authoritative international stadium database. Furthermore, the KTSP was named by Time magazine as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2026, the only attraction in Hong Kong on the list. These accomplishments clearly demonstrate the complementary effect generated by hosting both sports events and mega entertainment events at the KTSP in the past year. Through their synergistic effect, the KTSP has successfully established itself as a new hub for sports, leisure and entertainment. Building on the strong momentum since its opening, the Government will continue to work closely with the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited (the Operator) to maintain Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, promote sports in the community, support elite sports, develop sports as an industry, and enhance professionalism in sports, with a view to fostering the holistic development of sports on all fronts. Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Kenneth Fok is as follows:
(1) The KTSP is a world-class integrated sports, leisure and entertainment landmark. It also serves as a key platform for promoting the market-oriented development of sports infrastructure project and advancing the development of sports activities in Hong Kong into mega sports events while promoting sports in the community.
Since the opening of the KTSP on March 1, 2025 and up to April 30, 2026, the Kai Tak Stadium staged a number of international, regional and national sports competitions. They included two editions of the Hong Kong Sevens, three qualifying matches for the Asian Cup featuring the Hong Kong, China football team on home turf, three exhibition matches by world-class football powerhouses, and the rugby sevens competition of the 15th National Games, representing a total of 19 sports event days (excluding the time required for venue setup and dismantling), with a cumulative attendance of over 583 000.
During the same period, the Kai Tak Arena (Grand Hall and Sports Hall) also hosted numerous sports competitions ranging from local to international levels, as well as community sports events. They included two stagings of the World Grand Prix (snooker), the Hong Kong leg of Volleyball Nations League, the semi-finals and grand final of the top global esports event – the League of Legends Champions Korea Cup, the men’s handball and fencing competitions of the 15th National Games, and five home games of Hong Kong’s professional basketball team in the National Basketball League, etc, representing a total of 96 sports event days (excluding the time required for venue setup and dismantling), with a cumulative attendance of over 262 000.
The Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground and other indoor and outdoor spaces within the precinct also accommodated a large number of football and rugby matches, athletics meets and bowling tournaments during the same period. They included competitions organised by various National Sports Associations (NSAs), such as the rugby championship match between Hong Kong, China and Sri Lanka, the international friendly match between the women’s football teams of Hong Kong, China and Malaysia, and the HKGX 2025 IBF World Championships (bowling), etc, representing a total of 138 sports event days (excluding time required for venue setup and dismantling), with a cumulative attendance of over 126 000.
In addition to hosting major sports events, the three aforementioned major venues, together with a variety of other venues and spaces (e.g. the bowling centre, outdoor sports facilities and open spaces), are open to the public for hire or for organising community sports activities at affordable prices when no event or group booking is scheduled. In the past year, a series of All Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying Tournaments, as well as a range of flagship community sports competitions and activities (such as the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026 Youth Run, Kai Tak Run, and Kai Tak Get Set Go!) were held at various venues and spaces within the precinct. From March last year to the end of April this year, the total number of days on which sports events were held across the entire KTSP exceeded 250 days (excluding time required for venue setup and dismantling), with a cumulative attendance of over 970 000, demonstrating the Operator’s effective utilisation of the venues.
As highlighted by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) at this year’s Budget press conference as well as the special meeting of the Legislative Council Finance Committee, the Operator is required to operate the KTSP in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the contract signed with the Government, and its performance is evaluated periodically against a set of key performance indicators (KPIs). The first year of the KTSP’s operation marked the initial stage of its business development. When drawing up the contract, the Government included a ramping up arrangement, under which certain KPIs relating to venue utilisation (including the number of days on which sports events are held at each venue and the total attendance at such events) only took effect from the second operating year (i.e. the year ending March 31, 2027).
According to the contract signed between the Government and the Operator, the Kai Tak Stadium, the Kai Tak Arena (Grand Hall), and the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground together with other venues within the precinct are required to accommodate 40, 76 and 69 sports event days respectively in the year ending March 31,2027, with a total annual attendance of 600 000 at sports events. These indicators were set before the construction of the KTSP (i.e. in 2018), and are no longer fully suited to the current operational realities of the venues. For example, only the event day of competitions is currently counted towards sports event days while pre-event preparation works, such as turf conversion taking around two to three weeks as well as venue setup and dismantling taking around five to ten days, are not taken into account. Moreover, the indicators do not factor in the importance of events to sports development, their economic impact and benefits, etc. Given that the relevant indicators are currently unable to fully reflect the changes in the operational model of the KTSP, and as mentioned by the CSTB at the said press conference and the special meeting of the Finance Committee, we are reviewing the relevant indicators to ensure that the assessment mechanism can keep pace with the times and remain practical. This ensures that the Operator, with the enhanced performance indicators, meets the performance standards while maintaining operational efficiency and supporting the development of sports as an industry and the host city economy.
(2) The Government adopts a “Design, Build and Operate” model to take forward the KTSP project, with the aim of enabling the KTSP to operate on a market-oriented and self-financing basis. As such, the positioning and operational model of the KTSP cannot and should not be compared with government venues. Taking the 50 000-seat Kai Tak Stadium as an example, the stadium is equipped with a retractable roof and a flexible, modern pitch system. In addition, air-conditioning vents are installed beneath each seat and alongside the pitch to ensure an all-weather comfortable experience for spectators, athletes and performers. Each facility at the KTSP, being Hong Kong’s landmark flagship venue, is of world-class standard and therefore entails higher requirements for operation, security and technical support as well as certain supplementary service charges. As a key base for the sports events industry, the KTSP has since its opening attracted multiple commercially viable large-scale sports events as well as cultural and entertainment events, bringing in substantial ticket revenues from organising mega events. Running the KTSP in a market-oriented model facilitates the establishment of a comprehensive ecosystem for developing sports as an industry. Regarding the requirements for supplementary services (including security and cleaning), the Operator and event organisers will discuss and agree on the required level of such services and the associated charges which may vary depending on the scale and nature of each event. Drawing on the experience gained over the past year, the KTSP will further streamline the required level of supplementary services and manpower to an optimal level, thereby enhancing the cost-effectiveness of these services.
In addition to hosting major sports events, the Operator continuously opens the KTSP’s indoor and outdoor sports and recreational facilities for public booking. Under the contract, the charging standards for these facilities, apart from making reference to the rates of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, also comprehensively consider the charges of similar facilities provided by educational institutions and other non-profit making organisations, with a view to setting reasonable fees that are acceptable to the public. For example, the current hourly charges for community casual hire are $75 for an indoor badminton court, $50 for an indoor table tennis studio, and $160 for an outdoor tennis court during peak hours. These rates are broadly comparable to those charged by other non-profit making organisations in the community.
Over the past year or so, more than 68 000 people made bookings and used the facilities at the KTSP. The pickleball courts, in particular, have been extremely popular with the public, with utilisation rate peaked. In addition, various sports programmes have together recorded over 190 000 community sports hours. These figures demonstrate that the charging levels of the KTSP are in line with public expectations and its infrastructure has been effective in promoting sports in the community.
(3) and (4) The Operator has been implementing the Sports Events Support Scheme (now known as the Raising the Game Scheme) to support major sports events and provide funding for sports and related projects with potentials. Its total financial commitment under the Raising the Game Scheme (the Scheme) is $1.583 billion, spreading across approximately 20 years. From the commencement of operation of the KTSP to the end of its first operating year (i.e. from March 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026), the Operator’s contractual commitment under the Scheme is $44 million.
According to the information provided by the Operator, during the above period, a total of 46 sports events were supported by the Scheme, involving an estimated total funding amount of nearly $52 million. The events supported by the Scheme covered a wide range of sports, such as various competitions hosted by different NSAs (including three Asian Cup qualifying matches organised by the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, featuring the Hong Kong, China team on home turf, and a friendly match of the Hong Kong China Men’s XVs against an Asian team organised by the Hong Kong China Rugby); multiple All Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying Tournaments aimed at identifying young athletes with potential (covering sports such as handball, athletics, basketball and football); as well as community sports activities open to the public free of charge (such as the Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2025). Through various forms of support, including priority venue booking, rental concessions, event collaboration and promotion, the Scheme significantly promotes the five key policy objectives of sports development.
As the spending of the Operator under the Scheme has already exceeded its contractual commitment, there is currently no need to address any shortfall. In the second operating year, the Operator contractual commitment is $50 million. The Operator will continue to consider each application having regard to factors such as diversity and experiential value of the event as well as the organiser’s financial plan, with a view to attracting more major local and international sports events to the KTSP.
(5) As the largest sports infrastructure and first integrated sports, leisure and entertainment landmark in Hong Kong’s history, the KTSP holds an important strategic position. To monitor the Operator’s performance and ensure the smooth daily operation of the KTSP, the Government and the Operator convene meetings of the Joint Review Committee on a regular basis. In addition to providing steer on the Sports Park’s efforts in promoting sports development, these meetings offer advice on fostering the synergistic development of major sports events, innovative entertainment, dining, conventions and exhibitions, as well as tourism activities. Meanwhile, the Committee also draws up thorough plans for daily operations and major events on security deployment, crowd management, emergency response and other areas. A total of 19 meetings have been conducted since the commissioning of the KTSP 15 months ago. For each major event, the CSTB and relevant government departments together with the Operator and event organisers convene at least two to three working-level co-ordination meetings to ensure smooth operation.
The Government will continue to closely monitor the actual operation of the KTSP, taking into consideration factors such as market demand for sports events, cultural and performing arts activities, development trends of sports activities, and the KTSP’s business model and daily operation, while providing the Operator with enhancement recommendations as appropriate to meet the long-term development needs of the precinct.
(6) Pursuant to the contract signed between the Operator and the Government, organisers of sports events may book venues at any time, whereas reservations for non-sports events (such as cultural and entertainment activities) can only be made up to no more than 24 months ahead of the event dates. In other words, organisers of sports events enjoy priority in venue booking. This arrangement enables sports event organisers to secure timeslots well in advance, thereby providing them with greater flexibility in bidding to host major international or regional sports events as well as accommodating the need to confirm competition schedules for large-scale tour events at an earlier stage.
In addition, the contract stipulates a set of KPIs that are related to areas pivotal to the promotion of sports development, including the opening of facilities to the public for sports use, facility utilisation rates, number of sports event days and attendance at those sports events, and sports programme enrolment hours, etc. The contractual and institutional design incentivises the Operator to allocate sufficient venues for sports use. This ensures that the operation of the KTSP remains centred on sports activities, thereby achieving its objective of promoting sports development. Issued at HKT 12:40
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH announces latest smoking situation in Hong Kong and “Quit in June” campaign Survey results —————- The Census and Statistics Department published the latest Thematic Household Survey Report today. According to the Thematic Household Survey on smoking habits conducted from July to October last year, around 540 000 Hong Kong citizens had a daily habit of smoking conventional cigarettes at the time of the survey, accounting for 8.5 per cent of all persons aged 15 and above. The relevant rate was 9.1 per cent in 2023.
Regarding alternative smoking products, the proportion of persons aged 15 and above who habitually used e-cigarettes daily in 2025 was 0.1 per cent of the population, while the relevant rate was 0.2 per cent in 2023. Meanwhile, the proportion of daily users of heated tobacco products dropped from 0.1 per cent in 2023 to a level beyond accurate estimation.
The Head of the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH, Dr Manny Lam, said, “The decline of Hong Kong’s smoking rate to a record low is the result of years of concerted efforts by various sectors of the community and members of the public, making Hong Kong an international role model for successful tobacco control. Furthermore, since the ban on alternative smoking products took effect in April 2022, the number of users has continued to fall, demonstrating the effectiveness and importance of implementing the ban. The DH will continue to closely monitor smoking trends and guard against the prevalence of new smoking products in Hong Kong.”
Following the gazettal of the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 last year, the Government is progressively implementing the next phase of tobacco control measures. Measures that have already taken effect include strengthening the legal framework for combating illicit cigarettes, expanding the statutory no-smoking areas, further imposing a comprehensive ban on the possession of alternative smoking products in public places, alongside the sustained enhancement of public education and smoking cessation services. The Government plans to fully implement the plain packaging requirement for conventional smoking products and the duty stamp system by December next year to further reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products and strengthen efforts in combating illicit cigarettes.
Dr Lam added that one of the core tenets of the Government’s “10 Tobacco Control Measures” is to reduce the appeal of smoking products, including alternative smoking products and various flavoured cigarettes, thereby preventing the new generation from becoming addicted to tobacco. The latest survey results also show that smoking rates among younger age groups remain at very low levels, reflecting that the younger generation no longer accepts smoking behaviour, which is highly aligned with the Government’s goals and societal expectations.
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, Mr Henry Tong, said that the Council endeavours to fully support the Government in implementing the next phase of tobacco control measures. He pointed out that implementing plain packaging for conventional smoking products and banning flavoured cigarettes would effectively reduce the promotional effect and appeal of tobacco products, serving as important measures to counter tobacco companies’ marketing to the public, especially the younger generation.
“Quit in June” campaign —————————— Dr Lam said, “The Government has always adopted a multipronged and gradual approach to reduce the harm caused by smoking products to the public and society. In addition to legislation, taxation, publicity, education and enforcement, providing comprehensive smoking cessation services is also an indispensable part of this. To help smokers successfully quit, the DH has been subventing a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide diverse and free smoking cessation services and support. In support of the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31 each year, the DH launched the ‘Quit in June’ campaign in 2021 to encourage smokers to try to quit smoking, thereby reducing the risk of smoking-related diseases and death. Over the past few years, the campaign has achieved encouraging results, with an increasing number of participants.”
This year, the DH will continue to distribute free one-week smoking cessation drug trial packs through over 300 community pharmacies, smoking cessation clinics, District Health Centres (DHCs)/DHC Expresses, and DH clinics, as well as free Chinese medicine ear points patches through designated Chinese medicine clinics to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms in smokers who wish to quit.
In response to the Government’s implementation of a smoking ban on all construction sites, Dr Lam said that the DH has stepped up smoking cessation publicity and support for the construction industry. The NGOs subvented by the DH will proactively provide free smoking cessation drug trial packs and Chinese medicine ear points patches to the construction industry through outreach activities.
In addition, the DH has collaborated with the School of Nursing of the University of Hong Kong to launch a pilot AI-assisted smoking cessation counselling service – “Chat to Quit” this year. The AI provides accurate and appropriate smoking cessation information instantly, and offers personalised smoking cessation counselling according to users’ smoking history and quitting preferences. It can also provide emotional support and help users practise skills in refusing cigarettes. Smokers who wish to quit can scan the QR code (see annex) to access the service anytime, anywhere, free of charge. For users who require real-person counselling, smoking cessation medication support or Chinese Medicine acupuncture smoking cessation service, “Chat to Quit” will also make referrals accordingly.
The DH has started broadcasting the “We are all in this together. Quit Now” television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest, and has stepped up promotional advertisements on public transport networks and social media to encourage smokers to quit and accompany them through the tobacco-free month.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Hung Kam-in and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Question:
In recent years, some local institutions have collaborated with universities in the Mainland and overseas to introduce “2+2 degree programmes” or “joint degree programmes”, allowing students to complete their studies in different regions and obtain qualifications recognised by institutions in multiple regions concurrently. There are views that while current institutional collaborations are concentrated in the Greater Bay Area or the Mainland, there is also potential to further expand them to overseas to establish a transnational and cross-boundary institutional network, so as to nurture talent who can connect Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the institutions in Hong Kong which are currently collaborating with Mainland and overseas institutions to offer cross-boundary programmes, and the academic disciplines covered by such programmes; of the respective numbers of local and non-local students enrolled in such programmes in the past three years; whether the Government knows if any institutions in Hong Kong are exploring the implemetation of “multilateral joint programme” mode in collaboration with institutions in Southeast Asia or other overseas regions; if so, of the details;
(2) whether it knows the employment situations of and degree recognition for graduates upon completion of “multilateral joint programmes”; whether graduates who have completed such programmes currently meet the requirements of the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates; if not, whether the Government will study the provision of relevant arrangements so as to attract such graduates to work in Hong Kong;
(3) apart from mutual recognition of programmes, whether the Government has studied or promoted multilateral recognition of vocational and professional education and training programmes, or other more attractive arrangements, such as encouraging institutions to collaborate with enterprises in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas in designing programmes, so as to enhance the competitiveness of graduates and make it easier for them to be employed in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas; and
(4) whether the Government has plans in the next three to five years to encourage more institutions to participate in transnational and cross-boundary joint programmes and set a specific timetable, so as to strengthen the role of Hong Kong’s institutions in international education collaboration and enhance Hong Kong’s strengths in nurturing and retaining talent as well as building international interpersonal networks?
Reply:
President,
The Government actively encourages local universities to collaborate with the Chinese Mainland and overseas institutions in offering dual/joint-degree programmes to expand the pool of high-calibre talent across various fields and propel Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub. Regarding the question asked by the Hon Hung Kam-in, the reply is as follows.
(1) and (2) Over the past three academic years (AYs), six University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities, namely City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the University of Hong Kong, have partnered with Chinese Mainland and overseas institutions to offer undergraduate dual/joint-degree programmes including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan, as well as Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Over the past three AYs, around 60 undergraduate dual/joint-degree programmes were offered annually, spanning fields such as STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), social sciences, humanities, law, economics and business administration, admitting approximately 4 000 to 5 500 local and non-local undergraduate students. The total number of students enrolled in these programmes is as follows:
Number of enrolment of undergraduate dual/joint-degree programmes from the 2023/24 to 2025/26 AYs
AY
Number of enrolment
Local
Non-local
Total
2023/24
14 066
3 932
17 998
2024/25
15 530
4 700
20 230
2025/26
(Provisional figures)
16 751
5 911
22 662
In the 2023/24 and 2024/25 AYs, these programmes recorded over 4 800 graduates annually, with non-local students accounting for approximately 20 per cent of the total. The Government does not keep the information on the pathways of the graduates concerned. Under the prevailing Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, non-local graduates who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time locally accredited programme in Hong Kong may apply to stay in/return to Hong Kong for 24 months without other conditions of stay. They do not need a job offer to be eligible for the arrangement if they apply within six months after graduation. Further details on the eligibility criteria can be found on the Immigration Department’s website.
As for local students, the Government has launched the Hong Kong Future Talents Scholarship Scheme for Advanced Studies starting from the 2025/26 AY to encourage local students to pursue designated taught postgraduate programmes and nurture high-calibre talent needed for Hong Kong’s future. Awardees are required to sign an undertaking that he/she would contribute towards relevant industries/sectors either through relevant full-time employment or entrepreneurial activities in Hong Kong or within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, upon graduation, in support of the Government’s policy objective of attracting, nurturing and retaining talent.
As regards self-financing non-local post-secondary programmes, over the past three AYs, post-secondary institutions operating full-time locally accredited self-financing non-local post-secondary programmes in collaboration with overseas institutions include the Hong Kong Institute of Technology, UOW College Hong Kong, the School of Continuing and Professional Education of the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Art School, the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong, the College of International Education of the Hong Kong Baptist University and the School for Higher and Professional Education under the Vocational Training Council (VTC). These programmes mainly cover the field of business and management studies, computer science and information technology, social sciences, media, journalism and communications, arts, design and performing arts, architecture and town planning, biological sciences, education as well as engineering and technology. The total number of students enrolled in these programmes is as follows:
Number of enrolment of full-time locally accredited self-financing non-local post-secondary programmes from the 2023/24 to 2025/26 AYs
AY
Number of enrolment
Local
Non-local
Total
2023/24
2 096
20
2 116
2024/25
1 943
19
1 962
2025/26
(Provisional figures)
1 833
3
1 836
The Government does not keep information on the annual number of graduates and their pathways.
The Government will continue to encourage institutions to explore innovative models for dual/joint-degree programmes and endeavour to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, with a view to nurturing versatile talent with both specialised academic knowledge and global vision to meet Hong Kong’s long-term development needs.
(3) The Government endeavours to promote the development of vocational and professional education and training (VPET), and supports institutions in strengthening collaboration with the Chinese Mainland and overseas enterprises and education institutions to enhance students’ competitiveness in employability.
Among others, as the largest VPET provider in Hong Kong, the VTC has been proactively promoting collaboration with the Chinese Mainland in areas including student admission and employment, education and training, as well as teacher and student exchanges, and has established partnerships with over 110 Chinese Mainland Government departments, education institutions and organisations. To facilitate cross‑boundary learning and development, the VTC also encourages students to pursue dual award collaborative programmes in the Chinese Mainland and at the same time provides a comprehensive articulation pathway to attract Chinese Mainland students to enrol in VTC’s programmes in Hong Kong. In addition, the VTC has established the Vocational and Professional Education Services (Shenzhen) Company Limited in Shenzhen to strengthen institution‑enterprise collaboration, promote student internships and innovation and technology training, and support teachers and students in participating in study tours, exchange programmes and skills competitions, with a view to further enhancing connection with the Chinese Mainland industries. In addition, the VTC has established collaboration with various overseas VPET organisations and institutions to promote students’ participation in diversified outbound activities. These include student exchange programmes, semester-based overseas studies and industrial attachments across a wide range of overseas destinations, such as Austria, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
To further enrich students’ learning experience, the VTC has also invited scholars and industry practitioners from the Chinese Mainland and overseas to visit Hong Kong to share the latest industry developments, including emerging trends, practical insights and professional expertise through thematic seminars and interactive workshops, thereby enhancing students’ employability in the Chinese Mainland and overseas.
(4) The Education Bureau (EDB) has always attached importance to promoting co-operation between local post-secondary institutions and institutions from the Chinese Mainland and overseas. The EDB encourages institutions to establish partnerships with high-quality post-secondary education institutions around the world on a mutually beneficial basis, including the joint delivery of cross-border programmes, with a view to facilitating student exchanges and enhancing the quality of teaching. Post-secondary institutions in Hong Kong will negotiate and agree on specific programme arrangements with overseas institutions in accordance with their academic development strategies and curriculum design through establishing various forms of co-operation including student exchange programmes and operating dual-degree programmes, providing students with diverse learning opportunities. The EDB will continue to maintain communication with relevant Government departments and organisations from the Chinese Mainland and overseas and provide support measures (e.g. the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong and the UGC’s funding in the 2022-25 triennium for the Heads of Universities Committee’s Standing Committee on Internationalisation jointly set up by the eight UGC-funded universities), with a view to supporting institutions in expanding their international networks to promote Hong Kong’s strengths as an international post-secondary education hub to their partners from the Chinese Mainland and abroad, and to jointly exploring models for cross-regional co-operation and areas for exchange, thereby laying a solid foundation for continuously enhancing international collaboration and promoting broader academic co-operation among institutions.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Under the existing Nutrition Labelling Scheme (the Scheme), prepackaged food products are required to label the energy and seven core nutrients (i.e. total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sugars, sodium, protein and carbohydrates) “per package” or “per serving”. It has been more than 15 years since the Scheme was fully implemented in 2010. In recent years, there have been notable changes in the dietary pattern of the public and the types of prepackaged food products, and cases of discrepancies between nutrition labels and actual ingredients have aroused public concern about the effectiveness of the Scheme and the monitoring work. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: