MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai hosts state banquet for King Mswati III and Inkhosikati Make Zuma of Eswatini
At noon on October 9, following a welcome ceremony with military honors and bilateral talks, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, hosted a state banquet at the Presidential Office for His Majesty King Mswati III and Inkhosikati Make Zuma of the Kingdom of Eswatini. In remarks, President Lai stated that the genuine, familial bond between Taiwan and Eswatini is the most precious asset two nations can share. He expressed hope that the two countries will continue to deepen exchanges in such areas as youth, culture, education, climate change, and sustainability, enhancing interactions between their peoples, consolidating bilateral ties, and working together toward a friendship that endures across generations as they build a more sustainable future together.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
It is a great pleasure and honor to host this state banquet today to welcome His Majesty King Mswati III, Inkhosikati Make Zuma, and the distinguished guests who have traveled all the way from Eswatini. Although Taiwan and Eswatini are geographically separated by thousands of kilometers, an invisible thread connects our hearts and ties us together in a friendship that feels more like family. A genuine and familial bond such as ours is the most precious asset two nations can share.
For more than half a century, our governments and peoples have maintained close and frequent exchanges. Many people in Taiwan feel a special affinity for Eswatini, and many friends from Eswatini have come to regard Taiwan as a second home. From the selfless dedication of volunteers to meaningful exchanges in culture and education, this spirit of mutual support and trust that transcends borders continues to lay an even firmer foundation for further elevating the friendship between our two countries.
The world is changing rapidly, but Taiwan and Eswatini have never wavered in our staunch belief in peace and the constitutional order. We both cherish this friendship, which has stood the test of time. Looking ahead, we aspire to create even more opportunities for our peoples to work together face to face, whether through the creative energy of our younger generations, exchanges in the humanities and the arts, or joint efforts to address climate change and advance sustainability.
Today’s state banquet is a gathering of family. I want to express the deepest respect and gratitude to His Majesty the King, Inkhosikati Zuma, and all the people who have worked tirelessly over the years to advance our friendship. I wish His Majesty the King and Inkhosikati Zuma good health and success in all endeavors. May the Kingdom of Eswatini continue to flourish and prosper. And may the friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini endure for generations to come as we build a more sustainable future together.
King Mswati III then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for the honor of the splendid state banquet. He said he vividly recalled his previous visit to Taiwan for President Lai’s inauguration, during which he took part in a shrimp fishing activity and had the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other guests, leaving him with fond and lasting memories. He said it is a particular pleasure to be in Taiwan just before National Day and that tomorrow Eswatini will proudly join in celebrating the achievements of the people of Taiwan. He congratulated Taiwan on the peace, prosperity, growth, and development of recent years, which have made it a global leader in high-tech industries, in public health and smart agriculture, and in the skills and education of its people.
King Mswati III said that the true value of the relationship between Eswatini and Taiwan can be seen in the lives it has touched: in the young person who returns home from studying in Taiwan equipped with the knowledge and confidence to serve Eswatini, the farmer who gains new skills, the patient who receives care, and the family whose home is connected to electricity. These experiences, he said, give the friendship a place in the daily lives of both peoples and create lasting bonds between Emaswati and Taiwanese who work, learn, and serve alongside one another. He paid tribute to the medical teams, technical experts, educators, businesspeople, and volunteers who have devoted their talents to the partnership, and recognized the two countries’ diplomatic missions and public institutions for their commitment to keeping cooperation active and responsive, expressing sincere appreciation to them all.
King Mswati III said that Taiwan’s accomplishments demonstrate what a people can achieve through education, enterprise, innovation, and determination, and that its experience offers much from which partners can learn, even as each nation follows a path suited to its own circumstances. Eswatini, he said, is working to widen opportunity, unlock the talents of its young people, and build an economy that offers them a promising future at home. He expressed hope that the two countries will further strengthen investment, industrial development, energy security, and knowledge exchange, so that the benefits of cooperation reach more communities and open more doors for future generations. He added that greater contact between the two peoples will also help renew friendship and deepen mutual understanding.
King Mswati III emphasized that every nation has the right to freely choose its friends and pursue cooperation in accordance with its sovereign aspirations. Eswatini’s friendship with Taiwan is a commitment that Eswatini has cherished and continues to uphold, he said, and it remains supportive of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the international community. He said he believes the world benefits when knowledge is shared, experience is welcomed, and countries work together to meet common challenges. He also expressed the wish to see peace preserved through dialogue and differences resolved peacefully, noting that the hopes of families everywhere for safety, dignity, and a better future for their children are best served by cooperation and stability. In closing, King Mswati III extended his heartfelt wishes for the continued well-being and prosperity of the people of Taiwan, expressing hope that the friendship between the two countries will continue to grow in strength, and that their shared endeavors will leave a lasting legacy for both peoples.
Also in attendance at the state banquet were Eswatini Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Prince Simelane, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Bheki Khumalo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu, and Eswatini Ambassador Vulindlela Simphiwe Kunene.
 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai welcomes King Mswati III and Inkhosikati Make Zuma of Eswatini with military honors  
On the morning of October 9, President Lai Ching-te welcomed His Majesty King Mswati III and Inkhosikati Make Zuma of the Kingdom of Eswatini with full military honors. In remarks, President Lai stated that this year marks the 58th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Eswatini, and that the two countries have always advanced side by side from a position of trust. He expressed hope that the two nations will continue to deepen cooperation across all domains, enhancing the solid foundation which has already been laid for their diplomatic ties.
The welcome ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. at the main plaza of the National Theater and Concert Hall of the National Performing Arts Center. President Lai and King Mswati III each delivered remarks after a 21-gun salute, the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, and a review of the military honor guard.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I am delighted to welcome His Majesty King Mswati III and his delegation to Taiwan on the eve of our National Day. This year we mark the 58th anniversary of the diplomatic partnership between Taiwan and Eswatini. And this is His Majesty the King’s 20th visit to Taiwan at the head of a delegation. Over the years, His Majesty has demonstrated support for Taiwan through action. He has also witnessed the development of our two nations’ enduring diplomatic ties, which span over half a century.
Regardless of any changes in the international situation, Taiwan and Eswatini have always advanced side by side from a position of trust. We are partners who support each other and grow together. Especially in recent years, under the framework of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, our two countries have continued to deepen cooperation across all domains while strengthening people-to-people exchanges. We anticipate that with His Majesty’s strong support, we will continue to enhance the solid foundation we have already laid for our two nations’ diplomatic ties.
Today, we have extended a warm welcome to His Majesty, Inkhosikati Zuma, and all of our guests with full military honors. I hope that throughout your time here, you will experience the warmth and friendliness of the people of Taiwan. I wish you a successful and rewarding stay.
King Mswati III then delivered remarks, stating that it is a great honor to join President Lai in Taiwan on the special occasion of National Day. He conveyed the warm greetings of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the government, and the people of Eswatini, extending their congratulations and best wishes to the people of Taiwan. The king expressed that they all deeply value the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two countries, adding that they look forward to strengthening these bonds for the benefit of both peoples.
King Mswati III noted that when the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1968, Eswatini was taking its first steps as an independent nation, and the friendship forged then has accompanied Eswatini’s development for 58 years. Across changing circumstances and successive generations, he said, the two nations have continued to place their trust in one another and cooperate steadfastly. Recalling President Lai’s state visit to Eswatini in May this year, the king mentioned that they jointly celebrated the double milestones of the 40th anniversary of his reign and the 58th anniversary of Eswatini’s independence. He stated that it is a pleasure to stand beside President Lai again, united by a shared commitment to carry this friendship forward. He went on to emphasize his confidence in the future of their partnership and the determination to ensure that it continues to bring lasting benefits to both peoples.
King Mswati III stated that the Kingdom of Eswatini will continue to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the activities and structures of the United Nations, as well as its inclusion in relevant multilateral organizations for the benefit of humankind. In closing, he once again conveyed heartfelt congratulations to President Lai and the government and people of Taiwan, saying that he looks forward to joining them the next day in sharing the pride, hope, and aspirations of this important occasion. He wished for the people of Taiwan to continue to enjoy peace, well-being, and prosperity, and for the friendship between Eswatini and Taiwan to continue to grow from strength to strength.
Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Eswatini Ambassador Vulindlela Simphiwe Kunene, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Lucia Ambassador Robert Kennedy Lewis, and other members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, Dr Stephen Wong, entitled Serving Institutional Opening Up through Soft Connectivity: Hong Kongs Greater Bay Area Practice in Pooling New Drivers of Growth for the Asia-Pacific under “One Country, Two Systems”, at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Think Tank Forum · Shenzhen in Shenzhen today (October 12):
 
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
I would like to thank the Shenzhen Academy of Social Sciences and Shenzhen University for convening the inaugural Asia-Pacific Think Tank Forum. This gathering is particularly timely, as Shenzhen prepares to host the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders’ Meeting next month, and the region looks to deepen co-operation and advance shared prosperity.

I lead the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. Our role is similar to that of an in-house government think tank: we conduct strategic and forward-looking research, and co-ordinate the Chief Executive’s annual Policy Address.

Last month, Hong Kong launched its First Five-Year Plan. I was privileged to contribute to its preparation, particularly from a policy research perspective.

Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to share some observations on the important themes identified by our hosts. These are also issues that we have followed closely as we chart Hong Kong’s policy direction.

The organisers have set a number of themes for this forum. Taken together, they capture both how far APEC has come and the questions that may shape its next chapter.

First, institutional opening and regional integration. Second, digital development and artificial intelligence (AI). Third, the free trade area of the Asia-Pacific. Fourth, industrial and supply chains. Fifth, green and inclusive growth. A common thread runs through these five themes. What crosses a border today is no longer just a container. It may also be a rule, a dataset, a verified figure or a certificate.

Hong Kong encounters these questions every day. Under our unique institutional advantage of “one country, two systems”, different legal, monetary, customs, and regulatory arrangements operate within one country – and Hong Kong has accumulated valuable experience in connecting different systems and making cross-border exchanges work in practice.

I would like to support this claim with the trade statistics of Hong Kong. In 2012, Chinese Mainland goods re-exported through Hong Kong to the United States, the EU (European Union), and the United Kingdom made up 17 per cent of Hong Kong’s re-exports. In 2025, only 6.5 per cent. The traditional route connecting Chinese factories with Western consumers has seemingly narrowed.

But Hong Kong’s trading role has not disappeared. It has changed. In 2025, Hong Kong’s total exports rose by 15.4 per cent over 2024, to a level a quarter above their pre-pandemic peak. One route narrowed, and three other widened:
 

• first, Chinese Mainland goods flowing outward to new markets in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the Middle East and India;
• second, goods originating outside the Chinese Mainland passing through Hong Kong – say, semiconductors from South Korea moving through Hong Kong to assembly lines in Vietnam;
• and third, running inward into the Chinese Mainland, advanced chips feeding its drive in artificial intelligence.

     At Davos in January, the Managing Director of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) described this in a sentence. “Trade is like a river,” she said. “You put an obstacle, it goes around it.” One route narrowed, and three widened. That is the river, bending.

But a river that bends is not yet a river that can be navigated. At every new bend, someone has to build the harbour: the moorings, the pilots, the customs house. In trade, the harbour is not made of concrete. It is made of institutions. A contract both parties will sign. A certificate both parties will believe. A payment both parties can settle. A document both parties’ courts will recognise.

China’s planning language has an exact term for this. Hard connectivity (硬聯通) is the bridge and the railway. Soft connectivity (軟聯通) is the agreement that your licence is valid on the other side of the bridge. The Asia-Pacific has achieved an extraordinary expansion of physical connectivity over recent decades. As trade becomes more digital, services intensive and environmentally accountable, soft connectivity may become an increasingly important part of the region’s next phase of development.

Hong Kong’s contribution may therefore lie in helping to build that connectivity – and approaching it as we would a good harbour: open, reliable and available for shared use. Let me illustrate this through three examples: supply chains, carbon markets and digital trade.    

Supply chains: production spreads, services connect  

First, supply chains. Globally, as production networks spread across more economies, regional supply chains require more than factories, ports and shipping routes. They also need trusted finance, certification, insurance, treasury and dispute-resolution services.

What we see from Hong Kong’s experience is this: an electronics manufacturer in Dongguan, in the GBA (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area), may now build in Penang or Haiphong and ship directly to Munich. The goods may no longer pass through Hong Kong, but many of the services supporting them still can. Production can move; trusted institutions are less easily reproduced.

Hong Kong has been adapting to this shift. The National Five-Year Plan has positioned the city as a high value-added supply chain services centre. In response, the Government established the GoGlobal Task Force (Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global) in October 2025. Since then, it has assisted more than 340 Mainland enterprises with financing, overseas standards, certification and compliance; about 30 per cent of them position Hong Kong as a regional or international headquarters or corporate treasury centre.

The figures provide quantitative support for this shift. Exports of transport, financial, insurance, intellectual-property and other business services rose from about $480 billion in 2012 to $623 billion in 2024 – a cumulative increase of around 30 per cent. Together, these services accounted for nearly three-quarters of Hong Kong’s total services exports in 2024. They have become a substantial export sector in their own right, alongside the cross-border business that they support.

Hong Kong has also been helping to connect the Mainland enterprises, the Southeast Asian producers and the overseas customers through services they can use and trust. This may offer one practical example of how stronger institutional connectivity can support APEC’s vision of an open, connected and resilient Asia-Pacific.

Carbon: a price the border can read   

A second example is carbon. Globally, climate policy is becoming trade policy. The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, CBAM, entered its definitive phase this year, requiring importers to account for the emissions embedded in products such as steel and aluminium. A carbon price already paid in the country of production may reduce the importer’s liability – but only if the emissions and payment can be verified.

What we see from Hong Kong is a challenge of recognition.

• Shenzhen pioneered the country’s first pilot carbon market in 2013.
• Building on such early experience, the national emissions trading system – launched in the power sector in 2021 – expanded last year to steel, cement and aluminium, taking coverage to about 60 percent of national emissions.
• China is also developing a framework for cross-border carbon trading and closer links with international markets. Much of the region’s carbon is therefore already being measured and priced; the next question is whether that price can be understood and recognised across borders.

     Hong Kong has been developing the infrastructure to support this. Core Climate of the HKEX (Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited) is the world’s only international voluntary carbon marketplace offering settlement in both Hong Kong dollars and Renminbi. Under the latest Policy Address, Core Climate and the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency will explore Hong Kong’s participation in cross-boundary carbon trading, supporting the country in building a carbon market with greater international influence. Core Climate is also deepening co-operation with Brazil, Malaysia and Kazakhstan, drawing on Hong Kong’s strengths in finance and standard setting to connect carbon markets along the Belt and Road with international markets, while piloting cross-border transactions and building practical cases.

Hong Kong’s experience may offer one practical lesson for APEC: green markets depend not only on setting a carbon price, but also on making that price credible and readable across borders. Greater compatibility in measurement, verification and disclosure could help the region connect different carbon systems while preserving their individual characteristics. A tonne priced at home should carry meaning abroad.
 
Digital trade: one shipment, one set of documents 

Thirdly, digital trade. Globally, trade is becoming digital, and its documents and systems remain fragmented. A single shipment may involve customs declarations, bills of lading, cargo records, financing documents and payments – each moving through a different platform or legal framework. The challenge is no longer simply to digitise each step, but to connect them.

     What we see from Hong Kong is the journey of a single container. Cargo leaving the Greater Bay Area can already use the “One-Data-Multiple-Declarations” arrangement, allowing trade information to be submitted to both Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong Customs. Building on this foundation, the same trusted data can increasingly support electronic trade documents, logistics and trade finance. The container and its data can therefore move together – more quickly, securely and seamlessly.

Hong Kong is turning this vision into an end-to-end digital trade chain. The Port Community System now brings together cargo, customs and logistics data, with more than 8 000 enterprises registered and over 20 successful trade-finance applications using trusted cargo-flow data. The Government will also introduce legislation this year to give electronic trade documents the same legal standing as paper documents, while further connecting trade and cargo data with financial institutions.

The broader insight for APEC is that digital trade advances when trust travels with the data. Hong Kong can serve as a connecting node among the Chinese Mainland, ASEAN and international markets – a shared digital facility through which the region’s trade can flow more simply and securely. 
 
To close, three examples, three stories, one pattern. In each, the river has bent. In each, what the region needs at the new bend is not another bridge but an institution that two sides will recognise. And in each, Hong Kong is building that institution as something open to all.

Why Hong Kong can do this is not a mystery. It is a common-law jurisdiction, a separate customs territory, a freely convertible currency and a member of the WTO (World Trade Organization) and APEC in its own right, inside the world’s largest manufacturing economy. The National Five-Year Plan adopted in March describes Hong Kong in eight characters: backed by the motherland, connected to the world (背靠祖國、聯通世界). Hong Kong’s own Plan answers with three connectivities: hard, soft, and the connectivity of hearts. The first, the hard connectivity the region has largely built. The second, the soft connectivity is the subject of this address. The third, connectivity of hearts is the purpose of this forum.

APEC’s theme this year is an Asia-Pacific community that prospers together. A community, in the end, is a set of mutual recognitions: of each other’s contracts, certificates, data and, ultimately, each other. It is built harbour by harbour.
Hong Kong is not the largest economy in this room, and never will be. But when a river bends, size is not what is needed at the bend. What is needed is a harbour that every vessel can use. That is what Hong Kong is building, and what it offers to the Asia-Pacific.

I look forward to learning from all of you – all the leaders and thinkers gathered in this room. Thank you, and I wish this forum great success. Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Regarding the death of a laboratory worker in Irkutsk Oblast of Siberia, Russia, due to severe pneumonia of undetermined etiology, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (October 12) that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s latest announcement, information obtained from the Russian authorities indicated that no evidence of ongoing transmission associated with the event had been identified. Nevertheless, for the sake of prudence, the CHP has implemented a series of control and prevention measures. The CHP will continue to closely monitor the latest developments, respond swiftly, and strictly guard against imported cases in order to safeguard public health.
 
After noticing media reports of the above-mentioned death case in Russia in early October, the CHP immediately and proactively sought further information from the WHO and the Russian health authorities. According to the latest information from the WHO, citing data provided by Russian authorities, no case of plague had been recorded recently in Irkutsk Oblast, the laboratory testing of the deceased’s contacts detected no high-threat pathogens, and that there were no further cases of severe pneumonia linked to this case. The Russian authorities reported that no biosecurity incidents had occurred in the laboratory, and quarantine measures were instituted in the hospital where the patient was being treated. According to the WHO’s assessment, no evidence of ongoing transmission associated with this event has been identified so far. Nevertheless, a key uncertainty remains the absence of a confirmed diagnosis in the deceased laboratory worker. The WHO will continue to monitor the situation and assess any potential public health implications as further information becomes available.
 
In recent months, the CHP has not received any reports of residents or travellers arriving in Hong Kong from Russia with cases of pneumonia of undetermined etiology. Based on current information, there is no evidence indicating ongoing transmission. The CHP assesses that the immediate public health impact to Hong Kong is low. For the sake of prudence, the CHP has implemented a series of control and prevention measures to guard against imported cases, including:
 
(i) strengthening health surveillance for passengers arriving on relevant flights from Russia at the airport, including arranging for Port Health Division officers to conduct temperature checks at the relevant flight gates, and conducting health assessments for passengers exhibiting symptoms;
 
(ii) displaying signages and broadcasting announcements in the airport arrival area and through airlines to urge passengers who have visited Irkutsk Oblast of Siberia, Russia, within the past 14 days to proactively declare their travel history to the on-site staff of the DH for further health assessment;
 
(iii) if an inbound traveller exhibits symptoms of pneumonia, after assessment by Port Health Division officers, arrangements will be made immediately to transfer the individual to a public hospital for further testing; and
 
(iv) providing the Airport Authority Hong Kong and airlines with the latest information regarding the case in Russia, and urging airlines to remind their flight crews to strictly enforce established prevention and control measures if they identify suspected cases on their flights.
 
Through existing mechanisms, Hong Kong has the capacity to detect cases of unexplained infections and emerging infectious diseases at boundary control points and in hospitals.
 
In addition, the CHP will send letters to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong, reminding them to remain highly vigilant and to strengthen surveillance. Any patient who has visited Irkutsk Oblast of Siberia, Russia, within 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms and has developed pneumonia of undetermined etiology must immediately report to the CHP so that further testing can be arranged.
　
The CHP reminds travellers that if they develop respiratory symptoms after returning to Hong Kong, they should wear a face mask, seek medical attention and report their travel history to a doctor. The CHP will continue to maintain close liaison with the WHO and other relevant health authorities, closely monitor developments, and adjust disease prevention strategies as necessary to safeguard public health.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, briefed members of the Trade and Industry Advisory Board on major initiatives related to economic and trade developments in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address (Policy Address) at a meeting today (October 12).
 
Mr Yau said that based on the overall plan and development blueprint of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, the Policy Address this year has rolled out a series of initiatives to strengthen Hong Kong’s position and role as an international trade centre, and deepen its development as a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre by leveraging the city’s international advantages, creating more opportunities for the industrial and commercial sectors.
 
Mr Yau highlighted that despite the challenges brought about by geopolitics and trade protectionism, Hong Kong’s external trade has demonstrated strong resilience. In 2025, Hong Kong ranked as the world’s fifth-largest trading entity. Since the beginning of this year, Hong Kong has recorded encouraging results in merchandise exports, with the total export value in August recording a year-on-year increase of 53 per cent, marking the 19th consecutive month of double-digit growth.
 
In this regard, he shared with the members the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s multipronged measures to continuously expand international economic and trade networks to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s role as an international trade centre. Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government will promote the high-quality development of trade by pursuing upgrades with the goal of achieving “digitalisation” and “diversification”, and also develop Hong Kong into a high value-added supply chain service centre to assist enterprises in connecting with overseas supply chains and expanding their international businesses, capitalising on Hong Kong’s strengths in professional services.
 
Mr Yau added that in response to the National 15th Five-Year Plan expressly supporting Hong Kong’s development into a regional IP trading centre, the HKSAR Government is pressing ahead with the development of a vibrant IP ecosystem through a number of complementary measures, such as the launch of the Intellectual Property Financing Sandbox, the introduction of the Pilot Patent Valuation Support Scheme, the setting up of the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Academy and the establishment of the Strategy Committee on Intellectual Property Trading Development, with a view to strengthening the foundation for Hong Kong’s development into a regional IP trading centre.
 
     In addition, Mr Yau noted that the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 98 per cent of the total number of enterprises in Hong Kong, is of great importance to Hong Kong’s economic development. As such, the Policy Address announced 10 measures to support the diversified development of SMEs, as well as their upgrading and transformation.
 
Among these, the funding ceiling of “Easy BUD” applications under the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) has been increased to $150,000. The BUD Fund also provides more targeted funding support for AI projects, and the geographical scope of the BUD Fund will be expanded to cover Uzbekistan and Qatar. Moreover, the Trade and Industry Department will co-ordinate with the “Four-in-One” Integrated Services of SME Centres to assist SMEs in formulating brand development strategies. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council will also strengthen the services of the E-Commerce Express, raising awareness of Hong Kong brands and expanding their coverage in e-commerce markets outside Hong Kong.
 
With Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address as action plans, Mr Yau looks forward to working hand in hand with the trade to further promote Hong Kong’s economic and trade developments, particularly advancing the development of the Northern Metropolis and assisting Mainland enterprises in going global, with a view to reinforcing Hong Kong’s important role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” while injecting new impetus into the city’s economy.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (October 14) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Mediation (Amendment) Bill 2026, the Environment and Conservation Fund (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Stamp Duty (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2026 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debates on the Bills will be adjourned.

     On Members’ motions, Mr Kenneth Fok will move a motion on “Making concerted efforts to build a healthy and vibrant Hong Kong and contributing to the building of Healthy China”. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Ms Grace Chan and Mr Vincent Cheng will move separate amendments to Mr Fok’s motion.

     Captain Lothair Lam will move a motion on “Actively aligning with the Outline of the National 15th Five-Year Plan to promote coordinated development of ports, airports and rail transit in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Ms Michelle Tang and Mr Aaron Bok will move separate amendments to Captain Lam’s motion.

     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

     The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of Singapore

Meeting evolving after-death needs 

2          As Singapore’s population ages, demand for after-death services is expected to grow. Annual deaths are projected to increase from about 26,500 in 2025 to around 40,000 by 2040. To meet this growing demand, NEA has been expanding capacity across government-managed facilities, including the opening of Mandai North Crematorium in August 2025. [1]  

Growing preference for scattering options

3          Currently, around 82 per cent of those who pass away in Singapore are cremated. Since inland ash scattering (IAS) was introduced in 2021, take-up has grown steadily. The proportion of cremations where ashes were scattered at IAS facilities rose from about 7 per cent in 2022, the first full year of operation, to about 12 per cent in 2025. To support this trend, NEA opened the Garden of Serenity at Mandai North Crematorium in August 2025, Singapore’s second IAS facility. The growing preference for ash scattering has prompted NEA to explore additional options to meet public needs.

4          This trend is consistent with the findings from the Study on Wake Spaces conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) at the National University of Singapore. [2] About 42 per cent of respondents indicated a preference for ash scattering, comprising 27 per cent who preferred sea scattering, and 15 per cent who preferred IAS. These findings reflect sizeable interest in ash scattering as an alternative to storing cremated remains. 

Pilot ferry service arrangements

5          The pilot ferry service will operate weekly from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal under the management of an operator appointed by NEA. The service will accommodate multiple groups on a single vessel, offering a cost-effective alternative for families seeking more accessible sea scattering options. A fee of S$50 per application applies.

[1]  https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/news/index/mandai-north-crematorium-and-garden-of-serenity-will-commence-operations-on-15-august-2025

[2] The study took place from 2023 to 2024 and involved approximately 3,000 participants aged 21 and older.

 

~~ End ~~

 

For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs today (October 11) detected one drug trafficking case involving an incoming air passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 15 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market value of about $5.4 million. One female was arrested.

A 28-year-old Malaysian female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Paris, France, via Taipei, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 15 kg of suspected ketamine concealed in coffee powder packages inside her check-in suitcase. She was subsequently arrested. 
 
Investigation of the case is ongoing.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002) .