MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and Youth Development Commission (YDC) jointly launched the 2026-27 (first round) HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland today (November 17). Eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are invited to submit applications.
 
The Government attaches great importance to youth development. The HYAB promulgated the Youth Development Blueprint at end-2022; it states that the Government will further strengthen the breadth and depth of Mainland and international internship and exchange programmes with a view to enhancing young people’s understanding of the country and supporting their integration into the country’s overall development. Through the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland, the HYAB and the YDC provide funding for NGOs to organise youth exchange projects on the Mainland for Hong Kong young people to enhance their awareness and understanding of the country’s development, foster exchanges with Mainland people and strengthen their sense of national identity. The Pilot Scheme on Subsidy to Grassroots Youth for Participating in Exchange Activities Outside Hong Kong that launched earlier will also continue to provide additional subsidies to grassroots youth with financial needs to participate in exchange projects under the 2026-27 funding scheme.
 
The 2026-27 funding scheme accepts two rounds of applications. Details of the first round are available on the YDC website (www.ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/ep/ep_fundingscheme.html). Interested NGOs should submit their applications via the e-application system on or before December 29. The second round of applications will be launched in mid-2026.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference 2025 today (November 17):

Honourable Deputy Minister Almaz Turgunbaev (Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Kyrgyz Republic), Professor Frederick Ma (Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon. It’s a great pleasure to welcome you to the 15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference, and to Hong Kong, Asia’s logistics capital.

     A special welcome to Mr Turgunbaev, the Kyrgyz Republic’s Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications. He’s here to share with you the latest logistics developments, and business and investment opportunities, in Kyrgyzstan. And I am sure he’s eager to hear from you, too.

     After all, some 2 300 high-profile logistics leaders and professionals from more than 40 countries and regions are here for this year’s two-day conference. Here to learn more about prospects in Central Asia and the Middle East in special conference sessions. Here, too, for insight and intelligence spotlighting supply chain diversification, sustainability and green energy, innovation and technology, the low-altitude economy and much more.

     The conference theme this year, “Collaboration and Growth in the New Trade Landscape”, is a timely response to rising geopolitical tensions and the volatile global trade policies, which present considerable challenges for our maritime, aviation and logistics industries, from route planning and shipping fleet deployment to inventory and warehouse management.

     Nevertheless, as the Chinese saying goes, “where there are challenges, there are opportunities”. Geopolitical risks can be overcome by market diversification. Increased costs related to supply chain concerns can be offset, at least partially, by technology-enabled efficiencies.

     Hong Kong is well-positioned to weather the storm and seize new opportunities. We are an international shipping and trading centre strategically located in the heart of Asia, and a pivotal player in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As the world’s largest manufacturing base, the Greater Bay Area commands an extensive air and sea transport network.

     Hong Kong is also the world’s busiest air cargo hub and one of its busiest sea ports. And I am confident we will create new and rewarding collaborations, while taking full advantage of the latest technologies to maintain the sustainable growth of our maritime, aviation and logistics sector.

     We are, for example, deepening our connections with both traditional and emerging markets. And we are exploring new opportunities in the Belt and Road countries.

     Today, I am particularly pleased to announce that Hong Kong has established Partner Port relationships with Guangxi port and Dalian port in the Chinese Mainland, and Port San Antonio in Chile. These ports are of strategic importance, and true to our character and policy priorities. As an international maritime centre, we connect the Chinese Mainland with the world and seek partners who support an open, international trade order.

     Hong Kong is also committed to building a sustainable future powered by digital and green transformation. Harnessing the power of AI, blockchain, cloud computing and other cutting-edge technologies, we are developing a Port Community System. Launching in January, it will enable real-time cargo tracking and facilitate data exchange across transport modes, boosting trade and capital flows digitally. That opens up new opportunities, from trade financing to more efficient customs declaration.

     The low altitude economy represents another promising growth area. Building on our initial regulatory sandbox pilot projects, we will introduce an advanced regulatory sandbox for complex scenarios, aimed at expanding the low altitude economy. This will facilitate its application in logistics and other innovative business sectors.

     We are also committed to Hong Kong’s rise as a green maritime fuel bunkering hub. It’s been a year since our Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering was published. With its orderly implementation, Hong Kong is emerging as a major port offering regular commercial bunkering services for multiple types of fuel.

     Our ambitions, however, are larger than that. We are looking to build the necessary infrastructure for Hong Kong to become a global centre of trade for green maritime fuel, especially those produced in the Chinese Mainland, by far the world’s biggest supplier.

     An equally green endeavour is our pursuit of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) expertise in the logistics field. In June, we published an ESG roadmap for the logistics industry, providing a clear pathway to ESG compliance. It will help strengthen the competitiveness of our logistics industry players, particularly SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), putting us at the forefront in the world’s continuing pursuit of sustainability.

     Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong has long thrived in the face of adversity. Resilience defines us as an international maritime centre and aviation and logistics hub.

     With Hong Kong as your partner, you can confidently ride the wave of opportunities this region has to offer, building strong supply chains together through our extensive business and transport networks and internationally recognised institutional strengths.

     My thanks to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for organising this year’s Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference. It is one of the two anchor events of this year’s Hong Kong Maritime Week, alongside the World Maritime Merchants Forum, which also opened today and continues through tomorrow.

     Hong Kong Maritime Week runs through November 22, packed full of forums, conferences, seminars, tours, visits, receptions, and much more, all under the theme “Navigating to a Greener Future” – where we all want to be.

     I wish you the best of business at the conference, and a memorable stay in Hong Kong, Asia’s world city, and the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority published today (November 17) the credit card lending survey results for the third quarter of 2025.

Total card receivables increased by 1.4 per cent in the third quarter to HK$151.0 billion at end-September 2025, as compared to a decrease of 2.5 per cent in the previous quarter.
 
The combined delinquent and rescheduled ratio remained unchanged at 0.45 per cent at end-September 2025. The quarterly charge-off ratio also remained unchanged at 0.64 per cent.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (November 17) the November 2025 issue of the “Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics” (HKMDS).
 
Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains two feature articles entitled “Statistics on Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong, 2024” and “Drug Situation in Hong Kong in 2024”. Statistics presented in the “Drug Situation in Hong Kong in 2024” article are based on the data source from the Security Bureau, Government Secretariat.
 
“Statistics on Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong, 2024”
 
Chinese medicine has a long history in Hong Kong. The Government has been adopting a multipronged approach to facilitate the development of the Chinese medicine sector in Hong Kong. The Chinese medicine sector comprises : (a) manufacture of Chinese medicines; (b) distribution of Chinese medicines, including import/export, wholesale and retail trades; and (c) practising Chinese medicine, including Chinese medicine practitioners of general practice, acupuncture and bone-setting.
 
This feature article discusses the updated situation of some Chinese medicine activities including the manufacture of Chinese medicines and the distribution of Chinese medicines, as well as the external trade of Chinese herbal medicines.
 
For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7398; email: asw@censtatd.gov.hk).
 
“Drug Situation in Hong Kong in 2024”
 
This feature article gives an overview of the drug situation in Hong Kong in 2024 by making reference to statistics derived from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse. Moreover, statistics on the “2023/24 Survey of Drug Use among Students” and law enforcement on drug offences are presented. These statistics and findings provide useful information on the latest drug situation in Hong Kong, and support an evidence-based approach to the formulation of anti-drug policy and measures. The drug problem has continued to ameliorate through the concerted efforts of the government and the community. According to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse, the total number of reported drug abusers has dropped by around 40% over the past decade. However, phenomena such as increases in the reported number of young drug abusers in recent years, a high proportion of reported number of young adult drug abusers, and the involvement of young people in drug offences still warrant our attention.
 
For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Statistics Unit of the Security Bureau, Government Secretariat (Tel: 2867 2753; email: sb_stat@sb.gov.hk).
 
Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 130 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1010002&scode=460).
 
Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Buildings Department approved nine building plans in September, with four on Hong Kong Island and five in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, three were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, four were for commercial development, one was for a community services development, and one was for a factory and industrial development.

     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on eight building projects which, when completed, will provide 11 985 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 216 units, and 14 785 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for three building projects.

     The department also issued 16 occupation permits, with four on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon, and eight in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 51 721 sq m involving 1 004 units, and 100 005 sq m was for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in September totalled about $4.1 billion.

     In addition, three demolition consents were issued.

     The department received 2 485 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in September and issued 898 removal orders on UBWs.

     The full version of the Monthly Digest for September can be viewed on the Buildings Department homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 cum World Maritime Merchants Forum 2025 today (November 17):

Honourable Vice Chairman C Y Leung (Vice-Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), Honourable Director Zhou Ji (Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (CPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), Vice Minister Fu Xuyin (Vice Minister of Transport), Deputy Head Chen Feng (Deputy Head, Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR), Acting Commissioner Li Yongsheng (Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR), Chairman Miao Jianmin (Chairman of China Merchants Group), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon. A very warm welcome to Hong Kong, Asia’s world city, and to the opening of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 and the fifth World Maritime Merchants Forum, which bring together our maritime cluster, and underline Hong Kong’s status as one of the world’s leading maritime centres.

     The theme for the Hong Kong Maritime Week, “Navigating to a Greener Future”, signals our shared destination. Complementing this, the theme of the World Maritime Merchants Forum, “Steering Sustainability Through Changes”, is our navigational chart for the journey ahead.

     In a world being reshaped by geopolitical discord, technological disruption and climate change, these themes are more than aspirational. They sound an alarm, a wake-up call to collective action.

     In this era of profound and complex transformation, Hong Kong’s role as a stable, reliable and dynamic maritime hub has never been more vital. The principle of “one country, two systems” is the cornerstone of our success, providing us with an unshakeable foundation.

     As our country’s only bilingual common law jurisdiction, Hong Kong offers a simple and low tax regime, free port status and the unfettered flow of capital, information and talent.

     Our standing is consistently acknowledged, and endorsed, by the international community. For the sixth consecutive year, Hong Kong ranked fourth, globally, in the International Shipping Centre Development Index. This pays tribute to our strengths in port infrastructure, maritime services and overall operating environment.

     Hong Kong is home to more than 1 200 port and maritime-related companies, a thriving cluster of global leaders in ship management, finance, insurance and law. The Hong Kong Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association’s launch ceremony, in just a few minutes, will mark a milestone development, further enriching our maritime services and reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder”.

     Our tax concession regime for high value-added maritime services continues to attract global businesses. And we are planning to extend half-rate tax concessions to physical commodity traders, further integrating the critical pillars of trade, commodities and shipping here in Hong Kong.

     Beyond our business-friendly foundations, our focus is firmly on the future. And the imperative for green growth is the defining challenge, and opportunity, of our generation. 

     With the International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework targeting to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in international shipping by around the year 2050, Hong Kong is determined to be at the forefront, as a premier green maritime fuel-bunkering centre.  

     Since publishing our Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering a year ago, we have materialised regular commercial liquefied natural gas and biodiesel bunkering. 

     Our vision is to become the epicentre of the global green maritime fuel trade. And our proximity to the Chinese Mainland, the world’s largest producer of green maritime fuel, is a critical advantage. We will continue to collaborate with maritime associations and business partners globally to drive the transition towards sustainability.

     Indeed, collaboration on an unprecedented scale is essential as we face challenges from geopolitical tensions, trade protectionism, technological disruption, and the climate crisis – issues too vast for any single economy to solve alone. 

     Let’s work together to build green shipping corridors and digital trade lanes that will define the future of safe, efficient and sustainable global shipping.

     Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong is ready to be your partner. Our policy support, expertise, strategic vision and unwavering commitment can play a pivotal role in navigating the next era of shipping. Together, we can steer a course towards a more sustainable, prosperous and collaborative future.

     I wish you all a rewarding Hong Kong Maritime Week, a productive World Maritime Merchants Forum, and fair winds and following seas, in business as in life. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Buildings Department approved nine building plans in September – four on Hong Kong Island and five in the New Territories.

Of the approved plans, three were for apartment and apartment-commercial developments, four were for commercial development, one was for a community services development, and one was for a factory and industrial development.

Consent was given for works to start on eight building projects which, when completed, will provide 11,985 sq m of gross floor area for domestic use involving 216 units, and 14,785 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use.

Additionally, the department has received notification of the commencement of superstructure works for three building projects.

It also issued 16 occupation permits – four on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories.

The buildings certified for occupation comprise 51,721 sq m of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 1,004 units, and 100,005 sq m for non-domestic use.

Meanwhile, the department received 2,485 reports about unauthorised building works in September and issued 898 removal orders.

Source: Government of Singapore

Singapore, 17 November 2025 – Inter-monsoon conditions have been prevailing over Singapore since October 2025, with the low-level winds mostly light and variable in direction.  The Northeast Monsoon is expected to set in around end of November 2025 as the winds strengthen and blow increasingly from the northeast or northwest. The Northeast Monsoon season typically extends to March.

2          In the second fortnight of November 2025, thundery showers are expected over parts of the island in the afternoon on most days. The showers may extend into the evening on a few of these days. In addition, Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds on a few mornings. The total rainfall for the second fortnight of November 2025 is forecast to be above average over most parts of the island.

3          The daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 32 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius on most days and may reach slightly above 34 degrees Celsius on a few days.

4          For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.

REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (1 – 16 NOVEMBER 2025)

5          Inter-monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first half of November 2025, with the winds generally light and variable in direction.

6          Thundery showers occurred over parts of Singapore mainly in the afternoon on most days in the first half of the month. Sumatra squalls also brought widespread thundery showers and gusty winds over Singapore on a few days. On 16 November 2025, widespread moderate to heavy thundery showers fell over many parts of the island in the late morning and afternoon. The daily total rainfall of 101.8mm recorded around Pulau Semakau that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the first half of November 2025.

7          The first half of November 2025 was generally warm with daily maximum temperatures above 33 degrees Celsius on most days. The highest daily temperature of 36.0 degrees Celsius was recorded at Newton on 1 November 2025. This was the highest temperature ever recorded in November, exceeding the previous record of 35.8 degrees Celsius (recorded at Newton on 3 November 2023 and Admiralty on 18 November 2019) since temperature records started in 1929.

 8         Most parts of Singapore recorded below average rainfall in the first half of November 2025. The area around Jurong registered rainfall of 64 per cent below average, and the area around Changi registered rainfall of 49 per cent above average.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for November   (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
Average daily maximum temperature:	31.2	°C
Average daily minimum temperature:	24.6	°C
Average monthly temperature:	27.2	°C
Average rainfall:	252.3	mm
Average number of rain days:	19
Historical Extremes for November   (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature:	32.3	°C (2019)
Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature:	22.4	°C (1933)
Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	521.5	mm (1874)
Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	53.5	mm (1981)

—————||————–

 

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE

17 Nov 2025

~~ End ~~

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