MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Aaron Bok and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):

Question: 
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of engineering projects in the past three years where compliance costs (including mitigation measures, compensation proposals, or monitoring and auditing expenses) have increased significantly due to the requirements of individual assessment criteria in the Memorandum; if so, of the extent of cost increase; 
     In addition, under the amended Technical Memorandum, project proponents may, after the detailed design at a later stage of a project is available (e.g. before tendering or before commencement of works), use the online construction noise management platform under the EPD’s HKED to conduct a detailed quantitative construction noise assessment and submit the relevant mitigation plan, so as to complete the construction noise assessment efficiently.
 
     Meanwhile, the EPD has introduced various advanced technologies to further enhance its capabilities in environmental monitoring and assessment, including the use of AI to assist in monitoring migratory routes and roosting conditions of wintering birds, and the use of 3D optical radar scanning technology for tree surveys. These applications not only improve efficiency, but also enhance the scientific quality and reliability of the EIA.
 
     The EPD will continue to uphold a professional, open and collaborative approach, and actively encourage project proponents to put forward innovative, cost-effective and practicable environmental mitigation proposals, so as to ensure that all environmental factors have been duly considered during project delivery, while reducing overall project costs and expediting delivery.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon Alex Fan and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):
 
Question:
 
The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address proposes to study the development model for the Northern Metropolis University Town (University Town) and explore the strategic direction for attracting leading universities in the Mainland and overseas to establish a base in Hong Kong, with a view to further promoting Hong Kong as an international education hub. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it will study the attraction of top Mainland universities to establish branch campuses in Hong Kong, and formulate a concrete action blueprint in this regard, including a mechanism for selecting and attracting target institutions, site selection arrangements and a phased implementation plan; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) as there are views that attracting top Mainland universities involves institutional co-ordination issues, such as mutual recognition of academic qualifications, programme articulation, student recruitment arrangements and deployment arrangements for teaching staff, whether the Government will consider establishing a joint working group with the relevant Mainland departments to conduct preliminary studies on issues relating to the mode of operation, degree-awarding mechanisms, arrangements for mutual recognition of credits, cross-boundary flows of scientific research funding, etc, for Mainland universities establishing branch campuses in Hong Kong, and explore the establishment of a bilateral education co-operation framework by drawing on the experience of Hong Kong higher education institutions operating in the Mainland; and
 
(3) given that the Government has set aside some 100 hectares of land for the University Town and established the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town, whether the authorities will consider adopting a “one university, two campuses” model or other innovative modes of operation when planning the University Town, and reserve space for top Mainland universities to establish branch campuses in Hong Kong; whether the authorities will study the establishment of a dedicated fund or the introduction of tax concession measures, so as to support the long-term development of Mainland higher education institutions operating in Hong Kong?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
For two consecutive years, the Chief Executive has put forward in the Policy Address the goal of developing Hong Kong into an international education hub and a cradle for future talents, and proposed leveraging the development opportunities in the Northern Metropolis and its close connections with the Mainland to provide the post-secondary education sector with valuable opportunities to expand its capacity and enhance its quality. Our consolidated reply to the various parts of the question raised by Professor the Hon Alex Fan is as follows:
 
Last year, the Government set up the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town (WG), led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, to study the development mode for the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). The WG will conduct field trips on the successful models of university towns elsewhere and seek views. It will also explore the possible way forward to deeply integrate industry development with the academic sectors where Hong Kong has an edge, alongside the strategies for attracting leading universities and research institutes in the Mainland and overseas to establish a base in Hong Kong.
 
The NMUT is an important strategic initiative for developing Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub. Local post-secondary institutions are actively leveraging their unique characteristics, advanced disciplines, extensive experience and global networks to introduce more inter-institutional, interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-boundary branded programmes, research collaborations and exchange projects with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions in a flexible and innovative manner. This will attract world-class scholars and outstanding students to Hong Kong and enable the NMUT to leverage its role as a super-connector performing the functions of “bringing in” and “going global” in the field of post-secondary education.
 
The WG will continue to make recommendations on the development mode and specific facilities of the NMUT, which will break away from traditional models. It will actively explore strategies to attract leading universities or research institutes to establish a base in Hong Kong, and consider measures conducive to the development of the NMUT, so as to facilitate Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub.
 
Meanwhile, the Government will continue to support the development of Hong Kong’s post-secondary institutions in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including supporting them in forging cross-disciplinary partnerships with these cities to leverage the distinctive characteristics and competitive edges of Hong Kong’s higher education sector, as well as creating favourable conditions for scientific research and development, knowledge transfer and commercialisation. These efforts aim to promote the conduct of research activities of a high academic standard and nurture high-calibre talents needed for the country’s development by synergising the complementary academic structures and facilities of the Hong Kong and Mainland campuses.
 
The Government will roll out three post-secondary education sites in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area shortly for application by the University Grants Committee-funded universities and universities of applied sciences for campus development, and $10 billion will be earmarked for providing loans to support campus development. The details of the land allocation and loan arrangements will be announced in due course.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Vivian Kong and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):

Question:

Recent ongoing tensions in the Middle East have led to a continuous rise in aviation fuel prices, prompting many airlines in Hong Kong to successively increase their passenger fuel surcharges. However, there are views that the increases in passenger fuel surcharges vary among airlines, with some differences being very significant (for example, some airlines have increased their surcharges by approximately 30 per cent, while some have increased them by more than one-fold). This situation has caused confusion among the public, and made it difficult for travel agents to provide consumers with a reasonable explanation, which may in turn adversely affect the industry’s reputation and impair the status of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the Government liberalised passenger fuel surcharge in 2018, allowing airlines to determine the surcharges they levy at their own discretion, whether the Government will consider re-regulating passenger fuel surcharge, for example by setting a cap on the rate of increase, to ensure that increases are reasonable and transparent;

(2) whether the Government will consider establishing a mechanism to ensure that, when international oil prices fall, Hong Kong airlines can reduce their passenger fuel surcharges accordingly within a specified time frame; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as it has been reported that many airlines have recently announced adjustments to their passenger fuel surcharges at very short notice, with an airline announcing its surcharge adjustments to take effect in two days’ time and subsequently raising them again within a week, and there are views that this leaves consumers and the tourism industry insufficient time to prepare, causing considerable inconvenience, whether the Government, in this connection, will consider requiring airlines to provide a reasonable notice period when adjusting their passenger fuel surcharges; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

With ongoing tensions in the Middle East, airlines worldwide are being impacted by elevated aviation fuel prices. This is placing significant pressure on the costs and cash flow of local airlines, which have to respond to these challenges by increasing fuel surcharges or adjusting flight schedules. At the same time, as an international aviation hub, maintaining the competitiveness of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is of paramount importance, and local airlines have to continue to provide stable and reliable services to passengers. The Government is committed to working closely with local airlines to jointly address the current difficulties and ensure the quality of air services, with a view to minimising the impact on passengers and the competitiveness of HKIA.

My reply to the question raised by the Hon Kong is as follows:

(1) and (2) The Government has been adopting a policy of liberalising air tariffs in a progressive manner. Fuel surcharges allow airlines to partially recover the increase in operating costs due to the fluctuation of fuel prices. There is a global trend of deregulating fuel surcharges. The liberalisation of fuel surcharges aims to allow market forces to regulate the level of fuel surcharges on their own, in the same way that the market determines other components of the prices of air services. Airlines will have greater incentives to improve the overall efficiency and quality of their services as a result of market competition, and market forces will cause prices of air services, including fuel surcharges, to be set at competitive levels.

The Government has liberalised passenger fuel surcharge (PFS) with effect from November 2018, and cargo fuel surcharge with effect from January 1, 2025. After the liberalisation of fuel surcharges, airlines may decide at their discretion whether to impose fuel surcharges and at what level for flights originating from Hong Kong. With regard to PFS, airlines must display the final price of air tickets and provide a breakdown of the final price to show all “must pay” elements of the ticket fare in each quotation/transaction, including PFS (if applicable), at their direct sales outlets.

Major aviation fuel price index in the Asia-Pacific region increased by more than double in the past few weeks. Aviation fuel can account for more than 30 per cent of an airline’s operating costs. It is important for airlines to appropriately raise ticket fares or increase fuel surcharges to continue providing reliable air services, which is crucial for maintaining Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub. Even in jurisdictions where fuel surcharges remain regulated, fuel surcharges have similarly been adjusted upwards in response to elevated aviation fuel prices.

(3) The Transport and Logistics Bureau has maintained close communication with local airlines to understand the industry’s situation, as well as to emphasise the importance of maintaining the competitiveness of HKIA and remind local airlines of their critical role and social responsibilities in this regard. The Government will continue to closely monitor the service provision of local airlines and urge them to provide a reasonable notice period whenever possible when adjusting fuel surcharges, so as to minimise inconvenience to passengers and the tourism industry. We will also maintain close communication with the tourism industry and further enhance information transparency through the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong’s online platform (List of Passenger Fuel Surcharges), enabling the public to better understand the details of fuel surcharge adjustments while fostering market competition.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Nixie Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):

Question:

The Government has implemented the JoyYou Card arrangement in phases since 2022, and with effect from August 25, 2024, has required that eligible Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above must use the JoyYou Card to enjoy the $2 concessionary fare. However, as the JoyYou Card is currently only available in physical form, it is learnt that many members of the public who are accustomed to using Mobile Octopus for mobile payment are unable, upon becoming eligible for the concession, to integrate their Personalised Octopus on their mobile phone into an electronic version of the JoyYou Card. Instead, they can only transfer the concession and services from their Octopus card to a physical JoyYou Card, causing inconvenience to them. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it knows the total number of JoyYou Card applications received by the Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) as at February 2026, and among them, the respective numbers of applicants in the age groups of 60 to 64 and 65 or above;

(2) whether it has assessed the respective numbers of persons who will be eligible to apply for the JoyYou Card in each of the next five years; whether it has compiled statistics on or estimated the number of such eligible persons who currently use or will use the Personalised Octopus on mobile phones;

(3) whether it knows the number of current JoyYou Card holders who had long been using Mobile Octopus (the mobile payment version) prior to applying for the JoyYou Card; whether it has assessed the impact on such elderly persons, who are accustomed to digital payments, of only being able to use the physical JoyYou Card;

(4) given that OCL has launched student and adult versions of Mobile Octopus, whether it knows if OCL will (i) conduct technical studies on the digitalisation of the JoyYou Card (i.e. integrating the functions of the JoyYou Card into mobile wallets); if OCL will, of the progress of such studies; (ii) introduce an electronic version of the JoyYou Card; if OCL will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) if the JoyYou Card is digitalised or an electronic version is made available, how the authorities will collaborate with various public transport operators on ticket inspection to enable their staff to verify users’ identities, so as to ensure that the current “$2 flat rate or 80 per cent off” concessionary fare is not abused?

Reply:

President,

Starting from August 25, 2024, the Government has fully implemented a real-name registration system under the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities ($2 Scheme), under which Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above must use a JoyYou Card, while eligible persons with disabilities aged below 60 must use a Personalised Octopus card encoded with “Persons with Disabilities Status”, in order to enjoy the concession under the $2 Scheme. The real-name registration system helps strengthen monitoring and provide evidence for combating abuse of the $2 Scheme. The reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Nixie Lam is set out below.

(1) to (3) As at the end of February 2026, about 2.68 million applications for the JoyYou Card had been received, of which about 1.29 million were from applicants aged 60 to 64, and about 1.39 million were from applicants aged 65 or above.

According to the latest figures from the Census and Statistics Department, the projected numbers of Hong Kong residents who will reach the age of 60 and become eligible to apply for the JoyYou Card in the coming five years are tabulated as follows:
 

The Government does not have information on the number of the above-mentioned Hong Kong residents using mobile Octopus, or the number of JoyYou Card holders who had been long-term users of mobile Octopus before applying for the card.

(4) and (5) The Government has all along been closely monitoring the beneficiaries’ demand for digital services under the $2 Scheme, and has been maintaining communication with the Octopus Cards Limited and various public transport operators to explore the feasibility of developing a mobile JoyYou Card.

A mobile JoyYou Card must meet a range of requirements, including the provision of reliable and effective anti-counterfeiting and identity verification functions, so that law enforcement officers and frontline staff of public transport operators can quickly verify passengers’ identities when necessary and prevent abuse. In addition, the mobile JoyYou Card must also be user-friendly for the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities, while also meeting the operational needs of public transport operators.

The Government will continue to work with relevant parties to explore the development of a mobile JoyYou Card, while carefully examining various issues including law enforcement, technical specifications and system requirements, with a view to striking an appropriate balance between facilitating beneficiaries and preventing abuse.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Buildings Department approved 15 building plans in February, with three on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and nine in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, nine were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, two were for community services developments, and four were for factory and industrial development.

     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on nine building projects which, when completed, will provide 19 032 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 226 units, and 56 346 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for one building project.

     The department also issued 10 occupation permits, with three on Hong Kong Island, two in Kowloon and five in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 81 216 sq m involving 1 068 units, and 90 080 sq m was for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in February totalled about $18.4 billion.

     In addition, four demolition consents were issued.

     The department received 2 115 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in February and issued 544 removal orders on UBWs.

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

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Kingsley Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):
 
Question:
  
     Regarding the employment and poverty situation in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as, according to data from the Census and Statistics Department, the median monthly household income (median income) (excluding foreign domestic helpers) rose from $16,700 to $24,500 over the 10-year period between 2006 and 2015, an increase of over 45 per cent, but the median income rose only from $25,000 to $30,000 over the last decade (between 2016 and 2025), with the rate of increase falling to 20 per cent; whether the authorities have examined the reasons for this decline in the rate of increase, such as easing wage growth, loss of positions at middle and senior levels, reduction in the average household size, or decline in the labour force participation rate; if so, of the details; 

(2) as it is learnt that the number of economically inactive households with non-elderly members has more than doubled over the past 20-odd years, whether the authorities have examined the reasons for this significant increase; if so, of the details;  
President,
 
     In consultation with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the reply to the Member’s question is provided as follows: 
     The increase in the median monthly household income (excluding foreign domestic helpers) from 2016 to 2025 was lower than that in the preceding decade (2006-2015). The statistics relating to changes in demographic structure showed that during 2016 to 2025, the number of elderly households increased by 59.7 per cent from 320 000 households to 510 000 households (higher than the growth rate of 51.1 per cent in the preceding decade). Among which, the number of economically inactive elderly households also grew by 49.6 per cent from 290 000 households to 430 000 households (higher than the growth rate of 45.4 per cent in the preceding decade). In addition, the average household size (excluding foreign domestic helpers) decreased continuously in the past 20 years respectively from 2.9 persons in 2006 to 2.7 persons in 2015 and from 2.7 persons in 2016 to 2.5 persons in 2025. Generally speaking, elderly households have lower incomes than non-elderly households, and households with fewer members also tend to have lower household incomes. The growing proportion of these two types of households among all domestic households has exerted a downward pressure on the growth of the overall median household income. 
     Furthermore, the Government has been supporting lower-income working households who are not receiving CSSA through the Working Family Allowance (WFA) Scheme, with a view to promoting full-time employment and self-reliance, as well as rewarding hard work. The WFA Scheme also provides child allowance to households with eligible children. The Government reviews the WFA Scheme and enhances its support from time to time. The rates of the household and child allowances under the WFA Scheme have been increased by 15 per cent across the board with effect from April 2024 to further alleviate the burden of lower-income working families and incentivise more families to join the labour market. In addition, the 2025 Policy Address announced the provision of time-limited cash incentives for households leaving the CSSA Scheme and joining the WFA Scheme on a pilot basis, with a view to encouraging more people with working capability to leave the CSSA Scheme and promoting self-reliance through continuous employment. The Government is preparing to launch the initiative in the second half of this year. 
     In response to this situation, the Government launched the School-based After School Care Service Scheme (the Service Scheme) in the 2023/24 school year, allowing primary students in need to stay after school for care and learning support in a safe and familiar environment, thereby easing the pressure on parents/guardians in caring for and supervising their children. At the same time, it gives parents/guardians who otherwise need to look after their children in after-school hours the option of taking up employment and improving their livelihood. Both single-parent and dual-income families stand to benefit. The Government has further expanded the Service Scheme in 2025/26 school year by removing the cap on the number of places, thereby extending support to more primary students and parents in need. As at February 2026, 205 primary schools have joined the Service Scheme, providing over 10 000 service places, many of which are in Kwun Tong, Kwai Tsing and Wong Tai Sin districts.
 
     In addition, the Labour Department (LD) provides diversified employment services and implements various employment programmes to assist job seekers of different backgrounds to secure employment. The LD operates 10 job centres across the territory, providing personalised employment advisory and job referral services to job seekers, and regularly organising job fairs to help job seekers in the respective districts secure employment.
 
     To promote the employment of the middle-aged and older persons, the LD launched the three-year Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme (REA Scheme) in July 2024 to encourage persons aged 40 or above who have not been in paid work for three consecutive months or more to join the employment market. The LD also implements the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged (EPEM) to encourage employers to hire persons aged 40 or above and provide them with on-the-job training. Both the REA Scheme and EPEM cover full-time and part-time jobs. The response to the REA Scheme is very favourable, with over 72 000 participants and 43 000 placements recorded as at March 2026. Of which, about 60 per cent of participants and placements involve women, showing the REA Scheme’s effectiveness in helping women secure employment.
 
     At present, LD officers will upon invitation participate in or attend committee meetings of individual District Councils to listen to the views of local communities on labour issues. The Government will continue to review policies related to poverty alleviation and employment, collect the views from local communities and stakeholders, and adjust relevant measures in a timely manner having regard to the economic and labour market situations of Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Jonathan Leung and a reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (April 22): 

Question:

There are views that digitalisation and the development of artificial intelligence present significant opportunities for the upgrading and transformation of the food and beverage (F&B) sector. However, although the Government has successively launched the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP) and the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme (DTSPP) to assist various sectors (including the F&B sector) in adopting technology, according to the Government’s reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on February 25 this year, the F&B sector accounted for only 8 per cent and 34 per cent respectively of the approved projects under these two programmes, and the response has not been particularly enthusiastic. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the authorities have conducted any survey to find out why the F&B sector has not actively applied for the aforementioned programmes in the past; if so, of the details; if not, whether the authorities have plans to conduct such a survey;

(2) given that TVP and DTSPP have now ceased accepting applications, and the authorities have indicated that they will examine ways to enhance DTSPP, whether the authorities have any plans to introduce targeted measures during this policy gap to assist the F&B sector in enhancing the adoption of technology and artificial intelligence; and

(3) while examining ways to enhance DTSPP, whether the authorities will conduct an opinion survey on catering enterprises that have previously applied for the Programme to gauge their views on various aspects of DTSPP such as application procedures, vetting and approval time, funding amounts, scope of funding and shortcomings; if so, of the details; if not, how will the authorities ensure that the enhanced DTSPP meets the needs of enterprises?

Reply:

President,

Regarding the question from the Hon Jonathan Leung, our reply is as follows.

(1) and (2) The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) launched the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP) in November 2016 to support non-listed local enterprises/organisations in adopting technology services and solutions to enhance productivity, or upgrade or transform business processes, thereby strengthening their long-term competitiveness. The TVP has approved a total of 38 640 applications, with over 3 000 approved applications falling under the category “restaurants and hotels”, ranking second among the types of businesses supported. The ITC conducted a fundamental review on the TVP in 2024 and considered that the programme has achieved its original intent. Additionally, multiple policy bureaux and departments have introduced more targeted funding schemes dedicated to the specific conditions or operational needs of individual industries in recent years. In view of the above, the TVP ceased accepting new applications after December 31, 2024.

On the other hand, the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme (DTSPP) was launched in January 2024. Through subsidies on a one-to-one matching basis, the DTSPP assists small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in food and beverage, retail, tourism, and personal services sectors in adopting off-the-shelf and basic digital solutions in three categories (digital payment and shopfront sales, online promotion and customer management systems), with a view to accelerating their digital transformation. When the DTSPP’s application period was ended in May 2025, approximately 4 500 SMEs from the F&B sector had submitted applications, of which nearly 3 000 were approved, accounting for over 30 per cent of the total of approximately 8 800 successfully approved applications under the DTSPP.

The DTSPP offered SMEs over 1 200 off-the-shelf and basic digital solutions, including technological solution service plans covering up to 24 months for applicants to choose from. As the implementation agent for the DTSPP, Cyberport maintained close communication with SMEs, service providers, relevant industries and SME associations etc. through various channels. To enhance industry awareness and promote participation in the DTSPP, Cyberport conducted promotional training sessions for over 30 industry organisations in the F&B sector during the implementation of the programme, and organised workshops to facilitate matching between SMEs and digital solution providers, thereby accelerating the digital transformation of SMEs including those in the F&B sector.

 (3) As mentioned above, Cyberport maintained close communications with stakeholders during the implementation of the DTSPP to gain insights into market conditions. At the same time, it collected feedback on the DTSPP from various parties, through application reports submitted by SMEs receiving subsidies and questionnaires, etc., as well as analysing and monitoring the progress and effectiveness of the funded enterprises in implementing digital solutions, to ensure that the programme was run smoothly and had met the intended objectives. In light of the positive response from SMEs to the DTSPP, the Government will allocate an additional $300 million to enhance the programme, with a view to further encouraging SMEs to adopt off-the-shelf and basic digital solutions to boost their competitiveness and strengthen cybersecurity. The Government is currently reviewing the DTSPP with Cyberport. In addition to including AI and cybersecurity solutions into the programme, considerations will also be given to factors such as SMEs’ latest needs for transformation, market products offering and pricing, and operational experience, etc, in devising the funding model, scope and amount, as well as the implementation details of the new round of the programme. Our target is to roll out the enhanced DTSPP in the second half of this year following consultation with the Legislative Council.