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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (November 14) that the Chief Executive, pursuant to the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571), has reappointed Ms Julia Leung as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for a term of two years from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.
 
     Announcing the appointment, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, “During Ms Leung’s tenure, she has demonstrated remarkable performance in leading the SFC to fulfil its dual mandates of prudent regulation and fostering market development in a fair, effective and robust manner. Under her leadership, the SFC has maintained effective communication with the markets, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government as well as domestic and overseas regulators and stakeholders, actively pursued reforms of Hong Kong’s securities markets, continuously deepened mutual access between the capital markets of the Mainland and Hong Kong, and constantly expanded connections with overseas markets. These together have strengthened the advantages and enhanced the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s markets. In addition, the SFC has actively promoted the development of asset and wealth management, fixed income and currency markets, and emerging sectors including digital assets, which fostered the innovation and high-quality development of financial services in Hong Kong. I am confident that Ms Leung will continue to lead the SFC to take proactive actions and make greater contributions to consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s functions and status as an international financial centre.”
 
Biography of Ms Julia Leung
 
     Ms Julia Leung joined the SFC in March 2015, appointed as Executive Directors of Investment Products Division and then Intermediaries Division. She was appointed as the Deputy CEO in addition to the Executive Director position from March 2018 to December 2022, and has served as the CEO of the SFC since January 2023. Prior to joining the SFC, Ms Leung worked in the Hong Kong Monetary Authority from 1994 to 2008. She was the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury from August 2008 to December 2013.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong Maritime Week (HKMW) 2025 will run from November 16 to 22, featuring over 50 events organised by more than 70 international, Chinese Mainland and local organisers.

Marking its ninth edition since 2016, this year’s HKMW is the first-ever edition following the establishment of the Maritime & Port Development Board (MPDB) on July 1 this year.

With the main theme “Navigating to a Greener Future” and the tagline “Propel Hong Kong”, HKMW 2025 gathers policymakers, senior representatives of international organisations as well as industrial luminaries and practitioners to share their perspectives and discuss topics of interest to the global maritime industry.

Participants will be immersed in a vibrant programme featuring flagship forums, high-level seminars and public outreach initiatives.

Apart from the opening ceremony, major highlights include the MPDB Flagship Session; the World Maritime Merchants Forum 2025; the Asian Logistics, Maritime & Aviation Conference; and the International Bunker Industry Association Annual Convention 2025 to be held in Hong Kong for the first time.

Activities such as the Maritime Museum’s Free Family Fun Day will be in place to engage members of the public. Two exclusive interviews with MPDB Chairman Moses Cheng and HKMW Task Force Chairman Wellington Koo, will be aired on TVB Jade at around 7.30pm on November 17 and 18.

Additionally, a series of short videos will be shared across various social media channels highlighting Hong Kong’s leading role as an international maritime hub.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Starting tomorrow, nationals of Nepal who are in direct transit by air and do not leave the airport transit area may transit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region visa-free, the Immigration Department announced today.

Other visa arrangements for nationals of Nepal coming to the Hong Kong SAR will remain unchanged.

Under the Belt & Road Initiative, the new arrangement will bring travel convenience to visitors from Nepal and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub, the department added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department (TD) announced that 69 Shan Ha Road in Yuen Long has been designated as a driving school in accordance with the Road Traffic Ordinance. The driving school officially commenced operation today.

The driving school’s operator, after receiving approval from the Town Planning Board, applied to the TD for the operation of a designated driving school, providing driver training services for private cars, light goods vehicles and motorcycles. After a careful review of all conditions, including the availability of necessary facilities for driver training and testing, the TD approved the application.

The department has issued a code of practice for regulating the operation of driving schools, including training routes, on-street training hours and the number of training vehicles. It will also closely monitor the operation of driving schools and traffic conditions in their vicinities and review their operational arrangements when necessary.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 14) announced the test results of the seasonal food surveillance project on hairy crabs. All samples passed the tests.

     The tests included veterinary drug residues, metallic contaminants, synthetic hormones, colouring matters and pesticide residues, as well as dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “From January 2025 to the end of October 2025, the CFS collected 98 hairy crab samples at the import and retail levels for chemical tests, and the test results were all satisfactory. The CFS will continue to conduct surveillance on hairy crabs to ensure food safety.”

     Traders should have obtained relevant permits or written permission granted by the FEHD for selling hairy crabs, and the hairy crabs being sold must be accompanied with health certificates issued by the relevant authorities of the exporting economies. They should source hairy crabs from reliable suppliers and comply with the relevant regulatory requirements. Moreover, hairy crabs for sale must be kept in a refrigerator.

     The CFS advises members of the public to observe the following Five Keys to Food Safety in purchasing, storing, preparing and cooking hairy crabs to prevent food-borne illnesses and enjoy the seasonal food safely.
     
Choose wisely
• Buy hairy crabs from reliable and hygienic shops with the Shell Fish (Hairy Crab) Permit or relevant written permission granted by the FEHD;
• During purchase, check whether the hairy crabs for sale are kept in a refrigerator, and buy live crabs with intact, shiny shells and without a foul smell; and
• For online purchase, buy from reliable online shops with licences or restricted food permits, and pay attention to the nature and potential risk associated with food items purchased online.

Keep clean
• Brush and wash the crab shells and claws before cooking; and
• Wash hands with running water and soap, and rub for at least 20 seconds before consumption.

Separate raw and cooked foods
• Put the raw crabs in a container with a cover and store them separately from other foods in the refrigerator to avoid cross-contamination.

Cook thoroughly
• Avoid eating raw crabs. Cook thoroughly and remove internal organs completely before consumption. Condiments such as salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi cannot kill bacteria or parasites that may be present in the crabs.

Safe temperature
• Cooked crabs should be consumed as soon as possible.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region