MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and Vice Minister of Science and Technology Chen Jiachang co-chaired the 19th meeting of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee held in Hong Kong today (November 5).

Professor Sun said at the meeting that the National 15th Five-Year Plan indicates clear support for Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology hub. This demonstrates the country’s expectation and confidence that Hong Kong will play a more active role in building a technologically advanced nation in the future, and reflects the country’s affirmation of the commitment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in innovation and technology (I&T) development. The HKSAR Government will proactively align with the 15th Five-Year Plan, seize the significant opportunities brought about by the country’s development, and leverage its own unique advantages.

Professor Sun said that the HKSAR Government is implementing in an orderly manner the direction and strategies as set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, strategically allocating resources to strengthen the efficient collaboration among the Government, industry, academic, research and investment sectors with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. With three major I&T parks and five key research and development (R&D) institutions as the development framework, the HKSAR Government will proactively promote the synergistic development among upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem, with a view to supporting Hong Kong’s high-quality development, and serving the country’s needs with Hong Kong’s own strengths.

Professor Sun also expressed his gratitude to the Central Government and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for their staunch support for Hong Kong’s I&T development over the years. In addition to the restructuring of the State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong, Mainland ministries and commissions have continuously expanded the national science and technology (S&T) programmes open to Hong Kong, allowing more in-depth participation of Hong Kong scientists in the national S&T programmes, thereby further deepening the I&T co-operation and exchanges of the two sides, and allowing Hong Kong to further contribute to the S&T development of the country. 

Looking ahead, Professor Sun said that the HKSAR Government will continue to adopt a multipronged approach to deepen the co-operation and exchanges in I&T with the Mainland. Among them, promoting the cross-boundary flow of innovation elements in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Hetao Co-operation Zone) is a key area in deepening the co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Capitalising on the “one zone, two parks” advantage, the HKSAR Government will continue to liaise closely with relevant parties on the future development of the Hetao Co-operation Zone with a view to implementing the measures on the cross-boundary flow of innovation elements. 

“As a core city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) serving as one of the core engines for regional development, the HKSAR Government will continue to collaborate with GBA sister cities for joint developments, promote the high-quality I&T development of the region, better integrate into and serve the overall national development, and contribute to the high-quality development and high-level technological self-reliance of the country. We will continue to establish Hong Kong as an international I&T centre at full strength and full speed, and accelerate the formation and development of new quality productive forces with Hong Kong’s competitive edge. We will also continue to proactively capitalise on Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and Hong Kong’s dual roles in bringing in and going global, with a view to becoming a bridge connecting the country and the world, including Belt and Road countries and regions, in I&T collaboration, and to better serve the country’s high-quality development”, he added.

Mainland members attending the meeting included representatives from MOST, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, the Beijing-Hong Kong Exchange of Personnel Centre, the National Health Commission, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, the Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, and the Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.

The Hong Kong delegation comprised representatives from the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Digital Policy Office, the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre, the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering and the Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 5) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Noordoostpolder Municipality of Flevoland Province in the Netherlands and the Międzyrzecz District of the Lubuskie Region in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 150 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from the Netherlands, and about 1 870 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland in the first nine months of this year.

“The CFS has contacted the Dutch and Polish authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (November 5) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on November 20 (Thursday) to noon on November 24 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.

     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 200 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”

     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:

(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.

(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.

(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.

(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.

     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved the Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The “2025 Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) Seminar” commenced today (November 5) in Hong Kong. This annual gathering of global pharmaceutical regulatory authorities, co-organised by the Department of Health (DH) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (the Board) this year, runs for three days. It has drawn over 160 Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspectors and experts responsible for regulating pharmaceutical manufacturing from over 50 pharmaceutical regulatory authorities and organisations worldwide. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions and shared experiences on the latest developments and regulatory frameworks in three key emerging pharmaceutical fields, namely artificial intelligence, continuous manufacturing and point-of-care manufacturing, which decentralises drug production to sites closer to patients, such as hospitals.

Selecting Hong Kong as this year’s host venue fully affirms the city’s advantage of being highly internationalised and its high standards of pharmaceutical regulation.

The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said in his opening remarks, “Hong Kong, China is committed to upholding international best practices in pharmaceutical regulation to safeguard public health. Since becoming a member of the PIC/S a decade ago, we have gained invaluable knowledge from fellow inspectors and experts through annual seminars, Expert Circles, and the PIC/S Inspectorates’ Academy. This has enhanced the capabilities of our inspectors responsible for regulating drug manufacturing and ensured the quality of medicines for the public. Every PIC/S member shares a common mission to uphold GMP standards and actively safeguard public health. This is also the cornerstone of Hong Kong, China’s advancement as an international health and medical innovation hub.”

“The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address the setting up of the ‘Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation’ (CMPR) in 2026. Our vision is to develop the CMPR into a robust, internationally recognised regulatory authority. It will not only strengthen our regulatory framework but will also actively promote medical innovation. To realise this forward-looking vision, we have proposed ‘Advanced Technologies in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing’ as the theme for this year’s Seminar in order to advance global pharmaceutical regulation,” Dr Lam added.

“I am proud and honoured to open this 2025 PIC/S seminar in the wonderful city of Hong Kong. It is my second venue here, and I am again impressed by Hong Kong’s professionalism and the efficiency in hosting one of the most important annual PIC/S events. As Chair of the Committee of Officials, I would like to deeply thank the DH and the Board for organising this meeting, which will be, I am sure, a great success. It will be another occasion for GMP inspectors to meet, learn as well as share experiences in order to improve the quality of medicinal products and, so, to protect public health”, the Chairperson of the PIC/S, Mr Jacques Morénas, said at the opening ceremony.

The PIC/S has been established for over 50 years as a renowned international organisation comprising pharmaceutical regulatory authorities from multiple countries and regions, currently with 56 participating authorities. Its mission is to lead the international development, formulate standards for implementation, and adherence to harmonised GMP standards and quality systems among pharmaceutical regulatory authorities. After the PIC/S’s deliberation in 2015, Hong Kong, China formally joined as a member, signifying that the quality of local pharmaceutical manufacturing has gained international recognition and is on par with global standards and regulations.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (November 5) announced the launch of a full investigation into the procedures and mechanisms currently employed by the Secretariat under the Boards and Councils Office of the Department of Health (DH) in handling complaints in relation to healthcare incidents and the registration of healthcare professionals.

Mr Chan said, “The Administration’s handling of public complaints in relation to healthcare incidents affects the development and professionalism of the sector and is closely linked to the lives and health of the general public. The Boards and Councils Office under the DH provides administrative support to the relevant boards and councils. However, complaint information indicates that such administrative support may involve significant delays and therefore be ineffective. In this light, I have decided to launch a full investigation into the procedures and mechanisms employed by the Secretariat in supporting the Board’s handling of complaints in relation to healthcare incidents and registration of healthcare professionals, to identify areas for improvement and to put forward appropriate recommendations.”

Mr Chan added, “We are also deeply concerned about the recent media reports alleging an unexplained significant delay of 15 years of the Secretariat of the Medical Council of Hong Kong under the DH in handling a serious healthcare incident. We will conduct a series of in-depth investigations into the DH’s regulatory role and responsibilities on supervising the healthcare sector in handling complaints related to healthcare incidents, as well as the support provided by the relevant offices under the DH and its effectiveness, to identify systemic inadequacies and provide recommendations for concrete improvement.”

The Ombudsman welcomes views from members of the public on this topic. Written submissions should reach the Office of The Ombudsman by December 5, 2025: 

Address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre 
              168-200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong 
Fax:        2882 8149 
Email:     bnco-dh@ombudsman.hk

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit – Conversations with Global Investors today (November 5):

Kelvin (Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission, Dr Kelvin Wong), Eddie (Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Eddie Yue), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning.

     It is a pleasure to join you again.

     Today’s discussion centres on identifying new growth opportunities across geographies, sectors, and technologies. In that spirit, allow me to share a few observations which I believe are factors shaping the investment landscape, and why Hong Kong is where you want to invest in.

Artificial intelligence

     Let me begin with the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation.

     It is no exaggeration to say that AI has become the defining keyword of our era. From boardrooms to classrooms, logistics hubs to laboratories, AI is reshaping the way we live, work, play and communicate. According to the World Trade Organization, up to half of global trade growth this year is estimated to be driven by AI-related expenditure. Global private capital investment in AI has already exceeded US$190 billion this year alone.

      But these figures reflect more than just enthusiasm. They signal a structural shift. AI is no longer confined to a single sector. It is a powerful enabler across sectors: finance, logistics, healthcare, smart manufacturing, and beyond.

     China recognises the strategic value of AI. In the recommendations on the 15th Five-Year Plan laid out by the Fourth Plenary of the CPC Central Committee, AI plays a central role in advancing Digital China. They call for accelerated breakthroughs in foundational theories and core technologies, robust supply of computing power, algorithms and data, and comprehensive application of “AI+” across science, industry, culture and societal governance.

     Here in Hong Kong, we share a similar vision, which is to be realised by a twin-engine strategy: developing AI as a core industry, and promoting AI as an enabler to upgrade traditional sectors. Our strategy rests on six pillars: computing power, algorithms, data, application scenarios, capital and talent.

     And we are well positioned. Three of our universities are ranked among the global top 20 in AI and data science. As Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang noted, some 50 per cent of global AI researchers are Chinese. Amid geopolitical tension, an increasing number of these researchers are coming here, using Hong Kong as their base for academic research and application of research outcomes.

     He also remarked that the Greater Bay Area (GBA) was the only region in the world where mechatronics technology and AI technology simultaneously reside. 

Indeed, with strong advanced manufacturing capabilities, the GBA is a region where AI can be directly and seamlessly applied, tested and validated in real-world industrial settings.

     Hong Kong is making great strides in building a vibrant and globally connected AI ecosystem. A key element of this effort is attracting leading enterprises in the field to Hong Kong. To this end, we have rolled out different initiatives supported by dedicated incentive schemes and funding. We are also investing directly and co-investing with others in AI companies, start-ups and projects. Through the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, we magnify our leverage by channelling more private sector capital into the sector.  

     Talent is indispensable if we are to succeed in AI. We have therefore modified our talent admission schemes accordingly and launched such initiatives as AI Talent Connect to bring together top AI talent from around the world in Hong Kong, and help establish a network of young AI talent here to facilitate their collaboration and synergistic growth and development.

Sustainability

     The second observation is about sustainability.  

     For the world at large, despite the United States’ withdrawal from climate commitments, the momentum for net-zero transition elsewhere remains strong. Particularly in China, which is expected to invest nearly US$820 billion in energy transition this year, accounting for around 40 per cent of the global total.

     Hong Kong is actively contributing to regional green transition. We are Asia’s leader in green and sustainable finance. In 2024, over US$80 billion in green and sustainable debt was arranged in Hong Kong. There is a diverse range of issuers, including local and overseas business enterprises, multilateral organisations like development banks, and Mainland provincial and municipal governments.  

     As an international financial centre, Hong Kong is deploying innovative financial instruments to address the diverse climate financing needs of emerging economies. Catastrophe bonds, for example, are valuable risk-transfer instruments for countries vulnerable to natural disasters. Since 2021, seven cat bonds have been issued in Hong Kong, totaling US$800 million, supporting countries across Asia and the Americas in sharing with investors typhoon and earthquake risks. Another example is insurance-linked securities.

Innovations in finance

     My third observation is this: financial services are key enablers of innovative activities in the economy. We need to be innovative with a ready-to-reform mindset to capture the opportunities arising from changing economic fundamentals.

     In Hong Kong, we always embrace change. A prime example is the ongoing reforms of our listing regime. Since 2018, we have introduced a series of measures to facilitate more new economy companies to list on our Stock Exchange, including those with a weighted voting rights structure, and pre-revenue or pre-profit biotech firms. In 2023, we introduced new arrangements to facilitate pre-commercial specialist technology companies to get listed.

     As a result of this spirit of reform and innovation, the share of new economy companies in our market has more than doubled, growing from 16 per cent of total market capitalisation in 2017 to 35 per cent today. In terms of IPO (initial public offering) proceeds, they accounted for 45 per cent of funds raised from 2018 to the first half of 2025.

     Indeed, we see substantial room for growth in our capital markets. The positive outlook of China’s development and technological advancement supports the optimism. At present, the combined market capitalisation of the Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen stock exchanges stands at approximately 100 per cent of China’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product). In contrast, the corresponding figure for stock exchanges in the United States is over 200 per cent.

Conclusion

     Ladies and gentlemen, the above three observations – AI, sustainability and innovation in finance – demonstrate the agility, creativity and innovative spirit of Hong Kong in navigating changing dynamics in the global and regional economic landscape. This is why Hong Kong offers tremendous growth opportunities.
 
     We are connecting capital with ideas, innovation with applications, and investors with new opportunities across Asia and beyond.

     With the staunch support of the Central Authorities, our unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework, our world-class institutions and talent, pro-business, pro-innovation government policies, and our unwavering commitment to excellence, I am confident that Hong Kong will continue to shine as a premier international financial centre. A place that creates boundless opportunities for global investors.

     Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 5) that Fanling Swimming Pool in North District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Primary Healthcare Commission announced today that from tomorrow the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) will offer participants more convenient and flexible medical laboratory service arrangements in the community.

The CDCC Pilot Scheme was launched in 2023 and enables Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension to receive screening for related chronic diseases through medical laboratory services in the private sector.

From tomorrow onwards, scheme participants may opt to have blood taken, return samples or receive other laboratory services at any participating medical laboratory service point simply by presenting a laboratory service request note issued by a family doctor taking part in the scheme. They will no longer be restricted to attending single designated medical laboratory service points as in the past.

The number of medical laboratory service points will also increase from 24 to 63, while co-payment fees for participants remain unchanged.

All medical laboratories participating in the CDCC Pilot Scheme are accredited under the eHealth+ Connectivity Accreditation Scheme, and citizens’ laboratory reports will be deposited into their personal eHealth accounts for access by themselves and authorised healthcare personnel and caregivers.

In addition to receiving services at participating medical laboratory service points, pilot scheme participants can also make appointments at District Health Centres/Expresses to have blood taken or return samples.

Individual family doctors can also provide the value-added option of taking blood or collection samples at their clinics. They can charge those who opt for this service an additional fee on top of the laboratory service co-payment fees.

The enhanced measures will also apply to the Hospital Authority’s General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership Programme (GOPC PPP).

The GOPC PPP is expected to end in 2028. Patients participating in it will be invited to join the CDCC Pilot Scheme to receive continued and comprehensive care from family doctors.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region