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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time).

     Professor Sun met with the Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland, Mr Sakari Puisto, saying that Hong Kong, possessing unique advantages under “one country, two systems”, can serve as an important gateway between the international community and the Chinese Mainland. Hong Kong is striving to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. He pointed out that Finland’s leading advantages in areas such as sustainable development and life sciences closely align with Hong Kong’s development strategies. There was a vast scope for collaboration between the two places. Universities and research institutions in Hong Kong have favourable conditions for further expanding academic collaboration and joint innovation with relevant Finnish organisations.

     Professor Sun visited the Aalto University to learn about the entrepreneurship ecosystem of the University in areas such as AI, health technology and biomaterials. The Aalto University is one of the most representative multidisciplinary universities in Finland, which promotes the developments of innovation and entrepreneurship through interdisciplinary collaboration. He also received a briefing from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), a state-owned research and technology organisation which focuses on applied research and industrial innovation, covering fields including carbon neutral solutions, digital technologies, and sustainable products and materials. Through collaboration with enterprises and government, VTT promotes the transformation of research and development (R&D) outcomes and sustainable development. Professor Sun also toured the University’s magnetoencephalography laboratory to learn about the clinical application of the laboratory’s R&D outcomes.

     Professor Sun also attended a luncheon with representatives of the Helsinki University Hospial, Business Finland and Business Helsinki to learn about the latest developments in local health innovation and start-up incubation. Among them, the CleverHealth Network is a health innovation ecosystem led by the Helsinki University Hospital, which brings together clinicians, researchers and enterprise to promote the application of digital health, AI and health data. Its data platform supports large-scale health data analysis for more accurate diagnostics and personalised treatment. He also received a briefing on the introduction of the Health Incubator Helsinki which provides tailor coaching, testing platforms and financial support for research-based health start-ups.

     On the same day, Professor Sun attended a forum organised by Healthtech Finland and the Finland Chamber of Commerce, where he highlighted the immense potential for collaboration between Hong Kong and Finland in the field of life and health technology. He said that Hong Kong possesses world-class universities and a good healthcare system and the InnoHK Research Clusters advancing areas like precision medicine and AI-assisted diagnostics, which laid a solid foundation for joint scientific research and innovation. With the support of the Government’s major investments and platforms including the Life and Health Technology Research Institute, the city enables partners to promote the transformation and application of R&D outcomes and access the vast Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area market while developing next-generation medical technologies for global impact.

     In the evening, Professor Sun attended a dinner reception co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London and the Finland-Hong Kong Business Association. In his keynote speech, he stated that Finland’s strength in innovation finds a natural gateway in Hong Kong, where innovation can scale, capital can flow, and ideas can meet markets. Guided by the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint and backed by substantial investment, Hong Kong is building a full research-to-market I&T ecosystem—spanning life and health technologies, AI and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy — supported by world-class research capability and infrastructure, talent and strong international connectivity. As a “super connector” and “super value-adder” linking the Chinese Mainland and the world, Hong Kong offers Finnish and Nordic enterprises a key platform for opening up Asian market and global I&T collaboration.

     Professor Sun concluded his visit to Finland on May 14 (Helsinki time) and will return to Hong Kong on May 15 (Hong Kong time).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the keynote speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at a dinner reception co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London and the Finland-Hong Kong Business Association in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening. It is a great honour to join you here in Helsinki on this beautiful spring evening during my first official visit to the Nordic region.  

     Finland has long been recognised as a global leader in digitalisation, mobile communications, sustainability, and innovation. Yet, we believe all innovations need gateways — where innovation can scale, capital can flow, and ideas can meet markets. That is where Hong Kong enters the story.

     Innovation and technology (I&T) has always been on the top agenda of the Hong Kong SAR Government. In 2022, we promulgated the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint — a strategic roadmap to develop Hong Kong into an international I&T Centre. Guided by this Blueprint, we are building a comprehensive I&T ecosystem anchored by three major I&T Parks and five key R&D (research and development) institutions, with strategic focus on life and health technologies, AI and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy. This framework ensures that every stage of the innovation, from basic research to commercialisation to market, is well taken care of in terms of space, funding and policy support.

     Our determination is reflected in our robust I&T investment, including three HK$10-billion landmark funding initiatives, approximately a combined investment of 3.25 billion euros. These schemes include the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme which drives the transformation of R&D outcome into real application and commercialisation, and the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme that supports the set up of smart production lines in Hong Kong, as well as the I&T Industry-Oriented Fund – a funds-of-funds to be launched this year to channel market capital to invest in emerging and future industries of strategic importance.

     Besides, we have committed an additional HK$10 billion each to accelerate the development of two of our most strategic I&T innovation zones, namely the Hetao Hong Kong Park (the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone) and the San Tin Technopole.

     Uniquely situated along the Shenzhen River, the Hetao Hong Kong Park leverages Hong Kong’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems” and Shenzhen’s comprehensive manufacturing ecosystem. As a natural extension of the Hetao Hong Kong Park, San Tin Technopole offers R&D, prototyping and production in one integrated corridor. Together, they form a complete research-to-market chain. For Finnish tech firms seeking to enter Asia, the Hetao Hong Kong Park and San Tin Technopole offer unlimited synergy. They are not merely I&T parks, but launchpads for global success, linking you up with the ease and advantages of doing business in Hong Kong, as well as the vast market of the Chinese Mainland.

    As with all other places around the world, AI has become the strategic engine of the next stage of development of Hong Kong. We see AI not only as a practical force that can enhance productivity and transform industries, but also a tool to improve daily life and enhance living quality of every walks of life. To this end, the Government has launched over a hundred of digital government and smart city initiatives, with half of these initiatives involving the application of big data analytics and AI technology.

     Hong Kong is home to five world’s top 100 universities, including three of the world’s top 30 in Data Science and AI by subject. Our flagship R&D initiative, InnoHK, has brought together more than 30 world-renowned universities and institutes from 12 economies. Among the 38 R&D laboratories, 16 of them focuses on AI and robotics technologies. One of these, the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center, had successfully launched a series of generative AI applications built on our own developed large language model. With the new AI Research and Development Institute to be operated soon, we are confident that AI development in Hong Kong will accelerate further.

     We are also building the digital infrastructure for the future. The Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster will deliver 180,000 PFLOPS (peta-floating point operations per second) of computing power by 2032 — 36 times today’s capacity — to meet the fast-growing demands of the AI industry and develop Hong Kong into an international data hub.

     We are happy to see that our I&T strategy is delivering visible result. Hong Kong I&T ecosystem is thriving. Notably, 20 unicorns have been born in Hong Kong. The number of startups has surged by 40 per cent since 2021, reaching 5 200 in 2025. We ranked 4th in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025, and first in Asia and fourth globally in the World Talent Ranking 2025. Meanwhile, together with Shenzhen and Guangzhou, we formed the world’s number one innovation cluster, powering a market of over 87 million in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

     As a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, Hong Kong offers an open and globally connected economy supported by world-class research capability and infrastructure, a deep pool of international talents, a bilingual working culture, low and simple tax and robust IP protection. Hong Kong is within a five-hour flight of most major cities and markets in Asia, reaching half of the world’s population. All these provide fertile ground for overseas companies and people to grow, develop and succeed in Hong Kong.

     We already see this synergy in action. Over the past few years, we have facilitated more than 600 leading I&T or high potential enterprises to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong, including half of the global top 10 pharmaceutical companies and some IT giants. We sincerely welcome more tech companies and talents from Finland, and the wider Nordic region, to connect with Hong Kong, for business, for investment, and for global I&T collaboration.

     Nordic calmness and Hong Kong dynamism may seem different, but together we form a powerful combination. I warmly invite all of you to visit Hong Kong, experience our I&T ecosystem, and explore the possibilities that await. Let us build new bridges between the two economies and shape a sustainable and innovative future. Thank you, and I wish you all a wonderful evening.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (May 14) appealed to the public to stay vigilant against fraudulent WhatsApp messages purported to be sent by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (DAFC).
 
The spokesman reiterated that the AFCD and the DAFC have no connection with the fraudulent messages, and the AFCD has reported the case to the Police. The AFCD reminded the public to stay vigilant towards suspicious messages, not to disclose any personal information, and to make a report to the Police if in doubt.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

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 (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tender of 2-year RMB institutional Government Bonds through the re-opening of existing Government Bond (issue number 03GB2807001) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme was held today (May 14).
 
A total of RMB0.75 billion 2-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of RMB8.185 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 10.91. The average price accepted is 100.31, implying an annualised yield of 1.453 per cent.
 
HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Results

Tender results of 2-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

Tender Date	:	May 14, 2026
Issue Number	:	03GB2807001 (Re-open)
Stock Code	:	85039 (HKGB1.59 2807-R)
Issue and Settlement Date	:	May 18, 2026
Tenor	:	2 years
Maturity Date	:	July 28, 2028
Coupon Rate	:	1.59 per cent
Amount Applied	:	RMB8.185 billion
Amount Allotted	:	RMB0.75 billion
Bid-to-Cover Ratio*	:	10.91
Average Price Accepted (Yield)	:	100.31 (1.453 per cent (Note))
Lowest Price Accepted (Yield)	:	100.21 (1.498 per cent (Note))
Pro-rata Ratio	:	About 23 per cent
Average Tender Price (Yield)	:	100.06 (1.569 per cent (Note))

*Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.
 
Note: The yields stated above are annualised yields. For reference, the semi-annualised yields corresponding to the average price accepted, lowest price accepted, and average tender price are 1.448 per cent, 1.492 per cent, and 1.563 per cent respectively.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for March 2026 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (May 14) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
 
In March 2026, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 28.8% and 34.6% respectively over March 2025.
 
For the first quarter of 2026 as a whole, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 26.5% and 31.3% respectively over the same period in 2025.
 
Comparing the first quarter of 2026 with the fourth quarter of 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 16.0% and 17.5% respectively.
 
Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
 
Comparing March 2026 with March 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 5.4% and 5.3% respectively.
 
As regards price changes in the first quarter of 2026 over the same period in 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods both increased by 4.3%.
 
Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.
 
The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2025, the index increased by 0.1% in March 2026, whereas it remained virtually unchanged in the first quarter of 2026.
 
Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
 
Comparing March 2026 with March 2025, increases were recorded for the total export volume to the USA (69.6%), Taiwan (41.8%), Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (32.0%) and Vietnam (24.3%). On the other hand, the total export volume to India decreased by 1.2%.
 
Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations increased: the Mainland (6.0%), the USA (5.8%), Taiwan (4.7%), Vietnam (4.2%) and India (3.8%).
 
Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
 
Comparing March 2026 with March 2025, increases were recorded for the import volume from Korea (90.7%), Vietnam (76.0%), Singapore (52.4%) and the Mainland (42.3%). On the other hand, the import volume from Taiwan decreased by 19.6%.
 
Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Korea (11.3%), Taiwan (5.4%), the Mainland (5.2%), Vietnam (5.2%) and Singapore (5.1%).
 
Further information
 
Details of the above statistics are published in the March 2026 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).
 
Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3863 2599).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region