Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ3: Nurturing artificial intelligence talents
Question:
There are views pointing out that there is a strong global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) talents. Regarding the enhancement of Hong Kong’s AI talent pool to enable the country to gain a greater influence in the global AI competition, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it has been reported that eight local universities in Hong Kong are ranked among the top 100 universities in Asia, with five of them even ranked among the world’s top 50 in the fields of data science and AI, how the Government will step up efforts to promote Hong Kong’s AI education in the Mainland and emerging market countries along the Belt and Road, with a view to attracting more relevant talents to Hong Kong for further studies in AI;
(2) as there are views pointing out that AI is a systematically complex subject involving multiple challenges across areas such as ethics, law and governance, how the Government will enhance the development of the local interdisciplinary framework, promote the integration and innovation of humanities subjects and computer science, and cultivate a group of interdisciplinary talents who possess both technical knowledge and AI governance capabilities; and
(3) whether it will draw on the experiences of the “AI Apprenticeship” programmes in Singapore and the United States to provide local talents with paid training and internship opportunities for in-depth participation in the application of AI in industries, so as to nurture them into AI professionals?
Reply:
President,
Hong Kong’s higher education sector is internationalised and diversified; approximately a quarter of students enrolled in the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded programmes come from outside Hong Kong, with the majority from the Chinese Mainland and Belt and Road (B&R) countries. Notably, five UGC-funded universities rank among the world’s top 100, demonstrating outstanding performance in academic influence, research standards and internationalisation, and nurturing outstanding talent for our nation and Hong Kong across various fields, including innovation and technology (I&T). Furthermore, the Education Bureau and the UGC have all along prioritised the promotion of I&T education to enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of Hong Kong’s higher education in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI).
As regards the question raised by the Hon Andrew Yao, having consulted the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, our reply is set out below:
(1) To support universities in strengthening the promotion of “Study in Hong Kong” and showcasing Hong Kong’s world-class universities and academic subjects, including AI and I&T education, to the global community, the UGC has provided a funding of around $40 million in the 2025-28 triennium for the Heads of Universities Committee’s Standing Committee on Internationalisation (HUCOMSCI), which involves the eight UGC-funded universities, to organise and participate in various overseas activities, with a view to promoting the “Study in Hong Kong” brand worldwide and attracting more students to pursue their studies in Hong Kong. The UGC has also provided a funding of about $10 million to support the HUCOMSCI in promoting Hong Kong’s higher education to the countries along the B&R, including the formulation of publicity and promotion strategies and the production of publicity materials and videos.
In terms of academic exchange, the universities have been actively organising a variety of large-scale international academic events, inviting the participation of representatives and renowned scholars from universities in different parts of the Chinese Mainland and overseas. The events held in 2025 included the International Low-Altitude Economy Summit organised by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with the support of the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance; the Digital Universities Asia 2025 co-hosted by the Lingnan University in partnership with Times Higher Education; and the 25th Asian Quantum Information Science Conference co-organised by the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Institute of Quantum Science & Technology. These conferences and exhibitions further foster collaboration and exchanges between universities and institutions worldwide by bringing together higher education leaders and representatives from around the globe (including the Chinese Mainland and B&R countries), thereby enhancing the promotion of the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.
(2) Through the Planning Exercise for the 2025-28 triennium, the UGC serves as a vital bridge connecting national strategies, the needs of Hong Kong and the universities’ development. It encourages the universities to review and launch new programmes in response to the Government’s policy steer, market demand and industry trends. This enables institutions to keep pace with the times and provide students with appropriate curricula to navigate future social developmental changes.
In the 2025-28 triennium, the UGC-funded universities collectively introduce 27 new undergraduate programmes related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) or the “eight centres”, covering areas such as AI, creative industries and data science to create opportunities for young people to unleash their potential. The universities are also launching interdisciplinary programmes and programmes that integrate technology with traditional fields, such as educational technology and digital humanities, to cultivate specialists with cross-discipline expertise through innovative curriculum content.
Moreover, the Government launched the Hong Kong Future Talents Scholarship Scheme for Advanced Studies in the 2025/26 academic year to encourage more local students to pursue postgraduate studies in priority areas that are beneficial to Hong Kong’s development and to expand the pool of high-calibre talent across different fields. Digital transformation and innovation is one of these priority areas.
At the same time, to align with developments in teaching and learning as well as evolving societal needs, the UGC launched the Fund for Innovative Technology-in-Education (FITE) in 2023 with an allocation of $100 million to support UGC-funded universities in applying innovative technologies in teaching and learning and in nurturing digitally competent and technologically responsible talents. The FITE encourages universities to develop teaching, curriculum and student support initiatives related to AI and other emerging technologies, and to promote inter-institutional collaboration and engagement with the industry. The universities may utilise the fund to advance AI-related curriculum reform, teaching innovation and student development initiatives, including the strengthening of AI literacy, data security, academic integrity and education on technological ethics.
In addition, the UGC has increased the Teaching Development and Language Enhancement Grant for the 2025-28 triennium to $919.8 million. The universities may use the grant to address changes and challenges in teaching and learning, including the integration of generative AI and innovative technologies, thereby supporting universities in advancing AI education.
(3) The UGC has always encouraged the UGC-funded universities to strengthen collaboration with industry and the community, so as to provide students with more practice-oriented learning opportunities, including internships, work experience, industry partnership projects and joint teaching arrangements. In addition, one of the four key themes supported under the FITE is fostering academia-industry collaboration for authentic learning experience, which strongly encourages the universities to develop innovative projects related to the industry and the community, enabling students to experience AI applications in real-life settings and enhancing their practical skills in an innovation- and technology-driven environment, thereby helping students accumulate experience in actual workplace contexts.
Furthermore, the Innovation and Technology Commission launched the STEM Internship Scheme in 2020 with the aim to subsidise full-time university students enrolling in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)-related programmes to take up short-term internships, so that they could gain I&T-related work experience and cultivate their early interest in pursuing a career in I&T after graduation, thereby enlarging the local I&T talent pool. Internships funded by the Scheme must be related to I&T, including AI and other I&T areas.
In addition, the New Industrialisation and Technology Training Programme under the Innovation and Technology Fund also subsidises local enterprises on a 1 (Government): 1 (enterprise) matching basis for them to arrange training in advanced technologies (including training related to AI) for their staff. Moreover, the Hong Kong Productivity Council is committed to providing various upskilling training courses to employees of enterprises undergoing digital transformation. Focus of these courses includes different soft skills such as AI, equipping employees with knowledge in different technology areas.
Thank you, President.
Issued at HKT 17:37
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LCQ20: Handling of cases of unauthorised building works
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ20: Handling of cases of unauthorised building works
Question:
In recent years, the Government has indicated that it will step up efforts to combat unauthorised building works (UBWs). However, it is learnt that UBWs remain prevalent in the southwest New Territories (including Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan districts), with many cases involving serious structural or fire safety risks. There are views that if a large number of UBWs involving serious safety hazards are left unaddressed for a long time, they will not only pose threats to public safety, but also constitute major obstacles to the overall maintenance and management of the buildings. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of cases among the UBW reports received and those identified through proactive inspections by the Buildings Department over the past three years, which were assessed as “posing safety risks” or “posing imminent danger to the public”, together with a breakdown by district and building age;
(2) whether the authorities have compiled statistics on (i) the number of buildings for which mandatory building inspections or maintenance works of the entire building have been delayed; and (ii) the number of cases in which an application for an extension to the time limit for a mandatory building inspection was required, due to serious UBWs in individual units;
(3) in respect of UBWs in the southwest New Territories over the past three years, of (i) the number of cases in which the authorities proactively intervened to carry out defaulted works (i.e. first removing UBWs and then recovering the costs of the works from the owners), and the average time taken from the issuance of a removal order to the actual commencement of removal works; (ii) the number of cases in which criminal prosecutions were instituted against owners who failed to comply with removal orders, the number of convictions and the average amount of fine imposed;
(4) whether the authorities have set a clear “mandatory removal deadline” for UBWs; whether they have compiled statistics on the number of “high-risk UBW” cases in the southwest New Territories for which removal orders have been issued but not complied with to date, as well as the average backlog time; and set out the details of the 10 cases that have taken the longest time to handle (from receipt of the removal order to completion of removal);
(5) regarding the long-standing and risky UBW cases, whether the authorities have assessed the removal progress for the coming three years; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(6) regarding UBW locations prone to danger during the rainy season and under extreme weather conditions (e.g. loose UBWs on external walls or those on slopes), whether the authorities have set up a priority monitoring list; whether it has assessed the effectiveness of the large-scale enforcement operations proactively conducted by the authorities over the past year (including the numbers of prosecutions and convictions)?
Reply:
President,
If an unauthorised building work (UBW) constitutes an obvious hazard or imminent danger to life or property, serious hygiene or environmental nuisance, the Buildings Department (BD) will accord priority to enforcement in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO) by issuing a removal order to the owner and registering the order at the Land Registry (commonly known as “imposing an encumbrance”). If the owner fails to rectify the situation within the specified period without reasonable excuse, the BD will consider instigating prosecution against the owner concerned. In special circumstances (such as when the owner has passed away, is missing, or is an elderly and unable to arrange the demolition work by himself/herself), the BD will carry out the works on behalf of the owner in respect of removal orders that pose a higher risk or are outstanding for a long period of time. In addition, if an UBW becomes dangerous, the BD will also arrange emergency work to ensure public safety.
A reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) From 2023 to 2025, the number of UBWs, with breakdown by district and building age, identified by the BD as “higher-risk” (i.e. posing potential risk to structural or fire safety) through public reports received and proactive large-scale operations are set out in Annex 1.
(2) If building owners receive statutory notices served under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme, they must carry out the prescribed inspection and prescribed repairs for the building within the time limit specified in the statutory notice. A registered inspector must conduct an inspection of the entire building to identify and record all UBWs in the inspection report for submission to the BD. If it is found that such UBWs pose an obvious hazard or imminent danger to residents or the public, the BD must be notified immediately. If the prescribed inspection or prescribed repairs cannot be completed within the specified timeframe due to the need to handle the UBWs, building owners may submit a written application to the BD requesting an extension of time for completing the prescribed inspection or prescribed repairs. The BD will consider granting an extension on a case-by-case basis.
It is uncommon that the handling of UBWs would result in delay in carrying out the prescribed inspections and repairs under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme, but the BD does not maintain relevant statistics.
(3) From 2023 to 2025, the number of works carried out by the BD in default of owners in Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan Districts in respect of outstanding removal orders, the average duration of such works, as well as the number of prosecutions instigated, the number of convictions and the average fines are set out in Annex 2.
(4) Depending on the nature of the case, the BD generally grants the relevant owners a period of 60 to 180 days to comply with the removal order. If an owner encounters practical difficulties in complying with the order and needs to apply for an extension, the BD will consider whether to grant the extension based on the actual circumstances of each individual case. As of March 2026, in the southwestern New Territories, there were 129 removal orders issued against “higher-risk” UBWs that had not been complied with, of which 46.5 per cent had been overdue for three years or below. The average overdue period for other more complex cases exceeded three years, the majority of which involved prosecution. In quite some other cases, the owners faced practical difficulties requiring assistance, or UBWs involved property ownership issues or legal disputes.
According to the BD’s historical records, among the removal orders issued against “higher-risk” UBWs in the southwestern New Territories that have been complied with, the cases with the longest processing time took over 10 years. These cases involved special and complex circumstances, such as legal disputes, the passing away of the owner, the unit being vacant, or the owner only rectifying part of the irregularities, thus resulting in a longer period in complying with the removal orders. However, during this period, the BD conducted inspections from time to time to ensure that the UBWs did not pose an imminent danger. In the southwestern New Territories, approximately 2 600 removal orders issued against “higher-risk” UBWs have been complied with, and the average time required for compliance is 2.5 years.
(5) The BD issues approximately 7 000 to 10 000 removal orders every year. The number of unauthorised structures removed and irregularities rectified in existing buildings is about 20 000 every year (involving approximately more than 10 000 removal orders).
The BD has a dedicated special duties unit to follow up on non-compliant cases in order to expedite the clearance of outstanding removal orders. In recent years, there has been a downward trend in terms of the annual number of non-complied removal orders. The BD will continue to review and set targets for handling non-compliant removal orders annually. The BD will take appropriate follow-up actions, including initiating prosecutions and arranging default works, in order to expedite the handling and actively clear the backlog of non-complied removal orders.
The Development Bureau (DEVB) will amend the BO, including rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. On one hand, we will tackle “minor UBWs” in a pragmatic and facilitating manner; on the other hand, we will enhance the effectiveness of enforcement against “serious UBWs” by focusing enforcement resources through measures such as increasing penalties. The DEVB aims to introduce the bill into the Legislative Council for scrutiny in the second half of this year. The BD will adjust its enforcement policies regarding UBWs in accordance with the amended BO.
(6) Given the large number of cases, the BD adopts a pragmatic “risk-based” approach to determine enforcement priorities and selects target buildings for large-scale operations. Various factors will be taken into account, including reports and referrals received from the public and other relevant information. Priority is given to buildings with UBWs that constitute an obvious hazard or imminent danger to life or property. In addition, the BD will adjust enforcement priorities from time to time in light of actual circumstances. For example, the landslide at Redhill Peninsula after the series of torrential rains in 2023 revealed that UBWs in detached houses located on slopes would pose safety risks. In response, the BD, in collaboration with the Lands Department, inspected many detached houses situated on slopes and took enforcement action based on the findings of the investigation.
The number of removal orders issued, cases prosecuted and convictions resulting from large-scale operations conducted by the BD proactively between 2023 and 2025 are set out in Annex 3. These large-scale operations target buildings were selected on a risk-basis, enabling the BD to make effective use of limited resources to identify and prioritise the handling of “higher-risk” UBWs.
Issued at HKT 17:35
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SHYA to attend APEC Women and Economy Forum in Shanghai
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SHYA to attend APEC Women and Economy Forum in Shanghai
The 2026 APEC Women and the Economy Forum, themed “Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment to Prosper Together in the Asia-Pacific”, will focus on exchanges and discussions on key topics including women’s participation in digital and smart development, green and low-carbon development, as well as employment and entrepreneurship.
Miss Mak will attend the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy with ministers from other member economies and deliver a speech at the session. She will also participate as a guest speaker in a panel discussion on “Advancing Economic and Trade Cooperation” under the Public-Private Dialogue on Women and the Economy.
In addition to attending the APEC meetings, Miss Mak will conduct visits and exchange views on co-operation between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong in promoting women’s development and family building affairs.
During the visit, the Chairperson of the Women’s Commission, Dr Eliza Chan, and the Deputy Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs (Home Affairs), Mr Paul Wong, will also attend the activities.
Miss Mak will return to Hong Kong on the evening of May 16. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, will act as the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs.
Issued at HKT 17:00
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LCQ6: Soliciting business, attracting investment and assisting enterprises in developing global business
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Hung Kam-in and a reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):
Question:
In recent years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively soliciting business and attracting investment, and has set up the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (Task Force) to assist Mainland enterprises in leveraging the Hong Kong platform to develop global business. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the overall effectiveness of the investment promotion activities and measures to solicit business and attract investment implemented by the Government in the past three years, including the amount of inward investment attracted, the number of job opportunities created and the number of strategic enterprises introduced; given that the Government has set up the Steering Committee on Preferential Policies for Attracting Industries and Investment to formulate preferential policy packages for enterprises, of the progress and timetable of the relevant work, as well as the specific effectiveness expected to be achieved by the relevant measures;
(2) whether statistics have been compiled on the number of Mainland enterprises which have established operations in Hong Kong to develop global business since the establishment of the Task Force, as well as the industry distribution of such enterprises; whether it has assessed the specific effectiveness of the Task Force’s interdepartmental collaboration mechanism in supporting enterprises; and
(3) whether it will, by making reference to the practice of the Task Force, strengthen the Government’s role, and enhance the co-ordination and collaboration of statutory bodies and overseas economic and trade offices, so as to take the lead in providing enterprises with more services for tapping into both the domestic and overseas markets in the form of one-stop support?
Reply:
President,
As an investment promotion agency of the Government, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) has been proactively assisting Mainland and overseas enterprises to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong by providing them with one-stop customised support, thereby attracting more enterprises and direct investment from outside Hong Kong. As this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, the CEDB will accelerate the integration into the overall national development. We will consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international trade centre and fully leverage our strengths in professional services to help enterprises to go global, serving the country’s needs with Hong Kong’s advantages.
The consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Hung Kam-in is as follows:
Regarding supporting Mainland enterprises to go global, the CEDB established the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force) last October. It serves as a one-stop platform to actively attract Mainland enterprises to go global through Hong Kong. Since the establishment of the GoGlobal Task Force, I have convened three Steering Committee meetings to formulate a comprehensive work plan. Through the cross-bureau and cross-departmental collaboration mechanism, the GoGlobal Task Force is proactively taking forward various tasks:
(i) First, the GoGlobal Task Force proactively attracts key Mainland enterprises to set up businesses in Hong Kong, assisting them in progressively developing various corporate functions and business operations that satisfy overseas market standards, thereby preparing them for going global. For example, enterprises may establish regional headquarters and corporate treasury centres to fulfil relevant requirements on corporate structures, cross-border capital, industry certifications, compliance, etc. Among the 560 enterprises that have set up or expanded businesses in Hong Kong with InvestHK’s assistance in 2025, the top three sectors are financial services and fintech, innovation and technology, and family office. About half of them (298 enterprises) came from the Mainland, the vast majority of which plan to go global or are going global through the platform of Hong Kong. The GoGlobal Task Force will engage these enterprises that have set up presence in Hong Kong to understand their go global needs and target destinations in order to assist them in preparing for global expansion.
(ii) As one of the GoGlobal Task Force members, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) formally launched the cross-sectoral professional services platform GoGlobal Connect in April this year, bringing together eight groups of Hong Kong professional service providers, including legal services, accounting, financial services, testing and certification services, etc, to precisely match the services needs of go global Mainland enterprises and provide them with professional and customised consultation services. At present, the platform has already followed up on over a hundred enquiries regarding enterprises going global.
(iii) On publicity and promotional work, the GoGlobal Task Force has so far organised over 10 promotional events in Hong Kong and Mainland provinces and municipalities, engaging a total of over 3 000 representatives of Mainland enterprises. In addition to general promotional events that cover multiple industries, many of the events focused on specific industry themes including financial services, innovation and technology, and manufacturing. These industry-specific events provide enterprises from the relevant sectors with more focused and pertinent information and support. To enhance online publicity, the GoGlobal Task Force launched a dedicated website (www.goglobal.gov.hk) in March this year, providing practical information and success stories on enterprises going global and connecting to the HKTDC’s cross-sectoral professional services platform.
(iv) The GoGlobal Task Force will also organise outbound missions, which will be led by government officials, to enable Mainland enterprises to visit overseas markets, including high-potential markets of Belt and Road countries, to allow the enterprises to understand the local market situation.
(v) To step up the collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the CEDB and the Ministry of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in February this year. The MOU seeks to strengthen co-operation and exchange in the provision of comprehensive overseas services and enhance the capacity of supporting Mainland enterprises to go global. In addition, we will engage with government authorities and chambers of commerce from different provinces and municipalities in the Mainland to discuss collaboration on overseas expansion, amplifying cross-regional synergy.
In the past three years, InvestHK has assisted a total of over 1 400 enterprises to establish or expand businesses in Hong Kong. These enterprises are expected to bring in direct investment of around $200 billion and create over 21 000 jobs in total in the first year of their establishment or expansion. InvestHK is proactively working towards the new performance indicator set out in the 2025 Policy Address to attract at least a total of 1 200 enterprises, including Mainland enterprises planning to go global through Hong Kong, to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong within two years’ time between 2026 and 2027.
To meet the new performance indicator and attract more high value-added industries and enterprises to set up in Hong Kong while promoting the development of the Northern Metropolis, the Financial Secretary has established the Steering Committee on Preferential Policies for Attracting Industries and Investment (Steering Committee). The Steering Committee formulates preferential policy packages to promote industry development and investment, covering land grants, land premiums, financial subsidies, and tax incentives, etc. Currently, the Steering Committee has formulated a preliminary framework of the preferential policy packages, with details to be tailored based on industry, technology level, economic contributions, and employment opportunities of individual enterprises.
InvestHK will negotiate with enterprises on settlement details using the preferential policy packages. It will also act as the “relationship manager” to provide enterprises with customised services to ensure that they can smoothly establish a presence in Hong Kong, including in the Northern Metropolis. InvestHK and relevant members of the Steering Committee are proactively taking forward the work related to the preferential policy packages. When cases become mature, the Government will announce them in due course.
Looking ahead, we will expedite the aforementioned investment promotion work. We will also step up the co-ordination of the trio of overseas Economic and Trade Offices, InvestHK and the HKTDC under the CEDB through the Economic and Trade Express platform, thereby enhancing synergy in supporting enterprises to explore new overseas markets through Hong Kong.
DH holds I’m So Smart Community Health Promotion Programme Recognition Ceremony to encourage community partners to work together in promoting weight management
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH holds I’m So Smart Community Health Promotion Programme Recognition Ceremony to encourage community partners to work together in promoting weight management
Speaking at the ceremony, the Controller of the CHP of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui, said, “The I’m So Smart Programme has long advocated two major components of weight management, namely healthy eating and regular physical activity, through cross-sectoral collaboration to encourage members of the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle. In the past year (2025-26), participating organisations organised over 1 300 activities of various kinds, attracting nearly 50 000 attendees. I would like to express my gratitude to all partner organisations and community members for their enthusiastic support, which has contributed to the smooth implementation of the programme. On the occasion of today’s ceremony, I am pleased to announce that, starting from this year (2026-27), at least 60 public housing estates will take part in the I’m So Smart Programme each year. Our goal is to organise weight management promotion activities in all public rental housing estates under the Hong Kong Housing Authority within three years so that more than 2 million residents at public rental housing estates can benefit and develop healthy living habits.”
Body weight is closely related to health. Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for many non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and sleep apnoea.
Dr Tsui added, “In response to the national Weight Management Year initiative and the World Health Organization (WHO)’s WHO Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity global framework, the DH launched Hong Kong’s inaugural Action Plan on Weight Management in March this year. The Action Plan is based on scientific evidence, building a systematic strategy that spans the entire life cycle and covers the entire social environment. The I’m So Smart Programme will continue to roll out various activities in support of the Action Plan, working with citizens to build a healthy and vibrant city.”
To encourage more organisations and members of the public to participate in the I’m So Smart Programme, the CHP has set up a dedicated webpage
Other officiating guests at today’s ceremony included Chief Manager (Management) of the Housing Department Mr Choy Kwan-wing; the Executive Director of the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China, Dr Sam Wong; and representative of the Hong Kong Dietitians Association media team Mr Wong Siu-cheung.
Issued at HKT 16:45
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Tender of 2-Year Exchange Fund Notes to be held on May 22
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) announces that a tender of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes will be held on May 22, 2026 (Friday) for settlement on May 26, 2026 (Tuesday), as set out in the published tentative issuance schedule. This is to roll over an issue of 2-year Exchange Fund Notes maturing on the same day.
A total of HK$1,200 million 2-year Notes will be on offer, of which HK$5 million will be made available for offer to members of the public who wish to submit non-competitive tender bids through Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (HKSCC). If the Notes reserved for non-competitive tender are under-subscribed, the non-subscribed amount will be added to the portion of notes for competitive tender (initially set at HK$1,195 million). The Notes will mature on May 26, 2028 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.52 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears.
Members of the public who wish to submit non-competitive tender applications for Notes that are open to HKSCC may do so through Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for those who hold Investor Accounts of the Central Clearing and Settlement System (CCASS) at the HKSCC, directly through HKSCC, for submission to the HKMA for processing. Competitive tender applications for the Notes must be submitted through any of the Eligible Market Makers appointed by the HKMA, with the current published list available on the HKMA’s website at www.hkma.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof for both competitive and non-competitive tender.
The tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Refinitiv screen (HKMAOOE), and Bloomberg. Applicants who submitted non-competitive tender bids through HKSCC may also obtain the tender results from Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for applicants who hold Investor Accounts at HKSCC’s CCASS from the CCASS terminal for CCASS Broker/Custodian/Participants and CCASS Phone System.
HKMA Exchange Fund Note Programme Tender Information
——————————————————————
Tender information of 2-Year Exchange Fund Notes:
| Issue Number | : | 02Y2805 |
| Stock code | : | 4111 (EFN 2.52 2805) |
| Tender date and time | : | Friday, May 22, 2026 9.30 am to 10.30 am |
| Issue and Settlement Date | : | Tuesday, May 26, 2026 |
| Amount on offer | : | HK$1,200 million (up to HK$5 million for non-competitive tender) |
| Commencement of/ Deadline for submission of non-competitive tender bids by retail investors through HKSCC |
: | Please refer to requirements as set down by HKSCC |
| Maturity | : | Two years |
| Maturity Date | : | Friday, May 26, 2028 |
| Interest Rate | : | 2.52 per cent p.a. |
| Interest Payment Dates | : | November 26, 2026 May 26, 2027 November 26, 2027 May 26, 2028 |
| Tender amount | : | Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof for both competitive and non-competitive tender. Members of the public who wish to apply for the Notes through non-competitive tenders that are open to HKSCC may do so through Stock Exchange Participants/Brokers, or for those who hold Investors Accounts at HKSCC’s CCASS, directly through HKSCC. Members of the public who wish to apply for the Notes through competitive tender may only do so through any of the Eligible Market Makers on the current published list. |
| Other details | : | Please see Information Memorandum published or approach Eligible Market Makers, HKSCC, or brokers who are Exchange Participants of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. |
| Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong | : | Wednesday, May 27, 2026 |
Price/Yield Table of the new EFN at tender for reference* only:
| Yield-to- Maturity | Price | Yield-to-Maturity | Price |
| 1.520 | 101.97 | 2.520 | 100.03 |
| 1.570 | 101.88 | 2.570 | 99.93 |
| 1.620 | 101.78 | 2.620 | 99.84 |
| 1.670 | 101.68 | 2.670 | 99.74 |
| 1.720 | 101.58 | 2.720 | 99.65 |
| 1.770 | 101.48 | 2.770 | 99.55 |
| 1.820 | 101.38 | 2.820 | 99.46 |
| 1.870 | 101.29 | 2.870 | 99.36 |
| 1.920 | 101.19 | 2.920 | 99.27 |
| 1.970 | 101.09 | 2.970 | 99.17 |
| 2.020 | 101.00 | 3.020 | 99.08 |
| 2.070 | 100.90 | 3.070 | 98.99 |
| 2.120 | 100.80 | 3.120 | 98.89 |
| 2.170 | 100.70 | 3.170 | 98.80 |
| 2.220 | 100.61 | 3.220 | 98.70 |
| 2.270 | 100.51 | 3.270 | 98.61 |
| 2.320 | 100.41 | 3.320 | 98.52 |
| 2.370 | 100.32 | 3.370 | 98.42 |
| 2.420 | 100.22 | 3.420 | 98.33 |
| 2.470 | 100.13 | 3.470 | 98.24 |
| 2.520 | 100.03 | 3.520 | 98.14 |
*Disclaimer: The information provided here is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, the HKMA does not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects. You are encouraged to conduct your own enquiries to verify any particular piece of information provided on it. The HKMA shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any use or reliance on any of the information provided here.
DH and Hong Kong Customs carry out joint operation to crack down on illegal online sale and illegal import of controlled anti-obesity injection
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
To combat the illegal online sale and illegal import of controlled anti-obesity injections, the Department of Health (DH) and Hong Kong Customs carried out a joint enforcement operation yesterday (May 12) in Tin Shui Wai, arresting a 31-year-old woman suspected of illegally selling Part 1 poison and an unregistered pharmaceutical product, and importing a pharmaceutical product not under and in accordance with a licence.
Following up on a complaint, the DH and Hong Kong Customs purchased two boxes of an anti-obesity injection (see photos) from the woman in question via an online social media platform. The product packaging indicated in Japanese that it contains tirzepatide, a substance classified as Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (PPO). The product is suspected to be an unregistered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong.
The DH and Hong Kong Customs will continue to investigate the case, and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Tirzepatide is used for the treatment of obesity, and its side effects include hair loss, nausea and diarrhoea. Medicines containing tirzepatide should be used under a doctor’s direction and must be supplied on the premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (commonly known as a pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor’s prescription.
The DH strongly urged members of the public not to self-purchase or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. Purchasing controlled medicines (including anti-obesity injections) online poses health risks. Besides the lack of a doctor’s assessment of an individual’s health condition, it is difficult to ascertain the legitimate source of the drugs. It is also impossible to know whether the drugs were properly stored during transportation (especially for drugs requiring cold-chain storage). This leaves their safety, quality and efficacy unguaranteed.
The DH also reminded the public that selling medicines controlled under the PPO illegally, regardless of the sales channel (including online sales platforms, instant messaging applications or social media), carries criminal liability. Do not risk breaking the law.
According to the PPO, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Additionally, pharmaceutical products containing Part 1 poisons could only be sold at the registered premises of a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. If any contravention of the law is suspected, the DH will follow up and carry out enforcement action. After seeking advice from the Department of Justice, prosecutions against relevant persons may be initiated. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
Hong Kong Customs reminded the public that under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), import or export of all controlled items (including pharmaceutical products and medicines) must be accompanied by a valid licence issued by the relevant authorities. Any person who brings any controlled item into/out of Hong Kong (whether in person, by post, or through purchasing agents or consolidated consignments) without a valid licence may be prosecuted, in addition to the confiscation of the subject item. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
The DH reminded the public that all registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of “HK-XXXXX”. The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.
Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before consuming any medication for weight control. They may visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for “Health message on overweight problem and slimming products” for information.
Tax concession bill approved
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Government today welcomed the passage, by the Legislative Council, of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions, Concessionary Deductions & Allowances) Bill 2026, which allows implementation of the concessionary tax measures proposed in the 2025 Policy Address and the 2026-27 Budget.
The legislation will be published in the Government Gazette on May 22.
The measures include increasing the basic allowance, the married person’s allowance, the single parent allowance, the basic and additional child allowance, and the basic and additional allowance for dependent parents/grandparents, as well as raising the deduction ceiling for elderly residential care expenses and extending the claim period for additional child allowance for newborns starting from the year of assessment 2026-27. About 2.09 million taxpayers will benefit, reducing tax revenue by about $5.51 billion per year.
A one-off 100% reduction of salaries tax, tax under personal assessment and profits tax for the year of assessment 2025-26 will also be granted, subject to a ceiling of $3,000 per case. This is expected to benefit about 2.12 million taxpayers and 170,000 businesses, with about 24% of the former and 18% of the latter not needing to pay tax for the year of assessment 2025-26. Government revenue will be reduced by about $5.78 billion.
The one-off tax concessions, increased allowances and deduction ceilings will be reflected in taxpayers’ final tax payable for the year of assessment 2025-26 and tax payable for the year of assessment 2026-27.
Taiwan’s Research Excellence Shines at Edison Awards with 16 Wins
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) of Taiwan today (May 12) announced Taiwan’s results at the 2026 Edison Awards, marking another landmark year for the country at what is widely regarded as “the Oscars of Innovation.” In total, Taiwan received 16 awards this year, joining other winners including Dell, Medtronic, and Dow.
MOEA-affiliated research institutions took home three gold, six silver, and three bronze awards. Winners included the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC), and the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI). The awarded technologies have been commercialized through partnerships with companies such as Mizuno and Sangtech Lab, helping accelerate industry transformation.
ITRI claimed three gold and two silver awards. Its LigamiX, co-developed with TTRI, earned a gold award for addressing long-standing limitations of conventional artificial ligaments, including poor biocompatibility, inflammation and rejection risks, and material degradation that can lead to breakage. Combining polymer-bioceramic composite fibers with a porous bionic textile structure, the technology delivers up to three times the strength of commercially available products while promoting bone regeneration and tissue adherence. Through collaboration with traditional textile manufacturers, ITRI transformed a textile material originally worth less than US$1 into an artificial ligament commanding a unit price of US$2,500.
Another gold winner, Prognosis Monitoring System (PMS), addresses the costly risks of sudden production line failures that lead to product loss and unplanned downtime. Using AI to continuously monitor equipment conditions and predict anomalies before failure, PMS significantly reduces unexpected shutdowns. In a single instance during semiconductor manufacturing, the system prevented an estimated loss of US$5 million. The technology has since expanded into industries including machine tools, energy, and petrochemicals.
Also earning gold, Sustainable Pavement Material Recycling introduces a first-of-its-kind asphalt-aggregate separation process that resolves the longstanding disposal burden of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Using a proprietary biological agent and a water-based heating process, the technology converts 100% of RAP into reusable paving material, generating approximately US$50 in value per ton of recycled material. At scale, the technology could help Taiwan reduce quarrying by approximately 4.85 million tons annually while cutting carbon emissions by 270,000 tons per year.
MIRDC took home two silver and two bronze awards. The silver award-winning ThermoMind Smart Energy-efficiency Combustion System tackles the longstanding inefficiencies of traditional furnaces, which have traditionally struggled with significant heat loss and a heavy reliance on manual adjustment. Targeting energy-intensive industrial furnace applications, ThermoMind delivers real-time combustion adjustment and waste heat recovery, helping industries reduce carbon emissions by over 110,000 metric tons to date.
Also earning silver, MagicABC addresses the shortage of Mandarin-speaking speech-language pathologists and the limitations of one-way training systems. Through an AI-powered Speech-Language Pathology Agent (SLP-Agent) and interactive lesson plans, MagicABC helps children with language delays practice verbal expression. The system has already been adopted by more than 10 medical and educational institutions, including Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital.
TTRI claimed two Silver and one Bronze awards. The silver award-winning A Slice of Running Shoe disrupts traditional footwear assembly by integrating precision melt-blown automation to slash the conventional eight-step process down to just two. This leap in efficiency allows a shoe upper to be completed in a six minutes; furthermore, its mono-material construction ensures the product is both ultra-lightweight and fully recyclable, addressing critical goals in the circular economy.
Securing another Silver, the CellNet Leukocyte Reduction Filter, co-developed with Sangtech Lab, enhances transfusion safety by removing white blood cells from blood products. The manufacturing process replaces conventional solvents and heavy water usage with supercritical carbon dioxide fluid technology, enabling a cleaner, lower-carbon production of medical devices under entirely solvent-free and waterless conditions.
Commercial vehicles to get toll waiver
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply today announced that the Government will waive 50% of the toll for commercial vehicles using government tolled tunnels, and the Tsing Sha Control Area, from May 17 to July 16.
Commercial vehicles include buses, goods vehicles, light buses and taxis registered with the Transport Department. Private cars and motorcycles are not eligible for the waiver.
The two-month measure aims to alleviate operating costs for commercial vehicles, and to assist drivers and operators in coping with rising fuel prices, the task force explained.
The department said it has steered the toll service provider to adjust the HKeToll system. Commercial vehicle owners only need to pay the reduced amount, as displayed via the system. Payment methods and time limits remain unchanged.
Separately, taxi passengers are reminded that they must continue to pay statutory tolls in full during the waiver period. Placards will be displayed in taxi compartments regarding the tolls.