MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (August 3) officiated at the 30th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund (EMSTF). 

Held at the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) Headquarters Building, the ceremony was themed “Intelligent E&M Co-creating Tomorrow”, symbolising the EMSTF’s continuous efforts in driving innovation and technology development and enhancing service quality to forge a better future.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Chan said that over the past three decades since its establishment, the EMSTF has developed from being primarily responsible for maintaining electrical and mechanical (E&M) equipment into the “guardian of E&M facilities” and “innovation facilitator” for various government departments. It has always played a pioneering role in actively promoting the digital and smart transformation of public services. He encouraged the EMSTF to continue embracing innovation and striving for excellence, assisting government departments in accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies so that members of the public can enjoy higher-quality and more convenient services, while injecting sustained momentum into Hong Kong’s high-quality development.

The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services and General Manager of the EMSTF, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, said in his speech that the EMSTF will enhance service quality and efficiency through smart E&M technologies, lead industry transformation with I&T, and work closely with various client departments to implement various innovative ideas, achieving higher-quality public services.

Afterwards, accompanied by Mr Poon, the guests toured the exhibition to learn about the solutions developed by the EMSD’s engineering teams to address daily operational challenges. These solutions include the application of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, robotics, and the Internet of Things to strengthen governance, enhance productivity and work safety.

Also attending the ceremony were the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; the Deputy Director-General of the Social Development Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu; and the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Sport For All Day (SFAD) 2026 was held successfully yesterday (August 2). Nearly 330 000 people participated in the free leisure programmes organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and enjoyed the free use of leisure facilities.
 
“The event was well supported by members of the public. For the first time, the LCSD opened its leisure facilities for free public use for two consecutive days on August 1 and 2. A usage rate of over 95 per cent was recorded for the main arenas of sports centres, and more than 100 000 visits were recorded at LCSD swimming pools”, a spokesman for the LCSD said today (August 3).
 
The SFAD 2026 was themed “Asian Games in Motion, City in Action”. More than 26 000 people participated in a wide variety of free leisure programmes held at designated sports centres across 18 districts, including fun activities inspired by Asian Games items such as wushu, handball, football, rowing, equestrian and skateboarding. Others like sports illustrations, fitness corners, and activities for persons of different ages and disabilities were well received.

This year, the LCSD has specially choreographed a new fitness exercise to the SFAD theme song, a video of which is available at the dedicated website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad/2026/index.html).
 
    The LCSD will continue to encourage the public to participate in various types of sports to achieve “Sport for All”.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Nearly 330,000 people participated in recreation and sports programmes and used leisure facilities for free during Sport For All Day 2026, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department announced today.

The department noted that it was the first time it opened leisure facilities for free public use across two consecutive days on August 1 and 2.

Themed “Asian Games in Motion, City in Action” this year, the event logged a usage rate of over 95% for the main arenas of sports centres, while public swimming pools saw more than 100,000 visits.

More than 26,000 people took part in free leisure programmes held at designated sports centres across 18 districts. These included activities inspired by Asian Games events such as wushu, handball, football, rowing, equestrian sports and skateboarding.

Sports demonstrations, fitness corners, and activities tailored for people of different ages and those with disabilities were also well received.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government warmly welcomes new measures to deepen market co-operation and co-ordinated development between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

The series of new measures, announced today by the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Securities & Futures Commission, aim to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.

Chief Executive John Lee said the measures will support enterprise development and cross-boundary financing. They will also promote market connectivity by deepening co-operation in indices, futures and exchange traded funds (ETFs).

“Under ‘One Country, Two Systems’, Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantage of having strong support from the motherland while being closely connected to the world,” he said. “As an important bridge in our country’s financial system, Hong Kong will continue to leverage its role in ‘bringing in and going global’, better integrating into and serving the overall development of our country,” Mr Lee added.

“Hong Kong is proactively aligning with the National 15th Five Year Plan and is working at full speed to formulate our first five-year plan, fostering high quality market development by promoting renminbi internationalisation and cross-boundary capital flows.

“I sincerely thank the Central People’s Government and relevant authorities for their staunch support for Hong Kong all along. The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s financial markets to consolidate and elevate Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre, while serving our country’s high-quality financial opening-up and contributing to the long-term development of our country’s financial markets.”

Financial Secretary Paul Chan noted that the 10 new measures span cross-boundary listings, ETFs, index co-operation, RMB-denominated futures products, streamlined applications for Mainland professional qualifications and strengthened regulatory co-operation.

“They will facilitate Mainland and overseas investors to seize the enormous investment opportunities arising from our country’s steady and high-quality economic development and the building of a modern industrial system, while at the same time consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s function as a hub connecting the Mainland market and global capital.

“These measures will further promote the coordinated development of the two capital markets on a more open, resilient and efficient basis,” he added.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said that it will work with regulators to facilitate the implementation of the measures.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (August 2) met with the Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Mr Wu Qing, at Government House to exchange views on deepening the mutual access between Hong Kong and Mainland financial markets. The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; the Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC), Dr Kelvin Wong; and the Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, Ms Julia Leung, also attended the meeting.
 
Mr Lee welcomed Mr Wu and his delegation to Hong Kong. He said that Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and possesses a highly internationalised market environment and mature financial infrastructure. The National 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial centre, strengthening its functions as a global offshore Renminbi (RMB) business hub, an international asset and wealth management centre, and an international risk management centre. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is pressing ahead at full speed with the preparation of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, and is fully committed to its formulation to proactively seize the opportunities brought by the development of the country, continuously advance the high-quality development of Hong Kong as an international financial centre, and support the high-level opening up of the Mainland’s financial markets.
 
Mr Lee said that global demand for RMB in trade finance, investment and reserves is steadily rising. Hong Kong, as a hub for global offshore RMB transactions and financial activities, with the world’s largest offshore pool of RMB funds, has been actively advancing the upgrading of its financial infrastructure, product innovation and market expansion in various key areas. He was pleased to note that the launch of Mainland government bond futures in Hong Kong tomorrow (August 3) provides an effective offshore risk management tool for investors, and helps attract international investors to participate in the Mainland bond market and to hold RMB treasury bonds on a long-term basis. This is a key step in enhancing the RMB product ecosystem, and further consolidates Hong Kong’s status as the world’s offshore RMB business hub. Mr Lee thanked the Central People’s Government and relevant Mainland regulators for their continued support, and said that he looked forward to further deepening co-operation with the Mainland and enhancing the liquidity of offshore RMB to facilitate the prudent and solid advancement of the RMB’s internationalisation.
 
Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government will continue to work closely with Mainland regulators to jointly implement pragmatic measures to deepen co-operation between the two markets. Hong Kong will continue to expand the mutual access between Hong Kong and Mainland financial markets, building on the existing foundations of Stock Connect, Bond Connect and Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect, to offer a wide range of investment and risk management products to the market. Hong Kong and the Mainland will achieve complementary advantages and promote synergistic development and product innovation in the financial markets to contribute to the development of the country as a financial powerhouse. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Sport For All Day (SFAD) 2026 was held this afternoon (August 2). The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, took part in the activities held at the prime venue at Kowloon Park Sports Centre, conveying to the public the benefits of regular exercise for physical and mental well-being.

     With the 20th Asian Games to be held this September, SFAD 2026 was themed “Asian Games in Motion, City in Action”, cheering for the Hong Kong athletes participating in the Games.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region