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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (November 20) the appointment of Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan as a member of the Culture Commission, from November 17, 2025, to February 28, 2027.
      
     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, said, “Mr Chan is currently the Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA). He has been dedicated to promoting the development of Hong Kong’s arts and culture sectors over the years, and possesses extensive experience in executive management and public services. With the participation of Mr Chan, the Culture Commission will continue to bring together efforts of the cultural community to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges.”
      
     The Government also announced that Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen has resigned as a member of the Culture Commission.
      
     Miss Law expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Mr Tang for his significant contributions during his tenure as a member of the Culture Commission. She remarked, “Mr Tang offered valuable and constructive advice to the Government during the process of formulating the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development. He actively promoted the development of arts and culture as well as creative industries, advocated for the enhancement of Hong Kong’s cultural soft power, and fostered cross-sectoral collaboration among the arts, culture and business communities. Under the leadership of Mr Tang, the WKCDA continued to play its role as a major strategic partner of the Government, elevating Hong Kong’s international cultural status and appeal through establishing a cultural landmark that combines international perspectives with local characteristics, and curating diverse performing arts and exhibition projects.”
      
     Following this latest appointment, the membership list of the Culture Commission is as follows:
 
Chairman
————-
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism
 
Non-official members
———————–
Dr Wilfred Wong Ying-wai (Vice-chairman)
Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan
Dr Adrian Cheng Chi-kong
Mr Vincent Cheng Wing-shun
Ms Lovinia Chiu Siu-yin
Mr Vincent Chow Wing-shing
Mr Kenneth Fok Kai-kong
Mr Andy Hei Kao-chiang
Ms Leonie Ki Man-fung
Dr Lam Ho-yi
Mr Peter Lau Man-pong
Mrs Margaret Leung Ko May-yee
Dr Victor Lo Chung-wing
Ms Lo Kwong-ping
Professor Lui Yu-hon
Professor Fredric Mao Chun-fai
Mr Daryl Ng Win-kong
Mr Eric Tsang Chi-wai
Mrs Bonnie Woo Chan Tak-chi
Mr Charles Yang Chuen-liang
Mr Yang Yong
Mr Alexander Yeung Ching-loong
Dr Frankie Yeung Wai-shing
Mr Yu Chiu-for
Dr Allan Zeman
 
Official members
———————
Secretary for Development or his/her representative
Secretary for Education or his/her representative
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs or his/her representative

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the UFI Global Congress 2025 today (November 20):

Hugh (President of UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry), Mr Hugh Jones), Chris (Chief Executive Officer of UFI, Mr Chris Skeith), Peter (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Peter Lam), Fred (Chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mr Fred Lam), Simon (Chairman of AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited, Mr Simon Li), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It is a pleasure to join the opening ceremony of the 92nd UFI Global Congress. This year marks the 100th anniversary of UFI. My heartiest congratulations to you on this momentous occasion.

     For a century, UFI has been the definite leader in the global exhibition industry. Your commitment to high professional standards and international partnership has elevated the global recognition of the exhibition industry and made it a vital driver of global trade and investment.

     This congress brings together 600 participants from some 50 economies. For those who are coming from afar, a very warm welcome to Hong Kong. 

     At its core, exhibitions are about forging business connections and promoting trade in products and services. Your choice of the AWE (AsiaWorld-Expo) at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) as the congress venue speaks volumes about your focus on connectivity. HKIA is the gateway to the Chinese Mainland, the broader Asian region and beyond, with over 1 100 flights to over 200 destinations every day.

     Indeed, Hong Kong’s role has always been a “super connector”. Under the “one country, two systems” framework, we enjoy convenient and sometimes priority access to the Chinese Mainland market, while maintaining the characteristics that define our success as an international trade, business and financial hub: a common law legal system; rule of law; free port status allowing free flow of goods, capital, information and people; and alignment with the best international standards and practices. We are proud to be recognised as the world’s freest economy and one of the top three international financial centres.

     One of Hong Kong’s major advantages for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) events is the easy accessibility by Mainland and international visitors. And the number of visitors has been rising after the pandemic. In the first 10 months of this year, we welcomed more than 41 million visitors, a 12 per cent increase year-on-year. Last year, the AWE and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre together hosted more than 350 events, drawing over 9 million participants.  This year, the performance of the MICE sector would be even more optimistic.

     MICE events in Hong Kong are remarkable not only in scale, but also in their diversity and impact. Take, for example, the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit held earlier this month. It is a gathering of the world’s most influential bankers, fund managers and investors. Of the 300 participants, about half were from overseas, with 100 of them being chairmen or CEOs of global financial institutions. Or consider the Wine & Spirits Fair or the electronics show, where we proudly showcase a wide range of the finest and most trendy products from around the globe. The jewelry trade show here is also the world’s largest. 

     We often strategically programme major MICE events with signature sports and cultural activities, creating a continuous stream of excitement for participants and visitors. We also integrate these events with Hong Kong’s diverse tourism offerings – from pop concerts and horse racing to fine dining and cultural explorations. Our goal is to enrich visitors’ itineraries and experiences in Hong Kong, so that they would like to stay longer, discover more and return more often.

     We are committed to building long-term partnerships, and many signature events have become permanent fixtures on Hong Kong’s calendar. Art Basel, the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens and LIV Golf are just a few prominent examples.

     We are now expanding our capacity to host world-class exhibitions. The AWE is undergoing a major expansion, adding over 33 000 square metres of space by 2028. Meanwhile, the Government is working to expand the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to add more exhibition space. These investments reflect our strong commitment and confidence in the future of the exhibition industry in Hong Kong.

     Ladies and gentlemen, the evolving landscape of the exhibition industry is creating new and unprecedented opportunities. Digital innovation and hybrid formats are extending the reach of events, enabling organisers to connect global audiences while enriching the immersive, face-to-face experiences that make exhibitions irreplaceable. These will enable organisers to maximise reach and engagement across platforms, thus creating new revenue streams.

     At the same time, the growing global focus on environmental stewardship is driving innovation in venue design, operational efficiency and supply chain management. Organisers are encouraged to turn sustainability from a regulatory requirement into business opportunities and competitive advantages. 

     Over the next few days, I trust you will enjoy the rich exchanges of ideas and insights this Congress offers. Connect with peers from different regions, forge collaboration and partnerships.

     While you’re here, I invite you to explore all that Hong Kong has to offer: a rich calendar of cultural and sporting events, a breathtaking geopark, country parks, hiking trails, and world-renowned dining and entertainment. We are home to the world’s best hotel and best bar – and, if I might add, we don’t tax on wine!

     Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you a most successful and inspiring Congress, and a memorable stay in Hong Kong. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (November 20) that the newly built Diamond Hill Water Feature Park will be open for public use from tomorrow (November 21), providing a pleasant and relaxing leisure venue for public enjoyment.
 
     With an area of about 26 400 square metres, the park is located at the site of the demolished Tai Hom Village. Historic buildings of the village, including the Hangar (a Grade III historic building with part of the components preserved), the Pillbox (a Grade II historic building) and the Stone House (former residence of the late film star Roy Chiao), are reinstated within the park, vividly presenting and sustaining the history of Diamond Hill.
 
     The new park offers a leisurely and comfortable environment, with both dynamic and still water features as well as special plants. It also provides a variety of recreational facilities, such as landscaped walkways, multipurpose activity rooms, a multipurpose pavilion, and a children’s play area, which can cater for exhibitions, performances, cultural and recreational activities, and more.

     To visit the park, members of the public can walk from Exit A2 or Exit B of Diamond Hill MTR Station, or take available bus and minibus routes.    
 
     For enquiries, please call the venue officers at 2954 0766, or access the LCSD website (www.lcsd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 20) announced the test results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on lap-mei. The test results of all 164 samples collected were satisfactory.

A spokesman for the CFS said, “Lap-mei is popular in winter and the CFS has therefore collected a variety of lap-mei samples including Chinese pork sausages, Chinese liver sausages, preserved duck meat and preserved pork from different retailers including online retailers for chemical tests and nutrition content analyses.”

Chemical tests targeted veterinary drug residues, metallic contaminants, preservatives usually found in preserved food, as well as other food additives that may be used in the production process and colouring matters that are not permitted in food. For nutrition content analyses, the contents of energy, carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, sodium and sugars of the samples were tested to check if they were consistent with their declared values on the nutrition label.

“Members of the public should maintain a balanced diet and avoid excessive consumption of lap-mei in view of its nitrate/nitrite level and potential risk of nitrosamine, as well as the relatively higher sodium, sugar and fat content in some lap-mei. Infants are highly susceptible to nitrite toxicity and should avoid consuming lap-mei, while for young children, the intake of lap-mei should also be restricted.
​
“Furthermore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization has classified processed meat as ‘carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 1). The public should avoid excessive consumption of processed meat to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman also called on the trade to comply with the legal requirements, follow good manufacturing practices and use permitted food additives in an appropriate manner. Retailers should source food from reliable suppliers and maintain a good recording system in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (November 20) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for October 2025. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 1.2% in October 2025 over the same month a year earlier, slightly larger than the corresponding increase (1.1%) in September 2025. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI (i.e. the underlying inflation rate) in October 2025 was 1.0%, the same as that in September 2025. 

     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period ending October 2025 was 0.1%, and that for the 3-month period ending September 2025 was 0.2%. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the corresponding rates of increase were both 0.1%.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; and the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited government offices in Wan Chai today (November 20) to promote and call on civil servants to vote together in the Legislative Council (LegCo) Election on December 7.

      Mr Chan said, “At this critical juncture where we are fully committed to boosting the economy and driving development, it is all the more important for the community to stay united and harness a stronger and broader force to propel Hong Kong forward.  Positive and constructive interaction between the executive and the legislature will enable us to achieve faster and better development. Every vote cast is a vital force in building a better Hong Kong. I appeal to all residents, including civil service colleagues, to actively participate in the upcoming election and to elect capable, aspiring and visionary candidates to work hand in hand with the Government in promoting the city’s development.”

     Mr Lam stated, “Every single vote is crucial for determining the future direction of governance, economic development, and the well-being of the people. It is also a vital force driving the continuous progress of society. I urge colleagues to vote and also bring along their families and friends to vote in order to create a better Hong Kong.”

     Following the visit by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, to departmental colleagues last week, the three Secretaries of Departments have visited various government departments to appeal to civil servants to vote in the LegCo Election, underscoring their emphasis on the civil service team.

     Mrs Yeung said, “After a month of promotion and departmental visits, the message for civil servants to vote together has been clearly conveyed among civil servants. I have also felt from the feedback of colleagues that they deeply recognise the importance of voting for the future and development of Hong Kong. Now is the time to understand the platforms of the candidates in your relevant constituency/constituencies, and the next step is to take concrete action by voting to fulfil your civic responsibilities.”

     Government departments will flexibly deploy additional staff on polling day to fully support the work of the LegCo Election. They will also take possible measures to enable civil servants who are on duty on polling day to cast their votes. In addition, multiple Civil Servant Designated Polling Stations will be set up on polling day to facilitate civil servants in disciplined services and those who will have to be on duty nearby, so that they can return to their workplace as soon as possible after voting.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Police today (November 20) laid a holding charge against a 27-year-old man with one count of murder. A 33-year-old man and a 37-year-old man have been laid a holding charge each with one count of conspiracy to murder.

     Three men were arrested on November 18 in suspected connection with a murder case happened in Sha Tin on March 16 afternoon, in which a 52-year-old man died.

     The case will be mentioned at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (November 21) morning.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region