MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     According to statistics published today (December 31) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions increased by 0.7 per cent in November 2025. Among the total, Hong Kong dollar deposits and foreign currency deposits increased by 0.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively in November. In the year to end-November, total deposits and Hong Kong dollar deposits increased by 10.5 per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong increased by 0.6 per cent in November to RMB1,002.0 billion at the end of November. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB1,033.0 billion in November, compared with RMB1,006.6 billion in October. It should be noted that changes in deposits are affected by a wide range of factors, such as interest rate movements and fund-raising activities. It is therefore more appropriate to observe the longer-term trends, and not to over-generalise fluctuations in a single month.
      
     Total loans and advances increased by 0.1 per cent in November, and increased by 1.0 per cent in the year to end-November. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) decreased by 0.1 per cent while loans for use outside Hong Kong increased by 0.4 per cent in November. The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio decreased to 73.2 per cent at the end of November from 73.6 per cent at the end of October, as Hong Kong dollar deposits increased while Hong Kong dollar loans decreased.
      
     Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both increased by 0.2 per cent in November, and both increased by 4.5 per cent when compared to a year ago. The seasonally-adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 increased by 1.2 per cent in November, and increased by 14.9 per cent compared to a year ago, reflecting in part investment-related activities. Total M2 and total M3 both increased by 0.9 per cent in November. Compared to a year earlier, total M2 and total M3 both increased by 11.2 per cent.
      
     As monthly monetary statistics are subject to volatilities due to a wide range of transient factors, such as seasonal funding demand as well as business and investment-related activities, caution is required when interpreting the statistics.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for November 2025.
      
     The number of mortgage applications in November decreased month-on-month by 2.9 per cent to 8 019.
      
     Mortgage loans approved in November decreased by 7 per cent compared with October to HK$29.1 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions decreased by 12.6 per cent to HK$10.8 billion and those financing secondary market transactions decreased by 2.3 per cent to HK$15.6 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing decreased by 9.6 per cent to HK$2.7 billion. 
      
     Mortgage loans drawn down during November decreased by 2.3 per cent compared with October to HK$19.7 billion. 
      
     The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR decreased from 91.9 per cent in October to 90.7 per cent in November. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates decreased from 1.3 per cent in October to 1.1 per cent in November.
      
     The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.3 per cent to HK$1,913.5 billion at end-November. 
      
     The mortgage delinquency ratio stood at a low level of 0.14 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio was unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

In light of an expected increase in people hiking in country parks during the New Year holidays, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department today urged hikers to pay attention to safety and to use the designated hiking trails managed and maintained by the department.

The department has added barriers and placed warning signs around the Po Pin Chau Viewing Platform in Sai Kung and its vicinity to prevent hikers from wandering into dangerous areas and suffering accidents.

It reminded the public that the cliffs near the viewing platform have been weathered and eroded over the years and said hikers must follow waymarks, stay on designated hiking trails and refrain from striding over railings.

During the New Year holidays, the department will deploy additional staff at the platform and in its vicinity to disseminate messages about hiking safety.

It added that it provides comprehensive information about trails on the “Enjoy Hiking” website, and that this can be used to plan suitable hikes.

The department has also placed information boards and signs at appropriate locations within the country parks. Warning signs have been installed near various dangerous areas.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the updated Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (BSAP), setting out the strategies and priority actions for the next 10 years to protect nature and support sustainable development. The BSAP will contribute to national and global efforts aimed at achieving harmony between humans and nature.

At the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the country adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which proposed a new global strategic framework for biodiversity conservation. In January 2024, the Ministry of Ecology & Environment released the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030).

To align with these frameworks while considering Hong Kong’s circumstances and stakeholder input, the Government has updated the BSAP and outlined actions for the next phase. This new plan builds upon the first phase, which was launched in 2016.

The updated action plan introduces four strategic areas, including nature conservation, deepening mainstreaming, capacity building and collaborative partnering, all supported by 30 priority actions and 81 projects.

Priority actions for nature conservation include: strengthening management of protected areas and establishing a wetland conservation system; restoring degraded ecosystems and revitalising remote countryside areas; stepping up enforcement against wildlife crimes and management of invasive alien species; and preventing deterioration of the aquatic environment by controlling pollution discharges.

The Government aims to strengthen the city’s biodiversity conservation through continued community collaboration. To ensure oversight, the updated BSAP’s implementation will be monitored by an interdepartmental working group, with regular progress reports submitted to the Advisory Council on the Environment.

A dedicated website on related work progress will be launched later, the Government added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Digital Policy Office today announced its collaboration with the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company to launch the Digital Corporate Identity (CorpID) Sandbox Programme.

This programme offers a free simulated environment for service providers, including public and private organisations as well as government departments, to conduct proof-of-concept testing and application development for CorpID. This initiative facilitates the design of tailored solutions and application scenarios across various industries and markets.

The initiative aims to kick-start ecosystem development for CorpID to help Hong Kong corporations accelerate their digital transformation, while further strengthening the business environment for Hong Kong corporations.

To speed up the development of Hong Kong’s digital economy, the office plans to launch the CorpID Platform for Hong Kong corporations by the end of 2026 with a gradual extension of services.

The platform’s main functions are to facilitate secure and convenient digital identity authentication and signature verification for Hong Kong corporations, which streamlines e-government services and online transactions. This is achieved through digital corporate identity authentication, digital signing, pre-filling of forms and storage of digital licences and permits.

These features eliminate the need for complicated, paper-based procedures involving the submission and verification of duplicate original documents and company chops.

The platform will also enable corporations to reuse information previously provided when using different electronic services, saving processing time and reducing human errors while facilitating their digital transformation.

The CorpID Sandbox Programme will provide participating service providers with technical support, reference documents and simulated Application Programming Interface. It will also introduce suitable application scenarios, allowing service providers to test CorpID functions. Interested service providers can register online.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong residents born between 1950 and 1976 can enrol in the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme from January 1, 2026, the Department of Health announced today.

The programme subsidises asymptomatic residents aged between 50 and 75 to undergo screening tests for colorectal cancer every two years in the private sector. Participants should attend a medical consultation provided by an enrolled primary care doctor and receive a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) screening.

Participants with positive FIT results will be referred to an enrolled colonoscopy specialist to receive a colonoscopy examination subsidised by the Government. People with a negative FIT result are advised to repeat the screening two years later.

As of the end of November, more than 66,000 new participants have enrolled in the programme this year, bringing the total number of participants to more than 579,000. Among them, 15% had positive FIT screening results with about 45,000 participants having benign colorectal tumors, known as adenomas.

Under the programme, about 3,800 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer after colonoscopy examinations, with more than half of those cases in the early stages.

The Centre for Health Protection noted that in 2023, there were 5,467 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases, accounting for 14.4% of all new cancer cases.

Colorectal cancer screenings can identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer and asymptomatic patients, and help them receive early treatment, the centre added.

Eligible residents can join the programme by registering in the Electronic Health System. Call 3467 6300 for details.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme between Hong Kong Customs and the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT) of Peru in hybrid mode at the Customs Headquarters Building today (December 30). The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Consul-General of Peru, Mr Enrique Carlos Cardenas Arestegui, in person as well as the National Superintendent of Customs and Tax Administration of SUNAT of Peru, Mr Javier Franco Castillo, and the Deputy National Superintendent of Customs of SUNAT of Peru, Mr Carlos Adrianzen, online. Immediately after the signing, Mr Chan exchanged the signed MRA text with Mr Enrique Carlos Cardenas Arestegui.

     The MRA with Peru is Hong Kong Customs’ first MRA concluded with a Customs administration in the South American region, marking a significant step in strengthening trade ties between the two places as well as the South American region. This MRA will further facilitate the flow of legitimate cross-boundary cargo and enhance the global competitiveness of enterprises in both places.

     The Hong Kong AEO Programme was launched in 2012. The signing of the MRA with Peru brings the number of MRAs ratified between Hong Kong Customs and other Customs administrations to 18 in total. The other 17 Customs administrations which Hong Kong has signed MRAs with are the Chinese Mainland; India; Korea; Singapore; Thailand; Malaysia; Japan; Australia; New Zealand; Israel; Canada; Mexico, Indonesia; Macao, China; Bahrain; South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Under the MRA, AEOs from the signatory countries or regions can enjoy reciprocal trade facilitations including a reduced inspection rate and prioritised clearance.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to accord priority to its discussions on MRAs with the Belt and Road economies, particularly member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, as well as African and South American countries to further expand the MRA network.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (December 30) that the validity end date of the unused subsidy/relief balances (unused balances) under the Electricity Charges Subsidy Scheme (ECSS) and the Electricity Charges Relief Scheme (ECRS) (2024-25) will be extended by one year from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026.

     A Government spokesperson said, “Taking into account that a considerable number of households have not yet used up the distributed subsidy/relief, the Government has decided to extend the validity end date of the unused balances by one year. All unused balances will be carried forward to cover billed electricity charges under the same account until December 31, 2026, or the closure of the account, whichever is earlier. The Government will keep the situation under review and consider, as appropriate, whether a further extension of the validity period is warranted.”

     The unused balances will continue to be reflected in the electricity bills of eligible accounts. For enquiries on account matters, users may contact CLP Power Hong Kong Limited’s Customer Service Hotline on 2678 2678 or the Hongkong Electric Company, Limited’s Customer Service Hotline on 2887 3411. Details of the ECSS and ECRS are available at www.fstb.gov.hk/en/treasury/fin_rel_shc/electricity-charges-subsidy-scheme.htm and www.eeb.gov.hk/en/energy/ecrs.html respectively.

ECSS
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     The Government launched eight rounds of the ECSS between 2008 and 2023 to provide a maximum total electricity charge subsidy of $14,000 to eligible residential electricity accounts. The sum was fully credited to relevant accounts from September 2008 to May 2024. The last round of the ECSS (2023) concluded in May 2024, and the original validity end date of the unused subsidy was December 31, 2025.

ECRS (2024-25)
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     Under the ECRS (2024-25), the Government provides electricity charge relief of $50 per month to eligible residential electricity accounts (to a maximum total relief of $1,200). The sum was fully credited to relevant accounts from January 2024 to December 2025, and the original validity end date of the unused relief was December 31, 2025.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 30) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Hamm of the State of Nordrhein-Westfalen in Germany, Kalisz District of Wielkopolskie Region in Poland, Tewkesbury District of Gloucestershire County in the United Kingdom (UK) and Perth County of the province of Ontario in Canada, and an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Saitama Prefecture in Japan respectively, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas, as well as from Unna District of the State of Nordrhein-Westfalen adjacent to Hamm, with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, in the first nine months of this year, while no poultry meat or eggs were imported into Hong Kong from Canada, Hong Kong imported about 60 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Germany; about 1 870 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland; about 770 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 1.17 million poultry eggs from the UK; and about 1 540 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 219.73 million poultry eggs from Japan.

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