Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ21: Enhancing measures for supporting Mainland enterprises in going global
Question:
The 2025 Policy Address proposes integrating Hong Kong’s overseas offices to set up a one-stop platform, the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force), to proactively attract Mainland enterprises seeking to expand their overseas business to go global via Hong Kong. It is learnt that the GoGlobal Task Force has submitted its work plan for the coming year to the Chief Executive. There are views that, given the rapidly changing international environment, the authorities have to further enhance the multi-platform collaboration, as well as the precision of promotional efforts in the Mainland, so as to encourage more Mainland enterprises to use Hong Kong as a starting point to connect with the world and expand globally. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the quarterly or annual performance indicators for the GoGlobal Task Force in 2026, including (i) the number of Mainland enterprises that have successfully gone global as a result of the facilitation, and (ii) the respective numbers of promotional activities held by various provinces and municipalities in the Mainland;
(2) of the updated number of Mainland enterprises with an intention to go global that the GoGlobal Task Force has referred to the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform; given that the GoGlobal Task Force has been formed by multiple departments, whether the authorities will establish an online or offline one-stop service counter to assist in clarifying common procedural questions about establishing in Hong Kong;
(3) given views that Hong Kong has the potential to become a national go-global gateway, whether the GoGlobal Task Force will consider (i) establishing co-operative relationships with Mainland service centres for enterprises going global at various levels to jointly provide more comprehensive professional services to Mainland enterprises with such needs, and (ii) inviting major Mainland service centres for enterprises going global to consolidate a local office to co-ordinate with Mainland services;
(4) of the cumulative page views and future promotional plan for the GoGlobal Cross-sectoral Professional Services Platform website managed by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; whether the Government will step up publicity via major social media in the Mainland to ensure that when Mainland enterprises search for keywords or information such as “services for enterprises going global”, information on the website will be given priority in the search results; and
(5) regarding the issue of substantial capital needs and limited early-stage financing channels encountered by enterprises after arriving in Hong Kong, whether the Government will strengthen co-ordination between financial institutions, Invest Hong Kong and the GoGlobal Task Force, organise investment matching events on a regular basis, and encourage enterprises going global to join investment matching events?
Reply:
President,
In view of the rapidly changing global trade landscape and geopolitics, more Mainland enterprises are planning to go global to diversify business risks and expand international business. To better support Mainland enterprises in going global in an orderly manner, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) established the cross-bureau, cross-departmental and cross-agency Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force) last October. It serves as a one-stop platform to attract Mainland enterprises to go global through Hong Kong.
Steered by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, the GoGlobal Task Force co-ordinates the work of various bureaux, departments and agencies in formulating diverse proposals to support go global enterprises. Apart from the CEDB, other members include the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB), the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), and the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation. Bringing together different experiences and expertise of the members, the GoGlobal Task Force provides comprehensive support to Mainland enterprises.
Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Yung is as follows:
(1) and (5) To assist Mainland enterprises in meeting their capital and financing needs, the GoGlobal Task Force attracts the enterprises concerned to set up businesses in Hong Kong, laying the foundation for their commercial operations in the city and assisting them in progressively establishing regional headquarters, corporate treasury centres, etc. It will also assist them in listing in Hong Kong to leverage Hong Kong’s international financial market for fundraising, thereby meeting their cross-border capital needs. At the same time, the GoGlobal Task Force will prepare them for going global by assisting them in developing various corporate functions and business operations that satisfy international market standards and to fulfil requirements related to corporate structures, industry certifications, compliance, etc. In addition, the GoGlobal Task Force will leverage its overseas network to connect enterprises with their target go global destinations by providing them with local support services to ensure successful establishment of operations abroad.
Since the establishment of the GoGlobal Task Force, the steering committee has held three meetings to formulate a comprehensive work plan for the above-mentioned process of enterprises going global, and is progressively launching an array of work, including the following:
(i) To focus on attracting key or strategically valuable Mainland enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong. To this end, InvestHK is proactively following up with relevant enterprises to gain an in-depth understanding of their business development needs, while assisting them in connecting with other relevant departments and agencies, thus providing suitable support for them to establish businesses in Hong Kong;
(ii) To match enterprises with Hong Kong professional services, the HKTDC formally launched the cross-sectoral professional services platform
(iii) To organise promotional events with various themes in Hong Kong and Mainland provinces and cities to promote the work of the GoGlobal Task Force and the professional services (such as legal services, financing, etc) that Hong Kong can offer to different industries. As at April, the GoGlobal Task Force has held over 10 promotional events, attracting a total of over 3 000 representatives of Mainland enterprises, many of whom expressed interest in going global via Hong Kong. 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 provided enterprises from the relevant sectors with more focused and pertinent information and support. Besides, representatives from Hong Kong’s financial or accounting services sectors (such as the HKEX, banks, and accounting firms, etc) were invited to attend the events to provide Mainland enterprises with relevant professional services and match-making in areas covering financing, cross-border capital transfers, offshore treasury management, taxation, etc. To enhance online publicity, the GoGlobal Task Force launched a dedicated website
(iv) To organise outbound missions, which will be led by officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, to enable Mainland enterprises planning to go global to visit target overseas markets to gain a better understanding of the local market situation. We will announce the relevant arrangements in due course.
Going forward, we will proactively work towards the performance indicator set out in the 2025 Policy Address to attract at least 1 200 Mainland or overseas enterprises in total to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong between 2026 and 2027 (i.e. on average 600 enterprises per year), including Mainland enterprises planning to go global through Hong Kong.
(2) and (4) Given the substantial number of potential go global enterprises, each with its own business plans and at different stages of global expansion, their needs for go global services also vary. In this connection, clear division of labour is in place for each member to support the GoGlobal Task Force by leveraging their respective global networks and professional expertise. Through diverse online and offline channels, GoGlobal Task Force members engage with these enterprises to provide support services, jointly assisting them in going global. For example, the 16 Mainland Offices and Liaison Units under the CMAB, the HKTDC’s offices in the Mainland, and InvestHK’s Dedicated Teams for Attracting Businesses and Talents based in the Mainland proactively approach go global enterprises in the Mainland through various channels, thereby promoting Hong Kong’s advantages and attracting them to set up businesses in Hong Kong; the HKTDC promotes to Mainland enterprises and connects them with Hong Kong’s professional services under the GoGlobal Connect; and other members such as the HKPC, it also has dedicated teams to provide Mainland enterprises with professional support covering international technical standard alignment, while the HKEX provides these enterprises with services such as listing and financing.
In addition, the above-mentioned dedicated website of the GoGlobal Task Force provides one-stop online support to go global enterprises. Within only one month since its launch, the dedicated website, including its linked cross-sectoral professional services platform, has recorded more than 20 000 views in total as at mid-April. Through its online platform and activities under the GoGlobal Connect, the HKTDC promotes the services of the cross‑sector professional service platform, and has processed over a hundred enquiries on Mainland enterprises going global. To enhance the publicity effect, the HKTDC has also widely promoted the platform across different social media platforms, including those commonly used in the Mainland such as WeChat, Weibo and Douyin. The cross-sectoral professional services platform will also collaborate with the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform under the DoJ to strengthen professional service support.
(3) To step up the collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland on go global services, the CEDB and the Ministry of Commerce signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on strengthening co-operation and exchange in the provision of comprehensive overseas services in February 2026. The MOU seeks to strengthen co-operation and exchange in the provision of comprehensive overseas services, and foster closer collaboration between Mainland enterprises seeking to go global and Hong Kong professional service providers, thereby enhancing the capacity of supporting Mainland enterprises to go global. In addition, the CEDB and the HKTDC joined the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Enterprises Overseas Professional Service Alliance (Alliance), which was spearheaded and set up by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province in March 2026. Through Guangdong-Hong Kong collaboration, the Alliance will enhance the support for more Mainland enterprises utilising Hong Kong’s professional services to go global. The GoGlobal Task Force will continue to maintain close contact with government authorities and business organisations in different provinces and cities to jointly support Mainland enterprises in going global.
The GoGlobal Task Force will fully leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle to serve the country’s needs with our strengths. We will also develop go global services into a new growth area for Hong Kong’s economy, while fostering the robust development of professional and commercial services in Hong Kong.
Issued at HKT 16:35
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Provisional Statistics of Retail Sales for March 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (May 6).
The value of total retail sales in March 2026, provisionally estimated at $33.9 billion, increased by 12.8% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of the combined value of total retail sales in January and February 2026 increased by 11.8% compared with the same period a year earlier. For the first quarter of 2026, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales increased by 12.1% compared with the same period in 2025.
Of the total retail sales value in March 2026, online sales accounted for 9.7%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $3.3 billion, increased by 35.1% compared with the same month in 2025. The revised estimate of the combined value of online retail sales in January and February 2026 increased by 27.5% compared with a year earlier. For the first quarter of 2026, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 30.1% compared with the same period in 2025.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in March 2026 increased by 9.8% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the combined volume of total retail sales in January and February 2026 increased by 9.8% compared with the same period a year earlier. For the first quarter of 2026, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales increased by 9.8% in volume compared with the same period in 2025.
Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing March 2026 with March 2025, the value of sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified increased by 18.1%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+27.2% in value); commodities in supermarkets (+0.6%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+30.1%); medicines and cosmetics (+3.1%); wearing apparel (+8.3%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+1.0%); commodities in department stores (+1.3%); motor vehicles and parts (+80.8%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+3.0%); furniture and fixtures (+0.6%); and optical shops (+7.4%).
On the other hand, the value of sales of fuels decreased by 14.2% in March 2026 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of Chinese drugs and herbs (-5.4% in value); and footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-10.2%).
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 7.8% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the preceding quarter, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 5.4%.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that retail sales continued to strengthen in March. The value of total retail sales increased by 12.8% over a year earlier, with growth in sales of most broad types of retail outlet. Among the various types, sales of motor vehicles showed particularly strong growth, as purchases spiked before the expiry of the first registration tax concessions for electric private cars at end-March.
Looking ahead, the near-term outlook for retail sales is broadly positive, underpinned by recovering local demand, sustained growth in inbound tourism, and a favourable macro-financial environment. The Government will continue to monitor the downside risk arising from the evolving geopolitical tensions, for any potential implications for the consumer spending in the local market.
Further information
Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for February 2026 as well as the provisional figures for March 2026. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the first quarter of 2026 are also shown.
Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for February 2026 as well as the provisional figures for March 2026. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first quarter of 2026 are also shown.
Table 3 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for February 2026 as well as the provisional figures for March 2026. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first quarter of 2026 are also shown.
Table 4 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.
The classification of retail companies follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail companies and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. Data on retail sales are collected from local retail companies through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail companies with and without physical shops are covered in MRS and their sales, both through conventional shops and online channels, are included in the retail sales statistics.
The retail sales statistics cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.
Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication “Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component” for more details.
More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey of Retail Sales”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080003&scode=530).
Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; email: mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).
Provisional statistics of restaurant receipts and purchases for first quarter of 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases today (May 6).
The value of total receipts of the restaurants sector in the first quarter of 2026, provisionally estimated at $28.4 billion, increased by 1.1% over a year earlier. Over the same period, the provisional estimate of the value of total purchases by restaurants increased by 3.6% to $9.1 billion.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total restaurant receipts slightly increased by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier.
Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the first quarter of 2026 with the first quarter of 2025, total receipts of Chinese restaurants increased by 0.9% in value, but decreased by 0.2% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants increased by 2.8% in value and 2.1% in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops decreased by 0.6% in value and 1.5% in volume. Total receipts of bars decreased by 4.0% in value and 3.9% in volume. As for miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts increased by 0.5% in value, but decreased by 0.6% in volume.
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of total restaurant receipts remained at a similar level in both value and volume in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the preceding quarter.
To facilitate further understanding of the short-term business performance of the restaurants sector, statistics in respect of the restaurant receipts and purchases in individual months of the reference quarter are also compiled.
Analysed by month, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total receipts of the restaurants sector decreased by 3.2%, increased by 5.7% and increased by 1.6% respectively in January, February and March 2026, compared with the corresponding months in 2025.
After discounting the effect of price changes, it was provisionally estimated that the volume of total restaurant receipts decreased by 4.2%, increased by 4.6% and increased by 0.8% respectively in January, February and March 2026, compared with the corresponding months in 2025.
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that the business of restaurants continued to improve in the first quarter. The value of total restaurant receipts increased further by 1.1% over a year earlier.
Looking ahead, the generally solid local consumer sentiment and sustained growth in inbound tourism will continue to support restaurant businesses. The Government will continue to monitor the downside risk arising from the evolving geopolitical tensions, for any potential implications for restaurant businesses.
Further information
Table 1 presents the revised figures of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant and total purchases by the restaurants sector for the fourth quarter of 2025 as well as the provisional figures for the first quarter of 2026.
Table 2 and Table 3 present the revised value and volume indices respectively of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the provisional indices for the first quarter of 2026.
Table 4 presents the year-on-year rate of change in total restaurant receipts in value and volume terms based on the original quarterly series, as well as the quarter-to-quarter rate of change based on the seasonally adjusted series.
The revised figures on restaurant receipts and purchases for the first quarter of 2026 (with breakdown by month) will be released through the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode540.html) and relevant publications of the Department from June 18, 2026.
The classification of restaurants follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Quarterly Survey of Restaurant Receipts and Purchases”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080002&scode=540).
Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7401; e-mail: qsr@censtatd.gov.hk).
LCQ10: Disaster Preventive Measures of Tai O
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Chun-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (May 6):
Question:
Tai O, situated in a low-lying area, has frequently become a flooding blackspot during typhoons and heavy rain. In this regard, the Government has, over the years, implemented various flood prevention works and conducted various drills in Tai O. In relation to the disaster preventive measures implemented in Tai O, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as prior to the arrival of typhoons and heavy rain, the Islands District Office will acquire certain premises (such as the rural committee office, integrated services centres and the community work office) to serve as temporary shelters, of the proportion of Tai O’s total population these shelters can accommodate; and whether an assessment has been made regarding the capacity of these shelters to meet the disaster prevention needs of Tai O residents;
(2) as it is learnt that the Islands District Office, in collaboration with relevant government departments and local organisations, will organise from time to time rescue and evacuation drills in the event of serious flooding in Tai O, whether statistics have been compiled on the number of residents participating in each drill over the past three years; and whether residents’ opinions on the content of the drills and the simulated scenarios have been collected; if so, of the details; if not the reasons for that; and
(3) as the elderly constitute a large proportion of the Tai O residents and they may require more time to receive and understand new information, whether the authorities have deployed manpower to specifically promote to elderly residents methods of self-protection during typhoons or heavy rain, as well as support measures provided by the Government; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government has always attached great importance to the response to extreme weather conditions. As Tai O is situated in a low-lying area, severe flooding may occur under extreme weather. The Islands District Office (IsDO), in collaboration with other relevant departments, including the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the Drainage Services Department (DSD), has jointly formulated the Alert System and Emergency Response Plan for Serious Flooding in Tai O (the Emergency Response Plan) to facilitate timely and appropriate contingency arrangements to be made, thereby minimising the impact of flooding on the Tai O community.
When the HKO forecasts that the sea level in Tai O may reach 3.0 metres (above chart datum) within 24 hours, the Emergency Response Plan will be partially activated, and relevant government departments will implement flood protection measures. For example, the DSD will, depending on the situation, install flood barriers at appropriate locations (such as along the banks of the Tai O Creek and other riverbanks), and place sandbags at various locations within the district for use by residents and businesses; the IsDO and the SWD will co-ordinate with the Tai O Rural Committee, local organisations, Care Teams and relevant frontline departments to contact residents living in low-lying areas and provide assistance with regard to their specific circumstances and requests, including elevating large furniture and electrical appliances in their homes and contacting their relatives and friends living outside Tai O for temporary accommodation.
If the HKO forecasts that the sea level in Tai O may reach 3.3 metres (above chart datum) in the coming few hours, the Emergency Response Plan will be fully activated. The HKO will issue early warnings via mobile phone text messages to relevant government departments and Tai O resident and fishermen representatives. The IsDO will contact the relevant units and departments to confirm that they have received the messages and remind them to urge local residents to seek refuge at temporary shelters, transit centres or other safe places (such as the homes of relatives and friends outside Tai O) if necessary. The IsDO will also mobilise the disciplined services, including the HKPF, the FSD and the Civil Aid Service (CAS), to go to Tai O to participate in evacuation and rescue operations, and to urge and/or assist residents in seeking temporary shelter at the aforementioned safe locations.
Our reply to the captioned question is as follows:
(1) Once the Emergency Response Plan is fully activated, the Tai O Rural Committee Office, the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Tai O Community Work Office, the Tai O Branch of the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tung Chung Integrated Service Centre, and the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College will, depending on the circumstances, be opened as temporary shelters, whilst selected units in Lung Tin Estate will also be used as a temporary transit centre to provide temporary shelter for residents in need. These shelters and transit centre could offer temporary accommodation to some 200 persons in total. Over the past three years, the Emergency Response Plan was fully activated on five occasions, and the average utilisation rate of the said shelters and transit centre amounted to about 4.4 per cent during the period. As many Tai O residents prefer to stay with their relatives or friends outside the district before extreme weather hits, and only return to Tai O after it has passed, there has been no shortage of shelter space for residents within the Tai O district.
(2) Every year, the IsDO, in collaboration with relevant departments and local organisations, conducts an inter-departmental exercise in Tai O based on the Emergency Response Plan. The primary objective of the exercise is to familiarise frontline personnel with the rescue protocol. Participants of the exercise include eight government departments (Note 1), four local organisations (Note 2), the Tai O Rural Committee, the Lantau Care Team, and a number of Tai O residents, totalling some 250 persons. Prior to the exercise, the IsDO sends letters to all households and businesses in Tai O to inform them of arrangements of the exercise, enclosing a summary of the Emergency Response Plan and flood safety guidelines for their reference. Upon the completion of the exercise, the IsDO immediately convenes an inter-departmental debriefing to gather feedback from participants on the content and arrangements of the exercise, with a view to learning from the experience for continuous enhancement of the effectiveness of the exercise.
(3) Before the arrival of a typhoon, the IsDO will, in collaboration with the Tai O Rural Committee and the Lantau Care Team, disseminate information on typhoon and flood precautionary measures to local residents and businesses. Furthermore, in the afternoon of the day of the aforementioned exercise, the IsDO will also join hands with relevant local organisations to hold a seminar on severe flood preparedness for Tai O residents. The seminar will explain the causes of flooding in Tai O, the preparatory and contingency measures to be taken prior to the arrival of storm surges, etc, so as to enable residents to prepare for the upcoming typhoon season. Information cards setting out the emergency contact numbers of relevant departments and local organisations will also be distributed to residents, to ensure that the residents have the most updated information for accessing assistance.
Each year, the IsDO also shares the list of high-risk elderly residents in Tai O, as compiled and updated by the SWD, with the HKPF and the FSD for internal reference when conducting rescue operations. In the event of potential serious flooding in Tai O, the IsDO will join forces with relevant government departments, local organisations and Care Teams to implement a series of contingency measures for the elderly on the list. These measures include getting in touch with the elderly concerned to remind them to remain vigilant; urging them to seek refuge at temporary shelters, transit centres or other safe locations; as well as assisting in elevating their furniture, electrical appliances, etc, with a view to protecting their lives and property.
Note 1: Including the IsDO, the HKPF, the FSD, the CAS, the HKO, the DSD, the SWD and the Housing Department.
Note 2: Including the Tai O Branch of the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tung Chung Integrated Service Centre, the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Tai O Community Work Office, the Hong Kong Red Cross, and the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College.
LCQ2: Support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ2: Support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
Question:
Quite a number of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have pointed out that government funding schemes are crucial to their cash flow, and these funding schemes have an even greater impact on their operations, particularly during the current period of economic transformation. Some members of the industry have pointed out that there have been delays in the vetting and approval process of the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF), with the waiting time of certain cases exceeding the authorities’ service performance indicators. The Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) implemented enhancement measures in March last year, including making adjustments to the matching ratio and initial payment, etc, all of which have affected the cash flow of MSMEs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the lead time between the Trade and Industry Department’s receipt of all necessary documentation from the applicants of the EMF and the disbursement of funding support in each of the past three years, with a tabulated breakdown of the number of applications by lead time (i.e. (i) within 30 clear working days, (ii) after 30 clear working days but within nine months, and (iii) more than nine months);
(2) whether it has ascertained if the applications mentioned in (1) have experienced delays in the vetting and approval process; if so, of the details; and
(3) given that the enhancement measures for the BUD Fund have been implemented for more than a year, how the authorities assess their impact on the operation of MSMEs, and when a review will be conducted?
Reply:
President,
The Government has been adopting a multi-pronged approach in promoting diversified development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Among which, the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF) and the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) provide funding support with a view to encouraging enterprises to expand their markets outside Hong Kong by participating in export promotion activities and upgrading and transformation respectively. As one of the measures addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the EMF has been implementing the special measures from end-April 2021 to end-June 2026 to cover exhibitions targeting the local market and online exhibitions, as well as relaxing the eligibility criteria to cover non-SMEs. Since 2018, the Government has also launched several rounds of enhancements to the BUD Fund, including the injection of a total of $7.75 billion, expansion of the geographical scope, phased increase of the cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise from $500,000 to $7 million, and the launch of “Easy BUD” and “E-commerce Easy”, etc.
The consolidated reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
Under normal circumstances, the Trade and Industry Department (TID) will complete the processing of a valid EMF application within 30 clear working days from the date of receipt of the duly completed application accompanied by all necessary documentation, and the processing time may take longer for complicated cases. Complicated cases usually involve applications which are suspected to be non-compliant with the funding requirements or conditions. The processing time of individual complicated case varies according to factors including whether the applicant can provide all necessary documentation in a timely manner, the overall number of applications, case details and the complexity of the case, etc.
For general applications, the EMF has been able to meet its performance pledge of completing the processing within 30 clear working days from the date of receipt of the duly completed application accompanied by all necessary documentation in the past three years. Complicated cases which take longer processing time accounted for about 30 per cent of total number of applications in the past three years. Overall speaking, the processing of over 99 per cent of applications was completed within nine months after the receipt of all necessary documentation. Detailed breakdown of the numbers is at Annex.
In recent years, the number of complicated cases has increased. Relevant cases mainly involve applicant enterprises which have included refunded payments by organisers or their related parties in the declared amount of actual expenditure, in order to obtain higher grant amount than they are entitled to. We have also found that the organisers and exhibitors of some promotion activities may have omitted or misrepresented information, or even made false declarations. Therefore, all applications for relevant activities are subject to further review, hence requiring a longer processing time to ensure proper use of public funds.
The TID has been maintaining close liaison with the industry and applicant enterprises and continuing to allocate manpower in a timely manner to process applications, enhance the workflow of handling applications and computer functions, streamline processing procedures, revamp the EMF webpage layout design, etc, with a view to enhancing the processing of EMF applications. For complicated cases suspected to be non-compliant with funding requirements and conditions that require longer processing time, the TID has provided further guidance via the EMF Guide to Application and application form, assisting applicant enterprises in declaring truthfully all the relevant costs of the activities and the related information. Meanwhile, the TID has reminded the organisers via the Guide to list out the details of refunds in documents of the activities to facilitate declaration by applicant enterprises. We have also stepped up publicity through various channels, including the EMF webpage, notices of the EMF, e-newsletters of the Support and Consultation Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises, etc, to strengthen deterrence against the relevant non-compliant or illegal acts.
On the other hand, the Government implemented rationalisation measures under the BUD Fund since March 2025 with a view to utilising the fund in the most productive manner while ensuring its financial sustainability. In 2025, the BUD Fund received around 5 350 applications, an increase of over 210 per cent as compared with the number of applications in 2019; the total approved funding amount increased by over 320 per cent during the same period, indicating that the trade’s demand for the BUD Fund has remained strong. Besides, the participating enterprises agreed that the BUD Fund had helped them in various areas, including enhancing corporate image, brands/products/services awareness, and their overall competitiveness, etc. As at end-March 2026, around 98 per cent of the enterprises that responded to the project completion surveys considered that the BUD Fund was useful in supporting their business development. Around 98 per cent of the enterprises that responded to the annual tracking surveys considered that the BUD Fund was useful to their long-term development.
In March 2025, the Government has also rolled out enhancement measures under the BUD Fund, including relaxation of the frequency for “Easy BUD” submissions and provision of more targeted funding support for projects involving green transformation and restructuring of production lines, etc. In addition, the Government plans to implement a series of measures announced in the 2025 Policy Address and the 2026-27 Budget in the second quarter of 2026, including expansion of the geographical scope of the BUD Fund, increase of the funding ceiling per “Easy BUD” application from $100,000 to $150,000, as well as the provision of more targeted funding support for enterprises to implement projects which involve artificial intelligence elements, etc. Therefore, we need time to assess the financial implications in respect of various measures. We will continue to manage the fund prudently with a view to enabling more enterprises to receive funding support and maintaining a wide coverage of beneficiaries while ensuring the financial sustainability of the BUD Fund. The Government will continue to keep in close touch with the trade, constantly review the operation of the funding scheme, and make adjustments and enhancements when necessary.
Issued at HKT 15:10
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LCQ4: Innovation and technology-related professionals in Government
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Lee Kong-yu and a reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (May 6):
Question:
There are views pointing out that Mainland cities that have achieved relative success in innovation and technology (I&T) development have all relied on the government’s holistic involvement in establishing platforms, co-ordinating resources and empowering enterprises, and that whether the government team has sufficient technology talents to participate in I&T development initiatives will directly impact the effectiveness of policy implementation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the current numbers of I&T-related professionals in government professional grades (including but not limited to software engineers (programming), systems analysts, cybersecurity engineers, DevOps engineers and cloud engineers), with a breakdown by relevant government departments, as well as permanent and time-limited posts, and the proportion of staff;
(2) whether it will, with reference to the best industry benchmark ratio in the market, set targets for the manpower ratio of I&T-related professionals in the Government for the coming three years, and reserve buffer manpower while adhering to the principle of avoiding excessive recruitment, so as to support future I&T initiatives; and
(3) whether the Government has invited technology experts with experience in large-scale projects to serve as consultants to assist various departments in more effectively promoting digital and technological transformation, and whether it can provide cases to illustrate the positive impact of the involvement of such experts on the development of relevant I&T projects; if no such arrangements were made in the past, whether the Government has plans to introduce such a practice?
Reply:
President,
Talent is the core engine driving digital transformation. Therefore, while actively promoting the development of innovation and technology (I&T) and digital transformation, we will also ensure that the government team possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to embrace advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and leverages market forces, thereby enhancing the efficiency and quality of public services.
Regarding the question raised by the Hon Lee Kwong-yu, the reply is as follows:
(1) and (2) The professional grades in the Government that are directly related to information technology (IT) as mentioned in the question include the Analyst/Programmer Grade, the Computer Operator Grade and the Data Processor Grade. These IT professionals are mainly responsible for the study, design, development, operation, and maintenance of information systems, as well as the provision of various technical services (including system and cyber security), project management support, and data entry tasks.
The Digital Policy Office (DPO) is responsible for managing the aforementioned IT professional grades. Relevant staff members are deployed to different units within the DPO, mainly undertaking central co-ordination and facilitation roles such as promoting the development of digital government, enhancing data governance, and fostering industry collaboration. Staff members are also posted to various bureaux/departments (B/Ds) across the Government to support system operations and project implementation, as well as to assist in the implementation of relevant digital policies and initiatives. As of end-March this year, the establishment of the three grades was about 2 200 in total. The relevant figures and breakdown by B/D are set out at Annex.
Promoting the development of I&T and AI is not the sole responsibility of IT professional grades; it also requires the participation of the entire civil service and different sectors of the society. In fact, I&T-related work is diverse in nature, encompassing a wide range of policy areas, technical domains and implementation arrangements, and involving various professions. The technological content is no longer confined to traditional IT. At the same time, B/Ds also attach great importance to providing comprehensive support and enabling conditions for relevant sectors. Hence, when assessing the overall human resources and capabilities of the Government in driving I&T transformation, one should not focus solely on individual establishment figures or set rigid targets for resource allocation.
To address the demands of various IT, digital transformation and I&T projects, in addition to employing civil servants, B/Ds also engage contract staff or procure services from contractors having regard to operational needs, project nature, technology type, professional requirements, and resource allocation priorities. B/Ds may also flexibly redeploy existing manpower resources to meet operational demands. Beyond staff recruitment and outsourcing arrangements, the Government also emphasises enhancement and upgrade of skills of its manpower. Through strengthened training, staff are equipped with the latest skills and market practices to become versatile talent, thereby supporting the increasingly important work of government digital transformation and technology innovation.
(3) Under the leadership of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, the DPO has established a dedicated task force and invited technology companies with experience in large-scale projects to assist government departments in designing and implementing AI-driven efficacy enhancement projects. To further support the Government’s digital transformation process, the DPO will bring in industry experts in AI and data science, alongside market-leading technologies, to provide technical support and strategic advisory services, and to assist in training key talents across different grades. This will help sustain and scale up AI projects while building up the Government’s internal AI talent pool.
These industry experts are gradually coming on board. Adopting a “hand-holding” approach through project management and implementation, they will enhance the ability of government personnel responsible for AI projects to identify cutting-edge technologies and apply AI effectively in practice. This will ensure that the Government’s digital and technological transformation projects better meet user needs and professional standards. The projects under this initiative will be progressively rolled out this year.
Thank you, President.
LegCo Supervisory Committee reports to LegCo on handling of complaint against Ms Judy Chan
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LegCo Supervisory Committee reports to LegCo on handling of complaint against Ms Judy Chan
Taking into account all relevant factors, and in accordance with the types of sanctions set out in the Procedure of the Legislative Council Supervisory Committee for Handling Complaints (Procedure for Handling Complaints), the Committee decided to issue a written warning to Ms Chan, sternly warning her that she must be mindful of her words and deeds at all times and ensure that she lives up to the public’s expectations of LegCo Members. Pursuant to the Rules of Procedure and the Code for Members of LegCo (the Code), this sanction will be administered by the Chairman of the Committee after the report is tabled in Council.
On January 23 this year, Ms Chan drove in the opposite direction of traffic on Jaffe Road in Wan Chai. The incident attracted extensive media coverage and significant public attention. LegCo subsequently received a complaint made under the complainant’s real name against Ms Chan for violating the Road Traffic Ordinance, as well as the relevant requirements of the Code, including paragraph 1.6: Members shall take the exemplary lead in upholding the rule of law, and abide by all laws in force in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and paragraph 3.3: Members shall abide by all laws in force in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In accordance with the Procedure for Handling Complaints, the Chairman of the Committee decided to hold a meeting to consider the complaint. Taking into account the relevant information, the relevant requirements and so on, the Committee decided to investigate the complaint and invited Ms Chan to attend a meeting to give explanations and provide information. The Committee held a total of two closed meetings to consider and investigate the complaint.
After investigation, the Committee is of the opinion that Ms Chan’s wrong-way driving constitutes misconduct, in breach of the relevant requirements of paragraphs 1.6 and 3.3 of the Code. Having considered all the findings of the investigation, the Committee considered that Ms Chan’s commission of the offence “careless driving” was undoubtedly improper, falling short of society’s expectations regarding the conduct and ethics required of Members.
In determining the sanction, the Committee has strived to be fair, impartial, independent and objective. Instead of only considering Ms Chan’s unlawful act or solely taking reference from the court ruling, the Committee has also taken into account the relevant factors set out in the Code, including the nature and gravity of the misconduct, the specific circumstances of the misconduct, the impact of the misconduct, etc.
The Committee is satisfied that Ms Chan’s wrong-way driving was the result of her misjudgement made out of a momentary desire for convenience. While this act of hers was imprudent and reckless, it did not involve serious misconduct such as a breach of personal integrity or abuse of power or dereliction of duty. As regards Ms Chan’s case, the Committee noted that she was charged with “careless driving” rather than the more serious offence of “dangerous driving”. The maximum penalty for “careless driving” is a fine of HK$5,000 and imprisonment for six months, and offenders may be disqualified from driving. The Committee noted that the magistrate considered the case “fairly serious”, but at the same time also weighed the severity of the penalty against the specific circumstances and actual consequences. Taking into account that Ms Chan had no previous criminal or traffic conviction, and had only received eight fixed penalty notices in 22 years of driving, the magistrate ultimately sentenced Ms Chan to a fine of HK$2,000 and a one-month driving ban, without imposing a custodial sentence. This demonstrates the relatively low severity of the case and hence the relatively light sentence.
The Committee notes that Ms Chan has taken a number of remedial actions after the incident, including offering multiple apologies to the public; contacting the Police on her own initiative to give a statement; pleading guilty directly in court without arguing the case, promising not to reoffend and stating her willingness to accept all legal penalties. Ms Chan also repeatedly apologised to the Committee for the incident, saying that whatever decision the Committee might reach, she would willingly accept any outcome.
The Committee is satisfied that, since the incident, Ms Chan has all along demonstrated remorse; her public apologies and explanations for the incident have been sincere; and she has already received legal penalties for violating traffic legislation. Moreover, she has swiftly taken a series of remedial actions, striving to minimise the negative impact of the incident on the reputation of LegCo. Taking into account all relevant factors, the Committee has unanimously concluded that Ms Chan’s misconduct did not reach a serious level. Given that this was her first instance of such misconduct, the Committee has, in accordance with the types of sanctions set out in the Procedure for Handing Complaints, decided to issue a written warning to Ms Chan.
The Committee reminds all LegCo Members that, in their capacity as members of the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, they must take the exemplary lead in upholding the rule of law, and abide by the law. In addition, Members should do their best to uphold the reputation of LegCo, and they must observe the highest standards of personal conduct and ethics at all time and strictly adhere to all requirements of the Code, so as to meet the very high expectations of the Central Authorities and the public for LegCo and Members.
Issued at HKT 14:35
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LCQ3: Combating cruelty to animals
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Nixie Lam and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 6):
Question:
Last month, the Office of The Ombudsman published an investigation report on the Government’s work in combating cruelty to animals, highlighting issues such as insufficient guidelines and hasty closure of cases in the enforcement work of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that the authorities briefed this Council on the key proposals to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance in May 2022, of the reasons why the legislative amendment proposals have not yet been formally submitted; whether it will undertake to complete the legislative amendments, or to implement them in phases, within the term of the current Government; if so, the specific timetable; if not, the reasons for that;
President,
The Government has been curbing acts of cruelty to animals through stringent enforcement and preventive work such as education. On enforcement, under the division of work within the Government, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is responsible for handling emergency cases; whereas non-emergency cases reported through platforms including the 1823, such as reports on providing insufficient food, are followed up by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).
The Office of The Ombudsman earlier published an investigation report on the Government’s work in combating cruelty to animals, which acknowledges that the AFCD’s investigations into cases of cruelty to animals are currently constrained by its enforcement powers as it cannot enter premises to carry out investigations, and put forward various recommendations regarding the AFCD’s various areas of work, including the follow-up of reports, case monitoring and collaborative efforts to combat animal cruelty. The AFCD accepts all the recommendations of the report and is actively following up on various improvement measures, including enhancement of case-handling workflows, strengthening internal monitoring mechanisms and enhancement of professional training for frontline staff, etc. The department will continue to work with the HKPF, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and other organisations, to intensify efforts to combat acts of cruelty to animals.
Having consulted the Education Bureau and the Security Bureau, the reply to the question from the Hon Nixie Lam is as follows:
LCQ22: Human resource situation of Chinese medicines industries
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ22: Human resource situation of Chinese medicines industries
| AYNote 2: UGC-funded institutions do not offer UGC-funded programmes related to Chinese pharmacy at sub-degree, taught postgraduate (Tpg) or research postgraduate levels.
The number of Chinese pharmacy related (Note 3) locally-accredited non-UGC-funded Ug and Tpg programmes as well as the actual intakes by the level of study in the recent five AYs are set out below (Note 4):
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