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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (October 17) that a total of four government sites in North District, Yuen Long and Tai Po will be let by way of short-term tenancy through tender to eligible brownfield operators affected by the land resumption and clearance exercises before or within the fourth quarter of 2028 under relevant government development projects.
 
     Brownfield operators, which were invited to participate in previous relevant tenders for a short-term tenancy two or more times after the completion of clearance exercises of relevant government development projects, will be excluded from this tender.
 
     The tender commences today and will close on November 19. Details of the four sites and the list of relevant government development projects involved are described in a Government Notice gazetted today.
 
     Under the prevailing arrangements, business operators affected by government development projects will be offered statutory compensation in accordance with the law, or ex-gratia allowances as an alternative, subject to the fulfilment of relevant eligibility criteria.
 
     A spokesperson for the LandsD said that in order to facilitate brownfield operators’ relocation of businesses or operations, and to optimise the utilisation of land resources, the department has been identifying suitable vacant sites on government land to let through tender by way of a short-term tenancy.
 
     The four sites to be let through tender are suitable for a range of uses including industrial use, open storage, godown, workshop, recovery and recycling or reprocessing business and fee-paying public carpark. 
 
     The spokesperson stressed that the LandsD will continue to identify vacant sites suitable for use by those brownfield operators required to be displaced, and these sites will be let through tender by way of a short-term tenancy.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government announced today (October 17) the reappointments of Mr Chu Kin-wing and Miss Barbara Wong as the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman respectively of the Consumer Goods Safety Appeal Board Panel, as well as the reappointments of six incumbent members and the appointments of three new members to the Panel for a term of two years with effect from October 20, 2025.

     The incumbent members who have been reappointed are Mr Chan Chi-ho, Ms Cindy Chan Chui-bik, Mr Chau Chi-chung, Ms Roberta Veronica Cheung, Mr Leung Chi-ho, and Mr Jan Noel Shih. The new members are Ms Rebecca Lee Pui-yi, Dr Mung Wai-yin and Mr Franky Wong Chun-ho.

     Established under section 14 of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, the Consumer Goods Safety Appeal Board Panel is responsible for hearing appeals against enforcement decisions or actions taken by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise under the Ordinance.

     The Panel’s membership with effect from October 20, 2025, will be as follows:

Chairman
————
Mr Chu Kin-wing

Deputy Chairman
———————
Miss Barbara Wong

Members
———–
(1) Scientists or technologists with relevant expertise in consumer goods

Mr Chan Chi-ho
Mr Leung Chi-ho
Dr Mung Wai-yin

(2) Persons from the consumer goods industry

Ms Rebecca Lee Pui-yi
Mr Jan Noel Shih
Mr Franky Wong Chun-ho

(3) General public

Ms Cindy Chan Chui-bik
Mr Chau Chi-chung
Ms Roberta Veronica Cheung

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Two women who went missing in Tsuen Wan have been located.

     Two Filipino women, Pabuaya Imee-mahilum and Tibay Aleli-perez, aged 24 and 33 respectively, went missing after they were last seen on Yeung Uk Road on October 4 afternoon. Police has respectively received the reports on October 8 and October 6.

    Two women were located at a shopping mall on Sui Wo Road, Sha Tin last night (October 16). They sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (October 17) announced the launch of a full investigation into the procedures and mechanisms currently employed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in handling dog licence applications and renewals.

The Rabies Regulations require all dogs in Hong Kong reaching the age of 5 months or above to be licensed, vaccinated against rabies and microchipped. The AFCD’s Animal Management Centres provide anti-rabies dog inoculation and licensing and microchipping services.

The Office of The Ombudsman received a public complaint that the complainant recently brought his microchipped dogs to an AFCD Animal Management Centre to apply for their first dog licences. Upon arrival, he was informed that the AFCD had introduced a new requirement whereby dog owners must provide proof of the legal origin of their dogs, such as a receipt for purchasing the dog from a pet shop or the dog’s vaccination record, in order to apply for a dog licence. Eventually, the complainant had to return home with his dogs to obtain the required proof and revisited the centre to complete the procedure. The complainant alleged that the AFCD was unable to reasonably explain the rationale for the new requirement, and there was a lack of information about the new requirement on its website. 

Mr Chan said, “Keeping pet dogs is increasingly common in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address also includes measures to promote a pet-friendly culture. Our society is gradually embracing pet inclusivity. It is crucial for the AFCD to establish reasonable procedures and requirements for dog licence applications and renewals and to provide clear information to the public so as to facilitate dog owners in licensing, vaccinating and microchipping their dogs, as well as renewing dog licences and re-vaccinating their dogs in a timely manner. These measures are essential for preventing the outbreak of rabies and effectively monitoring whether dog owners have fulfilled their responsibilities, thereby protecting the rights and welfare of dogs. In this light, I have decided to launch a full investigation into the AFCD’s mechanisms and procedures for handling dog licence applications and renewals to identify any areas for improvement. Pertinent recommendations will be made for enhancing the AFCD’s services, with a view to facilitating dog owners in taking proper care of their dogs.”

The Ombudsman welcomes views from members of the public on this topic. Written submissions should reach the Office of The Ombudsman by November 17, 2025: 

Address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168–200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong  
Fax: 2882 8149 
Email: cic-afcd@ombudsman.hk

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs today (October 17) organised an exchange tour about intellectual property rights (IPR) protection to Guangzhou, leading 26 members from the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Alliance (IPRPA) to the Greater Bay Area (GBA) for the first time. The delegation visited cultural landmarks in Guangzhou and met with an intellectual property enforcement agency to deepen their understanding of the country’s efforts in protecting IPR and to foster closer collaboration between the industry and the enforcement agency, further promoting IPR protection in the GBA.
 
The delegation first visited the country’s largest cultural centre – the new Guangzhou Cultural Centre – to experience the richness of traditional Chinese culture firsthand and to learn about the efforts in protecting traditional culture and related IPR amid urban modernisation in Guangzhou.
 
Later, the delegation met with the Party Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Administration for Market Regulation (GMA), Mr Zhao Junming, gaining insights into intellectual property regulatory frameworks and enforcement strategies from the authority. Both parties exchanged views on further strengthening the partnership between the industry and enforcement agencies to increase effectiveness in combating infringement activities, laying a solid foundation for mutual co-operation.
 
In the afternoon, the delegation visited the 138th China Import and Export Fair to explore the latest practices in IPR protection in international trade. The GMA also arranged a guided tour for the delegation to introduce their on-site enforcement measures against infringing products, demonstrating the country’s efforts and achievements in maintaining market order for legitimate trade.
 
Formed by Hong Kong Customs and the intellectual property industry since 2004, the IPRPA is committed to establishing an effective communication platform and forming a strategic partnership to fight against infringing activities, hence protecting the interests of copyright and trademark owners. It comprises 65 members, including copyright and trademark owners, IPR protection organisations, and legal professionals.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government declared a vacant ex officio member seat in the Islands District Council by publishing a notice in the Government Gazette today.

The ex officio member, Chow Yuk-tong, passed away on September 28. His office has become vacant pursuant to the District Councils Ordinance.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan yesterday arrived in Washington, DC following his visit to New York. Upon his arrival in Washington, Mr Chan held meetings with senior officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG).

In Washington, Mr Chan met the IMF team responsible for conducting the Article IV Consultation on Hong Kong, during which he provided a detailed account of Hong Kong’s current economic and fiscal conditions, as well as its development directions. Both sides also exchanged views on the outlook for the global economy and financial system.

The finance chief then paid a courtesy call on WBG Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer Zhang Wencai. They discussed opportunities for enhancing co-operation and exchanged views on regional development issues.

In the evening, Mr Chan attended a roundtable dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Washington where he briefed representatives from major US business chambers, think tanks and consultancy firms on Hong Kong’s business environment and latest developments, and engaged in discussions on the future of Hong Kong-US economic and trade relations.

Before leaving New York, he gave an interview to the financial media outlet Bloomberg and met Bloomberg LP Global Head of External Relations Kevin Sheekey to exchange views on global economic prospects and developments in the financial markets.

Mr Chan will attend the annual meetings of the IMF and WBG in Washington today.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) 16th joins forces with 12 research institutes and industry partners at the Innovation Economy Pavilion of the Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) to showcase 65 innovative technologies spanning smart manufacturing, net zero sustainability, and healthcare.

Director-General Chao-Chung Kuo of DoIT notes that MOEA invests tens of billions of dollars annually in technology R&D. As the nation’s largest scientific research exhibition platform, TIE connects industries and translates technological achievements into practical industrial applications. With AI now a central force in industry transformation, DoIT has launched the AI Application Leap Program to accelerate AI adoption. Through partnerships with system integrators and research institutes, the program aims to accelerate AI implementation across key industries, fueling Taiwan’s innovation momentum.

Powered by ITRI’s Digital Twin Interactive Performing Technology-the same innovation behind the Life Theater at Expo 2025 Osaka-the three-meter-high “technology waterfall” makes its domestic debut, showcasing seamless choreography between displays and robotic arms. Developed in collaboration with HIWIN, OKOME STUDIO, and other industry partners, the system features advance software-hardware integration comparable to that of smart factories. It can simultaneously control over 500 displays and robotic arms with synchronization errors within 20 milliseconds, demonstrating exceptional precision in both hardware and software coordination.

With the rapid rise of generative AI, smart manufacturing, and autonomous driving applications, demand for AI chips has accelerated. DoIT is supporting ITRI in developing Large-Scale AI Model Edge Computing Software-Hardware Integration Technology, enabling AI models to operate directly within local facilities. This innovation delivers high-speed inference and low latency without relying on external servers. It enhances computational performance, reduces bandwidth consumption, and strengthens data privacy and security.

To further enhance recycling efficiency, the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI), with support from DoIT, has developed Multi-Spectral Imaging AI Recognition Technology for Blended Fibers. By integrating near-infrared spectroscopy, biomimetic optical modules, and AI multi-material identification algorithms, the system achieves a 95% recognition rate. It can analyze one garment in just 0.5-1 seconds-over twice as fast as manual operation-accurately identifying different materials and compositional ratios, including cotton, polyester, nylon, and elastane. Capable of processing 350-900 kilograms of waste textiles per hour, the technology reduces post-processing costs.

To cut carbon emissions, ITRI’s Bio-based Soft Moisture-Absorbing Rebound Formulation Technology uses itaconic acid to create an integrated bio-based functional additive that combines softness, moisture absorption, and rebound elasticity in a single formulation, reducing repetitive testing and costs. Its carbon emissions are approximately 40% lower than traditional polyester materials, achieving an annual carbon reduction of approximately 32,000 metric tons. This new material’s moisture absorption speed is 2.5 times faster than commercially available products, with its friction coefficient, softness, and drape indicators all outperforming competing materials. Collaboration with Eclat Textile and Jia Ho Industrial is already underway to bring this innovation to the international yoga apparel market.

In the healthcare field, the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC) has introduced a new equipment for treating depression, designed to provide wider brain stimulation coverage and easier operation. The Multi-Channel Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) System Technology features an innovative coil design and adjustable pulse main unit, enabling simultaneous stimulation of multiple brain regions with a single coil. This simplifies operation and enhances efficiency, reducing treatment time by up to 70%. Technology transfer and validation have been completed with Formosa Heavy Industries, while clinical trials are now underway in collaboration with Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital to support patient care and strengthen Taiwan’s medical self-reliance.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Four pieces of government land in North District, Yuen Long and Tai Po will be let by way of short-term tenancy through tender to eligible brownfield operators, the Lands Department announced today.

From now until November 19, brownfield operators affected by the land resumption and clearance exercises before or within the fourth quarter of 2028 under relevant government development projects may submit their tenders.

The sites to be let are suitable for industrial use, open storage, godown, workshop, recovery and recycling or reprocessing business, and fee-paying public carpark.

Brownfield operators which were invited to participate in short-term tenancy through previous relevant tenders two or more times after the completion of clearance exercises of relevant government development projects are excluded from this tender, the department added.