MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Transport Department (TD) today (September 26) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on October 9 (Thursday) to noon on October 13 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 200 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles, and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
 
     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
 
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
 
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
 
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved the Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government received a total of 2 742 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the first quarter of 2025, a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said today (September 26).
 
     The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of March 2025 amounted to 136 866. Of these, 9 166 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 6 732 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny the existence of information. As at March 31, 2025, 714 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.

     Among the 120 254 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 116 840 requests (97.2 per cent) were met, either in full (113 672 requests) or in part (3 168 requests), and 3 414 requests (2.8 per cent) were refused.

     Any member of the public who is dissatisfied with the response of a bureau/department under the Code may request that the matter be reviewed. He or she may also lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman.

     In the first quarter of 2025, the Ombudsman received six complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 11 complaints, among which one was concluded by inquiries (with inadequacies found), and 10 were assessed and closed. As at March 31, 2025, the Ombudsman’s investigation on one complaint was ongoing.

     “The Code has provided an effective framework for the public to seek access to information held by the Government,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office (GBA Office) today (September 26) organised the Hong Kong．IN．Brand Greater Bay luncheon seminar in Shenzhen. Around 300 entrepreneurs from Guangdong and Hong Kong gathered to discuss the significance of developing proprietary brands, and how enhancing brand influence can stimulate innovation and align with the development of new quality productive forces, thereby enabling them to better seize the vast business opportunities brought about by Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development, and to tap into broader markets.
 
     In her opening address, the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has long encouraged enterprises to develop their own brands, and has established the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) in 2012. The Chief Executive’s recently announced 2025 Policy Address further proposed injecting an additional $1.43 billion into the BUD Fund, and supporting the continued organisation of the Hong Kong Shopping Festival covering the Mainland and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) e-commerce markets, providing practical support for the industry in brand development.
 
     President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to brand development, calling for the transformation “from made in China to created in China”, “from China speed to China quality”, and “from Chinese products to Chinese brands”. The National 14th Five-Year Plan also proposes launching a China brand-building campaign. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong has the unique advantage of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world. As an international metropolis with a tradition of rule of law, an internationally aligned regulatory regime, a robust intellectual property protection regime, and efficient professional services, Hong Kong can serve as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, serving as an ideal platform for Mainland brands to “go global” and for “bringing in” brands from around the world, thereby facilitating brands from the GBA and Mainland to expand globally.
 
     The seminar was co-organised by the GBA Office, the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Brand Development Council. Featuring a rich programme, the event invited four scholars, experts, and renowned brand entrepreneurs to share insights on topics including building brand influence, shaping brand image, leveraging AI to drive brand marketing strategies, and promoting the integration of innovation with branding. During the subsequent interactive question-and-answer session, the discussion was lively, with entrepreneurs actively sharing their views, providing attendees with valuable insights on expanding their businesses through proprietary brand development.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Government announced today (September 26) the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Development of International Aviation Superhub (ACDIAS) and its appointments.

Following the commissioning of the Three-Runway System (3RS) at Hong Kong International Airport in November 2024, the Government is committed to charting the future course of the development of Hong Kong’s aviation industry and further enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub. To this end, the ACDIAS is established, in place of the existing Aviation Development and Three-Runway System Advisory Committee, to provide high-level advice on aviation policies, including directions of aviation development, implementation of the Airport City development, interfacing issues among the operation of the 3RS, Airport City development and projects in the vicinity, as well as other civil aviation matters.  

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, said, “The National 14th Five-Year Plan has affirmed Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation hub. Leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages under ‘one country, two systems’, and with our globally connected aviation network and world-class airport infrastructure, Hong Kong is well placed to assume a more significant role in the area of aviation, both regionally and globally. Looking ahead, we will step up our efforts in proactively unleashing the full potential of the 3RS and contributing to the high-quality development and high-level opening up of our country. We believe that the ACDIAS will provide invaluable insights and bring Hong Kong’s aviation industry to new heights.”

Members of the ACDIAS come from various sectors, including aviation, business and finance, innovation and technology, logistics and transport, professions and academia, and tourism. The appointments are for a period of two years starting from October 1, 2025. The membership of the ACDIAS is as follows:

Chairman
—————-
Secretary for Transport and Logistics

Members
—————-
Mr Aaron Bok Kwok-ming
Dr Angus Cheung Him-wah
Professor Herbert Chia Pun-kok
Professor Andy Chun Hon-wai 
Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi
Ms Kuok Hui-kwong
Ms Lavinia Lau Hoi-zee 
Professor Lo Hong-kam
Ms Rainie Pan Hailin
Mr Tommy Tam Kwong-shun
Ms Elsa Yuen May-yee
Mr Chris Zhao Peng
Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics (ex-officio)
Chief Executive Officer, Airport Authority Hong Kong (ex-officio)
Executive Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (ex-officio)
Director-General of Civil Aviation (ex-officio)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     â€‹The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Victor Liu, has attended the 42nd Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly at the ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

     Over 3 000 representatives from ICAO member states, non-government organisations and regional and industry air transport associations are gathering at this triennial Assembly. The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) delegation led by Mr Liu has joined the Assembly as part of the China delegation.

     Under the theme “Safe Skies. Sustainable Future.” a total of 39 agenda items covering aviation safety, air navigation capacity and efficiency, security and facilitation, economic development, technical co-operation, environmental protection and more are being discussed during the Assembly.

     The China delegation, consisting of around 50 delegates, is led by the Deputy Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Ms Liang Nan, and has submitted 45 papers to the Assembly. Among these, the CAD has actively participated in preparing papers including “Real-Time Monitoring and Analysis of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Interference to Enhance Aviation Safety” and “Enhancing Safety in Air Transport of Dangerous Goods through Innovative Technologies”. A CAD representative spoke at the Assembly as part of the China delegation, presenting information on GNSS interference, sharing experiences of the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, and highlighting the benefits accompanied with the implementation of related measures in safeguarding aviation safety while enhancing operational efficiency.

     Prior to the Assembly, the CAD delegation also attended the ICAO Innovation Fair 2025. During the event, Mr Liu was invited to speak in an expert panel, where he shared his insights on promoting innovation to all states. He highlighted the rapid growth of the Asia-Pacific region in civil aviation and emphasised that various states/administrations, air navigation services providers, and the industry should collaborate and accelerate the promotion of innovation. Mr Liu also shared the experience of Hong Kong in aviation innovation.

     In addition, an exhibition area showcased a range of new technologies and concepts with development potential in aviation industry. Attendees exchanged views on how innovation can contribute to sustainable development and bring benefits to all sectors of society.

     Mr Liu will depart for Hong Kong on September 26 (Montreal time) and the Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation, Miss Clara Wong, will depart for Montreal, Canada, on September 28 (Hong Kong time) to join the Assembly.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following are the remarks made by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (September 26):
 
Reporter: In the programme, you mentioned that your Bureau is aiming to submit your final recommendations to the Chief Executive by the end of this year regarding the third medical school, could you share with us the update on the Bureau’s work of reviewing the recommendations submitted by three universities? What are the key criteria that your Bureau has considered?
  
Secretary for Health: The Task Group on New Medical School has already reviewed the proposals by the three universities. We looked at the curriculum, staff recruitment, student recruitment and all other criteria. We met the three universities twice – once in May and the other in June. We met on July 31 for a very detailed discussion. Now, the proposals are at the stage of assessment on the capital requirement as well as financial sustainability. We want to make sure that the proposals would not only fulfil our requirements and expectation for the best medical school, but also in terms of the cost effectiveness and performance, so we are looking at the financial aspect, and will be submitting the final proposed recommendation, incorporating the financial aspect, to the Chief Executive before the end of the year.
 
Reporter: Could you also reveal a bit to us on the financial aspect? Earlier in the programme, you mentioned that there has been quite a huge difference between some university proposals and their financial arrangements.
 
Secretary for Health: We are very grateful to the three universities for their wonderful proposals based on their advantages and the edges. The three proposals, I would say, are very different, not only in their curriculum design, staff recruitment, student recruitment, etc, but also in terms of the capital requirement as well as financial aspect. One of those proposals’ financial implication is rather low. But on one hand, there is a proposal which is much more costly. So we have to look into the details before making the final recommendation to the Chief Executive.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Hong Kong Tourism Board Mega Events Showcase media luncheon in Seoul today (September 26):
 
Distinguished partners from the tourism industry, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen,
 
Annyeonghaseyo. Good morning. It is my great pleasure to be here in Seoul – a city celebrated for its dynamic arts and culture – to celebrate the growing partnership between our two vibrant communities. Hong Kong and Seoul are both deeply committed to innovation, creativity, and cultural exchange. This shared spirit is why South Korea remains one of our major visitor source markets in the region. Last year, we welcomed some 850 000 visitors from South Korea, representing 109 per cent year-on-year growth as compared to 2024.
 
A destination’s soul is found in its culture. It’s what transforms a simple visit into an unforgettable journey. This belief is the very foundation of the Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul. While we call it a “Week”, the celebration is extensive, running from September 26 to October 25. With an extensive programme of 14 major events and over 65 unique activities, the Hong Kong Week is our invitation to the people of South Korea to experience the very best of Hong Kong.
 
This cultural dialogue is a powerful, two-way street. In Hong Kong, we have watched numerous Korean culture programmes with great admiration. These include K-pop, which in particular resonates throughout our city. I have now become a big fan of the “KPop Demon Hunters” and I like the song “Golden” a lot. We are thrilled that our new, state-of-the-art Kai Tak Stadium has become a premier stage for global phenomena like the MAMA Awards and major K-pop concerts. I will go back to Hong Kong on Saturday very late in the evening and am looking forward to joining the concert of SEVENTEEN on Sunday at Kai Tak Stadium. With our strategic location, Hong Kong is proud to serve as a platform where fans from across Asia gather to celebrate Korea’s incredible creative energy.
 
Beyond concerts, Hong Kong’s calendar is filled with a dynamic array of mega events. These include the iconic Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, an annual must for wine and food enthusiasts; the Hong Kong Cyclothon, which transforms our city into a cyclist’s paradise; and the Hong Kong WinterFest, one of Asia’s largest Christmas celebrations. My colleague from the Hong Kong Tourism Board will share more details on these exciting opportunities shortly.
 
Today, I am really delighted to meet with all of you – our valued tourism partners. The strong rebound in visitors from Korea is tremendously encouraging and a clear reflection of your support for us over the years. For this, I offer my sincere appreciation on behalf of the whole Hong Kong. With your continued partnership, I am fully confident that even more Korean friends will discover – and rediscover – the unique magic of Hong Kong, creating memories that will bring them back again and again.
 
What you see here today and during the Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul is just a glimpse of what Hong Kong has to offer. We can’t wait to welcome you to Hong Kong soon, where you can immerse yourself in the best of our culture and hospitality.
 
Thank you very much. Kamsahamnida.