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Hong Kong Customs detects suspected gold-smuggling case by air worth about $22 million (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs on August 13 detected a suspected gold-smuggling case by air freight, and seized about 26.2 kilograms of suspected gold with an estimated market value of about $22 million at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).  

Based on risk assessment, Customs on that day examined an air cargo consignment, declared as carrying plastic flower boxes departing for Japan, at the Customs Cargo Examination Compound at HKIA. Upon inspection, Customs officers found a batch of suspected gold, which had been moulded into thin sheets, concealed inside false compartments at the bottom of the flower boxes. The total weight of the suspected gold was about 26.2kg. 

An investigation is still ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against all kinds of smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
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Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). 

  

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Annual updating of declarations of interests by CE, politically appointed officials and ExCo members

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A Government spokesman said today (August 22) that the Chief Executive (CE), politically appointed officials and members of the Executive Council (ExCo) have updated their annual declarations of interests, and the updated declarations are available on government websites for public inspection.
 
The updated declaration of interests of the CE has been uploaded to the website of the Chief Executive’s Office (www.ceo.gov.hk/en/links.html). The declarations of interests of politically appointed officials, made in accordance with the Code for Officials under the Political Appointment System (PAO Code), have also been updated and uploaded to the websites of the respective offices or bureaux.
 
Information on the registrable interests for ExCo (including that of the President as well as Official and Non-official ExCo members) has also been uploaded to the ExCo website after updating (www.ceo.gov.hk/exco/eng/interests.html).
 
The PAO Code stipulates that politically appointed officials shall declare their investments and interests on appointment and annually thereafter. These declarations are uploaded to the websites of the respective offices or bureaux. The CE voluntarily observes the above declaration arrangement. ExCo members are likewise required to declare their registrable interests on appointment and annually thereafter. These declarations are uploaded to the ExCo website.

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Exchange Fund Notes tender results

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

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

Exchange Fund Notes tender results
**********************************

Tender date : August 22, 2025
Paper on offer : EF Notes
Issue number : 02Y2708
Issue date : August 25, 2025
Maturity date : August 25, 2027
Coupon : 1.85% p.a.
Competitive Tender Result    
Amount applied : HK$5,430 MN
Amount allotted : HK$1,200 MN
Average price accepted (yield) : 99.00 (2.38 PCT)
Lowest price accepted (yield) : 98.92 (2.42 PCT)
Pro rata ratio* : About 4 PCT
Average tender price (yield) : 98.70 (2.54 PCT)
Non-competitive Tender Results (for applications submitted through Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited)
Amount applied : NIL
Amount allotted : NIL
Allotment Price (yield) : NIL
Pro rata ratio* : NIL

 
* “Pro rata ratio” refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant’s tendered amount at the “lowest price accepted” level.

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Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme Opens for New Applications

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

The Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS) aims to support Hong Kong students in pursuing undergraduate studies on the Mainland and ensure that no students will be deprived of post-secondary education opportunity due to a lack of means. MUSSS comprises two components: “means-tested subsidy” (eligible students who have passed a means test will receive either a full-rate subsidy or a half-rate subsidy, depending on their needs) and “non-means-tested subsidy”. The subsidy is granted on a yearly basis, and the subsidised period is the normal duration of the undergraduate programme pursued by the student concerned in a designated Mainland institution. Eligible applicants can only receive either a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy in the same academic year.

MUSSS is not subject to any quota. For the 2025/26 academic year, there are 201 designated Mainland institutions. The subsidy will be disbursed to eligible students based on the distance between the location of their institutions and Hong Kong, which will be grouped under the following three categories:(2) pursuing studies in Huaqiao University through “Pilot Scheme on the Articulation of Hong Kong Sub-degree Graduates to Huaqiao University”; OR
(3) admitted to a Mainland institution through the “School Principal Nomination Scheme” under the “Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions”.Note:(i) who are studying in non-designated Mainland institutions or partner institutions outside Hong Kong under programme arrangements during the 2025/26 academic year; or(ii) who were first admitted by Hong Kong post-secondary institutions and subsequently admitted by designated Mainland institutions for the aforementioned programmes.Eligible students are required to submit their applications via the MUSSS Electronic Application Platform (https://musss.edb.gov.hk) or send the completed application forms and relevant supporting documents by post to EDB on or before 13 October 2025.

 

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John Lee meets Fujian official

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee Zhou Zuyi at Government House to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong’s co-operation with Fujian.

 

While welcoming Mr Zhou, who is leading a delegation to visit Hong Kong, Mr Lee pointed out that Hong Kong is the largest source of external investment for Fujian.

 

The two governments have achieved fruitful results through comprehensive exchanges and collaborations in finance, trade and investment, innovation and technology (I&T) and youth exchanges, since the Hong Kong/Fujian Co-operation Conference mechanism was established in 2015.

 

The Chief Executive expressed confidence that the two places will continue to leverage their complementary strengths to jointly contribute to the country’s high-quality development.

 

He added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to actively participate in and contribute to the country’s Belt & Road Initiative, playing fully its role as a functional platform for the initiative.

     

Mr Lee also remarked that Hong Kong is the only city in Asia with five universities ranked among the world’s top 100, attracting research talent both at home and from abroad. With a strong foundation in basic research, Hong Kong is fully committed to developing into an international I&T hub.

 

Noting that several local universities are currently collaborating with universities in Fujian on research projects covering biomedical science, marine science and environmental ecology, Mr Lee said that he looks forward to further strengthening research co-operation between Hong Kong and Fujian, promoting the development of I&T industries in both places, and contributing to the country’s development into a nation that is strong in science and technology.

 

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip also attended the meeting.

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Missing man in Sha Tin located

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Missing man in Sha Tin located 
     Chu Shing-tat, aged 52, went missing after he left his residence in Lek Yuen Estate in December, 2024. His family made a report to Police on August 14, 2025.

     The man was located at the junction of Reclamation Street and Argyle Street, Mong Kok today (August 22). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
Issued at HKT 17:21

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Lunar eclipse set for Sept 7

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

A total lunar eclipse will occur in Hong Kong late on the night of September 7 to the early hours of September 8.

The lunar eclipse will begin at 11.26pm on September 7 and the entire process will end at 4.57am the following day.

It can be observed at places with an unobstructed view to the south and southwest if weather permits.

The eclipse will be webcast live here.

The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will be on March 3, 2026.

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CE meets Secretary of CPC Fujian Provincial Committee (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met the Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Mr Zhou Zuyi, at Government House today (August 22) to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong’s co-operation with Fujian. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip, also attended the meeting.
 
Mr Lee welcomed Mr Zhou and his delegation to Hong Kong. He noted that both Hong Kong and Fujian are located in the Pan-Pearl River Delta region, sharing deep cultural ties and frequent economic and trade exchanges, with Hong Kong being the largest source of external investment for Fujian. Since the establishment of the Hong Kong/Fujian Co-operation Conference mechanism in 2015, the two governments have achieved fruitful results through comprehensive exchanges and collaborations in various areas, including finance, trade and investment, innovation and technology (I&T), and youth exchanges. He expressed confidence that the two places will continue to leverage their complementary strengths to jointly contribute to the country’s high-quality development.
 
Mr Lee said that he was pleased to have Fujian enterprises participating in the business delegation he led in May this year, which visited Qatar and Kuwait in the Middle East to explore business opportunities. This fully exemplified Hong Kong’s role as a platform for Mainland enterprises to expand overseas. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to actively participate in and contribute to the country’s Belt and Road Initiative, playing fully its role as a functional platform for the initiative.
 
Mr Lee remarked that Hong Kong is the only city in Asia with five universities ranked among the world’s top 100, attracting research talent both at home and from abroad. With a strong foundation in basic research, Hong Kong is fully committed to developing into an international I&T hub. Currently, several universities in Hong Kong are engaged in collaborative research projects with universities in Fujian, covering areas such as biomedical science, marine science, and environmental ecology. He said he looks forward to further strengthening research co-operation between Fujian and Hong Kong, promoting the development of I&T industries in both places, and contributing to the country’s development into a nation that is strong in science and technology.