Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Middle Eastern jewellery brand Amaar Jewels opens new Hong Kong store to further expand its presence in Asia
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, “We are delighted to see a Middle Eastern luxury brand like Amaar Jewels choose Hong Kong as its first destination in Asia. This reflects Hong Kong’s unique role as a premier gateway for international brands looking to access the Chinese Mainland and Asia-Pacific markets. We look forward to supporting Amaar Jewels on its growth journey in Hong Kong and beyond.”
Area Manager of Amaar Jewels Limited Ms Beauty Cheung, said, “Hong Kong is a city that connects East and West, where innovation meets tradition. We see a strong appetite here for personalised luxury and sustainable design – the values that are core to our brand. We will leverage Hong Kong as a strategic springboard to explore market opportunities on the Chinese Mainland and in Southeast Asia, and pave the way for the brand’s international expansion.”
Amaar Jewels is a Middle Eastern jewellery brand founded in the United Arab Emirates. The brand’s philosophy is simple yet steadfast: luxury with responsibility. Using advanced technology, Amaar Jewels crafts lab-grown diamonds that are similar to natural diamonds in composition, clarity, and brilliance while minimising environmental impacts and offering consumers highly personalised design options.
For more information about Amaar Jewels, please visit www.amaarjewels.com
To download photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720330934015Issued at HKT 18:35
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New Year preparations discussed
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements to co-ordinate and steer the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s preparatory work for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong for the New Year.
Mr Chan noted at the meeting that a series of events will be held in Hong Kong during the New Year’s Eve and New Year holiday, and New Year’s day also marks the start of a three-day long holiday on the Mainland.
Highlighting that a notable increase in the number of visitors during the period is expected, he said the Hong Kong SAR Government will make good preparations for receiving visitors, including actively co-ordinating the ancillary arrangements of boundary control points (BCPs) and transportation, as well as maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to ensure effective crowd management, information dissemination, and arrangements of public transportation and BCPs.
The New Year’s Eve countdown event this year will forgo the fireworks display and take place in an alternative format to welcome the New Year together with the public and visitors. The Tourism Board will separately announce the detailed arrangements for the countdown event.
In view of a series of New Year’s Eve countdown events, the Hong Kong SAR Government has discussed with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to extend the service hours of BCPs on New Year’s Eve. Further details will be announced as soon as possible. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port and the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port will maintain 24-hour operation as usual on New Year’s Eve.
As for public transport arrangements, the MTR Corporation will extend its East Rail Line services to and from MTR Lo Wu Station, and the majority of MTR railway lines will run overnight on New Year’s Eve. Furthermore, bus routes will be arranged between MTR Sheung Shui Station and San Tin Yellow Bus Station to enable passengers using the East Rail Line to cross the boundary via the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port, which operates round-the-clock, after the end of services to Lo Wu.
An Interdepartmental Joint Command Centre set up by Police, the Immigration Department, the Customs & Excise Department and other relevant departments will be activated from December 31 to January 4 to monitor the real-time situation at various control points.
The centre will maintain close liaison with Mainland port authorities and take timely contingency actions to flexibly deploy manpower at the BCPs.
Moreover, the Security Bureau will activate the Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre from December 31 to January 4 to closely monitor and co-ordinate public order at BCPs and facilitate interdepartmental follow-up action where necessary in case of emergencies.
The Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will operate 24 hours a day. It will closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services in all districts, as well as at BCPs and major stations across Hong Kong, take prompt measures to address service demands, and disseminate the latest traffic updates through various channels.
Moreover, in view of the potential notable increase in the number of tourists visiting Sai Kung High Island Reservoir East Dam during the New Year’s Eve and New Year holiday, Police have taken targeted measures, including deploying uniformed officers at strategic locations at Pak Tam Chung, Man Yee Road and East Dam, for traffic and crowd management during peak tourist arrival and departure periods.
The Transport Department has co-ordinated with the operator to enhance the service of Green Minibus Route No. 9A, from Pak Tam Chung to the East Dam, subject to passenger demand.
GD medical scheme partner chosen
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Social Welfare Department announced today that China Taiping Life Insurance (HK) Company Ltd has been commissioned to assist the Government in implementing the “Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong – Pilot Medical Subsidy Arrangement” for two years starting from December 22.
Upon the pilot arrangement’s commencement, elderly participants in the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong can apply for a subsidy for medical expenses incurred at designated medical institutions in the Greater Bay Area under the coverage of the National Basic Medical Insurance Policy.
These institutions include clinics, hospitals and pharmacy stores. The annual ceiling is 10,000 renminbi for outpatient expenses and RMB30,000 per person for inpatient expenses.
Under the pilot arrangement, Taiping Life (HK) will assist in processing applications for reimbursement of medical expenses by seniors. This will include vetting and settling claims and conducting investigations of medical services provided.
Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said that the subsidy’s implementation is a policy innovation that will provide additional healthcare support to participants in the care services scheme.
He added that the company was selected as service provider via an open bidding process, and that he looked forward to it promoting cross-boundary elderly care.
To date, 24 residential care homes for the elderly, spanning eight Mainland cities in the bay area and covering more than 800 elderly Hongkongers, have joined the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong,
Click here for further details.
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu Hosts Year-End Luncheon for Chiefs of Sydney-Based Taiwanese Banks
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu hosted a year-end luncheon for the chiefs of Sydney-based Taiwanese banks, providing an opportunity to exchange views on Taiwan–Australia financial engagement and cooperation. He also expressed his sincere appreciation for the banks’ long-standing support for the work of TECO in Sydney and for activities within the Taiwanese community.
DG Wu extended his best wishes to the participating banks for continued stability and growth in the year ahead, expressing hopes for prosperity, strong performance, and success for Taiwan’s Financial National Team in 2026.
Views sought on designs regime
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Government today launched a three-month public consultation on the review of the registered designs regime of Hong Kong.
Industrial design, as a type of intellectual property, broadly refers to the ornamental aspect of a product, and embodies a designer’s intellectual efforts and acumen for making a product appealing to customers. Legal protection of an industrial design can be obtained in Hong Kong by way of registration under the Registered Designs Ordinance.
Since the enactment of the ordinance in 1997, design trends around the world have significantly evolved with technological innovation and advancement, the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau said, noting that Hong Kong must continue to afford effective protection for designs as the city drives towards new industrialisation.
To ensure that Hong Kong’s registered designs regime is up-to-date and remains competitive, the Government considers it timely and necessary to conduct a comprehensive review of the regime, the bureau added.
The consultation document, now uploaded onto the websites of the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau and the Intellectual Property Department, looks into a wide range of issues pertaining to the local registered designs regime, from the scope of and requirements for legal protection of designs, the procedures for design applications and registrations, to the possible alignment with international practices and standards.
Members of the public may submit their views by email, by fax to 2147 3065 or by post to Division 3, Commerce & Economic Development Bureau, 23/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, on or before March 16 next year.
Appeal for information on missing woman in Ngau Tau Kok (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appeal for information on missing woman in Ngau Tau Kok (with photo)
Lau Amelia Waisin, aged 32, went missing after she left her residence on Wai Yip Street on December 13 morning. Her family made a report to Police yesterday (December 16).
She is about 1.55 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. She was last seen wearing a blue short-sleeved T-shirt, an apricot down gilet, dark-colored trousers, and carrying a black backpack, a white crossbody bag and a yoga mat.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Issued at HKT 14:34
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Rencontre stratégique sur l’attractivité de la Nouvelle-Calédonie
Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie
Le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie organise une rencontre à destination des acteurs du territoire, consacrée à une thématique déterminante pour l’avenir de la Nouvelle-Calédonie : l’attractivité du territoire.
Cette thématique sera au cœur des priorités du gouvernement pour l’année 2026. L’objectif de cette rencontre est de partager une vision stratégique commune et de lancer officiellement cette dynamique, afin de permettre l’engagement rapide d’actions concrètes en faveur du territoire.
Cette rencontre sera également l’occasion de découvrir, en avant-première, les premières orientations proposées par le gouvernement pour renforcer l’attractivité de la Nouvelle-Calédonie dès 2026.
Un plan de relance en faveur d’un tourisme calédonien plus attractif, plus innovant et plus compétitif
Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie
Dans le cadre de la relance de la promotion internationale de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Christopher Gygès, membre du gouvernement chargé de l’attractivité, a présenté ce mercredi 17 décembre, aux côtés des partenaires, un vaste plan destiné à soutenir l’activité touristique. Objectif : accueillir à minima 250 000 touristes d’ici 2032.
Après plusieurs années de crise, la Nouvelle-Calédonie dispose aujourd’hui d’une opportunité historique pour se réinventer, fédérer les énergies et bâtir une véritable filière touristique d’avenir, levier de diversification économique. Pour cela, le gouvernement envisage de renforcer considérablement la promotion internationale du territoire, dans une démarche concertée entre les acteurs publics et privés.
Le membre du gouvernement a insisté sur la volonté commune des acteurs du tourisme de relancer la promotion internationale malgré le contexte. « La Nouvelle-Calédonie doit aujourd’hui avancer malgré les difficultés. Le fait d’avancer ensemble, avec les acteurs publics et privés, montre que notre plan est à la fois ambitieux et réaliste pour permettre de recréer de la richesse en Nouvelle-Calédonie et on en a besoin en ce moment ».
L’objectif est clair et ambitieux : accueillir 250 000 touristes d’ici 2032 (année des Jeux Olympiques à Brisbane).
Le tourisme doit redevenir un moteur de croissance durable, de création d’emplois et de rayonnement international pour l’ensemble du pays, tout en transformant son ADN en profondeur : montée en gamme, diversification des offres et positionnement sur des marchés à forte valeur ajoutée.
Cette ambition nécessite une volonté partagée entre les collectivités, les compagnies aériennes, les hôteliers, les prestataires, les banques, les chambres consulaires et les acteurs de la formation autour d’une même vision : faire valoir les atouts de la Nouvelle-Calédonie à l’international.
Cette stratégie de relance volontariste et ambitieuse se matérialisera à travers :
- un plan d’actions concret sur les 100 premiers jours, pour enclencher immédiatement la dynamique de reconquête ;
- une structuration stratégique jusqu’en 2032, afin de bâtir un modèle pérenne, lisible et capable d’atteindre durablement le seuil des 250 000 visiteurs.
- une identité forte et fédératrice pour incarner cette nouvelle dynamique.
Pour Christopher Gygès, « le secteur touristique représente une véritable filière d’avenir » pour laquelle le gouvernement souhaite renforcer son soutien. « Le gouvernement va proposer de passer le budget de la promotion internationale de 250 à 400 millions de francs minimum. Ce budget sera renforcé par les recettes d’une partie de la taxe croisière et d’une taxe Airbnb, qui sera prochainement mise en place. Le but est d’arriver, fin 2026, à quasiment 700 millions de francs de budget et d’augmenter progressivement jusqu’à un milliard de francs de budget ».
Restaurer la confiance et faire rayonner la destination Nouvelle-Calédonie
La première étape de la relance consiste à restaurer la confiance et à améliorer la visibilité internationale de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, en lui redonnant toute sa place sur la carte du Pacifique.
Le gouvernement, en lien avec les provinces, Nouvelle-Calédonie Tourisme et les acteurs privés, engagera une stratégie de communication et de promotion unifiée :
- Renforcement significatif du budget de promotion internationale, ciblant l’Australie, la Nouvelle-Zélande et le Japon ;
- Campagnes conjointes entre institutions, compagnies aériennes, hôteliers et voyagistes pour une communication cohérente et impactante ;
- Offres « vol + hébergement » attractives pour stimuler la demande régionale ;
- Accueil d’une grande production audiovisuelle (série ou jeu national) dès 2026, pour offrir une vitrine médiatique exceptionnelle au territoire.
- Création d’un label d’excellence calédonien en lien avec les provinces : un service haut de gamme, une qualité irréprochable, une expérience premium intégrée, un engagement fort en faveur de la nature durable.
Améliorer la connectivité aérienne
Une des clés de la relance réside dans l’accessibilité de la destination Nouvelle-Calédonie. Les partenaires s’engagent ainsi à :
- mettre en œuvre une politique tarifaire volontariste sur les marchés prioritaires (Australie, Nouvelle-Zélande, Japon) ;
- favoriser l’arrivée de nouvelles compagnies aériennes régionales et internationales ;
- relancer les vols charter vers le Japon dès 2026, avec une fréquence d’au moins un vol par mois ;
- développer des partenariats « transport + hébergement » à prix compétitifs avec les acteurs du secteur pour rendre les séjours plus accessibles.
« Il faut s’inspirer de ce qui marche ailleurs, comme en Polynésie ou à Fidji, a expliqué le membre du gouvernement. La Nouvelle-Calédonie doit accueillir de nouvelles compagnies aériennes, tout en préservant Aircalin. Il n’y a pas de fatalité. On va aller chercher Fiji Airways, mais aussi rétablir des destinations comme Melbourne ou le Japon ».
Développement et diversification
La diversification de l’activité touristique passera aussi par le développement de plusieurs dispositifs :
- Positionnement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie comme une destination « MICE & Event » (Réunion, incitations, conférences et expositions – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) ;
- Renforcement des infrastructures d’accueil des congrès et des événements à Nouméa et dans les provinces ;
- Développement du tourisme sportif, en valorisant les atouts naturels du territoire pour accueillir des compétitions régionales et internationales (voile, golf, trail, kitesurf, etc.) ;
- Création d’un calendrier annuel afin de promouvoir les grands rendez-vous économiques, culturels et sportifs du territoire.
Soutenir l’investissement hôtelier et le développement de l’offre touristique
Pour accueillir davantage de visiteurs, la Nouvelle-Calédonie doit renforcer sa capacité d’accueil et diversifier ses offres.
Le gouvernement propose ainsi de mettre en œuvre une stratégie d’investissement touristique reposant sur :
- la relance de la construction et de la rénovation hôtelière, avec un accompagnement financier et fiscal ciblé ;
- le soutien à la diversification des hébergements (écolodges, gîtes, hébergements chez l’habitant, tourisme rural) ;
- la création de zones franches touristiques – en lien avec les provinces – pour attirer les investisseurs grâce à des avantages fiscaux et administratifs spécifiques.
Valoriser la formation, les compétences et l’emploi
Le gouvernement, en lien avec les établissements de formation et les professionnels prévoit également de déployer un plan global de développement des compétences touristiques, afin de promouvoir un service de qualité :
- Renforcement du budget de formation de nouveaux professionnels dans l’hôtellerie, la restauration, la culture et les activités de loisirs ;
- Adaptation des cursus aux besoins du secteur et aux attentes des visiteurs internationaux ;
- Valorisation des savoir-faire et des cultures locales, pour faire du tourisme un vecteur d’identité et de fierté.
Vers une nouvelle marque touristique
Pour incarner cette stratégie de redynamisation du tourisme calédonien à l’international, une nouvelle marque touristique sera créée pour remplacer l’actuel « Pacifique au cœur », adopté en 2010.
Une consultation sera lancée dans les semaines à venir auprès du grand public et des professionnels du tourisme pour définir la nouvelle identité de marque. Ils devront choisir parmi trois propositions de celui qui incarnera le mieux la Nouvelle-Calédonie en termes de promotion internationale.
HK to host international law institute
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The General Assembly of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) has decided to establish the UNIDROIT Asia-Pacific Liaison Office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The office is expected to open at the Hong Kong Legal Hub in the second half of 2026, marking the first regional presence of UNIDROIT outside its seat in Rome in its 100-year history.
The Government noted that hosting UNIDROIT’s first overseas office in Hong Kong is a significant milestone for the city’s development as a legal hub, as it reflects the international community’s continued confidence in the Hong Kong SAR’s legal system and reinforces its position as a leading international legal hub.
Noting that the office at the Hong Kong Legal Hub will establish UNIDROIT’s permanent presence in the Asia-Pacific region, the Government said it could also contribute to facilitating co-ordination and creating synergies among the “three sisters of private international law”, namely UNIDROIT, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
The Hong Kong Legal Hub has already housed the HCCH Regional Office for Asia ＆ the Pacific and the Department of Justice (DoJ) Project Office for Collaboration with UNCITRAL.
The DoJ submitted the proposal for the establishment of the office to the secretariat of UNIDROIT, with the support of the Central People’s Government. In May, the UNIDROIT Governing Council expressed support for the proposal and recommended it to the General Assembly, which accepted the recommendation at its 85th session, held on December 11.
China has been a member of UNIDROIT since 1986, and the Hong Kong SAR has participated in its work as part of the Chinese delegation. It is anticipated that the establishment of the office in 2026 will further strengthen the existing collaborative relationship between the DoJ and UNIDROIT.
UNIDROIT is an independent intergovernmental organisation with 65 member states. The institute’s aim is to study the needs and methods to modernise, harmonise and co-ordinate private and, in particular, commercial law among states and groups of states and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives.
UNIDROIT is an independent intergovernmental organisation with 65 member states from five continents. It is aimed to study the needs and methods for modernising, harmonising and co-ordinating private and, in particular, commercial law among states and groups of states and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives.
Government launches public consultation on review of registered designs regime
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Government today (December 17) launched a three-month public consultation on the review of the registered designs regime of Hong Kong.
Industrial design as a type of intellectual property broadly refers to the ornamental aspect of a product. It embodies a designer’s intellectual efforts and acumen for making a product appealing to customers. Legal protection of an industrial design can be obtained in Hong Kong by way of registration under the Registered Designs Ordinance (Cap. 522) (the Ordinance).
A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said, “Since the enactment of the Ordinance in 1997, design trends around the world have significantly evolved with technological innovation and advancement, opening up new possibilities and opportunities for growth of the creative and manufacturing industries. With technological innovation and integration of industries, designs that a business applies to products have become instrumental to the degree of its success.”
The spokesman stressed, “In driving towards new industrialisation, Hong Kong must continue to afford effective protection for designs which is crucial to not only incentivising sustainable innovation and creativity, but also enhancing the design capability of our advanced manufacturing sectors and emerging industries. As a matter of fact, there have been a number of reviews and reforms in different areas of designs laws in various jurisdictions over the years.”
The spokesman added, “The Government is fully committed to upholding an effective and robust intellectual property protection regime. To ensure that our registered designs regime is up to date and remains competitive for meeting the changing needs of our industries, the Government considers it timely and necessary to conduct a comprehensive review of the regime. As announced in the 2025 Policy Address, the Government is now embarking on the next step of the review by launching a consultation on various issues pertinent to updating the regime.”
The consultation document looks into a wide range of issues pertaining to the local registered designs regime, from the scope of and requirements for legal protection of designs, the procedures for design applications and registrations, to the possible alignment with international practices and standards. It has been uploaded onto the websites of the CEDB (www.cedb.gov.hk) and the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) (www.ipd.gov.hk). Members of the public may submit their views and relevant information by email (design_consultation@cedb.gov.hk), fax (2147 3065) or post (Division 3, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, 23/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong) on or before March 16, 2026.
The Government will also organise engagement sessions to collect views on the consultation. Details will be announced on the websites of the CEDB and IPD in due course.