Author Archives: hksar gov

     A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said today (November 3), in response to the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027 released by the international higher education research organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), that Hong Kong’s higher education sector has once again demonstrated outstanding international competitiveness and academic excellence within Asia, with highly encouraging achievements. The spokesman noted that the commendable results reflect the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s sustained commitment to resource investment and proactive initiatives in supporting higher education development, thereby further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international post-secondary education hub.

     The spokesman stated that in the latest rankings, Hong Kong’s higher education institutions have delivered a stellar performance. With the University of Hong Kong continuing to retain the top spot, five universities in Hong Kong are among Asia’s top 10 with three of them ranking among Asia’s top five: the University of Hong Kong at first place, City University of Hong Kong at fourth, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong at fifth. Furthermore, eight local universities improved their rankings, with all 11 ranked institutions among the top 500 in Asia, which fully demonstrates the comprehensive elevation in the quality of Hong Kong’s higher education and its robust and steady overall development.

     “Hong Kong universities continue to lead Asia in key indicators such as academic reputation, employer reputation, internationalisation, and research impact. This not only reflects the unremitting efforts of universities in teaching, research, and global collaboration, but also fully demonstrates that the HKSAR Government has successfully fostered a thriving environment for higher education through various policies and resource allocation, enabling Hong Kong’s educational brand to shine on the world stage,” the spokesman said.

     The spokesman added that to further highlight Hong Kong’s unique strategic advantage and hub status as a vital bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland with the global higher education network, the World Class University Presidents Forum 2026 will also be grandly inaugurated tomorrow (November 4).

     This Forum, a premier event in the international education community, is fully supported by the HKSAR Government and hosted by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. With the theme “Higher Education Reimagined: Innovating for the Future”, it brings together university presidents, distinguished scholars, and international education leaders from dozens of world-class institutions to deliberate on key issues such as talent cultivation in the intelligent era, technology and innovation driving the future economy, and universities’ responses to major global challenges. Hong Kong’s outstanding university rankings complement this prestigious international education event, fully demonstrating the strong appeal and influence of Hong Kong’s higher education.

     The HKSAR Government will continue to fully support local universities to reach new heights and further enhance the international leadership of Hong Kong’s higher education through various policies and measures, including proactively taking forward the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, continuously attracting top international research talent and students, and deepening cross-boundary and international academic collaborations. read more

     Due to ongoing measles outbreaks in multiple countries around the world caused by low vaccination rates, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 3) reminded members of the public planning to travel abroad to visit the DH’s Travel Health Service webpage before departure to check if their destination has a high incidence of measles or an outbreak. They should take appropriate preventive measures, such as ensuring they had received two doses of the measles vaccination, and maintain good personal and environmental hygiene at all times. International students in affected countries should also review their vaccination records. If they are unsure whether they had received two doses of the measles vaccination, they should arrange to get vaccinated as soon as possible to prevent infection. As the winter break will soon begin in some countries, and students studying abroad will return to Hong Kong, the CHP urged the public to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they feel unwell. They should also report their symptoms and travel history to the healthcare workers before their appointment so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities to prevent a community spread. Schools should also remain vigilant to reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission on campus.
      
     Measles is an endemic infection in many parts of the world. So far this year, the United States (US) has recorded more than 4 800 cases of measles, more than double last year’s total. The situation remains out of control in the US. Pennsylvania and New York have reported measles-related deaths, and none of the deceased had received the measles vaccination. In Asia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Laos and the Philippines have also experienced measles outbreaks due to low vaccination coverage.
      
     “Overseas cases mainly affected individuals who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, underscoring the importance of maintaining a high vaccination rate and herd immunity. Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme and its immunisation services provided by the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres and the School Immunisation Teams, the overall immunisation coverage in Hong Kong has been maintained at a very high level. This has enabled Hong Kong to successfully maintain its measles-free status to date, even amid measles outbreaks in many parts of the world. As evidenced by the findings on vaccination coverage of primary school students and the territory-wide immunisation surveys conducted regularly by the DH, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has remained consistently high, well above 95 per cent. The local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most of the people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. On the whole, the risk of a large-scale outbreak in Hong Kong is low. However, as a city with a high volume of international travel, Hong Kong still faces the potential risk of measles importation. Locally, a small number of people who have not completed a measles vaccination (such as non-local born people, including new immigrants, foreign domestic helpers, overseas employees and people coming to Hong Kong for further studies) are still at risk of being infected and spreading measles to other people who do not have immunity against measles, such as children under 1 year old who have not yet received the first dose of measles vaccine,” said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.

     A total of nine measles cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far this year. Six were either imported cases or epidemiologically linked to imported cases. The remaining three were local cases. Among the imported cases, patients visited Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam during their incubation periods.
      
     People born before 1967 could be considered to have acquired immunity to measles through natural infection, as measles was endemic in many parts of the world and in Hong Kong at that time. People born in or after 1967 who have not yet completed the two doses of measles vaccination or whose measles vaccination history is unknown, should consult their family doctors as soon as possible to complete the vaccination. For those who plan to travel to measles-endemic areas, if they have not been diagnosed with measles through laboratory tests and have never received two doses of measles vaccine or are not sure if they have received measles vaccine, they should consult a doctor at least two weeks prior to their trip for vaccination. Pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy as well as children aged under 1 year who are not due for the first dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) combined vaccine under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, are advised not to travel to places with outbreaks of measles.
      
     The incubation period of measles (i.e. the time from infection to onset of illness) is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If travellers returning from places with a high incidence or outbreak of measles develop relevant symptoms, they should wear a surgical mask, stay home from work or school, avoid crowded places and avoid contact with people without immunity, especially those with weak immune systems, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal their relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals.
      
     For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP’s measles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH’s Travel Health Service for news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong. read more

    Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the inaugural Hong Kong Accounting Profession Lifetime Achievement Honour Ceremony today (November 3):
 
Agnes (Co-President of SMART Accountants Association (SAA) Ms Agnes Chan), Susanna (Co-President of SAA Ms Susanna Chiu), 朱文部長 (Director-General of the Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Zhu Wen), Peter (Honouree Mr Peter Wong), Brian (Honouree Mr T Brian Stevenson), Nellie (Honouree Ms Nellie Fong), Eric (Honouree Mr Eric Li), Carlson (Honouree Mr Carlson Tong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It is a pleasure to join you for the inaugural Hong Kong Accounting Profession Lifetime Achievement Honour Ceremony.
 
    My thanks to the SMART Accountants Association, and especially Agnes and Susanna, for bringing us together. You have given us an occasion not simply to recognise distinguished careers, but to reflect on what makes those careers matter.
 
    Tonight is also a personal pleasure. Peter, Brian, Nellie, Eric and Carlson are familiar faces to many of us – and people I am very pleased to see honoured together. It is good to have this opportunity to pause, recognise their contributions, and say something we perhaps do not say often enough: thank you.
 
    Because a lifetime of achievement is about more than the positions they have held or the awards they have received. It is about the trust they have earned. The people they have helped. And the standards they leave for others to build on.
 
    That is what we celebrate tonight.
 
    Accountants are often called the guardians of financial integrity. And rightly so. But we should be clear about what integrity means in practice.
 
     It means asking the difficult question when an explanation seems too convenient. Giving an honest assessment when a client would prefer reassurance. And standing by your professional judgement when the pressure is to look the other way.
 
    It is more than complying with the rules. It is understanding why those rules matter – and whom they protect.
 
    Because behind the numbers are people. An investor committing savings. An entrepreneur seeking finance. Employees whose livelihoods depend on a business being sound.
 
    They may never meet you. But they rely on your work.
 
    That is why integrity is not an abstract ideal. It is a responsibility to people who depend on information they can trust.
 
    And for Hong Kong, that trust is fundamental. As you help businesses grow, guide investment and support Mainland enterprises going global, you do more than provide professional advice. You uphold our reputation as a place where information is credible, standards are respected and people can do business with confidence.
 
    To our five honourees: tonight, we celebrate your individual achievements. But we also celebrate something you share – a lifetime of commitment to this profession and to Hong Kong.
 
    The most important lesson from these distinguished careers is not a title to aspire to or a position to attain. It is a standard to live up to: success matters, but how we achieve it matters just as much.
 
    That lesson will remain essential as our profession enters a new chapter. Technology is changing how we work. Sustainability reporting and evolving global standards are asking more of us.
 
    We should meet that change with curiosity and confidence. Learn the new tools. Ask better questions. But never lose sight of the responsibility that comes with our expertise.
 
    To our younger accountants: the careers we honour tonight show what is possible. Your task is not to repeat them. It is to build on them – and bring your own ideas, energy and sense of purpose to the challenges ahead.
 
    Peter, Brian, Nellie, Eric and Carlson: your legacy lives not only in the work you have done, but in the people you have encouraged – and the possibilities you have opened for those who follow.
 
    Tonight, we honour five distinguished careers. We also look forward to the many more they will inspire.
 
    Thank you. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 3) that a sample of prepackaged bamboo shoots was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is allowed to be used in certain foods, but the functional class and name of the additive were not declared on the food label. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

     Product details are as follows: 

Product name: Baby Bamboo Shoots 
Brand: Unionsum Food 
Net weight: 250 grams 
Place of origin: China 
Sole distributor: Unionsum Food Company 
Best-before date: September 2, 2027 

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected a sample of prepackaged bamboo shoots from the above-mentioned sole distributor. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide. Although the sulphur dioxide level detected is within the legal limit, the functional class and name of the additive were not declared on the food label of the sample.”
 
     “The CFS has informed the sole distributor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. According to the CFS’s instructions, the sole distributor concerned has initiated a recall of the affected batch of the product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 6275 2510 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned,” the spokesman added.

     Sulphur dioxide is a commonly used preservative in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products. This preservative is water-soluble. Most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption. 
 
     The spokesman reminded the food trade that the use of preservatives in food must comply with the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD). Furthermore, the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that for all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong containing sulphite in a concentration of 10 parts per million or more, the functional class of the sulphite and its name shall be specified in the list of ingredients. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction. 

     The CFS will alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.  read more

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (November 3) began his visit programme in Beijing. He visited the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and met with officials of Beijing.
 
     Mr Lee headed to the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center in the afternoon, where he visited the Beijing Library, one of the three major cultural facilities of the Center, and the planning exhibition hall located at the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee building. Through a sand table model, he learned about the overall planning, development, and the construction of cultural facilities in the Center.
 
     Mr Lee said that the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center is one of Beijing’s new “two wings” in the co-ordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. This plan promotes higher-quality development and demonstrates the country’s forward-looking and systemic deployment. Hong Kong is going full steam ahead with the development of the Northern Metropolis (NM), which is a key new engine for Hong Kong’s future development. It has four major development objectives, namely university town, technology, industry, and environment suitable for living, work, and travel. The Center’s experience in areas including overall planning and development, supporting infrastructure, and the layout of public service facilities offers valuable insights for Hong Kong in further promoting the development of the NM.
 
     Mr Lee then met with the Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Mr Yin Li, and the Mayor of Beijing, Mr Yin Yong, to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong’s co-operation with Beijing. The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, also attended. Mr Lee said that Beijing, as the country’s capital, is the national centre for politics, culture, international exchanges, and technological innovation. Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and is Beijing’s largest source of external investment. The two places have always maintained close co-operation. Over the years, Hong Kong and Beijing have strengthened exchanges and collaboration through the Hong Kong/Beijing Co-operation Conference mechanism. The Beijing Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium, held alternately in the two places every year, is a platform for deepening bilateral economic and trade co-operation and promoting high-level mutual benefits. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government announced Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan in September to proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and deepen regional co-operation with the Mainland. He looked forward to Hong Kong and Beijing continuing to complement each other’s strengths, working together to strengthen collaboration, and promoting higher-level co-operation to jointly contribute to the country’s high-quality development.
 
     Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government is vigorously advancing the building of the “four centres and one hub”, and is actively deepening the work of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global and extending the Cross-sectoral Professional Services Platform to serve Mainland enterprises going global and attract international capital to Hong Kong. He welcomed more Mainland enterprises, including those from Beijing, to make use of Hong Kong’s international professional capabilities, highly open capital market, and its roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to flexibly meet the needs of their target markets and jointly explore more new business opportunities. In addition, building on the good foundation of youth exchanges between Beijing and Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government will continue to expand youth development work between the two places, supporting young people in seizing the opportunities of the country’s development and better integrating into and serving the overall national development.
 
     Mr Lee will attend the opening ceremony of the 29th Beijing Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium and deliver a speech tomorrow (November 4), and will then depart for Shanghai. read more