Author Archives: hksar gov

     A leading France-based professional aeronautic services company, Elior Group SA, announced today (March 21) its intention to strengthen presence in Hong Kong. It had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony with the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), as an important step in expanding its business in Asia. Witnessed by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, the MoU was signed by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of AAHK, Mrs Vivian Cheung, and the Group Chairman and CEO of Elior Group SA, Mr Daniel Derichebourg, on February 19.
      
     As mentioned in the 2025-26 Budget delivered by the Financial Secretary, under the co-ordination of InvestHK, the AAHK had signed an MoU with a leading overseas professional aeronautic services company to explore the possibility of providing professional services such as aircraft dismantling, parts recycling and related training in Hong Kong, thereby developing Hong Kong into the first aircraft parts processing and trading centre in Asia. The company is Elior Group SA, which is part of Derichebourg SA, a leading business in Europe.
      
     Elior Group SA’s intention to expand its presence in Hong Kong highlights the city’s dynamic business environment and immense growth potential across sectors, including its growing aviation centre of excellence.

     â€‹The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, “Under the ‘one country, two systems’ arrangement, Hong Kong has a high degree of internationalisation, a favourable business environment, a strategic location, a robust legal framework, and a low tax regime. The city has always been a prime location for foreign investment and international conglomerates. Hong Kong will continue to play its unique role of connecting the Mainland and the world to attract more companies from around the world to set up in the city, aiming to enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international trade and investment hub.”
      
     The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, said, “The National 14th Five-Year Plan has recognised Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation hub. Leveraging on Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, and with our globally connected aviation network and world-class airport infrastructure, Hong Kong is capable of assuming a more important role in the area of aviation, proactively contributing to the high-quality development and high-level opening-up of our country. I am pleased to see that Elior Group SA and the AAHK are exploring the possibility of introducing aircraft parts handling and trading services in Hong Kong, thereby enriching Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation hub and supporting the aviation development of our country as well as the Asian region as a whole.”
      
     The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, said, “InvestHK has always been committed to attracting foreign direct investment and enabling international investors in developing their businesses in Hong Kong. We are pleased to assist Elior Group SA in setting up an Asian headquarters and expanding its presence here. The signing of this MoU is a testament to global businesses confidence in the Hong Kong market, reaffirming that Hong Kong is the ideal destination for companies to establish or expand their operations in the region.”
      
     Mr Derichebourg said, “Elior Group SA operates a wide range of businesses across 11 countries, covering a variety of industries including aviation, construction and food contracting services. We are grateful for the support provided by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and InvestHK. We look forward to further developing and exploring new opportunities in Hong Kong, and from here expand across Asia.”

    

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Inauguration Ceremony of the International Alliance of Academicians (IAA) and the International Academicians Hong Kong Forum today (March 21):
 
Professor Nancy Ip (Chair of IAA), Professor Pierre-Louis Lions (Co-Chair of IAA), Professor George Smoot (Co-Chair of IAA), Professor Xiang Zhang (Co-Chair of IAA), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. I am very pleased to join you today for the inauguration ceremony of the International Alliance of Academicians and the International Academicians Hong Kong Forum.
 
     It gives me great pleasure and pride, to congratulate the Alliance on its establishment, to know that this is a Hong Kong-based international organisation, uniting more than 100 renowned academics from all over the world. And you’ve taken on the essential mission of enhancing global co-operation among scientists and academics, working toward the sustainable development of innovation and technology.
 
     The Alliance is a testament to the power of collective wisdom, a commitment to the open exchange of ideas, and a celebration of humanity’s boundless innovation. 
 
     Hong Kong is committed to becoming an international I&T (innovation and technology) centre, as well as a global hub for high-end talent. So it is both welcome, and fitting, that Hong Kong serves as the Alliance’s home.
 
     In an era endlessly defined, and redefined, by technological advancement, evolving global dynamics and unprecedented challenges, the role of scholars and scientists has never been more critical. 
 
     Knowledge knows no borders, our shared challenges require shared solutions.
 
     The Government is committed to cultivating a dynamic environment, one that champions innovation and technology, in every sector and industry, every institution and corner of our community.
 
     We will soon launch a Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme, worth 3 billion Hong Kong dollars, or nearly 400 million US dollars. It will help fund ground-breaking basic research driven by world-class researchers and academics.
 
     Given the central role that AI (artificial intelligence) will play in research and industry transformation, we will also establish the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute. It will promote upstream research and development, as well as the transformation of mid-streamand downstream AI outcomes, and explore application scenarios. 
 
     These initiatives expand our far-reaching I&T development, led by two InnoHK research clusters – one focused on healthcare technologies, the other on AI and robotics. Together, they have attracted more than 2 500 scientists and researchers, from Hong Kong and all over the world. 
 
     We are now setting up a third InnoHK research cluster. It will focus on sustainable development, energy and advanced manufacturing and materials. It’s now open for admission proposals, and I welcome prominent international universities and institutions to join us on the exciting journey of innovation.
 
     With the support of our country, we are determined to draw together the diverse expertise of Hong Kong’s international pool of talent, and the innovation and manufacturing prowess of the Mainland.
 
     The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, situated in the Loop – an area that straddles our boundary with Shenzhen – will create the infrastructure for our synergised development with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. I am pleased to tell you all that we will be celebrating the completion of the first three buildings in the Hong Kong Park later today.
 
     With the Hong Kong Park and a wide range of I&T infrastructure as our hardware, and the “soft power” presented by your Alliance and other key players in our I&T ecosystem, Hong Kong is committed, and well-equipped, to promoting international co-operation, and the boundless opportunities it can create for us all.
 
     My congratulations, once again, on the inauguration of the International Alliance of Academicians. I know you will enjoy the International Academicians Hong Kong Forum, beginning later today.
 
     And I welcome you to make time for Hong Kong, a rising East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Catch one of the many exhibitions in our West Kowloon Cultural District. Next week, the world-renowned Art Basel returns to Hong Kong, showcasing over 240 galleries from some 40 countries and regions.
 
     And there will be plenty of art in rugby, on show, beginning next Friday, at Kai Tak Sports Park, the brand-new, state-of-the-art home of the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. All these, during Hong Kong Super March – a month-long series of eclectic events filled with creativity, culture and excitement. Just like this forum.
 
     Enjoy your time in Hong Kong! Thank you. read more

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit in Beijing today (March 20).

     Mr Tse visited the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the morning and toured facilities such as the National Crop Genebank of China, greenhouse of the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, and the scientific research greenhouse to learn about the country’s latest agro-technology developments.

     In the afternoon, Mr Tse paid a courtesy call on the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) and met with the Vice Minister of the GACC, Mr Zhao Zenglian, to continue deepening exchanges on various topics such as safeguarding food supply to Hong Kong, the facilitation arrangement for exporting Hong Kong-manufactured food products to the Mainland, as well as strengthening co-operation on food trade.

     During the meeting, Mr Tse expressed gratitude to the GACC for its support in safeguarding food supply to Hong Kong and its assistance in the implementation of the facilitation arrangement for customs clearance. He said that the facilitation arrangement for customs clearance, which began in May last year, has been operating smoothly and significantly shortened the time required for customs clearance of Hong Kong-manufactured food products. It was well-received by Hong Kong food manufacturing industry. Both sides expressed the hope that the facilitation arrangement for customs clearance could be applied to more food categories in the future.

     Afterwards, Mr Tse met with representatives from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China (MEE), the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, and the BRI International Green Development Coalition to exchange views on topics including co-operation in ecological and environmental field and combating climate change. He pointed out that with the strong support from the MEE, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government achieved great success at the China Pavilion’s Side Event of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) last year and hopes to continue telling the good stories to the world about the country and the HKSAR Government’s efforts in combatting climate change through the platform provided by the COP30 this year.

     Mr Tse will continue his visit in Beijing tomorrow (March 21).

              

     The “Hong Kong Gala Screening” featuring the Hong Kong film “Last Song For You” was held in Osaka, Japan, tonight (March 20) during the 20th Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF).
      
     The gala screening, attended by some 300 film fans from Japan, was sponsored by the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund, with the support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo).
      
     Speaking before the screening, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, said that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office was proud to support the “Hong Kong Gala Screening” together with the film talents coming all the way from Hong Kong to participate in the OAFF this year.
      
     “Showcasing Hong Kong’s cultural diversity and creative excellence is our top priority. By promoting Hong Kong films to overseas audiences, we hope to share our love for cinema and our city as a colourful and vibrant metropolis rich in arts and culture from the East and West,” she said.
      
     She added that the Film Development Fund has already approved over $1.3 billion to support more than 120 film projects, involving 110 new directors and producers.
      
     Miss Au was joined by director Jill Leung of “Last Song For You”, as well as other Hong Kong film talents participating in the film festival. After the screening of “Last Song For You”, Leung also took part in a sharing session with the audience.

      

     The Government announced today (March 20) that adjustments will be made to the Conditions of Sale for the tender of the site for Multi-storey Buildings for Modern Industries (MSBs) at Area 39A and 39B, Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen (i.e. Hung Shui Kiu Town Lot No. 10) (the Hung Shui Kiu Lot), and the MSB site at Yuen Long Fuk Wang Street and Wang Lee Street (i.e. Yuen Long Town Lot No. 545) (the Yuen Long Lot). The tender period of these two MSB sites will be extended to July 25, 2025.

     The Government launched tenders under the two-envelope approach for the Yuen Long Lot and the Hung Shui Kiu Lot in March and October 2024 respectively. The original tender closing date of both sites was March 21, 2025. These two sites are the first batch of MSB sites rolled out for achieving the dual policy objectives of promoting the development of industries, and providing floor space to some brownfield operations displaced by government development projects to enable them to upgrade their operations. Under the two-envelope approach, tenderers must submit respective envelopes containing the non-premium proposals and premium proposals (accounting for 70 per cent and 30 per cent of the assessment weighting respectively), so that the Government can consider non-premium factors, such as how the MSB(s) concerned may drive development of industries and facilitate consolidation of displaced brownfield operations, in addition to premium offers, and award the site to the most suitable bidder.

     A spokesperson for the Development Bureau said, “As forecast by the Secretary for Development at the press conference on Budget initiatives on February 28, the Government will adjust some of the tender conditions without compromising the original policy intent, so as to render the project a more reasonable investment return and enhance the synergy between the policy objectives and the proposed development to be pursued by the tendering enterprises, thereby encouraging enterprises to bid for the sites. The Government will also extend the tender closing date accordingly. The adjustments are made having regard to recent indication from some potential bidders that they support the Government’s policy objectives for the MSB sites, but given the substantial investment outlay the project would involve and the latest market conditions, they hoped the Government would consider making some adjustment to the tender conditions.”

     Taking into account the above market feedback and without deviating from the original policy intent, the Government will adjust some of the Conditions of Sale for the two MSB sites. The amendments to be made mainly relate to the following three aspects–

(1) Upon completion of the MSB, the enterprise successfully bidding the site will lease part of the floor space of the MSB to the Government at nominal rent for ten years. The Government or its appointed agent will manage and rent out the floor space to brownfield operators affected by government development projects. This arrangement will replace the requirement under the original Conditions of Sale that the enterprise must permanently assign designated floor space to the Government at nil cost. In other words, the revised conditions will allow the ownership of the MSB to be fully consolidated in the hands of the enterprise being awarded the site. As indicated by the Government all along, the policy objective is to provide assistance as an interim arrangement, and not on a permanent basis, to affected brownfield operators for upgrading their operations through leasing the floor space to them at concessionary rent for a specified period (around five to ten years after construction of the MSB is completed). The amendment therefore does not deviate from the original policy intent;

(2) The Government has all along indicated that the enterprise being awarded the site will be requested to hand over a designated portion of floor space of the MSB to the Government (20 per cent for the Hung Shui Kiu Lot, and 30 per cent for the Yuen Long Lot). The original Conditions of Sale adopted a calculation based on 20 per cent or 30 per cent of the respective maximum gross floor area (GFA) permissible on the lots. Having considered that the Conditions of Sale do not mandate the enterprise being awarded the site to pursue the maximum GFA permissible on the Lot within the building covenant period, we will adjust the minimum floor space required to be leased to the Government within the ten-year period to around 46 000 square metres (for the Hung Shui Kiu Lot) and around 29 000 square metres (for the Yuen Long Lot) respectively, so as to ensure the reasonableness of such requirement. In other words, the basis for calculating the floor space to be leased to the Government is changed from the maximum GFA permissible to the minimum GFA permissible on the lot. This adjustment enables the enterprise awarded with the site, in the case of pursuing phased development, to construct floor space no less than the minimum GFA required within the building covenant period. The floor space to be leased to the Government will then be calculated on the basis of the as-built GFA (20 per cent for the Hung Shui Kiu Lot, and 30 per cent for the Yuen Long Lot); and

(3) The floor loading requirement of the floor space to be leased to the Government for the Hung Shui Kiu Lot will be adjusted downwards from 30 kilonewtons per square metre to 25 kilonewtons per square metre (same as the floor loading requirement for the Yuen Long Lot). This would achieve greater consistency with the requirement for industrial buildings in general and reduce the construction cost.

     Given the above adjustments, the Government will extend the tender closing date for both sites to July 25, 2025. The extension will give interested bidder(s) sufficient time to prepare for tender submission under the two-envelope approach with reference to the revised tender conditions, identify investment partner(s) and negotiate with financial institutions on financing arrangements.

     The spokesperson supplemented, “In leveraging market forces to pursue development, the Government needs to listen to market views with an open mind and respond to the reasonable concerns of enterprises in face of the rapidly changing market conditions, while upholding the original policy intent. The current round of adjustments to the tender conditions is a good example showing the Government’s receptiveness to constructive market views.”

Assessment and tender arrangements

     Same as the arrangement previously announced, assessment will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Stores and Procurement Regulations by a Tender Assessment Panel (TAP) comprising government officials to safeguard the integrity of the tender exercise. The TAP will be chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), with directorate officers from different professions serving as members.

     The revised land sale documents for the two sites, including the Explanatory Statement, the Information Statement, the Form of Tender, the Tender Notice, the Conditions of Sale and the sale plans will be made available for downloading from the Lands Department website (www.landsd.gov.hk) in early April. The relevant notice will be gazetted on the same day accordingly. read more