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     The Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province (GDDIIT) today (October 27) convened the 13th meeting of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Cleaner Production (JWGCP) in Hong Kong. An award presentation ceremony for the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme was also held to commend 168 enterprises actively pursuing cleaner production.
      
     The 13th meeting of the JWGCP was cochaired by the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, and the Deputy Director-General of the GDDIIT, Mr Chen Lei. At the meeting, governments of both sides reviewed the work progress in 2026 and approved the work plan for 2027. In the coming year, both sides will continue to support cleaner production in energy-intensive, polluting and water-intensive industries, including encouraging the industry to try out new cleaner production technologies and undertaking cleaner production audits, with a view to achieving energy saving, emission reduction, and consumption and carbon emission reduction, thereby improving the quality of the regional environment and accelerating the green transformation of enterprises. Both sides will also continue to promote the effectiveness of cleaner production and share related application experiences with the industry through various publicity activities.
      
     Representatives from the Hong Kong side attending the meeting included officials from the EEB, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the Trade and Industry Department, the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong. On the Guangdong side, representatives from the GDDIIT, the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province and the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province attended the meeting.
      
     After the JWGCP meeting, the 2026 award presentation ceremony for the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme was held to commend enterprises that have actively pursued cleaner production. This year, a total of 168 enterprises were commended as Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners. Of these, 56 Hong Kong-owned manufacturing enterprises were commended as “Excellent Partners” while 108 were commended as “Partners”. Other commended enterprises included one sourcing enterprise and three environmental technology service providers.
      
     The EPD, in collaboration with the GDDIIT, launched the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme in 2008 to facilitate and encourage Hong Kong-owned factories in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province to adopt cleaner production technologies and practices with a view to reducing emission of pollutants. To date, the Programme has provided funding support for more than 4 300 projects and achieved remarkable results in improving the environmental quality. To commend the dedicated efforts and achievements of Hong Kong-owned factories in pursing cleaner production, Hong Kong and Guangdong jointly launched the Recognition Scheme in 2009 to award enterprises actively adopting cleaner production as Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners.
      
     The Programme, through funding support, encourages Hong Kong-owned factories to adopt new cleaner production technologies, and to transform and upgrade traditional industries through green technologies, hence accelerating the green transformation of enterprises and dovetailing with the country’s efforts in promoting high-quality development.
      
     In addition, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, and the Director-General of the GDDIIT, Mr Zeng Jinze, signed the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation Agreement on Cleaner Production (Amendment Agreement) this month to further strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong in cleaner production, promote adoption of new technologies, encourage enterprises to introduce more green elements in their production processes and dovetail with the country’s efforts in promoting high-quality development.
      
     For details of the Programme and the Recognition Scheme, please visit www.cleanerproduction.hk.

      

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 27) that in view of notifications from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the World Organisation for Animal He… read more

     Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the ​Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 High Table Banquet tonight (October 27):

Your Excellency Mr Jeremić (Former President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Vuk Jeremić), President Priscilla Leung (Member of the Legislative Council and Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship, Professor Priscilla Leung), Vice Chairman Augustine Wong (Member of the Legislative Council and Founding Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening! Building on the resounding success of the first Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit in 2024, this year’s Summit once again brings together university leaders and senior management from different countries and regions, as well as outstanding young entrepreneurs and student representatives. Wherever you are from, I extend to you Hong Kong’s very warm welcome. Your very presence encapsulates what this Summit is about: connection and collaboration.

     Earlier today, the discussion sessions have provided much food for thought for exploring knowledge networks, public-private education ecosystems, policy governance, and the vital role of higher education in developing industry-ready talent for a globalised society. Tomorrow, the dialogue will branch out into the big data challenge and examine cross-sector collaboration, demographic shifts, AI ethics and Hong Kong’s strategic legal and youth opportunities. These are not separate conversations but different dimensions of a shared agenda: to bring the Government, industry, academia, research and investment together in cross-sector and cross-border co-operation.

     The Northern Metropolis of Hong Kong, and the university town at its heart, provides a concrete foundation to put that co-operation into practice. As set out in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address, both announced last month, the Northern Metropolis will be developed with the objective of providing an ideal environment for university towns, innovation and technology, industry, and living, work and travel. Serving as a base and key strategic vehicle for driving high-quality post-secondary education development, it will integrate technological and industry innovation, while attracting international high-calibre talent. The Northern Metropolis will also function as a main platform for Hong Kong to deeply engage in and benefit from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which, if taken as a single economic entity with a combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of US$2 trillion by 2024-25, would have ranked the 16th largest economy, closely after Australia and Spain and before the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.

     At the heart of the Northern Metropolis are three university towns in the San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu and Ta Kwu Ling areas, spreading across an area of over 1 000 hectares. These university towns, each with its own focus, will integrate talent cultivation, scientific research, transformation of outcomes and industry development. We will expedite the planning and development of the university towns for the first batch of institutions to move in by 2027-2028.

     In addition to accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, the National 15th Five-Year Plan has also entrusted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the mission of building an international hub for high-calibre talent. To this end, we will establish the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, and encourage post-secondary institutions to actively organise more exchange activities. We will also continue to make good use of various measures, such as a Funding Scheme for Chinese Mainland and Global Engagement and Student Learning Experience, which has an additional injection of HK$100 million starting from the 2026-27 academic year, to broaden the horizons of Hong Kong students, enhance cross-cultural exchanges on campus, and foster a diverse and inclusive international learning environment.

     Dear leaders and guests, what I have said are more than policies, we are opening doors and our arms. Let us work together to build connections that endure beyond this Summit, and transform shared ideas into mutual values.

     I wish the Summit great success and you all a chilled evening and a fruitful, thought-provoking time at the Summit. Thank you very much.

    

     Following are the closing remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the awards and closing ceremony of the Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot (FDI Moot) 2026 Globals in Shenzhen today (October 27):
 
Director Campbell (Founder Representative of the FDI Moot and Director of the Center for International Legal Studies, Mr Christian Campbell), President Liu (President of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), Dr Liu Xiaochun), Director Ng (Acting Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Ng Chi-kin), Deputy Secretary Liu (Deputy Secretary of the Leading Party Members Sub-Group and Deputy Chief Judge of the First Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court, Mr Liu Zheng), Director Sun (Director of the Investment Law Division of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Sun Zhao), Vice Chairman Anthony Neoh (Vice Chairman of the SCIA Council, Former Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Co-Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law, Dr Anthony Neoh, SC), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. On behalf of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, it is a great honour to join you all at the awards and closing ceremony of the 2026 FDI Moot Global Rounds.
 
     To all the participating teams: my warmest congratulations. Whether or not you are taking an award home today, I trust that your participation must have offered profound insights and forged lasting bonds with your peers. 
 
     The FDI Moot brings our future professionals from classroom theories to the real-world complexities of investor-state dispute settlement. The value of the FDI Moot stems from the unique opportunity it offers for students to apply what they have learned at schools to tackle as a team high-stakes issues which they will likely face when they begin practising one day. 
 
     The 2026 FDI Moot marks a truly historic milestone – this is the first time that the Global Finals are hosted in China. This tells a clear story: the Asia-Pacific region is the key forum for global dialogue on international investment law, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is developing into a vibrant hub for cross-border dispute resolution.
 
     Your experience gained from this competition could not have come timelier. In an era when cross-border investment becomes increasingly prevalent, the ability to resolve disputes fairly, efficiently and in accordance with international standards is the bedrock of global trade.
 
     Under the principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong is uniquely placed to contribute to this ecosystem. As the only common law jurisdiction within China, and the only bilingual common law jurisdiction in the world using both Chinese and English, we serve as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the Chinese Mainland and the international community. The National 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports the deepening of Hong Kong’s status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. This is complemented by Hong Kong’s own First Five-Year Plan and the latest Policy Address, which reaffirm our commitment to strengthening arbitration, mediation and related professional services.
 
     Hong Kong’s Arbitration Ordinance, based on the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) Model Law (Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration), has underpinned Hong Kong’s standing as a leading arbitral seat. In the 2025 Queen Mary University of London International Arbitration Survey, Hong Kong was ranked as the second most preferred seat of arbitration globally, and the first in the Asia-Pacific region. To ensure that our arbitration legal framework stays at the forefront of international practice, we are embarking on a project to reform arbitration law.
 
     Beyond the law itself, our practical arrangements are designed to offer unparalleled convenience for international users. Hong Kong awards are readily enforceable in the Chinese Mainland under our mutual recognition and enforcement arrangement, and parties to Hong Kong-seated arbitrations may seek interim measures directly from Mainland courts under the Interim Measures Arrangement (Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), a unique advantage that has assisted users to preserve substantial assets. In addition, Hong Kong implements the Immigration Facilitation Scheme (Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors). This allows non-Hong Kong residents participating in arbitral proceedings, including arbitrators, counsel, parties and witnesses, to enter Hong Kong for short-term participation without the need for a separate employment visa. Together with our deep pool of multilingual professionals and close institutional partnerships, Hong Kong is guaranteed a practical and reliable choice for cross-border investment disputes.
 
     I wish to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, all arbitrators, coaches, interpreters and volunteers who have brought the Global Finals to fruition.
 
     Today marks the end of this FDI Moot journey, but your engagement with international investment law has only just begun. The discipline you have forged here, all the rigorous legal analysis, disciplined advocacy and respect for opposing perspectives, will certainly be the solid building blocks of your careers. I look forward to seeing you contribute to the ongoing evolution of the global investment-law framework, steadily and surely. Thank you very much.

  

     Following are the closing remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the awards and closing ceremony of the Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot (FDI Moot) 2026 Globals in Shenzhen today (October 27):
 
Director Campbell (Founder Representative of the FDI Moot and Director of the Center for International Legal Studies, Mr Christian Campbell), President Liu (President of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), Dr Liu Xiaochun), Director Ng (Acting Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Ng Chi-kin), Deputy Secretary Liu (Deputy Secretary of the Leading Party Members Sub-Group and Deputy Chief Judge of the First Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court, Mr Liu Zheng), Director Sun (Director of the Investment Law Division of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Sun Zhao), Vice Chairman Anthony Neoh (Vice Chairman of the SCIA Council, Former Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Co-Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law, Dr Anthony Neoh, SC), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. On behalf of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, it is a great honour to join you all at the awards and closing ceremony of the 2026 FDI Moot Global Rounds.
 
     To all the participating teams: my warmest congratulations. Whether or not you are taking an award home today, I trust that your participation must have offered profound insights and forged lasting bonds with your peers. 
 
     The FDI Moot brings our future professionals from classroom theories to the real-world complexities of investor-state dispute settlement. The value of the FDI Moot stems from the unique opportunity it offers for students to apply what they have learned at schools to tackle as a team high-stakes issues which they will likely face when they begin practising one day. 
 
     The 2026 FDI Moot marks a truly historic milestone – this is the first time that the Global Finals are hosted in China. This tells a clear story: the Asia-Pacific region is the key forum for global dialogue on international investment law, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is developing into a vibrant hub for cross-border dispute resolution.
 
     Your experience gained from this competition could not have come timelier. In an era when cross-border investment becomes increasingly prevalent, the ability to resolve disputes fairly, efficiently and in accordance with international standards is the bedrock of global trade.
 
     Under the principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong is uniquely placed to contribute to this ecosystem. As the only common law jurisdiction within China, and the only bilingual common law jurisdiction in the world using both Chinese and English, we serve as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the Chinese Mainland and the international community. The National 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports the deepening of Hong Kong’s status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. This is complemented by Hong Kong’s own First Five-Year Plan and the latest Policy Address, which reaffirm our commitment to strengthening arbitration, mediation and related professional services.
 
     Hong Kong’s Arbitration Ordinance, based on the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) Model Law (Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration), has underpinned Hong Kong’s standing as a leading arbitral seat. In the 2025 Queen Mary University of London International Arbitration Survey, Hong Kong was ranked as the second most preferred seat of arbitration globally, and the first in the Asia-Pacific region. To ensure that our arbitration legal framework stays at the forefront of international practice, we are embarking on a project to reform arbitration law.
 
     Beyond the law itself, our practical arrangements are designed to offer unparalleled convenience for international users. Hong Kong awards are readily enforceable in the Chinese Mainland under our mutual recognition and enforcement arrangement, and parties to Hong Kong-seated arbitrations may seek interim measures directly from Mainland courts under the Interim Measures Arrangement (Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), a unique advantage that has assisted users to preserve substantial assets. In addition, Hong Kong implements the Immigration Facilitation Scheme (Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors). This allows non-Hong Kong residents participating in arbitral proceedings, including arbitrators, counsel, parties and witnesses, to enter Hong Kong for short-term participation without the need for a separate employment visa. Together with our deep pool of multilingual professionals and close institutional partnerships, Hong Kong is guaranteed a practical and reliable choice for cross-border investment disputes.
 
     I wish to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, all arbitrators, coaches, interpreters and volunteers who have brought the Global Finals to fruition.
 
     Today marks the end of this FDI Moot journey, but your engagement with international investment law has only just begun. The discipline you have forged here, all the rigorous legal analysis, disciplined advocacy and respect for opposing perspectives, will certainly be the solid building blocks of your careers. I look forward to seeing you contribute to the ongoing evolution of the global investment-law framework, steadily and surely. Thank you very much.