Tag Archives: China

     ​Hong Kong Customs today (November 4) seized five live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $5,000, at Hong Kong International Airport.
      
     Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted a parcel declared as containing building block toys from the United States to Hong Kong today. Upon inspection, the batch of live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species was found inside the parcel.
      
     The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up action.
      
     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
      
     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).

  

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (November 4) held the 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony of the Opportunities for the Elderly Project (OEP). Adopting the theme “Maintain a Youthful Heart, Create Miracles in Your Golden Years”, the event aimed to inspire elderly persons to sustain curiosity and passion for the world, break through age barriers and continue to create their own miracles in the next chapter of life. Apart from an array of games and performances, the ceremony also featured a range of interactive sessions, bringing joy to over 800 elderly persons, volunteers, and award-winning teams across the territory, alongside around 5 000 participants who joined the ceremony online.

     Officiated by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To; the Chairman of the Elderly Commission, Dr Donald Li; and the Chairman of the OEP Advisory Committee, Mr Silas Poon, the ceremony presented 11 Special Awards for one-year projects in 2025-26 and two-year projects in 2024-26, as well as 22 District Best OEP Awards and six Hong Kong Best OEP Awards to commend outstanding organisations and elderly volunteers.

     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Sun stated that the Chief Executive had particularly stressed in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address to further promote a sense of worth among the elderly through the launch of the Young-Old Mentorship Programme. Its policy intent actually aligns with the core purpose of the OEP. He encouraged vibrant and multi-skilled young-olds to make the most of their talents, share their experiences and integrate into the community through mutual support networks. Coupled with the Elderly Academy Scheme and district network collaboration, such a policy combination can further enhance the elderly’s sense of self-worth and realise active ageing. Quoting the fact that the number of centenarians in Hong Kong has exceeded 10 000, Mr Sun further added that the Government and the Elderly Commission extend birthday greetings to centenarians every year as a sign of respect. He encouraged all sectors of society to proactively show care for centenarians, thereby promoting the traditional virtue of respecting and caring for the elderly.

     In the ceremony, Dr Li emphasised that true “youthfulness” depends entirely on one’s mindset and the lives of elderly persons should never be bound by age. He pointed out that continuous learning and active social engagement serve as the most effective prescription for delaying cognitive decline and maintaining physical and mental wellness. Elderly persons possess a wealth of life experience, knowledge, skills and wisdom which are indeed a priceless asset to society. Dr Li encouraged elderly persons to actively take part in intergenerational exchange activities and lead by example for the younger generation in living a rewarding “second life” with an optimistic and resilient attitude.

     Since its inception in 1998, the OEP has subsidised almost 8 000 programmes and recorded over 4.7 million participants, among whom 2.8 million were elderly persons, yielding highly encouraging results. By funding social service agencies, district organisations and educational bodies to host a diverse range of activities, the project has been enabling elderly persons to unlock their potential, contribute to society and live the spirit of positive ageing.

     Starting from 2020, the first Thursday of November has been designated as OEP Day by the SWD, and this year marked its seventh edition. OEP Ambassadors, comprising elderly volunteers, will lead citizens in exercise sessions at various elderly centres across the territory tomorrow (November 5) on OEP Day. This initiative aims to showcase the energetic and thriving spirit of the elderly to the entire city, spreading the messages of positivity and active living to every citizen.

     For details of the OEP and an archive of the ceremony, please visit the OEP Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OpportunitiesForTheElderlyProject/).

          

     Following are the closing remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNCITRAL’s Contribution to the International Transport of Goods in the Digital Economy – A Celebration of UNCITRAL@60 today (November 4):
 
Mr Lee (Principal Legal Officer of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Mr Jae Sung Lee), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     It is my honour to deliver closing remarks as we draw the curtain on this momentous occasion – a celebration of the 60th anniversary of UNCITRAL jointly organised by UNCITRAL and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice (DoJ) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China.
 
     As mentioned during the welcome remarks this morning, UNCITRAL has excellent collaboration with the DoJ. In fact, as mentioned by Professor Cheng (Secretary-General of the International Organization for Mediation, Professor Teresa Cheng) in her keynote speech, Hong Kong has made valuable contributions to the work of UNCITRAL in various aspects and will continue our contributions. In particular, we supported UNCITRAL’s contribution to the international transport of goods in the digital economy in the past and we are committed to continuing our contribution in the future.  
 
     The contribution of UNCITRAL to the international transport of goods in the digital economy has been thoroughly discussed by the four panels today. With the insights of members of the Judiciary, policy makers, legal scholars and practitioners, as well as stakeholders, we had constructive dialogues in four insightful panels.
 
     The first panel titled “Digitalization and Platformization of Trade Finance – Past, Present & Future”, set the stage by examining the transformative journey of trade finance. The speakers traced the evolution from traditional paper-based trade to the emergence of paperless trade, highlighting both the opportunities and the legal challenges that accompany this shift. It became clear that UNCITRAL’s work on digital platform, digital payments and digital assets has been instrumental in providing the foundational principles that facilitate digitalisation.
 
     The second panel, “Enabling Paperless Trade – Applying the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (2017) (MLETR) to Support Single Window Operations”, delved into the practical application of an important UNCITRAL instrument on electronic commerce. The discussion underscored how MLETR serves as a catalyst to enable paperless trade, facilitating the use of electronic documents in different industries to enhance efficiency. We have learned the experience of Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong on how MLTER has been implemented domestically.
 
     In the afternoon, we had our third panel exploring “The Negotiable Cargo Document (NCD) as a New Tool for Trade Finance – the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents (New York, 2025)”. This session celebrated the newly signed NCD Convention that bridges the gap between transport and trade finance. It facilitates the standardisation and unification for international transport, which unlocks liquidity in supply chains, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and landlocked countries. The panelists shared the pilot projects of the transport and banking sectors and emphasised the importance of widespread adoption of this Convention to foster trust among stakeholders in the global trade ecosystem.
 
     Finally, the fourth panel addressed “Plugging a Gap in the International Legal Regime for the Protection of Maritime Creditors – the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships”. The panelists highlighted the need for a harmonised legal regime to protect the stakeholders, from shipowners, financiers, to lienholders, by securing the effects of a judicial sale conferring clean title on the purchaser as vessels navigate internationally, and the benefits for international shipping.
 
     As shown by these four panel discussions, we have already seen UNCITRAL’s enduring contribution to the international transport of goods in the digital economy. They remind us that international co-operation is the bedrock of promoting a seamless global trading system. As we celebrate UNCITRAL’s six decades of achievements, we are also called upon to look ahead – to embrace digitalisation, to promote legal harmonisation, and to secure that no stakeholder is left behind in this journey.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, as it comes to the close of the conference today, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers, moderators, panelists and participants who have made this event a resounding success. Special thanks go to UNCITRAL for its unwavering dedication to the progressive harmonisation, unification and modernisation of international trade law.
 
     While today’s event is closed now, other events of the Hong Kong Legal Week are still ongoing. I have learnt that some of you will also participate in the Fourth Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing you then. I also look forward to seeing you at many other sessions that await us throughout this week. Thank you once again for your participation and contribution.

  

     The Director of Broadcasting, Ms Angelina Kwan, today (November 4) returned to Hong Kong upon concluding a four-day visit to the Chinese Mainland. During the visit, Ms Kwan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and Tianjin Haihe Media Group. She also led participants of RTHK’s national studies programme to call on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and met with 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 Ms Zhang Dongmei. Ms Kwan additionally visited the National Radio and Television Administration and Beijing Radio and Television Station to explore opportunities for strengthened exchange and co-operation of the two places.
 
     Yesterday (November 3), Ms Kwan and the President of the Tianjin Haihe Media Group, Mr Ma Bo, signed the MOU, which establishes a framework for bilateral collaboration spanning programme resources, talent exchanges, co-operation on platform and copyright licensing, as well as on-ground events. Tianjin Haihe Media Group is a significant regional media entity with operations covering newspapers, radio, television, websites and new media across Tianjin. The partnership will facilitate the distribution of RTHK’s quality content to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, while enabling Tianjin Haihe Media Group’s premium productions to reach international audiences through RTHK’s platforms.
 
     Ms Kwan said that RTHK has to date this year signed MOUs with eight Chinese Mainland and overseas media organisations. By building a growing network of broadcaster partnerships and deepening collaboration on an ongoing basis, RTHK is giving concrete expression to its strategic commitment to leveraging Hong Kong’s unique role as a connector between the Chinese Mainland and the wider world, thereby enhancing Hong Kong’s international communication capacity and sharing the stories of the nation and Hong Kong on the global stage.

    

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the Global Cooperation and Innovation Forum on Mutual Trust, Interconnectivity and Interoperability of AI Agents – Jointly Building the Intelligent Internet as well as the Cross-Strait, Hong Kong and Macao Internet Development Forum of the 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang, today (November 4). During the summit, he also attended the Opening Ceremony and the Ministerial Meeting yesterday (November 3) where he exchanged the latest status of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) developments with representatives of government institutions, international organisations, enterprises and research institutes from various places.
 
     Addressing the Global Cooperation and Innovation Forum on Mutual Trust, Interconnectivity and Interoperability of AI Agents – Jointly Building the Intelligent Internet this morning, Professor Sun stated that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is actively aligning with national development strategies and promoting the innovative development of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI Agents. He stated that the HKSAR Government is advancing related development in three areas: promoting the wide application of AI and AI Agents, improving the governance framework, and fostering international exchanges and co-operation. He also mentioned that the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute will jointly issue a set of AI Agent safety-management guidelines applicable to the entire community next year. This will further enhance the governance framework for AI development and application, ensuring that the technology is developed for good, safe and manageable means. The HKSAR Government will also actively support the country’s Global AI Governance Initiative by organising a large-scale international AI conference in Hong Kong to promote open sources and openness as well as co-operation and sharing.
 
     Professor Sun attended the Cross-Strait, Hong Kong and Macao Internet Development Forum in the afternoon and delivered the opening remarks. He said that Hong Kong is developing new quality productive forces through technological innovation and has positioned AI as a core industry for future development. To that end, the HKSAR Government is developing a new paradigm of “three major innovation and technology parks and five key research and development institutions”, further enriching the I&T development system and public research infrastructure, thereby injecting new impetus into the economy.
 
     Professor Sun said that the HKSAR Government is fully advancing the “AI+” development strategy, leveraging AI to empower all sectors and drive the growth of the digital economy and smart society. The HKSAR Government has already established the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy to co-ordinate the deep integration of AI with industry. The Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, located in the Northern Metropolis, has already begun construction. It is projected to provide computing power of 180 000 peta-floating point operations per second (PFLOPS) after 2030. This capacity will provide pivotal support for the development of AI and the digital industry. The HKSAR Government will also inject an additional HK$1 billion into the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme to support frontier research and the development of an intelligent computing industry. 


     The Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, also delivered keynote speeches today at the Cybersecurity Forum for Technology Development and International Cooperation, and the Digital Economy Forum of the summit.


     Professor Sun and Mr Cheung attended the Opening Ceremony of the summit yesterday (November 3). Professor Sun also attended the Ministerial Meeting and spoke on “Working Together to Take a People-Centered Approach and Develop AI for the Positive and for Good”. He reaffirmed that Hong Kong upholds a people-centred approach to AI development and, under Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is committed to building an international I&T centre. He also introduced the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme; Hong Kong’s governance strategy of balancing development and risk management; as well as its role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” in promoting international collaboration on AI. In the afternoon, Mr Cheung visited Zhejiang Qiangnao Technology Co Ltd and DBAPPSecurity Co Ltd, to learn about the innovative development achievements and practical applications of the two enterprises in technology fields such as life and health, brain-computer interfaces, and cybersecurity.

 
     In addition, the Digital Policy Office’s project “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: Multi-party Collaboration to Safeguard Cybersecurity for Major Events such as the 15th National Games and Ensure Cross-boundary Cybersecurity” was commended as an outstanding case of “Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace” in 2026. On the day before yesterday (November 2), Mr Cheung attended the certificate presentation ceremony for outstanding cases of “Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace”, and represented the HKSAR Government to receive an outstanding case certificate and give a presentation on the case. On the same day, he also attended the 2026 edition of the Straight to Wuzhen Global Internet Competition – the Wings of Digital Innovation Night and took the opportunity to cheer for the Hong Kong teams that had won in the Asia-Pacific regional competition and wished them great success in the final.
 
      Professor Sun and Mr Cheung concluded their visit today and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.