Tag Archives: China

     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

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) held the Anti-rodent Charter (the Charter) Kick-off Ceremony today (March 20) to commend the residential premises that signed the Charter, raise residents’ awareness of environmental hygiene, and encourage them to work together to cultivate good habits for a rodent-free environment. The ceremony, with over five hundred participants, was officiated by the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong.

     The FEHD first launched the Charter for residential buildings on December 31, 2024 and invited property management companies, owners’ corporations, residents’ organisations of private residential premises, the Hong Kong Housing Society, transitional housing, subsidised sales flats and Tenants Purchase Scheme estates to sign the Charter. Until now, 581 of them have signed the Charter.

     Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Wong, said that rodent control and prevention has always been a vital mission, and that this government has developed feasible rodent control strategies and adopt the most efficient approaches to make optimal use of technology, manpower and resources to maximize the effects. The government’ efforts alone will not suffice. To achieve this goal of a rodent-free environment, it will need our concerted effort on taking targeted measures to eliminate the fundamental survival conditions of rodents, namely food, habourage and passage.

     Other officiating guests included the Chief Executive Officer of the Property Management Services Authority, Mr Alan Siu; the Deputy Director of FEHD (Environmental Hygiene), Mr Arsene Yiu; the Assistant Director of FEHD (Operations), Mr Peter Poon, and representatives from the property management and pest control sectors. 

     A rodent prevention and control seminar was held by the FEHD following the ceremony in the participation of about 350 Anti-rodent Liaison Ambassadors, presenting rodent control work by the department and introducing anti-rodent methods and tools. The venue also featured exhibition boards to introduce the Charter and provide information on rodent prevention and control. 

     The FEHD will continue to strengthen routine rodent prevention and control efforts by implementing targeted rodent prevention and control strategies to enhance efficiency and will also provide ongoing supports and technical advices on rodent control to relevant departments and sectors. The FEHD will collaborate with district councilors to engage property management companies and vendors to communicate messages on rodent prevention more directly and effectively.

        

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural… read more

     â€‹Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) played a pivotal role in cohosting a dynamic United Kingdom (UK) delegation during the Tech Trade Mission to China 2025, fostering vital connections that will drive growth and collaboration between the UK and Hong Kong. The week-long visit, spanning from March 16 to 21, 2025, included a two-day visit to Hong Kong. Here, delegates engaged with key stakeholders such as the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong, the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, InvestHK, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, Standard Chartered Ventures, and Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, among others to explore cooperation opportunities.
      
     The UK delegation was spearheaded by Grow London Global, an initiative under London & Partners, the official growth agency for London, and funded by the UK Government. The cohort comprised representatives from InvestHK London Office, London & Partners, and 15 of the UK’s most innovative and rapidly growing tech companies. Participants engaged with key stakeholders in the region, industry experts, and potential clients. The mission served as a platform to showcase the UK’s cutting-edge technology and to learn from the dynamic tech ecosystems of Hong Kong.

     InvestHK facilitated this tech trade mission, which is aimed at identifying new avenues for economic co-operation and reaffirming its commitment to ongoing collaboration. The visit strengthened the connections between Hong Kong and the UK’s start-ups, enterprises, and industry leaders, paving the way for future economic and investment growth.
      
     The Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion at InvestHK London Office, Ms Daisy Ip, said, “We are delighted to support the Grow London Global programme and this tech trade delegation to Hong Kong. Through the productive dialogues and exchanges during the visit, we hope to further strengthen the ties between the UK and Hong Kong and create new pathways for increased investment from the UK.”
      
     The Trade Manager, Fintech & Enterprise, London & Partners, Ms Jasmine Baker, added, “This Grow London Global tech trade mission has been a success, and mutually beneficial for our delegation and everyone we have met with. We have achieved our goals in fostering collaboration with the Hong Kong business ecosystem and hope to generate more opportunities and partnerships for London’s most exciting companies.”
      
     Joining the Trade Mission to China 2025, the Founder and CEO of Assureful, Mr Rohit Nair, added, “It has been incredible to be a part of this Grow London Global tech trade mission. We have been introduced to so many members of Hong Kong’s tech ecosystem. We will be going home with an enlarged sense of what is possible in this market and will be able to make choices about growth with more confidence.”

        

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has long been committed to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat. The department yesterday (March 19) and today (March 20) conducted raids on two licensed fresh provision shops (FPSs) in Kwai Tsing District and Sai Kung District, suspecting such malpractices.

     During the operations, FEHD officers raided two licensed FPSs at Kwai Shing Circuit in Kwai Chung and Tong Ming Street in Tseung Kwan O, seized and immediately destroyed about 180 kilograms of suspected frozen beef. In addition, FEHD officers marked and sealed about 123kg of prepackaged frozen beef for further investigation. Beef samples were also collected for detection of preservatives, and prosecutions will be initiated should there be sufficient evidence. The licensees of the FPSs are suspected of breaching the licensing conditions for the display and sale of frozen meat as fresh meat, and the FEHD is proceeding with the cancellation of the FPS’s licences.　　

     Verbal warnings were also given to the licensees for failing to provide delivery notes for inspection, which is a licensing condition.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, “The selling of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat breaches the licensing conditions and poses food safety risks. Such operations are unfair to other compliant businesses.”

     The spokesman added, “Anyone selling chilled or frozen meat without permission commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment on conviction. The FEHD will continue to conduct regular inspections at licensed FPSs and market meat stalls, and will deal with the complaints promptly. In detecting any irregularities, the department will carry out investigations promptly and take appropriate enforcement action. In addition, the FEHD also proactively investigates suspected violations from time to time and conducts surprise inspections and enforcement actions as necessary. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecutions will be initiated and follow-up action will be taken against breaches of licensing conditions or tenancy agreements. The licences of those FPSs breaching licensing conditions may be cancelled, while the tenancies of market meat stalls breaching tenancy agreements may be terminated.” 

     â€‹The spokesman emphasised the FEHD’s deep concern and strong commitment to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat through stringent enforcement actions.