Tag Archives: China

     The Government published the Import and Export (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Gazette today (March 21) to make technical amendments to the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60) and other relevant pieces of legislation for the implementation of Phase 3 services of the Trade Single Window (TSW).
 
     A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said, “The Government is implementing the TSW in three phases to provide a one-stop electronic platform for the trade to lodge business-to-government trade documents for trade declaration and cargo clearance. The Bill aims to provide the legal basis for Phase 3 of the TSW, such that the trade can make use of the system to submit Import and Export Declaration (TDEC), Cargo Manifest as well as applications for Certificate of Origin (CO) and Permit for Dutiable Commodities (DCP).”
 
     At present, the Government Electronic Trading Services (GETS) is the only electronic platform for the submission of TDEC, Cargo Manifest and applications for CO and DCP, which are governed by different pieces of legislation. To implement Phase 3 of the TSW, the Government proposes to make technical amendments to relevant existing legal provisions to replace GETS by the TSW for the submission of those trade documents, and to remove GETS-related provisions from the legislation.
 
     In addition, the Bill makes necessary legislative amendments for some of the Phase 3 services, including the introduction of value-added service provider and its regulatory framework, allowing the trade to submit pre-shipment TDEC and Cargo Manifest on a voluntary basis, the introduction of electronic road Cargo Manifest and the digitalisation of return of licences service. The Bill also includes provisions on transitional arrangements to allow parallel run of TSW Phase 3 and GETS for a certain period of time to provide sufficient time for the trade to migrate to the new system.
 
     “The implementation of the TSW is a major business and operational process reengineering exercise. It overhauls and enhances the document submission workflows between participating government agencies and the trade. At the same time, it enhances the efficiency of cargo clearance in Hong Kong and helps maintain Hong Kong’s status as an international trade centre and a logistics hub. The Government is developing the information system of Phase 3, with the target of rolling out the services by batches from 2026 onwards,” the spokesman added.
 
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first and second readings on April 2. read more

     The Government published in the Gazette today (March 21) the Bankruptcy and Companies Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2023 (Commencement) Notice 2025 (the Commencement Notice).
 
     Enacted by the Legislative Council in July 2023, the Bankruptcy and Companies Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2023 (the Amendment Ordinance) seeks to provide a legal basis for the Official Receiver’s Office’s Electronic Submission System (ESS), streamline the publication requirements of insolvency and related notices, and introduce miscellaneous amendments.
 
     Provisions of the Amendment Ordinance relating to the first phase of ESS and the streamlined publication requirements of insolvency and related notices already took effect in December 2023. The Commencement Notice seeks to appoint July 14, 2025, as the commencement date for the remaining provisions relating to the second phase of ESS.
 
     The Commencement Notice will be tabled at the Legislative Council on March 26, 2025, for negative vetting. read more

     The Government announced today (March 21) the reappointment of Ms Melissa Kaye Pang as the Chairperson of the Family Council, as well as the reappointment of 10 incumbent non-official members and the appointment of five new non-official members to the Council for a term of two years with effect from April 1, 2025.
      
     The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, welcomed the appointments and reappointments. She said, “The Government will continue to support the work of the Council and would like to thank the outgoing members for their contributions and dedication to the work of the Council during their term of service.”
      
     The membership list of the Council for the new term is as follows:
 
Chairperson
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Ms Melissa Kaye Pang
 
Ex-officio members
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Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung, Chairperson of the Elderly Commission
Dr Eliza Chan Ching-har, Chairperson of the Women’s Commission
Mr Kenneth Leung Yuk-wai, Vice-Chairperson of the Youth Development Commission

Non-official members (reappointments)
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Dr Gigi Hsin Pang Che-kwan
Mr Lam Sum-lim
Ms Lau Oi-sze
Mr Law Fai
Mr Perry Lou Yiu-tong
Mr Warren Luk Hua
Mr Solomon Wong Bing-kin
Miss Koby Wong Lok-yin
Mr Yau Siu-hung
Mr Jeremy Young Chit-on
 
Non-official members (new appointments)
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Ms Kathy Chung Lai-kam
Mr Ho Ting-hong
Mr Victor Kwok Hoi-kit
Mrs Helena Pong Tung Ching-yee
Dr Loletta So Kit-ying

Official members
———————
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs or her representative
Secretary for Labour and Welfare or his representative
Secretary for Education or her representative
 
     Since its establishment in 2007, the Council has served as a cross-sector and cross-bureau platform for advising the Government on family-related policies and promoting a culture of loving families as well as the family core values of “Love and Care”, “Respect and Responsibility” and “Communication and Harmony” in the community. read more

     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