Tag Archives: China

     An incoming male passenger was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (October 29) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
           
     Customs officers intercepted an incoming 26-year-old Mainland male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (October 28) and seized 516 duty-not-paid cigarettes from his personal belonging, with an estimated market value of about $2,600, and a duty potential of about $1,700. The male passenger was subsequently arrested.
           
     Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.
           
     Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
           
     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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).

  

    Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the National Day Reception of the Republic of Türkiye today (October 29):
 
Consul General Emirhan Yorulmazlar (Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Hong Kong), Deputy Commissioner Hua You (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening.
 
     It is a pleasure to join you to celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye. On behalf of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government, I extend our warmest congratulations to the Government and people of Türkiye.
 
     Consul General, a very warm welcome to Hong Kong. One month into your posting, I hope this city is already beginning to feel like home.
 
     Hong Kong and Türkiye are different in many ways. But I suspect you have already recognised something familiar: we are both places where East meets West. Where cultures interact. And where connections open doors.
 
     Türkiye stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, with a history that speaks to centuries of exchange between peoples and civilisations. Its architectural treasures and cultural heritage are celebrated around the world.
 
     But Türkiye’s story is not only about what it has preserved. It is about what it is building – in innovation, technology and industry.
 
     That combination of respect for the past and ambition for the future resonates with Hong Kong. We, too, draw strength from our heritage while looking outward. We, too, understand that connecting people, markets and ideas creates opportunity.
 
     The task before us is to turn that shared outlook into more impactful outcomes.
 
     Our economic ties are growing stronger. Last year, bilateral merchandise trade rose by 8.8 per cent to reach US$2.3 billion. Trade in services has also seen strong growth, rising by an average of 16.5 per cent a year between 2020 and 2024.
 
     These are encouraging figures. And now we need to build on them.
 
     Earlier this year, our Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement and Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement came into effect.
 
     Their value lies in what they enable: greater certainty for businesses, stronger confidence to invest, and a more robust foundation for long-term partnerships.
 
     Financial innovation offers another avenue for closer co-operation. In June, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen fintech collaboration. This provides a foundation for turning our shared ambition into practical benefits for businesses and people.
 
     The goal is not simply more advanced technology. It is better financial services – making it easier for businesses to transact and for people to access the finance they need. That is the promise we should work together to deliver.
 
     Türkiye is an important node in the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong can help Turkish businesses connect with opportunities in the Chinese Mainland and across Asia.
 
     As an international financial centre, we offer more than a gateway to these markets. We offer access to the capital and financial services businesses need in order to expand with confidence. 
 
     A Turkish company seeking to grow can reach international investors in Hong Kong by listing equity or issuing bonds. A business developing clean energy or greener infrastructure can tap our green and sustainable finance and professional services to help bring projects to life.
 
     For Turkish enterprises trading with the Chinese Mainland, our offshore Renminbi services can support payments, financing and currency risk management. 
 
     These are practical tools for practical needs: funding a project, entering a market, managing uncertainty. Combined with our professional expertise and international networks, they make Hong Kong a valuable partner for Turkish businesses with ambitions across Asia.
 
     But a lasting relationship needs more than tradeand investment. It needs people who know one another, understand one another and want to do more together.
 
     Culture helps build those connections.
 
     Next month, Turkish traditional dance, arts and crafts will feature at the Asia+ Festival 2026. It will be an opportunity for Hong Kong audiences to experience Türkiye’s rich culture – and to discover more of the people behind it.
 
     Consul General, ladies and gentlemen, we have much to build on: growing trade, new investment agreements, closer fintech collaboration and vibrant cultural exchanges.
 
     Let us make the most of it. Let us turn agreements into partnerships, connections into opportunities, and shared ambition into shared prosperity.
 
     Consul General, I wish you a rewarding, enjoyable – and very busy – posting in Asia’s world city.
 
     Thank you very much.

    

     The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), organised the “GoGBA Development Day – New Opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) under the National 15th Five-Year Plan” today (October 29).
 
     Featuring keynote speeches by official bodies from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao, thematic panel discussions from industry representatives and a business matching and networking session, the event aimed to facilitate participating enterprises in understanding the policy directions and business opportunities under the National 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan. It also explored how businesses can capitalise on the strengths of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to pursue innovation-driven development and expand into international markets. The event attracted about 430 government representatives, academics, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups from the three places, as well as industry practitioners interested in expanding their business in the GBA.
 
     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa; the Director General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhang Jinsong; and the Director of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Ms Elaine Wong, delivered keynote speeches on the new opportunities arising from GBA development under the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, and the Executive Director of the HKTDC, Ms Sophia Chong, delivered welcome remarks respectively.
 
     In her keynote speech, Miss Tse noted that the scope of Hong Kong’s development blueprint and market scale have expanded beyond the confines of the HKSAR, establishing a strategic foothold across the three overlapping domains, namely the GBA, the overall nation, and the international market. By serving the country’s needs and leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths, Hong Kong can better utilise the unique advantages of “one country, two systems”. She highlighted that the GBA chapter of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan sets out five key directions, including strengthening co-operation in technological innovation; promoting the “hard connectivity” in infrastructure; fostering “soft connectivity” by deepening the alignment of rules and mechanisms; achieving “connectivity of hearts” among residents in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao; and advancing the development of the major co-operation platforms within the GBA, including Qianhai, Nansha, Hengqin and Hetao. In addition, the Northern Metropolis is an important engine for Hong Kong’s deep engagement in GBA development, and the Northern Metropolis University Town will pool the strengths of industry, academia, research and investment to drive the co-ordinated development of the GBA.
 
　　Miss Tse added that Hong Kong will continue to fulfil its roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”. On the one hand, it will attract more overseas enterprises and talent to use Hong Kong as a gateway to the GBA; on the other hand, it will assist GBA enterprises to go global by leveraging Hong Kong’s high value-added services. In addition, dedicated GBA sessions at mega events such as the Asian Financial Forum and the InnoEX will be staged to tell the good stories of the GBA to the world. Looking ahead, Hong Kong will proactively explore new directions such as commercial aerospace development and the sustainable aviation fuel value chain, continue to consolidate and enhance the advantages of the “four centres and one hub”, and make greater contributions to the country’s high-quality development.
 
　　Addressing the economic and trade co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao under the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Mr Zhang said that, riding on the favourable wind, now is the time for co-operation. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will join hands to open up new avenues for international trade, build new springboards for enterprises to go global, foster a new ecosystem for smart industries, and share new opportunities in the Chinese Mainland market.
 
　　Ms Wong said that Macao is proactively and comprehensively aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan while implementing the “1+4” strategy for appropriate economic diversification. Leveraging its role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and the advantages of Hengqin-Macao integration, Macao will assist enterprises in going global and expanding into the markets of Portuguese-speaking countries.
 
　　At the panel discussions, industry experts, academics and entrepreneurs shared their successful experiences and exchanged insights on the themes of “Capitalising on Opportunities under the National 15th Five-Year Plan: Empowering Mainland Enterprises to Go Global” and “Unlocking New Business Opportunities through AI Applications”. To further facilitate exchanges and expand collaboration networks among participants, a business matching and networking session was also organised. Supporting partners from Hong Kong and other GBA cities provided on-site one-on-one consultation services to SMEs and start-ups, providing advice on business development and operations in the GBA.
 
　　For more information about the development of the GBA, please visit the dedicated website www.bayarea.gov.hk/en/. read more

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO), in collaboration with Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, organised a business seminar entitled “Hong Kong: Opportunities for Portuguese F&B and Retail Brands” in Lisbon, Portugal, on October 27 (Lisbon time). The seminar introduced Hong Kong’s business advantages and market opportunities to Portuguese food and beverage as well as retail businesses.
 
     Speaking at the seminar, the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, highlighted Hong Kong’s long-standing position as an international trading and logistics hub. She also mentioned Hong Kong’s appeal as an attractive market and showroom for Portuguese food and beverages as well as retail products seeking to reach consumers in Asia and beyond.
 
     Long recognised as a culinary paradise, Hong Kong offers vibrant dining options and a sophisticated consumer market. Ms Yung noted that Hong Kong welcomed close to 50 million global visitors in 2025, providing international brands with exposure to a broad and diverse customer market. Located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, home to about 88 million people, Hong Kong can provide a practical starting point for businesses seeking to expand into the region, and greater access to the Mainland market thanks to the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, as well as the Free Trade Agreement with 11 member states part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
 
     During the seminar, attendees were invited to visit Hong Kong in 2027 for major trade events, including HOFEX – Asia’s Leading Food & Hospitality Tradeshow (May 10 to 12), the Hong Kong Food Expo (August 12 to 16) and the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival later in the year. These events offer opportunities for them to connect with potential business partners and experience Hong Kong’s celebratory atmosphere as the city celebrates the 30th anniversary of its return to the motherland.

  

     Deputy Director of Environmental Protection Dr Vanessa Au; the Chairman of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, Dr Eric Cheng; and Assistant Director of Environmental Protection Ms Joanne Yung attended the public day of the 21st Eco Expo Asia and the premiere of season three of  “Enchanting China”  today (October 29).
 
     In her speech, Dr Au said that this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has also formulated the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) to fully align with the nation’s efforts in promoting low-carbon green transformation and energy revolution, with a view to developing Hong Kong into a more liveable city with blue skies and green seas. She added that season three of the documentary series “Enchanting China”, released this year, consists of five episodes, covering themes including “Wondrous Wetlands”, “Vista of Xinjiang” and “The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau”. Through various real-life examples, the series showcases the nation’s efforts and achievements in fostering harmony between humanity and nature, and helps the audience understand the country’s ecological civilisation development practices and progress toward building a beautiful China.
 
     Afterwards, Dr Au and Ms Yung hosted the environmental protection quiz competition “Go Green Challenge”, which covered environmental protection initiatives under Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, as well as environmental protection knowledge presented in thematic videos and guided tours. They commended the students for their enthusiastic participation and extensive knowledge, and encouraged them to integrate their passion for environmental protection into their daily lives and cultivate a green lifestyle together with their families.
 
     Dr Au and other guests also presented awards to the winners of the “Recycling Day” creative short film competition at the event. The competition invited Hong Kong residents to promote messages of source separation and clean recycling through their cameras, with entries jointly assessed by a panel of professional judges and public voting. Dr Au thanked the participants for using their creativity to promote waste reduction and recycling. She congratulated all the winners and encouraged them to continue spreading green living messages to more people through various means. The list of winners has been uploaded onto the “Recycling Day” dedicated website (www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en-hk/RecyclingDay2026/shortfilm).
 
     The 21st Eco Expo Asia was held from October 26 to 29, with the last day as a public day which was open to all free of charge. For this year’s public day, the Environmental Protection Department invited Dr Yu Changda of the Institute of Space and Earth Information Science of the Chinese University of Hong Kong to host an aerospace tutorial, sharing why geospatial technology matters to our environment and health and demonstrating how satellites, maps, and data help scientists “see” the hidden connections between the environment and one’s health. Afterwards, Dr Yu also conducted an aerospace workshop and an exchange activity for students from Hong Kong and the Mainland. Other public day programmes includeded guided tours, green seminars, a recycled plastics 3D printing workshop, and interactive games, attracting more than 1 000 students to attend.