The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, February 10, 2025 is 107.3 (up 0.1 against last Saturday’s index).
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, February 8, 2025 was 107.2 (up 0.1 against last Friday’s index). read more
The Consultation Group on LawTech Development, established by the Department of Justice (DoJ) in January this year, held its first meeting today (February 10) to discuss development strategies and policies to promote the use of lawtech in the legal and dispute resolution industry.
As announced in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address, the Government will set up the Consultation Group on LawTech Development in the first quarter of 2025 to research and formulate specific recommendations to promote the use of lawtech.
The Consultation Group, chaired by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, comprises representatives from the legal and dispute resolution sector, law schools and experts on the application of lawtech. The Consultation Group will provide advice and assistance to the DoJ regarding the promotion and development of lawtech in Hong Kong.
Dr Cheung said that lawtech can enhance efficiency and productivity of Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution industry. By utilising systems such as artificial intelligence, document automation, and electronic file management, it can improve efficiency and service quality, save costs and enhance competitiveness. This would advance Hong Kong’s position as a major international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region.
He expressed hope that members from different fields could share their professional knowledge, experience and insights to foster in-depth discussions on the promotion of lawtech. In the future, the Government will actively consider the recommendations of the Consultation Group to formulate and implement strategies to promote the use of lawtech.
The terms of reference and the membership list of the Consultation Group are attached in Annex 1 and Annex 2.
​The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) showcased Hong Kong’s vibrancy at the Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival held in Sydney, Australia, from February 7 to 9.
Over 2 000 paddlers churned up the waters in various races during the three-day event in Darling Harbour. The Sydney ETO organised the Hong Kong team to compete in the Corporate Category of the races and won the second place in the Government Industry Challenge on February 7. Four of the races this year were named the “Hong Kong Talent Cup”, the “Hong Kong Innovation Cup”, the “Hong Kong Future Cup” and the “HKETO Government Industry Challenge”, with medals presented by the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong, who also attended the opening ceremony of the Festival on February 8.
The Sydney ETO set up a marquee during the Dragon Boat Festival to promote the latest developments in Hong Kong, in particular the exciting mega events held in the city and various talent attraction initiatives rolled out by the Government. Souvenirs distributed at the marquee for promoting Hong Kong were very well received.
The Sydney Lunar Festival, organised by the City of Sydney, is one of the largest celebrations of the Lunar New Year outside Asia. During the festival held from January 29 to February 16 this year, the celebration features an array of programmes including lion dancing, a lantern display, cultural performances as well as jet pack and firework shows.
The Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival, which is the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, was a highlight of the Sydney Lunar Festival, attracting tens of thousands of spectators.
​The Sydney ETO also displayed Hong Kong-themed banners with new year greetings in major locations across Sydney during the festive period.
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Tech Applied Summit organised by the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) today (February 10):
Sunny (Board Chairman of ASTRI, Mr Sunny Lee), 劉副市長 (Deputy Mayor of the Suzhou Municipal People’s Government, Professor Liu Bo), 葉部長 (Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu), distinguished speakers and guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It’s my pleasure to stand before you today at the Tech Applied Summit, a truly remarkable convergence of talents, ideas, and innovation.
First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to ASTRI for organising this event, bringing together more than 40 visionary speakers and 1 000 attendees from across the globe. To our distinguished speakers who have travelled from afar, a very warm welcome to Hong Kong. We are thrilled to have you here, and look forward to the insights you’ll share, which will no doubt inspire us all.
Innovation and technology, I&T in short, are not merely buzzwords – they are the lifeblood of Hong Kong’s future. As outlined in the Chief Executive’s latest Policy Address, we are investing ambitiously to ensure I&T serves as the engine for high-quality development in Hong Kong. New initiatives, such as the HK$10 billion Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund, the HK$180 million I&T Accelerator Pilot Scheme and the new round of HK$1.5 billion Research Matching Grant Scheme, are empowering start-ups, researchers, and businesses to transform bold ideas into transformative realities. These efforts are cementing Hong Kong’s position as a leading innovation powerhouse in the region.
Our investments extend beyond funding. We invest in talent, infrastructure, and partnerships. We are opening doors for the world’s brightest minds to call Hong Kong home, while nurturing local talent to lead in fields like AI, robotics, life and health technology, and advance manufacturing.
Today, as we gather under the banner of I&T, we are reminded of the power of collaboration. In Hong Kong, the close partnership among government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors forms the cornerstone of our strategy to unlock new opportunities and drive progress, and our partnerships extend far beyond our borders.
The potential for Hong Kong-Mainland collaboration is indeed immense. ASTRI has played a pivotal role in fostering this collaboration. With the opening of its office in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone last year, ASTRI has been instrumental in transforming ideas into impactful solutions that benefit businesses, society, and the economy.
This year is particularly special as ASTRI celebrates its silver jubilee – 25 years of excellence, dedication, and leadership in I&T. Well done to everyone at ASTRI who has been part of this incredible journey.
The Government earlier proposed the merger of ASTRI and NAMI (the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute), a combination of two strong public R&D (research and development) centres with complementary advantages and shared values, thereby enhancing our capability and capacity for high value-added applied R&D work. We are eager to unleash the integrated power of the new entity and jointly accelerate the development of new quality productive forces.
As we usher in the Year of the Snake, a year symbolising wisdom, transformation, and resilience, I wish you all an auspicious and prosperous year ahead. Let us work towards a smarter, more connected and innovative world. Thank you.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (February 10) announced that the department collected 10 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) samples from auto-LPG filling stations and LPG terminals on a random basis in January 2025 for laboratory tests. The results show that the LPG quality of all these samples complied with auto-LPG specifications.
The detailed test results are available on the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/gas_safety/lpg_vehicle_scheme/publications/general/results_of_lpg_sample_analysis/index.html). Enquiries can also be made to the EMSD’s hotline on 2333 3762.
In addition, the EMSD has been vetting independent third-party test reports submitted by LPG supply companies for each shipment to ensure that the quality of imported LPG complies with the specified requirements. read more