Tag Archives: China

     Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Fok and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 28):

Question:

     The full commissioning of the Three-Runway System has significantly enhanced the passenger and cargo handling capacity and driven a steady growth in air cargo volume, enabling Hong Kong International Airport to retain its status as the world’s busiest cargo airport for consecutive years; however, it is learnt that its passenger throughput has only recovered to less than 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, failing to fully benefit from the infrastructure. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that this year’s Policy Address proposes a number of measures to tap into new sources of passenger and cargo traffic, including expediting the establishment of new air services agreements and the expansion of traffic rights, and that the First Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong has set a target of increasing the number of global destinations to 240 within five years, how the authorities make it possible for airlines to actively launch and continuously operate new routes, and of the specific strategies and timetables for achieving the above goals;

(2) as it is learnt that the current tight supply of long-haul flights and high level of airfares in Hong Kong have led some long-haul passengers to transfer via neighbouring regions, whether the Government will formulate specific policies to attract foreign and Mainland aviation businesses to Hong Kong, and negotiate with the European Union arrangements for expansion of traffic rights; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as it is reported that data indicate that cargo volume among neighbouring cities and even other aviation hubs in the Asia-Pacific region are growing rapidly, which might threaten Hong Kong’s leading position in air cargo, of the corresponding strategies adopted by the authorities?

Reply:

President,

     With the full commissioning of the Three-runway System, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) can serve 120 million passenger trips and handle 10 million tonnes of cargo annually, providing ample room for the development of airlines. The deepening of regional competition and co-operation is reshaping the landscape of aviation hubs in the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong is fully aligning with the national 15th Five-Year Plan outline. The Government will follow the direction set out in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan to leverage and consolidate HKIA’s status as a key aviation hub. In response to the questions raised by the Hon Kenneth Fok, our reply is as follows:

(1) and (2) The Government has consistently adopted a policy-led approach to proactively plan and optimise the allocation of traffic rights, and has signed up to 87 bilateral air services documents to date. When selecting aviation partners, in addition to current traffic volume and economic benefits, we place significant emphasis on their strategic value and future business opportunities. Taking resource-rich countries such as Brazil, Peru, and Kazakhstan as examples, they are seeking to establish closer trade ties with other regions. Furthermore, regions such as South America, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa also possess substantial untapped commercial and trade potential. Through policy-driven expansion of traffic rights, we are opening up high-potential emerging markets to inject long-term growth momentum into Hong Kong’s international aviation hub.

     As for traditional markets such as Europe, we spare no effort in strengthening our ties. We have already signed bilateral air services arrangements with more than 80 per cent of European Union (EU) member states so far, including all major ones. In recent years, we have also updated or expanded bilateral air services arrangements with member states such as Luxembourg and Malta, and concluded a new bilateral air services agreement with Poland. We will continue to actively work with EU member states to explore the best ways to deepen bilateral relations.

     At the same time, the outcomes of the Government’s traffic rights negotiations, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK)’s business expansion efforts and airlines’ co-operation must be integrated to build a synergistic mechanism of “policy, market and operation”. This will translate these outcomes into substantial network coverage. For instance, the launch of direct flights to Kazakhstan by a local airline in January next year serves as a prime example.

     To fully unleash the potential of HKIA, the top priority is to rapidly and steadily expand capacity amid the global aircraft shortage. The AAHK launched the Air Network Development Programme in June 2024, which provides financial incentives to encourage airlines to launch new routes (particularly long-haul routes) and increase flight frequencies on existing routes. As at end of September 2026, the Programme has attracted 40 airlines to launch 95 new routes covering five continents, as well as to increase flight frequencies on 15 existing routes. The AAHK has also encouraged various overseas airlines to resume routes and has made good progress. Among them, Etihad Airways and Delta Air Lines have resumed flight services to and from Hong Kong, connecting to Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles respectively. The AAHK also signed a memorandum of understanding with Uzbekistan’s Fly Khiva Group earlier to establish a comprehensive passenger and cargo air network.

(3) HKIA was named the world’s busiest cargo airport in 2025, marking the 15th time it has earned this distinction since 2010. Annual cargo volume reached 5.07 million tonnes, representing a 2.7 per cent year-over-year growth. Cargo volume also remained robust in the first three quarters of this year, rising 3.3 per cent year-over-year to 3.78 million tonnes. The Government’s First Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong explicitly commits to consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation hub and has set “maintaining world-leading position in air cargo throughput” as one of our primary strategic objectives.

     The Government will focus on implementing five major development goals to upgrade the sector strategically and build a highly resilient aviation logistics network: first, establishing air logistics super-highways; second, leading the efficient operation of innovative intermodal transport; third, promoting the diversification of air cargo structure; fourth, deeply integrating with and aligning to the reshaping of supply chains; and fifth, digitalising air cargo processes.

     Firstly, we are actively attracting airlines to expand their operations in Hong Kong. Through the Freighter Network Development Programme launched by the AAHK in March of this year, the Government is encouraging airlines to increase their freighter services. In just half a year, we have successfully attracted 14 airlines to add a total of 80 weekly flights. We are also working with the AAHK to strategically attract foreign airlines to use Hong Kong as their second hub by combining air rights arrangements with other operational incentives. For example, Qatar Airways Cargo relocated its regional headquarters to Hong Kong in August 2026 and signed a memorandum of understanding with the AAHK to increase flight frequencies and develop more new routes via Hong Kong. We expect more positive developments to follow.

     As for intermodal connectivity, the AAHK is taking forward the development of HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park (Logistics Park) to transport air cargo from the GBA to HKIA for processing more efficiently. Since the launch of the pilot program, the Logistics Park has handled cargo with a cumulative value exceeding 57 billion RMB. When the Logistics Park commences commercial operations in June next year, it will serve as a model for GBA co-operation. It will not only reduce costs and time but also integrate Chinese Mainland resources with the international standards of HKIA across various aspects, embodying institutional innovation.

     In addition, the AAHK, in collaboration with relevant departments in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, has launched the Air-Land Fresh Lane which streamlines customs clearance and quarantine procedures to facilitate the rapid entry of high-quality fresh products into the GBA market. 

     Finally, in tandem with the development of physical infrastructure and cross-border logistics networks, we are also actively promoting the digitisation of the air cargo supply chain.

     Thank you, President. read more

     ​The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (October 28) the external merchandise trade statistics for September 2026. In September 2026, the values of Hong Kong’s total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 64.9% and 57.8% respectively.

     In September 2026, the value of total exports of goods increased by 64.9% over a year earlier to $762.6 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 53.0% in August 2026. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 57.8% over a year earlier to $808.9 billion in September 2026, after a year-on-year increase by 60.0% in August 2026. A visible trade deficit of $46.3 billion, equivalent to 5.7% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in September 2026.

     For the first nine months of 2026 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods increased by 45.2% over the same period in 2025. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 45.0%. A visible trade deficit of $417.7 billion, equivalent to 7.0% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first nine months of 2026.

     Comparing the third quarter of 2026 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 8.8%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 7.9%.

Analysis by country/territory

     Comparing September 2026 with September 2025, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 67.5%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Taiwan (+159.3%), Malaysia (+131.5%), Thailand (+118.0%), Singapore (+77.5%) and Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (+68.1%).

     Apart from destinations in Asia, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular Mexico (+148.1%) and the USA (+133.4%).

     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Korea (+231.1%), Vietnam (+118.7%), Malaysia (+73.9%), India (+61.3%) and the Mainland (+55.6%).

     Comparing the first nine months of 2026 with the same period in 2025, increases were registered in the values of total exports to most major destinations, in particular Taiwan (+82.2%), Singapore (+81.8%), the USA (+70.7%), Thailand (+64.2%), Malaysia (+62.3%) and the Mainland (+49.4%).

     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Korea (+151.7%), India (+98.5%), the United Kingdom (+78.6%), Vietnam (+77.5%), Malaysia (+52.4%) and the Mainland (+46.1%).

Analysis by major commodity

     Comparing September 2026 with September 2025, increases were registered in the values of total exports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $155.6 billion or +66.2%) and “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $87.7 billion or +183.7%).

     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $153.5 billion or +64.5%), “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $60.6 billion or +142.0%) and “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $49.0 billion or +81.7%).

     Comparing the first nine months of 2026 with the same period in 2025, increases were registered in the values of total exports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $973.7 billion or +52.6%), “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $324.8 billion or +63.9%) and “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $225.7 billion or +51.4%).

     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $953.6 billion or +51.3%), “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $297.3 billion or +63.3%) and “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $231.1 billion or +53.8%).

Commentary

     A Government spokesman said that merchandise exports surged further by 64.9% over a year earlier in value terms in September, driven by sustained stellar performance in exports of AI-related electronic products, marking the twentieth consecutive month of double-digit growth and the fastest monthly year-on-year growth in over four decades. Exports to all major markets increased notably.

     Looking ahead, Hong Kong’s merchandise trade performance will continue to benefit from the prevailing wave of robust AI-related investment and the resilient global economic growth. Nonetheless, external uncertainties warrant close monitoring, including the Middle East conflict, trade protectionist measures by major economies, and risks associated with the rapid expansion of global investment in AI.

Further information

     Table 1 presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for September 2026. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2023 to September 2026, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.

     The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for September 2026 are shown in Table 4, whereas the values of imports of goods from 10 main suppliers are given in Table 5.

     Tables 6 and 7 show the values of total exports and imports of 10 principal commodity divisions for September 2026.

     All the merchandise trade statistics described here are measured at current prices and no account has been taken of changes in prices between the periods of comparison. A separate analysis of the volume and price movements of external merchandise trade for September 2026 will be released in mid-November 2026.

     The September 2026 issue of “Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade” contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade in September 2026 and will be available in early November 2026. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020005&scode=230).

     Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel.: 3863 2592). read more

     The Belt and Road sustainable green development training centre set up by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), together with the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals (HKIQEP), hosted a joint symposium at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong today (October 28). The theme was “Securing a Sustainable Future: Green Transformation through Economy, Technology and Living”.

     Adopting an innovative design of “cross-sectoral collaboration + comprehensive integration of topics”, the joint symposium closely aligned with the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address. It wove diverse themes such as national security, green finance, technological innovation, and community well-being throughout the full-day agenda, creating a comprehensive exchange platform that combined high-level policy insights, an international vision, and practical applications.

     The symposium was one of the key events of the 21st Eco Expo Asia and served as the thematic symposium for the third day of the expo, aiming to build a professional exchange and training platform for the environmental protection industry. The event attracted over 300 representatives, including government officials, environmental industry leaders, academics, and professionals, who engaged in detailed discussions on the integration of environmental protection with high-quality green development, technology applications, and community well-being. They are committed to advancing a comprehensive green transformation and striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.

     The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, officiated at the symposium and delivered opening remarks. He said that safeguarding national security is the cornerstone of social stability and environmental progress, and the department is actively promoting national security awareness at the district level, popularising related concepts among the younger generation and environmental professionals. He also noted that by leveraging the unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework, Hong Kong is making a full effort to develop into a demonstration base for green technology and an international green hub, fostering regional and global sustainable development opportunities through cross-sectoral collaboration.

     The President of the HKIQEP, Mr Freeman Cheung, said, “Following the successful inauguration of the first symposium co-organised by the EPD and the HKIQEP last year, we are very honoured this year to welcome the HKIE as an official co-organising partner. Together with the EPD and its Belt and Road sustainable green development training centre, we are combining environmental science and engineering practice into a powerful and tightly integrated synergy. Through our previously officially launched Reciprocal Recognition Agreement, both sides have successfully broken down traditional barriers between environmental professionals and engineers, pioneering a new interdisciplinary paradigm that will fully accelerate Hong Kong’s pace towards carbon neutrality.”

     The President of the HKIE, Mr Frank Chan, stated in his speech that the world is facing climate change and environmental challenges, making the promotion of green transformation a matter of urgency. Through developing renewable energy, green buildings, smart infrastructure, sustainable transport, and environmental protection technologies, the engineering sector is fostering green economic growth. By making good use of innovative technologies such as AI, smart cities, and advanced energy storage, low-carbon transition is accelerated and the overall quality of community life is enhanced. He said that the green economy is a vital cornerstone for promoting innovation, investment, and sustainable growth. With its strengths in finance, engineering, and other professional services, Hong Kong is well-positioned to support the development of green industries and fundamental infrastructure in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

     It was also announced at the symposium that the EPD and the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences officially signed the arrangement on co-operation during the Expo. The co-operation arrangement aims to implement the building of a pilot zone for a “Beautiful China” in the GBA and Belt and Road green co-operation, working together with top Mainland research institutions to promote green, high-quality development in the GBA and Belt and Road partner countries and regions, as well as to strengthen exchanges, co-operation, and professional talent training in the field of ecological and environmental scientific research.

     The symposium invited a number of local, Mainland, and overseas guest speakers to deliver keynote speeches, followed by thematic panel discussions. The Special Advisor on Climate Change to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Professor Avinash Persaud, shared macro-international insights during the morning thematic session; Ms Cindy Kong delivered a speech on “The National Security Mandate for Environmental Professionals”, elaborating on the importance of safeguarding national security for environmental professionals when promoting green development; and the APAC Director, Global Capacity Building Coalition, Ms Manshu Deng, explored the role of natural ecosystems in net-zero transition plans.

     The morning and afternoon dialogue sessions deeply explored multiple green transformation topics, including the green Internet of Things and air quality, smart recycling, green finance, nature-based solutions, and development opportunities in the Northern Metropolis, receiving an enthusiastic response from participants.

    

     Following is the speech by the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi, at the One Earth Summit today (October 28):

Poman (Founder of One Earth Initiatives, Professor Poman Lo), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon, it is my honour to speak to you today about “AI for a Low-Carbon Future: Powering Hong Kong’s Green and Digital Transition”. To our friends and partners from abroad, I extend the warmest and most sincere welcome to Hong Kong. Your presence here today underscores a timeless truth: the ecosystems we share, the climate we depend on, and the digital systems shaping our destiny know no borders.

     Today, we stand at the crossroads of two defining revolutions: the rapid rise of AI and the global imperative of decarbonisation. These twin forces must succeed hand-in-hand. We need green technology to mitigate the rising carbon footprint of AI, and we need AI to accelerate green technology and manage our increasingly complex global systems. Together, they will be a powerful alliance driving a resilient, low-carbon future.

     For Hong Kong, the test of this alliance is threefold: does AI actually reduce carbon emissions? Does it benefit society at large? Does it protect the world we share? These questions shape the three interconnected pillars that we are building: capability, opportunity, and inclusion. Capability means building infrastructure to drive AI innovation sustainably. Opportunity means turning green technology into real economic and social value for our entrepreneurs and communities. Inclusion means ensuring that this growth is responsible, equitable and leaves no one behind. In the next few minutes, I will share how we are advancing on each of these fronts.

     Let us begin with capability. Hong Kong is well positioned to become the data centre and computing power services hub for the Asia-Pacific region. Our total computing capacity has already reached 5 000 PFLOPS (peta-floating point operations per second), actively supporting research and applications in local large language models, advanced materials, synthetic biology and precision medicine. Looking ahead, the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster in the Northern Metropolis will deliver an additional 180 000 PFLOPS by 2032.

     At the same time, we have to ensure that our growth will not compromise our net‑zero goals. We are embedding energy efficiency in law and policy. Data centres must now undergo mandatory energy audits every five years and the relevant technical data on the energy efficiency of their building services installations must be disclosed. Furthermore, all new and retrofitted facilities are required to comply with the energy efficiency standards prescribed in the Code of Practice for Energy Efficiency of Building Services Installation. Building on this foundation, the Government will explore the Power Usage Effectiveness standards tailored to Hong Kong’s data centres. We have commissioned a consultancy study to advise on energy usage efficiency improvement measures and develop industry guidelines by the end of this year, ensuring the healthy, sustainable growth of our computing sector.

     To directly empower our scientific community, the Government will inject an additional $1 billion into the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme announced in our 2026 Policy Address. This funding will support the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute in leveraging high-performance computing power to underpin frontier research, thereby accelerating innovative breakthroughs.

     Looking ahead, the Government will soon commission a comprehensive computing power study to forecast Hong Kong’s long-term demand. Guided by the core principle of “high efficiency computing power, stable electricity supply, low-carbon transition”, this study will evaluate the economic impact and GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth driven by computing infrastructure, and offer recommendations to optimise data centre operations and city-wide planning. The study is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2027.

     Turning to opportunity, we are leveraging green technology as an engine of economic modernisation, providing structured support to ensure our brightest minds have the resources to succeed.

     Our innovation and technology parks are already nurturing the next generation of green entrepreneurs. Since the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation repositioned InnoCentre as the GreenTech Hub in 2025, the green technology ecosystem of the Science Park community has brought together over 250 green technology enterprises and 1 600 professionals. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, which I have the honour to chair, commenced operations last December. Operating under the “one zone, two parks” framework, it bridges AI, data science and new energy developments across the two places. Within this single innovation zone, researchers, capital and data can move seamlessly, allowing green enterprises to draw talent from both sides of the boundary and take climate technology from initial concept to global commercialisation.

     A case in point is Archireef Limited, an existing tenant at InnoCentre and a graduate of our Incubation Programme. Archireef collaborates with private sector businesses to restore marine ecosystems, which act as carbon sinks to address climate change. It has co-created the world’s first artificial reef structure 3D-printed in terracotta, featuring a biomimicry adaptive design for coral restoration. The Reef Tiles have been proven to be four times more effective in keeping corals alive than conventional methods. Similarly, Open Ocean Engineering exemplifies the fusion of AI and sustainability. Its Clearbot is a swarm of trash-collecting robots that use AI vision to detect and remove waste from water bodies. This demonstrates how AI can directly restore cleaner, healthier aquatic ecosystems.

     We are also bridging the gap between research and the market. Through our Innovation and Technology Fund, we have backed 314 environmental technology projects with more than $733 million, helping turn pioneering ideas into real-world climate solutions.

     Finally, we must address inclusion because neither the digital nor the green transition can succeed if our people are left behind. For example, this summer, we have launched the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme to promote AI literacy and broader adoption, while cultivating a culture of responsible use. By widening access to these capabilities, we can ensure the benefits of AI can be shared across all segments of society.

     Ladies and gentlemen, extreme weather, public health crises, and uneven development are challenges that demand we act together. AI should be a tool for solving our shared challenges, not a wall that divides us. By embracing open co-operation and shared benefit, we can move towards a future in which the smartest systems we build help our planet and people everywhere flourish together.

     I wish today’s event every success, and I hope you all enjoy a highly rewarding, productive and transformative exchange of ideas. Thank you. read more

     The Security Bureau (SB) today (October 28) held a launch ceremony of the “Andy and Security Bear: Young Citizens Safeguarding National Security” educational picture books. Published by the SB with support from the Education Bureau, the picture books convey key concepts of national security to young children through vivid illustrations and simple words, cultivating their awareness of abiding by laws and rules and helping them become young citizens who love their families and country.

     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, and the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, jointly officiated at the launch ceremony. Mr Tang shared the creative concept, saying that an illustration-driven book supplemented with an engaging storyline enables children to discover and learn the meaning of following rules and thinking critically, so that they can understand the importance of safeguarding national security from an early age. Dr Sze also outlined the application of the picture books in the school environment, highlighting their effectiveness in enhancing learning outcomes. At the ceremony, Mr Tang and Dr Sze presented the picture books to representatives of kindergarten principals, symbolising the further embedding of national security education in kindergartens.

     The three-volume set of picture books is set against the backdrop of “Andy and Security Bear”, the national security comic series launched by the SB in mid-2024 that has been well received by the education sector and students. The set consists of three new stories accompanied by resources including themed children’s songs, enabling teachers to make learning enjoyable in kindergartens.

     The SB also released “Singing Softly”, a children’s song launched alongside the first volume of the picture book. Kindergarten students attending the event performed it on the spot. Through movements, the students brought the lively and easy-to-understand lyrics to life and reinforced their understanding of the positive values in the story, including respecting others and safeguarding their home.

     The SB will distribute the first batch of picture books to over 900 kindergartens and public libraries in Hong Kong by the end of this year. Together with on-site kindergarten workshops, the national security concepts will be conveyed to young children in a diverse and fun way.  read more