Financial Secretary Paul Chan concluded his visit to Bangkok, Thailand this morning after meeting with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

During the meeting in the morning, Mr Chan and  Ekniti Nitithanprapas exchanged views on further strengthening economic, trade and financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Thailand.

The two sides explored ways to deepen co-operation and connect foreign direct investment in Thailand with Hong Kong's capital market to further support enterprises investing and expanding their businesses in Thailand.

Mr Chan said that Hong Kong could leverage its strengths as an international financial centre to provide comprehensive investment and financing support for enterprises in Thailand. Hong Kong also welcomed closer regulatory co-operation between the two securities markets to encourage dual listings by enterprises from both places and strengthen capital market ties.

He added that with Mainland enterprises accelerating their international expansion and increasing investment in Thailand and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong could further enhance its bridging role by matching the Mainland's technological strengths with Thailand's industrial development needs, thereby fostering investment and industrial co-operation.

Mr Chan thanked Mr Ekniti for visiting Hong Kong to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers' Meeting, and invited him to attend the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong in January next year to further strengthen economic, trade and financial ties between the two places and across the region, and jointly explore new opportunities for co-operation.

The Financial Secretary also met with the chief executive officer and senior management of a major French bank with extensive operations in Hong Kong this morning.

They exchanged views on developments in the fixed income and currency markets in Hong Kong and the region, green and sustainable finance, tokenised financial products, and asset and wealth management.

Mr Chan welcomed the group's continued expansion in Hong Kong and its use of the city as a key hub for developing its regional business, tapping into the opportunities offered by Hong Kong as an international financial centre.

Having concluded his morning programme, Mr Chan departed for Hong Kong and returned this afternoon.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today attended the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Legal Week in Hainan.

Mr Lam promoted Hong Kong’s strengths in professional services and sought to deepen co-operation in legal and dispute resolution between Hong Kong and Hainan, focusing on the idea of leveraging “connection of the two ports” as a means of contributing to the country’s high-quality development.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, he remarked that Hong Kong and Hainan maintain close relations, supported by strong personal ties and business connections. During the period of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Hainan will aim to strengthen its foreign-related rule of law and position the Hainan Free Trade Port as a preferred destination for resolving international commercial disputes.

Mr Lam outlined that for its part Hong Kong will deepen its development as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, leverage its strengths in professional services to assist Mainland enterprises in “going global”, and develop as an international hub for pooling high-calibre talent. He stressed that Hong Kong’s talent pool can help to serve Hainan’s needs and support the province in optimising its rule of law-governed business environment.

The justice chief also highlighted that Hainan has a key role to play in developing commercial aerospace as a strategic emerging industry, adding that Hong Kong can provide tailored legal and professional services to support the commercialisation of aerospace development. He urged aerospace enterprises from Hainan and across the country to adopt Hong Kong law in their contracts and choose the city as a venue for diversified dispute resolution.

At the ceremony, Mr Lam and Director-General of Hainan’s Department of Justice Qiu Lijun signed a co-operation arrangement to strengthen ties between the two places. The agreement covers legal services co-operation, foreign-related legal talent training, and mutual exchanges between Hong Kong and Hainan.

Mr Lam subsequently attended an exchange session focused on advancing the arrangement’s implementation and met other leaders from the Hainan Department of Justice and representatives of the Hainan Lawyers Association.

Three items of subsidiary legislation relating to the implementation of the “Arrangement on Mutual Service of Judicial Documents in Civil & Commercial Proceedings between the Mainland & the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” were published in the Government Gazette today.

The three items are as follows: Rules of the High Court (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2026; Rules of the District Court (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2026; and Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 2026.

All three will come into operation on March 30.

The Department of Justice and the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) signed the new arrangement on April 20 this year, with a view to enhancing the mechanism for mutual use of judicial documents in civil and commercial matters between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The new arrangement also aims to further promote the alignment of mechanisms and rules between the legal systems of the two places.

The subsidiary legislation seeks to implement the new arrangement in Hong Kong, while the SPC will promulgate a judicial interpretation of the new arrangement in the Mainland.

The Hong Kong SAR Government and SPC have agreed that the arrangement will come into force on March 30, replacing an existing arrangement that has been in place for over 27 years.

The subsidiary legislation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on October 21 for negative vetting.

The Government announced today that the Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots will launch its next phase by progressively rolling out four new “signature tourism” projects from the current quarter.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, who leads the Working Group, said the Government is committed to identifying and integrating tourism resources in Hong Kong.

“Through strengthening cross-departmental co-ordination and leveraging community efforts, the nine tourist hotspot projects rolled out in the first phase have been well received. Starting from the end of this year, the Working Group will roll out tourist hotspot projects covering themes such as industrial brands, miniature art, religious culture and local characteristics in phases, showcasing Hong Kong's unique cultural heritage and city landscape to visitors.”

The four upcoming projects are phase two of the Hong Kong Industrial Brand Tourism Scheme, the Hong Kong Miniature City Exhibition, immersive religious and cultural tours, and the Seasons of Yuen Long district tourism promotion project.

Building on the success of the initial launch, phase two of the Hong Kong Industrial Brand Tourism Scheme will introduce diverse new brand experiences for visitors, including tours of Kowloon Motor Bus depots, the MTR “Station Rail Voyage: Explorer” exhibition, and Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s Hong Kong research, development and production base.

Madame Tussauds Hong Kong will recreate the Hong Kong Miniature City Exhibition at the Peak Tower starting from the current quarter. The exhibition will feature exquisite miniature artworks that showcase Hong Kong’s landmark buildings, authentic customs and ways of life in three dimensions.

With regard to immersive religious and cultural tours, the Chinese Temples Committee is strengthening digitalisation and cultural promotion across its administered temples. Initiatives include installing QR code display boards that allow visitors to learn about temple antiquities and redeem cultural souvenirs. The Government will also further explore using temples as the core to connect historical buildings and monuments of cultural value across various districts.

​To showcase urban-rural integration in Yuen Long, the Yuen Long District Office will collaborate with district organisations on the Seasons of Yuen Long project, which will invite visitors to explore the district’s characteristics under different themes throughout the year. The project comprises the production of a tourist map, the development of a thematic website, and the installation of themed information boards near landmarks in the town centre and rural areas of Yuen Long.

The Government will hold an official ceremony on the morning of November 12 at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr Sun Yat-sen.

November 12, 2026, marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr Sun, a great national hero, a great patriot and a pioneering forerunner of China's democratic revolution.

In commemoration of Dr Sun's enduring contributions to national independence, social progress and the people's well-being, Hongkong Post will issue a set of special stamps on the same day.

Government departments and community organisations will organise a series of commemorative activities starting this month. These events are designed to allow members of the public to gain a deeper understanding of his life and historical legacy from diverse perspectives.

The scheduled activities include public exhibitions, seminars, guided tours, film screenings, and student and youth exchange tours to the Chinese Mainland, alongside local heritage trail visits and a parent-child quiz competition.

The 2026 final register for the Rural Representative Election (RRE) has been published today and is now open for public inspection.  

The final register contains the details of registered electors across Existing Villages, Indigenous Villages, Composite Indigenous Villages and Market Towns. Registered electors can verify their details online via the RRE Voter Registration Information Enquiry System or by calling the RRE hotline at 2152 1521 during business hours.

A full copy of the final register can be inspected at the Electoral Registration Officer’s office located at 11/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. Additionally, relevant sections of the register concerning specific Rural Committees can be viewed at the offices of the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers within the respective New Territories District Offices (NTDOs).

Under the Electoral Affairs Commission (Registration of Electors) (Rural Representative Election) Regulation (Cap. 541K), the final register may be inspected by members of the press, political parties, the Heung Yee Kuk, relevant Rural Committees, indigenous inhabitants of the relevant Indigenous Villages or Composite Indigenous Villages, and residents of the concerned villages or Market Towns. Those eligible can book an inspection appointment by contacting the RRE hotline or the appropriate NTDOs during business hours.

Statistical information regarding the final register is also available on the RRE website.

On the second day of a visit to Nanjing, Financial Secretary Paul Chan met Jiangsu provincial leaders and business representatives, attended a conference promoting support for enterprises in “going global”, and visited a platform for the commercialisation of research outcomes.

The visit by Mr Chan and his delegation aims to deepen co-operation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong, and support Mainland enterprises in leveraging Hong Kong to expand their global business.

In the morning, the finance chief attended a conference themed “Jiangsu-Hong Kong Partnership: Setting Sail Together”.

Addressing attendees, he highlighted that this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Through closer co-operation, he remarked, Jiangsu and Hong Kong can seize the opportunities arising from the country’s pursuit of high-level opening up and translate these into tangible results for enterprises expanding into international markets.

He urged Jiangsu enterprises to use Hong Kong as a base for planning their global expansion.

Mr Chan also stressed that Jiangsu and Hong Kong enjoy a solid foundation of co-operation. Hong Kong is both Jiangsu’s largest source of foreign investment and its largest destination for outward investment. As of the end of September, 129 Jiangsu enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of about $1.44 trillion, were listed in Hong Kong.

The Financial Secretary said the two places have a sound basis for co-operation, with ample scope for further collaboration in innovation-driven development and expansion into international markets.

Mr Chan iterated that Hong Kong’s strengths extend beyond stock market listings and fundraising to its high concentration of international capital, financial institutions and professional talent. He said that enterprises can connect with international investors and partners through Hong Kong, broadening their financing channels to support business development at different stages.

On talent and innovation and technology (I&T), Mr Chan highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is taking forward the development of the Northern Metropolis and university towns.

He outlined that these projects aim to bring together quality education and research resources from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas to foster the co-ordinated development of education, technology, talent and industries, and to accelerate the commercialisation of research outcomes.

He invited Jiangsu enterprises to visit the Northern Metropolis to explore co-operation opportunities.

Mr Chan elaborated that, in attracting enterprises and nurturing industries, the Hong Kong SAR Government looks not only at the scale of investments, but also at enterprises’ technological capabilities, capacity for innovation, and long-term contributions to Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem and talent development.

He added that the Hong Kong SAR Government is keen to explore investment co-operation with enterprises that are aligned with Hong Kong’s future development priorities, and to offer support on land, taxation and other areas.

He expressed the hope of building long-term partnerships with Jiangsu enterprises and supporting more Mainland enterprises in becoming multinational corporations that have global influence and bring Chinese technologies, products and solutions to markets around the world.

Mr Chan also held a breakfast meeting with a group of young Jiangsu entrepreneurs to exchange views on business development and co-operation opportunities between the two places.

In addition, he attended a sharing session with Hong Kong business people and enterprises in Jiangsu to learn about their business development in the province.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the National Regional Technology Transfer & Transformation Centre for Higher Education Institutions (Jiangsu) to learn about its work in promoting the transfer and commercialisation of university research outcomes, matching these with the needs of enterprises, and fostering industry-academia-research collaboration.

The delegation met officials and representatives from the centre and from Nanjing’s Jiangbei New Area, as well as representatives of local industries and enterprises.

They discussed promoting two-way co-operation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong, and establishing more regular mechanisms for I&T collaboration.

At the meeting, Mr Chan urged Jiangsu and Hong Kong to strengthen connections among science and technology parks, universities, enterprises, investment institutions and the professional services sector, facilitate talent exchanges, and bring more promising research projects to fruition.

In the evening, Mr Chan called on Governor of Jiangsu Province Liu Xiaotao. They discussed deepening economic and trade co-operation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong, connecting innovation and industrial resources, and jointly supporting enterprises in expanding into overseas markets.

The Government today hosted a commendation ceremony for the recent “Salute to the National Flag” visit to Beijing involving Hong Kong and Macao youth, while also launching a thematic exhibition on the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Red Army's Long March.

A delegation of about 1,200 flag-raising team representatives from tertiary institutions, secondary schools and primary schools from Hong Kong and Macao visited Beijing last month. During the trip, they witnessed a Tiananmen Square flag-raising ceremony and explored the capital's history and culture.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive John Lee urged students to revisit the history of the Long March, deepen their sense of patriotism through visiting the exhibition and become champions of the “one country, two systems” cause.

Highlighting the national flag as the symbol of sovereignty, dignity and unity that signifies the Chinese nation’s struggle and common ideals, he noted that saluting the flag pays tribute to both the country and the sacrifices and national ideals of Red Army soldiers.

Organised by the Education Bureau and hosted by the Patriotic Education Centre, the exhibition features various interactive installations, as well as oil paintings.

The exhibition is open to primary and secondary students starting today. Schools can apply to visit via the centre.

Guided tours, talks, and other educational activities will be available.

The opening ceremony of the redeveloped Huanggang Port was held today at the Huanggang Port Mainland Port Area, with the facility set to officially open at 6.30am tomorrow.

Chief Executive John Lee officiated at the ceremony alongside Director of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee Huang Chuping; CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee Standing Committee Member and CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee Secretary Jin Lei; CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee Deputy Secretary and Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government Li Yun; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Luo Yonggang; Director General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Geping; Director of Bureau III of CPC Central Committee’s Hong Kong & Macao Work Office and State Council’s Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Zou Jinsong; and Deputy Director of the Department of Border Security Check of the National Immigration Administration Mo Haiying.

The redevelopment of the port signifies the proactive alignment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government with national development strategies, fulfilling goals to strengthen regional infrastructure connectivity under the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, announced last month, explicitly set out to leverage the strengths of the redeveloped port by implementing a co-location arrangement and adopting a novel “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode.

The official opening marks a major milestone for Hong Kong and Shenzhen in enhancing the layout of boundary control points, improving clearance efficiency, and facilitating the cross-boundary flow of people. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee described the project as a landmark undertaking built upon a close partnership and concerted efforts between Hong Kong and Shenzhen for shared benefits.

Mr Lee added that the official opening reflects a new height for connectivity within the Greater Bay Area, demonstrating “hard connectivity” in infrastructure, “soft connectivity” of rules and mechanisms, and a “connectivity of hearts” between the residents of the Mainland and Hong Kong. Positioned as the most important 24-hour passenger land boundary control point between the two cities, the redeveloped port has a design capacity of 200,000 passenger trips per day.

This capacity could further increase to about 300,000 trips daily upon the future commissioning of the MTR Corporation’s Northern Link Spur Line. Backed by the central authorities, the site implements a co-location arrangement with clearly delineated Hong Kong and Mainland port areas.

It is also the first land boundary control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen to adopt the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode, which significantly enhances the passenger experience. Under this new mechanism, clearance times will be significantly reduced from around 30 minutes at the original Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port to approximately five minutes.

Since the establishment of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area on July 31, the Hong Kong SAR Government has been pressing ahead at full steam with various preparatory tasks. Having confirmed operational readiness, Hong Kong and Shenzhen issued a joint statement on October 9, announcing that the port will officially open at 6.30am on October 12 to provide 24-hour clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles.

Hong Kong SAR Government officials attending today’s ceremony included Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Janice Tse, Commissioner of Police Chow Yat-ming, Director of Immigration Benson Kwok, Commissioner of Customs & Excise Chan Tsz-tat, and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart for Nanjing tomorrow morning to promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages as an international platform for Mainland enterprises. The delegation includes representatives from public organisations, innovation and technology (I&T) parks and professional bodies, as well as various business sectors.

On October 13, the delegation will attend a promotion conference in Nanjing themed “Jiangsu-Hong Kong Partnership: Setting Sail Together”. A series of business-matching and promotional activities will showcase how Hong Kong’s diverse financial and professional services can support overseas expansion.

The delegation will also highlight Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem to foster resource matching and explore co-operation in technology research and development (R&D). To exchange experiences, members will visit local technology transfer institutions alongside green technology and biotechnology enterprises in Jiangsu Province.

During his stay in Nanjing, Mr Chan will deliver a keynote speech at Nanjing University and visit its frontier technology research institutes. He will also meet Hong Kong business people and residents living in Jiangsu to learn about their daily lives and business operations.

Furthermore, the finance chief will meet leaders of Jiangsu Province and Nanjing City to discuss strengthening economic, trade and I&T co-operation. Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon, during which time Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will act as Financial Secretary.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has welcomed the release and implementation of the “Measures for the Management of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Legal Professional Examination & Practice” by the Ministry of Justice. Released on October 5, these regulations follow the conclusion of a multi-year pilot scheme for GBA lawyers, which ended on October 4.

Earlier, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee passed amendments to the Lawyers Law of the People’s Republic of China to regularise the GBA lawyers' scheme. These amendments specify that relevant operational details are to be stipulated by the judicial administration department of the State Council in accordance with the law.

The newly released measures provide clear regulations regarding enrolment requirements for the GBA Examination, application procedures to practise, and the overall scope of practice. They also specify that the examination will now take place every two years.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said: “The amended Lawyers Law, together with the Measures, have established the practice regime and implementation rules for GBA lawyers, providing solid legal protection and clear guidance for the long-term and stable operation of the GBA lawyers’ scheme."

“I warmly welcome these developments and thank the Mainland authorities for their strong support," Mr Lam added.

Moving forward, the DoJ will proactively advance policy initiatives relating to GBA legal practice as set out in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address. The DoJ will support Mainland authorities fully in implementing the scheme, capitalising on the unique strengths of Hong Kong’s legal profession while deepening regional co-operation across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has condemned the European Parliament’s Recommendation on EU-China political relations for making biased and untrue slanders in the section concerning Hong Kong.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government expressed firm opposition to and strong dissatisfaction with those biases against the city. It strongly urged the European Parliament to immediately stop its slanders, cease issuing narratives that distort facts and spread alarm, and discontinue interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China’s internal affairs.

The statement stressed that the Hong Kong SAR is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, enjoying a high degree of autonomy under “one country, two systems” directly under the central government. The Hong Kong SAR Government added that it will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) and other relevant laws to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities that endanger national security.

Through the implementation of such laws, the Hong Kong SAR Government aims to safeguard the lawful rights and interests enjoyed by Hong Kong people and other persons in the city in accordance with the law. This work provides a solid foundation for development across economic, social and other aspects, with the overarching goal of ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”.

The Hong Kong SAR Government outlined that the implementation of the HKNSL has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the community at large to swiftly resume normality, while the business environment continues to improve. Alongside maintaining its position as the world’s freest economy, Hong Kong has risen to the top spot in cross-boundary wealth management worldwide and is ranked second in world competitiveness.

The city is also ranked third among international financial centres and came first globally in terms of funds raised through initial public offerings in 2025. Furthermore, Hong Kong remains high in the overall ranking of the 2025 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, remaining ahead of the Western countries which often unreasonably criticise its rule of law and human rights situation.

The statement pointed out that these achievements are built upon the freedom and stability brought to Hong Kong society by the HKNSL, the SNSO, other relevant laws of the Hong Kong SAR, and the work of safeguarding national security. It reiterated that it is each and every sovereign state’s inherent right and international practice under international law and the Charter of the United Nations to enact laws safeguarding national security.

The Hong Kong SAR Government added that it will, as always, safeguard independent judicial power and fully support the Judiciary in exercising its power independently. Simultaneously, it will steadfastly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and defend the dignity of the rule of law.

Chief Executive John Lee today expressed his gratitude to the Legislative Council for passing a motion on Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and a "Motion of Thanks in respect of the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address".

Mr Lee iterated that the city's First Five-Year Plan is a forward-looking, strategic, and directional guiding document, while the Policy Address serves as an annual action plan for the implementation of the Five-Year Plan. He added that the two blueprints are closely interconnected, and that during their formulation, opinions from all sectors were gathered.

He said: “This year's Policy Address is entitled 'A Strategic Vision for a Bright New Era, Driving Reform and Boosting Development, Unleashing Opportunities and Enhancing Livelihood'. It sets out wide-ranging policy measures across various fields to take forward the initiatives for the first year in line with our five-year blueprint, which creates more development opportunities, enables the public to share economic dividends, and enhances social well-being.”

Mr Lee thanked LegCo Members for engaging in in-depth discussions and offering diverse views during a debate held over three consecutive days.

He noted that the discussions covered areas such as advancing the "four centres and one hub" policy; leveraging Hong Kong's international advantages; expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis; deepening the development of the Greater Bay Area and participating in high-quality co-operation under the Belt & Road Initiative; enhancing social well-being in a tangible way; and adopting a holistic approach to development and security.

Mr Lee said the Government will carefully analyse and study members' views to ensure more effective implementation of relevant measures.

"My team and I will continue to work closely with the LegCo to ensure positive interaction between the executive authorities and the legislature, with mutual checks and balances and complementarity. I firmly believe that, under the principles of an executive-led system and 'patriots administering Hong Kong', the executive authorities and the legislature will continue to pool their strengths and work together to lead the community in better developing the economy and improving people's livelihood."

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government strongly reprimands and resolutely refutes the baseless, slanderous remarks about Hong Kong in the US Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report 2026.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said in the statement today that it vehemently opposes and firmly rejects the categorically false and groundless remarks in the so-called Report on Hong Kong's efforts to tackle trafficking in persons (TIP).

It pointed out that the rating of Hong Kong at Tier 3 is entirely unfounded and represents a blatant attempt to tarnish Hong Kong's sterling reputation.

The Government iterated that TIP has never been prevalent in Hong Kong, and there has never been any sign that the city is used by syndicates as a destination or transit point for TIP.

The statement stressed that the Hong Kong SAR Government has long adopted a proactive, multi-pronged strategy in the fight against TIP, with substantial resources being injected into combatting TIP and enhancing protection for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) in Hong Kong.

Over the last year, it said, the Hong Kong SAR Government continued to spare no effort in conducting initial screenings for all people vulnerable to TIP risks, who had come to the attention of the relevant departments, including illegal immigrants, sex workers, illegal workers, FDHs, imported workers and other suspected victims

It conducted around 12,100 initial screenings last year, a 7% increase compared with the year prior, and identified 15 TIP victims.

Among these victims, all of whom were Hong Kong residents involved in employment fraud in Southeast Asian countries. The Hong Kong SAR Government said it took swift actions to return them to the city, identifying them, rigorously investigating their individual cases and prosecuting those implicated, underscoring its commitment to tackling the scourge of TIP.

The statement emphasised that it is baseless for the report to cast doubt on Hong Kong's victim screening efforts, especially when studies and reports within the US have highlighted systematic underreporting of human trafficking cases by domestic law enforcement in the US.

In response to the report's repeated insistence that Hong Kong should enact dedicated trafficking legislation, the Hong Kong SAR Government said that the current legislative framework, which comprises over 50 legal provisions against various TIP conducts, provides a comprehensive package of safeguards comparable to dedicated TIP laws found in some jurisdictions.

The statement stressed that every jurisdiction should have latitude to determine the best legal framework to tackle the issue and there is simply no one-size-fits-all solution.

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements today announced that Hong Kong welcomed around 1.6 million visitors during for the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 7, with Mainland visitors accounting for more than 1.41 million – a figure that surpassed last year’s record.

During the seven-day period, the daily average number of Mainland visitors stood at around 202,000, peaking on October 1, with approximately 277,000 arrivals. The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point recorded the highest volume of Mainland visitors, followed by the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, who led the interdepartmental working group, noted that this year's National Day Golden Week featured a variety of vibrant activities. He added that the National Day fireworks display, the National Day Raceday and other events held on October 1 were well received by the public and visitors.

The Government and various sectors of the community also launched a rich array of special offers and activities covering public transport, culture, arts and leisure, dining and consumption to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China with the public, Mr Chan added.

“These activities effectively attracted crowds and stimulated consumption, with the retail sector indicating that consumer spending in various retail categories saw single-digit to double-digit growth year-on-year, while the catering sector also indicated that businesses in tourist areas increased by about 10%.”

Mr Chan emphasised that the Government will continue to work hand in hand with the industry to promote diversified tourism products and projects, creating an all-round and in-depth tourism experience for visitors while continuously injecting momentum into the local economy.

The National Day Fireworks Display over Victoria Harbour on October 1 attracted over 378,000 spectators, while the National Day Raceday at Sha Tin Racecourse attracted nearly 30,000 spectators, including 9,300 tourists. Meanwhile, the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival 2026 and International Lantern Spectacular at Victoria Park received an enthusiastic response; its duration was extended twice, drawing a total of around 730,000 visitors.

In addition, around 1,140 Mainland inbound tour groups brought over 41,000 visitors to the city during the seven-day Golden Week, with around 60% opting for overnight itineraries. The overall hotel occupancy rate reached 90%.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive John Lee said today that the Buildings Department is investigating the One Stanley development to ascertain whether it involves construction quality problems and whether site supervision was properly carried out, adding that the law will be strictly enforced if violations are found. 

Speaking to media this morning ahead of the Executive Council meeting, Mr Lee emphasised that he attaches great importance to the construction quality of building works in Hong Kong.

“I am also concerned as to whether the professionals involved in the works have discharged their duties of supervision properly, and whether the contractors have carried out the works in breach of requirements. These concern the professional standards, quality and safety of Hong Kong's construction works.”

Mr Lee said he will not comment on the details of the case as the investigation is ongoing.

He remarked that he has asked the Development Bureau to monitor the investigation into One Stanley and the standards of construction works as a whole, to ensure strong deterrence, and to severely punish those involved in any violations. He stressed that this will safeguard the high professional standards, quality and safety of Hong Kong's construction works.

Mr Lee added that the bureau will submit proposed amendments to the Buildings Ordinance before the end of this year. These will strengthen regulation and increase penalties and punishments for malpractice and substandard performance.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired the seventh meeting of the fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission, with members acknowledging that the youth unemployment situation warrants attention.

The meeting heard that rising unemployment and the youth employment situation are structural challenges faced by most advanced economies worldwide, Hong Kong being no exception.

Members took note that the Government continues to invest heavily in education and skills training for the local workforce. This includes launching a two-year 30,000 Youth Employment & Internship Programme, as announced in the Policy Address, to facilitate youth employment and development. 

The Labour Department will also launch the Youth Employment Link online service portal to facilitate young people's access to employment information and support services. Looking ahead, the continued expansion of the local economy is expected to underpin overall labour market conditions.

The Labour & Welfare Bureau also briefed the meeting on the "Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection" report. Members heard that the Government will continue to promote "AI for All" and support lifelong learning, ensuring that skills in the labour force remain aligned with Hong Kong's future economy.

The bureau will commence a new review of the Talent List soon.

Members said they supported the Government in continuing to closely monitor the labour market and in formulating and refining forward-looking policies on a rolling basis, with a view to maintaining manpower supply in support of economic development, whilst also safeguarding employment priority for local workers.

Chief Executive John Lee today congratulated Hong Kong, China athletes for their outstanding achievements at the 20th Asian Games, where both total medal count and gold medals hit record highs.

The Hong Kong, China delegation consisted of around 580 athletes competing across 38 events at the Games. Mr Lee noted that all participating athletes gave their utmost in every competition, securing a total of 54 medals. This impressive tally comprised 11 gold, 19 silver and 24 bronze medals.

Gold medals were claimed in wushu, swimming, rowing, squash, sailing, tennis, windsurfing and rugby sevens. Notably, the squash, sailing and tennis teams achieved historic results, writing a glorious new chapter for Hong Kong sports.

Mr Lee remarked that such an encouraging achievement demonstrates the perseverance and standards of excellence of Hong Kong, China athletes, which have brought honour to both the country and Hong Kong.

“The courage, relentless spirit, perseverance and unyielding determination shown by Hong Kong, China athletes on the field of play are the finest embodiment of the Hong Kong spirit,” he said.

Mr Lee added that the excellent results at this latest edition of the Asian Games demonstrate that the Government's policies and its strategic resource support are on the right track. He also thanked the Hong Kong Sports Institute, the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, various national sports associations, and the coaching and medical teams for their unwavering support and dedication to nurturing local athletes over the years.

The Education Bureau held the learning outcomes sharing session of the "Salute to the National Flag" Beijing Visit Delegation at Kowloon Technical School today, promoting the outcomes of the activity among more young people and various sectors of the society.

About 250 student representatives of the delegation from tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools shared their learning experiences during the five-day visit to Beijing.

Speaking at the session, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki described the delegation as a high-level "walking classroom", which enabled students to feel for themselves the national dignity represented by the national flag and the national anthem through the solemn flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square.

He said that this deepened their understanding of the symbolic meaning of the national flag, and strengthened their sense of national identity and patriotism.

Mr Chan said that students experienced at first hand our country's journey from arduous struggle to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation from the country's millennia-old cultural heritage to the development achievements of the new era.

He added that the delegation was received in person by Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang, and by the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Xia Baolong at the Great Hall of the People.

“Mr Ding conveyed the cordial remarks and exhortations of President Xi and the Central Government to the young people from Hong Kong and Macao, enabling students to feel the care and expectations of the Central Authorities for Hong Kong and Macao young people, and to understand more deeply the important meaning carried by the national flag,” Mr Chan said.

He emphasised that patriotic education has all along been a top priority of the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address also list the promotion of patriotic education as a key task.

He noted that today's learning outcomes sharing session aims to pass on more widely and further what the students learned in Beijing, so that more young people may gain a deeper understanding of the important meaning of the national flag and feel more deeply our country's care and concern for young people.

He said the Government will continue to join hands with various sectors of the society and, through rich and diverse means, enable young people to build a firm sense of national identity, national confidence and a sense of responsibility through first-hand experience.

Today's sharing session began with a flag-raising ceremony. A joint team formed by flag-raising teams of the Association of Hong Kong Flag-guards and the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association, drawing on the experience of exchanges and interaction in Beijing with the People's Liberation Army Ceremonial Escort Battalion, conducted a solemn flag-raising ceremony. Booths were also set up at the session for members of the delegation to introduce their learning experience in Beijing.

Around 1,200 flag-raising team representatives, teachers, students and youth group representatives from Hong Kong and Macao joined the delegation’s thematic activity in Beijing from September 18 to 22.

Today marks the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It carries the special significance of being the first National Day celebrated since the announcement of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan.

Over the past 77 years, the Chinese nation has achieved a historic transformation – from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. Today, China has become the world’s largest manufacturer and merchandise trader, its leading contributor to scientific research output and much more, exerting significant influence on international affairs.

The formulation of a Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong is not merely about rolling out a series of policy initiatives. The plan provides a strategic roadmap for Hong Kong, allowing us to apply our unique advantages under “one country, two systems”, embrace modern trends and seize the opportunities brought by national development.

Why should we formulate a Five-Year Plan? And why do it now? The answer is straightforward: to fully and swiftly seize the immense opportunities brought by national development, and to deliver more fruits of development to the benefit of our citizens. Faced with an ever-changing geopolitical landscape, the reshaping of industrial chains, as well as the rapid development of technology and artificial intelligence, Hong Kong must devise a strategic roadmap in a proactive manner and put in place forward-looking plans. As the world’s second-largest economy, China is widely recognised as both a driver and a stabiliser for global economic development. Time and tide wait for no man. We must act decisively and respond to changing circumstances by formulating the Five-Year Plan, in order to ride the wave of opportunities, keep pace with the times, and integrate into and serve the overall national development. This can only boost Hong Kong’s progress and allow the people of Hong Kong to enjoy more development dividends.

Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan is a logical and target-oriented plan. It is based on an overall review of Hong Kong’s prevailing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and it serves as a comprehensive blueprint targeted at building strengths, overcoming weaknesses, seizing opportunities and managing threats. The plan focuses on six themes: first, to strengthen the development of “four centres and one hub”, namely our status as international financial, maritime and trade centres and an international aviation hub, as well as our development into an international innovation and technology centre and an international hub for high-calibre talent; second, to leverage our advantage as an international city by deepening Hong Kong’s development of a legal and dispute resolution services centre, intellectual property trading centre and East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange; third, to expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis; fourth, to reinforce our strength in connecting with the country and the world; fifth, to enhance social well-being; and sixth, to adopt a holistic approach to development and security. These six themes cover economic development, spatial layout, internal and external connectivity, livelihood enhancement, and risk prevention and control, forming a comprehensive system with interconnected and mutually reinforcing components.

The three key distinctive features of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan are: first, it is well-suited to the unique characteristics of Hong Kong. In the foreword on page 1 of the plan, it is made clear from the outset that Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan has to be grounded in the city’s practical reality, and supported by policy measures and major projects that feature Hong Kong's unique character.

Second, it adheres to the “one country, two systems” principle. This means that the First Five-Year Plan must be developed under the Basic Law framework. The Basic Law expressly provides for the practice of capitalism and the common law system, as well as the free flow of capital, people, goods and information in Hong Kong, while the First Five-Year Plan stresses a market economy and upholds the two-pronged approach of effective market and capable government.

Third, the First Five-Year Plan clearly defines Hong Kong’s international positioning. Its 'International Financial Centre' chapter points out that we must firmly demonstrate Hong Kong’s international positioning, whereas the Policy Address states that we will stay committed to our global positioning. The two documents reiterate the importance and establishment of Hong Kong’s global positioning, which powerfully illustrates that it is part of our city’s DNA.

One of the initiatives for implementing the First Five-Year Plan is to fully leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantage as a connector between the country and the rest of the world. Hong Kong is the only city in the world that enjoys the convergence of national and international opportunities. The ultimate focus of the plan is, in fact, to capitalise on this aggregate advantage: drawing on the momentum of the country’s development to gain stable support, while leveraging an international platform to access global resources and achieve two-way interaction. Committed to firmly maintaining its strategic position as the nexus of domestic-international dual circulation, Hong Kong will make greater contributions in its roles as a super connector and super value-adder.

As the Chinese saying goes, “Victory is ensured when people pool their strength; success is secured when people put their heads together.” Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan is the fruit of the collective wisdom gained during our extensive consultation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government puts words into action. With a strategic vision for a bright new era that drives reform, boosts development, unleashes opportunities and enhances livelihood, we have formulated the 2026 Policy Address to launch wide-ranging policy measures and take forward the initiatives for the first year in line with our five-year strategic blueprint. I am confident that as long as we, each dedicated to our respective roles, join hands and work in synergy with one another, Hong Kong will certainly be able to set out on a path to a brighter and more prosperous future.

Finally, I wish our motherland and Hong Kong continuing prosperity and stability. May all of you enjoy good health and great success in every endeavour. Thank you very much.

This is a translation of Chief Executive John Lee’s speech delivered at the reception in celebration of the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1.