Hong Kong is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) finance ministers' meeting this week, with about 500 delegates and guests from 21 member economies offered a series of activities, including giant pandas, an open-top bus tour, a Chinese cooking class, traditional opera, a Victoria Harbour cruise, the Big Buddha and guided tours of the Peak.
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立法會首次以人工智能分析議員一連三日就香港首個五年規劃及最新施政報告的辯論發言，人才及北部都會區成為最受關注議題。立法會主席李慧琼周六表示，已用AI製作六節辯論的概覽，其中改善民生保障一節吸引最多議員發言。
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南華早報發布一系列概況摘要，介紹香港首個五年計劃及2026年施政報告，第三份題為「Sharpening Hong Kong's edge」。該系列獲香港特區政府支持，將於10月20日在南華早報印刷版刊登。
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南華早報發布關於香港首個五年計劃及2026年施政報告的第四份概況摘要，主題為「開拓科技與人才」。該系列概況由香港特區政府支持製作，將於10月在南華早報印刷版刊登。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
南華早報發布香港首個五年規劃及2026年施政報告系列Factsheet第三份，題為「Sharpening the city's edge」。該系列共四部分，另三部分分別為「Hong Kong's new chapter」、「The story begins...」及「Tapping into tech and talent」，由香港特區政府支持製作，並將於10月20日在南華早報印刷版刊登。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
南華早報推出關於香港首個五年計劃及2026年施政報告的系列專題，第四篇以「Tapping into tech and talent」為題，聚焦科技與人才。該系列獲香港特區政府支持，此篇將於10月20日在南華早報印刷版刊登。
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui said the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation finance ministers' meeting to be held in Hong Kong will showcase China's voice on regional stability, and that Hong Kong has unique conditions under the environment of geopolitical tensions to bring together regional leaders for important exchanges. He told the South China Morning Post in an exclusive interview that the meeting will bring together finance ministers from 21 APEC economies.
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港府將在10月至12月季度推售兩幅地皮，一幅作住宅發展、另一幅供學生宿舍項目，在樓市回穩下維持謹慎的房屋供應立場。沙田一幅8,015平方米（86,250平方呎）住宅地將於2026-27財政年度第三季招標。
The Education Bureau has revised the School Management Guidelines, requiring aided schools to consult parents through a professional team when considering holding back students with special educational needs or severe mental illness. The authorities warned that holding students back may exacerbate their adjustment difficulties. The original feed did not provide the full text; please refer to the original for details.
The Executive Council approved on Tuesday the renewal of the free television licences of three free-to-air TV stations for 12 years, with conditions requiring the production of more English national education programmes and programmes that tell Hong Kong's story well. The licences of HKTVE and TVB are valid until 2039, while another licence has been renewed until 2040.
Chief Executive's Policy Unit Director Edward Yau said at a conference that Hong Kong is transforming into an institutional 'port' for the Asia-Pacific region, and can contribute to regional prosperity through its 'soft connectivity' advantages. He said Hong Kong's institutional strengths and close ties with the mainland and the world can allow trade in regional markets to converge here.
The government has appointed Li Zili, who previously worked at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as the Department of Health's Commissioner for Medical Product Regulation, with a three-year term starting on 20 October. The newly established medical product approval body is under the Department of Health, and its role is to accelerate the clinical application of drugs and medical devices, as part of regulatory reform.
Chief Secretary John Lee said Hong Kong's "AI City Brain" system could take shape and be tested as early as next year's typhoon season. He said the system aims to connect the separate databases of various government departments, and once fully operational it will allow the authorities to grasp the city's "full picture".
The new Huanggang Port will open on Monday. Chief Executive John Lee described it as a key milestone for connectivity in the Greater Bay Area. At Sunday's ceremony, he said Huanggang Port was a landmark project jointly built and shared by Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
Hong Kong's Secretary for the Civil Service said that senior civil servants deemed responsible in last year's fatal Tai Po fire may face disciplinary action if they are named in the investigation report. The Commission of Inquiry, appointed by the government, is expected to submit its report this month. The Secretary also said a support team is being set up to assist the Civil Service Commission in handling investigations into officials' "administrative responsibility".
The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs has proposed a three-tier dispute resolution mechanism to help owners strengthen oversight of large-scale renovation works and prevent fraud by unscrupulous merchants. A fatal fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po in November 2025, when the estate was undergoing HK$330 million (US$42.3 million) renovation works; the incident killed 168 people and left nearly 5,000 homeless.
After shelving the municipal solid waste charging scheme due to strong public opposition, Hong Kong will strengthen its community recycling network, including setting up full-day automated recycling points. The Secretary for Environment and Ecology also pledged that the allowed rate of return would be reviewed when the two power companies' scheme of control agreements expire in 2033, and that clean energy would be promoted.
The Legislative Council passed a motion supporting Hong Kong's first five-year plan and thanking Chief Executive John Lee for his latest Policy Address. The three-day LegCo debate concluded on Friday, with Chief Secretary Eric Chan thanking members for their suggestions, saying they would help improve governance; while Beijing's representative in Hong Kong urged mainland enterprises to align with the government's blueprint.
Development Secretary Bernadette Linn said in Legco on Thursday that the 1 million square metres (10.8 million square feet) of economic floor space to be provided by the Northern Metropolis will mainly be used by the innovation and technology sector and will not further drag on Hong Kong's weak office market. She stressed that the supply is not general commercial floor space.
John Lee urged the public to take note of the upcoming three-day debate in the Legislative Council on Hong Kong's first five-year plan and the latest Policy Address. According to the agenda, the debate will begin on Wednesday morning and continue until Friday, with government officials and legislators holding in-depth discussions on the concepts and content of the two policy documents.
Legislative Council members support the government's proposed tax incentives for large innovation and technology enterprises, but believe the 5-year incentive period is too short to attract large enterprises to establish headquarters or expand business in Hong Kong. Chief Executive John Lee said in last month's Policy Address that the government plans to submit a bill to introduce a preferential profits tax rate of 5% or 8.25%, half of Hong Kong's standard rate.
Hong Kong has unveiled a four-step AI "talent pipeline" strategy, positioning AI as a catalyst rather than a threat, to address the impact on entry-level jobs and cultivate industry leaders. Kevin Choi Kit-ming, Principal Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, warned that the "entry-level impact" is real, because AI performs well at routine tasks such as basic coding and frontline support that form the starting point for graduates.
The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs said Hong Kong's first five-year plan will not set overly rigid economic targets, so as to avoid intensifying outside concerns that Hong Kong is moving towards a planned economy. She also said the current priority is to achieve the targets rather than dwell on accountability mechanisms for potential shortcomings, and stressed that the government is studying relevant administrative measures.
Hong Kong plans to bring in hundreds of foreign carers in 2027 to look after the elderly, prompting concern from domestic workers and employers. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said carers must first complete a 150-hour course in their place of origin, possessing both professional elderly care and general domestic skills, and the authorities have also disclosed pay levels.
Experts suggest Hong Kong legislate on data governance and underlying AI security standards to ensure artificial intelligence is applied responsibly. The government has committed to using dedicated legislation to handle disputes or crimes involving AI applications, and experts say legislation needs to clarify boundaries of responsibility to boost industry and public confidence in expanding the use of AI.
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勞工及福利局局長孫玉菡表示，過去一年香港經濟表現轉強是調高外佣每月最低工資2.35%的原因，月薪上調至HK$5,220（US$665）。他強調政府希望年度調整機制維持「平衡和可接受」，工會及僱主團體對此均表不滿。
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development told the South China Morning Post that the government plans to relax indirect advertising restrictions on broadcasters to cope with intense competition from the internet and streaming media. Several broadcast operators had called for a review of the Television General Code of Practice to improve the business environment, and the authorities have responded.
Hong Kong is pouring billions of dollars into accelerating the development of impactful innovative solutions, in line with the government's "AI+" initiative to promote artificial intelligence development. The deployment has been further bolstered by the First Five-Year Plan for the Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030), with Hong Kong promoting the integration of AI into various industries, public services, scientific research, healthcare and finance.
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前行政長官董建華的送別令人動容，標誌着為香港揭開全新篇章的一代人物離去，他畢生為這座城市傾注心力。他在回歸初期面對亞洲金融風暴、樓市泡沫爆破、SARS及社會嚴重分歧等嚴峻考驗。
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商務及經濟發展局局長表示，今年至今美國、英國及新加坡企業是香港入境外資的主要來源，地緣政治不穩下他堅稱「錢就是錢」。他形容2026年因國際地緣政治形勢是非常具挑戰性的一年。
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香港當局將外佣每月最低工資上調2.35%至HK$5,220，食物津貼維持不變，原水平為HK$5,100。新工資適用於星期六或之後簽署的所有合約。政府星期五公布，指因應較佳的社會經濟因素作出調整。
Why read this: 新水平由 HK$5,100 上調 2.35% 至 HK$5,220，讀者可核對自己簽署的合約適用哪個工資水平。
Chief Executive John Lee and several senior government officials attended the National Day flag-raising ceremony and reception to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Hong Kong celebrated the 77th anniversary of the founding of the country in this form on the day.
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港府承諾擴大知識產權融資沙盒計劃，加入更多銀行和企業。七家企業用戶在九個月試點後降低借貸成本，金管局銀行監理總監 Carmen Chu Lap-kiu 指計劃有助完善估值實務、專業服務成本、配套措施和市場認知。
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長遠房屋策略進度報告預測未來十年本港非本地學生住宿的年度需求為2,310個單位，較去年估算高45%。當局被籲在指定地區增加私營房屋比例，並與發展商合作擴大非本地學生住宿供應。