The Financial Secretary’s blog: official views on the economy and public finances, rather than market prices.
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
新皇崗口岸將於明日啟用，完成兩地出入境手續約需5分鐘，較舊口岸約30分鐘大幅縮短，並維持24小時通關。財政司司長網誌指，再過一個多星期APEC財政部長會將首次在香港舉行，聚焦民生財政政策、數字基礎設施融資、普惠金融及青年財經人才交流四項重點。
Why read this: 網誌把新皇崗口岸的通關時間與舊口岸對比，並列出財長會四項重點背後的香港綠色債券與貸款數據，方便逐項核對。
The rebuilt Huanggang Port will officially open at 6:30am tomorrow. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the new port will handle 200,000 passengers daily, five times that of the old port, and will maintain 24-hour clearance. Under the model of "joint inspection and single release", completing entry and exit formalities at both places will take about 5 minutes, a significant reduction from about 30 minutes at the old port. He also mentioned that the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting will be held in Hong Kong for the first time in over a week's time.
Why read this: The new port will handle 200,000 passenger trips daily, with clearance time cut from about 30 minutes to about 5 minutes; the figures are specific and can be checked item by item.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in his blog that the Lok Ma Chau Control Point has completed its historic mission today, and that on 12 October the new Huanggang Port will continue the Shenzhen-Hong Kong link to a new standard. The new port has a total gross floor area of about 690,000 square metres, is designed to handle 200,000 passenger trips daily, takes about five minutes to complete immigration procedures for both places, and maintains 24-hour clearance. He also discussed the four key areas of focus at the APEC finance ministers' meeting, being held in Hong Kong for the first time, including fiscal policies supporting people's livelihood development, digital infrastructure financing, inclusive finance, and exchanges and cooperation among young financial talent.
Why read this: The blog sets out the upgrading of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong port alongside the upcoming APEC finance ministers' meeting, listing verifiable figures such as clearance times and loan approvals, allowing readers to compare Hong Kong's role in connectivity and financing.
Paul Chan delivered a speech at the Legislative Council on 7 October during the consolidated debate on the motion concerning Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the motion of thanks for the 2026 Policy Address, first briefing on Hong Kong's latest economic situation: growth of 5.1% in the first half, a 52% rise in export values from July to August, unemployment of 3.8% from June to August, and a full-year real growth forecast of 3.5% to 4.5%. The speech also set out the direction of progress in finance, shipping and aviation, trade, innovation and technology, and talent聚集聚.
Why read this: The speech lists verifiable figures including first-half economic growth, export values, unemployment and stock market turnover, helping readers grasp the economic footing of the Five-Year Plan.
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
財政司司長陳茂波在立法會表示，香港今年上半年按年增長5.1%，他有信心全年經濟實質增長達3.5%至4.5%的修訂預測。7至8月出口貨值按年升52%、連續19個月雙位位數增長，6至8月失業率為3.8%。首9個月平均每日成交額2729億港元，118宗首宗公開招股集資3880億元。
Why read this: 陳茂波列出上半年增長5.1%、出口貨值升52%和失業率3.8%等數字，讀者可據此核對全年3.5%至4.5%預測的依據。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
財經事務及庫務局局長許正宇在立法會表示，政府計劃今年十二月提交優惠稅制條例草案。重點產業合資格企業可獲百分之五或半稅（法團百分之八點二五）特惠稅率，年期最長五年，冀於二○二七／二八課稅年度落實。申請由財政司司長領導的督導委員會審批。
Why read this: 發言點明擬議優惠稅制只是政策包的其中一項工具，並說明它與現有行業稅制互為補足，可據此核對稅率、年期與審批安排。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
國慶黃金周第四日截至下午4時，本港錄得61萬6200多人次出入境，入境約33萬7500人次、出境約27萬8000多人次，最多人經落馬洲支線管制站入境。財政司司長陳茂波指黃金周首三天超過73.2萬內地旅客人次訪港，按年增加約8.4%。
Why read this: 除總出入境人次外，還按口岸和旅客類別列出分布，並附黃金周首三天內地旅客按年增幅，可核對客流走向。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
政府公布新一批銀色債券認購及配發結果，共收到476,703份有效申請、本金總額119,306,240,000港元，最終發行額550億港元，高於500億港元目標。全部有效申請均可獲配發、最多13手，認購12手或以下的88,422份申請全數獲配，另有97,396份申請經抽籤可多獲一手，債券於九月十五日發行。
Why read this: 公布列出有效申請份數、認購本金與最終發行額，並說明配發上限與抽籤安排，申請人可核對自己獲配幾多手。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
離岸人民幣國債期貨明日在香港上市，首隻為五年期，是目前離岸市場上唯一的同類產品，投資者可用在港交易帳戶完成交易與結算。債券通持倉至今年6月底已超過3萬億元人民幣，較2017年底的約8,000億元增長接近三倍。本月中發表的經修訂全年經濟增長預測將向上調整。
Why read this: 網誌列出債券通持倉、點心債發量及本港經濟增長等數字，並把國債期貨與債券通、互換通並列，方便讀者理解離岸人民幣風險管理工具的脈絡。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
中九龍繞道（油麻地段）今天早上正式通車，繁忙時段往來油麻地與啟德的車程由30分鐘縮短至約5分鐘，明天起有8條巴士線使用。九龍灣段明年落成後將與將軍澳—藍田隧道組成六號幹線，屆時往來將軍澳及油麻地的行車時間由約65分鐘減至約12分鐘。
Why read this: 網誌列出繞道通車後繁忙時段車程由30分鐘縮至約5分鐘，並交代六號幹線及多條鐵路項目的落成時間，方便讀者核對日後出行安排。
Financial Secretary discussed the aftermath of the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire in his blog, saying the Government would provide support to affected families, with the living allowance increased from $50,000 to $100,000, and that salaries tax, rates and other fees would be waived. The Chief Executive has announced the establishment of an independent commission chaired by a judge to investigate the causes, and the Financial Secretary also urged voters to turn out in force on Legislative Council election day.
Why read this: The blog sets out specific arrangements for the aftermath of the fire, and lists verifiable figures including the living allowance increasing from $50,000 to $100,000.
The Financial Secretary wrote in his blog about the mourning and follow-up arrangements for the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire, saying the government will make every effort to rehouse affected residents. The authorities are following up on each family's needs through "one household, one social worker", and he convened a meeting of financial regulators to coordinate banks, insurers and MPF trustees in providing assistance. The cross-departmental investigation task force has held its first meeting to investigate the cause of the fire at full speed.
Why read this: The blog lists specific follow-up arrangements, including "one household, one social worker" to follow up on family needs, as well as financial regulators coordinating banks and insurers to provide flexible services, allowing readers to verify support channels.
Financial Secretary says in his blog that Hong Kong's economy has picked up speed, with GDP growing 3.8% in real terms year-on-year in the third quarter, and the full-year growth forecast raised to 3.2%. Merchandise exports grew 11.3% in real terms year-on-year in the first three quarters, while average daily turnover in the first ten months reached $258 billion. Residential property prices rose a further 2% in the third quarter, turning from a year-to-date decline to a rise of 1.1%.
Why read this: Financial Secretary sets out the basis for raising the full-year economic growth forecast to 3.2%, and lists verifiable figures such as exports, the property market and turnover, enabling readers to assess actual performance across each area.
The Government announced the subscription and allotment results for the new Silver Bond issue, receiving a total of 371,821 valid applications with a total subscription principal of HK$98,227,300,000 and an issue size of HK$55 billion. All valid applications will be allotted up to 17 lots; applications for 16 lots or fewer were allotted in full, while after balloting, 113,918 of the remaining applications were able to receive one additional lot.
Why read this: The announcement sets out the number of applications, total subscription principal and final issue size, and explains the allotment cap and balloting arrangements, allowing readers to check how many lots they have been allotted.
The Financial Secretary elaborated in a web article on the Policy Address measures to accelerate development of the Northern Metropolis. The Chief Executive will personally chair the "Northern Metropolis Development Committee", under which three working groups will be set up. The "Development and Operational Model Design Group", led by the Financial Secretary, will hold its first meeting this month. Land tenders are proposed to change from a "highest bidder wins" approach to an industry-bound "two-envelope system", with financing plans including equity participation in land. The government also plans to enact dedicated legislation for the Northern Metropolis and draw up a "preferential policy package" to attract investment.
Why read this: The Financial Secretary explained in detail the division of work among the three working groups for the Northern Metropolis, as well as the specific arrangements for new tendering and financing measures such as the two-envelope system and equity participation in land.
The Financial Secretary discussed Hong Kong's response to the US tariff war, saying the Hong Kong dollar exchange rate remained firm, with the Hang Seng Index closing at 20,914 points last Friday, while average daily turnover last week was HK$427.6 billion, up about 68 per cent from the previous week. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, together with the banking sector, launched support measures for small and medium-sized enterprises, with the dedicated funds reserved by participating banks under the "SME Financing Dedicated Committee" increased to more than HK$390 billion.
Why read this: The blog post lists specific figures on the Hong Kong dollar exchange rate, the Hang Seng Index and turnover, and sets out support measures from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Export Credit Insurance Corporation, making it convenient to verify Hong Kong's response to the tariff shock.
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
特區政府與國家商務部上周簽署CEPA《服務貿易協議》第二份修訂協議，多個服務領域降低市場准入門檻，大部分領域取消在港實質性經營三年的規定。其中包括入股內地保險公司最近一年總資產不少於20億美元的要求取消，增設「港資港法」和「港資港仲裁」，144小時免簽擴展至整個廣東省。
Why read this: 司長逐項列出新協議在金融、法律仲裁和旅遊方面的開放措施，並與2015年和2019年兩輪協議對照，方便讀者看清開放幅度。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
財政司司長展開2024—25年度《財政預算案》諮詢，預算案明年2月28日公布。本年度綜合財政赤字預計可能略超1,000億元，高於年初預測的570多億元。五年間政府開支增加約40%，財政儲備由11,029億元降至8,348億元，部門須兩年各節省1%經常開支。
Why read this: 網誌列出本年度赤字可能略超1,000億元，以及開支與儲備的五年變化，可核對公共財政壓力的具體數字。
Financial Secretary said in his blog that the Development (Town Planning, Land and Engineering) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2022, passed by the Legislative Council two weeks ago, will take effect on 1 September this year. The time for releasing the first batch of prepared land for large-scale projects can be compressed from over a decade to about seven years, while the conversion of public housing raw land into prepared land can be shortened from at least six years to about four years. The government has identified future land supply sources of 7,300 hectares.
Why read this: The article sets out specific time targets after streamlining procedures, such as the first batch of prepared land for large-scale projects being compressed from over a decade to about seven years, allowing readers to verify the effectiveness.
The Financial Secretary said in his blog that the second phase of consumption vouchers will be disbursed on the day, benefiting about 6.5 million people, of whom about 1 million Octopus users were unable to collect them on time because the amount of the first-phase vouchers had not been fully spent on eligible consumption; those who meet the requirement before the end of the month can collect them on the 16th of next month. This phase will inject about $13 billion of spending power into retail and catering.
Why read this: The blog lists the number of consumption voucher beneficiaries, the deadline for re-collection for Octopus users who face collection restrictions, and electronic payment transaction data, allowing readers to check whether they are eligible to receive the vouchers.