Hong Kong unveils AI chief, housing initiatives; Tung state funeral set

Between 2026-09-15 and 2026-09-18, Hong Kong leader John Lee announced an AI commissioner appointment, deepfake legislation plans, youth housing initiatives, and the Northern Metropolis development project. The Hong Kong Jockey Club committed HK$3 billion to a research facility, while state funeral preparations began for Tung Chee-hwa, the city's first chief executive.

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Hong Kong’s next policy address is just around the corner. Here’s what to expect

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Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s coming policy address will introduce measures to remove hurdles for businesses setting up shop in the Northern Metropolis and include proactive initiatives to strengthen innovation hubs, research efforts and tech applications, the South China Morning Post has learned. Government sources said measures supporting the megaproject in the northern New Territories and

Hong Kong policy address to unveil bold youth housing and mediation initiatives

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Hong Kong’s leader will unveil two bold initiatives on housing and mediation in his policy address, the South China Morning Post has learned, with the government planning to boost home ownership rates among young couples and prioritise settling official commercial disputes through the city’s mediation body. The new measures, to be unveiled by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday, aimed to

Policy Address 2026: HK to appoint AI commissioner, consider deepfake laws

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Hong Kong will appoint an artificial intelligence chief and consider implementing deepfake laws, leader John Lee announced in his Policy Address. Source: Hong Kong Free Press The Hong Kong government will appoint an artificial intelligence (AI) chief and study the implementation of laws tackling the use of deepfake technology, leader John Lee has announced in his annual Policy Address.

Hong Kong Jockey Club to plough HK$3b into new research facility in Northern Metropolis

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The Hong Kong Jockey Club has said it will funnel HK$3 billion to support the construction of a Life and Health Academic Research Building at the city’s new Northern Metropolis University Town. During his policy address on Wednesday, Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu announced the creation of an integrated teaching and scientific research building in the Northern Metropolis. In a statement issued

Hong Kong launching pilot scheme to bring in foreign carers for the elderly

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Hong Kong will introduce a pilot scheme next year to bring in foreign domestic carers to look after older residents as part of a broader package of measures announced in the policy address to deal with an ageing population. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in his address on Wednesday that the government would admit carers under a scheme modelled on the city’s existing foreign domestic helper

Hong Kong offers HK$30,000 for second child among 11 new measures to boost births

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Hong Kong authorities have rolled out 11 new initiatives to encourage residents to have children, including an expanded cash bonus scheme and a reduced down payment for subsidised housing for parents with newborns. In the latest policy address delivered on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that the HK$20,000 (US$2,550) newborn bonus scheme, expiring on October 24, would be exte

Hong Kong leader pledges building maintenance reforms after fatal Tai Po fire

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Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to overhaul the city’s building maintenance regime and improve emergency response as part of the government’s response to last year’s fatal Tai Po fire, while authorities study criminalising bid-rigging and plan to submit a proposal later this year. The measures were outlined in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address on Wednesday, amid pressure on the gove

10 AI, biotech firms in Northern Metropolis to get early cross-border data access

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About 10 artificial intelligence (AI) and biotech companies will be the first to access cross-border data flows under a new pilot scheme, securing an early edge over roughly 100 other firms set up in Hong Kong’s flagship tech hub at the border. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu revealed on Wednesday during the final policy address of his term that more than 100 innovation and technology firms have

Hong Kong to woo finance and tech firms with new tax breaks

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Hong Kong will introduce various tax incentives for new finance and technology industries to attract businesses and reinforce the city’s role as a leading financial hub, the city leader has announced in his policy address. Tax concessions to draw intellectual property (IP) businesses and selected industries to the city were among the new measures Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Wedne

Hong Kong’s new training visa could be available in first quarter of 2027

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A new visa intended to attract international talent to participate in short-term training programmes in Hong Kong could become available as early as the first quarter of next year, the South China Morning Post has learned. The last policy address of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s current term also put the spotlight on five existing or soon-to-launch academies that would seek to train overseas

Hong Kong to offer ‘attractive’ merger deals for schools beyond those struggling

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Hong Kong education authorities will offer a “very attractive” proposal and policy support to encourage schools without survival issues to merge amid the shrinking student population, according to official sources. The government said it might allow aided schools and semi-private Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools to merge and operate across two campuses, though all arrangements remained subject

Hong Kong leader John Lee vows to review IVF support for women over 40

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Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has vowed to examine whether the government can better support women aged over 40 who are seeking assisted reproductive treatment, while acknowledging that financial incentives alone would not reverse the city’s falling birth rate. Lee made the pledge during a radio phone-in programme on Thursday, when residents described obstacles to having children, including jo

Hong Kong’s ‘AI city brain’ will not tap personal data, breach privacy: John Lee

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Hong Kong’s new “AI city brain” will not involve personal data and poses no privacy concerns, the city leader has said, adding that the system will also help improve visitor management during “golden week” holidays. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also stressed on Thursday the importance of AI education and the need to nurture young people’s AI literacy, citing overseas examples of adolescents wh

Hong Kong eyeing gold expansion and Northern Metropolis vaults to cement hub status

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Hong Kong’s plan to raise its gold holdings will further cement the city’s status as an international financial centre, with the possibility of building vaults in the Northern Metropolis megadevelopment, according to authorities. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said on Thursday the city was under “no pressure” to raise interest rates following a US rate hike, but stressed authorities woul

Self-funded campuses favoured in Hong Kong’s new university towns

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Tertiary institutions seeking to establish campuses in one of three university towns planned for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will be given “favourable consideration” if they do not require a government loan to build their facilities, Hong Kong’s education minister has said. The government has expanded all three university towns – formally named in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s annual

Blanket of security planned for state funeral of Tung Chee-hwa in Hong Kong

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Hong Kong police will establish a high level of security for this weekend’s state funeral of the city’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, including guarding the three top Beijing officials attending the event, the South China Morning Post has learned. However, the original public memorial service will instead be limited to invitation-only due to venue constraints, the Office of Former Chief Ex

Hong Kong talent schemes could add 1.2% to GDP annually: John Lee

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Talent attracted to Hong Kong under various admission schemes could add about 1.2 per cent to the city’s gross domestic product (GDP) each year, according to the city leader, who said more than half of those reaching the three-year mark were willing to stay. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Friday the government had attracted more than 300,000 people through its talent measures, with aroun