John Lee Attends Global Free Trade Forum in Hainan, Promotes Hong Kong's Trade and Digital Development

CE arrives in Hainan to attend Boao Forum annual conference (with photos/video)

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, arrived in Hainan today (March 25) to attend the Global Free Trade Port Development Forum at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025.

Addressing the forum, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong, as an international financial, shipping, and trade centre, enjoys a strategic location and world-class connectivity, championing free and multilateral trade. Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is the only world city that combines the China advantage with the global advantage. It boasts a long tradition of the rule of law and has an established common law regime that aligns with major global financial hubs.

Mr Lee noted that as a participant in the Global Free Trade Zone (Port) Partnership Initiative, Hong Kong will continue to collaborate with Hainan in promoting the vast opportunities that free trade and market liberalisation could bring to the world.

In the evening, Mr Lee attended a dinner with leaders of Hainan Province to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong's co-operation with Hainan.

Additionally, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the "Enhance Digital Capacity Building & Bridging Digital Divide" forum this afternoon. He outlined Hong Kong's move to accelerate digital economy development through strengthening digital infrastructure and fostering digital transformation. The Government is pressing ahead with the Digital Corporate Identity Platform project at full speed. By adhering to the principle of "promoting technology with talent, leading industries with technology, and attracting talent with industries", the Government will provide more quality jobs and development opportunities for innovation and technology (I&T) and digital talent in Hong Kong and for those coming to Hong Kong, thereby pooling I&T talent from around the globe.

Mr Lee will meet with leaders of Hainan Province and attend the signing ceremony of Memoranda of Understanding between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the People's Government of Hainan Province tomorrow (March 26).

CE arrives in Hainan to attend Boao Forum annual conference (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE arrives in Hainan to attend Boao Forum annual conference (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE arrives in Hainan to attend Boao Forum annual conference (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Legislative amendments on air transport of dangerous goods to be gazetted on Friday

Legislative amendments which seek to implement the latest requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the safe transport of dangerous goods (DG) by air will be gazetted on Friday (May 23) for tabling in the Legislative Council on May 28, and targeted for commencement on July 18, 2025.

The Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Amendment of Schedule 16) Order 2025 and the Dangerous Goods (Consignment by Air) (Safety) Regulations (Amendment of Schedule) Order 2025 serve to incorporate the ICAO's latest requirements in the local legislation. Such requirements are set out in a new edition (i.e. the 2025-2026 edition) of the ICAO's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Technical Instructions).

Some of the updated provisions introduced by the new edition of the Technical Instructions include:

(a) A requirement to indicate on the DG transport document the dimensions of packages containing certain radioactive materials has been added to facilitate cargo loading procedures;

(b) A note specifying DG allowed for carriage by passengers has been relocated to better reflect its applicability; and

(c) Some changes to the technical requirements on the classification, packing, marking and labelling of certain kinds of DG for carriage by air have been incorporated.

"The aviation industry is supportive to the legislative amendments which aim to enhance the safe carriage of DG by air," a spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said.

DG, in the context of air transport, include explosives, compressed gas, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidising substances, toxic substances, infectious substances, radioactive materials and corrosives.