AFCD and PolyU sign MOU to advance sustainable development of Hong Kong's agriculture and fisheries through technological innovation
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today (September 22) to explore collaborative opportunities in the development and application areas of technological innovation for agriculture and fisheries, with both parties working together to promote the sustainable development of the local agriculture and fisheries industries, injecting new impetus into the industries.
Witnessed by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai, and the Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, Professor Wong Wing-tak, the MOU was signed by the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Patrick Lai, and the Director of the Research Institute for Future Food of PolyU, Professor Wong Ka-hing.
The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration between the AFCD and PolyU over the next five years to jointly advance innovative development initiatives for the agriculture and fisheries industries, enhancing the quantity, quality, and value of local agricultural and fisheries products. This includes stepping up efforts to develop local characteristics of processed agricultural and fisheries products and precise agriculture solutions, thereby improving the industries' overall efficiency and resilience to environmental changes.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Mickey Lai expressed his anticipation for this collaboration to enhance the quality and innovation of local agricultural and fisheries products, promoting an efficient and sustainable development in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. Technology will truly become the core driver for high-quality development of Hong Kong's agriculture and fisheries industries, injecting new momentum into local agriculture and fisheries industries and promoting a healthy and sustainable food culture.
Professor Wong Wing-tak said in his speech that PolyU has been committed to innovation in food science over the years, transforming research outcomes into practical applications. This collaboration will lay a solid foundation for the long-term sustainable development of local agriculture and fisheries industries. With cutting-edge technologies empowerment as the core, the development and application of relevant technologies will help the agriculture and fisheries sectors enhance competitiveness and address various challenges.
AFCD and PolyU sign MOU to advance sustainable development of Hong Kong's agriculture and fisheries through technological innovation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD and PolyU sign MOU to advance sustainable development of Hong Kong's agriculture and fisheries through technological innovation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
2026 provisional registers of electors/voters and omissions lists for geographical/functional constituencies and Election Committee subsectors released today
The 2026 provisional registers of electors/voters and omissions lists for geographical constituencies (GCs), functional constituencies (FCs) and Election Committee subsectors (ECSSs) were released today (August 1). The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) appeals to members of the public to check their registration status through "iAM Smart" or the Voter Registration website (vr.gov.hk) on or before August 25.
Compilation of provisional registers of electors/voters and omissions lists
The 2026 provisional register of electors for GCs contains about 4 120 100 registered electors. In the 2026 voter registration cycle, there are about 64 900 new registration applications and about 127 800 applications for updating particulars from registered electors of GCs. Moreover, the records of about 24 900 and about 57 700 electors have been removed from the provisional register by being placed on the omissions list due to death or as a result of other inquiry processes respectively.
As for FCs, the provisional register of electors contains about 190 700 registered electors. The figure has factored in newly registered electors, electors with a change in constituency, and electors entered on the omissions list due to death or as a result of other inquiry processes, etc.
As for ECSSs, the provisional register of voters contains about 9 300 registered voters. The figure has factored in newly registered voters, voters with a change in subsector, and voters entered on the omissions list due to death or as a result of other inquiry processes, etc.
"The REO has earlier mailed to the relevant electors/voters to confirm their new registration or change of registration particulars. Those who have provided mobile phone numbers or email addresses would have received related messages. All SMS messages issued by the REO will start with the prefix '#REO' in the sender ID for identification," a spokesman for the REO said.
Prompt reply to reminding letters if requested
Electors/voters who have been included in the omissions lists will receive reminding letters from the REO to confirm their eligibility. The envelopes of the reminding letters are beige in colour with a message, "Immediate action required. Your voting right is at stake" printed in red. Recipients must reply or provide supplementary information on or before the statutory deadline of August 25 by scanning the QR code on the reply slip with mobile devices, or by email, post or fax so that they may, with the Revising Officer's approval, keep their elector/voter status and be included in the relevant final registers of electors/voters.
Lodging statutory claims and objections
Any electors/voters who have been included in the omissions lists; any individuals/bodies who have applied for registration but no such record is found in the relevant provisional register(s); any registered electors/voters with incorrect particulars recorded in the relevant provisional register(s); or anyone who considers an individual/body in the relevant provisional register(s) not eligible to be so registered may lodge a claim or an objection in person with the REO by the statutory deadline of August 25. The Revising Officer will, according to law, consider the evidence provided by the applicant and make a ruling.
The specified forms for lodging claims and objections can be downloaded from the REO webpage (www.reo.gov.hk/en/voter/appeal.html) or obtained from the two offices of the REO (8/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, and 29/F, Standard Chartered Tower, Millennium City 1, 388 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon) or the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of respective District Offices. Information on the claims and objections will be uploaded to the same webpage before the day of the hearing for reference.
Arrangements for inspection of provisional registers of electors/voters and omissions lists
Notices on the inspection of the provisional registers of electors/voters and omissions lists were gazetted for promulgation today. According to the law, a copy of provisional registers and omissions lists containing entries relating to individuals may only be shown in accordance with the statutory requirements, and made available for inspection by specified persons only. A copy of the provisional registers and omissions lists containing only entries of bodies may be inspected by any member of the public. For inspection arrangement for the copy of registers, please refer to www.reo.gov.hk/en/voter/checkvrstatus/registers.html.
A special arrangement has been made by the REO today to allow specified persons/members of the public to inspect a copy of the provisional registers and omissions lists, and submit notices of claim/objection at the above two offices from 9am to 6pm.
Related statistical information has been uploaded to the voter registration website (vr.gov.hk). The REO will publish the final registers of this year on September 25.
Source: AI-found images
