Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, today (September 26) highlighted that Hong Kong strives to explore collaboration opportunities between the single windows of the city and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote cross-boundary digital and paperless trade in the region.
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Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
During the discussions at the ninth ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) - Hong Kong, China (HKC) Consultation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mr Yau said that HKC has been promoting the digitalisation of business-to-government trade documents and is developing the Trade Single Window (TSW) in three phases to provide a one-stop electronic platform for the trade to submit various trade documents for trade declaration and cargo clearance.
Acknowledging ASEAN as HKC's second-largest trading partner, Mr Yau noted that HKC is keen to explore the possibility of exchanging trade documents through a collaboration between the ASEAN Single Window and HKC's TSW. As the first step, HKC and ASEAN will explore taking forward a pilot project of exchanging the electronic Certificate of Origin.
He said he looks forward to the implementation of the pilot project, adding that HKC will continue to work closely with ASEAN and ASEAN member states to explore further collaboration.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the TSW in Hong Kong are already in full service and are well received by the trade. The Government is now pressing ahead with the development of the information technology system of TSW Phase 3 and targets to roll out the services by batch from mid-2026. Upon the full implementation of the TSW, it will have the technical capability to connect with the single windows of other economies or other commercial systems.
As mentioned in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address, Hong Kong strives to explore opportunities for connecting the TSW with the single windows of other economies. Therefore, on top of exploring connectivity with the ASEAN Single Window, Hong Kong has been actively working with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China to connect the TSW with the Mainland's International Trade Single Window to continue to provide the Mainland-Hong Kong "Single Submission for Dual Declaration" Scheme for cargo after the rollout of TSW Phase 3, allowing more enterprises to benefit from the convenience of completing Customs declarations for both the Mainland and Hong Kong sides by making a single submission of road cargo information. Both sides will continue to explore the feasibility of expanding the Scheme to cover other trade documents and transport modes.
Meanwhile, Mr Yau and the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Mr Tengku Zafrul Aziz, met at a bilateral meeting at the margins of the AEM-HKC Consultation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Co-operation in Digital Trade to encourage and promote bilateral co-operation in digital trade, including electronic commerce, paperless trade and single window interoperability.
"Malaysia is an important trading partner of Hong Kong. The MOU is a demonstration of our longstanding and close relationship, and our desire to further collaborate in areas like digital trade in order to bring mutual economic benefits to our people," Mr Yau said.
Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government announces updates on follow-up work on Tai Po fire
The three task forces set up by the Government for the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po - the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements - are making full efforts to follow up on the support, relief, and investigation work related to the incident. Details are as follows:
Financial and welfare support
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For the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, established by the Government, donations received are about $3.4 billion as of noon today (December 13). With the start-up capital of $300 million from the Government, the fund's total has now reached around $3.7 billion. The fund will be used to assist residents in rebuilding their homes and providing long-term and sustained support.
Accommodation support
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As of this morning, a total of 1 392 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels, camps, or hotel rooms. Another 3 163 residents are currently living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or units from the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS).
In consideration of the extremely urgent situation of the residents affected by the fire incident, a special arrangement of a full rent exemption has been made earlier by the Housing Bureau to provide accommodation support to those affected residents moving into transitional housing or HKHS projects. In other words, if needed, the affected residents can stay for a longer period of time. The Government will continue to support the affected residents in terms of accommodation, and the residents in need do not have to worry about the relevant rental expenses or the duration of stay.
In addition, staff from the operating organisations of transitional housing and HKHS, as well as volunteers have been working around the clock to furnish the units with essential supplies. Taking Eminence Tower in Hung Shui Kiu as an example, each unit is equipped, upon move-in, with furniture and appliances such as bed frames, mattresses, pillows, cooking stoves and water heaters. Daily necessities including toilet paper, slippers and basic cleaning supplies, etc. are also provided. Such efforts are intended to help the affected residents settle in as quickly as possible.
At the same time, a number of organisations have proactively stationed their staff in some projects to provide residents in need with various forms of support, including free medical and legal consultation services. The Government has also set up service stations in 18 projects where more residents have moved in, providing consultation and support services for residents in need, standing together with them.
Relief supplies and donations
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The supplies donation online platform, established by the Government and the information technology sector, continues to operate, facilitating the registration of supplies donations from organisations and the public. The Government has so far received over 1 800 registrations, of which approximately 30 per cent were submitted by organisations, whereas the others were contributed by the public. The various registered donation items include food and beverages, clothing, daily necessities, bedding, and electrical appliances. The Government is actively assessing residents' actual needs through the relevant policy bureau, government departments, and service organisations for the matching of donated supplies in order to distribute appropriate items in phases to places in need. So far, about 19 600 donation items covering various categories have been distributed to different places. The matching and distribution of supplies will continue.
Regulation and inspection work
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The Housing Department today continued to remove the burnt scaffolding on the external walls of Wang Cheong House, Wang Tai House and Wang Sun House. As the environment at scene is narrow and the scaffolding and the protective nets of individual buildings may be subject to more serious damage, for the sake of safety, the Housing Department will conduct assessments with the Police on the timetable of removing the scaffolding of the remaining four affected buildings. In addition, the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau has also completed the extraction of concrete core samples from the seven affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court today.
The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced on December 11 a new mechanism for sampling and testing scaffold nets for external walls in Hong Kong. The Buildings Department is preparing for the issuance of a new practice note to registered contractors and will meet with the industry next week. The DEVB is moving ahead in full steam the supporting arrangements to ensure that there are sufficient designated laboratories and a suitable site for off-site sampling work.
Source: AI-found images
