APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting 2026 Set for Hong Kong in October, Preparing for China Year Theme

Steering Committee on APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting 2026 preparatory work convenes first meeting

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting (FMM) 2026 will be held in Hong Kong in October 2026. The Steering Committee on the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting 2026 preparatory work, chaired by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, convened its first meeting today (January 23). The Committee reviewed the preliminary preparatory work and discussed key follow-up tasks for the FMM with relevant policy bureaux, departments, and organisations.

Mr Hui said, "The year 2026 marks the APEC 'China Year', with the theme of 'Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together'. Hong Kong's inaugural hosting of the FMM signifies our country's recognition of Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre. Leveraging Hong Kong's strengths in internationalisation and financial development, while being guided by the three priorities - openness, innovation, cooperation - of the 'China Year', the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will spare no effort in focusing on the new opportunities and challenges facing Asia-Pacific development, integrating the building of an Asia-Pacific community into concrete actions for regional co-operation.

"The Steering Committee comprises senior representatives from 20 policy bureaux, departments, and organisations. It will make every effort to co-ordinate interdepartmental collaboration in preparing for the FMM and provide advice on its preparatory work to assist our country in organising a well-executed and smoothly run FMM. I am confident that through collective wisdom and close collaboration, the members of the Steering Committee will offer invaluable insights and robust support for the preparatory work. This will ensure the successful organisation of the FMM while showcasing to the international community the unique appeal and boundless opportunities of Hong Kong as an international financial centre."

In addition to reviewing preliminary preparatory work, members of the Steering Committee also discussed multiple follow-up tasks for the FMM during the meeting today, including the meeting venue, accommodation and security arrangements, and publicity.

China, as the host of APEC 2026, is responsible for preparing for and chairing the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, as well as a series of ministerial and other meetings. The Central People's Government announced earlier that the FMM will be hosted by the Ministry of Finance and will be held in Hong Kong under the arrangements and organisation of the HKSAR Government.

Steering Committee on APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting 2026 preparatory work convenes first meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Steering Committee on APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting 2026 preparatory work convenes first meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs

The 2026 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs are being held at 14 locations across the territory. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has arranged for staff to inspect the fast food stalls at LNY fairs and distribute booklets to remind stall operators of food safety.

A spokesman for the CFS said today (February 14) that, to safeguard food safety and public health, CFS officers have provided health education on food safety and hygiene and distributed booklets to person-in-charge of fast food stalls at various LNY fairs, reminding them to pay more attention to food safety and environmental hygiene and take food safety measures in their operations for producing and supplying wholesome and safe food.

Moreover, the CFS has collected food samples, including mock sharks-fin soup, stinky tofu, curry fish ball and Shanghai style steamed pork dumpling, from the fast food stalls at LNY fairs for microbiological tests.

The CFS urges food business operators and food handlers to adopt the following measures to ensure food safety:

order food ingredients from reliable suppliers;

keep hands and utensils clean, and food handlers should wash or sanitise their hands thoroughly before preparing food;

separate raw and cooked food, such as using separate knives and chopping boards to handle raw and cooked food;

cook food thoroughly with the core temperature of all ingredients reaching 75 degrees Celsius or above for at least 30 seconds;

keep food at safe temperatures that hot food should be kept at above 60 degrees C while cold food should be properly covered and neatly stored at 4 degrees C or below in the refrigerator; and

avoid keeping food under room temperature for prolonged period, and follow the "two-hour/four-hour rule" in cases without temperature control, i.e. if cooked food is kept at room temperature for less than two hours, it can be refrigerated for later use or consumed within four-hour time limit; if cooked food has been kept at room temperature for more than two hours and less than four hours, it should be consumed within the four-hour time limit but cannot be refrigerated again. Cooked food that has been held at room temperature for more than four hours should be discarded.

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases