SEE attends 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry in Shenzhen
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (July 28) attended the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting on Forestry (FTMM) in Shenzhen. Under the theme "Building a Green Asia-Pacific, Sharing Ecological Well-being", the meeting focused discussions on topics including forest conservation and sustainable management, conservation and restoration of mangroves and other ecosystems, and the advancement of environmentally friendly urban development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Tse said that Hong Kong, although highly urbanised, has rich natural ecology. After sustained afforestation and enrichment projects, Hong Kong's woodlands and plantations coverage has leaped from 17 per cent at the turn of the century to 30 per cent today. Hong Kong is also endowed with rich biodiversity, with over 580 species of birds and over 6 000 marine species, with stony coral species surpassing the coral diversity in the Caribbean Sea, and over 3 100 species of vascular plants.
Mr Tse said that the biodiversity Hong Kong has preserved is a result of the Government's policies and plans. At present, around 40 per cent of Hong Kong's land area is designated as country parks and special areas, nurturing diverse flora and fauna. Mr Tse pointed out that before carrying out any major development that might significantly affect woodlands, thorough statutory environmental impact assessments must be implemented to avoid or mitigate impacts on the environment. This can also preserve green spaces so that future generations can continue to enjoy the precious gifts from nature.
Mr Tse highlighted the Robin's Nest Country Park, which was established in 2024 with an area of about 530 hectares and is characterised by its rich floral and faunal diversity, including various species of conservation interest, as an example. The abandoned lead mine in the park is one of the most important bat colonies in Hong Kong. Regarding mangrove conservation, one of the meeting's focuses, Mr Tse said the mangrove stands and wetland habitats located in the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay were designated in 1995 as a wetland of international importance and a Ramsar Site. From the 1980s to 2026, the mangrove coverage at the site has expanded over threefold to over 400 hectares through natural regeneration. Each year, the site supports over 50 000 wintering and migratory waterbirds, including the Black-faced Spoonbill and other threatened species.
In addition, Mr Tse said that the Long Valley Nature Park, established by restoring abandoned farmlands, provides a large piece of freshwater wetland for water birds, amphibians and reptiles. Hong Kong is also developing the Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park, spanning over 300 hectares, in the Northern Metropolis. Mr Tse said Hong Kong fully commits to nature conservation and will continue to achieve harmony between humanity and nature together with other APEC members.
The FTMM, one of the APEC "China Year" series of activities, marked the return of APEC's ecological meeting to China after 15 years. The FTMM brought together high-level representatives, experts and scholars from 21 APEC economies and the organisation.
Mr Tse returned to Hong Kong after attending the meeting.
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (July 28) attended the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministerial Meeting on Forestry in Shenzhen. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE attends 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry in Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE attends 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry in Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Mainland circular tech leader ATRenew opens first Hong Kong store establishing city as go-global hub
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (July 28) announced ATRenew Inc. (ATRenew), the Chinese Mainland's leading pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform, had opened its first physical store under its new consumer brand RERE- short for Revalue and Renew - in Hong Kong. This launch positions the city as a go-global hub for the growing circular economy while bringing the group's consumer buyback and retail operations to Hong Kong for the first time - complementing its long-standing business-to-business (B2B) pre-owned electronics trading ecosystem.
Located in Tsuen Wan, the store launches under ATRenew's new consumer brand RERE marks a major step in taking the company's brand, sustainability innovation and business model global. For traded-in smartphones, ATRenew developed a proprietary data destruction system certified by international authority ADISA Certification. Utilising advanced multi-pass data overwriting, the platform ensures fully traceable and unrecoverable data erasure - eliminating data theft risks at the source and setting a high standard for privacy and data protection for users.
At the heart of ATRenew's offering is a set of proprietary, AI-backed technologies. Self-service tools allow customers to value and sell a device in minutes, while automated quality inspection - refined through diagnostic data from the group's extensive Mainland facilities - delivers high-precision grading. Combined with a standardised digital device-identity system, ATRenew ensures quality, defect traceability, driving efficiency and security for cross-border transactions. These capabilities empower FoneSquare, its new B2B global trading platform, giving overseas wholesale buyers confidence in the origin and condition of every device.
The opening is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding with leading retailer JD Mall Hong Kong. Under this partnership, the group will roll out in-store one-stop buyback services for electronic devices, making it easy for shoppers citywide to sell or trade in pre-owned devices.
The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, said, "ATRenew represents a great Chinese green story, and we are delighted that Hong Kong serves as a prominent showcase of the group's full recycling-to-retail model in service of the circular economy. As an international investment and trade hub operating under common law, Hong Kong is not just a financing engine but also an ideal test bed for innovations. Today, we also warmly welcome two of our InvestHK clients, ATRenew and JD.com, joining hands in driving sustainability innovation. This expansion demonstrates our strengths as a go-global springboard for both Mainland and overseas businesses with green aspirations."
The Founder and Chef Executive Officer of ATRenew, Mr Kerry Chen, said, "The global circular economy is entering a critical growth phase, with Hong Kong serving as the central hub for ATRenew's overseas supply chain and brand expansion. Driven by our three-pillar globalisation strategy of 'business, capabilities, and brand', ATRenew is extending its well-established standardisation, automated technologies, and robust supply chain overseas. We are committed to making buy-back services more accessible and providing users worldwide with high-quality pre-owned products, empowering a green and sustainable future."
Globally, rising environmental awareness and demand for value are fuelling fast-growing appetite for quality pre-owned electronics. International Data Corporation projects the worldwide market for used smartphones to surpass 430 million units, with a market value of close to US$110 billion, by 2027.
Looking ahead, ATRenew plans to build on its Hong Kong-Dubai "dual-hub" for international growth, establishing its full recycling-to-retail ecosystem across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa.
InvestHK provided end-to-end support to facilitate ATRenew's expansion in Hong Kong, offering market intelligence, business matching, and setup guidance. It also connected the group with key partners and supported its international expansion and compliance navigation - advancing ATRenew's ambition to build RERE into a globally recognised certified pre-owned brand.
For more information about ATRenew, please visit www.atrenew.com.
Mainland circular tech leader ATRenew opens first Hong Kong store establishing city as go-global hub Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Mainland circular tech leader ATRenew opens first Hong Kong store establishing city as go-global hub Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Mainland circular tech leader ATRenew opens first Hong Kong store establishing city as go-global hub Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
