In-situ land exchange arrangements for San Tin Technopole to invite applications
The Lands Department (LandsD) issued today (August 17) Practice Note No. 8/2026 inviting in-situ land exchange applications for designated development sites within the San Tin Technopole (STT). The Practice Note is available on the LandsD's website (www.landsd.gov.hk), which provides the location of sites available for in-situ land exchange applications, application criteria and conditions, application deadlines, etc.
The Lands Department, Photo source: reference image
In accordance with the in-situ land exchange arrangements for the Enhanced Conventional New Town Approach (refer to Practice Note No. 13/2023), the scope for land exchange applications this time covers some of the sites planned for private residential development (about 17.7 hectares), mixed residential and commercial development (about 7.5 ha) and modern industry sites mainly for logistics and storage uses within the STT (about 8.8 ha).
The deadline for submitting applications is October 16, 2026, while the deadline for acceptance of binding basic terms offer (with premium) is August 17, 2027. If an application cannot be concluded within the specified deadline, the Government will proceed to initiate land resumption procedures in taking forward the development of the new development area so as not to delay the overall works programme.
Applicants may choose standard rates for premium assessment, as an alternative to the conventional case-by-case assessment mechanism. The applicable level of standard rates will be announced later.
The conceptual drawing of the San Tin Technopole, Photo source: online image
This round of land exchange applications also allows applicants to offer land within the Northern Metropolis (NM) and included in the list of designated projects for offsetting the land premium (refer to Practice Note No. 10/2025). The LandsD has announced the list of eligible land, among which an applicant may propose, in the application documents, surrendering the lots they own. The Government will calculate the value of the offered land based on the applicable ex-gratia compensation rates for land resumption, for offsetting the land premium.
Besides, the Pilot Scheme on "Pay for What You Build" will also be applicable to non-residential use developments (refer to Practice Note No. 2/2026) under the scope for land exchange applications in the subject Practice Note.
The STT is located at the heart of the NM and in close proximity to the Shenzhen's innovation and technology (I&T) zone in Huanggang and Futian. This area will be a hub for clustered I&T development that creates synergy with Shenzhen I&T Zone, contributing to the development of the South-North dual engine (finance - I&T) for Hong Kong, and will develop to be a new community ideal for living, working and visiting. Site formation for the first batch of I&T land commenced in end 2024, with formed sites coming on stream in 2026 at the earliest.
Together with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park at the Loop, the STT has a total development area of over 600 ha, half (300 ha) of it will be I&T land. The I&T land is capable of accommodating a gross floor area of about 7 million square metres, equivalent to 17 Science Parks, and comparable to the size of the 300-hectare I&T zone in Shenzhen on the other side of the Shenzhen River.
The conceptual drawing of the San Tin Technopole, Photo source: online image
Primary Healthcare Commission to integrate Hong Kong's primary healthcare services for elderly people in phases
The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) under the Health Bureau announced today (August 18) that primary healthcare services for the elderly in Hong Kong will be further enhanced. Starting from October 5 (Monday), the services of Elderly Health Centres (EHCs) under the Department of Health (DH) will be gradually integrated into the district health network, providing more comprehensive primary healthcare services for the elderly under a new service model.
The Health Bureau, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Substantial increase in service points and service capacity
The integration of elderly health services aims to implement the primary healthcare direction put forward by the Chief Executive in the Policy Address, and to take forward the measures set out in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint. The PHC Commission will integrate nine EHCs, namely those in North District, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun Wu Hong, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Shing, San Po Kong, Yau Ma Tei, Shau Kei Wan and Aberdeen (see Annex 1) in the first phase. Integration of the remaining nine EHCs will be completed within 2027-28.
Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Upon completion of the integration, the number of service points will increase substantially from the current 18 to more than 100, covering District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs) across all 18 districts in Hong Kong and designated Hospital Authority (HA) Family Medicine Clinics (FMCs), among others. The overall capacity for elderly health services will also double, increasing from the current approximately 54 000 elderly persons per year to more than 120 000. The service flow of chronic disease management and health assessment services after integration is as follows (see Annex 2).
Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Arrangements for integrating chronic disease management services
Elderly persons who have follow-up consultations or examinations at the nine EHCs in the first phase may continue to attend their appointments at the EHCs on the scheduled dates. Starting from October 5 this year, after the elderly persons have completed their follow-up consultations, the DHCs will co-ordinate their subsequent follow-ups. Upon registration as DHC members for free, the elderly persons can directly enter the treatment phase of the Chronic Disease Co-Care Scheme after assessment, and receive follow-up care from a community family doctor of their choice. In addition, arrangements will be made for elderly persons receiving follow-up consultations at both an EHC under the DH and an FMC under the HA, to continue their follow-up care at the FMC.
Photo source: reference image
Arrangements for integrating health assessment service
For members who have appointments for health assessment services at the EHCs, the DH will continue to provide services. Members awaiting an appointment date and elderly persons interested in using EHC services will receive services at the DHCs starting from December this year. The PHC Commission will roll out more comprehensive elderly health assessment services. The scope of assessments provided by the DHCs will be expanded from the current domains of cognition, mobility and vision to cover nutrition, hearing, psychological capacity and urinary problems. Healthcare professionals will formulate tailored management plans for the elderly persons based on the assessment results. Details will be announced later.
Service arrangements for underprivileged elderly
Elderly persons who are recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, recipients of the Old Age Living Allowance aged 75 or above, or holder of valid medical fee waiver certificates will, upon registering as DHC members, be arranged to receive preventive elderly health services and assessments at designated HA FMCs. Subject to their eligibility, the relevant fees may be fully or partially waived.
Photo source: reference image
Follow-up work
The PHC Commission, together with the DH, will gradually issue letters to EHC members in the coming weeks to inform them of the service integration and subsequent follow-up arrangements. Meanwhile, the EHCs will update their signage, and the PHC Commission will also progressively refurbish the existing facilities and environment of the EHCs. Relevant information has already also been uploaded to the EHC website and the DHC website. Members of the public may also visit or call the EHCs and DHCs (see Annex 3) for enquiries. They may also call the Primary Healthcare Co-care Network enquiry line at 2157 0500, which operates from 9am to 9pm on Mondays to Saturdays (except public holidays).
Source; HKSAR Government Press Releases
