STL Promotes Hong Kong’s Smart Transport Vision at 12th APEC Transportation Ministers’ Meeting

Speech by STL at 12th APEC Transportation Ministers' Meeting

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, at the 12th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transportation Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing today (September 22):

Chair, honourable fellow ministers and distinguished delegates,

Good afternoon. On behalf of Hong Kong, China, it is a true pleasure to join you here in Beijing for the 12th APEC Transportation Ministers' Meeting.

First of all, I wish to express our appreciation to the host for the warm hospitality extended to our delegation. China's leadership in steering this year’s APEC priorities under the theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together" underscores our shared commitment to a more connected, resilient and sustainable region. As an international aviation, maritime and logistics hub, Hong Kong, China has always been a staunch supporter of regional co-operation. We look forward to actively contributing to APEC under the newly restructured Transportation Working Group.

Hong Kong, China fully supports and endorses the Joint Ministerial Statement to be adopted today. We strongly resonate with its forward-looking theme - "Collaboration and Innovation: Shaping a Better Future for Transportation in the Asia-Pacific Region". We champion our collective commitment to accelerating the digital and intelligent transformation of our transport infrastructure through artificial intelligence (AI), smart mobility solutions and autonomous technologies. We stand ready to work closely with all member economies to translate the practical priorities of this statement into tangible outcomes.

Today, I would like to take this opportunity to share Hong Kong, China’s strategic visions for transport digitalisation. This vision forms a cornerstone of our first five-year development plan for the aviation, maritime and logistics sectors, driving both the commercialisation and internationalisation of smart transport technologies. It also serves as a key catalyst for the high-quality growth initiatives outlined in our 2026 Policy Address.

On road transport, just this February, we rolled out the Transport Strategy Blueprint to drive sustainable urban mobility. A core pillar of this blueprint is fostering a "Well-connected City" by leveraging advanced technology, promoting digitalised traffic management, advancing autonomous driving and opening transport data to the public. Central to this effort is our new Traffic Management Platform. Powered by big data and AI, this platform predicts traffic changes, detects bottlenecks before they happen, formulates instant emergency plans and disseminates real-time information directly to commuters and transport operators alike.

We are also putting a lot of energy into autonomous vehicles (AVs), a critical piece of the smart mobility puzzle. We are facilitating this transition holistically through policy support, regulatory adaptation and financial backing. This July, we achieved a landmark milestone when one of our projects commenced fully driverless robotaxi trials on mixed-traffic public roads, marking a historic first for a right-hand-drive market.

Moving forward, we will begin accepting applications from AV operators for commercial operations later this year. Looking slightly further ahead, we will expand our autonomous driving footprint along the Hong Kong Section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in 2027, marking a pioneering, cross-boundary application scenario taking place on an expressway.

Beyond autonomous driving, we are formulating a roadmap for the automation of our port to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong as an international maritime centre. We have also launched a Port Community System this January to digitally integrate trade and capital flows across sea, land and air networks. This platform serves as a powerful bridge, enabling Hong Kong to foster closer port-to-port collaboration with other global gateways. By expanding our digital network, we aim to grow our ecosystem and accelerate the development of our high-value-added aviation, maritime and logistics sectors, leveraging blockchain technology to record trusted cargo data that underpins trade financing.

No single economy can navigate the fast-paced digital transition alone. Hong Kong, China stands ready to work hand-in-hand with all APEC member economies. Together, let us unlock the full potential of AI to build an Asia-Pacific transport network that is smarter, safer, more sustainable and highly resilient.

Thank you very much.

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Transportation Ministers' Meeting in Beijing on September 22. Photo shows participating ministers and delegates including the Minister of Transport, Mr Liu Wei (front row, seventh right), and Ms Chan (front row, third right) after the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Transportation Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing on September 22. Photo shows Ms Chan briefing delegates from various countries and regions on the policy measures relating to maritime, logistics, aviation and transport infrastructure as set out in the newly released Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address.Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Transportation Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing on September 22. Photo shows Ms Chan (second right) briefing delegates from various countries and regions on the policy measures relating to maritime, logistics, aviation and transport infrastructure as set out in the newly released Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 26) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.

In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:

• Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;
• Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;
• Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;
• Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;
• Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and
• Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.

In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:

• Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;
• The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.
• Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.

The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.

Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:

• Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;
• Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;
• Seek shade;
• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.

If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

For more health information, the public may visit theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.