“Four-in-One” Seminar Series
The four SME centres co-organise "Four-in-One" seminar series regularly. Themes of this seminar series in the second half of 2026 are “Branding”, "Exploration of New Markets", "E-Commerce/ Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications" and "Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)".
Upcoming relevant events of the four SME centres are listed below. Interested persons are welcome to register at the links shown therein. Admission is Free.
I. SME E-commerce and New Market Development Academy Series (6): Practical AI for Cost Reduction and Enhancing Efficiency — Strategies for Building Exclusive Tools and Brand Upgrading (Seminar)
(This seminar will be held at Trade and Industry Tower on 7 October 2026)
This seminar series is held by the "SUCCESS" of the TID. This seminar is the sixth in the series, focusing on AI-driven operational automation and brand upgrading. An expert will provide live demonstrations on how to use AI to build enterprise-exclusive tools for handling tedious daily tasks, and generate a complete Brand Identity (BI) from scratch, which covers practical application scenarios such as creating a dedicated AI social media manager, setting up AI smart customer service, and automating the mass production of brand promotional materials. This seminar aims to help SMEs reduce costs and increase efficiency through AI applications, empowering them to build and upgrade their brands in a cost-effective manner. (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.)
More Details and Registration
II. “SME ReachOut” Webinar Series - Grow Smarter, Go Global: AI & Funding for SME Expansion
(EP. 3 will be livestreamed on 29 October 2026)
(EP. 4 will be livestreamed on 26 November 2026)
This webinar series is organised by the “SME ReachOut” of the HKPC combining AI applications with government funding schemes to unpack a complete roadmap for SMEs going global. EP. 1 One-Person Company × AI: Funding-Fuelled Global Reach and EP. 2 Cross-Border E-Commerce Leap: Funding Your Global Play (webinars) were held on 26 August 2026 and 29 September respectively.
EP. 3 Go Global with Funding: AI-Powered Brand Growth (webinar) will explain how to leverage brand positioning to enhance overseas customer trust, AI-optimised branding strategy, and related funding schemes.
EP. 4 Funding the Twin Engines: Smart Manufacturing × Green Logistics across the Value Chain (webinar) will explain how to leverage AI-driven data production to enhance logistics efficiency, how ESG technologies can foster value chain upgrades, and related funding schemes.
This series of webinars will be conducted in Cantonese.
More Details and Registration
Intellectual Property Department: IP Training Programme “IP203 Generative AI – IP Concept and Legal Considerations”
(This course will be live-streamed and held at the VTC Tower, Wan Chai on 8 October 2026)
This intellectual property (IP) course organised by the Intellectual Property Department is now open for registration
here.
“IP203 Generative AI - IP Concept and Legal Considerations” aims to illustrate the involvement of IP in the Generative AI, allowing participants to understand the relevant IP concept, the potential legal issues associated with Generative AI and how to protect IP rights in the age of AI. (The medium of instruction will be Cantonese, supplemented with English terms.)
This course is free for members of the “
IP Manager Scheme PLUS”. Enterprises registered in Hong Kong can fill out the
online form to join the Scheme for free, getting priority in course registration and special offers for their staff joining the
IP Training Programme. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the course.
Private Sector Integrity Centre (PSIC) -- Newly Established One-stop Service Hub of the ICAC
The Private Sector Integrity Centre (PSIC) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) officially commenced service in September 2026. As an integrated service and knowledge hub, PSIC offers comprehensive and risk-based corruption prevention and integrity support to the private sector, helping organisations strengthen their integrity capabilities through four key service areas:
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Integrated Integrity Management Solutions
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Bespoke Integrity Training and Culture Building Programmes
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Accredited Continuing Professional Development Courses
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Practical Corruption Prevention Tools
Please visit the
PSIC Website or refer to the PSIC
leaflet for information on common corruption risks faced by SMEs and various industries, as well as PSIC’s services and resources. Enterprises may apply for PSIC services through an
online service request form, or subscribe to the e-newsletter to receive regular updates on corruption prevention.
DoJ launches stakeholder consultation on review of Arbitration Ordinance to enhance Hong Kong's legislative framework for arbitration (consultation period until 27 October 2026)
The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced on 28 September 2026 the launch of a one-month stakeholder consultation on the proposed legislative amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) (AO). This consultation is a policy initiative under the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030), as well as one of the indicators for specified tasks in the 2026 Policy Address announced by the Chief Executive on 16 September 2026. The DoJ has taken swift action to implement the relevant initiative, demonstrating its determination to drive policy implementation efficiently. This consultation is also part of the DoJ's ongoing efforts to enhance Hong Kong's arbitration legislative framework and consolidate its position as a premier international arbitration hub.
Based on the recommendations proposed by the Working Group on Arbitration Law Reform (Working Group) in respect of 25 issues, the DoJ has formulated a range of legislative amendment proposals to the AO, categorised into the following four key areas: (i) speed and convenience; (ii) confidentiality; (iii) scope; and (iv) fairness and justice. For details of the recommendations made by the Working Group on the 25 issues, please refer to the
Annex.
To ensure that a balanced and representative range of views is collected, the consultation paper will be issued to relevant stakeholders, including legal professional bodies, arbitral institutions, dispute resolution and law-related bodies, arbitration practitioners and legal professionals, Government advisory bodies and departments, statutory bodies, academics, chambers of commerce, trade associations, banks and wealth management associations, and other commercial end-users of arbitration services. The consultation period will run until 27 October 2026.
After considering the views of the stakeholders, the DoJ targets to introduce the amendment bill into the Legislative Council in early 2027, striving to complete the legislative amendments for AO within 2027.
For relevant press release, please visit
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202609/28/P2026092800357.htm.
Application for vacant fixed hawker pitches to open from 6 October 2026 (Deadline: 5pm, 26 October 2026)
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will reallocate a total of 321 vacant fixed hawker pitches and issue new licences. Eligible persons can submit their applications from 9am on 6 October 2026 to 5pm on 26 October 2026.
Applicants may complete and submit their applications via the FEHD website (
www.fehd.gov.hk) during the application period. To facilitate the application process for the public, the FEHD has produced a demonstration video detailing the application procedures. Support centres will also be set up in various districts to provide on-site assistance to applicants in need.
For details on the allocation of vacant fixed hawker pitches, methods of submitting applications, and stall construction requirements, members of the public may visit the
FEHD website, approach the support centres or the Hawker Pitch Allocation Office (HPAO), call 2348 6944 or 2868 0000, or send enquiries by email to
enquiries@fehd.gov.hk.
For other details and information on the HPAO and the support centres at the District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD, please visit relevant press release
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202609/23/P2026092300198.htm.
Government publishes report on Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection
The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) published on 22 September 2026 the report on the Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection. The report indicates that the overall manpower shortage in Hong Kong has been alleviated, benefiting from the various talent admission and labour importation measures implemented by the Government over the past three years. The overall manpower shortage is projected to narrow from the previous projection of approximately 180 000 to some 130 000 by 2028, while the manpower situation across most key industries remains tight, particularly for innovation and technology, aviation, construction, city operation and healthcare services.
In terms of occupation group, the manpower shortage over the next three years is projected to be concentrated in "skilled technical workers" and "services and sales workers", accounting for about 60 per cent of the overall shortage. While these roles, which rely on interpersonal interaction and complex craftsmanship, are harder for AI to replace, manpower shortage persists due to workforce ageing, coupled with difficulties in attracting youth entrants. In contrast, as companies expand AI adoption for routine administrative tasks, "clerical support workers" are projected to record a manpower surplus of approximately 25 000 to 30 000 by 2028. At the same time, the demand for emerging AI experts continues to grow, particularly for "composite talent" who possess both AI application skills and sector-specific knowledge.
The Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection report has been uploaded to the website of the LWB (
www.lwb.gov.hk/en/highlights/manpower_projection/index.html).
For relevant press release, please visit
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202609/22/P2026092200246.htm.
HKSARG welcomes the establishment of Accession Working Group under Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
The HKSARG welcomes the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to approve the establishment of an Accession Working Group (AWG) on 21 September 2026 to commence the accession process for respective applicant economies including Hong Kong.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, "The decision concerned is a pivotal step forward in enlarging the membership of RCEP. Hong Kong will actively cooperate and take part in the work of the AWG, including the relevant accession negotiations with RCEP members, with a view to completing all the required procedures as soon as possible".
He reiterated Hong Kong's full readiness for early accession to RCEP, leveraging Hong Kong's strengths to contribute significantly to both RCEP and the promotion of regional economic integration. At the same time, Hong Kong's accession will help consolidate and enhance its status as an international trade centre, generating synergies and creating a win-win outcome.
Mr Yau thanked in particular the Central People's Government, including the Ministry of Commerce, for their strong and enduring support of Hong Kong's early accession. He also expressed appreciation to RCEP members, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in support of the establishment of the AWG. During his attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Suzhou in May 2026 and his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August 2026, Mr Yau met many of the Ministers respectively to solicit support for Hong Kong.
The HKSARG will continue to work closely with the RCEP Support Unit and maintain close liaison with all stakeholders of RCEP members to foster favourable conditions for early accession of Hong Kong to RCEP.
The other applicant economies being admitted to the AWG are Bangladesh, Chile and Sri Lanka.
RCEP is the world's largest free trade agreement. Its fifteen member economies include the Chinese Mainland, the ten member states of the ASEAN (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam), Australia, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand. RCEP entered into force on 1 January 2022. The HKSAR Government submitted Hong Kong's accession request within the same month, being the first among the applicant economies.
For relevant press release, please visit
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202609/21/P2026092100784.htm.
Hong Kong signs first protocol to amend ASEAN - Hong Kong investment agreement
The First Protocol to Amend the Investment Agreement (IA) between the ASEAN and Hong Kong (the Protocol) was signed on 20 September 2026 to activate the relevant provisions of the IA to enable Hong Kong enterprises to enjoy treatments no less favourable than those accorded to local or foreign enterprises in the 10 ASEAN member states.
The Protocol was signed between the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, Ms Ma. Cristina A. Roque; and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand, Mrs Suphajee Suthumpun, in Manila, the Philippines, before the 10th ASEAN Economic Ministers - Hong Kong, China Consultation cochaired by Hong Kong and the Philippines as the ASEAN Chair this year.
The Protocol mainly incorporates the schedules of reservations into the IA to give effect to Article 3 (National Treatment) and Article 4 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment) of the IA. These articles provide that a party shall accord other parties' enterprises and their investments non-discriminatory treatment, except for those measures reserved in the schedules. The signing of the Protocol is set to bring about legal certainty, enhancing the investment environment and creating more investment flows.
A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said, "ASEAN is Hong Kong's key investment partner and has been our third-largest destination of outward direct investment for four consecutive years, with a stock of $671.2 billion. Our flourishing investment relations have been boosted by the IA which has strengthened Hong Kong's position as an international investment hub.
"We are confident that the signing of the Protocol and its subsequent implementation will drive steady growth in Hong Kong's economic, trade and investment relations with the ASEAN region. We will work side by side with our ASEAN partners to strive for further economic development and investment growth in the region," the spokesman added.
Under the trade in services chapter of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Hong Kong and the 10 ASEAN member states, national treatment is committed for services and services suppliers for specified sectors, including through a commercial presence. Complementing the FTA, the IA will accord enterprises and their investments in non-services sectors national treatment and most-favoured-nation treatment, after reservations incorporated by the Protocol into the IA enter into force.
Apart from non-discriminatory treatment, the IA provides for fair and equitable treatment of investments, physical protection and security of investments, and the assurance of the free transfer of investments and returns. In case of expropriation or investment loss owing to war, armed conflict or a similar event, compensation will be provided according to the agreed standard as specified under the IA.
The text of the Protocol will be uploaded onto the
TID's website after all parties have completed signing the Protocol. Hong Kong and the 10 ASEAN member states will continue to work closely to bring about the early implementation of the Protocol, so that Hong Kong enterprises may reap the benefits as soon as possible.
The 10 ASEAN member states concerned are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. An extension of the FTA and IA to Timor-Leste, the 11th member state of ASEAN, is pending the internal procedures of ASEAN.
For relevant press release, please visit
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202609/20/P2026092000406.htm.
