STL visits Guangzhou
The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, visited Guangzhou today (June 30) to attend a meeting of the task force for collaboration on Guangdong-Hong Kong transportation with officials of Guangdong Province. The Commissioner for Transport, Ms Angela Lee, also joined the visit.
During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to promulgate the implementation of the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (the Southbound Travel Scheme) and optimise the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (the Northbound Travel Scheme). Ms Chan said, “Since the launch of the Northbound Travel Scheme on July 1, 2023, over 100 000 vehicles have participated in the scheme. The usage of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) has also recorded new highs, with its two-way vehicular flow reaching a total of 450 000 vehicles in May 2025, i.e. a daily average of about 15 000 vehicles. Holding this meeting on the second anniversary of the innovative Northbound Travel Scheme is indeed very meaningful.”
She continued that Guangdong and Hong Kong have been committed to promoting various cross-boundary transport measures to strengthen greater integration of people in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Over the past two years, the governments of both sides have been enhancing the arrangements for the Northbound Travel Scheme while proactively preparing for the Southbound Travel Scheme, including the use of two automated carparks near the HZMB Hong Kong Port for passengers to transfer flights in Hong Kong or go through immigration clearance to enter Hong Kong, as well as allowing Guangdong vehicles to enter Hong Kong urban areas. Under orderly and controllable circumstances, the Southbound Travel Scheme aims to provide options for tourists from Guangdong Province, meeting the keen expectations of the public on two-way travel and bringing new visitor segments to Hong Kong, which will benefit various industries. Ms Chan also took the opportunity to visit a local vehicle examination centre arranged by the Transport Department to learn about its operation, making good preparations for the Southbound Travel Scheme.
Ms Chan concluded her duty visit to Guangzhou and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.
STL visits Guangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
STL visits Guangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
STL visits Guangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
STL visits Guangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government’s financial results for two months ended May 31, 2025
The Government announced today (June 30) its financial results for the two months ended May 31, 2025.
Expenditure and revenue from April to May 2025 amounted to HK$129.7 billion and HK$55.9 billion respectively, resulting in a deficit of HK$78.4 billion after taking into account HK$15.5 billion received from issuance of Government Bonds and repayment of HK$20.1 billion principal on Government Bonds.
A Government spokesperson said that the deficit for the period was mainly due to the fact that some major types of revenue including salaries and profits taxes, are mostly received towards the end of a financial year.
The fiscal reserves stood at HK$575.9 billion as at May 31, 2025.
Detailed figures are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT (Note 1)
May 31, 2025
HK$ million
May 31, 2025
HK$ million
and repayment of
Government Bonds
issuance of
Government Bonds
Government Bonds*
and repayment of
Government Bonds
Government Debts as at May 31, 2025 (Note 3)
HK$298,332 million
Debts Guaranteed by Government as at May 31, 2025 (Note 4)
HK$123,199 million
TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES
May 31, 2025
HK$ million
May 31, 2025
HK$ million
issuance and repayment of
Government Bonds
(Note 5)
Notes:
1. This Account consolidates the General Revenue Account and the following eight Funds: Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Civil Service Pension Reserve Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund, Land Fund, Loan Fund and Lotteries Fund. It excludes the Bond Fund, the balance of which is not part of the fiscal reserves. The Bond Fund balance as at May 31, 2025, was HK$216,896 million.
2. Includes transactions with the Exchange Fund and resident banks.
3. The Government Debts, with proceeds credited to the Capital Works Reserve Fund, comprise:
(i) the Green Bonds (equivalent to HK$177,761 million as at May 31, 2025) issued under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme. They were denominated in US dollars (US$9,950 million with maturity from January 2026 to January 2053), euros (4,580 million euros with maturity from February 2026 to November 2041), Renminbi (RMB34,000 million with maturity from June 2025 to July 2054) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$22,000 million with maturity from February 2026 to October 2026);
(ii) the Infrastructure Bonds (equivalent to HK$65,900 million as at May 31, 2025) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. They were denominated in Renminbi (RMB19,000 million with maturity from December 2025 to May 2035) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$45,230 million with maturity from November 2025 to March 2045); and
(iii) the Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$54,671 million (with maturity in October 2027 and may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme.
They do not include the outstanding bonds with nominal value of HK$168,090 million and alternative bonds with nominal value of US$1,000 million (equivalent to HK$7,841 million as at May 31, 2025) issued under the Government Bond Programme with proceeds credited to the Bond Fund. Of these bonds under the Government Bond Programme (including Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$96,090 million, which may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders), bonds with nominal value of HK$66,959 million will mature within the period from June 2025 to May 2026 and the rest within the period from June 2026 to May 2042.
4. Includes guarantees provided under the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2001, the Special Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2008, the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme launched in 2012, and the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Cross-boundary Passenger Transport Trade, the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Battery Electric Taxis and the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Travel Sector launched in 2023.
5. Includes HK$250,041 million, being the balance of the Land Fund held in the name of “Future Fund”, for long-term investments up to December 31, 2030. The Future Fund also includes HK$4,800 million, being one-third of the actual surplus in 2015-16 as top-up.
