Following is the speech by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, at the discussion session entitled Work Towards High Quality Agricultural and Rural Development in the Asia-Pacific Region at the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM) in Hangzhou today (August 25):

     Thank you Chair. First of all, I would like to thank the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China for hosting the meeting and the warm hospitality. 

     Hong Kong, China, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. With a population over 7.5 million, our total land area is just about 1 100 square kilometers. The topography of the territory is hilly, and only 30 per cent of the land is flat. 

     This drives the need for innovative, space-efficient solutions such as intensive farming, urban agriculture, and new technologies to boost productivity and resilience.

     To promote sustainable agriculture and fisheries, Hong Kong, China, has promulgated a blueprint with a series of active programmes. The goal is to modernise and intensify local production to raise both output volume and value, while at the same time supporting the long-term sustainability of our farming communities.

     On sustaining agricultural production capacity, we have established an Agricultural Park to nurture agro-technology and modern farm management. In parallel, a Modernised Techno-Agricultural Park has been set up through public-private partnership, to support development of modern commercial farms.

     Due to our land scarcity, Hong Kong, China, is also pioneering modern and environment-friendly multi-storey pig farming. A dedicated site has been reserved for a six-storey, fully enclosed pig farm, capable of housing over 10 000 pigs. 

     The new pig farm will employ automated, climate-controlled, digitally managed and AI-assisted systems, that will offer a replicable model for economies facing similar land constraints.

     To facilitate agricultural trade, our Vegetable Marketing Organization serves as a vital bridge between producers and consumers. It provides orderly marketing services, expands online and offline channels, and promotes high-quality local produce. 

     The organisation also actively promotes high-quality local agricultural and fisheries products by participating in food exhibitions, supplying seasonal produce to large catering groups, designing special menus, and conducting online and offline promotional campaigns.

     We have recently launched a new brand, the Hong Kong Harvest, to certify local agricultural and fisheries products that meet rigorous safety, quality and traceability requirements. 

     Through branding local produce, our goal is to enhance market competitiveness, build consumer confidence, increase farmers' incomes and attract younger talent to join the agricultural and fisheries industry. All these serve as part of our efforts to drive sustainable development of the agricultural and fisheries industry, as well as rural revitalisation.

     Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong, China, stands ready to share experiences and work with fellow APEC economies to advance agricultural innovation, strengthen regional trade and build a more resilient and prosperous Asia-Pacific community. Thank you.

Ends/Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Issued at HKT 13:31

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