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New addition lists are prepared by the Library each month to provide up-to-date listing of library materials recently acquired, including books, annual reports and other serials. These library materials are obtained through purchase, gift or exchange.
Recently acquired books (by subjects)
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Annual reports and other serials (by subjects)
The Library regularly monitors various official websites of the Mainland Government to take stock of the latest national and regional policies, important planning and legislative papers as well as policy initiatives related to Hong Kong for Members and staff's reference.
Action plan to steadily promote high-level opening up and make greater efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment (March 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: commerce and industry, innovation and technology, economic development, commerce and trade, foreign investment
This document gives a brief account of the country's latest action plan to promote high-level opening up and attract foreign investment, aiming to enhance foreign investors' confidence in growing their businesses in the country and raise the quality and standards of cooperation in trade and investment. It proposes a total of 24 policy initiatives in five areas, namely loosening restrictions on conducting investment in domestic market, stepping up policy support to enhance the attractiveness of domestic industries and projects to foreign investors, optimizing the competitive market environment, supporting the cooperation between domestic and foreign organizations and innovative development, and refining the laws and regulations of the country to align with international high standards. It also calls for devising relevant complementary policies by local authorities to create stronger synergy.
Implementation measures for accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and further promoting strategic emerging industrial clusters and high-quality development of future industries (March 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, headquarters economy, new industries, Shenzhen
This document provides the latest plan for Shenzhen to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces (i.e. advanced productivity that is led by technological innovation which is characterized by high-end technology, high efficiency as well as high quality and quantity, and is in line with new development concepts and able to break away from the traditional mode of economic growth and development pathway), with a view to promoting the high-quality development of emerging industries and future industries in the city. Apart from stating the development goals by 2025 and the support measures to be provided by the government, the document also proposes eight major tasks to promote the upgrading and transformation of industries.
Measures to promote the high-quality development of silver economy in the Guangzhou Development District (Huangpu District) (March 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, silver economy, Guangzhou
This document lists out the latest policy measures formulated by Guangzhou Huangpu District to promote the development of silver economy. It includes a number of financial assistance measures for various aspects, such as providing support for eligible elderly service organizations setting up operations there, participating in the building of infrastructures such as nursing homes for the elderly, conducting researches on and developing health products for the elderly, and improving the brand image of companies operating in the District, etc.
Opinions on further optimizing payment services to facilitate payments (March 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: financial affairs, payment services
This document gives a brief account of the country's latest strategic plan to further optimize payment services, aiming to enhance the standard of payment services and focus on promoting payment convenience for the elderly and foreign nationals in the country. In addition to giving a brief account of the background and setting out the basic principles of the development, the document also sets out specific tasks in six areas, namely expanding the scope of bank card payment services, continuously optimizing the environment for cash payments (especially services related to people's livelihood), further facilitating mobile payments, safeguarding consumers' rights in payment modes, improving service standard for the accounts of banks and payment institutions, and continuously strengthening publicity and promotion of payment services.
Implementation opinions in relation to expediting the promotion of the in-depth integration of technology and finance and fostering the innovative development of technological enterprises (February 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: financial affairs, financial technologies, innovation, Guangdong Province
This document sets out 15 latest policy initiatives formulated by the Guangdong Provincial Government to enhance the integration of technology and finance as well as foster the innovative development of technological enterprises. Examples of such measures include attracting venture capital organizations and top-tier talents to develop in the Province, encouraging financial institutions to expand the supply of credit to innovation and technology ("I&T") enterprises, further facilitating cross-boundary financing activities of I&T enterprises, establishing mechanisms to coordinate the innovative development of financial technologies and financial risks management, etc.
Measures for promoting a stable scale, market share and growth of foreign trade in the Shenzhen Municipality (February 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, foreign trade, import and export, Shenzhen
This document provides the latest policy measures formulated by the Shenzhen Municipality to promote the high-quality development of foreign trade. It also sets out various specific tasks in seven areas, namely fostering a closer connection between industries and foreign trade, continuously improving the types and market shares of imported goods, taking forward the innovative development of foreign trade, assisting enterprises to explore domestic and overseas markets, improving the effectiveness of foreign trade infrastructures, increasing financial support, and optimizing the cross-border trade business environment.
Circular on optimizing and adjusting policies and measures on stabilizing employment, and making every effort to boost development and benefit people's livelihood (January 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: manpower, youth, employment, Shenzhen
This document provides the implementation plan of the Shenzhen Municipality to take forward the "Circular on optimizing and adjusting policies and measures on stabilizing employment, and making every effort to boost development and benefit people's livelihood" previously issued respectively by the State Council and Guangdong Province, while also incorporating the employment protection policies of the municipality. Specifically, the document sets out a total of 20 measures covering six areas, namely creating different types of employment opportunities through multiple channels, encouraging entrepreneurship to bolster job creation, promoting employment of local young people, assisting the young people from Hong Kong and Macao in seeking employment and starting businesses there, strengthening support for the unemployed and job seekers, and enhancing information transparency of job market.
Implementation opinions in relation to enhancing the construction of Guangdong's high-skilled talent team in the new era (January 2024) (Chinese version only)
Author: The General Affairs Office of the Guangdong Provincial Committees of the Communist Party of China, the General Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province
Subject: manpower, talents, Guangdong Province
This document gives a brief account of the 21 latest policy measures formulated by Guangdong Province to nurture high-skilled talents. Examples of such measures include improving the remuneration of high-skilled talents, taking forward apprenticeships with Chinese characteristics, nurturing an ecosystem for skills development, promoting a diversified talent assessment mechanism, and increasing the recognition and rewards for high-skilled talents.
Implementation plan for Dongguan to develop as a strong and quality city (January 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: development, economic development, city planning, Dongguan
This document illustrates the latest plan of the Dongguan Municipal Government to promote the city's modernization. Apart from setting out the development goals by 2025, the visions by 2035 and relevant support measures provided by the government, the document also sets out specific tasks in seven areas: (a) enhancing the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and promoting industrial innovation; (b) ensuring the safety of food produced and sold in the city; (c) enhancing the quality of construction projects; (d) providing more quality services; (e) creating more local brands; (f) building high-quality infrastructures; and (g) optimizing the quality control mechanism.
Opinions on developing a silver economy to enhance the well-being of the elderly (January 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, silver economy
This document gives a brief account of the country's latest plan to promote the development of a silver economy, aiming to improve the well-being of the elderly. It puts forth a total of 26 specific measures covering four areas, namely enhancing the development of livelihood-related service industries, expanding product supplies and raising product quality, supporting innovation in industries and products, and refining the conditions to support development. Examples of such measures include improving elderly care services, fostering enterprises' brand-building, encouraging financial institutions to introduce financial products for the elderly, etc.
Regulations of Guangdong Province on promoting high-quality development of manufacturing industry (January 2024) (Chinese version only)
Subject: commerce and industry, innovation and technology, economic development, the manufacturing industry, Guangdong Province
This document, passed by the Standing Committee of the 14th Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, provides adequate and reliable legal backing and protection for promoting innovative and high-quality development of the manufacturing industry in Guangdong Province. The regulations, to take effect from March 2024, comprise 44 articles under six chapters, covering areas such as developing industries and related infrastructure and platforms, facilitating investment and enterprise development, strengthening the market system, and refining the business environment, etc.
Measures to further optimize the foreign investment environment and attract foreign investment in Guangzhou (December 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, commerce and trade, business environment, Guangzhou
This document sets out 12 policy initiatives formulated by the Guangzhou Municipal Government to take forward the "opinions of the State Council on further optimizing the foreign investment environment and attracting foreign investment". Examples of these initiatives include further opening-up of various service industries in an orderly manner, enhancing the protection of the investment interests of foreign businesses, providing immigration facilitation measures for business persons from overseas, refining the incentives and preferential policies on foreign investment, etc.
Measures to promote high-quality development of the financial industry in Guangzhou (December 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: financial affairs, financial services, Guangzhou
This document gives a brief account of the latest policy measures formulated by the Guangzhou Municipal Government to promote the high-quality development of the financial industry. It includes a number of financial assistance measures for various aspects, such as providing support for different types of financial institutions in setting up operations in Guangzhou, participating in the development of the futures market, launching green finance projects and nurturing financial talents, etc.
Measures to release potential tourism consumption and promote high-quality development in the tourism industry (December 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, tourism, Guangdong Province
This document sets out 38 latest initiatives formulated by the Guangdong Provincial Government to further unleash the potential tourism consumption demand and promote the high-quality development of the tourism industry. Examples of such initiatives include expediting the development of red tourism, encouraging museums to open at night hours, fostering easy access to tourist attractions, regulating the orderly operation of the tourism market, and taking forward the establishment of pilot cities for national culture and tourism consumption, etc.
Overall Development Plan for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone (December 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: commerce and industry, commerce, the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation
This document illustrates the latest national plan to develop the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone ("Qianhai Cooperation Zone"), with a view to promoting Qianhai in better performing a demonstrative and leading role in the development of the Greater Bay Area and further deepening Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation. Apart from setting out the strategic positioning and development goals of the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, the document also provides a direction for the development of the Zone in various aspects, such as spatial layout, development of individual industry sectors, business environment, urban development, etc. Moreover, it outlines a number of policy initiatives that can facilitate the development of the country and the Greater Bay Area as well as benefit Hong Kong.
Spatial layout plan for headquarters economic clusters in Shenzhen (December 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, headquarters economy, Shenzhen
This document presents the latest plan of Shenzhen for the development of headquarters economy, with a view to promoting Shenzhen in becoming a more influential world-class economic hub as well as a modern metropolis. Apart from setting out the development goals by 2025 and 2030 respectively, the document also provides Shenzhen's spatial layout plan for key industry sectors to develop headquarters economy.
Guiding opinions on standardizing the implementation of the new mechanism for public-private partnerships (November 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: development, public-private partnership, social capital
This document gives a brief account of the country's latest plan to reform the public-private partnership mechanism, aiming to encourage private enterprises to invest in the construction of public infrastructures, with a view to raising the quality of public services. It proposes a total of 18 specific measures in four areas, namely the overall design of new mechanism, the construction and operation of public infrastructures, and its management and control, as well as the corresponding policy support. The document also provides a list of facilities for new construction and renovation projects, in which private enterprises can participate by means of franchises.
[Macao policy] Development plan for appropriate economic diversification of the Macao Special Administrative Region (2024-2028) (November 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: development, economic development, Macao
This document presents the first systematic plan for industrial development of the Macao Special Administrative Region ("Macao SAR"), aiming to facilitate its diversified economic development and create synergy among industries. Apart from setting out the development goals by 2028 and the government's support measures, it also illustrates specific tasks and major development projects in the following five areas: (a) integrated tourism and leisure industry; (b) traditional Chinese medicine and the "Big Health" industry; (c) modern financial services; (d) cutting-edge technology industry as well as transforming and upgrading traditional industries; and (e) convention, exhibition and trade, and culture and sports industries.
Measures to further boost and expand consumption in Guangdong Province (November 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, consumption, Guangdong Province
This document sets out 27 latest initiatives formulated by the Guangdong Provincial Government to promote consumption and consumer demand, including encouraging consumption in automobile, green and smart home appliances, upgrading electronic products, expanding consumption in catering, developing rural leisure tourism, expediting the establishment of consumption centres with local city characteristics, etc.
Opinions on implementing a more proactive, open and effective talent policy to promote the high-quality talent development (November 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: Talent Management Leading Group of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China
Subject: manpower, talents, Shenzhen
This document contains 30 latest policy measures formulated by the Shenzhen Municipal Government to attract and nurture talents. Examples include implementing various talent admission schemes to provide subsidies for talents, encouraging local higher education institutes to provide more programmes relating to innovation and technology, establishing an advisory body to give professional advice on the assessment of local talents, and providing immigration convenience measures, health and livelihood protection to talents.
Opinions of the Shenzhen Municipality on implementing financial support for technological innovation (October 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: financial affairs, financial technologies, innovation, Shenzhen
This document illustrates the latest plan of the Shenzhen Municipal Government in boosting the development of financial technologies. The document sets out 20 specific measures under four areas, namely improving the financial technology services system, promoting the innovative development of financial technologies, guiding venture capital companies to support the development of relevant technologies, and strengthening information platforms as well as raising the standards of research think tanks. Examples of such measures include expanding the debt issuance scales of innovation and technology enterprises, encouraging banks to offer more financial support and specific financial products to innovative enterprises, and building a trading centre for intellectual property rights related to inventions/patents, etc.
Regulations on the protection of minors in cyberspace (October 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The State Council
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, information technology, online protection
This document presents the first law dedicated to the protection of the legitimate rights and interests enjoyed by young people in cyberspace for the country. Effective from 2024, the regulations comprise 60 articles under seven chapters. Specifically, they cover various aspects such as strengthening the framework and mechanism for protecting young people online, enhancing Internet literacy of young people, regulating online contents, protecting the personal data of young people, and preventing young people from being addicted to the Internet, etc.
Implementation plan for the expansion of domestic demand strategy in Guangdong Province (September 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: commerce and industry, innovation and technology, economic development, domestic demand, Guangdong Province
This document sets out 27 latest policy initiatives formulated by the Guangdong Provincial Government to expand the domestic demand in the Province, with the aim to fully unleash the consumption potential. Relevant initiatives include promoting automobile-related consumption, improving the qualities of food and clothing, encouraging the adoption of new consumption modes (e.g. live commerce), facilitating Mainland and overseas famous brands to conduct debut launches of their new products in the Guangdong Province, enhancing close liaisons with the Belt and Road countries and regions to introduce more high-quality consumer products, and ensuring a stable food supply within the Province.
Measures of Shenzhen to promote consumption (September 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, consumption, commerce and trade, Shenzhen
This document sets out a total of 21 measures proposed by the Shenzhen Municipal Government to promote expenditure by residents and boost consumption demand in five areas, including launching the "replacement of old vehicles with new vehicles" campaign, encouraging the full adoption of intelligent home applications for newly-built residential units, supporting the organization of consumption activities featuring local food, refining the spending experiences of tourists from Hong Kong and Macao, and improving the cross border payment environment, etc.
Measures of the Guangzhou Municipality for further promoting the high-quality development of the software and information technology services industries (September 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, information technology, Guangzhou
This document contains the latest action plan of the Guangzhou Municipal Government to promote the high-quality development of the local software industry and information technology services industry. Apart from setting out the development directions, the document provides 13 specific tasks under four areas, namely raising the innovation and technology level of enterprises, expanding the scales of enterprises and enhancing their competitiveness, cultivating an industry ecosystem as well as optimizing the environment for industrial development. Examples of such tasks include supporting related enterprises to establish an innovation hub for the manufacturing industry, building a dedicated information platform for the recruitment of talents, and encouraging the associations of relevant trades to organize large-scale forums and exhibitions, etc.
Opinions on establishing a regular working mechanism to improve efficiency of government services supported by the nationwide integrated government services platform (September 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, information technology, e-government
This document outlines the latest national plan to strengthen the construction of e-government. The document proposes to establish a total of 13 regular working mechanisms in four areas, namely promptly resolving the issues encountered by enterprises and the public, refining user experiences of government services, upgrading the service capabilities of the nationwide integrated government services platform, and formulating robust institutional safeguards. The document also includes 57 successful cases of enhancing the efficiency of government services from selected regions and departments across the country for the reference of various regions and departments. The cases involve supporting the development of private, micro, small and medium sized enterprises, enhancing the sharing of government services data, improving the accessibility of government services, etc.
Action plan of the Guangzhou Municipality to develop as a benchmark city with an international first-class business environment to promote the high-quality development of industries (August 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, development, business environment
This document contains the latest action plan of the Guangzhou Municipal Government in optimizing the business environment, with a view to further deepening its development and construction as one of the country's first-batch pilot cities with innovative business environment. It sets out a total of 39 measures in five areas, namely market competition environment, infrastructure construction, provision of government services, rule of law, and market development. Examples of such measures include facilitating cargo customs clearance services, building an information platform to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in finding suitable production facilities, enhancing the efficiency of e-government services, exploring the establishment of an incentive system for enterprises to comply with regulations, and building a pilot zone with an internationalized business environment in Nansha District.
Circular on optimizing and adjusting policies and measures on stabilizing employment, and making every effort to boost development and benefit people's livelihood (August 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: manpower, youth, employment, Guangdong Province
This document provides the implementation plan of the Guangdong Provincial Government to take forward the "Circular on optimizing and adjusting policies and measures on stabilizing employment, and making every effort to boost development and benefit people's livelihood" issued by the State Council in April 2023, while also incorporating the employment protection policies of the Province. Specifically, it sets out a total of 16 measures in four areas, namely increasing employment opportunities through multiple channels, promoting youth employment, strengthening support for the unemployed and job seekers, and enhancing information transparency of the employment market network. Examples of such measures include enhancing policy support for stabilizing employment and expanding job opportunities, supporting financial institutions to develop and promote financial services that support employment and entrepreneurship, encouraging raising subsidies for the Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme within the Province, subsidizing enterprises to recruit unemployed people, and building a province-wide big data system regarding employment.
Measures of Guangzhou to foster the development and expansion of private sector economy (August 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, development, business environment
This document sets out the latest 20 policy measures taken by the Guangzhou Municipal Government to optimize the development environment for private enterprises. They include establishing a risk-sharing mechanism involving banks, insurance companies and the government through financing guarantee, encouraging private enterprises to actively participate in the development of artificial intelligence applications, and fostering the formation of chambers and associations to enhance industry standards and self-regulation, with a view to optimizing the business environment and releasing the development potential of private enterprises.
Measures to promote, stabilize and improve quality of foreign investment in manufacturing industry (August 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: commerce and industry, innovation and technology, economic development, manufacturing industry, Guangdong Province
This document sets out 17 latest policy initiatives implemented by the Guangdong Provincial Government to attract foreign investments in the Province's manufacturing industry. The initiatives include ensuring equal policy treatment for foreign enterprises, facilitating the work and living of overseas talents in Guangdong Province, enhancing the efficiency of freight and logistics services, and encouraging foreign investments in the advanced manufacturing industry, research and development, innovation, etc., with a view to promoting quality economic development.
Measures to support the development of cultural tourism industry in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (August 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The Economic Development Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin
Subject: economic development, tourism, cultural development, Guangdong Province, Zhuhai, Macao
This document presents the latest action plan of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to promote quality development of the cultural tourism industry. It includes a number of financial assistance measures in five areas, namely supporting brand building, stimulating the consumption market, fostering cooperation between Henggin and Macao, developing new industries and refining subsegments along the industry supply chain. Examples of these measures include providing subsidies to enterprises that organize thematic consumption activities on night-time dining as well as enterprises involving in study tourism, wellness tourism or coastal tourism.
Opinions on further optimizing the foreign investment environment and attracting foreign investment (August 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The State Council
Subject: economic development, commerce and trade, business environment
This document outlines the latest national plan to further optimize the foreign investment environment and attract foreign investment, with a view to promoting high-level opening-up and establishing a new system of open economy. It presents a total of 24 policy measures in six areas, namely scaling up foreign investment, ensuring equal policy treatment, strengthening the protection of the rights and interests, promoting investment and operational convenience, increasing financial support, and improving approaches of promotion. It also calls for devising relevant complementary policies by local authorities to create stronger synergy.
Guangdong Province's three-year action plan to optimize business environment (2023-2025) (July 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: development, trade, Guangdong Province, business environment
This document sets out the latest action plan of the government of Guangdong Province to optimize the business environment. It includes a total of 39 measures in five areas, namely market competition environment, provision of government services, rule of law, overseas market development, and regional cooperation. Examples of such measures include reducing business operating costs, streamlining government service procedures, implementing a punitive compensation system to strengthen intellectual property protection, establishing a cross-border trade big data platform, and expediting the establishment and development of a digital government.
Guiding opinions on the support to be provided by the banking industry and the insurance industry to Shenzhen for the building of a strong manufacturing industry (July 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: commerce and industry, innovation and technology, industry, manufacturing industry, Shenzhen
This document presents the latest deployment by the Shenzhen Municipality to encourage banking and insurance institutions to support the development of the manufacturing industry. Specifically, the document proposes that the relevant institutions increase their investments in the manufacturing industry; improve related financial service mechanisms, products and promotion packages; and enhance protection for business operations. Examples of such measures include encouraging the relevant institutions to formulate dedicated finance schemes for the manufacturing industry, exploring distinctive financial products for the manufacturing industry, etc.
Interim measures to regulate the generative artificial intelligence services (July 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, artificial intelligence, large language models
This document sets out national measures to foster the healthy development and standardized application of generative artificial intelligence ("AI"), with a view to safeguarding national security and public interests. Specifically, the measures cover encouraging the innovative application of generative AI in different fields, and supporting cooperation between industries and institutions in different areas such as related technological innovation, use of data resources, and risk management. Besides, the measures also state the responsibilities of related services providers, covering various aspects such as data processing, preventing underage users from over-reliance on related services, and establishing mechanisms for handling complaints and reporting irregularities, etc.
Measures of Shenzhen to develop as an international electronic sports capital (July 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, electronic sports, Shenzhen
This document sets out the latest measures launched by Shenzhen Municipality to promote the development of the local electronic sports ("e-sports") industry. In addition to stating the development goals by 2025, it also sets out specific tasks in the following six areas: (a) strengthening e-sports content creation; (b) cultivating e-sports related enterprises; (c) building a system of e-sports events and activities; (d) improving the infrastructure for the development of the e-sports industry; (e) facilitating the integral development of the local e-sports industry and other industries in the Greater Bay Area; and (f) optimizing the development environment of the e-sports industry.
Measures to connect with international high-standard and institutional opening-up in selected affluent pilot free trade zones and a free trade port (June 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The State Council
Subject: commerce and industry, innovation and technology, trade, free trade
This document introduces the measures to the pilot free trade zones in Guangdong, Fujian, Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai, and the Hainan free trade port, with a view to promoting institutional reforms and opening-up, and to align with international high standards. The document gives instructions in the following six areas, including: (a) promoting innovative development in goods trade; (b) advancing the opening-up and facilitation of trade in services; (c) facilitating temporary entry of business persons; (d) fostering the healthy development of digital trade; (e) improving the business environment; and (f) strengthening risk management.
Opinions of the People's Government of Guangdong Province on the implementation of further deepening the reform and construction of a digital government (June 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, information technology, e-government
This document sets out the latest deployment of the government of Guangdong Province to strengthen the construction of "Digital Government 2.0". Apart from setting out the development goals by 2025 and 2035 respectively, the document proposes specific tasks and duties of different departments in six areas, including: (a) integrating technology use in government management and raising its application level; (b) fortifying cyber security of e-government services; (c) optimizing the operating model of e-government; (d) promoting related infrastructural development; (e) making full use of data and resources; and (f) promoting electronic development of society by the government.
18 measures to support innovative development in tax-related services in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone (May 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: commerce and industry, innovation and technology, commerce, taxation, Guangdong Province, the Greater Bay Area
To take forward the "Plan for Comprehensive Deepening Reform and Opening Up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone" and foster the development of taxation services-related industries in the Zone, this document features 18 support measures proposed by the Shenzhen Municipality, including providing various types of financial support to relevant service providers newly established in the Zone, granting subsidies to relevant professionals who continue to practise in the Zone, and improving the business environment, etc.
Opinions on promoting the establishment of a basic elderly care service system (main text) (May 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The CPC Central Committee, the State Council
Subject: welfare, ageing population, elderly care
This document provides the latest national plan to further develop basic elderly care services, so as to assist local authorities and departments in formulating related policy guidelines. Apart from setting out the development goals and working principles, the document proposes major tasks in five areas, namely putting in place specific measures and checklists for the provision of relevant services, establishing an accurate information system to keep abreast of the actual situation, refining the protection mechanism, taking forward the development of facilities, and fostering easy access and popularization of the services.
Policy initiatives of the Guangzhou Development District (Huangpu District) to promote high-quality economic development (May 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, development, business environment
This document gives an account of the policy initiatives of Huangpu District of Guangzhou to expedite the economic development in the territory. It sets out specific tasks in six areas, namely promoting business and attracting investment, upgrading the manufacturing industry, expediting technological innovation in enterprises, encouraging enterprises to set up headquarters locally, promoting the development of modern service industry, and improving the business environment.
Implementation details of measures of Shenzhen Municipality to further support Hong Kong and Macao youth's employment and entrepreneurship activities (April 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: manpower, youth, employment, entrepreneurship, Guangdong Province, the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen
This document lists out specific measures formulated by the Shenzhen Municipality to put forward the "implementation details of supportive measures for Hong Kong and Macao youth's employment and entrepreneurship activities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area". They include various subsidies and subventions to support Hong Kong and Macao youth's employment and entrepreneurship activities in the municipality, arrangements about introduction of a mentorship scheme in the Greater Bay Area, and introduction of related service providers, etc.
Implementation plan of Guangdong Province for the full implementation of cleaner production (2023-2025) (April 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: environment, cleaner production, Guangdong Province
This document contains the latest action plan formulated by the Guangdong Provincial Government to implement "cleaner production" in the Province, with a view to promoting a comprehensive green transformation in society. Apart from stating the development goals by 2025 and support measures provided by the government, the document sets out specific tasks and key development projects in three areas, including (a) promoting cleaner production in various industries, such as agriculture, industry, services, construction and transport; (b) enhancing the application of technology and increasing the overall technology level; and (c) promoting reform and innovation to stimulate market vitality.
Measures of the Guangzhou Municipal Administration for Market Regulation to foster high-quality economic development (April 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: commerce and industry, development, business environment, Guangzhou
This document presents the latest work plan of the Guangzhou Municipal Administration for Market Regulation to promote economic development. The document lists out a total of 19 measures in four areas, namely optimizing the business environment, improving the quality of enterprises, strengthening the focus on intellectual property rights and facilitating innovative development, and promoting the high-quality development of certain key industries (e.g. food sales, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and medical devices).
Opinions on promoting the stable scale and improved structures of foreign trade (April 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The State Council
Subject: economic development, foreign trade, import and export
This document outlines the latest national plan to further foster foreign trade, with a view to promoting the steady growth of import and export trade. The document proposes 18 policy initiatives in five areas, namely exploring more foreign trade markets, expanding the trade volume for major products, providing greater financial support for enterprises engaging in foreign trade, expediting innovative development in foreign trade, and optimizing the business environment for foreign trade. It also calls for devising relevant complementary policies by local authorities to enhance the synergy.
Policy measures on boosting investment and expediting the establishment of a modernized industrial system in a new era (April 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, promoting business and attracting investment, business environment
This document illustrates the latest policy measures of the Shanghai Municipal Government to promote business and attract investment, focusing on fostering modernized development of different industries. It also sets out a total of 24 measures in three areas, namely (a) providing financial, ancillary and infrastructural support, etc.; (b) enhancing industries engaging in integrated circuits, biomedicine, artificial intelligence and other emerging key industries (including those engaging in intelligent terminals, green and low-carbon activities, digital economy and metaverse); and (c) establishing a mechanism for innovation. Examples of such measures include encouraging the use of industrial sites for composite purposes to provide ancillary facilities and support for residents' day-to-day living, subsidizing green and low-carbon projects, and stepping up coordination efforts within the municipality to attract enterprises and investment.
A plan on reforming Party and state institutions (March 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The CPC Central Committee, the State Council
Subject: development, reforms of state institutions, Hong Kong and Macao
This document sets out the plan to build a functional system of Party and state institutions that is well-developed, scientific based and highly efficient. It presents a total of 19 specific policy measures in five areas including deepening the reforms of the Communist Party of China ("CPC") Central Committee, the National People's Congress, the State Council and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, as well as optimizing the resource allocation of relevant institutions. It also specifies the formation of a Hong Kong and Macao work office of the CPC Central Committee as its working body on the basis of the current Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.
Action plan of the Shenzhen Municipality to promote the high-quality development of live commerce (2023-2025) (March 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, e-commerce, live-streaming economy, Shenzhen
This document features Shenzhen Municipality's latest plan to further develop live commerce. Apart from stating the development goals for 2025 and support measures provided by the government, the document also lists out 11 major tasks in different areas, such as establishing infrastructures relating to live commerce, encouraging innovative development of e-commerce platforms, promoting specialized live commerce services, nurturing related talents, with a view to developing Shenzhen into a live commerce city with international influence.
City development plan of Guangzhou for building an international consumption centre (2022-2025) (March 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, development, city planning, international consumption centre
This document begins by giving a brief account of the background and current situation of Guangzhou's city development plan. It then describes the development targets for building an international consumption centre by 2025, the support measures to be provided by the municipal government and various specific tasks in five areas, comprising (a) establishing a diversified consumption system; (b) improving the quality of consumer space; (c) enhancing transport, logistics and ancillary facilities; (d) boosting the international appeal of consumption offerings; and (e) strengthening the arrangements for overall development and specifying the development directions of different districts in the city.
Implementation plan of Dongguan for promoting the digital transformation of industries (March 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, information technology, commerce and industry
This document puts forth an implementation plan for digital transformation of industries so as to promote the development of high-quality manufacturing industries in Dongguan. Apart from setting out the development targets for 2023 and the support measures to be provided by the government, the document also provides 10 concrete measures for promoting the digital transformation of industries, including expediting the building of digital infrastructures, providing financial support to eligible enterprises for taking forward their digitization projects, and enhancing the awareness and management standards of digitization among enterprises.
Measures of the Guangdong Province in stimulating the economic vitality and high-quality development of enterprises (March 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: development, economic development, high-quality development, Guangdong Province
This document contains a latest action plan formulated by the Guangdong Provincial Government to stimulate the economic vitality and promote the high-quality development of enterprises in the Province. Specifically, the document proposes a total of 59 measures covering six areas, namely strengthening financial support to enterprises, expediting the recovery and revitalization of consumption, expanding investments, stabilizing foreign trade and foreign investments, facilitating the upgrading of industries as well as enhancing the business environment. Examples of such measures include alleviating the burden of small enterprises in meeting the financing guarantee fee, encouraging private capital participation in the major projects in the Province, and expediting the building of a province-wide unified platform for the provision of government services, etc.
Measures to establish a high-standard credit service market and to foster the high-quality development in Guangdong (March 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, development, credit services, financial services, Guangdong Province
This document sets out the latest measures of the Guangdong Provincial Government to promote the development of various types of credit service institutions. Apart from stating the development goals for 2025 and support measures provided by the government, the document also specifies the details of work in six areas: (a) expanding the demand for credit services in different sectors, such as the public, business and financial sectors; (b) coordinating and expediting the development of various types of credit service institutions; (c) establishing a refined system and standards for credit services; (d) optimizing and upgrading the infrastructures of credit services; (e) enhancing the service capabilities (e.g. credibility, innovative research and development capabilities) of credit service agencies; and (f) encouraging the innovative development of credit services.
Policy measures of Guangdong Province for attracting businesses and investment and promoting high-quality development (March 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, promoting business and attracting investment, Guangdong Province
This document contains the latest action plan of the Guangdong Provincial Government to attract business investment. It sets out a total of 20 measures in five areas, namely coordinating different parties' work, focusing on industry development to attract high-quality enterprises and capital, building a platform to attract businesses and investment through branding, enhancing support policies, and improving business environment. Examples of such measures include forming a dedicated department to attract enterprises and investment, establishing a robust coordination mechanism, organizing global business promotion conferences in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and enhancing support for talents from other places to thrive in the Province.
Measures of Nansha of Guangzhou in stabilizing its economy and promoting its development as a first mover (February 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, development, small and medium enterprises, hardship relief
This document features the latest plan formulated by the Nansha District Government of Guangzhou Municipality to expedite the recovery of its economy, so as to promote the long-term stable growth of the district's economy. The document provides financial support measures in various areas such as encouraging enterprises to resume work and production, promoting industrial enterprises to expand their production, facilitating commercial and trading enterprises to develop and flourish, assisting enterprises in exploring overseas markets, etc. Moreover, to fully revitalize the consumer market, consumption vouchers will be disbursed to members of the public, and theme-based activities promoting consumption will be encouraged as well.
Outline of building national strength in quality (February 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The State Council
Subject: development, economic development, national development, high-quality development
This document is an outline for guiding the country on fostering high-quality development and promoting its transformation from a major economy to a stronger one in the medium to long term, with a view to improving the overall quality of products, works projects and services as well as brand building, etc. The document starts with a brief account of the background and the present situation. It then sets out the respective development targets by 2025 and 2035, and related support measures to be provided by the country, together with various specific tasks in eight areas, including: (a) making obvious improvements to the quality and efficiency of economic development; (b) enhancing the quality and competitiveness of industries; (c) expediting the upgrading of product quality; (d) raising the quality levels of construction projects; (e) increasing the supply of quality services; (f) improving the quality of enterprises and their capabilities in branding development; (g) building high-quality infrastructures; and (h) promoting the modernization of quality management.
Regulations for promoting the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (February 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: development, Guangdong Province, Zhuhai, Macao
This document presents the "Regulations for promoting the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin" passed by the Standing Committee of the Thirteenth People's Congress of Guangdong Province to provide adequate and reliable protection under the rule of law to the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, thereby helping Macao in better integrating into the country's overall development. Based on the Master Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the relevant laws/administrative decrees, the document contains a total of 66 provisions under eight chapters, covering the tasks about administration system of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone; planning, construction and management; fostering the development of industries; facilitating the living and employment of Macao residents; promoting the integrated development of Hengqin and Macao; and relevant protection under the rule of law.
Implementation plan of Guangdong Province for tourism development during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period (January 2023) (Chinese version only)
Subject: economic development, the "14th Five-Year Plan", tourism, Guangdong Province
This document contains an implementation plan of the government of Guangdong Province to take forward the "Notice of the State Council on Issuing the '"14th Five-Year" Tourism Development Plan'" and to expedite the high-quality tourism development in the Province during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. Apart from setting out the development targets by 2025, the vision by 2035 and the related government support measures, the document also sets out various specific tasks in seven areas: (a) promoting the innovative tourism development through the application of technologies; (b) enhancing the quality of tourism in "one core, one belt and one zone" (i.e. the Pearl River Delta core area, the coastal economic belt and the northern ecological development zone); (c) building a major base for the conservation and utilization of cultural and natural resources; (d) expediting the establishment of a supply system of high-quality tourism products; (e) expanding the consumption scale of tourism and improving the quality of the sector; (f) putting forward the modernization of tourism management; and (g) raising the level of openness of and collaboration with the tourism sector of Guangdong Province.
Measures to encourage foreign investment in establishing research and development centres (January 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The State Council
Subject: economic development, commerce and trade, research and development
This document gives a brief summary of the latest national plan and measures to further encourage foreign inward investment in establishing research and development ("R&D") centres, with a view to promoting the development of an innovation and technology system, and broadening the scope of technological exchange and collaboration between the country and the international community. A total of 16 policy initiatives in four areas are proposed, including supporting developments in innovation and technology, facilitating R&D, attracting overseas talents and enhancing protection of intellectual property rights. The document also requires the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Science and Technology and other relevant departments to complement each other in a timely manner.
Pilot master scheme for further opening up of service industries in Guangzhou (January 2023) (Chinese version only)
Author: The Ministry of Commerce
Subject: commerce and industry, development, service industry, Guangzhou
This document illustrates a pilot master scheme approved by the State Council for Guangzhou to further open up its service industries ("the industries"), aiming to set an example for the country to actively open up all aspects and put forward the innovative development of the industries. Apart from setting out the general requirements, the basic principles and targets of development, the document sets down 130 pilot tasks in five areas, namely deepening the reform and opening up of key sectors in the industries, putting forward the joint development of modern services and advanced manufacturing, fostering the opening up of the industries in key development zones and platforms, enhancing the relevant mechanism and system, as well as strengthening the elements to secure opening up and development of the industries.
The Library regularly monitors portals of selected overseas governments and parliaments to take stock of their latest policy papers, important legislative and financial proposals, major inquiry and audit reports for Members and staff's reference.
Better competition, better prices: Report on the inquiry into promoting economic dynamism, competition and business formation (March 2024)
Author: House of Representatives, Standing Committee on Economics, Parliament of Australia (Australia)
Subject: economic development, productivity, competition
This document reviews the level of competition and economic dynamism in Australia with a particular focus on the financial services sector, the aviation sector, the digital platforms and the retail markets. It provides recommendations to the government on areas of legal and regulatory reform, with a view to lowering barriers that hinder competition and business formation as well as further limiting anti-competitive behaviour.
Subject: Development, home affairs, rural development rural economy
This document sets out the UK's latest plan to develop the rural economy. Apart from reporting the latest progress of the government's actions to support rural people and businesses, it includes an array of measures for rural development focusing on: (a) creating more job opportunities; (b) enhancing digital connectivity; (c) building more homes and upgrading the energy infrastructure; and (d) supporting communities, including through improving access to health and social care as well as enhancing community security.
Subject: economic development, environmental affairs, green economy
This document presents the latest plan of the Norwegian government to foster the development of green industries. It outlines the government's goals, investments, and priorities in selected key areas such as renewable energy industries, processing industries and manufacturing industries, with aims to provide better framework conditions for green industrial projects and enhance the confidence of companies in investing green projects.
Subject: economic development, supply chain, trade, logistics
This document analyzes the economic impacts of global supply chain disruptions on New Zealand. With reference to international experiences, it recommends the government to focus on strengthening industry-government collaboration, aiming to build resilience, foster innovation and raise productivity.
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, artificial intelligence, generative AI
This document examines the possible impacts of the rise of large language models and generative artificial intelligence ("AI") on the United Kingdom. Having reviewed the risks and opportunities of these new technology as well as drawing reference from international experiences, it calls for the government to adopt a pro-innovation strategy to maximize the social and economic benefits, and enable the country to compete globally.
Subject: health services, mental health, youth services
This document examines the mental health status of young people in New Zealand and evaluates the effectiveness of the government agencies in addressing their mental needs over the past few years. It provides a series of recommendations to the government, including the creation of a coherent system of mental health services and the development of a national plan for strengthening mental health and anti-addiction workforce.
Subject: welfare services, poverty
This document reviews the poverty in Australia through identifying the underlying causes of poverty, analyzing the impacts on individuals and communities, and assessing the effectiveness of the current social security system. It also provides recommendations to the government on poverty alleviation, including to establish concrete targets to eradicate poverty, and to implement relevant initiatives in key areas such as housing and education.
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, cybersecurity
This document seeks public views on the draft Cyber Governance Code of Practice in the UK, aiming to strengthen the cyber security protection of businesses and other organizations. Apart from presenting the development background and the current regulatory landscape, it includes an array of proposed guidelines of the critical governance areas for managers to follow in order to protect their organizations.
Author: Scottish Government (Scotland)
Subject: economic development, international engagement
This document describes Scotland's latest international engagement strategy. It begins with an overview of the international role, vision and values of Scotland, followed by proposed actions of the government in three focused areas: (a) economy, trade, and investment; (b) climate change, biodiversity, and renewable energy; and (c) reputation, influence, and relationships.
Strategy for digitalisation and information management in healthcare and social welfare (January 2024)
Subject: health services, healthcare, social welfare, innovation
This document sets out the Finnish government's latest strategy to foster the use of digital technologies and promote information management in healthcare and social welfare. It covers a total of 13 key sets of tasks for 2023-2035, including launching a national digital health and social services centre on a trial basis, giving customers access to their own data and ensuring digital security, along with the responsible parties and proposed indicators for evaluating and monitoring of each set of tasks.
Author: Scottish Government (Scotland)
Subject: home affairs, creative industries, arts and cultural development
This document presents Scotland's comprehensive plan to promote and support the cultural sector. It outlines a diverse range of actions aimed at enhancing the sector's resilience, fostering transformation and innovation, and empowering its stakeholders.
Author: NSW Government (Australia)
Subject: home affairs, creative industries, arts and cultural development
This document provides the latest strategy of the New South Wales government to develop the arts, culture and the creative industries for the next ten years. It sets out the commitments to revitalize the ecosystem with focuses on regulatory and investment reforms, reviews of the "screen" and contemporary music sectors, and availability of cultural spaces, etc.
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, information technology, e-government
This document provides the latest strategy of the Australian government in promoting the digitalization of its public services. It sets out the commitments and missions for 2030, with focuses on: (a) enhancing the digital inclusion and accessibility of public services; (b) delivering simplified and seamless public services; (c) exploring innovative investment approaches for data and digital technologies; (d) strengthening digital security and fostering trust; and (e) encouraging broader utilization of data.
Skilled people create productivity: Skills shortage threatens to slow down the effectiveness of R&D investments and productivity growth (December 2023)
Author: Ministry of Finance (Finland)
Subject: economic development, innovation, productivity
This document provides an in-depth analysis of the underlying factors behind Finland's recent sluggish productivity growth. To revive productivity growth in the economy, it recommends the government to implement a comprehensive policy framework aimed at fostering innovation and technology adoption.
Target state of digitalisation in early childhood education and care, pre-primary, primary and lower secondary education (December 2023)
Subject: education, digitalization
This document sets out the latest strategy to foster the use of digital technologies from early childhood education to lower secondary education in Finland. It includes a series of key tasks that the government would take across the following seven areas: (a) preconditions for digital development; (b) digital competence; (c) development of digital infrastructure, services and interoperability; (d) data management and quality; (e) data protection and information security; (f) digital regulation; and (g) research on digital technologies.
Author: Cabinet Office (UK)
Subject: home affairs, public participation, open government
This document sets out the UK's latest plan to improve the openness of the government. It outlines the proposed strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting transparency, citizen participation, and accountability within the government with focuses on enhancing open data practices, fostering collaboration between government and civil society, and strengthening public trust in decision-making processes.
Subject: commerce, industry, innovation and technology, advanced manufacturing
This document sets out the UK's latest plan to develop advanced manufacturing. It covers an array of initiatives for the industrial development, focusing on: (a) investing in research and development; (b) building supply chain resilience and international partnership; and (c) reducing the costs and removing barriers for manufacturers to boost competitiveness.
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, consumer protection, digital market
This document examines the impact of international technology giants (e.g. Google and Apple) on the digital environment and users in Australia. By reviewing various aspects such as market competition, data collection and sales practices of these companies, it also provides recommendations to the government on how to better protect consumers and enhance competition in the digital markets.
Author: Scottish Government (Scotland)
Subject: health services, mental health
This document presents Scotland's latest plan to promote mental health, outlining key actions and priorities. These include addressing stigma, expanding services and support, and fostering community awareness and overall mental health.
Subject: education, digitalization
This document provides an overview of the latest policies for the digitalization of the education system in Finland. It outlines the vision and goals, as well as the measures to be taken by the government to support the digitalization of education, teaching and training.
Subject: financial affairs, consumer credit
This document provides an overview of consumer credit reporting system in the US, covering the services of credit reference agencies, relevant consumer protection measures and regulatory framework for the sector. It also discusses various issues pertaining to consumer data reports for policy consideration for the US Congress, including: (a) handling of inaccurate or disputed consumer data provided in consumer data reports; (b) consumer rights; (c) types of consumer credit data to be covered; and (d) data protection and security issues.
Subject: constitutional affairs, sexual harassment, workplace
This document sets out the New South Wales government's latest plan to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. In addition to outlining the visions and expected outcomes over the next four years, it includes a series of proposed measures to ensure businesses can identify and address the problem by taking effective and systematic actions.
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, information technology, e-government
This document examines the barriers to advancing the digital transformation of UK government services, and provides recommendations to the government on overcoming these challenges, including the approach of identifying a single service provider for each government service, making strategic changes to legacy systems, and implementing reforms in finance, procurement, and policy processes.
Author: Department of Finance (Ireland)
Subject: financial affairs, financial services, consumer protection
This document provides the Irish government's latest plan to enhance consumer protection for financial services. It includes an array of measures and proposed regulations in respect of: (a) consumer credit; (b) financial education; and (c) digitalization and security.
Subject: health services, healthcare, commerce
This document presents the latest plan of the Norwegian government to foster the growth of the health sector by implementing various measures to support private companies. Examples of these measures include enhancing access to public health data for private companies, strengthening expertise in intellectual property rights within the industry, and expanding the export market.
Subject: development, housing, environment
This document examines the interactions between the environmental policy and the development policy of the UK over the years, including the impact of environmental regulations on achieving the housing targets and the level of government support for small and medium-sized developers to meet environmental requirements. It provides recommendations to the government to implement a comprehensive strategy for both driving development and protecting the environment.
Subject: economic development, supply chain, logistics
This document presents the latest strategy aimed at fostering the development of freight and supply chain system in New Zealand. In addition to outlining specific goals and visions for three-year, ten-year, and thirty-year horizons, it provides a list of immediate actions to be taken by the government in collaboration with sector stakeholders in respect of: (a) developing ports and expanding connections to communities; (b) fostering the decarbonization of the road freight system; (c) improving data sharing interoperability; and (d) strengthening international engagement.
Artificial intelligence: Overview, recent advances, and considerations for the 118th Congress (August 2023)
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, artificial intelligence, generative AI
This document offers a concise introduction to artificial intelligence ("AI") technologies, covering the recent generative AI, and the associated benefits and potential risks. It also provides an overview of AI applications in healthcare, education, and national security, along with a review of existing laws addressing AI in the US and various perspectives on AI regulation.
Subject: manpower, occupational safety and health
This document sets out the Finnish government's latest plan to promote occupational safety and health. In addition to outlining strategic goals over the next four years, it includes a series of measures about workplace inspections and promotional campaigns to achieve the safe and healthy working environment.
Author: Scottish Government (Scotland)
Subject: welfare services, housing, homeless
This document sets out the latest plan to tackle homelessness in Scotland. Specifically, it includes a series of actions recommended by this Task and Finish Group in respect of: (a) raising the awareness of homelessness throughout the community; (b) focusing on housing development and providing more affordable housing and support; (c) increasing the transparency of the proposed Housing Bill; (d) enhancing the monitoring and oversight of relevant programmes; and (e) securing long-term funding.
Subject: housing, welfare services, homeless
This document gives an overview of the housing system and the status of homelessness in Australia, covering issues of the supply and demand in the housing market, social housing, existing measures to address homelessness, etc. It seeks public views on the development of a national plan to improve the effectiveness of the housing ladder and help address homelessness.
Author: The Treasury (Australia)
Subject: financial affairs, business registry
This document gives a comprehensive review of the existing business registry system in Australia, covering the registration processes, policies and technology. It provides a series of recommendations to the government to address the scope, design, implementation and governance of the system.
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, artificial intelligence
This document provides an overview of artificial intelligence ("AI"), including its development background, potential applications, and regulatory challenges. It also discusses the UK government's proposed approach to AI regulation and provides interim recommendations to the government to take a leading role on promoting international coordination in regulating AI technologies.
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, digital inclusion digitalization
This document sets out the Australian government's latest plan to promote digital inclusion for the country. It includes an array of government initiatives to improve the public access and affordability to the internet and digital technologies, as well as enhancing their digital ability.
Subject: manpower, labour market, employment
This document evaluates the effectiveness of the UK government's employment support programmes. It provides a series of recommendations to the government to improve its employment support and address issues in the labour market, particularly focusing on young people, individuals with disabilities, older workers, and those facing mental barriers to work.
Subject: financial affairs, information technology, payments system
The Australian government has released its strategic plan to foster the development of payments system, with focuses on: (a) promoting a safe and resilient system; (b) updating the payments regulatory framework; (c) modernizing payments infrastructure; (d) uplifting competition, productivity and innovation; and (e) securing its position and influence on the international community.
Art, culture and diverse Finland: The Ministry of Education and Culture's action plan to promote diversity in the field of arts and culture (June 2023)
Subject: home affairs, creative industries, arts and cultural development
This action plan provides the latest strategy of the Finnish government to promote the diversity of arts and culture for the country. It includes a series of measures in respect of increasing funding and education support, introducing more promotional activities from cultural institutions, putting forward more research and development works, and promoting cross-departmental collaboration.
Creative industries sector vision: A joint plan to drive growth, build talent and develop skills (June 2023)
Subject: home affairs, creative industries, arts and cultural development
This document sets out the UK government's latest plan to develop the creative industries. Having set out the development targets by 2030, it includes a series of actions in respect of: (a) supporting businesses to innovate, attract investment and export; (b) expanding the workforce and enhancing their skills; and (c) increasing the local and international impact of the industries.
Author: Oslo Economics (Norway)
Subject: constitutional affairs, e-voting
This document compares pros and cons of on-spot paper-based voting, on-spot electronic voting and internet-based voting. Specifically, it assesses these voting methods in terms of: (a) security; (b) transparency and auditability; (c) ease of use and understanding; and (d) resources required.
Subject: information technology, artificial intelligence
This document provides an overview of the current state of regulatory framework of artificial intelligence ("AI") in Australia, its potential applications, and its potential ethical and social implications. It seeks public views on development and adoption of a national AI ethics framework for the country.
Subject: education, STEM
This action plan provides the latest strategy of the Finnish government to promote STEM competence level for the country. It includes a series of measures in respect of: (a) developing teaching and education; (b) monitoring, conducting surveys and fostering general development; and (c) promoting communications and interest.
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, artificial intelligence, large language models
This document provides an overview of generative artificial intelligence ("AI"), covering its common types and potential applications, as well as its data use and privacy issues and policy consideration for the US Congress. It touches on the existing laws, data-scraping regulation and alternative AI research.
Subject: health services, social isolation
This document reviews the status of loneliness and social isolation in the United States and discusses the potential impacts on individual health outcomes and communities. It provides recommendations to a wide range of stakeholders such as state and local governments, health professionals, school administrators, on how to increase and strengthen social connection to address the issues.
Author: Homes England (UK)
Subject: housing, housing supply, home ownership
This document sets out the strategy plan over the next five years on how to utilize the relevant resources (including land, funding, powers and expertise) to deliver more good quality, affordable homes alongside the regeneration of towns and cities across England, with a view to supporting the communities and families.
Author: Finnish Government (Finland)
Subject: welfare services, ageing population, elderly services
This document provides the updated plan of tackling challenges of population ageing in Finland. It includes an array of government initiatives in respect of: (a) improving the functional capacity of the elderly; (b) prolonging the functional capacity and working careers of the elderly; (c) promoting voluntary work for elderly services; (d) enhancing the age-friendliness of the living environment; (e) ensuring the sustainability of elderly services; and (f) accelerating the technology application for the elderly.
Subject: economic development, advanced manufacturing, research and development, innovation
This document sets out the latest plan to develop the advanced manufacturing sector in New Zealand, covering a series of actions to drive the growth and transformation in respect of: (a) increasing investment in advanced technologies and processes to lift the productivity and the wage level; (b) nurturing a diverse highly skilled workforce; (c) developing the sector in a sustainable way with net-zero emissions; (d) improving the general understanding and perceptions of advanced manufacturing in the country; (e) putting forward innovation, research and development as well as scientific work for advanced manufacturing; and (f) enhancing global connectivity and opportunities.
Subject: economic development, productivity, competition
This document provides a comprehensive review of the productivity policy and performance level in Australia, and made recommendations to boost the national productivity in respect of: (a) building an adaptable workforce for the supply of the skilled workers; (b) harnessing digital technology and diffusing innovation to promote new ideas; (c) creating a more dynamic economy through fostering competition, efficiency and contestability; (d) lifting productivity in the non-business sector to deliver high quality services at the lowest cost; and (e) minimizing the environmental impact caused by productivity growth.
Digital platform services inquiry: Interim report no. 6 – Report on social media services (March 2023)
Subject: information technology, consumer protection, digital regulation, social media
This document examines competition and consumer issues associated with social media services in Australia, covering the changes of user behaviour, market power of different platforms, and their data collection and use practices. It also provides recommendations on addressing the potential competition and consumer harms on digital platforms.
Author: UK Government (UK)
Subject: financial affairs, green finance, sustainable finance
This strategy sets out the UK government's latest approach to promote green finance for the country. Specifically, it describes the regulatory framework, tools and channels for enabling the financial services sector's green transition, and outlines the actions that the government would take to mobilize private capital for green investment.
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, computing, artificial intelligence
This document sets out the latest strategy to foster computing development in the UK over the next decade. Apart from presenting the importance of computing, the international landscape and the current status of the country, it provides recommendations to the government on bolstering relevant infrastructure and creating a competitive computing ecosystem to support the growth of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and Quantum.
Author: House of Commons Library (UK)
Subject: transport, electric vehicles, zero-emission
This document provides an overview of the usage of electric vehicles in the UK and government measures to encourage the uptake in the country. In addition, it includes a brief summary of initiatives introduced by other places, as well as possible changes of electricity demand and environmental impact in the country upon the increasing adoption of electric vehicles.
Improving economic resilience: Enhancing economic resilience of industries and communities to persistent supply chain disruption (February 2023)
Subject: economic development, supply chain, trade, logistics
Tasked by the New Zealand government, the New Zealand Productivity Commission releases this document to seek public views on how should the country overcome global supply chain disruptions to enhance the economic resilience. It includes an overview and preliminary analysis by the Commission concerning the policy challenges and strategies to tackle them, with a view to identifying priority industries and formulating relevant policies.
Subject: constitutional affairs, personal information, privacy, data sharing
This document seeks public views on the proposed reform of the Privacy Act in Australia, which aims to strengthen the protection of personal information. It includes an array of proposed amendments to the Privacy Act regarding the types of information to be protected and responsible parties, applications of protections for personal information and enforcements for breaches of privacy.
Author: Scottish Government (Scotland)
Subject: information technology and broadcasting, security, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence
This document reviews the social and ethical implications of the application of three emerging technologies in policing in Scotland, namely: (a) electronic databases; (b) biometric Identification Systems; and (c) surveillance systems and tracking devices. In addition, it provides relevant legal considerations and best practice recommendations to implement and disseminate different forms of policing technology.
Subject: education, tertiary education, digital technologies
This document sets out the latest strategy to foster the use of digital technologies in tertiary education in Norway. It includes a series of actions that the government would take across the following six areas: (a) digitalization for flexible education; (b) digital innovation in teaching and learning; (c) immersion of digital themes, methods and skills into all subjects; (d) open science and new research opportunities; (e) data utilization about the education and research sector; and (f) management and culture for digital transformation.
Author: Finnish Government (Finland)
Subject: environmental affairs, green economy, financial markets
This report examines the importance of financing on green transition in Finland. Apart from providing solutions for the key sectors to implement the green transition and advising the investment scale, it also discusses the role of various parties in financing the green transition and its recent developments in the financial markets.
Subject: health services, medical technology, innovation
This strategy sets out the UK government's latest plan to accelerate the application of innovative technologies on the medical sector (i.e. medical technology) with a view to improving healthcare outcomes. It includes a series of actions that the government would take across the following four areas: (a) ensuring resilience and continuity of supply of medical technology products; (b) supporting innovation and encouraging thriving, dynamic markets; (c) developing enabling infrastructure; and (d) identifying specific focuses on key issues and markets.
Author: Ministry of transport (Norway)
Subject: transport, electric vehicles, zero-emission
This document sets out the Norway's strategy in developing the national charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, focusing on addressing the barriers to promoting rapid charging services. In addition, it includes an array of government initiatives that intends to make rapid charging more user-friendly (e.g. improving payment experience and enhancing price transparency), and thereby electric vehicles more attractive.
Subject: home affairs, culture and sports, arts, cultural and creative industries
This document sets out the latest national plan to renew and revive the arts, entertainment and cultural sector in Australia over the next five years. Specifically, it includes an array of the government measures and investments to deliver new momentum to the creative sector such as the establishment of a designated arts investment and advisory body, increased funding for regional art and increased sharing of the national art collection within the country through loans to local and regional institutions.
Subject: housing, housing supply, vacant properties
This document sets out the latest strategy for Ireland to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use as a cost-effective and sustainable way to increase the housing supply to meet local needs. Apart from reviewing the progress that has been made by the government over the past year, it lays down the actions to be taken to year 2026 to bring more vacant properties back into use, including a designated fund to support the activation of vacant properties and establishment of a guidance relating to protected structures to encourage the use of such properties for repurposing and/or refurbishment as residential accommodation.
The Library regularly monitors portals of selected overseas parliaments to take stock of their latest developments in the rules and practices, as well as reports on parliamentary procedures and related issues for Members and staff's reference.
Interim report: Adequacy of current procedures to protect parliamentary privilege (law enforcement and investigative bodies) (March 2024)
This document provides findings and recommendations to the New South Wales ("NSW") Legislative Assembly on protecting parliamentary privilege when law enforcement bodies utilize coercive, intrusive or covert investigatory powers. It includes a draft protocol between the NSW Legislative Assembly and the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption to set out the processes to be followed for conducting necessary investigations.
This document proposes changes to selected practices of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament with a view to making amending stages of public bills more efficient while safeguarding freedom of speech of the Members. For instance, it proposes to revise the guidance on the length of speeches for debates on groups of amendments and to introduce new guidance to reduce repetition of arguments.
The House Office of Congressional Ethics was established in 2008 as an independent entity to investigate allegations of misconduct by Members, officers, and employees of the US Congress. This report describes the background of the creation of the Office, its composition, powers, investigation procedures, and relationship with the House Committee on Ethics.
This document provides an overview of the executive budget process in the United States ("the US"), covering the roles of the US President, executive agencies and the Congress. In addition to outlining the milestones of the process during the annual submission to the Congress, it also highlights various potential issues for congressional deliberation, aiming to enhance transparency of the budget activities.
Author: Parliamentary Library, Department of Parliamentary Services, Parliament of Australia (Australia)
This article presents an overview of the Federation Chamber in the Australian Parliament, which functions as a second debating chamber for the House of Representatives. It discusses the historical context and primary functions of the Federation Chamber, and provides statistics and examples regarding its usage. Additionally, it compares the Federation Chamber with a similar, parallel debating chamber in the UK Parliament and briefly describes relevant developments in the parliaments of Canada and Kenya.
This paper sets out the procedures for recalling Parliament of the United Kingdom, i.e. calling for sittings of the Parliament on non-sitting days (e.g. at the weekend, or during a recess), on the request of the government for events of major national importance. The paper also sets out details of recent occasions when the Parliament was recalled, as well as discusses the proposal to allow Members of Parliament to request for recalling the Parliament.
This document provides an overview of the Committee of Privileges of the UK Parliament. It explains the process of raising privilege matters in the House of Commons and outlines the remit, powers, and membership of the committee. Added to this, it lists the privilege matters currently before the committee and highlights the privilege matters referred to it since 1979.
This document sets out the proposals from the UK House of Commons Commission to introduce a policy for risk-based exclusion of Members involved in selected types of serious misconduct from the Parliamentary Estate. It outlines the calls to address concerns about Members under criminal investigation for violent or sexual offenses continuing to attend Parliament, and discusses the consideration of the proposals with regard to assessment criteria and appeal arrangements.
This document provides a summary report on the proposed rule changes for proxy voting in the Scottish Parliament. It covers the background information, the operation and findings of the pilot proxy voting scheme, and recommendations on eligibility criteria.
This document describes the legal basis and historical practice of expelling Members of the US Congress. It includes an overview of past cases resulting in expulsion and a discussion of the potential exercise of the expulsion power for Members' conduct occurring prior to their election to the Congress.
This document outlines various parliamentary authorities, including official sources like the House Manual and published precedents of the House of Representatives of the US Congress. It then discusses the principles of House procedures and sets out additional, but unofficial parliamentary authorities such as the House's party conference rules having considered their reference values in relation to understand the House proceedings.
This document discusses various parliamentary reference sources and procedural authorities that govern the operation of the US Senate. It touches upon official documents such as the Senate Manual and Riddick's Senate Procedure, as well as committee rules, party conference rules and some informal practices followed by the Senate.
Author: The Speaker and the Deputy Speakers of the House of Commons Library (UK)
This document offers the most up-to-date guidance on the rules of behaviour and courtesies in the UK House of Commons, issued by the Speaker and Deputy Speakers. It provides updated advice to the Members on the manner of speaking, behaviours at meetings, the conventions and courtesies within the Chamber, with a view to helping them understand the expected conduct during discussions and debates.
This article reviews the work of an academic study about tracking public engagement through the parliamentary process of the Scottish Parliament. It compares and analyses the textual similarities between public consultation responses and official parliamentary documents, and shows how people's voices are heard in the legislative process.
This document provides an overview of the most commonly used motions and requests available to Members in the House of Representatives of the US Congress. It covers the broad categories and common wording of the motions and requests made during the proceedings of the meetings.
Author: Inter-Parliamentary Union
This document provides the survey findings about the youth representation in selected parliaments around the world. It also provides Inter-Parliamentary Union's views regarding the importance of and recommendations for encouraging and enhancing the participation of young people in parliaments.
Author: Inter-Parliamentary Union
This document provides a reference guide on how to promote digital transformation in parliaments and the use of digital tools such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing. It discusses the digital components of a parliament and relevant digital trends and technologies. Additionally, it touched on some practical approaches that have been adopted by selected parliaments in planning and implementing digital projects, including an agile project management and the formulation of a cybersecurity policy.
Parliamentary advice and services: Proposed changes to the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Code of Conduct (September 2023)
In April 2023, the Conduct Committee of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament reviewed the provisions of the Code of Conduct regarding paid parliamentary advice and services of Members and invite Members to submit their views. This document presents the consultation outcome and revised proposals of the committee regarding changes to the Code of Conduct.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in federal election campaigns: Legal background and constitutional considerations for legislation (August 2023)
This document gives a brief review of the use of artificial intelligence ("AI") in federal election campaigns of the US, including the relevant provisions of federal laws and rulings of the Supreme Court on campaign advertising, laying a foundation for possible legislation to regulate the use of AI.
Raising the Standard: Inquiry into recommendations 10 and 27 of Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces (August 2023)
In 2021, the Australian Human Rights Commission released the report about the culture of workplaces of Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia which provides recommendations to promote safe and respectful working environment. This document gives a comprehensive review on how to put forward the two recommendations of the report, comprising (a) reviewing of the Standing Orders and practices to improve safety and respect in the parliament; and (b) reviewing of parliamentary sitting calendar and arrangements to promote wellbeing and working flexibility for Members and parliamentary staff.
Report of the review of the Standing Orders and continuing resolutions of the tenth Assembly (August 2023)
This report gives a comprehensive review of the operation of the Standing Orders and continuing resolutions (i.e. temporary measures that allow the government to continue its operations and spending in the absence of an approved budget) of the tenth Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory. It provides recommendations and a draft version of the proposed amendments in the Standing Orders and continuing resolutions with a view to ensuring that the Assembly's practices and procedures remain relevant and reflect best practices.
The legislative branch appropriations bill provides funding for the US Congress and for the agencies that serve the Congress. This document responds to frequently asked questions about the legislative branch appropriations, comprising: (a) items that are funded within this bill; (b) development, presentation, and consideration of the legislative branch budget requests; (c) the legislative branch budget in historical perspective; and (d) recent developments.
This document provides a brief overview of the current rules governing All-Party Parliamentary Groups in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It also summarizes recent reviews, proposals for improving governance, and the government's response to these recommendations.
This document provides an overview of the congressional budget process in the United States Congress, including the general milestones for the cycle and sequence of actions involved in the process. It also covers how each of the major actions (e.g. submission of the United States president's budget and adoption of a budget resolution) in the process fit into the timeline in practice.
Matters relating to the position of a Member suspended from the service of the House and subsequently re-elected (June 2023)
This document examines the best way to deal with a Member suspended from the service of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly under criminal investigation and subsequently re-elected. It started with a brief history of relevant provision of the Standing Orders and relevant cases in other Australian jurisdictions and New Zealand, followed by discussions of the statutory powers of the House and the potential legal challenges regarding the suspension of a Member.
This document presents the findings from a consultation concerning suspension of Members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom who are under criminal investigation for violent or sexual offences. It proposed introducing a risk-based mechanism, alongside with proposed protocol and guidance, to handle such incidents by the House of Commons.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol: Handbook for parliamentarians (June 2023)
Author: Inter-Parliamentary Union
This document provides the guidelines of promoting gender equality, human rights of women and girls under the framework of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women ("CEDAW"). Specifically, it covers the background of CEDAW, the work of the CEDAW Committee and the recommendations, and possible actions to promote CEDAW within parliaments.
This document gives a brief summary of generative artificial intelligence ("AI"), covering its background, beneficial uses and concerns. It also raises some examples of relevant legislation in governing AI and generative AI in the United States, and poses questions for the Congress on how to develop and regulate relevant technologies.
This document sets out the appropriation process of the United States Congress, which to certain extent could serve as a reference for other Legislatures that have a role in approval of the government budget by virtue of passage of an appropriation bill. In particular, the document focuses on the congressional rules and practices of the House and Senate. Added to this, it also gives an overview of other forms of appropriations measures commonly used by the Congress, as well as relationships between appropriations and decisions made through authorizing legislation and budget resolutions.
In the UK Parliament, All-Party Parliamentary Groups ("APPGs") serve as informal, bicameral, cross-party groups organized around selected topics to help enhance liaison among stakeholders and help foster debate on matters of public interest. Having consulted the government and Members of Parliament, this document puts forward a package of recommendations to amend the rules for APPGs with a view to improving the governance and transparency amid concerns of improper influence by external interest groups.
This document takes stock of key changes of parliamentary practices and procedures of the Parliament of New South Wales in Australia amid the COVID-19 pandemic over the last three years. These include creating a COVID-safe parliamentary environment (e.g. imposing social distancing requirements and using electronic documents), conducting virtual meetings and engaging the public through online means.
Backed by the US Constitution, the Congress is generally recognized by the Supreme Court to have a broad authority to shape the federal bureaucracy. This document starts with an overview of the statutory control of the Congress towards the executive branch agencies in different aspects such as structural design and agency funding, followed by the common non-statutory tools available to the Congress to exert controls on the agencies.
Author: Inter-Parliamentary Union
This document is a progress report that summarizes the first-year achievements made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union ("IPU") under its 2022-2026 strategy. It describes the activities of IPU in strengthening, connecting and supporting parliaments worldwide with statistics and examples, followed by some case studies of parliaments that IPU has helped make significant progress under its seven priority policy goals, namely: (a) climate change; (b) democracy and strong parliaments; (c) gender equality; (d) human rights; (e) peace and security; (f) sustainable development; and (g) youth participation.
This report reviews the pilot scheme of proxy voting implemented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom focusing on Members suffering from serious long-term illness or injury. It provides recommendations to the House about the arrangements of allowing such cases to be included for proxy voting on an ongoing basis.
Special report from the Public Accountability Committee concerning an unauthorised disclosure of in camera evidence (March 2023)
Triggered by the incident of unauthorized disclosure of in camera evidence within the Public Accountability Committee of the New South Wales Legislative Council, this document starts with a review of the current and past practice of the Council in handling the unauthorized disclosures, followed by a guidance to the Committee on taking evidence in camera in future.
This document provides an introduction to the congressional commissions of the US Congress, which refers to the independent advisory entities established temporarily with their members appointed in whole or in part by Members of Congress. It includes an overview of the characteristics of the entities, types, functions, public criticisms/concerns towards their composition and effectiveness, etc.
This document provides an overview of various rules and procedures that govern how the US Congress Members can participate in debate, offer amendments, make motions and requests, and take other actions in the Chamber. It also includes some examples of phraseology that the Members would use in engaging in these activities.
A new Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules for Members of the UK Parliament would be effective from March 2023. This document describes how the Code was developed by taking stock of past reviews, which cover the standards system, details of the Standards Committee's proposals and the summary of relevant debates in the House of Commons.
This document provides an overview of the various proposed reforms in the House of Lords of the UK Parliament put forward by different stakeholders over the past two decades. It first sets out the government's current position on reforming the House of Lords, followed by presenting the views and discussions about its size, composition and appointment method, and concluded by taking stock of the latest discussion on reforms.