Media OutReach
Gold market: May 2025 overview and June 2025 outlook. A monthly digest by the global broker Octa
Overall, the past month presented a rather bumpy ride for traders as it was fueled by a series of notable market-moving events (outlined below). Gold investors contended with persistent trade-related news, shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, rapidly changing monetary policy expectations and U.S. recession probabilities as well as escalating concerns regarding global debt and weakening U.S. dollar. Demonstrating its traditional role, gold once again highlighted its inherent value as a safe-haven asset, potentially indicating continued positive performance in the near future.
- 5-6 May. XAUUSD rallied by more than 6% in just two days as buying from China increased after its markets reopened following a long Labour Day holiday, which ran from 1 May to 5 May. In addition, President Trump’s announcement of a 100% tariff on foreign films renewed trade war fears, weakened the U.S. dollar, and made gold more appealing to holders of other currencies.
- 7-8 May and 12 May. Gold started to pull back from the $3,430 level as the market began to price in the potential easing of trade tensions ahead of the scheduled meeting between the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice Premier of China He Lifeng in Geneva, Switzerland. Furthermore, the U.S. announced a ‘breakthrough’ trade agreement with Britain, which had an additional bullish impact on the greenback (and a bearish impact on the bullion). Improving risk sentiment and rising hopes for the normalisation of global trade relations culminated on 12 May when the U.S. and China announced that they managed to reach a temporary trade deal. As a result, gold prices plunged by as much as 3% on 12 May and continued to fall for another three trading sessions.
- 15 May. Gold began to erase earlier losses after touching critical support in the 3,150 area, which triggered a flow of pending buy-limit orders, helping pull XAUUSD up by almost 2%. In addition, soft U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI) data prompted investors to expect more rate cuts by the Federal Reserve (Fed), further supporting gold prices.
- 20 May. As investors were still digesting the long-term implications of Moody’s downgrade of the U.S. debt, U.S. President Donald Trump was attempting to convince his fellow Republicans in the U.S. Congress to unite behind a sweeping tax-cut bill, which is widely expected to worsen the federal budget deficit outlook. As a result, the U.S. dollar continued to fall, while gold’s price rose towards $3,300 per oz.
- 23 May. Gold prices rose by almost 2%, achieving their best week in six. This was largely due to investors seeking a safe haven as U.S. President Donald Trump renewed tariff threats, recommending a 50% tariff on European Union (EU) imports from 1 June and stating that Apple would face a 25% tariff on iPhones made outside the U.S.
- 29 May. After declining for the previous three trading sessions, XAUUSD rose again after a U.S. appeals court reinstated President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, just a day after most of the tariffs were blocked by a trade court.
‘May was a wild ride for the gold market thanks to America’s erratic trade policies,‘ says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa broker. ‘Ever since Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs in April, they have been repeatedly delayed, adjusted, challenged, blocked and reinstated, sowing chaos, breeding uncertainty and leaving traders with no clear direction‘.
Indeed, as mentioned previously, the XAUUSD monthly chart shows a significant doji candlestick for May, indicating trader indecision and a potential mid-term reversal. In fact, the short-term trend from 22 April can generally be described as ‘sideways’, as traders are unsure about the bullion’s next big move..However, the broader, long-term trend is still decidedly bullish, as gold’s price remains comfortably above key trendlines and MAs. Overall, chaotic U.S. trade policy, rising fears about the sustainability of the U.S. twin deficits (fiscal and trade), endless geopolitical tensions and political instability, and solid structural demand on the part of central banks helped keep the bullion’s price near all-time highs. In addition, the big technical picture has been positive, resulting in trend buying by investors.
Physical demand for bullion has been a key driver behind the rising price of gold in recent months. Just recently, a Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) report showed that China’s total gold imports via Hong Kong nearly tripled in April, hitting their highest level in more than a year. A total of 58.61 metric tons (mt) of gold was imported via Hong Kong in April, up 178.17% from 21.07 tons in March. And these figures may not even provide a complete picture of Chinese purchases, as gold is also imported via Shanghai and Beijing. Indeed, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has been actively adding gold to its reserves for six straight months. According to the World Gold Council, PBoC added 2.2 mt to its gold holdings in April, which now stand at 2,295 mt, 6.8% of total reserve assets. Other countries, notably India and Russia, also continued to stockpile gold. Overall, according to global broker Octa’s estimates, global central banks have added more than 240 tons of gold to their reserves in Q1 2025.
Interestingly, U.S. trade policy also affected physical flows among Western nations. According to Swiss customs data, gold imports to Switzerland from the U.S. jumped to the highest monthly level since at least April 2012 after excluding precious metals from U.S. import tariffs. Reuters reported that Switzerland, the world’s biggest bullion refining and transit hub, and Britain, home to the world’s largest over-the-counter gold trading hub, registered massive outflows to the U.S. over December-March as traders sought to hedge against the possibility of broad U.S. tariffs hitting bullion imports.
Apart from central banks, global investors have also remained quite bullish on gold. According to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), large speculators (leveraged funds and money managers) were still net-long COMEX gold futures and options as of 27 May, 2025. Long positions totalled 152,034 contracts vs only 34,797 short contracts. Meanwhile, according to LSEG, a financial firm, flows into physically-backed gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) reached almost 50 mt year-to-date. Most recently, however, speculative bullish interest in gold and ETFs flows have been subsiding.
‘Although large speculators remain net-long, the size of their exposure is substantially smaller compared to what it was back in September 2024, when the uncertainty around the U.S. Presidential elections fuelled bullish bets‘, says Kar Yong Ang, adding that ETFs actually recorded a minor outflow in the first half of May.
Outlook
Fundamentally, the outlook for gold looks bright, but there are important caveats. We have singled out three important factors that will continue to play out in June and the rest of 2025.
Geopolitical uncertainty
Lingering global economic and geopolitical risks continue to play out, with the ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and the rest of the world, particularly China, being the most critical factor affecting the gold market and the global financial system.
The conflicts in the Middle East, such as the Israel-Hamas hostilities, a brief spat between India and Pakistan, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have destabilised world politics and raised many fears ranging from oil and food supply disruptions to the prospect of a worldwide conflict. Gold, considered a ‘safe-haven’ asset, typically sees increased demand during political uncertainty and instability. While it is extremely difficult to project the resolution of geopolitical conflicts, let alone to forecast the emergence of new ones, peace negotiations in the hottest regions have already commenced. ‘Conflicting parties seem to have at least started to talk. A cease-fire in the Middle East and Eastern Europe is now more likely than it was only a month ago, but a lasting peace may take years to achieve. Either way, any progress in negotiations or even a temporary cessation of hostilities will improve risk sentiment and have a bearish impact on gold,‘ says Kar Yong Ang, global broker Octa analyst.
The looming 8 July tariff deadline imposed by U.S. President Trump further complicates the global political landscape, adding another reason for gold prices to remain elevated. As of today, the United Kingdom is the only country that has signed a new trade deal with the U.S., while trade talks with dozens of other countries have progressed too slowly. Negotiations remain unwieldy, while China and the U.S., the world’s two largest economies, continue to accuse one another of breaching the Geneva trade deal. As long as trade tensions persist, investors will be reluctant to sell gold.
Global monetary policy
Gold is priced in U.S. dollars and is therefore highly sensitive to changes in U.S. interest rates, inflation, and the greenback’s value. As already mentioned, the market is positioned for a dovish Fed. In fact, the latest interest rates swap market data implies roughly 75 basis points (bps) worth of rate cuts by the Fed by the end of December 2025. It is widely expected that other central banks will not fall far behind. For example, after the latest Eurozone inflation figures came out lower than expected, investors now expect the European Central Bank (ECB) to deliver two quarter-point rate cuts by the end of December 2025. Likewise, the Bank of England (BoE) is anticipated to announce at least two rate cuts of 25 bps each before the end of the year. Fundamentally, a less tight (or looser) monetary policy worldwide is a major bullish factor for gold. Because gold has no passive income and does not pay any interest, the opportunity cost of holding it becomes lower when central banks reduce their policy rates. The main risk, of course, is inflation. Should it remain above central banks’ targets or, even worse, start to increase, the Fed and its counterparts will be forced to hold the rates higher for longer.
‘Inflation is a major concern. Tariff-related price increases are yet to be felt, and although U.S. consumer 1-year and 5-year inflation expectations have eased, they remain very high by historical standards. I think some central banks, and maybe even the Fed, will prefer to wait until trade tensions are resolved before committing fully to rate cuts,‘ says Kar Yong Ang.
Physical demand
Physical demand for gold may continue to increase primarily because China, a significant gold consumer, remains an active buyer, but also because global central banks in general are increasingly turning to gold to diversify their reserves away from the U.S. dollar. Specifically, China has seen its national currency, the renminbi (RMB), appreciate more than 2% over the past month. This is not a welcoming development for a country whose economy heavily depends on exports. Thus, Chinese authorities may relax gold import quotas to stop the yuan from appreciating too much. As a result, the physical and investment demand for gold in China may rise in the months ahead. As for India, the demand for gold may temporarily slow due to seasonal factors, but is unlikely to reverse. Indian jewellers may delay making new stock acquisitions as monsoon rains are arriving, while the wedding season is concluding, but that will only have a temporary impact.
Technical picture
Kar Yong Ang, global broker Octa analyst, said: ‘From a technical perspective, XAUUSD looks bullish no matter how you look at it. 3,397, 3,438, and 3,463-3,471 levels are still real targets for bulls. Only a drop below 3,125 will invalidate the underlying bullish trend, and even then XAUUSD is more likely to trend sideways than to go deep down.’
Conclusion
Overall, we continue to see a generally bullish picture for gold, but it may be changing soon. Fundamentally, gold is still a ‘buy’ but no longer a ‘screaming buy’, as we labelled it in our August 2024 Digest. Wall Street analysts predict higher prices. Goldman Sachs recently hiked its 2025 gold forecast to $3,700 per oz, particularly due to strong central bank demand, implying a 10% upside potential from the current levels. At the same time, large speculators have already started to reduce their net-long exposure, while the outlook for the global monetary policy remains uncertain due to tariffs. Investors, in general, may be a bit too optimistic when it comes to rate cuts.
‘As things currently stand, it is still very hard to draw a bearish case for gold, but I do think that the bullish trend is showing first signs of exhaustion and some consolidation is likely to follow‘, said Kar Yong Ang, global broker Octa analyst. Next month will be critical for the gold market as it features seven key rate decisions and will likely be packed with news related to trade negotiations. Traders should be cautious as June news may essentially determine the XAUUSD trend for the next six months.
| 4 June | Bank of Canada meeting |
| 5 June | European Central Bank meeting |
| 6 June | U.S. Nonfarm Payroll |
| 11 June | U.S. Consumer Price Index |
| 15-16 June | Group-7 Summit |
| 17 June | Bank of Japan meeting |
| 18 June | Federal Reserve meeting |
| 19 June | Swiss National Bank meeting |
| 19 June | Bank of England meeting |
| 20 June | People’s Bank of China meeting |
| 23 June | S&P Global Purchasing Managers Indices |
| 24-25 June | North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit |
| 26-27 June | European Council Summit |
| 27 June | U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index |
| 30 June | German Consumer Price Index |
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Hashtag: #Octa
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Octa
Octa is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools.
The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including improving educational infrastructure and funding short-notice relief projects to support local communities.
In Southeast Asia, Octa received the ‘Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024’ and the ‘Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023’ awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively.
When AI Meets Artistic Intelligence — Cross-City, Cross-Disciplinary Creative Education in Action
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 May 2026 – As artificial intelligence (AI) sweeps across the globe, how should humanity redefine the core competencies needed to shape the future? Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and organised by AFTEC, Knowledge Exchange 2026—Artistic Intelligence: Shaping Human Achievement opens today for two days at Hong Kong’s newest cultural landmark—the East Kowloon Cultural Centre—marking the venue’s first major international arts education event. As a flagship annual initiative of the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project, the forum has attracted nearly 260 educators, artists and stakeholders to explore how creative teaching and learning can inspire learning, spark creativity and nurture talent, laying the foundation for a better future.
Bringing Together Education and Cultural Leaders to Build a Cross-Disciplinary Creative Network
The opening ceremony was officiated by Ms Winnie Yip, Head of Charities (Culture & Sports Cluster; Community Engagement), The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
In her opening speech, Ms Winnie Yip, Head of Charities (Culture & Sports Cluster; Community Engagement), The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The Club has been supporting the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project since 2021. The results have been truly encouraging. The programme has strengthened participating students’ understanding of and care for others, while deepening their interest in arts and interdisciplinary learning. With the second phase now underway, we look forward to further supporting the growth and transformation of students and teachers.”
The opening ceremony also featured Prelude in Light, Sound & Video, a multimedia work created by students of the School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), setting the stage for the forum and showcasing the creative potential of the younger generation.
Ms Lynn Yau, Chief Executive Officer of AFTEC and Project Director of the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project, said: “In an era dominated by artificial intelligence, we need to redefine the unique value of humanity more than ever. AFTEC has always been committed to training teachers and creative practitioners, nurturing the ‘5Cs’ core competencies—Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Contribution—through systematic teaching strategies. By integrating creative learning into school curricula, we nurture a new generation equipped with resilience and problem-solving skills, while actively building a cross-disciplinary learning network. We are deeply grateful for the vision and support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the participation of our partners from various sectors, allowing us to collaboratively shape human achievement through Artistic Intelligence and mould the future with creativity.”
Redefining AI — Nurturing Irreplaceable “first-class humans”
The highlight of the forum’s first day was the first cross-city dialogue, a keynote entitled Creative Cities, Creative Mindsets: Bath, Hong Kong, New Delhi. Ms Kate Cross MBE, Director of The Egg at Theatre Royal Bath, United Kingdom; Ms Jigyasa Labroo, CEO and Co-founder of Slam Out Loud, New Delhi, India; Professor Anna CY Chan, Director of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; and Ms Lynn Yau, Chief Executive Officer of AFTEC, delivered the keynote together. The four creative visionaries highlighted that Artistic Intelligence is an indispensable competency for humanity in the age of AI, and shared how global frameworks can be adapted to local practice across the three cities’ distinctive educational and cultural ecosystems to cultivate young people’s imagination, empathy and meaning-making — core competencies for navigating an ever-changing future.
Ms Kate Cross introduced the School Without Walls programme, a groundbreaking initiative that immerses students in cultural venues for seven weeks, significantly enhancing their writing, emotional expression, and self-directed learning abilities. Ms Jigyasa Labroo shared Slam Out Loud’s work, which, through over 100 hours of arts-based social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, has successfully boosted the confidence, curiosity, and emotional regulation of 700,000 children across two Indian states. Professor Anna CY Chan, from the macro perspective of higher education and talent cultivation, emphasised the bridging role of Artistic Intelligence between professional arts training and primary/secondary creative education. Ms Lynn Yau showcased how the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project transforms artists into “Teaching Artists,” shifting schools’ vision from “Arts Provisioned” towards being “Arts Empowered,” enabling Hong Kong students to demonstrate stronger vitality in cross-disciplinary learning.
The session also featured internationally acclaimed arts educator Professor Anne Bamford OBE, FCGI, Director of the International Research Agency; Professor Anne Mette Hjort, Director of The Research Centre for Creative Arts and Public Value, The Education University of Hong Kong; Mr Victor Kwok, Deputy Research Director of Our Hong Kong Foundation and Committee Member of the All-China Youth Federation; and Ms Heidi Lee, Executive Director of Hong Kong Ballet, as respondents. They offered diverse perspectives from policy research, cultural promotion and professional development, exploring how the arts and creativity can nurture outstanding talent of the future through structured and sustainable educational approaches in Hong Kong.
Collaborative Workshops—From Theory to Practice
The forum also featured collaborative workshops, where participants experienced first-hand how educational visions can be translated into practical teaching plans in an interactive setting.
In today’s (15 May) sessions, Creative Classroom LIVE!, led by teaching teams from Tin Shui Wai Methodist Primary School and Tuen Mun Government Primary School, brought authentic teaching plans to life in the theatre, allowing participants to experience the transformative power of creativity in local schools’ setting. Professor Anne Bamford OBE, FCGI, Director of the International Research Agency, facilitated the session The How Factor Lab: Designing Arts-rich Learning that Lasts?, discussing how the arts can be incorporated into education through sustainable policy and teaching strategies to establish a long-term and stable creative ecosystem in schools and communities.
Day Two Highlights — The Many Dimensions of Artistic Intelligence
On the second day of the forum (16 May), discussions will build upon the first day’s highlights and continue to delve deeper into the theme of Artistic Intelligence. In the keynote The Real AI: Artistic Intelligence and the Future of Human Potential, Professor Anne Bamford OBE, FCGI, Director of the International Research Agency, will discuss how the integrated development of personal cognitive, creative, social and digital capabilities can unlock human potential and shape a new generation equipped with innovation and adaptability, calling on education systems, cultural institutions and communities to collaborate in ensuring that young people maintain their unique edge in the age of AI.
Two collaborative workshops will also take place. School Without Walls: Changing Sites of Learning, led by Ms Kate Cross MBE, Director of The Egg at Theatre Royal Bath, United Kingdom, will demonstrate how learning spaces can be extended beyond school campuses to curate meaningful and personalised arts education experiences through the School Without Walls programme. What if We All Had a Voice? The Possibilities of the Arts in Social-Emotional Learning, led by Ms Jigyasa Labroo, CEO and Co-founder of Slam Out Loud, New Delhi, India, will share how locally rooted curriculum resources that address social issues can be developed to empower children to use creativity to tackle life and societal challenges and to weave their dreams.
Mutual Growth—Frontline Teachers and Artists Share Their Journeys and Learning
The forum also invited schools and creative practitioners from the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project to share their practical experiences. In the panel discussion From Traditional to Creative Teaching, Vice Principal Kiley Tse of Ho Lap Primary School (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen), Ms Katherine Ip of Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church Primary School, and Ms Jourdan Wong of Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Primary School will share insights and explore the far-reaching impact of creative teaching and learning on teachers’ personal growth, students, the learning environment, and the overall creative learning culture of schools.
Another panel discussion, From Introspective Artists to Communicative Teaching Artists, features creative practitioners Ms Grace Cheng; Mr Reds Cheung of Laichankee; Ms Cally Yip of Passoverdance; and Ms Priscilla Lai, Lead Creative Practitioner of the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project. Their sharing proves that the Project’s collaborative model not only benefits schools—teachers’ and creative practitioners’ artistic practices are also nourished through the teaching process, fostering mutual growth and grooming the community of practice of teaching artists in Hong Kong.
Creative Learning Arts Awards — Celebrating Local Education Transformation
To showcase the Project’s impact over the years, the forum will host the Creative Learning Arts Awards ceremony, recognising outstanding schools, teachers and creative practitioners, and celebrating the remarkable progress of the local education community in advancing creative thinking and whole-person development.
For more information, please visit:
AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project: https://creativefutures.aftec.hk/home-en/
Knowledge Exchange 2026—Artistic Intelligence: Shaping Human Achievement: https://creativefutures.aftec.hk/knowledge-exchange/ke2026/
Hashtag: #AFTEC
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project
Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project is a multi-level creative learning scheme designed to provide a much-needed system-led approach to creative thinking in educational institutions from tertiary to primary.
Based on a successful pilot (2021 – 2024), the key focus in this expanded version is in training teachers and creative practitioners.
With practical strategies for professionals to teach across the curriculum based on the 5C’s—Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Contribution— creative practitioners join teachers for in-school classes to co-design and co-create lesson plans for use in classroom throughout the year.
About AFTEC
Advancing creative learning and arts education in Hong Kong
Creativity allows us to recognise potential within ourselves and the world around us. It promotes problem-solving, nurtures relationships, cultivates resilience, and can transform lives in countless ways. At AFTEC, we work with students, educators, and creative practitioners to plant the seeds of creativity in our community.
As a proudly homegrown Hong Kong organisation, we nurture the city’s greatest natural resource — its people. Through co-designed, collaborative, and inclusive bilingual education programmes, we create supportive environments where young minds are free to explore, express, and flourish. We spark imagination, build confidence, and foster a sense of growth and belonging together.
Website: www.aftec.hk
Media OutReach
Come to Beijing Chaoyang for an Adventurous Encounter with Trendy Toys and Intangible Cultural Heritage
This is not a traditional exhibition, but an urban carnival that seamlessly blends popular IPs, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) crafts, immersive performances, and top-tier cultural and creative products from across China. The fair brings together high-quality creative cultural products, time-honored ICH brands, and trendy toy labels. Covering a total area of approximately 66,000 square meters, it features both indoor and outdoor zones. Centered around two main themes — “New Oriental Aesthetics” and “The Rise of Guochao (Chinese trendy culture)” — the event showcases over 10,000 creative products.
In the “Rise of Guochao” zone, leading Chinese trendy toy brands present immersive installations. 52TOYS brings the “Panda Roll Playful Panda Forest,” where dozens of lifelike, giant panda sculptures are scattered among the trees, creating perfect photo opportunities. Pop Mart hosts a special exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of its hit IP “MOLLY,” featuring a giant castle inflatable and vending machines for blind boxes. Also making its offline debut as a themed zone, “The Emoji Clinic,” the globally recognized emoji brand launches several exclusive items not yet available in stores.
The ICH section is equally impressive. Ten nationally recognized master artisans showcase their representative works at the “Oriental Showcase,” presenting ten traditional crafts, including filigree inlay, Hepu horn carving, polished lacquerware, Longquan celadon, and Shui ethnic group’s horsetail embroidery. Traditional ICH techniques are creatively combined with trendy toy designs — Peking silk figurines, cloisonné, and Beijing embroidery are integrated into modern doll clothing and accessories, giving birth to a unique Oriental trend aesthetic. Additionally, over 40 other ICH items — such as jade carving, cloisonné, Beijing embroidery, Miao embroidery, and carved lacquer — allow visitors to observe master artisans at work up close and participate in hands-on activities like seal carving, tie-dyeing, and clay sculpting.
Throughout the event, five major venues in Chaoyang Park will host over 100 performances, spanning street dance, traditional Chinese music, symphony, opera, and parades. The Shell Theater will present an ACG symphony concert and a symphony of Hong Kong film golden melodies. At the East Square of Chaoyang Planning Art Museum, the “New Oriental Aesthetics” pop-up stage will feature continuous performances of Jingxi Taiping Drum dance and classical umbrella dance. The East Square of Weibo IN will focus on trendy crossover acts, with breakdance battles and jazz quartets taking turns on stage.
And when night falls, even more intriguing adventures begin. A mecha parade weaves through the crowds — you might brush past Black Myth: Wukong and a troupe of mascots. On the Fangzhou Lake, lantern-lit flower boats set sail, their slow journey accompanied by ancient music and shimmering water, creating a moving Oriental painting. From daytime blind-box surprises to nighttime lantern-lit garden strolls, the park offers unexpected delights at every turn.
No tickets are required — just a sense of curiosity. Bring your camera, gather your friends, come to Beijing Chaoyang Park, become a “power player,” and join this immersive carnival of trendy toys and intangible cultural heritage.
Hashtag: #Chaoyang
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
Customer Service Excellence Award 2025 Concluded Successfully MTR Crowned Grand Champion Among Over 100 Winners
Held under the theme “High Tech, High Touch – AI Empowers a New Era in Customer Service”, the event attracted more than 450 guests. The Honourable Algernon Yau, JP, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. The award presentation ceremony was also privileged to have The Hon Shiu Ka Fai, BBS, JP, Member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and Member of the Legislative Council; The Hon Perry Yiu, MH, JP, Member of the Legislative Council; together with representatives of professional associations who served as award presenters. Members of the award judging panels and customer service industry leaders also joined the celebration to recognize the outstanding achievements of the award winners.
Hon Algernon Yau: Government Injected HK$200 Million into BUD Fund to Support AI-driven Digital Transformation
In his opening address, The Honourable Algernon Yau, JP, noted that artificial intelligence was driving customer service into a new era, shifting from human-led operations to a model that integrates data analytics and intelligent systems. Mr Yau stressed that as technology advances, human warmth becomes increasingly precious. He emphasized that true excellence in customer service is built on a customer-centric foundation, requiring service professionals to integrate technology with empathy, sincere communication and personalized attention to achieve a balance of efficiency and human warmth.
“2026 marks the start of the planning and layout for the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which prioritizes high-quality development, innovation-driven growth and the deep integration of the digital economy. Hong Kong is proactively aligning itself with the country’s development strategy, contributing its unique strengths to meet national needs. The services sector, in particular, must upgrade and transform. To help, the Hong Kong SAR Government has put HK$200 million into the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund), offering targeted support for AI adoption and helping businesses transform digitally.” Mr Yau stated.
Derek Choi: 40% Surge in Applications Reflected High Competitiveness and Recognition of the Awards
Mr Derek Choi, Chairman of HKACE, said “the Customer Service Excellence Award 2025 received 220 applications – a significant 40% increase from the previous year – reflecting the industry’s growing emphasis on service quality. A total of 102 awards were presented, making the competition exceptionally fierce.”
“Participants had to be nominated by the member companies and submit a written proposal in the first round to be shortlisted among the five finalists for a panel interview,” Mr Choi explained. “An independent judging panel, composed of industry elites and academics, then determined the gold, silver, bronze, and merit award winners. This rigorous assessment process upheld the award programme’s standing.” Mr Choi also extended his heartfelt gratitude to all judging panel members, noting that their selfless dedication and strong support had contributed significantly to the credibility of the awards programme.
Customer Service Excellence Award 2025 Winners Unveiled: MTR Crowned Grand Champion
The Customer Service Excellence Award 2025 featured three main categories – Individual Awards, Team Awards and Programme Awards – alongside the Grand Award. MTR Corporation scooped a total of 15 awards, standing out among a strong field of competitors to be named Grand Champion. HKT Limited and The Hong Kong Jockey Club also secured the 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up of the Grand Award respectively.
Other gold award winners included AIA International Limited, BMW (Hong Kong) Limited, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Cathay Pacific Airways, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Hongkong Post, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited.
Appendix 1: List of Winners of the HKACE Customer Service Excellent Award 2025
| Grand Award | ||
| Champion | MTR Corporation | |
| 1st Runner-up | HKT Limited | |
| 2nd Runner-up | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | |
| Individual Award – Contact Centre Service Award | ||
| Gold | Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited | Tse Mei Yee, Shirley |
| Silver | HKT Limited | Li Miu Hei, Annie |
| Bronze | AIA International Limited | Luk Kwong Lam |
| Merit | HKT Limited | Yeung Shuk Yi, Joe |
| Merit | The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd. | Wan Ka Hing, Tingo |
| Individual Award – Counter Service Award | ||
| Gold | BMW Concessionaires (HK)Ltd | Lai Ka Yui, Brian |
| Silver | CLP Power Hong Kong Limited | Lau Tik Fung, Oscar |
| Bronze | Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited | Ng Ka Ling, Aimee |
| Merit | China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited | Yeung Fong Chun, Frank |
| Merit | Sino Group – Citywalk 2 Management Company Limited | |
| Individual Award – Field & Special Service Award | ||
| Gold | Hongkong Post | Hung Tsz Yin |
| Silver | Ngong Ping 360 Limited | Yip Ka Man, Carmen |
| Bronze | Shell Hong Kong Limited | Xia Min |
| Merit | Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited | Luk Ka Chun, Paul |
| Merit | Cathay | Ardis Yeung |
| Individual Award – Frontline Service Award | ||
| Gold | Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited | Kwan Shing Yan, Kelvin |
| Silver | Goodwell Property Management Limited | Wong Pui Ching, Rebecca |
| Bronze | MTR Corporation | Law Pak Hin, Hinson |
| Merit | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Cheung Tsz Ching |
| Merit | Aviation Security Company Limited | Cheng Bing Lam |
| Individual Award – Internal Support Service Award | ||
| Gold | HKT Limited | Zheng Minsui |
| Silver | BOC Group Life Assurance Co. Ltd. | Ma Wing Sze, Sissy |
| Bronze | Cathay | Bianca Tang |
| Merit | AIA International Limited | Lyu Chen Yu |
| Merit | Airport Authority Hong Kong | Agnes Wong |
| Individual Award – Customer Service Training Award | ||
| Gold | HKT Limited | Law Kar Yan, Kannis |
| Silver | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Brian Leung |
| Bronze | Cathay | Jennifer Lui |
| Merit | MTR Corporation | Chiu Tsz Ho, Ivan |
| Merit | H Properties Management (HK) Co. Ltd. | Yip Ching Ching, Janee |
| Individual Award – Customer Service Supervisor / Team Manager | ||
| Gold | Cathay | Michelle To |
| Silver | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Miriam Hang |
| Bronze | MTR Corporation | Matthew Cheung |
| Merit | Ocean Park Corporation | Li Chi Kit, Henry |
| Merit | HKT Limited | Wong Lai Man, Ulysses |
| Individual Award – Top 5 Young Stars of the Year | ||
| Cathay | Tedd Wong | |
| The Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Ltd. | Sham Fung Wa | |
| Hong Kong Tourism Board | Michelle Tam | |
| CLP Power Hong Kong Limited | Ng Oi Mei, Amy | |
| Ngong Ping 360 Limited | Yau Cheuk Ting, Anna | |
| Team Award – Contact Centre Service Award | ||
| Gold | Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited | Digital Hub |
| Silver | China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited | Customer Contact Centre |
| Bronze | MTR Corporation | High Speed Rail Service Hotline |
| Merit | Cathay | Virtual Relationship Manager |
| Merit | HKT Limited | 1O1O Outbound Contact Centre |
| Team Award – Counter Service Award | ||
| Gold | CLP Power Hong Kong Limited | Smart Energy@Tai Po |
| Silver | Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) Limited | Tai Po Branch |
| Bronze | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Kowloon Bay, Telford Off-Course Betting Branch |
| Merit | MTR Corporation | ELEMENTS Concierge Service |
| Merit | Airport Authority Hong Kong | Customer Service Team & Terminal Duty Team |
| Team Award – Field & Special Service Award | ||||||||
| Gold | Cathay | HKIA Rescue Team | ||||||
| Silver | The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd. | KMB Field Operations Support Team | ||||||
| Bronze | CLP Power Hong Kong Limited | CLP Green Studio Multi-Purpose Vehicle | ||||||
| Merit | Ngong Ping 360 Limited | Attractions & Entertainment Team | ||||||
| Merit | Airport Authority Hong Kong | Service Team of Airport Home Baggage Check-in | ||||||
| Team Award – Frontline Service Award | ||||||||
| Gold | Cathay | Cabin Crew Team | ||||||
| Silver | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Tuen Mun Town Plaza Off-Course Betting Branch | ||||||
| Bronze | HKT Limited | “Here to Serve” Team | ||||||
| Merit | MTR Corporation | East Rail Line Interfacing Team | ||||||
| Merit | Airport Authority Hong Kong | HKIA VIP Lounge and Government VIP Lounge Team | ||||||
| Team Award – Internal Support Service Award | ||||||||
| Gold | AIA International Limited | Premier Agency Enquiry Team | ||||||
| Silver | MTR Corporation | Operations Data Studio | ||||||
| Bronze | HKT Limited | Operations Transformation Team | ||||||
| Merit | AXA China Region Insurance Company Limited | Customer Strategy and Insights Team | ||||||
| Merit | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Retail – Racecourse Work Group | ||||||
| Team Award – Customer Service Training Award | ||||||||
| Gold | HKT Limited | Consumer Business Group Training Team | ||||||
| Silver | AIA International Limited | Service Training and Knowledge Team | ||||||
| Bronze | MTR Corporation | MTR Learning & Training | ||||||
| Merit | Hong Kong Tourism Board | Visitor Services and Human Resources | ||||||
| Merit | ABC Pathways School | Training & Development | ||||||
| Programme Award – Customer Retention Award | ||||||||
| Gold | MTR Corporation | Elderly Care Programme | ||||||
| Silver | CLP Power Hong Kong Limited | Power Connect | ||||||
| Bronze | HKT Limited | HKT Commercial SME Customer Retention Programme | ||||||
| Merit | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Experience Diversity, Connect with CARE | ||||||
| Merit | Cathay | Cathay Million Miles Programme | ||||||
| Programme Award – Digital Transformation Award | ||||||||
| Gold | MTR Corporation | MTR Smart Mobility: Digital Transformation for Travel Concession Schemes | ||||||
| Silver | CLP Power Hong Kong Limited | Digital Transformation for Hong Kong ‘s Largest Residential Peak Demand Management | ||||||
| Bronze | Airport Authority Hong Kong | Smart Passenger Security Screening System at Hong Kong International Airport | ||||||
| Merit | China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited | AI+Service | ||||||
| Merit | Ngong Ping 360 Limited | “Delight Guests Always” – NP360 AI Assistant | ||||||
| Programme Award – Outstanding Customer Service Award | ||||||||
| Gold | MTR Corporation | Kai Tak and Sung Wong Toi Stations Customer Experience Enhancement | ||||||
| Silver | Hong Kong Fire Services Department | “Old Friends” Home Visit Scheme | ||||||
| Bronze | Ngong Ping 360 Limited | Shining You Customer Service Program- Creating Muslim Friendly Attractions in Hong Kong | ||||||
| Merit | CLP Power Hong Kong Limited | CLP Community Watch & Care Service Pilot Programme | ||||||
| Merit | H Properties Management (HK) Co. Ltd. | Happy DNA: Happier Places, Happier People | ||||||
| Programme Award – People Development Award | |||
| Gold | Hong Kong Fire Services Department | Greater Bay Area Joint Emergency Response and Rescue Exercise “Liancheng – 2025” | |
| Silver | Airport Authority Hong Kong | The Operation Officer
Skill-based Salary Progression Scheme |
|
| Bronze | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Racing Towards Excellence: Retail Succession Programme | |
| Merit | MTR Corporation | Buddy Scheme for Newly Recruit Station Officer | |
| Merit | Aviation Security Company Limited | Structured Customer Service Development Programme | |
| Programme Award – Service Innovation Award | |||
| Gold | MTR Corporation | MTR Smart Mobility: Intelligent Crowd Diversion System for Kai Tak Sports Park | |
| Silver | H Properties Management (HK) Co. Ltd. | Happy Moment | |
| Bronze | BOC Group Life Assurance Co. Ltd. | 5+1 Senses @ Service Centre | |
| Merit | The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd. | Pet Bus Tour | |
| Merit | HKT Limited | Transforming Service Experience – Wise | |
| Programme Award – Employee Engagement Award | |||
| Gold | AIA International Limited | “Inside Out” | |
| Silver | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | “HAPPI-D” Programme | |
| Bronze | Ocean Park Corporation | Village Adventure | |
| Merit | MTR Corporation | Know Our Customer Programme | |
This press release is issued by Passion PR Limited on behalf of the Hong Kong Association for Customer Service Excellence.
Hashtag: #HongKongAssociationForServiceExcellence #HKACE
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Hong Kong Association for Customer Service Excellence (HKACE)
Hong Kong Association of Customer Service Excellence (HKACE), a non-profit organisation, was established in February 2000 to represent more than 300,000 customer service practitioners in Hong Kong, the number of member companies has almost 50. The 9 founding member organisations are AIA International Limited, Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, Centaline Property Agency Limited, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, HKT Limited, Hongkong Post, Shell Hong Kong Limited, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and The Hong Kong Jockey Club. They are committed to continuously improve themselves, to promote customer service culture with passion, leveraging on members’ synergy and professional expertise.
The Association initiated a multitude of industry awards and programmes over the years, including the “Customer Service Excellence Award”, “Young Service Stars Programme”, and the “Quality Customer Service Programme”. “Service Appreciation Programme” was first launched in 2013 to foster service appreciation culture. The Association aims to facilitate the sharing of managerial experiences among member organizations, encourage innovation, and elevate the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s service sector by rewarding high levels of customer service.
About Customer Service Excellence Award
In line with the mission to promote customer service excellence among members, the HKACE introduced the Customer Service Excellence Award program in 2001 with an aim of motivating customer service staff, recognizing outstanding performers and promoting a customer service culture with member companies.
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