Month: April 2025

Appointments to Council on Human Reproductive Technology 
     Established in 2001 under the Human Reproductive Technology Ordinance, the Council on Human Reproductive Technology is tasked to regulate reproductive technology activities, including regulating the provision of reproductive technology procedures and embryo research, in Hong Kong through a licensing system, and formulate the Code of Practice for the relevant sectors.————–
Professor Raymond Liang Hin-suen————————-
Professor Wong Man-sau———–
Mr Philip Chiu Kwok-leung
Ms Eva Choi Doi-kwan
Mr James Mathew Fong
Dr Go Wing-wa
Ms Iris Hsu Mei-kuen
Mr Frederick Hui Cheuk-kit
Dr May Lam Mei-ling
Ms Lau Tsz-on
Dr Leung Kwok-yin
Reverend Leung Yuen-yiu
Mr Jeffrey Lo Cheuk-fei
Mr Ng Chak-hang
Professor Ernest Ng Hung-yu
Reverend Ng Sui-lung
Ms Ng Wing-wing
Dr Charas Ong Yeu-theng
Ms Vanessa Wan Lai-shan
Professor Kelvin Wang Man-ping
Professor Dennis Wong Sing-wing
Ms Yip Lai-wa
Principal Assistant Secretary, Health Bureau
Assistant Director, Department of Health
Assistant Director, Home Affairs Department
Chief Social Work Officer, Social Welfare Department
Issued at HKT 11:16

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Ombudsman probes Highways Department’s work on repair and maintenance of public roads               168–200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong
Fax:        2882 8149
Email:     di482@ombudsman.hk 
Issued at HKT 11:00

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Rates and Government rent due April 30 
   Payment can be made:
 
(1) by using autopay, the Faster Payment System (FPS), PPS, Internet banking or bank automated teller machines (ATMs);
 
(2) by uploading an e-Cheque/e-Cashier Order via the Pay e-Cheque portal: (www.payecheque.gov.hk 
(3) by sending a crossed cheque to the Treasury, PO Box No. 28000, Sham Shui Po Post Office, Hong Kong (mail with insufficient postage will be rejected); or
 
(4) in person at any post office or designated convenience store in Hong Kong (i.e. 7-Eleven, Circle K, VanGo or U select). For the addresses and opening hours of post offices, please call Hongkong Post enquiry hotline on 2921 2222 or visit its website (www.hongkongpost.hkIssued at HKT 11:00

Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025 gazetted 
The Bill seeks to revise the working hours threshold of the “continuous contract” requirement under the Employment Ordinance (Chapter 57) (EO), making it easier for employees to meet the revised “continuous contract” requirement and thus be able to enjoy comprehensive employment benefits.
 
A spokesman for the Labour Department said, “The weekly working hours threshold of the ‘continuous contract’ requirement will be lowered from 18 hours to 17 hours. Moreover, a week with less than 17 working hours will still be regarded as a period under the ‘continuous contract’ of employment once the sum of the working hours of that week and those of the three weeks immediately preceding it reaches 68 hours. The Labour Advisory Board has reached a consensus on the proposed amendments.”
 
The spokesman added, “The existing eligibility criteria for employees to enjoy various statutory benefits under the EO will remain unchanged. Subject to a smooth passage of the Bill, the amendment ordinance will come into operation on the first Sunday after six months upon its gazettal. During this period, the Labour Department will widely publicise the salient features of the amendments to employers and employees through various channels, facilitating both parties in getting prepared.”
 
The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) for first and second readings on April 16. The Government will fully complement the work of the LegCo in scrutinising the Bill, with a view to seeking the LegCo’s support and passage of the Bill.
Issued at HKT 11:00

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InvestHK concludes fruitful Middle East visit to deepen international exchanges and co-operation (with photo) 
During the visit, Mr Ng met with business leaders, family office representatives and industry stakeholders across Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, including representatives from Investopia. He also attended a series of high-level business roundtables entitled Hong Kong Growth Dialogues: Building Asia’s Future Super-Corridor, co-organised with Asia House. He also met with local media and elaborated on Hong Kong’s business advantages.
 
Mr Ng said, “Hong Kong, as a global financial centre, an innovation and technology base, and a ‘super connector’ between Mainland China and international markets, offers abundant business opportunities from recent key developments, including the Northern Metropolis, the Airport City Skytopia and West Kowloon Cultural District, etc. We welcome businesses from the Middle East to capitalise on the opportunities our city offers.”
 
He added, “Hong Kong’s strategic position in Asia, coupled with the Middle East’s long-term strategies, such as Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE Centennial 2071, fosters collaboration and shared economic growth. By leveraging Hong Kong’s business advantages, we can strengthen co-operation in various areas, including finance, technology, trade, sustainability and tourism amid a fast-changing global economic landscape.”
 
Hong Kong and the Middle East are deepening financial and economic ties, creating powerful synergies for cross-border investment and shared growth. Recent developments, including cross-listed ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and the recognition of key Middle Eastern stock exchanges as Recognised Stock Exchanges, underscore the growing integration of capital markets between two regions. During the visit, Mr Ng also promoted Hong Kong’s Islamic finance capabilities, citing its successful issuance of three government sukuk and a level playing field for Shariah-compliant products through tax neutrality measures.
 
Participants at the events expressed keen interest in Hong Kong’s business environment and connectivity. Vice President of the Logistics Division at Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Group Mrs Saffia Abdulla Kanoo said, “I gained valuable insights into Hong Kong and its key sectors through the roundtable discussions. I was particularly impressed by the city’s robust financial infrastructure, strong rule of law, and its role as a hub for innovation and capital flows. The session was highly informative and engaging, inspiring me to further explore the opportunities available in Hong Kong.”
Issued at HKT 15:35

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Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 comes into operation 
     The Amendment Ordinance tightens five existing AQOs and adds three parameters newly introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) to the WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (see Annex). In addition, the Amendment Ordinance provides transitional arrangements for designated projects for which environmental permits (EPs) have been issued under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) before April 11 this year. If applications for variation of EPs of these projects are submitted within 36 months from the day that the new AQOs come into operation, the Government will adopt the pre-amended AQOs as the approval criteria.
 
     As regards the tightened control over unlicensed SP operations, after the Amendment Ordinance come into operation, the Director of Environmental Protection may issue a closure notice to the operator of a premise if he believes that a SP is being carried out on any premises without a SP licence. If the operator fails to comply with the requirements of the closure notice to stop the conduct of the concerned SP, a maximum penalty, upon conviction, is a fine of $1,000,000 and imprisonment for 12 months. The Amendment Ordinance also amends the scope of “cement works” and the definition of “premises”, including regulating “cement works” carried out on ships or barges, which are subject to control of the SP licensing regime.
 
     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said, “To enable cement operators brought under the control of the Amendment Ordinance to apply for SP licences from the EPD in a timely manner, the EPD will put in place a six-month transitional arrangement, during which the cement operations newly brought under control will not be regarded as unlicensed operations. The transitional arrangement does not apply to cement operations that are already subject to control under the original Air Pollution Control Ordinance.”
Issued at HKT 12:00

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