Month: May 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Lands Department announced today (May 23) that demand notes for Government rent in excess of $100 per annum for the half year ending June 24 in respect of properties subject to the Government Leases Ordinance (Cap. 40) and certain other properties have been issued.

Payers can settle Government rent through various electronic means, including autopay, bank automated teller machines, e-Cheque/e-Cashier’s Order, the Faster Payment System, payment by phone service (PPS), and bill payment services provided by banks and PPS on the Internet. Payment may also be made in person and in cash or through the Easy Pay System at designated convenience stores. For details, please visit the Treasury’s website at www.try.gov.hk.

Payment may be made by sending a crossed cheque to PO Box No. 28000, Sham Shui Po Post Office, Hong Kong, or in person to any post office. Please ensure sufficient mailing time and postage to make the delivery in order. Underpaid mail will be rejected. For locations of post offices and their opening hours, please call Hongkong Post’s enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or visit its website at www.hongkongpost.hk.

Government rent payers who have not received their demand notes should enquire at the Government Rent and Premium Unit of the Lands Department at 1/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, or call 2231 3033.

Purchasers of properties are strongly advised to instruct their solicitors to ensure that Government rent has been paid to date at the time of purchase. Enquiries on outstanding accounts can be made at 2231 3033 or email to landsd@landsd.gov.hk. An enquiry fee is payable for each property if a written confirmation of accounts position is needed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (May 23) that company re-domiciliation is now open for application.
 
     The Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2025 was gazetted and came into effect today. From today onwards, a company incorporated outside Hong Kong may apply to the Companies Registry (CR) for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong. The mechanism reduces the need to go through complicated and costly judicial procedures, and enables a re-domiciled company to maintain its legal identity as a body corporate, thereby ensuring business continuity. At the same time, an applicant for company re-domiciliation is required to fulfil requirements concerning company background, integrity, member and creditor protection, solvency, etc.
 
     The types of company which may apply for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong include a private company limited by shares, a public company limited by shares, a private unlimited company with a share capital and a public unlimited company with a share capital, or a type comparable to the above four types of company.
 
     Under normal circumstances, the CR will complete the approval process within two weeks after an applicant has submitted all required documents and information. Upon the issuance of a certificate of re-domiciliation, the applicant becomes a re-domiciled company, which will generally be regarded as a Hong Kong-incorporated company with effect from its re-domiciliation date. A 120-day period will be allowed for the re-domiciled company to complete the deregistration procedures at its place of incorporation.
 
     For regulatory purposes of the insurance and banking sectors, a non-Hong Kong-incorporated authorized insurer, or an authorized institution (AI), a holding company of an AI or an approved money broker should approach the Insurance Authority (IA) or the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) (as the case may be) for prior assessment before making a re-domiciliation application to the CR.
 
     Further information on company re-domiciliation procedures, including a guide on company re-domiciliation, forms and frequently asked questions, is available in a new thematic section of the CR’s website (www.cr.gov.hk/en/legislation/co2025/redomiciliation/overview.htm). The IA and HKMA will announce details on the requirements for relevant financial institutions separately.
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 22) is investigating an imported measles case and reminded members of the public who are non-immune to measles to ensure that they have completed two doses of measles vaccination before travelling to reduce the risk of infection.

The case involves a 29-year-old female who developed fever since May 14. She sought medical attention from a private doctor and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital on May 14 and 15 respectively. She developed cough, runny nose and rash on May 16. She attended the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan on May 18 and was admitted for treatment. Her clinical specimen was tested positive for the measles virus upon nucleic acid testing. She was discharged on May 19. 

     The case travelled to the Philippines during the incubation period (April 30 to May 6). As she did not have contact with measles patients in Hong Kong, the case was classified as an imported case.

    She had worked in three schools and a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE) during the communicable period. The CHP has maintained a close liaison with the schools and RCHE for follow-up on the contacts of the case. The CHP has reached 135 contacts in the abovementioned four institutions, no high risk persons have been identified and all were asymptomatic. The CHP assessed that they all have immunity against measles (completed two doses of measles vaccination or born before 1967). The CHP will continue to put the four institutions under medical surveillance and relevant management of the institutions was requested to report to the CHP if any persons develop measles symptoms for follow up.
   
The CHP’s investigation is ongoing.

Recently, the number of measles cases in some overseas countries has been increasing. The outbreaks in North America (including the United States and Canada), Europe and neighbouring areas (including Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines) are ongoing due to the relatively low vaccination rate. Furthermore, an increasing number of measles cases have also been recorded in Japan and Australia this year. Overseas cases mainly affected people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. This shows the importance of maintaining a high vaccination rate and herd immunity within the community.

“The incubation period of measles (i.e. the time from infection to onset of illness) is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. When such symptoms appear, people should wear surgical masks, stay home from work or school, avoid crowded places and contact with unvaccinated people, especially those with weak immune system, pregnant women and children under one year old. Those who suspected they are infected should consult their doctors as soon as possible and inform healthcare workers of their history of exposure to measles,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.

      “Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, the overall immunisation coverage in Hong Kong has been maintained at a very high level through the immunisation services provided by the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres and the School Immunisation Teams. As evidenced by the findings on vaccination coverage of primary school students and the territory-wide immunisation surveys conducted regularly by the DH, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has remained consistently high, well above 95 per cent, and the local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most of the people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. However, Hong Kong, as a city with a high volume of international travel, still faces the potential risk of importation of measles virus and its further spread in the local community. Hence, a small number of people who have not completed measles vaccination (such as non-local born people including new immigrants, foreign domestic helpers, overseas employees and people coming to Hong Kong for further studies) are still at risk of being infected and spreading measles to other people who do not have immunity against measles, such as children under one year old who have not yet received the first dose of measles vaccine,” he added.

Dr Tsui also noted that people born before 1967 could be considered to have acquired immunity to measles through natural infection, as measles was endemic in many parts of the world and in Hong Kong at that time. People born in or after 1967 who have not yet completed the two doses of measles vaccination or whose measles vaccination history is unknown, to consult their family doctors as soon as possible to complete the vaccination and ensure adequate protection against measles. For those who plan to travel to measles-endemic areas, they should check their vaccination records and medical history as early as possible. If they have not been diagnosed with measles through laboratory tests and have never received two doses of measles vaccine or are not sure if they have received measles vaccine, they should consult a doctor at least two weeks prior to their trip for vaccination.

Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
 

• Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
• Clean used toys and furniture properly; and
• Persons with measles should be kept out of school till four days from the appearance of a rash to prevent the spread of the infection to non-immune persons in school.

  
For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP’s measles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH’s Travel Health Service for news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said today (May 22) that the Buildings Department (BD) has refused the application for registration renewal of Aggressive Construction Company Limited (ACCL).

     As a registered general building contractor (RGBC), the registration of ACCL expired in April 2023. It was involved in three serious incidents, including a fatal incident in 2022 involving the collapse of a tower crane at a construction site at Anderson Road, a fatal incident in July 2020 involving the electrocution of a worker at a construction site at Wang Chin Street, and a fatal incident in October 2023 involving a worker falling from height at a construction site at To Wah Road. These incidents resulted in a total of five deaths. The BD referred the renewal application to the Contractors Registration Committee (CRC) for interview and assessment in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance (BO). The CRC is established under the BO and its key members are nominated by the relevant building professional registration boards and the industry. After several rounds of interviews, the CRC was not satisfied that the authorised signatories of ACCL were competent and capable in site supervision and safety management to act on behalf of ACCL for the purpose of the BO, and was not satisfied that the contractor had proper site safety management. After careful consideration of CRC’s recommendation, the BD has decided to refuse ACCL’s application for registration renewal. The BD issued today a letter to ACCL, notifying that it will be removed from the register of general building contractors on June 20, and that it will not be allowed to carry out any building works under the BO from that date onwards.

     The BD has also requested ACCL to inform the authorised persons (APs) of the building sites of the relevant private development projects under its charge in accordance with the law, including submitting to the APs a notice of cessation of appointment, certifying that the building works carried out are in accordance with the provisions of the BO and its regulations, and giving a clear account of the scope of the completed building works. At the same time, the BD also issued a letter to inform the APs responsible for the relevant building sites that the application for renewal of registration of ACCL has been refused, reminding the APs that they should make arrangements for the remaining works as soon as possible, including proposing to the owner of the project the appointment of another registered contractor to follow up the outstanding building works and ensuring that the building works of the project have been carried out in compliance with the provisions of the BO and its regulations. A copy of the letter has been copied to the relevant project owners. It is believed that the relevant owners will expeditiously and properly handle and hand over the outstanding works with the original contractor and appoint another suitable registered contractor to continue with the relevant works as soon as possible.

     ACCL is currently the main contractor for six development projects, three of which are public housing projects (including the public housing development at Tuen Mun Area 29 West, the public housing development at Tung Chung Area 100, and the underground link of Pak Tin Estate redevelopment Phase 10), one is a public works project for the construction of a new Chai Wan Government Complex, one is a subsidised sale housing project on Anderson Road by the Hong Kong Housing Society, and the remaining one is a student and staff dormitory project of the University of Hong Kong on Pok Fu Lam Road. With ACCL being removed from the register of general building contractors, it will no longer be allowed to carry out five of the residential and hostel projects mentioned above according to the law or contract terms. As for the public works project of Chai Wan Government Complex, although it is neither bound by the BO or relevant contract terms to employ a contractor from the register of general building contractors for this project, in view of the slow progress over the past months and the fact that the performance of the contractor is far below contract requirements, the relevant works department will terminate the contract as soon as possible in accordance with the contractual mechanism. The Housing Authority and the relevant works department will follow up with ACCL as soon as possible to arrange for a new contractor to take over the project sites within two months of ACCL leaving the site, so as to complete the remaining works and to minimise the impact on the projects.

     In order to minimise the impact to current workers and subcontractors, the Government encourages new contractors for the projects concerned to take priority in engaging current workers and subcontractors. In addition, special consultation counters have been set up at ten Regional Offices of the Labour Relations Division of the Labour Department (LD) to provide appropriate assistance to affected workers. If affected workers need assistance or have enquiries in respect of matters of employment or employees’ rights, they may call the Construction Industry Recruitment Centre (Tel: 3428 3303) or the Labour Relations Division (Tel: 2927 6080) of the LD during office hours. 

     During the processing of the registration renewal application, relevant departments and parties have strengthened efforts to ensure site safety at ACCL’s construction sites. Apart from proactively doubling surprise inspections to private construction sites, the BD has also required project owners and ACCL to implement additional measures to enhance site supervision. As for public construction sites, the responsible parties have also strengthened site supervision. From now until ACCL’s removal from the register, these enhanced measures will continue to be in place if construction activities are still taking place at the construction sites.

     Ms Linn emphasised, “We understand that the decision to refuse the registration renewal may have an impact on the works in progress, but the BD, as the regulatory authority, is required to process registration renewal applications rigorously and professionally in accordance with the BO, which clearly stipulates the factors to be taken into account by the BD. These factors are mainly for assessing whether the registered contractor continues to have the competence, experience, qualifications and suitable appointed persons to act on its behalf in discharging statutory obligations in respect of building works under construction, including building safety. We need to ensure that the system for renewing the registration of registered contractors can play an effective gatekeeping role in maintaining the professional standard of the industry, separating the wheat from the chaff and sending a clear message to the industry and the community, so that the construction industry can continue to develop healthily.”

     She supplemented, “Refusing the application for renewal of registration of ACCL is only one of the series of follow-up actions taken by the Government following construction site fatal incidents. In 2023, the BD and the LD instigated prosecutions against ACCL and related individuals under their respective ordinances regarding the collapse of a tower crane on Anderson Road. The case will be heard in January 2026. The involved authorised signatory of ACCL was also charged with manslaughter in 2024, which will be heard in July 2025. As for the other two serious incidents, ACCL and related individuals were convicted and fined under labour ordinances for the 2020 incident, while the 2023 incident will be heard in July 2025.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn today said that the Buildings Department has refused the application for registration renewal of Aggressive Construction Company which will be removed from the register of general building contractors on June 20.

The company was involved in three serious incidents, including a fatal incident in 2022 involving the collapse of a tower crane at a construction site at Anderson Road; a fatal incident in July 2020 involving the electrocution of a worker at a construction site at Wang Chin Street; and a fatal incident in October 2023 involving a worker falling from height at a construction site at To Wah Road. These incidents resulted in a total of five deaths.

As a registered general building contractor, the registration of the company expired in April 2023.

The department referred the renewal application to the Contractors Registration Committee for interview and assessment in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance.

The committee is established under the ordinance and its key members are nominated by the relevant building professional registration boards and the industry.

After interviews, the committee was not satisfied that the authorised signatories of the company were competent and capable in site supervision and safety management to act on behalf of the company for the purpose of the ordinance, and was not satisfied that the contractor had proper site safety management.

After careful consideration of the committee’s recommendation, the department has decided to refuse the company’s application for registration renewal.

The department issued a letter to the company today as notification of its removal from the register of general building contractors on June 20, and that it will not be allowed to carry out any building works under the ordinance from that date onwards.

The company was also requested to inform the authorised persons (APs) of the building sites of the relevant private development projects under its charge in accordance with the law, including submitting to the APs a notice of cessation of appointment, certifying that the building works carried out are in accordance with the provisions of the ordinance and its regulations, and giving a clear account of the scope of the completed building works.

At the same time, the department also issued a letter to inform the APs responsible for the relevant building sites that the application for renewal of registration of the company has been refused, reminding them that they should make arrangements for the remaining works as soon as possible, including proposing to the owner of the project the appointment of another registered contractor to follow up the outstanding building works.

The company is currently the main contractor for six development projects, three of which are public housing projects, one is a public works project for the construction of a new Chai Wan Government Complex, one is a subsidised sale housing project on Anderson Road by the Hong Kong Housing Society, while the remaining one is a student and staff dormitory project of the University of Hong Kong on Pok Fu Lam Road.

With the company being removed from the register of general building contractors, it will no longer be allowed to carry out five of the above-mentioned residential and hostel projects according to the law or contract terms.

As for the public works project of Chai Wan Government Complex, although it is neither bound by the ordinance or relevant contract terms to employ a contractor from the register of general building contractors for this project, in view of the slow progress over the past months and the fact that the performance of the contractor is far below contract requirements, the relevant works department will terminate the contract as soon as possible in accordance with the contractual mechanism.

The Housing Authority and the relevant works department will follow up with the company as soon as possible to arrange for a new contractor to take over the project sites within two months of the company leaving the site.

In order to minimise the impact to current workers and subcontractors, the Government encourages new contractors for the projects concerned to take priority in engaging current workers and subcontractors.

Additionally, special consultation counters have been set up at ten Regional Offices of the Labour Relations Division under the Labour Department to provide appropriate assistance to affected workers.

Ms Linn said that refusing the company’s application for renewal of registration is only one of a series of follow-up actions taken by the Government following construction site fatal incidents.

In 2023, the Buildings Department and the Labour Department instigated prosecutions against the company and related individuals under their respective ordinances regarding the collapse of a tower crane on Anderson Road. The case will be heard in January 2026. The company’s involved authorised signatory was also charged with manslaughter in 2024, which will be heard in July this year.

As for the other two serious incidents, the company and related individuals were convicted and fined under labour ordinances for the 2020 incident, while the 2023 incident will be heard in July 2025.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing said during the eighth meeting of the Task Force on District Governance today that there have been concrete improvements in district facilities and environmental hygiene.

Chairing the meeting, Mr Cheuk said with the full implementation of the improved district governance structure, various policies and measures have been carried out in accordance with the overall strategies set by the Steering Committee on District Governance, leading to these improvements.

The steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary has formulated strategies for 12 district issues, including multiple measures to enhance the local environment and improve streetscapes to create a more comfortable and livable environment while boosting the city’s appeal to tourists. 

The task force followed up at the meeting on the implementation progress and outcome of relevant initiatives.

On combating air-conditioner water dripping, by May 15, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) had inspected 306 private buildings and estates, and issued 180 statutory Nuisance Notices to owners or residents responsible for hygiene disturbances caused by dripping air conditioners, requiring them to abate the nuisance within a specified period.

As for cleaning pedestrian walkways, the FEHD has launched cleaning operations at 81 selected locations across the city to remove stubborn stains and moss since February. After three months, significant improvements were observed at these sites. The FEHD expanded the operations to 80 additional locations with street cleanliness issues from this month.

To enrich urban landscapes and boost tourist appeal, relevant departments plan to plant more flowering trees across 11 new projects set to be launched this year. Two beautification projects were completed in the first quarter, including planting about 40 Cassia bakeriana along major pedestrian pathways at the Kai Tak Sports Park, and introducing over 300 ornamental trees at Shing Fung Road Park in Kowloon City.

Other beautification projects include planting flowering plants near various competition venues to enhance the surroundings in preparation for the 15th National Games in November; and adding decorative lights to trees in the piazza of the Cultural Centre to create a more vibrant night-time atmosphere.

Seperately, the Highways Department (HyD) has undertaken renovation and beautification works for 36 footbridges and tunnels, with 26 structures already completed.

The HyD has also identified four locations for streetscape enhancements, featuring installation of thematic manhole covers, replacement of pavement tiles, and large-scale aesthetic upgrades to lampposts.

As this year marks the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the task force also reviewed at the meeting the arrangements for displaying publicity materials for the celebrations.

Mr Cheuk urged all departments to unite, leverage the strengths of the enhanced district governance system, and jointly foster a vibrant festive atmosphere for celebrations and major events, deepening people’s sense of patriotism.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The 26th World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia/Pacific (A/P) Regional Heads of Customs Administrations Conference held by Hong Kong Customs, in the capacity of the WCO Vice-Chair for the A/P Region (APVC), concluded today (May 22).

In his concluding remarks, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, recognised the fruitful outcomes gained from the four-day Conference, where participants endorsed various significant regional decisions, including the confirmation of the next-term regional representative positions and composition of the Regional Strategic Plan Working Group. The participants also received updates on the latest developments among A/P members and regional entities. In addition, the Conference featured discussions about an innovative initiative concerning a blockchain-based cross-validation platform, which was led by the APVC and aimed to accelerate logistics and economic development in the region.

On the first day of the Conference (May 19), Mr Chan met with the Secretary General of the WCO, Mr Ian Saunders, to discuss multiple issues, including the work of Hong Kong Customs since assuming the role of the Vice-Chair for the A/P Region, and the trends in global Customs development. On May 20 and 21, Mr Chan held individual bilateral meetings with the heads of five Customs administrations in the A/P region, namely the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force, Mr Gavan Reynolds; the Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and President of the Customs Administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Foroud Asgari; the Commissioner General of the Maldives Customs Service, Ms Fathimath Dhiyana; the Director General of the Singapore Customs, Mr Tan Hung Hooi; and Deputy Chief Executive of New Zealand Customs Service Mr Joe Cannon to strengthen mutual collaboration and explore future development opportunities. The Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, also met with the Iranian authority and chaired the meeting.

​This Conference marks a significant milestone for Hong Kong Customs as it almost concludes its first year as the APVC. Over the past year, Hong Kong Customs has proactively organised around 10 impactful events, fostering knowledge sharing, co-operation, and cohesion among A/P members, and demonstrating their commitment to the promotion of regional development. In the future, Hong Kong Customs will continue to lead the members to contribute to the robust development of regional Customs affairs.