Month: June 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 4) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on June 19 (Thursday) to noon on June 23 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 150 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles, and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
 
     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
 
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
 
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
 
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved the Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Adrian Ho and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

Question:

     In the reply to a question from a Member of this Council in 2018, the Government undertook to conduct a study and consult stakeholders on the proposal to convert bus-only lanes into “public transport-only lanes” with a view to allowing the shared use by other public transport modes. Meanwhile, according to information from the Transport Department, the number of bus trips along busy corridors in certain districts decreased cumulatively by 6 762 trips between 2014 and 2023. As such, there are views that this is an appropriate time to review the bus-only lane policy. However, the Government has indicated earlier on that it currently has no plans to open bus-only lanes for use by other vehicles. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has compiled statistics for each year of the past five years on the changes in the number of bus-only lanes in Hong Kong, the average traffic volume and vehicle speed in these lanes during peak hours, as well as how these figures compare with those for other lanes on the same road sections; if so, of the details; if not, how the Government determines the number of bus-only lanes to be added or reduced in the absence of such data;

(2) of the findings of the Government’s study and consultation on the aforesaid proposal to convert bus-only lanes into “public transport-‍only lanes”, as well as whether there are specific reasons and actual data supporting the current decision of not to open up bus-only lanes; and

(3) with regard to the reduction in the number of bus trips along certain busy corridors in recent years, whether the authorities have reassessed the need for bus-only lanes on such corridors and studied the opening up of such lanes; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Hong Kong citizens mainly commute by public transportation, which accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the total passenger trips each day. Franchised bus is a road-based public transport mode with the highest carrying capacity. The average daily patronage in 2024 exceeded 3.7 million, making up over 30 per cent of the total daily public transport ridership.

     Bus-only lanes (BOLs) (see note) are traffic lanes designated for use only by “franchised bus” or “franchised and non-franchised bus” during the prescribed time. Other vehicles have to make use of other traffic lanes next to the BOLs or alternative routes. Under the policy of giving priority to public transportation, the Transport Department (TD) has implemented BOLs to accord priority to buses with high carrying capacity to use the roads, thereby reducing delays caused by traffic congestion and encouraging the public to use convenient public transportation for travel. 

     Our reply in response to the questions raised by the Hon Adrian Ho is set out below:

(1) In implementing bus priority measures, the TD will consider the actual road situation and traffic conditions, including the design of roads and junctions, the number of traffic lanes, the number of bus routes and bus service frequencies, the traffic volume of other types of vehicles, availability of alternative routes, the impact on the flow of other vehicles, etc and carefully assess the feasibility of such measures, in order to strike a proper balance and ensure smooth operation of the transport network. In addition, the TD will work out the appropriate effective period of bus priority measures based on the actual road conditions and consult relevant stakeholders and districts to ensure the measures are in the interest of the public.

     As of May 2025, there were 115 BOLs in total across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. Over the past five years, the TD added 16 BOLs. According to the TD’s on-site observations as well as feedback from bus companies, BOLs can effectively minimise the impact of traffic congestion on bus services, enhance the stability and efficiency of bus frequencies and facilitate the travel of the public. The TD did not compile statistics on the daily average volume of bus traffic and vehicle speed in respect of each BOL compared with those for other lanes on the same road sections.
 
(2) The TD has examined the proposal of converting some BOLs into “public transport-only lanes” for the shared use by other modes of public transport such as taxis and public light buses (PLBs). In doing so, we need to consider the pros and cons. While the proposal can benefit passengers of PLBs and taxis, it will at the same time increase the number of vehicles sharing the same road space with buses, making BOLs busier and affecting bus passengers. Taking the BOL of Tuen Mun Road eastbound near Harrow International School Hong Kong to Sham Tseng Interchange as an example, about 510 buses pass through the BOL per hour during peak hours on weekdays carrying about 21 000 passengers, compared with the services of taxis and PLBs carrying about 1 100 passengers per hour during peak hours on weekdays at the same road section. On the premise of maintaining smooth operation of the BOL and balancing the needs of various road users, this section of BOL was not opened up. In light of changes in traffic flow and bus operation of Tuen Mun Road after the implementation of new toll plans at the Tai Lam Tunnel, the TD will review the arrangement of BOL of Tuen Mun Road in a timely manner under the public transport-oriented policy.

     If the opening up of certain BOLs can improve the operational efficiency of other public transport modes, the TD will make better use of these BOLs through various means by taking into account relevant factors. For example, some green minibus (GMB) routes require access to specific BOLs to reach designated pick-up and drop-off points. After considering factors such as service frequencies, boarding/alighting points as well as bus traffic of the relevant BOLs, the TD will issue permits to the routes concerned for using the relevant BOLs. At present, a total of 56 GMB routes have been granted such permits.

(3) The TD is committed to reducing the number of buses plying on busy roads in Central, Causeway Bay and Yau Tsim Mong districts with a view to reducing roadside air pollution, traffic congestion, etc. As most of the BOLs are not located at these busy roads, there is no direct impact on the overall bus traffic of BOLs.

     The TD has from time to time reviewed and improved BOLs and traffic facilities of the road sections in the vicinity. For example, the TD has reviewed the arrangement of the BOL from 200 Hennessy Road westbound to the section of Hennessy Road near Luard Road. After reviewing the traffic data, actual road situation and other factors as well as consulting relevant stakeholders and the district, the TD adjusted the effective period of the BOL of Hennessy Road westbound between Fleming Road and Luard Road from 7am – 9am to 5pm – 7pm, and shortened the BOL by 65 metres to balance the needs of other vehicles for loading and unloading.

     In summary, the TD will continue to monitor the implementation of BOLs and road traffic, and review and enhance individual road sections in a timely manner. 

     Thank you, President.

Note: BOLs refer to bus lanes and designated bus gates.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Pui-leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):
 
Question:
 
     Training courses of the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) offered by the appointed Training Bodies (retraining courses) aim at assisting service targets in entering the employment market and continuously upgrading their skills. It has been reported that at present, the ERB had a balance of over $13 ‍billion but an annual deficit of about $800 million to $900 million, which has aroused public concern about issues such as the effectiveness and coverage of its courses, as well as the adequacy of its financial resources in the long run. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it knows the overall placement rate of trainees who had completed retraining courses in each of the past three years, together with a breakdown by training course;
 
(2) whether it knows if the ERB has followed up on a long-term basis the employment situation of trainees who have completed placement-tied courses and collected the relevant data (e.g. the average time taken to successfully secure employment, the proportion of trainees who have not successfully secured employment and the reasons for that); whether the ERB has provided trainees with the relevant employment advice; if the ERB has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) as it is learnt that some people have repeatedly attended retraining courses for the purpose of applying for retraining allowance, leading to abuse and waste of resources, whether the Government has followed up in this regard; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(4) as there are views that the contents of some retraining courses are overlapping and outdated, whether the Government knows if the ERB will consider keeping abreast of the times and further enhancing the courses, as well as adding more relevant courses to tie in with the current market demand; if the ERB will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(5) whether the Government has assessed the effectiveness of retraining courses; as there are views pointing out that the enrolment rate of young people in retraining courses is relatively low, how the authorities promote and attract trainees of different age groups to enrol in such courses; and
 
(6) given that the ERB currently has an annual deficit of about $800 million to $900 million, how the Government ensures its long-term financial sustainability so that it can continue to provide retraining courses?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     Since its establishment in 1992, the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) has been playing an important part of the training strategy for the labour force. The 2024 Policy Address announced the reform of the ERB to enhance its role and positioning from providing employment-related training for low-skilled workers to devising skills-based training programmes and strategies for the entire workforce. Since January 2025, the ERB lifted the restriction on educational attainment of trainees and expanded the service targets to the entire workforce; increased the annual number of training places by at least 15 000; strengthened collaboration with higher education institutions and leading enterprises, etc; and enhanced career planning and job matching services, etc. In addition, the ERB is working out the details and timetable for medium- to long-term work, including how it could gauge and project future skills requirements, reposition itself and build a new branding, adjust its structure and staffing and amend the Employees Retraining Ordinance (the Ordinance). The ERB will submit its recommendations by the end of this year.
 
     The ERB’s operation is funded by the Employees Retraining Fund (ERF) under its administration. At present, the major sources of income of the ERF are investment return, Employees Retraining Levy (Levy) and course fees. In 2014, the Government injected $15 billion into the ERF for generating investment income to finance the services and operation of the ERB. In addition, the Government injected $2.5 billion into the ERF in 2020 to enable the ERB to implement the “Love Upgrading Special Scheme” and to meet the anticipated commitment arising from the increase in the statutory cap of monthly training allowance per trainee. On the Levy, all employers of workers imported under the labour importation schemes designated under the Ordinance are required to pay the Levy. The Levy is transferred to the ERF for the provision of training and retraining to local workers. In 2021-22 to 2023-24, the average annual Levy income was around $59 million. The ERB has to optimise the use of the Government injection and strive to operate on a financially sustainable basis with due regard to cost effectiveness.
 
     On the Member’s question, in consultation with the ERB, my reply is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) At present, the ERB provides three main types of training courses, namely placement-tied courses, skills upgrading courses and generic skills courses. Of these, placement-tied courses are tailored for the unemployed to assist them in acquiring industry-specific vocational skills to enhance their employability.
 
     Training bodies appointed by the ERB provide three to six-month placement follow-up services to all trainees who completed placement-tied courses (i.e. with an attendance rate of at least 80 per cent), such as provision of job vacancy information, arrangement of placement counselling and recruitment activities, to help them enter the employment market. In light of the reform measures recommended in the 2024 review, the ERB has strengthened its career planning and job matching services, etc. The ERB will explore ways to enhance the level of its career planning and employment support services, thereby providing more comprehensive career development support for its service targets.
 
     The employment decisions of trainees are affected by multiple factors such as the prevailing market situation, family factors and personal plans. In the past three years (2022-23 to 2024-25), the overall placement rates of ERB’s placement-tied courses were above 80 per cent. The ERB is unable to breakdown the placement rate by training courses as the number of such courses is substantial.
 
(3) At present, retraining allowance will be provided for full-time placement-tied courses with duration of seven days or more to subsidise trainees’ expenses for transport and meals during the period for attending the courses, with a view to encouraging and supporting citizens in receiving training. Trainees in placement-tied courses are required to pass the interviews conducted by training bodies to ascertain their intention to engage in employment. Only trainees who attain an attendance rate of at least 80 per cent are eligible to apply for retraining allowance. In addition, trainees can enrol in no more than two placement-tied courses within one year, and they are not allowed to apply for the same course, or course at a similar or lower level of competency in the same discipline as the course previously enrolled.
 
     The ERB keeps under review the arrangement for disbursement of retraining allowance and implements enhancements in a timely manner to ensure the effective use of training resources. Starting from April 1 this year, the ERB has tightened the number of times a trainee can apply for retraining allowance each year, from a maximum of two times within one year and four times within three years to no more than once a year, to ensure effective use of the ERB’s resources and that more citizens have access to training opportunities.
 
(4) The ERB closely observes the latest developments in the local employment market. To ensure that training courses meet the market demand, the ERB, during course development, conducts market research and demand analysis, consults stakeholders of various sectors such as employer associations, trade unions, the ERB’s relevant industry consultation networks, industry experts and technical advisors. This is to ensure that the training courses meet the market needs and complement the industry’s training needs. The ERB also conducts regular reviews of courses and make adjustments as needed after rolling out the courses.
 
     In terms of medium- to long-term measures, the ERB will strengthen its research capabilities to grasp the trends for prevailing and future skills demands and the manpower needs of different industries (including emerging sectors). The ERB will formulate an appropriate training framework to guide its training bodies to develop suitable courses to meet the upskilling needs of people with different backgrounds and educational attainments. The ERB will also strengthen collaboration with higher education institutions and leading enterprises to offer more and a wider diversity of courses on skills upgrading. 
     Apart from training courses for the general public, the ERB also provides dedicated youth programmes for young people aged 15 to 29 to assist them in acquiring vocational skills training and placement services. In the past three years (2022-23 to 2024-25), the number of intakes aged 15 to 29 was around 6 per cent of the total number of intakes of ERB courses. The number of intakes of the dedicated youth programmes was also on the rise.
 
     The ERB convenes regular meetings of the “Focus Group on Training for Youth” with representatives of employers, youth concern groups, social service sector, training bodies and the relevant government departments to review the dedicated youth programmes. The ERB also collects information on the employment and further studies of the graduates of placement-tied courses, to ensure that the courses align with the latest development and cater for the needs of the youth. The reformed ERB will continue to explore development of more skills-based and a wider diversity of courses to meet the upskilling needs of people with different backgrounds and educational attainments (including the youth).
 
(6) As of March 31, 2024, the ERF’s balance was around $13.5 billion. In 2021-22 to 2023-24, the ERF recorded deficits of around $970 million, $880 million and $930 million respectively. During the same period, the incomes of the ERF was around $610 million, $730 million and $640 million respectively, with interest income being the major income source; the ERB’s expenditure was around $1.59 billion, $1.6 billion and $1.57 billion respectively, with training courses and programme expenses being the major expenditure. The ERB will continue to closely monitor its financial position and report regularly to the full Board and its Finance and Administration Committee.
 
     The medium- to long-term work recommended in the comprehensive review comprises reforming the ERB’s functions, organisational structure and operating mode and consolidation of training resources. These involve amendments to the Ordinance and resources deployment. The ERB is further studying the medium- to long-term reform work with a view to submitting its recommendations to the Government by the end of this year. The Government will then study the follow-up work with the ERB and jointly implement the reform.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

This year’s International Science, Technology & Innovation Forum, organised by the Boao Forum for Asia, will be held at the Convention & Exhibition Centre this Friday and Saturday.

Under the theme “Transitioning Towards the Future: Powered by Science, Technology & Innovation”, the forum will explore how to capitalise on Hong Kong’s unique advantage of being connected both to the Mainland and the outside world, and how to foster global co-operation in the field of innovation and technology (I&T).

Focusing on global innovation, the forum is one of the world’s major platforms for high-level I&T co-operation and exchanges.

Previously held in Macau, Guangzhou and Zhuhai, the forum is being held in Hong Kong for the first time this year. Cohosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Boao Forum for Asia, the event affirms Hong Kong’s advantages of as a highly internationalized city that is a gateway to both China and the world.

With an expected attendance of more than 800 top experts, scholars and political and economic leaders from Hong Kong and abroad, the forum will serve to deepen regional and international I&T collaboration, and accelerate Hong Kong’s development as an international I&T hub.

A Hong Kong Forum, themed “Leveraging the Advantages of Connecting with Both the Mainland & the World to Foster Global Innovation & Technology Collaboration”, will be staged on Saturday. It will bring together renowned experts, as well as political and business leaders from different fields, to explore how Hong Kong can fully leverage its unique advantages, in terms of internal and external connectivity, to promote collaboration among the Government, industry, academia, the research community and investors, with a view to fostering global I&T development.

Sub-forums, fringe sessions and roundtable events during the two-day conference will involve former foreign heads of state and political leaders, senior representatives of international organisations, renowned scientists and academics, entrepreneurs and youth leaders from various countries, sharing their insights on a host of issues in the I&T field.

Click here for more details on the forum.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Nixie Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):
 
Question:
 
It has been reported that according to a survey conducted by a social enterprise, only about 20 per cent of the public in Hong Kong have made wills, and nearly 40 per cent do not have any legacy planning documents, reflecting a serious lack of public awareness of estate planning. Moreover, such social enterprise projected that the number of elderly people aged over 65 in Hong Kong would reach 2.5 million in 2038, and the assets involved would amount to about $3 trillion. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether the Government will roll out a territory-wide publicity programme for popularisation of wills and work with the legal sector and social welfare organisations to enhance public awareness of the legal effect and procedures of wills; if so, of the specific measures and timetable; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) as it has been reported that currently some cities on the Mainland have already set up government-supported wills services centres to provide members of the public with one-stop public services for consultation on will making, safekeeping of wills and assistance in will execution, whether the Government will consider working with the legal sector to introduce similar referral services to meet the demand of members of the public; and
 
(3) as it has been reported that currently more than 500 people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have registered their wills for safekeeping through the China Will Registration Center on the Mainland, reflecting the keen demand of Hong Kong people for cross-boundary estate planning, whether the Government will collaborate with Mainland departments to streamline the notarisation procedures for Hong Kong wills on the Mainland, such as by exempting some documents from going through the probate process again; if so, of the details; if not, the relevant factors for consideration?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
In consultation with the Administration Wing, the Department of Justice and the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the reply to various parts of the question raised by the Hon Nixie Lam is as follows:
 
According to the Wills Ordinance (Cap. 30), a person may by means of a will, executed in accordance with the Ordinance, dispose of his/her property. Upon the death of the testator, the executor may apply to the Probate Registry for a grant of probate under the Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap. 10) to administer the testator’s estate. If the estate is wholly made up of money not exceeding $50,000 in aggregate, the executor may apply to the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit of the HAD for a Confirmation Notice for the administration of estate.
 
Regarding the notarisation for Hong Kong wills on the Mainland, in general, an individual has to follow the notarisation procedures on the Mainland and provide the necessary materials (such as identification documents of the applicant, documents to be notarised such as will, etc) to prove that the applicant is a qualified executor of the estate and the legality of the relevant documents. In fact, there are certain differences between the Mainland and Hong Kong in terms of the probate mechanism and the inheritance procedures. We will monitor the relevant situations and explore arrangements that could facilitate members of the public in due course.
 
Members of the public who require legal advice on matters relating to wills in Hong Kong, such as the making of wills, safekeeping of wills and wills execution, may make an appointment to meet a volunteer lawyer of the Free Legal Advice Scheme operated by the Duty Lawyer Service, which provides preliminary one-off legal advice. They may also visit the website of the Duty Lawyer Service for pre-recorded legal information on the relevant legal topics.
 
As for publicity, the Government has compiled various publications on inheritance matters. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) has compiled a new promotional leaflet on wills this year to enhance public understanding of relevant information, including what constitutes a valid will, the content that a will may include, the benefits of making a will, etc. The promotional leaflet is available for public access at the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres and the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit of the HAD. The relevant information has also been uploaded to the HYAB’s one-stop family and women information portal for public viewing. The Government will keep in view the relevant materials to meet the needs of the community, and continue to promote the importance of making of wills through various channels.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan will depart for Chongqing this afternoon to attend the “National Event on the Environment Day 2025”, scheduled for tomorrow.

The environmental protection publicity event is organised by the Ministry of Ecology & Environment each year on June 5 in a different city.

The event in Chongqing will showcase the achievements in promoting the construction of Beautiful China Pilot Zones across the country and advocate for the people’s active participation in constructing a beautiful China.

The 2025 event is co-organised by the Central Office of Spiritual Civilization Construction, and the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government directly under the central government.

Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong tomorrow evening. During his absence, Under Secretary for Environment & Ecology Diane Wong will be Acting Secretary.