Month: July 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 23):

Question:

     Since October last year, the Government has reduced the duty rate for liquor with import price over $200 from 100 per cent to 10 per cent for the portion above $200. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the changes in the value and volume of imports and re-exports of liquor to date after the reduction in the duty rate on liquor, and how such data compare with those prior to the reduction, together with a breakdown by type of liquor (e.g. Chinese baijiu, whisky and brandy);

(2) as the Government has indicated that the reduction in the duty rate on liquor aims to promote the development of Hong Kong into a trading hub for high-end liquor and boost the growth of various industries such as catering, hotel, logistics and warehousing, whether the Government has assessed if the policy has achieved the expected effects after its implementation; whether the Government will study a further reduction in the duty rate on liquor; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether the Department of Health has, after the reduction in the duty rate on liquor, conducted a population health survey to compile statistics on the proportion of the population aged 15 or above who have consumed liquor; whether it will step up its efforts to publicise and educate the public about the health effects of alcohol, in order to prevent problems such as alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse and binge drinking; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Having consulted the Health Bureau, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), the consolidated reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong is as follows:

     Currently, liquor duty in Hong Kong is levied on liquor for local sales or other uses, while liquor for export or re-export through Hong Kong to other regions is not subject to duty. As such, the liquor duty reduction has a more direct impact on liquor imported for local consumption, whereas the re-export trade of liquor is more influenced by macro factors such as global economic conditions and geopolitics.

     According to the statistics from the C&ED, during the 8.5-month period from the reduction of the duty rate on high-end liquor on October 16 last year to the end of June this year, both the volume (in litre) and value of duty-paid liquor import increased as compared with the 8.5-month period prior to the liquor duty reduction. Of these, the import volume of liquor rose by more than 20 per cent, while its value went up significantly by nearly 90 per cent, reflecting that the two-tier system introduced by the Government is effective in boosting high-end liquor trading. A comparison of the volume and value of duty-paid liquor before and after the reduction in liquor duty rate, as well as detailed statistics breakdown by type of liquor, is provided in Annex I for Members’ reference.

     On the other hand, as liquor duty is not levied on re-exported liquor, the C&ED does not maintain statistical data on the value of liquor re-export. The information provided by the C&SD is set out in Annex II.

     As the liquor duty reduction has only been implemented for a short period, its effectiveness in various aspects remains to be observed. Regarding the suggestion from some members of the trade that the Government should further reduce the duty on liquor, we would like to reiterate that the purpose of lowering liquor duty is to encourage the trade and auctions of high-end liquor in Hong Kong, thereby giving impetus to the development of other high value-added sectors such as logistics and storage, tourism as well as high-end food and beverage consumption. At the same time, we are also mindful of the need to avoid increasing liquor consumption among the public as a result of reducing liquor duty, thereby leading to other problems.

     When introducing the relevant measures, the Government has fully balanced different policy considerations such as promoting economic development, maintaining stable public finances and protecting public health. We will closely monitor the development of the liquor trade and review the effectiveness of the measures in a timely manner. Any further adjustments will require careful consideration of the impact on different aspects with prudent planning. The Government currently has no plan to further adjust the duty rate on liquor.

     In fact, the Government has been attaching great importance to the harms brought by alcohol, in particular alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse and binge drinking. In 2018, the Government launched the “Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong”, setting out nine local targets, with “reduce harmful use of alcohol” being one of them, to be achieved by 2025. The Government will continue to adopt a risk-based approach to reduce alcohol-related harm through publicity, education, treatment and support services. Among which, the Department of Health (DH) has launched the Pilot Alcohol Cessation Counselling Service (Pilot Programme) through subvention to a non-governmental organisation. The Pilot Programme was launched on April 8, 2024, and will last for two years to provide free counselling service for Hong Kong residents identified to have probable alcohol dependence. The DH has also launched a publicity and education campaign named “Understanding Alcohol Harm” since 2022 to enhance the public’s understanding of the health risks associated with alcohol consumption; and provides online risk assessment of drinking behaviour, personalised health advice, self-help tools, health education resources, etc to encourage drinkers to change their drinking behaviour for the sake of their health.

     In addition, the DH conducts the Population Health Survey (PHS) approximately every five years with the Health Behaviour Survey conducted in between as regular surveillance to understand the health status of the Hong Kong population, including drinking behaviours. Figures relevant to drinking behaviours in past PHSs are set out in Annex III. The 2025/26 PHS is expected to commence in the third quarter this year with the findings to be available in end-2026, which would reflect the situation after the partial reduction of duty on liquor.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (July 23): 
 
Question:

The media earlier reported that some Hong Kong students had developed problems of different natures while participating in Mainland exchange tours (exchange tours), which has aroused public concerns about the quality of the exchange tours and may have an impact on the willingness of parents, teachers and students to go north for exchange. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the total number of primary and secondary schools that have been subsidised by the Education Bureau (EDB) and the number of primary and secondary students who have participated since the implementation of the Mainland exchange programmes for students; the effectiveness of the programmes;

(2) whether the EDB has provided various schools with the tendering criteria for selecting the service providers of exchange tours; if so, of the details; the review mechanism in place to examine areas such as health and accommodation safety of the exchange tours, and whether guidelines have been drawn up to specify the requirements for the capability of service providers to respond to incidents; and

(3) it is learnt that the EDB has pointed out that if the quality of the exchange tours was poor, the service providers concerned would not be invited to submit bid again by the authorities, whether the authorities have used the service providers’ records of the exchange tours as the selection criterion, and of the effectiveness of the relevant selection mechanism; whether the authorities have put in place a mechanism to regularly review and enhance the arrangements for the exchange tours (e.g. the itinerary arrangements and selection of itineraries for patriotic education); whether any service providers have been removed from the list of potential service providers for exchange tours by the EDB due to poor track record; if so, of the details?

Reply:

President,

Since the 2004/05 school year, the Education Bureau (EDB) has been providing students with Mainland exchange opportunities in line with the country’s latest developments and the school curriculum every year. This includes organising Mainland exchange programmes (MEPs) of different themes for students and subsidising schools to organise such programmes. Approximately 100 000 subsidised quotas are provided each year to ensure that every student has the opportunity to join at least one MEP each in their primary and secondary stages. The EDB has commissioned external organisations to provide services (e.g. transportation, meals, accommodation and exchange activities) for programmes such as the Mainland Exchange Programme for Junior Secondary and Upper Primary Students and the Mainland Exchange Programme for Secondary School Students, etc. To take better care of students and teachers, every tour will be accompanied by a licensed medical professional or a tour escort holding a valid first aid certificate. Schools may also apply for subsidies from the EDB under two programmes, namely the Junior Secondary and Upper Primary School Students Exchange Programme Subsidy Scheme: “Understanding Our Motherland” and the Senior Secondary School Students Exchange Programme Subvention Scheme, to design their own Mainland exchange activities according to school-based needs and students’ learning needs. MEPs for students align with learning elements of the curriculum and cover diversified learning themes, including history, culture, economics, science and technology. Through participation in the various programmes mentioned above, students can gain first-hand experience of the development of our country from multiple perspectives, and consolidate and deepen classroom learning. This will in turn enhance their understanding of the country and their sense of national identity. Mainland exchange activities for students have delivered remarkable learning outcomes since their launch. Furthermore, to tie in with the implementation of the senior secondary subject of Citizenship and Social Development (CS), the EDB has launched CS Mainland study tours since April 2023. As Mainland study tours form an integral part of the CS curriculum, all senior secondary students studying the local curriculum will receive a full subsidy once to participate in CS Mainland study tours organised by the EDB. After completing their CS Mainland study tours, students have to conduct project learning and submit a report to the school in the form of an individual project.

Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng is as follows:

(1) With student participation on a voluntary basis, MEPs for students have all along been well received by schools, parents and students. During the five school years (s.y.) from the 2014/15 to 2018/19 s.y., the number of primary and secondary student participants increased from approximately 50 000 to more than 70 000. With full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the EDB resumed MEPs for students in the 2023/24 s.y., and the responses from schools were positive, with around 68 000 students participating, which was comparable to its pre-pandemic level. The response in the 2024/25 s.y. is even more encouraging, with over 80 000 primary and secondary students already enrolled in MEPs for students, showing that the programmes are highly popular among schools. Schools will decide on the departure dates based on their school context and students’ learning needs. The numbers of students participating in MEPs from the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 s.y. are as follows:
 

School year	Number of students (rounded down to the nearest hundred)
2022/23	600
2023/24+	68 200
2024/25++	81 000

+ Actual figures revised from last year’s estimates
++ Provisional figures (actual figures to be confirmed after departure)

In addition, following the launch of CS Mainland study tours since April 2023, the EDB has arranged for a cumulative total of more than 140 000 senior secondary students and 15 000 teachers to take part in the study tours in the past three school years (from the 2022/23 to 2024/25 s.y.). The EDB has continued to enhance the scale of and arrangements for CS Mainland study tours. With respect to the number of routes, there is an increase from 22 one-to-three-day tours in the Guangdong Province in the 2022/23 s.y. to 28 one-to-five-day tours in the 2024/25 s.y., covering 11 provinces and municipalities, so as to enable students to participate in various types of learning activities during CS Mainland study tours. Experiential learning activities are arranged in the activity bases for students’ comprehensive practice or other visiting spots as part of the itinerary. The numbers of students participating in CS Mainland study tours from the 2022/23 to 2024/25 s.y. are as follows:
 

School year	Number of students (rounded down to the nearest hundred)
2022/23	43 300
2023/24+	49 900
2024/25++	50 400

+ Actual figures revised from last year’s estimates
++ Provisional figures (actual figures to be confirmed after departure)

In conclusion, it is without doubt that MEPs for primary and secondary students and CS Mainland study tours are beneficial to students. According to the results of questionnaire survey, feedback from teachers and students on these programmes are very positive. They generally consider that Mainland exchange and study tours have extended classroom learning and deepened students’ understanding of our country’s history, culture and technological development, etc, thereby instilling in them a sense of belonging to our country and enhancing their sense of national identity; facilitated friendship building through exchanges between local and Mainland students; and enhanced students’ understanding of the rapid development of our country to help them seize future development opportunities.  

(2) and (3) In selecting service providers for Mainland exchange and study tours, the EDB has all along been following the established government procedures of services procurement, with assessment and approval made under the principles of fairness, openness and impartiality. Service providers are required to have relevant experiences in organising Mainland exchange and study tours for students. During tender evaluation, the EDB will take into account both technical factors (including pro-innovation proposals) and price factors, and may not necessarily award contracts to the lowest bidders.

With the safety and health of students as the prime concern, the EDB has established a regular mechanism to safeguard the safety of students during Mainland exchange and study tours. For instance, the service providers are required by the EDB to formulate for its scrutiny contingency guidelines and arrangements for handling various emergency situations encountered in Mainland exchange and study tours, such as inclement weather, accidents, loss of identity documents and physical discomfort. Prior to departure of each tour, the service providers are required to communicate properly with the schools and arrange on-site briefings to go through the itinerary, points to note and ways to cope with emergencies, etc. Handbooks and name badges containing information about dealing with emergency incidents (e.g. emergency telephone numbers in the Mainland, and particulars and contact numbers of the accompanying staff) will be distributed to teachers and students for persual during the tour. The EDB has put in place a notification mechanism on the safety of students, through which the service providers are required to report on a daily basis the situation of each of the tours during the course of the journey. In addition, the EDB gauges participants’ feedback of these programmes by holding regular meetings with the service providers, deploying staff to attend the programmes to assess the appropriateness of the content and collecting views of the participants, conducting questionnaire surveys, and evaluating the opinions of the participants towards the programmes by arranging interviews and post-tour sharing sessions. Such efforts are conducive to the continuous enhancement and exploration of diverse themes for Mainland exchange and study tours. We will also regularly review the performance of the service providers concerned and monitor the progress and implementation of their work through field inspections and work reports, etc. Any cases of unsatisfactory performance of service providers will be handled by the EDB according to the established mechanism. According to existing records, no service provider has been removed from the list of potential service providers for exchange and study tours by the EDB due to poor track records.

Regarding the incidents in which students of individual schools had developed gastroenteritis symptoms during the Mainland exchange and study tours for students conducted earlier, we seriously and promptly followed up with relevant Mainland organisations/units to provide appropriate support for the schools concerned, including arranging for those students feeling sick to see a local doctor upon parental consent, reallocating rooms for them to prevent cross-infection, providing antiseptic products and arranging disinfection of the coaches. For the sake of safety, while the source of the outbreak could not be verified, we had immediately requested relevant service providers to stop patronising the suspected eatery, and required all those which offered catering service for MEPs for students and CS Mainland study tours to temporarily stop serving raw and undercooked food and cooked shellfish, etc. All the tours concerned had returned to Hong Kong after successful completion of their journey.

Meanwhile, we have promptly set up a dedicated task force for student Mainland study tours to enhance the arrangements for exchange and study activities in a timely manner. Efforts include directly liaising and arranging regular collaboration meetings with Mainland departments and units, with a view to improving various facilities and arrangements to further ensure students’ safety. We have also reached a consensus with service providers on strengthening the notification mechanism for unforeseen incidents. In the event of an incident, the service providers should get to know the situation as soon as possible, keep abreast of its developments, and provide appropriate assistance.  They have also been reminded that there should be more detailed planning and contingency measures for the itinerary, accommodation and catering arrangements, etc. The information presented and guidelines for the pre-departure on-site briefings have also been updated to enhance the hygiene and safety awareness of teachers and students. Moreover, we will maintain close liaison with the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) to update from time to time the latest information on disease prevention and control provided by the EDB and the DH on the “Passing on the Torch” National Education Activities Series website (www.passontorch.org.hk/en), and remind all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to check out and get familiar with such information before setting off for the tours. To enable accompanying teachers to get hold of the latest information on exchange tours, the EDB will regularly organise briefings and sharing sessions to promote the good practices of different schools and provide illustrative examples on how to respond to emergencies for the schools’ reference.

On promoting patriotic education, it was mentioned in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” that starting from the 2024/25 s.y., at least 30 routes with “red resources” would be provided through the Mainland exchange and study tours for students. The EDB has made corresponding arrangements to incorporate relevant visiting spots, including historical sites, museums and thematic memorial halls, as well as learning activities, into 30 routes of MEPs and 11 routes of CS Mainland study tours respectively. To further strengthen patriotic education, and tie in with the launch of the Curriculum Framework of National Security Education in Hong Kong (2025) and mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, starting from the 2025/26 s.y., the number of routes with “red resources” to be provided through MEPs and CS Mainland study tours for students will be increased to 33 and 15 respectively to facilitate students’ understanding of the revolutionary stories and arduous struggles of our revolutionary predecessors and foster their national spirit. The EDB will continue to gauge views from different stakeholders for reviewing the effectiveness of and enhance the arrangements for the Mainland exchange and study tours for students. The EDB will also keep in view the learning effectiveness of the Mainland exchange and study tours for students through school visits and inspections, collection of student work (including photographs, video clips and student reflections), interviews with teachers and students, etc, and will share students’ learning outcomes with the public.

The EDB has all along been actively organising for the benefit of students various kinds of Mainland exchange and study tours, which have gained general support and recognition from schools. The learning outcomes of students are also remarkable. We are looking forward to the continuous support from relevant stakeholders for the Mainland exchange and study tours for students. We will also adhere to our original aspiration and continue to enhance the quality of MEPs for students, and join hands with various stakeholders to achieve more fruitful outcomes. 

Source: Government of Singapore

14th chemical emergency response exercise conducted as part of the bilateral co-operation under the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE)

JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN NEA AND DOE

Singapore, 23 July 2025 – The National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore and the Department of Environment (DOE), Malaysia, successfully conducted the 14^th chemical emergency response exercise at the Tuas Second Link this morning, sharpening the inter-operability between the two countries to respond to and mitigate chemical spillage incidents. A total of 15 agencies and companies from both countries were involved in the exercise [1].

2               The Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE) conducts a biennial exercise to test the effectiveness of the Joint Emergency Response Plan developed by NEA, DOE, and other relevant agencies for dealing with accidental hazardous chemical releases on the Tuas Second Link [2]. These exercises strengthen the emergency response capabilities of the respective agencies, ensuring that they are prepared to take swift and effective action to protect the public’s safety should such an accident occur.

3               Today’s exercise simulated an emergency response to hazardous chemicals being released as a result of a multi-vehicle accident along the Tuas Second Link [3]. In the simulated scenario, a truck transporting drums of concentrated sodium hydroxide swerved sideways into an International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) tanker transporting anhydrous ammonia from Singapore to the Pasir Gudang Industrial Area, Malaysia. Unable to avoid the sudden collision, a car then crashed into the truck. The impact caused two drums of concentrated sodium hydroxide to be dislodged and the chemical to be spilled. The ISO tank was punctured, releasing about 400kg of ammonia gas into the surroundings. The drivers of both the ISO tanker and truck suffered injuries and showed signs of ammonia exposure – coughing and irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. The driver of the car and the passenger were trapped in their vehicle with minor injuries.

4               NEA Chief Executive Officer Mr Wong Kang Jet attributed the success of the exercise to the longstanding and strong bilateral relations between Singapore and Malaysia. “This joint chemical spill exercise has enabled Singapore and Malaysia agencies to further strengthen our cooperation on environmental matters. This exercise is part of a broader set of collaboration that also includes joint regular water quality monitoring along the Straits of Johor as well as workshops to exchange ideas and share expertise. All in, around 500 participants from across 15 agencies from both countries helped with this morning’s exercise. We also had the opportunity to test out newer technologies such as SCDF’s robotic dog, as well as BOMBA’s Long Range Gas Detector. These innovations allow us to monitor the air quality in the incident area in a safer way. The completion of this exercise has also given us greater confidence that we can manage an accident along the Second Link, as well as any other environmental incident with cross border impact. We look forward to strengthening this partnership as well as to explore new opportunities to further increase our collective readiness.”

5               Director General of the Department of Environment, Dato’ Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, stated: “I believe in the strong commitment and collaboration between agencies of both countries in ensuring the success of this exercise, and I am confident that it will continue in the future. This cooperation reflects our level of preparedness in responding to any unforeseen incidents”. The Department of Environment is also committed to strengthening inter-agency collaboration within Malaysia through the delegation of power, which was gazetted on 7 July 2025. This delegation reinforces the roles and functions of 15 agencies, supporting more efficient and comprehensive task execution. This move not only allows for more effective use of resources but also serves as a strategic approach to addressing current challenges, while maintaining integrity and public confidence in the country’s environmental regulatory system.

6               To facilitate the exercise, all three lanes on the Singapore to Malaysia-bound carriageway on the Tuas Second Link were closed to vehicular traffic on 23 July 2025, from 5am and will reopen at 2pm. We thank motorists and any affected travellers for their patience and understanding.

 

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~~ End ~~

For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

ANNEX A

The Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE)

Background

            The Tuas Second Link was opened on 2 January 1998. As part of the bilateral co-operation programme, the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE) agreed that road transportation of hazardous chemicals between the two countries should be restricted to the Tuas Second Link. This has ensured that road tankers and vehicles carrying hazardous chemicals do not pass through congested and populated areas in Johor Bahru and Woodlands/Bukit Timah areas.

2            Hazardous chemicals are often moved between the two countries. Common chemicals transported between the two countries include sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. Considering the large amounts of chemicals transported via the Tuas Second Link, it is important to have in place response plans for any accidents or emergencies involving vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals.

3            Under the auspices of the MSJCE, the Department of Environment (DOE), Malaysia, and the National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore, together with other relevant agencies, jointly developed an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) to deal with accidents involving transportation of hazardous chemicals on the Tuas Second Link. The ERP comprises the following:

a) a notification procedure to alert the two countries early on any incident involving release of hazardous chemicals occurring on the Tuas Second Link; and

b) a response procedure to facilitate and co-ordinate emergency response actions by the agencies of both countries to control and mitigate a release of hazardous chemicals from incidents occurring on the Tuas Second Link.

4          The ERP will enable emergency response agencies of both Malaysia and Singapore to take quick and effective response actions to minimise the consequences of an accident involving hazardous chemicals at the Tuas Second Link. To familiarise agencies from both countries with the ERP, DOE and NEA regularly conduct joint field exercises. Previous exercises are as follows:

 

Participating Agencies / Companies in the 14^th Malaysia-Singapore Joint Emergency Exercise for Chemical Spill

S/N	Singapore
1. 2. 3. 4.	Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) National Environment Agency (NEA) Pride-Chem Industries Pte Ltd

S/N	Malaysia
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.	Ministry of Home Affairs (KLN) Malaysian Border Control & Protection Agency (AKPS) Ministry of Health (KKM) Department of Environment (DOE) Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA) Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) Malaysia Road Transport Department (JPJ) Malaysia Immigration Department (JIM) PLUS Berhad Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)

S/N	Malaysia
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.	Ministry of Home Affairs (KLN) Malaysian Border Control & Protection Agency (AKPS) Ministry of Health (KKM) Department of Environment (DOE) Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA) Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) Malaysia Road Transport Department (JPJ) Malaysia Immigration Department (JIM) PLUS Berhad Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)

 

ANNEX B

Information on the Chemicals

Information on Anhydrous Ammonia

Physical Description ·       Colourless liquefied gas. ·       Has a stinging odour and is not flammable.   Health Hazard ·       Inhalation may cause severe irritation or burn of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. ·       Corrosive to the skin and can cause burns. ·       May cause serious eye damage when in contact with the eye. ·       Ingestion may be fatal, cause burns and corrosion, severe pain in the throat, esophagus, and stomach.   Industrial Uses ·       Commonly used to make fertilisers, household cleaning products and refrigerant recirculating fluid. ·       It is also used in many soldering machines for the manufacturing of jewellery.

Information on Concentrated Sodium Hydroxide

Physical Description ·       Colourless liquid. ·       Odourless and not flammable.   Health Hazard ·       Inhalation may cause burns of mucous membranes, cough, and shortness of breath. ·       May cause severe skin burns and eye damage when in contact with the eye. ·       Ingestion can cause severe burns of the mouth and throat, as well as the potential danger of perforation of the esophagus and stomach.   Industrial Uses ·       Commonly used in paper manufacturing, chemical cellulose bleaching, chemical industry, petrochemical, textile industry and the making of soap and detergents.

Information on Ammonia Gas
Physical Description ·       Colourless gas. ·       Stinging odour. Health Hazard ·       May cause serious eye damage when in contact with the eyes.   Industrial Uses ·       Commonly used in fertiliser production, chemical manufacturing, water treatment and fuel production.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Police Force’s National Security Department (NSD) has laid a holding charge after arresting an 18-year-old local man over the alleged writing of seditious words in the toilet of a commercial building on three occasions.

The charge involves one count of committing an act or acts with seditious intention and three counts of criminal damage.

The case was due to be mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts this afternoon.

The man was arrested on Monday in Kowloon in relation to acts committed with seditious intention, in contravention of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

The seditious words concerned involve provoking hatred, contempt or disaffection against the constitutional order and the executive, legislative or judicial authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as inciting other persons to break the laws of the Hong Kong SAR.

Police reminded members of the public that committing any act with seditious intention is a serious offence, and that offenders are liable to imprisonment for seven years on first conviction. It urged members of the public not to defy the law. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​Following is a question by the Hon Yung Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 23):

Question:

It has been reported that after the occurrence of traffic accidents recently, many drivers who caused the accidents chose to hit and run or refused to provide the drivers’ personal particulars. There are views that the reason for the drivers who caused the accidents taking such actions is the lighter penalty for the relevant traffic offences, thereby enabling them to circumvent more serious offences such as causing casualties by dangerous driving, which reflected the existence of legal loopholes in the authorities’ efforts to combat traffic offences. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of persons who were (i) arrested, (ii) prosecuted, (iii) convicted after trial and on own plea for being involved in traffic accidents in each of the past five years, together with a breakdown by the offenses involving the drivers concerned (including but not limited to (a) careless driving, (b) causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving, (c) causing death by dangerous driving, (d) failing to stop after a traffic accident, (e) failing to report after a traffic accident, and (f) refusing to provide the driver’s information after a traffic accident);

(2) given that under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) (the Ordinance), the maximum penalty for refusal to give information on the driver of a vehicle suspected of having committed an offence under the Ordinance is liable to a fine of $10,000 and an imprisonment for six months, whereas the maximum penalty for dangerous driving causing death is a fine of $50,000 and an imprisonment for 10 years; disqualification from driving for not less than five years on first conviction and not less than 10 years or life on subsequent conviction, there are views that the disparity in the penalties between the two offences is significant, which may indirectly encourage drivers who caused accidents to circumvent serious offences by refusing to give personal particulars, whether the Government has plans to increase the penalties and maximum penalty for refusal to give a driver’s personal particulars, so as to enhance the deterrent effect; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) it is learnt that if the registered owner of the vehicle concerned is a limited company and the relevant person refused to give the driver’s personal particulars after the traffic accident, the penalty is only limited to a fine and no one has to be imprisoned, whether the Government has plans to review the responsibility of the registrant of the vehicle concerned after a traffic accident, e.g. whether it will hold the responsible individuals of companies of the vehicle involved (including director, general manager or company secretary) responsible for the traffic accident, and whether it will study empowering the Commissioner for Transport to refuse to issue licences to owners of company vehicles who have repeatedly committed offences under section 63(1) of the Ordinance; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) given that Schedule 8 to the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221) sets out the level of fines for offences, but there are views that the Schedule was last revised in 1994 and has failed to adequately reflect the severity of some of the offences (including behaviour in contravention of traffic legislation) taking into account the current social environment and economic changes, whether the Government has plans to review the Schedule and increase the corresponding amounts of fines; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) given that under the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap. 227), the maximum sentence Magistrates’ Courts can impose is generally two years’ imprisonment and a fine of $100,000; and maximum three years’ imprisonment where there are two or more indictable offences being dealt with by the courts at the same time, whether the Government will review the Ordinance and study expanding the Magistrates’ power to impose imprisonment and fine in parallel, so as to ensure that they can impose deterrent penalties when more serious offences (including contravention of traffic legislation) are being adjudicated; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

After consulting the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Department of Justice, and the Judiciary Administration, my consolidated reponse to the questions raised by the Hon Yung Hoi-yan on combating traffic offences is as follows:

(1) The numbers of arrests related to the offences mentioned in the question from 2020 to 2024 are listed in the table below. Apart from the initial figures, which may have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers have remained generally stable in recent years.
 

Offences	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Careless Driving	26	48	25	36	34
Causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving	84	93	102	103	102
Causing death by dangerous driving	51	55	54	56	34
Failing to stop after a traffic accident	7	20	24	23	33
Failing to report a traffic accident	7	18	24	20	31
Failing to give particulars after a traffic accident	0	1	0	1	0

The HKPF does not maintain a breakdown of statistical data for “prosecutions”, “convictions through trial”, or “guilty pleas”. 

(2) and (3) In accordnance with sections 63(1), (2) and (3) and 63B(2) and (3) of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) (the Ordinance), if the driver of a vehicle is suspected of having committed an offence under the Ordinance, or an accident occurs owing to the presence of a vehicle on a road, a police officer may, within six months after the date of the alleged offence or accident, demand any person to provide the personal particulars of the driver involved and the relationship (if any) of the person to the driver concerned. Sections 63B(5) and (7) of the Ordinance provide that any person who contravenes section 63B(2) or (3) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3 (i.e. $10,000) and to imprisonment for six months, unless the person proves that he did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, the personal particulars of the driver involved.

The Government agrees that a registered vehicle owner should have a certain degree of responsibility with regard to who drives the vehicle registered under his name. However, the registered owner may not actually have full control of all operational information of his vehicle. Therefore, the current section 63B of the Ordinance provides a defence provision to exempt registered vehicle owners from the responsibility of providing driver information in respect of the vehicle concerned under certain circumstances to strike a proper balance.

The HKPF has consistently enforced the law strictly and effectively, striving to bring offenders to justice. When investigating traffic accidents, apart from requiring the registered vehicle owner to provide information on the driver who may have been involved in the accident under section 63 of the Ordinance, the HKPF will, depending on the nature of the case, use various methods to gather evidence. These methods include analysing footage from nearby security cameras, dash cameras, or even fingerprints to identify the driver involved. In other words, even if the HKPF cannot obtain information of the driver who may have been involved in the accident from the registered owner, there are still ways for the HKPF to find out the cause of the accident through other means and to prosecute the suspected offender.

The Government will continue to pay heed to stakeholders’ views and review the legislation when appropriate.

(4) Schedule 8 to the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221) sets out different levels of fines applicable to penalty provisions under various ordinances. Bureaux and departments will from time to time review and propose adjustments to penalties under relevant legislation based on their policy considerations to ensure that the penalties reflect the severity of the offences. The Government will review the fine levels table as appropriate.

(5) The scope of charges heard in the Magistrates’ Courts includes summary offences and indictable offences, with the maximum penalty for indictable offences generally being imprisonment for two years and a fine of $100,000. The Government may, in accordance with relevant policies, empower magistrates to impose maximum penalties under specific legislation when enacting or amending such laws to enhance deterrent effect, instead of amending the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap. 227). Currently, certain ordinances already authorise magistrates to impose a maximum penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of $5 million for a single offence. In addition, while all criminal proceedings commence in the Magistrates’ Courts, more serious indictable offences may be transferred to the District Court or the Court of First Instance of the High Court for trial. The District Court has a sentencing limit of up to seven years’ imprisonment, while the Court of First Instance may impose the maximum penalty prescribed by the relevant legislative provisions. This mechanism has been operating effectively.

Currently, different levels of courts (including the Magistrates’ Courts) have distinct judicial jurisdictions, allowing cases to be reasonably allocated based on their nature, severity, and complexity to ensure the efficiency of judicial operations. Any proposals to adjust the judicial jurisdiction of individual court levels (including the Magistrates’ Courts) should go through a comprehensive and prudent review and an extensive consultation with stakeholders, before any decisions are made. Key considerations include the demarcation of judicial jurisdiction among different court levels, ensuring that each level of courts has adequate judicial manpower and legal support to handle relevant cases, as well as the overall resources, facilities, and supporting arrangements of the courts.

 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (July 23):
 
Question:
 
     At present, there are nine schemes mainly for attracting talents and capital to Hong Kong, including the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), the General Employment Policy (GEP), the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, the Technology Talent Admission Scheme and the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme (such talent admission schemes). In addition, the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (the STV Scheme) was introduced on June 1 last year to provide immigration facilitation to visitors invited/sponsored by authorised host organisations for undertaking specified short-term activities which are beneficial to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of applications received and approved by the authorities under such talent admission schemes from June to last month, as well as the respective incomes involved;

(2) of the distribution of the regions or countries of applicants admitted to Hong Kong each year since the implementation of the TTPS;

(3) among applicants admitted to Hong Kong through such talent admission schemes in each of the past three years, of the respective numbers of those who were engaged in the area of innovation and technology, with a breakdown by such talent admission schemes;

(4) of the respective numbers of persons who were approved to take up short-term employment in Hong Kong through the GEP and the ASMTP in each of the past five years, as well as the respective distribution of their industries/sectors; apart from these two schemes, whether the Government will explore the introduction of other measures or schemes to enable non-Hong Kong residents to apply for short-term employment in Hong Kong (i.e. the limit of stay is not more than 180 days);

(5) of the respective numbers of applicants admitted to Hong Kong since the implementation of the STV Scheme, the distribution of their regions or countries and their designated sectors;

(6) whether the authorities have plans to expand the list of authorised host organisations and/or designated sectors under the STV Scheme; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(7) as it is learnt that the introduction of a series of new policies by the United States (US) Government in recent years, including tightening the visa regime and substantially reducing research funding, has led to a large number of local scientific researchers (especially Chinese scientists) considering leaving the US, of the Government’s measures (including whether it will introduce targeted talent admission schemes or measures) to support local universities in striving to attract such top-notch overseas scientists to Hong Kong for development?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government has been implementing various admission schemes to attract talents and capital investors, actively trawling for professionals, entrepreneurs and individuals with substantial assets. This is to enrich the local talent pool and bring in more new capital to Hong Kong, so as to enhance Hong Kong’s overall competitiveness, and promote the diversified and innovative development of the local economy.
 
     Our reply to the Member’s question, in consultation with the Security Bureau (SB), the Education Bureau (EDB), the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, and the Immigration Department (ImmD), is as follows:

(1) Since June 1 last year and up to end-June this year, more than 190 000 applications were received under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), the General Employment Policy (GEP), the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents, and the Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS). Among them, nearly 140 000 applications were approved. A breakdown of the relevant statistics is at Annex 1. The Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme will only begin to accept applications from mid-2026 onwards upon graduation of the first batch of students from eligible full-time Higher Diploma programmes.

     Under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES), Invest Hong Kong is responsible for assessing whether the applications fulfil the relevant financial requirements, and the ImmD is responsible for assessing the applications for visa/entry permit, extension of stay and unconditional stay. From June 1 last year to end-June this year, the ImmD received a total of 1 295 applications under the New CIES, of which 673 were approved. The ImmD does not maintain the statistics on the income generated from applications and visa fees under various schemes mentioned in the question.

(2) The TTPS, which aims to attract individuals with high-income or bachelor’s degree graduates from top universities, has received enthusiastic responses since its launch in end-2022. As at end-June this year, about 135 000 applications were received, of which nearly 109 000 were approved. About 40 per cent (about 32 000) applicants in Categories B and C graduated from bachelor’s degree programmes offered by top overseas universities. The breakdown of the numbers of the applications approved under the TTPS by regions of the applicants and the eligible universities from which they graduated is at Annex 2.

(3) In the past three years, among the around 76 000 and 57 000 applications approved under the GEP and the ASMTP respectively, the numbers of approved applicants working in innovation and technology (I&T) related fields are 1 654 and 4 006 respectively. Under the QMAS, among the around 27 000 approved cases which successfully passed the selection exercise in the past three years, 8 021 applicants were in I&T-related fields. As for the TechTAS, which aims to attract technology talents to come to undertake research and development work in Hong Kong, a total of 334 applicants were approved in the past three years, all working in the I&T field.

     Regarding the TTPS, the ImmD adjusted the application procedures on March 1, 2023, requiring applicants with work experience to declare the sectors of their occupations. From March 2023 to end-June this year, 26 211 applicants out of nearly 100 000 approved applications declared that their previous occupations were in I&T-related fields.

     For other talent admission schemes referred to in the question, applicants are not required to have secured offers of employment in Hong Kong upon application, nor are they required during the validity period of the first visas to notify the ImmD after they are employed or have established/joined in business in Hong Kong. Given the nature of the scheme, the New CIES does not require applicants to declare their occupational backgrounds. The ImmD does not maintain the statistics on the industries engaged by successful applicants under other schemes when they first arrived in Hong Kong.

(4) In the past five years, over 112 000 applications were received under the GEP with over 103 000 approved. Of which, about 63 000 concerned short-term positions with contract duration of less than 12 months. The ASMTP received nearly 88 000 applications in the past five years. Of which, more than 77 000 were approved, and about 31 000 applications concerned short-term positions. The breakdown of the numbers of cases approved for short-term positions under the two schemes by industry/sector are at Annex 3.

     Enterprises with job vacancies and facing difficulties to fill the vacancies in local recruitment may apply under the above two employment-tied schemes to employ outside talents with special skills, knowledge or experience not readily available in Hong Kong to take up short-term or long-term employment in Hong Kong.

     With a view to facilitating business, promoting the development of the relevant sectors and raising Hong Kong’s international profile, the Government also launched the Pilot Scheme on Immigration Facilitation for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (Pilot Scheme) in June 2022, and regularised the Pilot Scheme to the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV Scheme) in June 2024. Under the Pilot Scheme/STV Scheme, organisations authorised by the relevant government bureaux or departments can issue invitation letters to relevant non-local talents in their sectors. Invited persons may come to Hong Kong to participate in specified short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment visas or entry permits from the ImmD. They may participate in the specified short-term activities for up to 14 consecutive calendar days during each trip to Hong Kong, and receive remuneration for the specified activities concerned.

     The above schemes have already met the needs of local enterprises in recruiting outside talents to take up short-term employment in Hong Kong. There is no plan now to introduce more measures or schemes for non-local residents to apply for short-term positions in Hong Kong.

(5) and (6) At present, the STV Scheme covers 12 sectors with a total of some 400 authorised organisations. As of end-March 2025, the Pilot Scheme/STV Scheme had benefited a total of nearly 34 000 non-local talents, facilitating their entry into Hong Kong as visitors to participate in various short-term events and activities. The statistics by sector and the beneficiaries’ place of origin are at Annex 4.

     The SB indicates that to ensure the scheme keeping pace with the times, the Government reviews the coverage of the Pilot Scheme/STV Scheme from time to time, with a view to ensuring that it can continue to effectively achieve the relevant policy objectives. Since the launch of the Pilot Scheme, the Government expanded the scheme twice in February 2023 and June 2024, by adding two new sectors, namely “Finance” and “Development and Construction”, to the original 10 designated sectors, with the addition of authorised organisations to over 400 at present. The Government will continue to monitor the implementation of the STV Scheme and the views of relevant departments and the sectors, as well as to review the coverage of the STV Scheme in a timely manner.

(7) In the light of the changes in the global higher education landscape, the EDB has promptly called on all universities in Hong Kong to introduce facilitation measures for affected students and scholars with a view to safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests. As for the affected researchers, the EDB has all along been encouraging various institutions to attract top-notch talents in accordance with their diversified talent policies. The EDB is pleased to see that the local universities have been responding proactively and closely monitoring the situation, and have fully utilised the Government’s facilitation initiatives that support the capacity expansion and quality enhancement of post-secondary institutions in Hong Kong. The Government will continue to keep an eye on the development and, having regard to their needs, consider support measures in a holistic approach, including gradually increasing the number of places under the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme to attract more top scholars to Hong Kong, so as to give full play to Hong Kong’s role as an international post-secondary education hub.

     Meanwhile, the Government is committed to promoting Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre and has been adopting a multi-pronged approach in providing more quality employment and development opportunities to pool together global I&T talents. For instance, the InnoHK Research Clusters (InnoHK) have pooled together about 2 500 researchers locally and from all over the world. The Government is taking forward the establishment of the third InnoHK research cluster, SEAM@InnoHK, focusing on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing and materials, which is expected to bring in more talents.

     Besides, the Government has secured funding approval from the Legislative Council in May 2025 for the establishment of the $3 billion Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme (FTRSS), which is aimed at supporting, through matching funds, the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee to attract international top-notch researchers for conducting research projects on frontier technology in Hong Kong and enhance basic research facilities. It is the plan to launch the FTRSS in September 2025. The Government has also set aside $6 billion to support local universities to set up Life and Health Technology Research Institute(s) to foster multi-disciplinary co-operation among universities/research institutions from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas, and attract top-notch scholars and scientists to Hong Kong.

     At present, top international scholars, scientists and researchers can apply for entry into Hong Kong under suitable talent admission schemes according to their own circumstances. There is no need to set up a separate talent admission scheme. If meeting the relevant professional qualifications in the Talent List, they can also enjoy immigration facilitation when applying for entry into Hong Kong under the relevant schemes. Among the various schemes, the TechTAS specifically targets the admission of non-local technology talents to Hong Kong for research and development work, and processes applications from eligible companies expeditiously.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Dennis Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (July 23):
 
Question:
 
The Technology Education Key Learning Area Curriculum was fully implemented at the junior secondary level in the 2016-2017 school year, with “Technology and Living” as one of the covered knowledge contexts. At the junior secondary level, many schools adopt a subject-based learning approach, implementing relevant learning element modules through subjects such as Home Economics. At the senior secondary level, Technology and Living is one of the elective subjects, in which students may choose to study learning strands related to “clothing” (i.e. “Fashion, Clothing and Textiles’) or “food” (i.e. “Food Science and Technology”). These strands serve as a foundation for students’ lifelong learning by providing a range of pathways for students with varying abilities and aptitudes, meeting their needs at different developmental stages and supporting the development of personal interests. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following information regarding secondary schools in each of the 18 districts across the territory that have offered the subject of Home Economics at the junior secondary level (i.e. Secondary One to Three) over the past three school years: (i) the name, (ii) the financing mode (i.e. government, Direct Subsidy Scheme, private or subsidised) and (iii) the type (i.e. boys’ school, girls’ school, or co-educational school) of the school, (iv) the number of students enrolled in the subject each year (set out by gender), (v) whether the subject of Technology and Living (Fashion, Clothing and Textiles strand) was offered at the senior secondary level, (vi) whether the subject of Technology and Living (Food Science and Technology strand) was offered at the senior secondary level, and (vii) whether the school is equipped with Home Economics room facilities (set out in Table 1);

Table 1

District

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

(vii)

2022-2023 school year

2023-2024 school year

2024-2025 school year

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

 
(2) of the following information regarding secondary schools in each of the 18 districts across the territory that have offered the subject of Technology and Living (Fashion, Clothing and Textiles) and the subject of Technology and Living (Food Science and Technology) at the senior secondary level (i.e. Secondary Four to Secondary Six) over the past three school years: (i) the name, (ii) the financing mode and (iii) the type of the school as mentioned in (1), (iv) the number of students enrolled in these subjects each year (set out by gender) and (v) the number of students sitting for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education in these subjects each year (set out by gender) (set out in Table 2);

Table 2

District

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

2022-2023 school year

2023-2024 school year

2024-2025 school year

2023

2024

2025

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Subject of Technology and Living (Fashion, Clothing and Textiles)

Subject of Technology and Living (Food Science and Technology)

 
(3) of the following information regarding teachers currently teaching the junior secondary Home Economics subject or the senior secondary Technology and Living curriculum across all secondary schools in Hong Kong: (i) the number of teachers, (ii) the median age, (iii) the minimum and (iv) the maximum age, (v) the number of teachers teaching only the junior secondary Home Economics subject, (vi) the number of teachers teaching only senior secondary Technology and Living subject, and (vii) the number of teachers teaching both subjects, with a breakdown by position (i.e. subject panel heads and subject teachers) (set out in Table 3); and
 
Table 3

Position	(i)	……	(vii)
Subject panel head
Subject teacher

 
(4) as it is learnt that some schools no longer offer the junior secondary Home Economics subject or the senior secondary Technology and Living curriculum, whether the Government has examined the reasons why some schools have continued to offer such subject or curriculum while other have discontinued them; whether the authorities have other educational resources or programmes in place to encourage students to delve deeper into knowledge related to food or clothing, further consolidate the generic skills they acquired at the junior secondary level, and assist them in constructing new knowledge, thereby nurturing their lifelong learning capabilities; if so, of the specific details, and how schools have responded to such educational resources or programmes; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:

President,
 
Technology Education is one of the eight Key Learning Areas of our school curriculum. It covers six compulsory knowledge contexts, one of which is Technology and Living. Junior secondary students are required to study the learning elements relating to the knowledge context of Technology and Living, while senior secondary students may take Technology and Living as an elective subject.
 
The reply to the written question raised by the Hon Dennis Leung is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) While it is compulsory for all students to study the learning content of the knowledge context of Technology and Living at the junior secondary level, schools may implement the curriculum in different modes subject to the needs of their students. The relevant learning content may be presented in the form of a separate subject or covered in different modules, etc. According to the information submitted by schools, there are about 340 schools teaching the knowledge context of Technology and Living as a separate subject with “Home Economics” or “Technology and Living” as the subject name. Some schools adopt a modular approach to teach the learning content of the knowledge context of Technology and Living, promoting and implementing STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education through the relevant content, breaking subject boundaries, and expanding learning coverage. To support some schools which are unable to provide all the learning content of the knowledge context of Technology and Living at the junior secondary level, the Arts and Technology Education Centre under the Education Bureau (EDB) offers relevant courses for students to cater for their needs.
 
At the senior secondary level, students can choose either the “Food Science and Technology (FST)” strand or the “Fashion, Clothing and Textiles (FCT)” strand. According to the Survey on Senior Secondary Subject Information conducted by the EDB in 2022/23 and 2023/24 school years, as well as the 2023 and 2024 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) entry statistics compiled by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (data of the 2024/25 school year for the above survey and statistics are not available for the time being), the implementation of the subject of Technology and Living in schools is as follows:
 
Technology and Living (FCT)

No. of schools offering the subject		No. of students studying the subject				No. of candidates sitting for the HKDSE
2022/23 school year	2023/24 school year	2022/23 school year*		2023/24 school year*		2023 HKDSE		2024 HKDSE
5	5	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
		24	116	24	110	6	28	8	37

*Including Secondary Four to Six students
 
Technology and Living (FST)

No. of schools offering the subject		No. of students studying the subject				No. of candidates sitting for the HKDSE
2022/23 school year	2023/24 school year	2022/23 school year*		2023/24 school year*		2023 HKDSE		2024 HKDSE
19	13	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
		161	376	148	376	35	118	35	78

*Including Secondary Four to Six students
 
The EDB does not have further breakdown of the number of schools in each district offering Home Economics/Technology and Living at the junior secondary level and Technology and Living at the senior secondary level, as mentioned in the question.
 
(3) According to government statistics, as at September 2024, there are about 440 public sector and Direct Subsidy Scheme secondary schools across the territory with around 430 Home Economics/Technology and Living teachers aged 21 to 66, with the median age of 46. Regarding the number of teachers who only teach in junior/senior secondary level, and those who teach in both junior and senior secondary levels, the EDB does not maintain such data.
 
(4) Regarding the implementation of the knowledge context of Technology and Living in Technology Education, schools may adopt different modes of implementing the curriculum at the junior secondary level and decide whether to offer Technology and Living at the senior secondary level, having regard to the school missions and objectives, the expertise of staff, as well as the background and learning needs of their students.
 
In addition to senior secondary Technology and Living, the senior secondary curriculum includes around 60 Applied Learning courses, many of which are related to Technology Education, such as Fashion Image Design, Pâtisserie and Café Operations, Western Cuisine, Food Technology and Nutrition, providing students with more diversified choices.
 
The EDB provides professional training including seminars, workshops and online training for teachers teaching the knowledge context of Technology and Living every year. A total of 17 relevant training programmes have been offered in the 2024/25 school year to strengthen teachers’ capability in curriculum planning and implementation. Meanwhile, the EDB promotes peer exchange through professional community activities and focus group discussions, thereby enhancing teachers’ teaching capacity. The EDB also co-operates with tertiary institutions and professional bodies/organisations, including the Chinese Culinary Institute, to provide teachers with the opportunity to practise and experience, with a view to boosting their creativity and enhancing their teaching effectiveness.
 
In addition, a relevant project with the theme of “Developing School-based Secondary School Home Economics and Technology and Living Curriculum” has been launched this school year (2024/25) under the Quality Education Fund Thematic Networks. With a duration of three school years, the project aims to enhance teachers’ strategies in teaching the element of fashion design, and assist schools in developing an innovative school-based curriculum that caters for the needs of students, so as to optimise its implementation and facilitate professional development of teachers. Student competitions and exhibitions are also organised in the current school year to showcase the learning outcomes of students, and have received positive feedback from the public.
 
Regarding learning and teaching resources, the EDB continues to update the resources related to the knowledge context of Technology and Living, such as Basic Food Science, Fashion Design Basics and Image Building, to provide content for teachers’ reference, with a view to extending students’ learning, enhancing their exploration abilities and strengthening their generic skills. The EDB also publishes the “Technology and Living Newsletter” (www.edb.gov.hk/en/tl/leaflets) and produces video clips annually to provide teachers and students with relevant information on further studies and employment.
 
On the other hand, the EDB reviews on an ongoing basis the learning elements of the knowledge context of Technology and Living, such as strengthening the application of innovation and technology and the learning element of sustainable development in the curriculum. The EDB also promotes professional training for teachers through collaboration with different stakeholders in order to meet students’ learning needs.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Holden Chow and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 23):

Question:

The Transport Department (TD) installed a new type of pedestrian traffic light countdown device (the new countdown device) at the signalised junction of Tat Tung Road and Mei Tung Street in Tung Chung in 2023 for testing. The new countdown device starts counting down when the “green man” light is on, such that pedestrians can gauge the total time remained of the “green man” light. According to the preliminary data collected from the survey conducted by a local university commissioned by the TD, after installation of the new countdown device at the aforesaid pedestrian crossing, the situation where pedestrians were unable to finish crossing the road before the flashing “green man” light ends has greatly improved. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the data obtained so far from the aforesaid test is sufficient to support the authorities’ installation of the new countdown devices at more locations; if so, of the list of locations at which the authorities plan to install such countdown devices; if not, the criteria considered by the authorities and the thresholds for taking forward the implementation of such countdown devices;

(2) apart from the aforesaid trial location in Tung Chung, of the signalised pedestrian crossings at which the Government has previously installed other pedestrian countdown devices for testing; whether it will consider implementing the new countdown devices at such signalised pedestrian crossings to expedite the collection of data; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as the Government indicated in its reply to a question from a Member of this Council on July 10 last year that there was no worldwide general consensus on the merits concerning the effectiveness of vehicular traffic light countdown device, and that motorists’ responses to the time displayed on the countdown device might be very diverse, resulting in a higher risk of head-rear collision between vehicles, whether the authorities will consider following the testing method adopted for the new countdown device and installing the vehicular traffic light countdown devices at suitable locations for testing, so as to obtain useful data; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

After consulting the Transport Department (TD), my response to the questions raised by the Hon Holden Chow on pedestrian traffic light countdown device (pedestrian countdown device) is as follows:

(1) and (2) In late 2023, the TD installed a new type of pedestrian countdown device at the pedestrian crossing of Tat Tung Road and Mei Tung Street in Tung Chung for testing purposes. The device begins its countdown when the “green man” signal appears, helping pedestrians better assess the total green time remained. The TD collaborated with a local university to evaluate the device’s impact and effectiveness on pedestrian behaviour. Results indicate a slight improvement in the number of pedestrians completing their crossings before the flashing “green man” signal ends, compared to previous trials.

To further collect data on the device’s effectiveness under varying road conditions, the TD is arranging to expand the trial, selecting 16 additional crossings (locations listed in Annex) for testing that feature diverse pedestrian flows, crossing distances, and local pedestrian habits. This broader trial is expected to yield richer data for assessing the device’s performance across multiple scenarios and behaviours. Additionally, four of the trial sites will be equipped with a red-light countdown feature to evaluate its impact on pedestrian waiting behaviour, which will inform the direction of the next phase.

The TD is progressively installing the new pedestrian countdown device at the selected trial sites and will collect and analyse the corresponding data. Preliminary results are anticipated by mid-2026.

(3) The TD has been monitoring the global application and effectiveness of vehicular traffic light countdown devices, evaluating their potential to improve the travelling experience for road users while ensuring safe operation at signalised junctions in Hong Kong. Drawing on the experiences of various cities in the Mainland and abroad, the TD found no prevailing consensus regarding the safety of such devices. A key reason is the varied driver responses – while some drivers may slow down and stop as the green signal nears its end, others may accelerate to pass through the junction, increasing the risk of head-rear vehicle collisions.

Given the circumstances above and the overriding priority of road safety, the TD will continue to closely monitor future technological developments and the practical applications of such devices. Their suitability for use in Hong Kong will be considered with prudence and care.