Month: October 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hongkong Post today (October 24) appealed to members of the public to stay alert to a fraudulent job advertisement published on a recruitment website.
 
The fraudulent job advertisement concerned was about recruitment of postal assistant clerks to work in the Kowloon Bay Post Office for production and delivery of philatelic products, etc. Hongkong Post clarifies that it had not published the job advertisement in question. The case has been reported to the Police, and the recruitment website has also been requested to follow up on the fraudulent advertisement.
 
Hongkong Post reminds the public that its job advertisement will not be posted on third-party platforms.  When there are job vacancies, information will only be published on the Hongkong Post website https://www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/career/index.html and the Civil Service Bureau website https://www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/7.html for open recruitment.
 
Members of the public who have provided personal information to any suspicious websites or unknown persons via the advertisement should contact the Police. For enquiries, please call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or hkpo@hkpo.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, continued his visit to Korea in Seoul today (October 24) to explore with the local legal sectors strengthening legal co-operation between Hong Kong and Korea. He also attended a joint legal workshop co-organised by the two places.

In the morning, Mr Lam visited the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) International. He met with the Chairman of the KCAB International, Professor Chang Seung-wha, and had a luncheon together with representatives from the Korean Council of International Arbitration, to discuss promoting co-operation between Hong Kong and Korea in cross-border business dispute resolution and arbitration, and to explore enhancing co-operation in legal matters of the two places.

In the afternoon, Mr Lam attended a joint legal workshop co-organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea on “Strengthening Business and Legal Cooperation: Korea and Hong Kong”. The workshop attracted about 100 participants. Mr Lam said in his opening remarks that Hong Kong, as the only bilingual common law jurisdiction in the world using both English and Chinese, is home to a large pool of lawyers with extensive international experience, and maintains a close connection with the legal system in the Chinese Mainland. As the centre for international legal and dispute resolution in the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong provides fair and efficient dispute resolution services that facilitate enterprises to expand investment and business opportunities in China. Looking forward, he said he expected the DoJ will continue building on a strong foundation of partnership with Korea.

Mr Lam then had dinner with the Deputy Minister of the International Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, Mr Chung Hong-sik, during which they exchanged views on legal co-operation opportunities between Hong Kong and Korea, and the latest developments in legal and dispute resolution services.

Mr Lam will conclude his visit to Korea tomorrow morning (October 25) and return to Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the joint legal workshop co-organised by the Department of Justice and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea on “Strengthening Business and Legal Cooperation: Korea and Hong Kong” in Seoul, Korea, today (October 24):

Mr Chung (Deputy Minister of the International Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, Mr Chung Hong-sik), Mr Jeong (Executive Director of the Trade Promotion Group of the Korea International Trade Association, Mr Jeong Hee-cheol), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

Good afternoon. It is my great honour and pleasure to welcome you all to the 2nd Joint Legal Workshop organised by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, the Department of Justice of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Korea International Trade Association and the Korea In-House Counsel Association. Our theme today is “Strengthening Business and Legal Cooperation: Korea and Hong Kong”.  Building on the success of our first legal workshop held in Hong Kong in July last year, this event marks a significant step forward in our ongoing partnership.

Korea has always been a close partner of Hong Kong. In 2024, Korea was Hong Kong’s fifth largest trading partner. The total merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Korea reached HK$355.9 billion in 2024, representing a nearly 20 per cent increase from the previous year. This reflects the deepening economic exchanges and expanding opportunities between our two regions. 
  
To facilitate these increasing exchanges and the exploration of these opportunities, and to safeguard the rights and interests of all relevant stakeholders, it is plain and obvious that reliable, high-quality and user-friendly legal and dispute resolution services are indispensable. This is precisely what Hong Kong may and can offer.

Under the fundamental principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in the People’s Republic of China. It is also the only bilingual common law jurisdiction in the world using both English and Chinese. We have an independent judiciary with the power of final adjudication, business-friendly civil and commercial laws familiar to the international community, and a large pool of lawyers with extensive international experience and expertise in different areas. These legal professionals provide seamless, one-stop services across a wide range of matters covering the whole business cycle, from the formation of a business entity (including the raising of capital by public listing) to the realisation of profits derived from a business venture.

Fair and efficient dispute resolution services constitute an essential component of risk management. Apart from traditional litigations, alternative dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation have become increasingly important in international trade and investment. Hong Kong has all along been well regarded as one of the top international arbitration centres in the world. According to the 2025 International Arbitration Survey conducted by Queen Mary University of London, Hong Kong ranks as the second most preferred seat for arbitration globally and the first in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2024, 76.4 per cent of the arbitrations submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre were international in nature.

Turning to mediation, the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong demonstrates the city’s unique advantages and opportunities in international mediation. The IOMed is the world’s first intergovernmental international legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes, including disputes between a country and another country, a country and foreign nationals, as well as international commercial disputes, through mediation. The headquarters of IOMed has been established in Hong Kong, and IOMed formally opened a few days ago on October 20. We are also excited to share the news that we will construct the Hong Kong International Legal Service Building, adjacent to the IOMed headquarters, to house international legal and dispute resolution services institutions so as to further support Hong Kong’s strategic position as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution. 

A unique and significant advantage enjoyed by Hong Kong is its close connection with the legal system in the Chinese Mainland. Up to the present, Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland have signed nine mutual legal assistance arrangements, including mutual recognition and enforcement of civil and commercial judgments as well as arbitral awards; and the grant of interim measures in arbitrations, which is extremely useful in practice. All in all, Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services may be conveniently used to facilitate the exploitation of investment and business opportunities in the Chinese Mainland. This is why we say Hong Kong indeed serves as a gateway between China and the rest of the world.

Looking ahead, the Department of Justice is eager to continue building on the strong foundation of partnership we have with Korea. On this basis, I would like to take the opportunity to invite all of you to join us at our annual flagship event — Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 — which will be held from December 1 to 5, 2025, in Hong Kong. 

Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our co-organisers of the workshop, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, the Korea International Trade Association and the Korea In-House Counsel Association for their efforts in making this workshop possible; and, of course, all our distinguished speakers who will share their valuable insights in the two panel discussions. I wish you all a very productive and inspiring session ahead. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs on September 20 detected two smuggling cases involving two passengers at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and seized 1 250 syringes and 1 275 syringes of pharmaceutical injections containing Part I Poisons respectively from each passenger. The total estimated market value was about $1.77 million. The two passengers concerned were both convicted and sentenced to 10 weeks’ imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (October 24) for contravening the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO) (Cap. 60). All the pharmaceutical products were confiscated.

Customs officers intercepted the two male passengers, both aged 28, on September 20 at the Arrival Hall at HKIA for Customs clearance. Upon examination, the pharmaceutical injections were found inside their respective personal baggage.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.

Under the IEO, any person who imports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid import licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation led by Financial Secretary Paul Chan today concluded a three-day visit to Beijing and Hebei.

 

In the morning, the delegation visited the Xiong’an Urban Computing (Supercomputing Cloud) Center to learn about how the Xiong’an New Area is using digitalisation to enhance urban development and management.

 

They then toured the Zhongguancun Science Park in Xiong’an, where they were briefed on the park’s overall planning and development, as well as its operational management and investment promotion strategies, and the enterprises located there.

 

The delegation was also invited to attend a seminar, as which Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Xu Qifang delivered some remarks. The seminar was hosted by Party Leadership Group member and Vice-Governor of the People’s Government of Hebei Province Zhao Dachun.

 

At the seminar, Mr Chan and other delegation members shared observations and insights from their visits to the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and the Xiong’an New Area.

 

They discussed how Hong Kong can draw inspiration from the integration of above-ground and underground spatial planning, and the alignment of spatial and industrial layouts, and from various industry development policies, investment incentives, smart city initiatives, and innovative institutional mechanisms, in order to accelerate the development of Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis.

 

Mr Chan remarked that under the “one country, two systems” framework, Hong Kong’s international advantages, including its capital, talent and professional services, can offer the industries and enterprises of both the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and the Xiong’an New Area strong support as they expand globally.

 

He added that there is great potential for mutual learning, exchange and collaborative development in areas such as finance, innovation and technology, trade and urban management.

 

In the afternoon, CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong met Mr Chan and other delegation officials in Beijing.

 

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui; Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau; Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn; Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho; and Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong also attended the meeting.

 

The delegation’s principal officials will return to Hong Kong tomorrow.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hongkong Post today appealed to the public to stay alert to a fraudulent job advertisement published on a recruitment website.

The advertisement involves the purported recruitment of postal assistant clerks to work in the Kowloon Bay Post Office on the production and delivery of philatelic products.

Hongkong Post clarified that it had not published the job advertisement in question. The case has been reported to Police, and the recruitment website has also been requested to follow up on the matter.

Hongkong Post reminded the public that its job advertisements are posted on third-party platforms. Information on job vacancies will only be published on the Hongkong Post website and the Civil Service Bureau website, for open recruitment.

Those who have provided personal information to suspicious websites or unknown people via the advertisement should contact Police.

For enquiries, call Hongkong Post at 2921 2222 or write to hkpo@hkpo.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Health Bureau’s Primary Healthcare Commission announced today that the Family Medicine Out-patient Services Priority Groups Pilot Scheme will be launched on November 4.

Run by the Hospital Authority’s Family Medicine Out-patient (FMOP) service, the pilot scheme will introduce quotas for certain priority groups, enabling underprivileged groups in need of public primary healthcare services to make priority bookings for FMOP services.

The priority groups include recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, recipients of the Old Age Living Allowance who are aged 75 or above, Level 0 Voucher Holders under the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly, and recipients of the Working Family Allowance Scheme.

Individuals belonging to the priority groups can become eligible for the pilot scheme and make priority bookings for FMOP consultations after registering as members of District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses and as priority group members for FMOP services. This can be done via the eHealth mobile application or in person at District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses.

Consultation fees will be charged according to the FMOP standard rates.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) under the Health Bureau announced today (October 24) that the Family Medicine Out-patient Services Priority Groups Pilot Scheme of the Hospital Authority (HA)’s Family Medicine Out-patient (FMOP) Services will be launched on November 4, it set the priority groups of underprivileged population in need of public primary healthcare services which could make priority booking for FMOP Services.
 
To address the needs of the underprivileged group in seeking consultation, the HA will launch the Pilot Scheme to allocate as appropriate some of the priority quotas to the priority groups. Priority groups include recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, recipients of the Old Age Living Allowance aged 75 or above, Level 0 Voucher Holders of the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly, and recipients of the Working Family Allowance (WFA) Scheme (the priority group eligibility for WFA Scheme recipients is valid for 12 months from the issue dates of their grant application letters).
 
Individuals belonging to the priority groups can be eligible in the Pilot Scheme, and make priority bookings for FMOP episodic consultations, after registering as members of District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs) and as priority group members for FMOP Services via the eHealth mobile application (eHealth app) or in person at DHCs. When making an appointment, registered individuals may first select their respective priority group through the booking system of the eHealth app. The system will then connect to the “HA Go” mobile application to make a booking for FMOP episodic consultations and the process does not require them to re-enter personal information. The system will offer priority quotas based on individual’s eligibility as priority groups (refer to Annex). Consultation fees will be charged according to the standard rates of FMOPs.
 
Participants in the Pilot Scheme can also join activities organised by DHCs to better manage their own health. The Government had successfully set up DHCs in all districts across the city by the end of 2022. Each DHC will set up several satellite centres/service points, mainly providing health promotion, health risk assessment, disease screening, chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services and more. For more details, please visit the DHC website.
 
The Primary Healthcare Blueprint proposed developing a prevention-oriented primary healthcare system, and repositioning the HA’s General Out-patient Clinic services to prioritise serving underprivileged groups. The Pilot Scheme is a major initiative according to the implementation plan of the Blueprint. Together with the HA’s General Out-patient Clinic and Family Medicine Specialist Clinic services, which were unified under the name “FMOP Services” earlier this month, these measures mark that Family Medicine will be the core of the public primary healthcare, the team of FMOP will serve as family doctors for underprivileged groups, providing those in need with people-centered  and prevention-focus  healthcare services.
 
After the launch of the Pilot Scheme, the PHC Commission and the HA will closely monitor and evaluate its effectiveness and the utilisation of priority quotas. They will also reserve priority quotas as appropriate and adjust the proportion of priority quotas based on needs and the actual situation, with a view to ensuring that the priority groups will be benefited.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee, accompanied by Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak, officiated today at a ceremony held at the Central Government Offices to inaugurate the second-term District Services & Community Care Teams.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee recalled that when he ran in the Chief Executive Election in 2022 he proposed in his manifesto to set up care teams in the 18 district. Those teams, he said, are now an integral part of the Government’s efforts to improve district governance.

The Chief Executive highlighted that under the enhanced district governance structure, the District Councils, the “three district committees” and care teams each have well-defined roles, besides maintaining close co-ordination and synergy to help those in need.

This governance structure enables Government services to be rooted in the community and allows the Government to reach out to the public and provide effective relief measures and solutions, he added.

Mr Lee said each care team provides caring services and community activities, helps underprivileged members of society, disseminates government information, and assists the Government in providing relief in times of incidents and emergencies.

He emphasised that the care teams serve without seeking reward and without fear of hardship, thus embodying the spirit of care and compassion.

For the second term of the care team system, the Government has set up three additional care teams in accordance with district needs and has also enhanced the teams’ key performance indicators (KPIs).

The system’s first term is now concluded, with all KPIs being met. During the term, care teams made around 610,000 visits to elderly households and other households in need, provided close to 100,000 instances of basic home or other support services, and organised around 50,000 district-level activities.

The care teams’ second term will run to September 30, 2027.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

In Seoul, South Korea, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today met representatives of the local legal sector with a view to strengthening Hong Kong-Korea legal co-operation. He also attended a joint legal workshop co-organised by the two places.

 

In the morning, Mr Lam visited the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board International and met its chairman, Prof Chang Seung-wha. The two had a lunch together with representatives from the Korean Council of International Arbitration, during which they discussed enhancing co-operation between Hong Kong and Korea on cross-border business dispute resolution and arbitration, and on legal matters.

 

In the afternoon, Mr Lam attended a legal workshop themed “Strengthening Business & Legal Cooperation: Korea & Hong Kong” and co-organised by the Department of Justice and the Korean Ministry of Justice.

 

In his opening remarks, Mr Lam highlighted that Hong Kong, as the only bilingual common law jurisdiction in the world using both English and Chinese, is home to a large pool of lawyers with extensive international experience, and maintains a close connection with the legal system of the Chinese Mainland.

 

As a centre for international legal and dispute resolution in the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong provides fair and efficient dispute resolution services that help enterprises to leverage investment and business opportunities in China, he added.

 

Looking ahead, he said he expects the Department of Justice to continue building on a strong foundation of partnership with Korea.

 

Mr Lam then had dinner with Deputy Minister in the Korean Ministry of Justice’s International Legal Affairs Department Chung Hong-sik, during which they exchanged views on opportunities for legal co-operation opportunities, and on the latest developments in legal and dispute resolution services.

 

Mr Lam will conclude his visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning.