Month: October 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon So Cheung-wing and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     The Global Investment Promotion Conference for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Conference), jointly hosted by the governments of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao in Guangzhou last year, has become as an effective channel and important platform for cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to collaborate in investment attraction efforts. It has been reported that the Conference achieved remarkable results last year, drawing the participation of over 430 representatives from Fortune Global 500 companies and top-notch enterprises in the industries, with total investment commitments amounting to RMB2.26 trillion. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as it is reported that the Conference will be held annually as a regular event on November 8, of the city which will host the Conference this year; whether an estimate is made on the number of foreign and Hong Kong enterprises to be invited; how the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will assist Hong Kong enterprises in securing new investment and trade projects;

(2) among the 1 933 investment projects reportedly signed at last year’s Conference, of those involving the participation of Hong Kong;

(3) given that Invest Hong Kong and its Mainland counterpart have established the Pan-Greater Bay Area Inward Investment Liaison Group, of the number of promotional and other investment attraction activities organised by the Group over the past year; and

(4) whether it will consider organising overseas (such as in the Middle East and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries) investment attraction activities in collaboration with other Mainland cities in the GBA?

Reply:

President,

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) has all along been proactively working with various policy bureaux to promote business-friendly policies in its investment promotion work, including working with the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) on initiatives relating to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development. In addition, InvestHK collaborates with organisations, chambers of commerce and professional bodies, etc, to organise and sponsor an array of investment promotion activities on the Mainland and overseas, including roadshows, seminars and roundtables, to provide enterprises with the latest information on Hong Kong’s business environment, including our core advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle and opportunities arising from key national strategies such as the GBA development, thereby attracting and encouraging enterprises to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong.

     After consulting the CMAB, my consolidated response to Dr the Hon So Cheung-wing’s question is as follows:

     With the support of the CMAB, the Pan-Greater Bay Area Inward Investment Liaison Group (Liaison Group) was established in 2021 by InvestHK and relevant GBA counterparts. Through developing joint propositions and promotion materials as well as organising joint events, the Liaison Group enhances collaboration and synergy among members of the Liaison Group. Since 2022, the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have been jointly organising annually the Global Investment Promotion Conference for the GBA (Conference) in Guangzhou to showcase to global strategic enterprises the latest developments and investment potential of the GBA. The 2025 Conference will be held in Guangzhou on November 3, with participation by around 400 representatives from multinational and Hong Kong enterprises. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to proactively promote Hong Kong’s business advantages at the Conference to attract more investment projects to land in Hong Kong.

     At the past Conferences, InvestHK engaged with many Mainland and overseas enterprises which were interested in setting up or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong and provided them with one-stop customised support services based on their needs, fully leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a two-way springboard. Last year, over 1 900 investment projects were signed during the Conference. The Liaison Group, with InvestHK being one of its members, is proactively following up and assisting in the implementation of these projects. From 2024 to August this year, InvestHK assisted 983 Mainland and overseas companies in setting up or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong, including 492 overseas companies and over 120 Mainland companies from GBA cities.

     Apart from organising the Conference, the Liaison Group also hosts overseas investment promotion events annually to promote to local businesses the latest policies and development opportunities in the GBA. In 2023 and 2024, the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao jointly hosted the economic and trade co-operation conferences in Munich, Germany, and Paris, France, to promote the GBA’s investment environment and development opportunities to European enterprises. This year, the governments of the three regions again jointly held investment promotion events in Budapest, Hungary, and Cairo, Egypt, to promote to the European and African business communities the business opportunities brought by the GBA development, as well as Hong Kong’s unique roles and functions as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” under the “one country, two systems” principle. The events also encouraged businesses to establish presence in Hong Kong and tap into the vast market of the GBA.

     In addition, InvestHK has been organising investment promotion activities in various Mainland cities to proactively introduce Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities to Mainland enterprises, so as to encourage them to invest in Hong Kong and expand international businesses via the city. In 2025, the department organised multiple promotional activities in Ningbo, Jinan, Wuhan, Qingdao, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Beijing, Tianjin and Shenyang, etc.

     Looking ahead, InvestHK will continue to work with the CMAB and maintain close liaison with members of the Liaison Group to jointly take forward the investment promotion efforts related to the GBA. On the one hand, InvestHK will promote Hong Kong as a springboard for overseas businesses looking to expand into the GBA and support them to set up their operations here. On the other hand, we will also promote Hong Kong to GBA enterprises as a launchpad for going global and assist them in establishing presence in Hong Kong. The efforts will be organically integrated into the work of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global announced by the Chief Executive in his 2025 Policy Address, thereby enhancing two-way investment (viz. attracting investment inflows to Hong Kong and facilitating further investment beyond Hong Kong). Besides, the Liaison Group will also continue to proactively plan promotional and investment activities in other potential emerging markets to further highlight Hong Kong’s roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Transport Department (TD) today (October 8) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on October 23 (Thursday) to noon on October 27 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 200 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles, and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
 
     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
 
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
 
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
 
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

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

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

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, in the Legislative Council today (Oct 8):
 
Question:
 
     Residents of certain aged public housing estates (including public rental housing (PRH) estates under the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and rental estates under the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS)) have relayed that there is a lack of adequate barrier-free access and facilities within their estates, which is non-conducive to the mobility of the elderly and persons with impaired mobility. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it knows the plans of the HA and HS to enhance barrier-free access and facilities in their aged PRH estates and rental estates (including the progress of ongoing projects); and
 
(2) as it is learnt that the staircase connecting Kau Pui Lung Road to Blocks A to E of Lok Man Sun Chuen under the HS serves as an essential access route to and from the estate, while there are views pointing out that this access route lacks barrier-free facilities, thereby causing inconvenience to the elderly and persons with impaired mobility in their daily access, whether the Government will urge the HS to construct an access ramp or install a lift at the relevant location in Lok Man Sun Chuen to address this issue; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In response to the question raised by the Hon Yang Wing-kit, our reply is as follows:
 
(1) The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) endeavours to enhance barrier-free access and facilities in public rental housing (PRH) estates to meet the needs of PRH residents and users, particularly the elderly and persons with disabilities.

     It is the established policy of the HA to provide barrier-free access and facilities in accordance with the prevailing requirements as set out in the “Design Manual: Barrier Free Access” (DM), wherever practicable. In response to the introduction of the “DM 1997” and “DM 2008”, the HA undertook necessary barrier-free facilities improvement works in 2001 and 2010 respectively for the premises that were completed prior to the publication of the DM. These improvement works included provision of ramps, installation of suitable handrails at access routes, provision and extension of tactile guide paths connecting the main entrances of the estates to major facilities within the estates and entrances of residential blocks, etc. However, some buildings may not be able to fully install relevant facilities or undergo modifications due to various constraints, such as building design. For all new HA buildings with construction commenced after December 1, 2008, and when existing HA buildings undergo alternations and additional works, the planning and implementation of works shall comply with the mandatory requirements as stipulated in “DM 2008” as far as practicable. In order to address the residents’ diverse needs, the HA also makes flexible arrangements. For example, we are currently installing more accessible ramps in aged PRH estates including Ping Shek Estate, Wo Che Estate and Sha Kok Estate, to connect major facilities within the estates to facilitate residents’ access. The HA has adopted the concept of “Universal Design” in new public housing estates to create an inclusive and harmonious living environment for people with different physical abilities.

     Moreover, in order to enhance the co-ordination of barrier-free initiatives in the public housing estates, the HA has launched the Access Co-ordinator and Access Officer Scheme since 2011. Access Officers stationed in various PRH estates are responsible for assisting individuals with needs in using the barrier-free access and facilities in the PRH estates.

     In addition to the provision of barrier-free facilities in common areas, the elderly or persons with disabilities can apply to the HA for adaptation works on facilities in the PRH flats if they have genuine needs. With reference to the advice from doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists or medical social workers, etc, the HA will carry out adaptation works free of charge for the tenants concerned. These works include installing ramp at the entrance of the flat where feasible, widening bathroom doorways, laying anti-skid floor tiles on suitable floor surface, etc. If tenants only request installing grab bars or converting a bathtub into a shower area in the bathroom, in general, the HA will directly arrange the relevant works for the tenant free of charge, without the need for tenant to seek advice from doctors or physiotherapists.

     As regards the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS), in response to the challenge of “double ageing”, i.e. both the rental estates and residents are growing older, the HS has been continuously deploying resources in major improvement projects to enhance the accessibility of the buildings and public areas across its estates and add barrier-free facilities. Such efforts include adding lifts and transfer escalators, installing stairlifts, constructing transfer lift towers and connecting footbridge, etc. In addition, the HS has replaced over 70 lifts in its aged rental estates over the past decade and plans to progressively carry out lift replacement for other suitable aged rental estates. Moving forward, the HS will continue to assess the condition of its rental estates and explore introducing or enhancing barrier-free access and facilities where feasible and suitable.

(2) HS’s Lok Man Sun Chuen, comprising 11 blocks, was completed in phases between 1970 and 1973. Six of these blocks (Blocks A to F) were built along a hilly slope, with Block F situated at a higher elevation. For the convenience of the residents, the HS completed the construction of a transfer lift tower and a footbridge connecting to Block F, as well as a covered walkway in 2014. Residents may take the lift to Block F through the level entrance on Kau Pui Lung Road beneath Block F, then descend to Blocks A to E, without having to walk uphill via the estate’s main entrance on Kau Pui Lung Road.

     Currently, residents of Blocks A to E are still required to use staircases to reach the entrance of their respective blocks. To address this, the HS has commissioned an engineering consultant, who is now conducting a feasibility study on adding barrier-free access (such as ramps or lifts) at suitable locations across Blocks A to E, taking into account factors such as the site’s geological conditions and the potential impact of the works on the residents’ daily lives.

     In addition, the HS has also engaged a start-up to develop relevant PropTech solutions to assist residents in transporting heavy items such as rice, cooking oil and other daily necessities up and down staircases, further strengthening support for the residents.

     With regard to various facilities in the public housing estates, the HA and HS will continue to actively engage in communication and research with local communities/individuals as well as residents within the estates to explore ways to enhance these facilities, and address the needs of various persons in the estates, including the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Hon Robert Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     The Government stated in the 2024 Policy Address that it would facilitate the opening of new distribution channels for private equity (PE) funds through the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX); and the 2025-26 Budget further mentioned that in order to facilitate more PE funds to list in Hong Kong, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) had clarified the relevant regulatory requirements to encourage sizeable alternative asset funds with regular income streams to raise funds. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will urge SFC and HKEX to work together on finalising the details of the relevant regulatory policies as soon as possible, such as establishing valuation standards, setting up a fast-track approval mechanism, etc., to facilitate the listing of more PE funds in the form of limited partnership funds in Hong Kong;

(2) whether, to attract more large overseas PE funds to list in Hong Kong, the Government will consider offering tax incentives and urge HKEX to reduce relevant listing fees;

(3) whether it will enhance collaboration with the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) to formulate guidelines for investing Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) assets in listed PE funds and clearly assign risk ratings (e.g. low, medium or high risk) to such funds so that MPF trustees can invest in suitable PE funds in accordance with their investment policies in the future; and

(4) whether it will introduce measures in collaboration with SFC, HKEX and MPFA on investor education on PE funds, such as organising seminars and developing risk disclosure handbooks, to raise the awareness of listed PE funds among retail and institutional investors, thereby promoting the development of PE fund business?

Reply:

President,

     In consultation with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and its subsidiary, the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the reply to the various parts of the question is as follows.

(1) The Government is committed to promoting the development of the financial markets. “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” announced that the Government would attract more global capital to be managed in Hong Kong, including facilitating the opening of new distribution channels for private equity funds (PE funds) through the HKEX’s listing.

     In respect of authorising funds which seek a listing on the HKEX, the SFC issued a circular in February 2025 to clarify the regulatory requirements in relation to closed-ended funds that invest mainly in private and less liquid assets, thereby encouraging sizeable alternative asset funds (including PE funds, same hereinafter), preferably those with regular income streams, to list in Hong Kong. Relevant requirements have been included in the circular and the SFC’s Code on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds, including requirements on the management company’s competence and experience, investments in a well-diversified portfolio of alternative assets, distribution policy, valuation and disclosure in offering documents. Due to a wide array of alternative assets available, the SFC may impose additional conditions, modify requirements, or allow flexibility in compliance with certain requirements, having regard to the fund’s nature and investment strategy.

     The SFC has been in ongoing engagement with the industry, and has been in discussions with interested fund managers on their preliminary proposals for listed alternative asset funds. According to the SFC’s understanding, these funds are planned to be structured in corporate or unit trust form, primarily investing in private equity, private credit and infrastructure debt.

     Based on the SFC’s discussion with the industry, the SFC is of the view that, at the moment, it would be preferable for listed alternative asset funds to adopt existing public fund structures. These structures are familiar to and well understood by retail investors in Hong Kong, and there are comprehensive investor protection measures and regulatory requirements under the Code on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds. The SFC will continue to explore the feasibility of the listing of alternative asset funds in limited partnership form.

(2) The Government is committed to providing a facilitative tax environment for the industry to attract more funds to set up and operate in Hong Kong. Under the prevailing tax regime, publicly offered funds are already exempt from profits tax. In addition, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions for Carried Interest) Ordinance 2021 has been effective from May 2021, providing tax concessions for carried interest distributed by eligible PE funds operating in Hong Kong. The Government will endeavour to introduce a bill into the Legislative Council in the first half of 2026 to further enhance the preferential tax regimes for funds, single-family offices and carried interest, including enhancing the tax concession arrangement on the distribution of carried interest by PE funds, so as to attract more PE funds to set up in Hong Kong.

     Funds that are eligible to be authorised by the SFC and listed in Hong Kong under the Listing Rules should have sizeable asset under management and business operations, and they should have sufficient resources to cover the relevant costs of applying for listing. The listing fee collected by the HKEX only makes up a small proportion of the expenses associated with listing. The HKEX and the SFC will review the level of relevant fees under the HKEX from time to time so as to ensure their levels would be competitive as compared to other major markets.

(3) To enhance the risk-adjusted return potential of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) funds, the Government and the MPFA have been committed to reviewing and broadening the MPF permissible asset classes. Having considered the potential benefits of allowing MPF investment in private equity to enhance diversification and return potential, the MPFA announced to the industry in May 2025 that listed PE funds meeting the relevant criteria and approved by the MPFA on a case-by-case basis can be included as a permissible underlying asset class for MPF funds. In view of the higher risks associated with listed PE funds as compared with traditional investment options, the total amount that an MPF fund can invest in approved listed PE funds is limited to 10 per cent of the fund’s net asset value to safeguard the interests of scheme members.

     Investment managers of MPF funds should make professional decisions on whether to make relevant investment with due regard to the MPF fund’s investment policy and objective. The MPFA currently has no plan to assign risk ratings to approved listed PE funds, but will closely monitor the situation and maintain dialogue with the industry. There are currently no listed PE funds included as permissible asset class for MPF funds. The MPFA will revise the relevant guidelines upon the approval of the first listed PE fund to facilitate investment decisions of investment managers.

(4) The Government has been supporting the SFC and its subsidiary, the IFEC, in carrying out investor education work through various means and channels. The SFC will work closely with the IFEC to issue general investor education materials to explain the investment opportunities and risks in respect of listed alternative asset funds, in order to help investors make informed investment decisions. For specific alternative asset fund products, as set out in the circular, the management company of an SFC-authorised listed alternative asset fund is expected to carry out extensive investor education before launching the fund in Hong Kong. The MPFA will also continue to promote MPF education through various activities and channels, with a view to enhancing scheme members’ understanding of MPF investment options.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Fok and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):
 
Question:
 
     There are views pointing out that the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV Scheme) launched by the Government aims to provide immigration facilitation arrangements to visitors invited or sponsored by authorised host organisations to come to Hong Kong for undertaking short-term activities which are beneficial to the development of Hong Kong and allow them to participate in specified activities in 12 designated sectors during the period of their stay as visitor, which is of positive significance in promoting Hong Kong to develop the “eight centres”. However, there are views pointing out that the 2025-2026 Budget proposes to introduce application fees for various talent admission schemes and increase visa fees, which will impose cost pressure on the organisations which have not been included in the list of authorised host organisations under the STV Scheme (unauthorised organisations). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of activities in which visitors coming to Hong Kong under the STV Scheme were allowed to participate in each of the past three years, with a breakdown by type of activities, duration of activities (i.e. 1 to 3 days, 4 to 7 days, 8 to 10 days, and over 10 days) and designated sector;
 
(2) since the introduction of application fees for talent admission schemes and increase in visa fees, whether the Government has assessed the financial burden imposed on unauthorised organisations by such arrangements, as well as the impact on the number of activities organised by such organisations, including the number of activities cancelled due to financial pressure arising from additional visa fees; if so, of the outcome;
 
(3) as some members of the industry have relayed that it may necessitate a reduction in international exchange activities due to the rising costs for visa application since organisations are required to apply for employment visas for visitors invited to Hong Kong to participate in short-term activities not covered by activities in the designated sectors under the STV Scheme, of the Government’s specific measures in place to support such organisations, such as introducing extremely short-term employment visas at lower costs and streamlining visa application procedures;
 
(4) to ensure that the STV Scheme remains relevant to industry needs, whether the Government has established mechanisms for regular review, including consulting the representatives from the relevant sectors to update the list of authorised host organisations; whether it will step up efforts in promoting the STV Scheme to the industry, so as to clearly explain the application eligibility and requirements, as well as the specific requirements for activities in each designated sector; and
 
(5) as there are views that since only four organisations are recognised as authorised host organisations in the “art and cultural” sector under the STV Scheme (namely the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong Arts Development Council and West Kowloon Cultural District Authority), it is difficult for many arts and cultural groups (arts groups) to benefit from the STV Scheme, which is contrary to the original intent of the Scheme, whether the Government will review the selection mechanism for authorised host organisations, including expanding the coverage of authorised host organisations in the “art and cultural” sector to include other recognised arts groups; if so, of the details and timetable?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     To encourage more talent to come to Hong Kong for exchanges, the Government launched a two-year Pilot Scheme on Immigration Facilitation for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (Pilot Scheme) in June 2022, which was regularised as the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV Scheme) in June 2024. Under the STV Scheme, organisations authorised by the relevant government bureaux/departments (B/Ds) can issue invitation letters to relevant non-local talent 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/entry permits from the Immigration Department (ImmD). They may participate in 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.
 
     In consultation with the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) and the ImmD, my reply to various parts of the question raised by the Hon Kenneth Fok is as follows:
 
(1) As of end-June 2025, the Pilot Scheme/STV Scheme had benefited a total of 36 951 non-local talent, facilitating their entry into Hong Kong as visitors to participate in a total of over 6 200 short-term activities such as the International Chinese New Year Night Parade, the Asian Financial Forum, the Hong Kong Sevens and other major events. They participated in the relevant short-term activities in Hong Kong for about five days on average. The statistics by sector are at Annex. The ImmD does not maintain a breakdown of other statistics mentioned in the question.
 
(2) LWB indicates that in devising the fee levels for the various admission schemes for talent and capital investors, the Government has balanced various considerations, including the “user pays” principle, the fees charged for similar applications in overseas jurisdictions, and the impact on the applicants concerned.  In particular, noting that some applications relate to short-term/one-off project-based employment, in addition to application fee, the Government has introduced two tiers of visa/entry permit issuance fee: $600 for visa/entry permit granted with a limit of stay of not more than 180 days, and $1,300 for those with a limit of stay of 181 days or more. The fee levels are modest and affordable.
 
     Since the introduction of the relevant fees, the number of applications and visas/entry permits issued under the specified admission schemes in the past few months were comparable to those in the same period last year. The Government will closely monitor the relevant situation and review the fee structure as appropriate in accordance with the established mechanism.
 
(3) to (5) As above-mentioned, the Government will review the visa/entry permit fee structure for the various admission schemes for talent and capital investors as appropriate in accordance with the established mechanism.
 
     On the other hand, to ensure that the STV Scheme keeps pace with the times, the Government reviews its coverage and operation mechanism from time to time, with a view to ensuring that it can continue to effectively promote the development of relevant sectors and raise Hong Kong’s international profile while ensuring that the risks are manageable. Since the launch of the Pilot Scheme, the Government has 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. The number of authorised organisations has also increased by 18 per cent from around 350 when the scheme was first launched, to more than 400 at present. These authorised organisations include government B/Ds, public/statutory organisations, professional bodies and industry associations, etc. Through an established mechanism, all participating B/Ds would assist in ensuring that the implementation of the scheme consistently meets policy objectives. Relevant information of the STV Scheme, including the authorised organisations and specified short-term activities that are currently covered by the scheme, is available on the ImmD’s website: www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/stv.html.
 
     At present, different types of organisations can collaborate with authorised organisations under the scheme to organise eligible specified short-term activities, thereby benefiting from the relevant immigration facilitation. We welcome the industry to contact relevant B/Ds or authorised organisations in their respective sectors and consider co-organising eligible events, with a view to promoting more diverse forms of exchange and collaboration under the scheme.
 
     In considering whether to further relax the scheme, the Government shall take into account two major principles, including that eligible individuals visiting Hong Kong for specified short-term activities under the scheme will not displace the local workforce, and there will not be a risk of abuse (including illegal employment). The Government will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the STV Scheme as well as the views of the relevant departments and the sectors concerned, and timely review the scheme’s coverage to strike an appropriate balance between immigration control and facilitation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Erik Yim and a written reply by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

The Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement  Agreement on Trade in Services (Amendment Agreement II) brings the addition of “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law” and “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose for arbitration to be seated in Hong Kong” as facilitation measures for Hong Kong investors, supports Hong Kong-invested enterprises registered in the pilot municipalities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to adopt Hong Kong law or Macao law as the applicable law in their contracts, and supports Hong Kong-invested enterprises registered in the nine Pearl River Delta municipalities in the GBA to choose Hong Kong or Macao as the seat of arbitration. In addition, the Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Justice jointly issued the Opinion on Fully Leveraging the Functions of Arbitration to Serve the High-Quality Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in February this year to propose the extension details of the two measures. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) regarding the addition of the measures of “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law” and “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose for arbitration to be seated in Hong Kong” under Amendment Agreement II, whether the Government will clearly specify their scopes of application, including the industries and types of cases covered; if so, when the relevant details will be announced;

(2) given the views that at present there are differences in the arbitral proceedings between the Mainland and Hong Kong (such as the emergency arbitrator system and application procedures for interim measures), how the Government will take part in formulating the relevant arbitration rules in implementing the measure of “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose for arbitration to be seated in Hong Kong”, and whether it will promote the adoption of internationally accepted standards; and

(3) given that Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have agreed to jointly establish the Panel of GBA Arbitrators, how the Government will ensure that the professional qualifications of local arbitrators align with the standards adopted in the Mainland; whether it will further enhance the various talent admission schemes to attract more international arbitration experts to come to Hong Kong for development?

Reply:

President,

In response to the enquiry raised by the Hon Erik Yim, the reply is as follows:

(1) The measure of “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law” has been piloted in Qianhai, Shenzhen, since 2020 whereas the measure of “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose Hong Kong as the seat of arbitration” has been in trial implementation since 2017 in Chinese Mainland’s Pilot Free Trade Zones. Both measures have been well received by stakeholders.

In October 2024, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Chinese Mainland signed the Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement Agreement on Trade in Services, which, for the first time, incorporated the above two measures into the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. The amendments support the expansion of the applicable scope of these two measures in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, reflecting the Central Government’s emphasis and support for Hong Kong’s legal system.

The extension of both measures has been in force since February 14, 2025. Details such as the applicable scope are set out in: (1) the Supreme People’s Court’s “Official Reply on the Issues concerning the Validity of the Adoption of Hong Kong or Macao Law as the Applicable Law of Contracts or the Designation of Hong Kong or Macao as the Seat of Arbitration by Hong Kong or Macao-Invested Enterprises Registered in the Mainland Part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” (Fa Shi No. 3 [2025]); and (2) “Opinion on Fully Leveraging the Functions of Arbitration to Serve the High-Quality Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” jointly issued by the Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Justice.

According to the two documents issued by the Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Justice, the details of the expansion are as follows:

• The “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law” measure is extended from Qianhai, Shenzhen to the whole of Shenzhen and Zhuhai municipalities. After the expansion, where either party or both parties are Hong Kong-invested enterprises registered in Shenzhen or Zhuhai, the parties may agree to choose Hong Kong or Macao law as the law applicable to the contract;

• The “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose Hong Kong as the seat of arbitration” measure, previously applicable to Pilot Free Trade Zones in the Chinese Mainland, is further extended to nine Mainland municipalities in the GBA. After the expansion, where either party or both parties are Hong Kong-invested enterprises established and registered in any of the said municipalities, the parties may agree to choose Hong Kong or Macao as the seat of arbitration even in the absence of “Hong Kong/Macao-related elements”; and

• The definition of “Hong Kong-invested enterprise” is broadened: enterprises which are wholly or partially invested by natural persons, enterprises or other organisations from the Hong Kong SAR and are established and registered in the Chinese Mainland in accordance with its laws, may benefit from these measures.

Whether an enterprise can benefit from the above two measures depends on its place of registration and whether it is Hong Kong-invested as defined above. There are no restrictions on industry or case type. In other words, any Hong Kong-invested enterprise registered in a qualifying location can benefit from the respective measures.

(2) As the only common law jurisdiction in China, Hong Kong has a mature and modern arbitration system that is highly aligned with international best practice. In terms of legal framework, Hong Kong’s Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) is based on the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, providing a basic legal framework for arbitration including judicial safeguards and support.

Under the principle of party autonomy, parties are free to choose the arbitral institutions, arbitration rules, etc to govern their specific arbitral proceedings. Arbitral institutions operate independently and are not subject to government interference.

According to the latest International Arbitration Survey conducted by Queen Mary University of London, Hong Kong is ranked the second most preferred seat of arbitration globally, along with Singapore. This reflects the maturity and comprehensiveness of Hong Kong’s arbitration legal framework, which is recognised by the international business community. Furthermore, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Rules is ranked the second most preferred set of arbitration rules globally in the same survey, demonstrating the trust and willingness of parties from various jurisdictions to conduct arbitral proceedings in Hong Kong.

(3) Regarding the professional qualifications of arbitrators

To establish the Panel of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Arbitrators (Panel of GBA Arbitrators), the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the legal departments of Guangdong and Macao, have jointly promulgated the Working Guidelines on the Panel of GBA Arbitrators (Working Guidelines) on July 30, 2025. The Working Guidelines set out the criteria recognised by the three places for nominating arbitrators to ensure the professionalism of GBA arbitrators.

The criteria for nomination of GBA arbitrators include: (1) upholding the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; (2) possessing good professional ethics with no record of disciplinary action for negative reputation or professional misconduct; (3) being included in the list of arbitrators by arbitral institutions in two out of the three places, namely Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao; (4) possessing more than five years of experience as an arbitrator; (5) having served as an arbitrator and drafted awards for at least five arbitration cases, of which at least three were cross-jurisdictional arbitration cases; (6) proficient in Putonghua (or Cantonese) and at least one language other than Chinese. 

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Departments Joint Conference (Joint Conference) may, depending on the actual circumstances of the nominated arbitrator, exercise its discretion to exempt one or more of the requirement(s) among items (3) to (6) above. The legal departments of the three places may, having regard to their local actual circumstances, impose additional local criteria for nomination in addition to the above-mentioned unified criteria for nomination, and report to the Joint Conference for record.

The DoJ is actively liaising with the relevant authorities in Guangdong and Macao, aiming to establish the Panel of GBA Arbitrators before the end of this year, and to encourage the use of arbitration in the GBA and provide greater convenience for users.

Regarding talent admission mechanisms

The Government is committed to strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre and has introduced a series of policies to attract and facilitate international arbitration experts to conduct arbitration-related work in Hong Kong.

The Government promulgated the first Talent List of Hong Kong in 2018, aiming to attract high quality talents more effectively and in a focused manner to support Hong Kong’s high value-added and diversified economy. The Talent List has been continuously updated and refined. Under the current Talent List, arbitrators specialising in resolving international commercial, financial and investor-state disputes are already included in the category of Dispute Resolution Professionals.

The Government has also regularised the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong (Scheme) with effect from March 1, 2025. Under the Scheme, relevant individuals are allowed to participate in arbitral proceedings in Hong Kong as visitors without the need to obtain an employment visa if they are in possession of a letter of proof issued by a designated arbitral and dispute resolution institution or venue provider proving that they are eligible persons participating in arbitral proceedings in Hong Kong.

This refined Scheme covers five categories of persons: (1) arbitrators; (2) expert and factual witnesses; (3) counsel in the arbitration; (4) parties to the arbitration; and (5) other persons directly related to or involved in the arbitration such as tribunal secretaries, tribunal-appointed experts. 

The Government will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the relevant policy initiatives, and review and refine them in a timely manner.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Kingsley Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):
 
Question:
 
     I often receive complaints and requests for assistance from residents of public housing estates (PHEs) about the spalling of mosaic tiles on the external walls of buildings, and it was reported that there were occasional accidents of members of the public being injured by spalled mosaic tiles detaching from the external walls of buildings. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the list of PHEs where mosaic tiles have been used as a major building material for external walls;
 
(2) of the number of cases of mosaic tiles spalling (on external walls, walls of lift lobbies and corridors, etc) in PHEs over the past three years and, among such cases, the number of those resulting in injuries to passers-by, as well as the estates involved in such cases (including the names of blocks) and their block types (e.g. Trident, Harmony, and Concord), their years of completion, and the causes of the spalling of mosaic tiles on the external walls;
 
(3) given that the spalling of mosaic tiles will also occur at locations such as walls of lift lobbies and corridors in PHEs, whether the Government has measures in place to ensure the safe entry and exit of residents, such as arranging professionals to carry out regular checks and timely repairs;
 
(4) whether it will conduct a general survey on the conditions of mosaic tiles in older PHEs (e.g. those aged 30 years or above) to facilitate early repair works, thereby safeguarding public safety; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(5) of the main reasons for using mosaic tiles as a material for the walls of buildings (including external walls, walls of lift lobbies and corridors) in PHEs; whether it will consider reducing the use of mosaic tiles and choosing other building materials that are equally aesthetic and practical but safer?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has always placed great emphasis on building safety. Through daily inspections and various inspection and maintenance programmes, public housing estates receive timely and proper maintenance and repairs to ensure they remain in good condition.
 
     In response to the question raised by the Hon Kingsley Wong, our reply is as follows:
 
(1) Currently, there are 128 public housing estates under the HA using mosaic tiles as the exterior wall finishing materials. Please refer to Annex I.
 
(2) The Housing Department (HD) conducts daily inspections of the common areas and facilities within public housing estates, including lift lobbies and corridors, to maintain facility safety and environmental hygiene. Upon identifying facilities requiring maintenance during inspections (such as spalling of mosaic tiles) or receiving reports from tenants, the HD would promptly arrange repairs. According to our records, there were a total of 23 cases of spalling of mosaic tiles on the external walls, with three cases involving minor injuries to pedestrians from January 1, 2022 to August 31, 2025. The estate offices took immediate follow-up actions, including cordoning off the affected passageways, inspecting other sections of the external walls, and arranging repairs. All cases were fully resolved. In general, mosaic tiles on external wall may spall due to ageing or environmental factors, such as change in temperature and humidity, but this does not affect the overall structural integrity of the building. For details of the aforementioned cases involving spalling of mosaic tiles from external wall, please refer to Annex II.
 
(3) and (4) The HD has been conducting daily inspections and implementing professional maintenance and repair programmes across all public housing estates in Hong Kong. Based on factors such as the age and structural condition of buildings, timely inspections and repairs are arranged to ensure structural integrity and safety, thereby providing residents with a secure and comfortable living environment. The relevant work mainly includes the following:
 
(i) Daily Inspections: Covering all public housing estates regardless of building age, frontline staff conduct daily inspections of buildings and communal facilities, following up on items requiring repair in a timely manner;
 
(ii) Annual Technical Inspection: Each estate undergoes an annual review to establish a yearly maintenance plan, which includes inspection and upkeep of public facilities (e.g. fire doors, floor tiles, external walls, etc) and equipment (e.g. lifts, fire safety installations, pipelines, etc) to enhance efficiency and safety standards;
 
(iii) Total Maintenance Scheme: Proactive inspections are conducted for public rental housing aged 10 years or above. During these inspections, attention is also given to the condition of external walls near the flats. If external wall repairs are identified, appropriate follow-up actions will be taken. This approach not only improves tenants’ living environment, but also extends the service life of the flats;
 
(iv) External Wall Finishes Repair Programme: For older public housing estates (e.g. those aged 30 years or above), the HD arranges external wall inspections and repairs as needed to enhance the safety and durability of external walls; and
 
(v) Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme: Detailed structural safety assessments are conducted for public housing estates approaching or exceeding 40 years of age. These assessments verify the structural safety and evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of preserving these buildings for at least 15 years or more through repairs and structural strengthening works.
 
     In addition to the above inspection and survey works, the HD actively explores the application of innovative technologies to shorten inspection time and enhance effectiveness. The HD currently uses handheld infrared thermographic cameras during inspections and, when necessary, deploys small drones equipped with imaging and infrared thermographic capabilities to examine building exteriors. These drones integrate with an artificial intelligence analysis platform to automatically identify external wall defects, such as spalling of mosaic tiles, and generate risk assessment reports to prioritise items requiring attention. This approach significantly enhances the efficiency of preventive maintenance with notable overall results. Furthermore, the HD carries out comprehensive external wall inspections and repairs approximately every ten years prior to its building redecorating works.
 
(5) The HA has consistently established a set of appropriate construction standards and specifications for new public housing developments. These standards and specifications are regularly updated in response to advancement of new construction technologies, building materials, and latest codes of practice. Buildings constructed in Hong Kong during the 1970s and 1980s, including public housing estates developed by the HA at that time, were commonly constructed with mosaic tiles as finishing material. Since around 2010, the HA has adopted a cleaner design for public housing. Consequently, the external walls, corridors and lift lobby walls of residential blocks in public housing estates are mainly finished with paint, while ceramic tiles are incorporated into the lobby design. Given the diverse colours of mosaic tiles and their applicability to different patterns, mosaic tiles continue to be used occasionally for feature walls in public spaces of housing projects as a highlight.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Duncan Chiu and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):
 
Question:
 
It is reported that according to the latest figures from the Police, there were 327 telephone scam cases involving Mainland students last year, resulting in an aggregate loss exceeding $230 million. On average, each student victim was defrauded of over $700,000. Furthermore, a recent case involved a Hong Kong university student from the Mainland who is suspected to have suffered a financial loss after falling victim to a telephone scam involving the impersonation of government officials, before subsequently jumping to her death. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following information regarding scam cases involving students in the first nine months of this year: (i) the number of telephone and cyber scam cases involving local, Mainland and overseas students, (ii) the total amount of money defrauded, along with the highest individual amount, and (iii) the main countries or regions of origin of the overseas students who fell victim to these scams;
 
(2) whether it has conducted an analysis of telephone and cyber scam cases involving students, including the deception tactics employed by fraudsters and the communication software or social networking platforms involved; if so, of the findings of such analysis and the countermeasures that the authorities will adopt, including whether they will work with local commercial entities, such as mobile network and social networking platform operators, to introduce enhanced measures to prevent students from falling victim to telephone and cyber scams and pitfalls; if so, the specific details;
 
(3) whether it will consult with various local universities and formulate effective measures to strengthen awareness of telephone and cyber scam prevention among local, Mainland and overseas students, including requiring students to attend designated seminars on scam prevention and pass relevant assessments upon admission; and
 
(4) whether the authorities have reviewed the current anti-scam promotional efforts and their effectiveness in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and universities, with a view to enhancing young people’s awareness of and capability in scam prevention; whether the authorities have set specific targets to determine which anti-scam initiatives require further enhancement and updating, and formulated a timetable for implementing various enhancement measures?
   
Reply:
 
President,
 
Deception is a serious crime. Any person who commits the offence of “fraud” under Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) is liable to imprisonment for up to 14 years, while any person charged with “obtaining property by deception” under Section 17 of the same Ordinance is liable to imprisonment for up to 10 years. In addition, any person charged with “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence” under Section 25 of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) for proceeds of deception is liable to maximum penalties of 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
 
In consultation with the Education Bureau (EDB), the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1) According to the latest figures from the Police, there were a total of 28 379 scam cases, involving monetary loss of $5.02 billion, in the first eight months of 2025, which represent a decrease of 1 per cent and 14.5 per cent respectively when compared with the same period last year. Among them, there were 184 and 86 telephone scam cases involving local and Mainland students of tertiary institutions. The monetary losses incurred were approximately $32 million and $75 million respectively. The Police do not maintain statistical figures on the number of cyber scam cases involving students. Furthermore, as the Police do not observe an evident trend of scams targeting overseas students at this stage, a statistical breakdown is not maintained.
 
The case with the highest amount of loss was a telephone scam in April 2025 involving impersonation of government officials, resulting in a loss of over $10 million. The victim, a 25-year-old university student from the Mainland, followed the instructions of fraudsters by making multiple deposits totalling $10.97 million into a number of designated local bank accounts during the period between April and July 2025. In July of the same year, the Police arrested two Mainland males, who were subsequently charged with three counts of money laundering.
 
(2) The Police have been analysing the latest trends and intelligence of telephone and cyber scams involving students, and have been regularly releasing the latest anti-scam messages. For example, the Police make use of press conferences, social media accounts of the Police and platforms such as the CyberDefender website to warn students and the public about the latest scam tactics.
 
It has come to the Police’s attention that recently many students have become victims of telephone scams involving fake food delivery platforms sending phishing SMS messages, instructing victims to call a fake “customer service” and then tricking them into paying “guarantee money” to cancel orders. As regards cyber scams, scam syndicates have been luring students into participating in fake “click farming” tasks through social media groups including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) of the Police has immediately stepped up dissemination of anti-scam alerts on websites and social media platforms, urging the public not to call back by clicking on the telephone numbers provided in the SMS messages. If in doubt, they should contact the official customer service centre of the food delivery platforms for verification. They are also encouraged to make good use of the Police’s “Scameter+” and “Anti-Scam Helpline”.
 
To heighten the alertness of students and the public against telephone and online scams and pitfalls, the Police have been maintaining close communication and collaboration with telecommunications service providers (TSP) and social media platform operators. In particular, anti-scam promotional leaflets are distributed through TSPs. The promotional materials are updated from time to time, so as to remind members of the public to be watchful over the latest scam tactics. Should suspected fraudulent content be found, the Police will request the social media platforms concerned to immediately remove the content and take appropriate follow-up actions. From January to August of 2025, the platforms concerned have reviewed and removed over 67 000 items of fraudulent content at the request of the Police. In addition, the Police held a joint press conference with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, in August 2025 to alert the public of the latest scam tactics involving messaging applications and social networking platforms. The public were also notified of the operators’ anti-scam countermeasures, which include the strengthened use of artificial intelligence technology for detecting and removing fraudulent content and accounts.
 
(3) The EDB and the University Grants Committee have been encouraging tertiary institutions to promote anti-scam information to students through various channels and provide students with appropriate support. To raise the anti-scam awareness and vigilance of local, Mainland and overseas students, institutions have provided them with scam prevention and anti-scam information through channels such as seminars for parents, admission briefings, dedicated webpages and dedicated hotlines.
 
Mainland students are more prone to become scam victims because they are unfamiliar with Hong Kong’s systems, fraud situation and ways of seeking help. In this connection, the Commissioner of Police has earlier on sent a letter to the newly arrived students and their parents via all tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, urging them to pay particular attention to several common scam tactics and advising them of ways to guard against scams. They are also encouraged to make good use of the Police’s “Anti-Scam Helpline” and “Scameter+”. Earlier on, in collaboration with the National Immigration Administration, the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security and the Immigration Department of Hong Kong, the Police have produced anti-scam video clips showing the modus operandi of fraudsters. Starting from June 2025, the videos are broadcast across boundary control points, exit-entry service halls in the Mainland as well as social media platforms including Xiaohongshu and Douyin. The Police also collaborated with the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange to organise sharing sessions in the Mainland, sharing anti-scam knowledge with over 11 000 students coming to Hong Kong for studies and their parents. Furthermore, the Police have disseminated anti-scam information to students through activities and seminars organised jointly with Mainland students’ groups in various institutions.
 
The Police have also launched an online learning package. Local, Mainland and overseas students will have to learn about scam tactics and be given advice on countermeasures through the tutorials in the forms of texts, images and videos. They will then have to complete the multiple choice questions provided. Those who have passed the test will receive an e-certificate. To cope with the peak of scams involving students around the new academic year of 2025, the Police have launched an updated version of the online learning questionnaire in traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese and English, covering scam tactics such as telephone deception, investment fraud and employment fraud, as well as information provided by the ADCC of the Police. A number of institutions in Hong Kong have required local, Mainland and overseas students to complete the learning package or questionnaire within specified time frames in the new academic year in order to gain access to campus facilities (such as libraries and learning commons).
 
Furthermore, the Police organised over 30 scam prevention educational seminars and activities around the start of the new academic year, which have attracted the participation of more than 4 000 local, Mainland and overseas students. The activities included stepping up promotion of the online learning package and arranging visits to tertiary institutions by the Quby themed anti-scam promotional truck to disseminate anti-scam messages to students and staff.
 
The Police have collaborated with an institution to conduct a survey on the awareness of scam among university students. Of the 3 000-odd replies collected, it was found that nearly 85 per cent of the respondents had enrolled in the anti-scam online learning package. For students who had completed the learning package, the number who fell prey to scams and suffered monetary loss were 58 percentage points lower than those who had never enrolled in the learning package. The Police will continue to encourage the participation of local, Mainland and overseas students of tertiary institutions.
 
(4) In keeping with societal changes and technology development, the EDB continues to review and optimise the school curriculum. Learning elements relating to media and information literacy education as well as anti-scam awareness have been incorporated into primary and secondary school curricula. For example, Primary Humanities, Junior Secondary Citizenship, Economics and Society, and Senior Secondary Citizenship and Social Development have all included learning contents of information literacy, prudence in analysing the authenticity of information, handling of personal data, as well as guarding against cyber pitfalls and risks. This helps students to develop critical thinking and enhance their self protection awareness. In addition, the Information Literacy for Hong Kong Students, a learning framework provided to schools by the EDB, helps enrich the information literacy-related learning elements in the school curriculum, through which students are encouraged to use the Internet in a healthy manner, safeguard their personal privacy and equip themselves with fact checking skills, thereby enhancing their anti-scam awareness and ability.
 
To deepen teachers’ knowledge of technology crime information and data security, enabling them to guide students in the safe and proper use of Internet, the EDB continuously launches professional development programmes for teachers and supports the promotion of information literacy education in schools. The EDB also organises seminars for parents, helping them nurture their children’s ethical use of innovative technology in their everyday life, such as properly protecting personal privacy and developing good habits in using information technology.
 
To raise the awareness and capability of kindergarteners and young people of primary and secondary schools in scam prevention, the EDB and the Police have jointly designed teaching materials to enhance students’ safety awareness in using new technology, which helps them avoid falling prey to scams. Among others, the Police have published the Youth Crime Prevention Booklet for four years in a row starting from 2022, offering a set of practical tools for teachers and parents to educate students about the common crimes and ways to deal with them.
 
The Police have also published the educational comic booklets titled “The Dirty Money Trap” and “Black and White” for two consecutive years, explaining the money laundering pitfalls associated with “renting, borrowing and selling of bank accounts”. A dedicated chapter titled “Tips for Teachers and Parents” is also featured, offering practical guidance to help teachers and parents identify signs of young people’s involvement in such crimes. To keep parents informed of the latest modus operandi and trends of cyber pitfalls, the Police regularly publish “Letters to Parents” on the “CyberDefender” website. Using real-life examples, these letters explain high-risk cyber pitfalls that young people and children may encounter and offer advice to parents, hence enhancing their capability in recognising and coping with cyber pitfalls.
 
In addition, the Police have introduced an anti-scam mascot “The Little Grape” since 2020 to explain the latest tactics of fraudsters and disseminate simple anti-scam messages in a friendly and interactive manner. Anti-scam information is also posted on different social media platforms using “The Little Grape” as the theme, such as “The Little Grape” Animation Picture book. Also, through offline interaction between “The Little Grape” and primary and secondary students, such as visits to primary and secondary schools by “The Little Grape” and the anti-scam promotional vehicle, anti-scam messages are conveyed to young people. A picture book named “The Little Grape and Me: Beware of fraudsters” targeting kindergarteners has also been released, with copies distributed to nearly 1 000 kindergartens across the territory with a view to cultivating anti-scam awareness in young children.
 
Going forward, the Government will continue to collaborate with kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutions and stakeholders. Stakeholders’ views are collected regularly through various channels to provide feedback on curriculum planning and implementation, with a view to strengthening students’ awareness in scam prevention. In response to the advancing technology and evolving tactics of fraudsters, the Government will analyse the latest scam landscape and intelligence in an ongoing manner, and will review and adjust our anti-scam work as necessary.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Ngan Man-yu and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     The 2025 Policy Address has proposed measures to ensure employment priority of local workers. On the other hand, the Government has, since June 30 this year, introduced a new channel under the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, allowing individuals meeting the qualifications under the Technical Professional List to come to Hong Kong to engage in eight skilled trades facing manpower shortage. However, there are views pointing out that the relevant arrangements may create negative impacts on the employment opportunities for local workers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the 2025 Policy Address has proposed to tighten the manning ratio requirement for waiters/waitresses and junior cooks under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) (i.e. a manning ratio of 2:1 for full-time local employees to imported workers), and change the current calculation method based on all posts being applied for by employers to the one based on individual posts being applied for, whether the Government has compiled statistics on the proportion of local workers in individual trades under the existing manning ratio requirement of ESLS; whether it has identified employers hiring local workers in different trades or on a part-time basis to meet the manning ratio requirement of ESLS; if such cases have been identified, of the Government’s existing monitoring mechanisms and improvement measures;

(2) whether it will consider extending the arrangement for tightening the manning ratio requirement mentioned in (1) to more post categories, and study prohibiting employers from hiring local workers on a part-time basis to meet the manning ratio requirement;

(3) given that the 2025 Policy Address has proposed to step up efforts to combat illegal workers, including establishing a dedicated reporting hotline and promoting more inter-departmental joint operations, of the Government’s specific plans and expected effectiveness in respect of the aforesaid measures;

(4) as it is learnt that in recent years, some lawbreakers have arranged for illegal workers to come to Hong Kong to provide services after soliciting business through social media platforms (such as Xiaohongshu), and then arranged for such illegal workers to work in concealed locations, of the total number of surprise inspections conducted by the Government to combat illegal workers in the past year and the effectiveness of such enforcement actions, including the number of illegal workers and employers arrested in such actions, as well as the number of prosecutions instituted;

(5) regarding the eight newly added skilled trades on the aforesaid Technical Professional List, of the respective numbers of applicants and approved quotas for each trade to date; whether it has plans to dynamically adjust the quotas for each trade based on the progress of local training and manpower supply; if not, whether it will consider establishing a mechanism which allows both additions and deductions to avoid excessive quotas and safeguard employment for local skilled personnel; and

(6) whether the Government has grasped Hong Kong’s employment situation in respect of dependants of individuals coming to Hong Kong under various talent admission schemes (including individuals coming to Hong Kong who meet the qualifications under the Technical Professional List), including information such as the trades in which they engaged, their income levels and educational backgrounds, and whether it has assessed the impacts of the employment situation of such dependants on the local labour market; whether the Government will compile statistics on the information of such dependants when conducting manpower projections or population censuses, so as to assess the relevant manpower supply and demand trends; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The primary objective of the Government’s manpower policy is to nurture local talent, complemented by admission of outside talent. In the face of industrial transformation and a continuously ageing population, the Government has implemented a host of measures to proactively trawl for talent since end-2022 to expand the talent pool. On the premise of ensuring employment priority for local workers, the Government also enhanced the mechanism for importation of labour in 2023 and launched sector-specific labour importation schemes for the construction sector, transport sector, and residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities, as well as the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) to suitably allow employers to apply for importation of workers when they are genuinely unable to recruit suitable local workers. According to the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) (IO), the period of stay of these imported workers in Hong Kong is not regarded as ordinarily residing in Hong Kong and hence they would not obtain the Hong Kong permanent resident status by virtue of their stay as imported workers in Hong Kong. The Government has been closely monitoring the employment market, and making timely and targeted adjustments to the implementation arrangements for labour importation as well as combating illegal workers rigorously, so as to ensure employment priority for local workers and maintain labour supply to support Hong Kong’s economic development.

     In 2025, the Government introduced a new channel under the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) targeting specified skilled trades facing acute manpower shortage to allow young and experienced non-degree professionals to come to Hong Kong to replenish the local labour force. Vocational professionals admitted to Hong Kong through these two channels may accumulate years of residence in Hong Kong and apply to become Hong Kong permanent residents in future if meeting the specified eligibility criteria under the IO. They are therefore fundamentally different from imported workers and the two should not be conflated together.

     In consultation with the Security Bureau (SB) and the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) and (2) ESLS requires employers applying for importation of labour to meet the manning ratio requirement of full-time local employees to imported workers (manning ratio requirement). In general, employers shall have employed two full-time local workers for bringing in one imported worker. Full time employees refer to local employees who are directly employed by an employer and work not less than 35 hours per week for operating the relevant business, excluding part time staff, staff of sub contractor(s) or self employed person(s) providing services to the employer.

     The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address new measures, including implementing from September 18 this year a more stringent manning ratio requirement of 2:1 when employers apply for the posts of waiter/waitress and junior cook by changing the calculation basis of applying the ratio from all posts of an applicant employer to each post under application. In other words, an employer applying to import a waiter/waitress and a junior cook must have already employed two local full-time waiters/waitresses and two local full-time junior cooks. The new measure focuses on job categories with more imported workers, responding to changes in the labour market of that industry in a targeted manner with a view to ensuring priority employment for local workers.

     Employers shall truthfully report the number of full-time local employees when submitting ESLS applications. An employer knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false or misleading during the application commits an offence and is liable to prosecution. The Labour Department (LD) rigorously processes each application to ensure compliance with ESLS requirements. During the vetting process, the LD thoroughly reviews the documents and information submitted by an employer, and takes into account factors such as the industry of the employer and business nature, company size, details of applied posts and past application records. If necessary, the LD will require an employer to provide additional information or supporting documents, or arrange Labour Inspectors to conduct inspection to an employer’s office and workplace(s) of prospective imported worker(s) to verify the application information. 

     Employers with approval to import workers shall meet the manning ratio requirement on a continuous basis. The LD launched a special inspection campaign in June this year to check whether establishments employing imported workers had continuously met the manning ratio requirement. The LD also requires employers to report information on full-time local employees and imported workers as well as the relevant manning ratios based on a risk-based approach. The LD does not tolerate any acts of non-compliance and will impose administrative sanction if there is sufficient evidence, including withdrawal of approvals for importation of workers previously granted to the employer(s) and refusal to process other subsequent applications with a debarment period up to two years.

     As at end-August this year, there were around 35 000 imported workers working in Hong Kong under ESLS, accounting for around 1 per cent of Hong Kong’s labour force. The Government does not have statistical information on the proportion of local workers in individual job categories.

     The Government will continue to closely monitor changes in the local labour market and the manpower situation of different industries, and adopt a flexible and targeted approach in making adjustments to the implementation arrangements of ESLS if necessary. 

(3) and (4) The Government is committed to combating illegal employment so as to safeguard employment opportunities of local workers. It is a serious offence to engage in illegal employment. Illegal workers, employers, as well as persons aiding and abetting illegal employment will be liable to prosecution in accordance with the IO.

     On strengthening intelligence collection and strict law enforcement, various law enforcement agencies have been proactively collecting intelligence and conducting joint operations to raid premises suspected of having illegal employment activities. According to the records of the Immigration Department (ImmD), the monthly average number of law enforcement operations against illegal workers (including joint operations with other departments including the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF)) conducted in January to August 2025 was 5.1 per cent more than that in 2024. The relevant figures are tabulated below:
 

Year	Number of operations
2024	17 906
2025 (up to August) [Compared with the monthly average of 2024]	12 543 [+5.1 per cent]

     During the same period of 2025, the monthly average numbers of illegal workers and employers arrested and prosecuted both increased compared with that in 2024. The relevant figures are tabulated below:
 

Year	Illegal workers		Employers
	Arrested	Prosecuted	Arrested	Prosecuted
2024	1 268	1 013	513	169
2025 (up to August) [Compared with the monthly average of 2024]	869 [+2.8 per cent]	756 [+11.9 per cent]	407 [+19.0 per cent]	127 [+12.7 per cent]

Remark: Persons prosecuted may not be arrested in the same year.

     Targeting lawbreakers making use of online platforms to recruit and arrange illegal workers to come to Hong Kong, the Cybercrime and Forensics Investigation Group of the ImmD conducts constant cyber patrols. It will take enforcement actions by, among others, decoy operations against any person who is found using social media platforms or instant messaging software to organise, arrange or incite the public to commit serious crimes, such as illegal employment. If the Mainland online platforms are involved, the ImmD will exchange intelligence with the Mainland authorities and urge them to arrange with the relevant platforms for taking appropriate follow-up actions, such as taking down the posts involved. For example, in late August and early September this year, the ImmD noticed through cyber patrols that some Mainland photographers and make-up artists were promoting on social media platforms, claiming that they could provide services in Hong Kong. After investigation and conducting decoy operation, the ImmD arrested a total of 10 persons, including eight Mainland illegal workers.

     Besides, on the same day of the delivery of the 2025 Policy Address (September 17), the ImmD launched the Dedicated Hotline for Reporting Illegal Workers (3861 5000) in order to encourage the public to actively report illegal employment-related acts. In the first two weeks since the launch of the reporting hotline, the ImmD had already received over 100 telephone reports. The ImmD will widely promote the reporting hotline and actively follow up on each report, including taking enforcement actions based on intelligence analysis.

     To further step up efforts in combating illegal employment, the SB established in September 2025 an Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment (Task Force), including members from the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB), the Education Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the ImmD, the HKPF, the LD and the Transport Department. The first meeting of the Task Force was convened on October 2, 2025, at which the Task Force discussed the current situation of illegal employment, and agreed to enhance inter-departmental coordination on various fronts, including formulating overall response strategies against illegal employment, enhancing intelligence collection and intelligence exchange with the Mainland, enforcing the laws rigorously, leveraging technology, and co-ordinating relevant publicity and education, so as to combat illegal employment under a multi-pronged approach. The Task Force will continue to closely monitor the situation of illegal employment and formulate overall response strategies in a timely manner to safeguard the employment of local workforce.

(5) The Government introduced the technical professionals stream under GEP and ASMTP from June 30, 2025 to allow outside individuals to apply for entry into Hong Kong to join eight skilled trades facing acute manpower shortage. Applicants are required to be non-degree professionals meeting the relevant qualifications as specified in the Technical Professional List and aged between 18 and 40. According to the prevailing requirements under GEP and ASMTP, relevant technical professionals are required to have secured an employment offer from a local enterprise before making applications, and the remuneration package should be commensurate with the market level for similar jobs. This new arrangement will be piloted for three years with an overall application quota of 10 000, and the application quota for each skilled trade is limited to 3 000 to prevent occupations with larger industry scales from quickly exhausting the quotas. The relevant quota does not represent the Government’s target number for admitting technical professionals in individual skilled trades.

     The ImmD has been receiving enquiries and is processing the applications received. The new arrangement has only been in place for three months and the Government is closely monitoring its implementation. Relevant statistics will be released later at an opportune time, and a review will be conducted after the new arrangement has been implemented for a year.

(6) When conducting population and labour force projections, the C&SD takes into account the number and demographic characteristics of approved visa holders under various talent admission schemes and their dependents in assessing the long-term development trends of the population and labour force. The household surveys (including the 2026 Population Census) conducted by the C&SD also cover the employment situation of new arrivals living in Hong Kong, including approved visa holders and their dependents. Additionally, the LWB will continue to monitor the employment situation of dependents in Hong Kong. For example, we are collecting information through online surveys on the educational background, employment status and employment intentions, etc, of dependents admitted under the Top Talent Pass Scheme. The information obtained will be considered by the projection models of the mid-term update of the manpower projection. The above information helps the Government gain a more comprehensive understanding of the status of dependents in the local labour market.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by Professor the Hon Priscilla Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     A research institute has recently announced that, according to the statistics of the Coroner’s Court, the suicide rate in Hong Kong was estimated at 14.1 per 100 000 people last year. This represents an increase of 0.6 from 13.5 in 2023, which exceeds international standards. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will, in light of the latest situation, strengthen mental health and emotional support services in the community, as well as step up publicity and education efforts on social media to help citizens from diverse backgrounds relieve stress, so that they will know where to seek help; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) as it has been reported that the suicide rate among males aged between 25 and 39 saw the most significant increase last year, with 28.6 per cent of male suicides attributed to financial problems such as debts, unemployment, gambling or business failures, whether the Government will consider collaborating with community organisations and professional bodies to provide targeted counselling services for male groups, assist them in channelling their emotions and formulate appropriate response plans; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as it has been reported that a Mainland university student studying in Hong Kong has recently fell to her death after allegedly falling victim to phone scams, whether the Government will consider further strengthening cooperation with tertiary institutions by not only enhancing students’ awareness of fraud prevention, but also strengthening the emotional support services for Mainland and overseas students, with a view to enabling them to focus on their studies and enjoy a simple and positive campus life in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

Factors leading to suicide are multi-faceted, including emotional issues, personal health, interpersonal relationships and financial position. Each case varies and cannot be generalised. The Government attaches great importance to suicide prevention, and has been providing multi-tiered support through multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration among various policy bureaux and departments, public organisations, and other stakeholders within the community. These efforts aim to promote public education, identify high-risk groups, intervene early, and provide appropriate counselling and support services to individuals with suicidal tendencies and their families.

In consultation with the Health Bureau (HHB), the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Security Bureau, our reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) and (2)

Public education and promotion 

In order to enhance public awareness of mental health, foster a positive mental health culture, and strengthen resilience, various departments have been implementing various public education and promotion programmes, including:

(i) The Labour and Welfare Bureau organises an annual Mental Health Month to raise public awareness of mental health through lectures, exhibitions, community activities, and workshops, etc, and convey positive messages, encouraging individuals to care for their own emotional well-being as well as that of others;

(ii) Apart from the Social Welfare Department (SWD) distributing promotional materials and broadcasting short videos, the 24 Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) under the SWD regularly organise different types of mutual support groups, as well as public education activities such as workshops and mobile exhibitions, to actively deliver positive messages, promote mental health knowledge, encourage the public to adopt a positive attitude towards seeking help and pay early attention to their mental health needs, with a view to strengthening resilience of the public. Specifically in response to the mental health challenges arising from work pressure, financial burdens and family responsibilities, faced by adults, including the middle-aged population, ICCMWs also organise mutual support groups and workshops specially for middle-aged men;

(iii) The Advisory Committee on Mental Health has launched a mental health promotion and public education initiative named “Shall We Talk” since July 2020. The initiative commits to promoting positive messages of mental health with a view to stepping up public knowledge and awareness of mental well-being and of seeking assistance from professionals when needed. The initiative delivers messages on mental health through different channels, including a one-stop website (shallwetalk.hk), a social media page, television and radio programmes, promotion posters, offline events such as road shows in tertiary education institutions, primary and secondary schools. Separately, the initiative disseminates information or knowledge and skills in suicide prevention and relevant information on ways to seek help provided in support of the World Suicide Prevention Day;

(iv) The EDB encourages schools to adopt a whole-school approach to promote students’ mental health and strengthen support for students with mental health needs at three levels, namely Universal, Selective and Indicated through curriculum, resources, activities, training, and professional support. The EDB has been implementing the 4Rs Mental Health Charter since the 2024/25 school year. With “Resilience” being the core theme of the current school year, schools are encouraged to set targets and take concrete actions to promote mental wellness in campus and strengthen resilience of students.

In order to further strengthen community engagement and public education of mental health, the Government will implement the Pilot Programme on Training for Mental Health Promotion Ambassadors to mobilise and train mental health promotion ambassadors to promote healthy lifestyles, foster resilience and establish care support networks.

Identifying high-risk groups and early intervention

Identifying high-risk groups and providing targeted support services and early intervention helps reduce potential suicide risks. To that end, relevant departments implemented the following measures:

(i) HHB launched the Healthy Mind Pilot Project in 2024 at three District Health Centre (DHC)/District Health Centre Expresses to provide free preliminary mental health assessments at the community level. The pilot project aims to achieve the primary healthcare goal of “early detection and early treatment” and strengthen support for individuals in need. The Government will extend the pilot project in 2026 to cover nine DHCs, with follow-up services to be provided by practitioners with an academic background and training in fields such as psychology or counselling. The HHB also provided mental health first aid training to members of District Services and Community Care Teams to enhance their ability to identify and assist high-risk cases within the community;

(ii) The SWD has set up Cyber Youth Support Teams (CYSTs) to reach out to emotionally unstable youth or those with suicidal thoughts via social media and other online platforms, and provide emotional support, counselling and appropriate referral services. The SWD has enhanced the services of CYSTs in June 2025. Through the online youth emotional support platform “Open Up”, CYSTs provide 24-hour real-time online counselling service for young people experiencing emotional distress and immediate crises, allowing them to receive support anytime, anywhere. The application of artificial intelligence will be strengthened for more precise identification of high-risk targets in need of support.

Crisis intervention for high-risk cases

Departments provide in-depth counselling and crisis intervention for high-risk cases with suicidal tendencies or mental health issues. Details are as follows:

(i) Currently, relevant departments and subvented organisations operate multiple hotlines to provide immediate support to individuals with suicidal tendencies or emotional distress, and encourage and refer them to relevant service units for in-depth counselling. These include the SWD Hotline (2343 2255), the crisis intervention and support hotline of the CEASE Crisis Centre under the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (18281), the Caritas Crisis Line (18288), the Hotline Service for Youth at Risk (2777 8899), and the Designated Hotline for Carer Support (182183), as well as the “18111 – Mental Health Support Hotline” which provides one-stop, round-the-clock emotional and mental health support and referral for individuals regardless of background and age;

(ii) The 24 ICCMWs under the SWD provide emotional support, case management, and counselling services to individuals with mental health needs or suicidal tendencies. They work with the Hospital Authority and other welfare service units to provide immediate support and referrals for high-risk cases;

(iii) The Samaritan befrienders Hong Kong subvented by the SWD operates the Suicide Crisis Intervention Centre which offers outreaching, crisis intervention, and in-depth counselling services for individuals troubled by suicide-related issues (including male with financial stress and suicidal tendency). Also, the SWD subsidises Caritas Hong Kong and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to provide specialised services, including counselling and advice, to enhance the resilience of persons with financial distress, as well as to refer them to receive relevant social services according to their needs, assist them in obtaining other necessary support and professional services, in order to support individuals and families suffering from emotional distress or family problems as a result of financial distress.

(iv) In order to identify students with high suicidal risk early and provide them with targeted support, the Government has implemented the Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism across all secondary schools in the territory through interdepartmental collaboration of the EDB, the HHB and the SWD starting from December 2023. This mechanism integrates in-school multidisciplinary teams, the off-campus support network, and medical services and has been enhanced in 2024. The Government announced regularising the three-tier emergency mechanism in secondary schools in the 2025/26 school year and extending it on a trial basis to Primary Four to Six students to strengthen support for those in need.

(3) The EDB and the University Grants Committee (UGC) pay close attention to the measures taken by post-secondary institutions in raising anti-scam awareness among students, and have maintained close liaison with them through the communication platform formed by university representatives. The institutions are encouraged to promote anti-scam messages to students through various channels. To raise non-local students’ anti-scam awareness and vigilance, the institutions work closely with law enforcement agencies and local banks to disseminate information on anti-scam and fraud prevention through organising seminars for parents and admission talks, and setting up dedicated information webpages and hotlines, etc.

Since the new academic year of 2025, the Police have visited various universities to carry out anti-scam publicity campaigns. Earlier on, the Commissioner of Police has also sent a letter to the newly arrived students and their parents through all tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, urging them to pay particular attention to several common fraud tactics and advising them of ways to guard against such fraud. They are also encouraged to make good use of the Police’s Anti-Scam Helpline and Scameter+. The Police have also launched an Online Learning Package. Local, Mainland and overseas students will have to learn about scam tactics and be given advice on counter measures through the tutorials in the forms of texts, images and videos. They will then have to complete the multiple choice questions provided. Those who have passed the test will receive an e-certificate. To cope with the peak of scams involving students around the new academic year of 2025, the Police have launched an updated version of the online learning questionnaire in traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese and English, covering scam tactics such as telephone deception, investment fraud and employment fraud, as well as information provided by the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre of the Police. Furthermore, the Police have organised over 30 scam prevention educational talks and seminars, and activities around the start of the new academic year, which have attracted the participation of more than 4 000 local, Mainland and overseas students. The activities included stepping up promotion of the online learning package and arranging visits to tertiary institutions by the Quby themed anti scam promotional truck to disseminate anti scam messages to students and staff.

UGC has been supporting the universities to promote mental health and positive education and strengthen various student support services, including counselling and mental health support. For the 2022/23 to 2024/25 triennium, UGC additionally allocated $30 million to establish the Whole-person Development Fund to support each UGC-funded university to organise projects that enrich students’ learning experience outside the classroom, thereby promoting whole-person development among the younger generation. The promotion of positive education and psychological well-being was one of the four key areas. Apart from deploying funds to conduct different activities and peer support programmes, the universities also made use of the funds to strengthen the manpower for counselling to meet the service demands from students. In addition, the universities are utilising the additional allocation provided by UGC under the Funding Scheme for Mainland and Global Engagement and Student Learning Experience to organise activities for a multi-cultural campus, so as to promote exchanges between students from different backgrounds and cultures to create a diversified and inclusive international learning environment.