Month: November 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Registered Contractors’ Disciplinary Board (the Board) has completed disciplinary inquiries under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) on two fatal site incidents and decided that the two Registered Specialist Contractors (RSC) concerned should be disciplined for having been convicted by a court of offences relating to building works.

The Board’s written decisions and orders issued on November 10 were published in the Gazette today (November 21). Details are available at the following links:

Case 1: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2025&volume=29&gno=47&notice_no=7299&extra=0
Case 2: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2025&volume=29&gno=47&notice_no=7298&extra=0

The first case involved a fatal incident that occurred on October 19, 2021, at a construction site for foundation works in Shap Sze Heung, New Territories. While a team of workers was carrying out wire rope replacement work of a crawler-mounted crane, one of them was hit by a swinging wire rope and passed away later that day. The RSC was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations (CSSR) and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation. The RSC was convicted and fined $37,000 at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on June 24, 2022. In view of the convictions of the RSC, the Buildings Department (BD) notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RSC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO.

Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RSC to be fined $220,000 and to pay a total of $50,300 being the costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

The second case involved a fatal incident that occurred on March 23, 2020, at a slope maintenance site in Yau Yat Chuen, Kowloon Tong. A worker, while carrying out slope maintenance work, fell from a height of about 3 metres from the top of a retaining wall to the ground. He sustained a serious head injury and passed away on the same day. The RSC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the CSSR. The RSC was convicted and fined $42,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on December 21, 2020. In view of the convictions of the RSC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RSC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO.

Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RSC to be fined $124,000 and to pay a total of $58,500 being the costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

A spokesperson for the BD reiterated that any registered contractor who contravenes the relevant provisions of the BO in carrying out building works, or is convicted by any court of an offence relating to building works, or has been negligent or has misconducted themselves in building works, will be subject to enforcement action including criminal prosecution and disciplinary action under the BO.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Blockade” and “Twilight”, a joint operation with the Labour Department codenamed “Rainbow” and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion” from November 14 to yesterday (November 20). A total of 33 suspected illegal workers, 10 suspected employers and two overstayers were arrested.
 
     During operation “Blockade”, ImmD investigators discovered that foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), whose employment contracts were prematurely terminated, have been overstaying in Hong Kong while taking up illegal employment. After a thorough investigation and intelligence analysis, the ImmD successfully identified and raided multiple target locations, including restaurants and food production plants. Twenty-four suspected illegal workers, eight suspected employers and two overstayers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised one man and 23 women, aged 22 to 52. Among them, 13 persons were overstaying former FDHs, 10 persons were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment in Hong Kong, and one person was an overstayer who was permitted to enter Hong Kong on a visitor status. The arrested illegal workers included dishwashers, cleaners and kitchen workers etc. Seven men and one woman, aged 27 to 64, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.
 
     During other anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including massage parlours, renovation flats and retail stores etc. Nine suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised seven men and two women, aged 37 to 60. Among them, two men and one woman were also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card or an identity card related to another person. Two Hong Kong female residents, aged 52 and 65, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.
 
     An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
 
     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged identity card or an identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
 
     The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.”
 
     The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
 
     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Hong Kong Association of Banks Distinguished Speaker Luncheon today (November 21):

Ms Mary Huen (Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Banks), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon. I am pleased to join you, once again, for this Distinguished Speaker Luncheon. It brings together Hong Kong’s financial industry leaders here today to share insights and intelligence on a wide variety of industry issues and developments. 

     The Association now represents 149 high-profile member banks from 33 countries and regions. More than a tradition, this event is – and you are – a powerful testament to the vitality and ambition of Hong Kong’s banking sector. 

     Evidence of our collective progress is clear and compelling. From the beginning of the year to this September, bank deposits in Hong Kong went up more than 10 per cent, totalling some 2.4 trillion US Dollars. 

     And Hong Kong continues to shine on the global stage, recently ranked again world’s no. 1 in economic freedom by the Canadian-based Fraser Institute. We placed third in the World Competitiveness Yearbook, and third again in the Global Financial Centres Index. 

     These and a good many other achievements demonstrate the resilience of our market and the dynamism you, our financial leaders, bring to Hong Kong. They reflect the confidence the international community places in our financial system, the rule of law and our future.

     A central pillar of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government’s strategy for advancing Hong Kong’s economic growth, is the strategic expansion of our international network. 

     My participation, three weeks ago, in the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Korea and the China International Import Expo in Shanghai underscore the immense value of these global partnerships. 

     To better capitalise on Hong Kong’s global connections, we launched the GoGlobal Task Force last month. This concerted, cross-sectoral Task Force will help to connect Mainland companies with global markets. Connecting Mainland companies with global markets is a key of my government’s strategy this year and the years ahead. This will attract international capital and companies to Hong Kong. 

     The initiative is designed to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as the premier gateway for two-way investment and trade, reinforcing our role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.

     Expanding our international network also means intensifying our focus on the economies of Southeast Asia. I am pleased to note that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority is collaborating with your Association, as well as the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. Together, you will lead delegations comprising banking representatives and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to explore business opportunities in key markets of the region.

     I’m also pleased to know that the Association is working to expand its connectivity, with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) a particular focus this year. 

     In boosting these connections, we open new markets. No less important, we build lasting economic ties to fuel Hong Kong’s long-term growth.

     Of paramount importance to that bright future are our SMEs, which form the backbone of Hong Kong’s economy. Supporting our 360,000 SMEs is critical to Hong Kong’s overall development. To ensure that they thrive in this period of global economic uncertainty, we have introduced a wide variety of support measures.

     They include extending the application period for the 80 per cent Guarantee Product under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme for two years, with a one-year extension of the principal moratorium arrangement. 

     I encourage banks to adopt a flexible and accommodating approach in processing loans by companies with a repayment ability. Together, we will work to ensure that temporary cash-flow challenges do not stifle or deter promising businesses.

     To fast-track that promising growth, we will also put the spotlight on driving innovation and efficiency. To promote digital trade, the Monetary Authority will develop a roadmap for Project CargoX by year’s end, working with the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s Port Community System. The Project will promote the use of authentic multi-modal cargo data in banking workflows, to reduce credit costs and processing times for both banks and SMEs.

     We are, as well, injecting 1.43 billion Hong Kong Dollars into the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales, expanding its geographical scope to eight more economies, including Belt and Road countries. Concurrently, we are enhancing Cyberport’s Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme. This will provide matching subsidies for SMEs adopting essential AI and cybersecurity solutions, future-proofing their operations in an increasingly digital world.

     A thriving market cannot be built on economic policies alone, however. It requires a foundation of trust and security. This is why our joint commitment to promoting anti-fraud education and combating financial crime is vital. 

     As digital threats intensify, the banking sector’s frontline role in educating and protecting customers, especially the elderly and other vulnerable groups, is an invaluable social safeguard. 

     We welcome the Monetary Authority’s ongoing development of relevant guidelines in collaboration with the industry. And the Association’s establishment of the Anti-Fraud Education Taskforce, which has conducted over 110 outreach activities targeting different groups of the community, is encouraging. 

     The Banking (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 began operation this month, to enhance the ability of banks to combat fraud through wider information sharing. The collaborative work between the Monetary Authority and the Police, using tools like the “Scameter” search engine, is also hampering criminal networks. 

     Hong Kong takes a hard line against fraud and money laundering. Since the end of 2023, we have been applying to the courts, under relevant legal provisions, to seek enhanced penalties for cases involving stooge accounts. At last count, the sentences of 169 stooge account holders have risen, with terms of imprisonment ranging from 21 to 75 months. That’s up at least 10 per cent and, in some cases, over 30 per cent than before. 

     The Association’s vigilance at the counter, together with your educational campaigns and collaboration with law enforcement, contribute substantially to the integrity and stability of Hong Kong’s entire financial system. 

     Ladies and gentlemen, the Government is committed to opening new markets, creating supportive environments for SMEs and ensuring a safe operating landscape. But the path to economic and market growth is a collective one. 

     The active participation of the Association, and the banking sector in general, is essential to the development and progress of our great city. Your expertise and commitment are the very engines of Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity.

     Also vital to Hong Kong’s development is the upcoming Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election. The LegCo is vested with the power of enacting laws, examining and approving government budgets, and debating issues concerning public interests. I am glad to note that different banks and financial corporations have responded, positively, to the Government’s call for action, and are providing facilitation measures to staff for voting in the election. I appeal to all of you, and your friends and families, to cast your vote on December 7th. Together, we will create a brighter future for Hong Kong. 

     On that note, I wish you the best of business in the coming year. Thank you very much!

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (November 21) that Dynano Semiconductor Technology Company Limited (Dynano Semiconductor) from the Mainland has officially established its foothold in Hong Kong as its headquarters. It aims to efficiently integrate the Chinese Mainland’s manufacturing capacity, Hong Kong’s international capital, and overseas cutting-edge technology, creating a synergistic model of “research and development (R&D) in Hong Kong, pilot production in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and access globe markets”.
      
     Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK Ms Loretta Lee welcomed Dynano Semiconductor’s official establishment in Hong Kong. She said, “By setting up its headquarters in Hong Kong, Dynano Semiconductor has taken a significant step in expanding their overseas operations. It also highlights Hong Kong’s increasingly important role as an innovation and technology hub and international business centre. I wish them great success and hope they leverage Hong Kong to explore more overseas markets.”
      
     The Chief Technology Officer of Dynano Semiconductor, Professor Huang Mingxin, indicated that Dynano Semiconductor, as one of the first projects in the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy, has already laid a solid foundation in research. The start-up plans to leverage Hong Kong’s geographic advantage to tap into European and Japanese markets, using the city as a “transformation hub” to commercialise its research results.  
      
     He said, “Hong Kong, as an international innovation hub, has a vibrant ecosystem, which is a crucial base for our development. The city offers a robust intellectual property protection system, access to global high-end industrial chain resources, and a well-established industry-academia-research mechanism that connects universities, enterprises, and markets. This helps us quickly achieve technological implementation and business scaling, bringing laboratory breakthroughs into industrial scenarios more efficiently.”
      
     He added, “Leveraging the opportunities arising from the deep industrial integration in the GBA, Dynano Semiconductor has developed a fast track of ‘R&D in Hong Kong, incubation in Shenzhen’. Hong Kong will serve as our global hub for industry-academia-research resources, acting as the connector that connects the University of Hong Kong, international top-tier research institutions, and the semiconductor industry chain. It will be responsible for linking up with overseas advanced equipment suppliers and brands, ensuring that technology meets market demands.”
      
     Professor Huang also revealed that the start-up has successfully completed seed and angel rounds of funding last year. Recently, it has built a 100 000-level and 10 000-level cleanroom and introduced several high-end precision pieces of equipment. These developments lay a solid foundation for future technological research and product mass production, marking a new phase of mass production for the start-up. With a more comprehensive R&D environment and industrial capacity, Dynano will continue to focus on breakthroughs in key semiconductor technologies and its industrial applications.
      
     For more information about Dynano Semiconductor, please visit www.dynano.com/en.
      
     To obtain a copy of the photo, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720330453773.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Awards Presentation Ceremony of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2025 today (November 21):

Professor Paul Lam (Chairman of the Grand Judging Panel of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2025 and the President of Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Professor Paul Lam),  (the Deputy Director-General of the Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ms Wan Ning), Professor Sun Dong (Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong), ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. I’m pleased to join you once again for the annual HKICT Awards Presentation Ceremony.

Tonight, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of innovators whose contributions in ICT are making a real difference for us, across the Government, public sectors, businesses and the society at large.

These pioneers have made public services better and more accessible, enhanced business competitiveness, and driven breakthroughs in various areas ranging from digital entertainment and fintech to smart business and smart mobility. Their efforts are delivering benefits to our community.

In just a few minutes, we will honour these outstanding achievers. But the significance of the Hong Kong ICT Awards extends far beyond recognition. It sets new benchmarks for excellence, inspires both seasoned professionals and budding talent to expand their imagination, push the boundaries of technology, and create innovative solutions to address society’s pain points and challenges.

This year, once again, a “Best Use of AI Award” is featured across all eight categories, highlighting AI’s growing importance in every sector. Indeed, few forces today are as transformative as AI. That’s why the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government has made AI a focus of our innovation and technology strategy, to develop it as a core industry, and to promote it as an enabler to upgrade traditional sectors.

Our approach is built on six key pillars: computing power, algorithms, data, real-world application scenarios, capital and talent. Together, a vibrant and interconnected ecosystem will be formed to enable AI applications to scale and deliver maximum impact.

Hong Kong, together with the Greater Bay Area, holds a unique strength: it is where high-end manufacturing capabilities and cutting-edge AI innovation simultaneously reside. This is an advantage not even possessed by Silicon Valley. It means that AI solutions developed in the GBA can be tested, applied and validated seamlessly in real-world industrial settings.

Ladies and gentlemen, our innovation and technology ecosystem is thriving. The Northern Metropolis is fast emerging as a major hub for the I&T sector, and we are expediting its development. Just yesterday, we released the Conceptual Outline for the Innovation and Technology Industry in San Tin Technopole, with specific initiatives to unleash its full potential. Meanwhile, the development of a data facility cluster at Sandy Ridge is also progressing, with tendering for advanced computing power facilities already launched in October.

To the students and young innovators among us: innovation and technology is a career worth pursuing, not only for the opportunities it offers, but also for the impact you can make. It is a force for good, capable of transforming lives, economies and societies. The most rewarding moments often come when your ideas make a real difference for the world.

Now, Hong Kong’s start-up ecosystem is more vibrant than ever. We are home to over 4,700 startups, rising by 40 per cent compared to five years ago. Many are residing in Science Park and Cyberport, which provide them with incubation, funding and market development support. From digital entertainment and fintech to smart mobility and smart living, innovators and startups in Hong Kong are thriving not only locally, but are also making their mark across regional and global markets.

I’m very pleased that you are part of this exciting journey. The opportunities ahead are boundless for you to seize.

Finally, allow me to extend my sincere appreciation to the organisers of the event, and to the distinguished judges who have so generously contributed their time and expertise.

Congratulations once again to all the award winners. Your achievements inspire us all, and you are at a new starting point to make an even greater impact for the good of humanity.

Before I close, allow me to remind everyone of an important upcoming event -December 7, the Legislative Council Election. By casting your vote, we together will help shape a more prosperous future for Hong Kong.

I wish you good health and continued success, and a most enjoyable evening. Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government today (November 21) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Central African Republic) Regulation 2020 (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2025 (Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.
 
     “The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (Central African Republic) Regulation 2020 to give effect to certain decisions relating to sanctions in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2789 in respect of the Central African Republic,” a Government spokesman said.
 
     The amendments renew the arms-related sanctions, travel ban and financial sanctions.
 
     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has along been implementing fully the sanctions imposed by the UNSC. The Amendment Regulation aims to give effect to the instructions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for fulfilling the international obligations of the People’s Republic of China as a Member State of the United Nations.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government today (November 21) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Regulation 2019 (Amendment) Regulation 2025 (Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.

     “The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Regulation 2019 to give effect to certain decisions relating to sanctions in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2783 in respect of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” a Government spokesman said.

     The amendments renew the arms embargo, travel ban and financial sanctions.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has along been implementing fully the sanctions imposed by the UNSC. The Amendment Regulation aims to give effect to the instructions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for fulfilling the international obligations of the People’s Republic of China as a Member State of the United Nations.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The results of Primary One discretionary places for September 2026 will be released next Monday (November 24) by all government and aided primary schools.
 
     A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said today (November 21), “There are 37 581 children applying for discretionary places in government and aided primary schools this year, of whom 19 656 will be offered a place in these schools. Among them, a total of 9 477 children are applicants with sibling(s) studying or with parent(s) working in the schools that they have applied to, whereas the remaining 10 179 are selected according to the Points System.”
 
     Parents who have already activated their POA e-platform (ePOA) account are reminded to check the results via the ePOA from 10am next Monday. Parents can also bring the parent’s copy of the paper Application Form for Primary One Admission (POA) and check the results of their discretionary place application between 9am and 5pm on that day at the school to which they have applied. 
 
     Parents whose children have been offered a discretionary place are advised to note carefully the registration arrangements of the schools concerned and the documents required for registration, such as the parent’s copy of the paper Application Form for POA or the electronic application record in the ePOA, as well as the specified number of photographs of their children. They should register their children next Wednesday (November 26) or Thursday (November 27) at the school to which they have applied during school hours. 

     “Parents who cannot register for their child on the above dates should notify the person-in-charge of the school in advance to make alternative arrangements. Otherwise, they will be deemed to have given up their discretionary place,” the spokesman said.

     Under the POA System, each government or aided primary school may make use of about 50 per cent of its total Primary One places as discretionary places. The remaining approximately 50 per cent of the total places will be reserved for Central Allocation at a later stage.
 
     “Parents of applicant children who have failed to secure a discretionary place or who have opted for Central Allocation only will be informed by the EDB in writing in mid-January 2026 to make choices of schools for Central Allocation via ePOA from January 19 to 25 or at a designated Central Allocation Centre on January 24 or 25. We encourage parents to register with ‘iAM Smart+’ (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/reg.html) as early as possible and activate their ePOA account using ‘iAM Smart+’ for more convenient and faster electronic services. 
 
     “For applications for participation in POA 2026 made after January 25, parents are required to approach the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB to complete the necessary procedures. The EDB will separately arrange a Primary One place for the applicant children in June 2026,” the spokesman said.
 
     “Parents should note that once their children have been allocated a Primary One place, they cannot take part in the POA System again in the future,” he added.