Month: December 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Ho Duc Phoc, today (December 19) to exchange views on deepening co-operation between the two places. Also attending the meeting were the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui.
      
     Mr Lee welcomed Mr Ho and his delegation to Hong Kong. Mr Lee noted that Vietnam is Hong Kong’s sixth-largest trading partner with close economic and trade relations. In the first three quarters of this year, bilateral merchandise trade reached US$ 49 billion, representing a significant increase of 67 per cent compared to the same period last year. Last year, Mr Lee led a high-level business delegation to Vietnam, during which the two sides signed 30 Memoranda of Understanding and agreements covering various areas including trade, investment, education, tourism, and finance. He expressed confidence that Hong Kong and Vietnam will continue to strengthen multifaceted co-operation and achieve mutual benefit.
      
     Mr Lee highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has relaxed immigration arrangements for Vietnamese citizens visiting, working, or pursuing post-secondary studies in Hong Kong. In March this year, new measures were introduced to provide more convenient immigration arrangements for invited persons from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, including Vietnam. These measures will further promote people-to-people exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Vietnam in trade, professional services, and other sectors.
      
     Noting that Hong Kong will actively play its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” and fully leverage its unique advantages of connecting the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, Mr Lee said Hong Kong will promote pragmatic co-operation with Vietnam in high value-added areas such as finance, innovation and technology, trade, and the green and digital economy.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced, regarding the application submitted by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), that the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) yesterday (December 18) approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Development at Ngau Tam Mei Area (the Project) with conditions.

     The Project is a designated project (DP) under Schedule 3 of the EIAO (i.e. an urban development or redevelopment project covering an area of more than 50 hectares). It includes two DPs under Schedule 2 of the EIAO requiring an environmental permit for its construction and operation, including the new distributor roads and part of the revitalisation of the Ngau Tam Mei Drainage Channel (NTMDC) and river diversion works.

     The CEDD has exhibited the EIA report for public inspection from October 6 to November 4, 2025, in accordance with the EIAO. During the public inspection period, the EPD received a total of seven public comments. The EIA Subcommittee of the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) discussed in detail the EIA report and the public comments at its meeting on December 5, 2025. Subsequently, the ACE unanimously recommended that the EPD approved the EIA report with conditions and recommendations at its meeting on December 11, 2025.

     A spokesperson for the EPD said that the DEP considers that, through the implementation of mitigation measures recommended in the EIA report, the Project will bring multiple environmental benefits to the area. These include addressing the existing adverse environmental impacts caused by scattered and disorganised brownfield operations within the project area, thereby enhancing land-use efficiency and improving the overall environmental quality of the district. Furthermore, by widening and revitalising the NTMDC into a multifunctional blue-green spine, the ecological value and function of the project area and its surroundings can be enhanced. In addition, through wetland compensation connecting nearby isolated wetlands, the Project will increase the overall ecological value of the area.

     The spokesperson stressed that the EPD has thoroughly considered the requirements of the EIA Study Brief and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process, comments on the environment and ecological impacts raised by the public during the public inspection period of the EIA report, suggestions and data given by green groups in respect of the EIA report (including the State of Hong Kong Biodiversity 2025 published by the WWF-Hong Kong), and the response from the CEDD during the ACE meeting, as well as comments and recommended conditions raised by the ACE on approving the EIA report. The EPD decided to approve the EIA report with conditions.

     The approval conditions mainly include requiring the CEDD to:

     (i) submit a detailed Habitat Creation and Management Plan (HCMP) as recommended in the EIA report to the DEP for approval no later than three months before the commencement of construction of the Project, and consult the Agricultural, fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD);

     (ii) submit an Implementation Plan for Ecological Enhancement Features Design (IPEEFD) for the NTMDC to the DEP for approval no later than three months before commencement of construction of the Project, and consult relevant government departments, including the AFCD, the Drainage Services Department, and the Planning Department;

     (iii) set up an Environmental Committee to provide professional and stakeholders’ advice on the preparation of HCMP and IPEEFD, and on the effectiveness of the ecological mitigation/enhancement measures as recommended in the EIA report and the two approved abovementioned plans; and
     
     (iv) submit a Bird-Friendly Design Guideline for buildings and noise barriers within the Project area to the DEP for approval before commencement of construction of the Project.

     In addition, the CEDD shall review the progress of the implementation of various plans, the environmental monitoring results, and the effectiveness of ecological mitigation/enhancement measures. The EPD will continue to closely liaise with relevant government departments to follow up on the abovementioned approval conditions.

     The approved EIA report and the approval conditions have been uploaded to the EPD’s EIAO website (www.epd.gov.hk/eia). Members of the public may also visit the EIAO Register Office at 27th floor, Southorn Centre, Wan Chai, to inspect these documents.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 19) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Calvados Department in France, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 830 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 50 000 poultry eggs from France in the first nine months of this year.

     “The CFS has contacted the French authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Immigration Department (ImmD) carried out repatriation operations codenamed “Shield” for five consecutive days from December 15 to today (December 19). A total of 77 unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants who were illegal immigrants and overstayers were repatriated to their places of origin. The persons removed comprised 38 men and 39 women. Among them were discharged prisoners who had committed criminal offences and had been sentenced to imprisonment.
 
The ImmD has been committed to promptly removing unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong to maintain effective immigration control and safeguard the public interest. Under the updated removal policy effective from December 7, 2022, the ImmD may generally proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance of the High Court, thereby enhancing the efficiency of and efforts in removing unsubstantiated claimants.

Depending on circumstances and needs, the ImmD will remain committed to expediting the removal process and actively maintain close liaison with governments of major source countries of non-refoulement claimants, airline companies and other government departments to repatriate unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong as soon as practicable through all appropriate measures.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po:
 
     The Chairman of the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (the Committee), Mr Justice David Lok, convened the first meeting today (December 19) with members Mr Chan Kin-por and Dr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen. The Committee has formally commenced work.
 
     The Terms of Reference of the Committee include examining the causes and circumstances that led to the fire and its rapid spread at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, construction safety and related issues concerning building maintenance and renovation works, as well as the systemic problems related to the tendering process of large-scale building maintenance and renovation works. The scope is wide and issues to be covered are complex and wide-ranging. At the meeting, the Committee discussed the priority of work and the preparation of a work plan. Mr Justice Lok reiterated that the Committee will do its utmost in discharging its duties, aiming to complete its work within nine months and submit a report to the Chief Executive. The report and recommendations will be disclosed to the public (except for information involving judicial proceedings).
 
     The Chief Executive established the Committee on December 12, appointing Mr Justice Lok as the Chairman and Mr Chan and Dr Auyeung as members to review the causes and related issues of the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, and to make recommendations to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Thirty-seven landlords of subdivided units (SDUs), who contravened Part IVA of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7) (the Ordinance), pleaded guilty and were fined between $800 and $19,200, amounting to a total of $121,350, on December 5, December 12 and today (December 19) at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts. Since the Ordinance came into force, the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) has continuously strengthened enforcement actions and has prosecuted a total of 1 397 cases to date. Among the 1 024 cases dealt with by the court, all were successfully convicted, which involved a total of 897 SDU landlords, amounting to a total of $2,742,560 in fines. In addition, 373 cases are pending a hearing.
 
     The offences of these 37 landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (including requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance).

     The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon a comprehensive investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted the landlords.
 
     A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant’s household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether they have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD’s request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance. In addition, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work to enhance public awareness about the key offences and penalties, emphasising that the RVD proactively checks whether landlords have committed the offences under the Ordinance. 

     To help curb illegal acts as soon as possible, members of the public should report to the RVD promptly any suspected cases of contravening the relevant requirements. Reporting can be made through the telephone hotline (2150 8303), by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2116 4920), by post (15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon), or in person (visiting the Tenancy Services Section office of the RVD at Room 3816-22, 38/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and please call 2150 8303 to make an appointment). Furthermore, the RVD has provided a form (Form AR4) (www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/en/forms/ar4.pdf) on its website to enable SDU tenants’ reporting to the RVD.
 
     The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. The RVD has been issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to assist them in understanding the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and to remind them about the procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy as well as their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD’s website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html) for the relevant information, including a concise guide, brochures, tutorial videos and frequently asked questions. The landlords and tenants concerned are also advised to familiarise themselves with the relevant statutory requirements and maintain close communication regarding the second-term tenancy for handling the matters properly and in a timely manner according to the Ordinance.
 
     For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD’s webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.html) for the relevant information.
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region