Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Leung Man-kwong and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (January 28):
Question:
The Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) seeks to enhance the mechanism for labour importation and, on the premise of ensuring employment priority for local workers, alleviate the manpower shortage across different sectors. However, it is learnt that various sectors of the society are concerned about ESLS’s impact on the employment of local workers, especially those in industries with relatively high unemployment rates such as the retail industry and the food and beverage services industry. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ18: Construction safety for building maintenance works Having consulted the HB, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, and the Labour and Welfare Bureau, our consolidated reply to various parts of the question is as follows: In the past three years, the number of paper audits and site inspections conducted by the departments responsible for carrying out regulatory actions under the BO (namely the BD and ICU of the HB) in respect of the aforementioned building repair works are set out in tables 1 to 3 by repair works under MBIS and other minor works respectively. Due to time limitation, statistics on follow-up action related to the stated paper audits and site inspections have not yet been compiled.
Table 1: Relevant figures concerning cases that have completed the phase of building inspection under MBIS
YearTable 2: Relevant figures concerning cases that have completed building repair works under MBIS
YearTable 3: Other relevant figures on minor works that involve repair of external wall
Year Furthermore, in the past year, the relevant regulatory departments (namely the BD and ICU of the HB) conducted a total of about 370 on-site inspections on buildings undergoing repair works in response to public reports received.
The statistics on the prosecution and disciplinary actions taken under the relevant provisions of the BO against registered building professionals and registered contractors over the past three years that involved building repair works are tabulated below:
Year(2) From 2023 to 2025 (as of June), the Home Affairs Department (HAD) received 265, 408 and 102 complaints respectively concerning building management, totalling 775 cases. The HAD, BD and ICU of the HB do not maintain a breakdown of statistics on complaints involving works consultants of major building repair projects.
If contravention of the BO by registered building professionals and registered contractors is identified, the BD will initiate prosecution against the parties concerned based on the evidence and circumstances of individual cases. Registered building professionals or registered contractors involved in misconduct or negligence may also be subject to disciplinary action.
In early 2025, the Development Bureau proposed legislative amendments to the BO, amongst which it was proposed to enhance regulation of registered building professionals and registered contractors, including increasing maximum penalties against contraventions and enhancing the registration and disciplinary systems. Subsequent to the fire incident at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, we will introduce further legislative proposals, including upgrading major building repair works from mostly Class II minor works at present to Class I minor works, such that third-party professionals will be required to submit prescribed plans and supervision plans. Furthermore, the BD will step up audit checks and enforcement actions on a risk basis.
The HAD and its District Offices have been assisting owners of private buildings in handling issues related to building management and maintenance. When enquiries or complaints regarding building management or maintenance are received, the HAD will provide appropriate advice and assistance in the accordance with the relevant provisions of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344). If the subject matter involves professional aspect, such as supervision of works consultants, the HAD will refer the case to relevant professional department or institute for follow-up.
(3) Under the existing legislation, owners are required to appoint a RI to carry out mandatory building inspection and supervise prescribed repair works conducted by a registered contractor. The appointed RI assumes certain statutory duties, including submission of certificate of building inspection and certificate of building repair. In respect of the properties regulated by the ICU of the HB under the BO based on the authorisation by the Director of Buildings, its Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme Team will carry out paper audits and site inspections on a random basis, and conduct follow-up investigation in light of complaints and reports received. The LD will from time to time review and revise, if necessary, the existing codes of practice and guidance notes on a risk-based approach. The LD administers occupational safety and health legislation to safeguard the occupational safety and health of employees at work. The aforesaid requirements on protective materials such as scaffolding nets can also help safeguard the safety of employees. Besides, the LD is reviewing codes of practice related to scaffolding, setting out the material requirements for toe boards to ensure the materials used are of sufficient strength to prevent workers and objects from falling from scaffolds, as well as being able to reduce the fire risk. Issued at HKT 15:12
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ11: Cases involving nuisance caused to neighbours by residents of public housing estates Question:
It is learnt that although the Housing Department (HD) has implemented a series of measures to handle cases where residents of public rental housing (PRH) estates cause nuisance to neighbours, the number of related complaints has not decreased significantly. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the names of the 10 PRH estates with the highest number of complaints received by the HD over the past year involving nuisance caused to neighbours, and the number of complaints received for each of these estates;
(2) of the number of complaints received by the HD in the past three years involving nuisance caused to neighbours by PRH residents, with a breakdown by nature of complaints (e.g. noise nuisance, hygienic nuisance created by accumulating a large quantity of refuse or waste inside the premises, and water dripping from air conditioners);
(3) of the average time taken by the HD to handle complaints mentioned in (2) and the number of residents with their tenancies terminated due to nuisance caused to neighbours in such cases; and
(4) given that residents who have purchased flats in Tenants Purchase Scheme estates are no longer PRH tenants and are therefore not subject to the Marking Scheme for Estate Management Enforcement, how the HD will co-ordinate with owners’ corporations and property management companies to handle nuisance complaints involving residents of such flats?
Reply:
President,
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) is committed to fostering a harmonious and hygienic living environment for public rental housing (PRH) residents. To effectively address tenants’ certain inappropriate behaviour and promote care for their surroundings, we have implemented the Marking Scheme for Estate Management Enforcement (the Scheme) which is applicable to both PRH and interim housing tenants. The Scheme covers 30 categories of misdeeds, each of which carries 3, 5, 7 or 15 penalty points depending on the severity of the misdeeds. Details of the misdeeds are set out in Annex 1. The purpose of the Scheme is to raise tenants’ awareness for making improvements, rather than forcing them out of PRHs. Therefore, taking into account “law, reason and compassion” and with a view to offering tenants an opportunity to rectify undesirable habits, the Scheme incorporates a warning mechanism. We will first issue a written warning to tenants who commit certain relevant misdeeds. Should a tenant repeat the same misdeed again within two years of receiving the written warning, penalty points will be allotted. When a PRH household accrues 16 points within two years, its tenancy will be terminated. During the five years following the tenancy termination, the former tenant and their adult household members will be barred from applying for PRH. After the period, even if they successfully apply for PRH, they will not be allocated a better unit in terms of location, age or floor levels compared to their previous PRH unit.
Upon receipt of complaints from PRH tenants regarding nuisance caused by neighbours, the Housing Department (HD) will immediately arrange staff to conduct an investigation and gather evidence through on-site inspections, interviews with relevant parties and/or taking photographs. Where the nuisance is confirmed as a misdeed under the Scheme, subject to the nature of the misdeed, the tenant will get warnings or have penalty points allotted by the HD under the Scheme. On serious misdeeds, the tenancy agreement will be terminated and the unit will be repossessed.
In response to the question raised by the Hon Kenneth Lau, our reply is as follows:
(1) Among the 197 PRH estates under the HKHA, the 10 PRH estates which received the highest number of nuisance enquiries and complaints in 2025 as well as the respective case numbers, are listed in Annex 2.
(2) and (3) Over the past three years (2023 to 2025), the HD received around 19 000 complaints concerning PRH tenants causing nuisance to neighbours. On average, there were around 6 300 cases per year, accounting for only 0.3 per cent of the total PRH population of approximately 2.1 million. Upon receipt of enquiries and complaints to the completion of handling, over one-third of the cases were resolved within 10 days, with the average processing time amounting to around 13 days. During the same period, 11 tenancy agreements were terminated due to breaches of nuisance-related misdeeds and tenancy agreement. The breakdown of cases by category of misdeeds is provided in Annex 3.
(4) As for estates where units are available for purchase including estates under the Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS), the management of these estates is no different from that of general private properties as governed by the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) and the government leases as well as the Deed of Mutual Covenant. If property owners cause nuisance within their flats or in common areas, such as noise nuisance, accumulation of refuse within units, or water dripping from air conditioners, the owners’ corporation and its property management company may take follow-up actions by exercising its power conferred by relevant regulations/clauses. Where necessary, cases may be referred to other government departments (such as the Police and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department) for enforcement. Should the HKHA or the HD receives public complaints regarding nuisances in common areas, the cases will be relayed to the owners’ corporation and its property management company for follow-up.
To enhance the living environment in estates for sale, the HKHA’s Subsidised Housing Committee approved extending all misdeeds covered under the Scheme to tenants of estates under the TPS and the Buy-or-Rent Option. This measure came into effect on December 1, 2024. Should PRH tenants commit misdeeds covered by the Scheme in the common areas of the said estates, the owners’ corporation and its property management company may forward the relevant information and evidence to the HD for follow-up. Upon investigation and verification, the HD will take action according to the Scheme against the tenant, who will receive warnings or have penalty points allotted. In the event of serious cases, tenancy may be terminated with the unit repossessed.
As the owner of unsold flats in TPS estates, the HKHA will appoint representatives to serve as the management committee members of the owners’ corporations. HKHA’s representatives will provide professional advice on property management and share experience in the management of environmental hygiene and public safety. On environmental hygiene and management of public areas in the said estates, the HD will also disseminate relevant information from other government departments, such as the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Fire Services Department, to the owners’ corporations and property management companies. Where necessary, joint operations will be conducted with the owners’ corporations and property management companies to take enforcement actions against tenants’ misdeeds, thereby safeguarding the overall environment of the estates in joint hands. Issued at HKT 15:03
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ14: Handling scaffolding on external walls of buildings left unremoved for prolonged periods Question:
The fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has aroused public concern regarding the safety hazards posed by some scaffolding on the external walls of residential buildings which has been left unremoved for prolonged periods. Furthermore, it has been reported that the owners’ corporation (OC) of a tenement building had a dispute with the building maintenance works consultant and contractor, resulting in the external wall scaffolding remaining erected for as long as two years. The Buildings Department (BD) has noted the potential risks posed by the scaffolding, and issued orders requiring its removal. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that the Government earlier on issued orders requiring relevant contractors to remove scaffold nets on the external walls of buildings undergoing maintenance across Hong Kong, of the number of buildings involved in such orders, with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory; whether it has compiled statistics on how long the scaffolding of such buildings has been erected; if so, of the number of those which have been erected for more than two years;
(2) whether the relevant government departments currently require OCs or management companies of buildings which need to erect scaffolding for maintenance to declare information such as the duration for which the external wall scaffolding remains erected and the expected removal date; if so, of the number of external wall scaffoldings which have remained erected for more than two years without being removed, with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory; if not, whether the authorities will consider requiring relevant persons to submit such information;
(3) given that according to the information provided in the authorities’ reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2025-2026, as of 2024, among the Category 1 and Category 2 buildings covered by “Operation Building Bright 2.0”, the percentages of those having completed the prescribed repair works were only 12.6 per cent and 35.6 per cent respectively, whether the Government has examined how many of the buildings which have not yet completed the repair works currently still have external wall scaffolding erected, with a breakdown by Category 1 and Category 2 buildings;
(4) whether it has ascertained the reasons for the delayed removal of scaffolding that has been erected on the external walls of buildings for prolonged periods; if so, of the details; regarding those buildings with scaffolding that cannot be removed due to delay in maintenance works, whether the Government will provide appropriate assistance to OCs and property owners that have difficulties, so that they can expedite the completion of the works and the removal of scaffolding;
(5) of the circumstances where the BD will serve orders on OCs or property owners requiring the removal of scaffolding on the external walls of buildings; of the number of the relevant orders issued by the BD over the past five years and the number of instances in compliance with such orders; how the Government will deal with parties that fail to comply with such orders (including those OCs and property owners that cannot afford the removal costs); and
(6) of the number of cases where the BD removed the scaffolding on the external walls of buildings on behalf of property owners or OCs over the past five years; among such cases, of the number of cases where the Government successfully recovered the removal costs from the relevant property owners or OCs?
Reply:
President,
Our reply to various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) and (2) The Government announced on December 3, 2025 that for all buildings undergoing major repair works with scaffolding nets installed on their external walls, such nets must be removed and works on the external walls be ceased. After the Buildings Department (BD) required net removal and issued the relevant orders to cease works, scaffolding nets of a total of 230 private buildings were removed. The breakdown by District Council (DC) district is tabulated below:
DC districts Currently, temporary scaffolding erected for carrying out works does not require approval from the BD. Therefore, the BD does not maintain statistics on the duration of scaffoldings erected. Generally speaking, scaffolding should be removed upon completion of works involving external walls. According to the records received by the BD on commencement of works, it is believed that among the aforementioned 230 buildings, only six buildings had scaffoldings erected for more than two years, which were located in Central and Western, Eastern, Sham Shui Po, Tuen Mun and Wan Chai districts.
(3) As at the end of 2025, the ratio of Category 1 buildings and Category 2 buildings under the “Operation Building Bright 2.0” as mentioned in the question with repair works completed (Note 1) rose to 13.2 per cent (277 buildings) and 40 per cent (892 buildings) respectively. The remaining 1 822 Category 1 buildings and 1 354 Category 2 buildings are at different stages of building inspection or building works. According to the information available to the BD in November last year, only 46 Category 1 buildings and 236 Category 2 buildings among those buildings had scaffolding erected on their external walls.
(4) Scaffolding should be removed upon completion of works involving external walls and generally should not remain erected for years. The actual timing for scaffolding removal is subject to various factors, such as changes in the scale and scope of works, or other unforeseen circumstances (such as inclement weather), which may lead to delay in scaffolding removal. Moreover, contractual issues related to the works, such as disputes over works progress or costs, may also lead to delay in scaffolding removal.
The Development Bureau, in collaboration with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, is partnering with relevant statutory bodies and professional organisations to provide professional advice to Owners’ Corporations and owners in need on building maintenance matters, such as issues related to works contracts and tendering, as well as property and facility management, through preparation of information packages, district seminars and more.
(5) and (6) If scaffolding erected on the exterior of a private building is found to be dangerous or likely to become dangerous, the BD may issue an order under section 26 of the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123) requiring owner to remove the scaffolding. Based on experience, this mostly involves weather conditions that render scaffolding unsafe.
If the owner fails to remove scaffolding within the specified time frame, the BD may consider applying the provisions of the BO to carry out works specified in the order. Upon completion of works, the BD will recover relevant costs of the works, supervision charges, and surcharges from the owner. If the owner fails to make payment within the specified period after the BD issues an invoice, the BD will issue a certificate of arrears and register it at the Land Registry, constituting a first charge on the premises. Interests of the outstanding amount will be calculated at 10 per cent per annum to protect the Government’s right to recover the costs. For owners who fail to comply with order without reasonable excuse, the BD will consider taking prosecution action.
The numbers of orders issued by the BD concerning scaffolding, orders complied with, and default works completed in the past five years are tabulated below:
YearNote 1: There are two categories of buildings under the “Operation Building Bright 2.0” (OBB 2.0). Category 1 buildings are those with owners who are prepared to take up the organisation of inspection and repair works for their buildings under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS). Owners of eligible buildings may apply to the Urban Renewal Authority within the specified time frame. Category 2 buildings are those with outstanding MBIS notices and the owners concerned have difficulties in co-ordinating the requisite inspection and repair works. The BD proactively selects Category 2 buildings on a risk basis (i.e. not upon application by owners) and exercises its statutory power to carry out the requisite inspection and repair works in default of owners, and seeks to recover the cost from owners concerned afterwards. Eligible owners of Category 2 buildings may claim subsidies under the OBB 2.0 to cover all or part of such cost.
Note 2: The number of orders complied with or the number of completed default works does not necessarily correspond to the orders issued in the same year.
For cases with default works completed, the BD is currently following up on the recovery of the relevant costs. Issued at HKT 19:11
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles and cactuses of scheduled endangered species (with photo) Customs officers intercepted an incoming 62-year-old male passenger at the arrival hall of the said control point yesterday and found the batch of live turtles and cactuses, which were suspected to be scheduled endangered species, inside a plastic bag carried by him. The man was subsequently arrested. Officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) attended the scene for inspection and confirmed that the batch of species were of endangered species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (the Ordinance) in Hong Kong. The case was handed over to the AFCD for a follow-up investigation.
Customs reminds the public not to carry endangered species without the required licence into and out of Hong Kong.
According to the Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 18:58
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ12: Enhancing management of property maintenance and fire safety Question:
There are views that in light of the outbreak of a No.5 alarm fire during maintenance works at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the Government should clearly define the respective roles of property management companies (PMCs) and owners’ corporations (OCs) in major building repair works (overhauls), leverage technology to assist in inspection and review, and improve the management of building fire safety. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it will review the delineation of the respective powers and responsibilities of PMCs or OCs at various building overhaul stages, including early-stage tendering, construction, and completion inspection, and study the feasibility of stipulating in deeds of mutual covenant that PMCs shall provide advice on building management for stakeholders’ reference at different overhaul stages;
(2) whether it will, drawing on the Mainland’s experience, establish a Construction Project Management System under which the Buildings Department appoints an independent supervisor responsible for oversight of overhauls (including examination of maintenance consultants’ reports, maintenance recommendations, material recommendations, maintenance tender details, and tender analysis reports) and co-ordinate the roles of all relevant stakeholders in works projects, so as to eradicate bid-rigging and enhance regulatory oversight, safety and efficiency of projects;
(3) as it is learnt that during the fire disaster at Wang Fuk Court, fire alarms did not go off, fire hydrants were not supplied with water, and fire doors in the buildings were found to be often left open, whether the authorities will leverage technology in building planning by mandating the adoption of intelligent firefighting and safety technology standards, including establishment of Internet of Things fire detection systems and installation of online sensors at critical public locations to instantly transmit alerts to PMCs and residents’ mobile phones in the event of abnormal situations; addition of intelligent automatic fire extinguishing devices; and utilisation of Building Information Modelling technology to conduct fire simulations and evacuation analyses for improvement of layouts;
(4) as it is learnt that following the outbreak of the Wang Fuk Court fire, the country mandated nationwide deployment to launch an inspection and rectification campaign targeting major fire risks and hazards in high-rise buildings, whether the Government will, by drawing on the Mainland’s experience, examine fire hazards in all buildings across the territory, and comprehensively leverage technology to improve building firefighting designs, while working in parallel to raise public awareness of fire safety through education and extensive publicity; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(5) whether it will consider, by drawing reference from Macao’s Legal Regime for the Administration of the Common Parts of the Condominium, studying the enactment of legislation or stipulation in deeds of mutual covenant requiring buildings to establish a common reserve fund to cover unforeseen expenditures and other necessary expenses arising from the maintenance of their common parts;
(6) whether it will leverage its Common Spatial Data Infrastructure to create a high-precision 3D digital Visualisation Map model of Wang Fuk Court and integrate relevant data for an in-depth investigation and review of the fire incident, such as through simulated re-enactment, cause analysis and system review; and
(7) whether it will establish a whole-process information management platform based on geoblockchain technology for property overhaul projects, and make use of blockchain technology to assist in monitoring standards compliance of the construction materials in use and tracing their procurement sources, while the platform can also record information relevant to the building overhaul projects, including records of OCs’ and owners’ meetings, background information of all bidding companies, due diligence on successful bidding companies and the entire construction process, so as to realise immutable, transparent whole-chain traceability, thereby effectively reducing the risk of human falsification and enhancing industry quality?
Reply:
President,
Building safety is the foundation of a liveable city and a subject to which the Government attaches great importance. The fire incident in Tai Po has highlighted the importance of management of building maintenance works, strict compliance with fire safety requirements, and the enhancement of building management. Relevant Government departments are actively reviewing how to further clarify the responsibility and improve the regulatory framework regarding property management and works supervision, as well as the application of technology to enhance building maintenance and fire safety.
Having consulted the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Security Bureau, the replies to the various parts of the question are as follows:
(1) Private property rights not only confer entitlements but also entail responsibilities for management and maintenance. When owners jointly own the common areas of private buildings, they must collectively undertake the management and maintenance responsibilities for these areas. The Building Management Ordinance (BMO) aims to provide a legal framework that allows owners to perform building management duties on behalf of all owners by establishing an owners’ corporation (OC) as an independent legal entity. Specifically, under section 16 of the BMO, after the establishment of an OC, all rights and responsibilities of the owners regarding the common parts of the building are exercised and fulfilled by the OC. In other words, the OC is legally obligated to properly manage and maintain the common areas of the building, including major repair works related to the building.
Meanwhile, during the repair process of properties, licensed property management companies (PMCs) have to participate in co-ordinating and communicating for the project in accordance with the contracts signed with owners or the OC. In addition, the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) has issued the Code of Conduct on “Handling Building Works” (the Code) and relevant Best Practice Guide under the Property Management Services Ordinance (PMSO) to assist PMCs in handling building works in a professional and effective manner. Among other things, the Code stipulates the general roles and responsibilities of PMCs, such as posting notices in prominent areas of the property before the commencement of works to inform owners and relevant parties about the details of the works, conducting appropriate monitoring and record-keeping during the works period, and carrying out proper clear-up after completion and adequately restoring damaged facilities due to the works.
If the PMSA has reasonable grounds to suspect that a licensee has failed to comply with the Code, it may initiate an investigation. Upon completion of the investigation and if a disciplinary offence is confirmed, the PMSA may conduct a hearing and impose penalties according to the PMSO, including verbal warnings or written reprimands, fines, imposing or varying a condition of the licence, temporarily suspending the licence, or revoking the licence.
(2) At present, most building maintenance works are designated as Class II minor works, for which only the appointment of a contractor is required for carrying out the works. In response to the fire incident in Tai Po, the Government is further reviewing the Buildings Ordinance with a proposal to upgrade major building maintenance works to Class I minor works. In the future, apart from appointing a contractor, it will also be necessary to appoint a third-party building professional to submit prescribed plans, precautionary measures, and supervision plans. This building professional, who must be independent of the contractor, will assist the owners in supervising the works. The Buildings Department (BD) will step up audit checks and enforcement action. Penalties will be imposed if works are found not to be carried out in accordance with the submitted plans.
On the other hand, the Development Bureau, in collaboration with the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), introduced the “Smart Tender” service in 2016. Independent consultants would provide owners with independent third-party professional advice on major building maintenance works, covering areas such as whether the scope of works compiles with the requirements of the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and the reference prices for the works projects, etc. Upon review, the Government will strengthen the URA’s “Smart Tender” service, including the formulation of a more rigorous “pre-qualified list” of consultants and contractors. In addition to considering technical and manpower requirements as well as records of criminal convictions and disciplinary actions, more indicators reflecting performance will be taken into account. Consultants and contractors must also pass background checks by the Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption before they can be included in the list and participate in tendering. Delisting arrangements and regular reviews of the list will also be introduced. Furthermore, the URA will conduct the tendering and tender assessment work for owners participating in the “Smart Tender” platform. If the owners concerned have applied for Government subsidies for building maintenance, they must accept the consultants and contractors determined by the URA as a condition for the subsidies. As for other buildings that have not applied for Government maintenance subsidies, the URA will also provide recommendations on the successful bidder to the owners. For buildings applying for Government maintenance subsidies, after the commencement of works, the URA will require consultants and contractors to report to the URA at critical project junctures, such as significant amendments to the scope of works or increases in project costs, so that the URA may offer independent advice to the owners.
The Government is currently discussing the details of the above reform directions with the URA. It is believed that the above will attract quality consultants and contractors to participate in building maintenance works, while reducing opportunities for illicit collusion among consultants, contractors and individual owners, thereby promoting the healthy development of the construction industry as a whole.
(3) The Fire Services Department (FSD) introduced the Pilot Scheme on the Internet of Things Fire Detection System (IoT FDS) at the end of 2025 with the objective of enhancing fire safety standards in old buildings. At present, the IoT FDS is being installed in ten old buildings of six storeys or less across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. This allows the buildings concerned to be exempted from the installation of fire service equipment such as fire hose reels, fire water tanks, and water pumps, further assisting owners of the target buildings to comply with Fire Safety Directions in a more convenient and safe manner.
The IoT FDS offers real-time monitoring and rapid transmission of fire alarm signals. Upon detection of a fire, the system will instantly alert the Fire Services Communications Centre to handle the incident, enabling the prompt dispatch of fire appliances at the incipient stage of a fire, even in circumstances where no report has yet been made by the public. Moreover, the IoT FDS incorporates a system status monitoring function. If an individual detector malfunctions, the system will instantly transmit a signal to notify the FSD and the service provider to initiate follow-up actions. In addition, the system collects fire-related data to support the FSD’s application of big data analytics in assessing relevant risk factors.
The FSD is conducting ongoing evaluations of the effectiveness of the Pilot Scheme. The first phase of assessment is expected for completion in the second quarter of 2026. Subject to satisfactory results, consideration will be given to extending the IoT FDS to all relevant buildings.
In parallel, the FSD actively promotes the use of standalone fire detectors to strengthen warning during the incipient stage of a fire and self-rescue capabilities among the public. In recent years, the market has seen the introduction of smart standalone fire detectors with interconnectivity functions, enabling integration with home surveillance cameras and smartphone applications. When the detector emits a fire alarm signal, users will not only receive instant alert notification but can also view live footage of the home’s actual conditions via remote monitoring, thereby facilitating rapid assessment of the fire situation and enabling the most appropriate response. The FSD will continue to promote smart fire safety equipment to the public through short videos on social media and community seminars.
With regard to the application of Building Information Modelling (BIM), the FSD is fully aligned with the Government’s initiative to promote the wider adoption of BIM within the construction industry. The department is examining the development of a dedicated BIM platform to leverage functions such as automated checking for reviewing fire service installations and equipment in building plans, thereby improving the efficiency of the approval process.
The FSD will also examine the feasibility of integrating BIM databases with IoT devices to enable real-time monitoring of fire services systems. Research efforts on related technologies will continue to strengthen fire prevention measures and evacuation design in buildings.
(4) Following the fire at Wang Fuk Court, the Government immediately established the Task Force on Strengthening Fire Safety Governance to implement both immediate measures and medium-to-long-term initiatives in inspection and enforcement, technology application, publicity and education, with the aim of enhancing fire safety standards.
For inspection and enforcement, the FSD’s dedicated inspection team completed the first phase of inspections on fire service installations and equipment (FSIs) in 256 buildings undergoing major repair works on January 13 this year. In addition, since its establishment in December last year, the FSD’s round-the-clock Quick Response Team has been deployed 183 times to conduct immediate on-site inspections and enforcement of FSIs at fire scenes. Furthermore, the FSD has launched a two-month operation to inspect the fire alarm systems of approximately 1 500 higher-risk buildings.
For technology application, the FSD will continue to closely monitor the latest trends in advanced fire service equipment and will, in a timely manner, introduce technologies that are proven to be mature and safe, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of firefighting and rescue operations.
For publicity and education, the FSD will continue to promote basic fire safety knowledge to the public through various channels, including newspaper interviews, press releases, short videos, and a wide range of activities. The FSD also provides additional basic fire safety training to members of the public and appoints them as FSD Community Emergency Responders. Furthermore, under the Community Emergency Responder Scheme, the FSD has newly established the Building Emergency Responders which provides specialised training for property management personnel, representatives of OCs, and residents on building fire safety, such as the correct usage, management, and maintenance responsibilities of FSIs, as well as key considerations when conducting fire inspections. These Building Emergency Responders can assist in identifying potential safety hazards within housing estates, participate in fire safety inspections, and report risks to the FSD or PMCs. Besides, at the district level, the Government has strengthened the role of the 18 District Fire Safety Committees in fire prevention promotion, publicity, inspections and co-ordination.
(5) Section 20 of the BMO stipulates that an OC must establish and maintain a general fund to cover the expenses incurred in exercising its powers or performing its duties under the BMO and the deed of mutual covenant, as well as the day-to-day general expenses of the building. In addition, an OC may also set up a contingency fund to meet emergency needs or shortfalls in the general fund. The amount to be contributed by owners to these two funds is determined in accordance with the needs of the building by the owners.
As more buildings age, ensuring their structural safety requires repair works of varying scales. To alleviate the financial pressure on owners when handling repairs, there have been suggestions in the community to establish a mandatory repair reserve fund, enabling advance financial preparation for future repairs. Since this proposal involves matters related to building maintenance and repairs, the affordability and willingness of owners, etc, the relevant Government departments will conduct research and gather views from stakeholders.
(6) On November 28, 2025, following the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the Government established an Inter-departmental Fire Investigation Task Force led by the FSD. The task force is investigating both the cause of the fire and the reasons for its spread, reviewing all relevant evidence and making full use of available technologies to assist in the investigation.
(7) The Government maintains an open attitude towards the use of technology to enhance the monitoring of building material standards or the tracking of building materials. Taking scaffolding nets as an example, the BD issued a Practice Note on December 19, 2025 to ensure that protective materials overlaid on external wall scaffolding meet fire retardant performance standards. The Practice Note requires Registered Contractors to adopt reliable systems (such as QR codes, Near Field Communication (NFC) devices, or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology) to facilitate the verification and tracking of material batches. In accordance with the requirements of the Practice Note, the Construction Industry Council previously provided a special arrangement for collective procurement of fire-retardant protective nets and utilised blockchain technology to ensure the transparency of the procurement process. From order placement, reporting of production progress, laboratory testing, and logistics delivery to the signing of receipt, the system records data from every key juncture to the blockchain. This forms a clear and immutable audit trail to prevent future alteration or falsification, setting a good example for the industry. As the materials involved in construction works are diverse, the BD will adopt a risk-based approach, and review which other types of building materials under the existing mechanism require enhanced regulation over material standards or tracking.
Separately, the BMO sets out clear requirements for the retention of documents. The Building Management (Amendment) Ordinance 2024, which came into effect in July 2025, further introduces criminal liability for failure to properly keep books of account, minutes of meetings, tender documents, and instruments of proxy. As for the format of document retention, it may be decided by the management committee of the OC. Issued at HKT 18:20
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ1: Round-the-Island Trail Question:
The Chief Executive proposed in the 2022 Policy Address the development of a “Round-the-Island Trail” (Island Trail) on Hong Kong Island to connect a number of promenades and countryside walking trails between the northern part of Hong Kong Island and the Southern District. To date, 85 per cent of the Island Trail has been connected. Regarding further improvements to its connectivity and accessibility, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it is learnt that a number of waterfront sites in the Central and Western District have not been designated as land for the waterfront promenade due to operational needs or private ownership, etc, whether the Government has studied extending the waterfront promenade to these sites; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that, and whether it will conduct such studies;
(2) as there are views pointing out that the road section outside New Praya in Kennedy Town lacks a footpath for public use, and the entrance to Belcher Bay Promenade is separated by a bus terminus and obstructed by old trees, whether the Government will construct a boardwalk along the waterfront of the praya to connect the waterfront spaces on both sides, so as to enhance the accessibility of the Island Trail; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) of the works progress of the uncompleted road sections of the waterfront promenade in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, and the respective construction timetables?
Reply:
President,
The “Round-the-Island Trail” (the Trail) spans approximately 60 kilometres, connecting the harbourfront promenades on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island and a number of existing promenades and countryside walking trails in the Southern District. The project commenced in phases since 2023 to expedite the connection of the missing links of the Trail and improve some of the existing sections. So far, 85 per cent of the Trail has been connected , with the target of connecting 90 per cent of the Trail within next year and completing the remaining works by the end of 2031.
The reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) Following the opening of the Eastern Section of the East Coast Boardwalk last month, the approximately 13-kilometre long harbourfront from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan has now been connected. Regarding the waterfront sites in the Central and Western District, most of them are connected in the form of promenades. While certain waterfront sites cannot offer promenades due to reasons such as operational needs or private ownership, pedestrian links are provided in the vicinity of the sites which connect to the adjacent waterfront areas. These sites in the Central and Western District are as follows:
(i) Shun Tak Centre: The lot is privately owned and primarily used for vehicular access at-grade. Pedestrian links are available in the vicinity which connect to other waterfront areas. However, these paths are rather circuitous involving several pedestrian walkways surrounding the Shun Tak Centre and crossing roads, or taking a nearby footbridge and through the Centre’s shopping mall. The Government will continue to liaise with the landowner to explore options for enhancing the at-grade pedestrian access at this location. In taking forward the Trail or enhancing the waterfront, we have adopted the approach of “tackling the simple issues first before the difficult ones” as well as the “incremental approach”, both of which are pragmatic and beneficial to the public. The Development Bureau will continue to follow this approach to provide more popular waterfront spaces and walking trails. Thank you, President. Issued at HKT 18:15
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Caritas Medical Centre appeals to public for missing patient A 48-year-old male patient left the orthopaedic ward without notifying hospital staff at around 7.45pm yesterday (January 27).
CMC is very concerned about the incident. Hospital security guards were deployed to search for the patient at the hospital and the surrounding vicinity but were unsuccessful. The hospital reported the case to the Police immediately.
The patient is about 1.6 metres tall and has a normal build, black and grey shoulder-length hair, and a beard. He was wearing patient clothes when he left the hospital. The hospital appeals to the public to contact Cheung Sha Wan Police Station at 3661 1644 if they know the whereabouts of the patient.
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. Issued at HKT 18:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ9: Promoting development of local agriculture (1) of the number of farms engaged in farming and their respective cultivated area in each of the past five years, with a breakdown by (i) accredited farms, (ii) farms with certifications issued by the aforesaid certification organisations, and (iii) other farms;
(2) of the local production of vegetables and fruit in each of the past five years, with a breakdown by (i) accredited farms, (ii) farms with certifications issued by the aforesaid certification organisations, and (iii) other farms;
(3) of the number of local and Mainland farms currently participating in the Scheme; among them, the number of farms which are “inactive” (i.e. their agricultural land has been abandoned and no commercial crop production is taking place); and the number of accredited farms delisted by the AFCD due to inactivity in each of the past five years;
(4) of the current eligibility criteria for becoming an accredited farm; whether it knows the conditions adopted by the aforesaid certification organisations for granting organic certification; and the support and facilitation measures provided by the AFCD to farms participating in the Scheme and to farms with organic certification;
(5) the number of investigations conducted by the authorities on local vegetables and fruits by way of sample testing in each of the past five years, and the number of cases where unsatisfactory samples were detected, with a breakdown by (i) accredited farms, (ii) farms with certifications issued by the aforesaid certification organisations, and (iii) other farms; and how the authorities follow up on unsatisfactory samples, including whether they will conduct investigations into the farms from which such samples originate;
(6) of the current requirements for becoming an “accredited retailer”; whether the AFCD has compiled statistics on the number of “accredited retailers” which sell only agricultural produce from accredited farms, and whether it requires retail outlets selling agricultural produce from non-accredited farms to distinguish such produce by labelling; and
(7) given that the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries published by the Government in 2023 proposes the building of local agricultural products brand, will the authorities consider integrating the Scheme and the organic certification services of the aforesaid certification organisations to introduce a centralised certification system for grading local agricultural products so as to enhance their attractiveness and recognition?
Year(hectares)(hectares)(hectares)(hectares) The AFCD conducts regular visits to “accredited farms” in both Hong Kong and the Mainland. If a farm was found left fallow for a long time or no longer engaged in commercial production, its “accredited farm” status would be lifted. The number of farms withdrew from the Accredited Farm Scheme over the past five years due to operational inactivity is tabulated as follows:
Year(2) According to the AFCD’s records, the total local crop production volumes from 2021 to 2025 were approximately 15 300 tonnes, 15 100 tonnes, 15 800 tonnes, 15 300 tonnes and 15 400 tonnes respectively. The AFCD does not maintain a breakdown of
Year”accredited vegetables” from “accredited farms” (Tonnes) (Note 2)(4) Participation in the Accredited Farm Scheme is voluntary in nature. Participating farms are required to adhere to the good agricultural practices drawn up by the AFCD, such as the proper use of pesticides and the keeping of cultivation records. The AFCD will carry out pre-harvest sampling of crops for pesticide residue analysis, and provide guidance to farmers on the proper use of pesticides, adoption of environmentally-friendly crop production methods and good horticultural practices, so as to enhance the quality of crops and create a premium and safe brand.
On the other hand, the HKORC has established a set of organic crop production standards with reference to the standards set out by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, and provides organic certification service to local farms. Farms being certified are required to comply with the operational rules specified in these production standards and maintain proper production records. The HKORC also conducts inspections of certified farms to ensure that their produce meets the standards. Moreover, the AFCD will visit “accredited farms” and “certified organic farms” to conduct pre-harvest sampling of crops for testing of pesticide residues and heavy metal. The number of samples collected by the AFCD for testing and that with unsatisfactory findings over the past five years are tabulated as follows:
Year(pre-harvest)(pre-harvest) When crop sample from an “accredited farm” is suspected of containing pesticide residues or heavy metal content exceeding the prescribed limits, the AFCD will immediately require the farm to delay the harvesting of the crops and step up inspections and collect follow-up samples to ensure pesticides have been used properly and that the crops meet the food safety standards before being sold. Farms with three violations within six months will have their “accredited farm” status lifted.
If crop sample from a “certified organic farm” is unsatisfactory, The AFCD and the HKORC will visit the farm for follow-up investigation and require the farm to stop the sale of the concerned batch of crops. If a non-compliance with the organic crop production standard is confirmed, the HKORC will suspend or revoke the organic certification of the farm. Note 2: Since some “accredited farms” choose to distribute vegetables through direct sales or other channels, the market throughput of “accredited vegetables” has gradually decreased year on year.
Note 3: The production of crops from other farms includes crops grown by local “accredited farms” that are not “accredited vegetables” (i.e. crops not marketed through the VMO). The AFCD does not maintain the breakdown of the concerned items. Note 5: Samples containing pesticides mentioned in the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM) or other synthetic pesticides, or with a heavy metal content higher than the maximum level specified in the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V), are regarded as unsatisfactory. Issued at HKT 17:30
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ7: Implementation of fees and charges reform for public healthcare
Triage category The latest statistics of A&Es indicate that the fees and charges reform for public healthcare can effectively help the “acute” patients among the “poor, acute, serious, critical” patients who are most in need. Resources of A&Es are now better directed towards critical and emergency patients. Directing some non-urgent patients or patients with other medical needs to seek more appropriate healthcare services other than A&Es can also help reduce the overall waiting time and alleviate overcrowding at A&Es, thereby achieving the original intent of the fees and charges reform for public healthcare to concentrate resources and treat patients with urgent medical needs more effectively, as well as improving the clinical environment at A&Es.
(2), (4) and (5) As an essential component of the fees and charges reform for public healthcare, the HA has concurrently expanded its medical fee waiver mechanism. In addition to the some 600 000 people who have been benefiting from medical fee waivers both before and after the reform (including Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above and Level 0 Voucher Holders of the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly), the number of other eligible low-income individuals is estimated to significantly increase from approximately 300 000 to about 1.4 million, i.e. an additional 1.1 million low-income individuals can potentially benefit. This enables limited healthcare resources to be more precisely directed to help the “poor” patients among the “poor, acute, serious, critical” patients who are most in need, while ensuring that no patient is denied medical care due to lack of means.Issued at HKT 17:13