Month: March 2026

Immigration Department repatriates 18 unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants to their places of origin  
     The ImmD is very concerned about the abuse of the non-refoulement claim mechanism and is aware that a number of claimants were former foreign domestic helpers before. The ImmD has been co-operating with the relevant consulates-general in Hong Kong and will continue such co-operation to step up publicity and education for newly arriving foreign domestic helpers to help them understand that they should not abuse the non-refoulement claim mechanism.
 
     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.  
 
     The ImmD will continue to explore different feasible solutions to expedite the repatriation of unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants, and will actively co-ordinate with relevant authorities to optimise repatriation routes and the operation process. The ImmD will 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.
 
Issued at HKT 17:50

NNNN

GoGlobal Task Force large-scale promotional event held in Beijing to help Mainland enterprises go global via Hong Kong       
     This year marks the beginning of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan. Hong Kong will actively integrate into and serve the national development strategy, strengthening economic and trade co-operation with the Mainland. To better support Mainland enterprises in going global via Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government established the GoGlobal Task Force last October, chaired by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau. It integrates various government policy bureaux, departments and organisations to form a one-stop platform to proactively engage Mainland enterprises seeking to go global via Hong Kong and provide them with diversified support services.
      
     The seminar began with keynote speeches by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Outward Investment and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Cao Wen; and the Executive Deputy Director of the Expert Committee of CCIIP, Mr Li Yongjun.
      
     In his keynote address, Mr Yau said that Hong Kong enjoys the advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world with various institutional strengths under the “one country, two systems” principle. The city offers global investors a stable and predictable policy and investment environment, and serves as an important platform for Mainland enterprises to connect with international markets. He added that the GoGlobal Task Force will continue to organise promotional events in various provinces and cities across the Mainland to introduce Hong Kong’s various advantages as a platform to go global. It will also organise overseas delegations, leading enterprises to visit target markets to understand the local conditions and establish connections.
      
     Mr Yau also announced the official launch of the GoGlobal Task Force’s dedicated website (www.goglobal.gov.hk      
     Cao Wen said that MOC will leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages in cross-border investment and trade, finance and legal services. Using the first MOU signed in February 2026 between the MOC and the HKSAR Government as a new starting point, the MOC will make better use of Hong Kong’s role in the nation’s overall strategy of opening up and its advantages as the “four centres”. At the same time, the MOC will accelerate the improvement of overseas service quality, build a professional service platform, and gather Hong Kong’s legal, accounting and auditing, management consulting, and other institutions to provide customised and tailor-made services for enterprises going global. It will continue to deepen collaboration to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
      
     Li Yongjun said in his remarks that Hong Kong, as an international hub for finance, shipping and trade, as well as a free port, plays an irreplaceable and vital role in supporting Mainland enterprises to go global. Its comprehensive professional services, commercial and trade rules that align with international standards, and convenient cross-border investment and financing environment make it an important home port for Mainland enterprises to expand overseas. CCIIP will leverage the resources and international networks of its members, combined with InvestHK’s professional service capabilities, to assist enterprises in achieving steady and sustainable growth in the global market.
      
     Subsequently, witnessed by Mr Yau, the Director General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, and the President of CCIIP, Mr Fang Aiqing, signed an MOU aimed at strengthening exchanges, co-operation, and promotion in areas such as two-way investment, international market exploration, talent exchange, and economic and trade activities. They will jointly support enterprises in gaining a deeper understanding of the two-way investment environment, promote co-operation between enterprises from both sides to jointly expand international and domestic markets, and achieve better overseas strategic development.
      
     Following the signing ceremony, Ms Lau delivered a keynote speech, introducing Hong Kong’s advantages as the preferred destination for Mainland enterprises going global. The seminar also included a panel discussion session with representatives from the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and several enterprises. They introduced how Hong Kong’s professional services can support Mainland enterprises in their overseas expansion planning and shared successful case studies of Mainland companies going global via Hong Kong, highlighting the advantages of using Hong Kong as a platform amid the complexities of the global trade and economic environment.
Issued at HKT 17:25

HKPF holds 2026 Bank Staff Recognition Ceremony to commend banking industry for their contributions to scam prevention  
     Addressing the ceremony, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, highlighted that deception cases which had been rising continuously since 2019 recorded the first decline last year. A total of 43 212 cases were registered, representing a decrease of 2.9 per cent compared to 2024. The amount of losses also dropped from HK$9.2 billion to HK$8.1 billion. He emphasised that this achievement was made possible through the collective efforts of all stakeholders, especially the banking industry.
 
     He added that the Police and the banking industry have been working closely in preventing and combating deception. The “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222” and the “Anti-Scam Bank Helpline” established by the Police successfully intercepted 1 552 fraud cases last year, accounting for 13.1 per cent of all such cases. The amount of fraudulent funds intercepted reached HK$2.09 billion, representing a significant increase of over 40 per cent compared to 2024.    
 
     In tackling deception, both local measures and cross-border collaboration are essential. To this end, four strategies have been adopted by the Police and the banking sector:  
 
(1) Combating fraud industry chain: With the new legislation allowing bank-to-bank information sharing on suspicious personal accounts coming into effect, the Police, in collaboration with the banking industry, have launched the upgraded version of the “Financial Intelligence Evaluation Sharing Tool (FINEST)” platform. Interbank information sharing has recorded a multi-fold increase and participation is also set to expand to include all 28 retail banks. The number of stooge accounts dropped from 6 047 in the third quarter of 2025 to 5 781 in the fourth quarter, representing a decrease of 4.4 per cent. In addition, the “Upstream Scam Intervention” scheme, which analyses transaction patterns of stooge accounts and proactively contacts potential victims, intercepted 4 060 fraud cases last year and prevented losses of over HK$480 million, representing increases of 69.4 per cent and more than 1.5 times, respectively, compared with 2024.
 
(2) Targeted publicity: The Police, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) and the banking industry organise various anti-deception campaigns. The publicity this year focuses on investment scams, with the elderly continuing to be the key target group.
 
(3) Promoting greater use of “Scameter+”: The app began leveraging artificial intelligence technology in October last year to automatically detect fraudulent websites posing as banking and investment platforms, with the database updated immediately to block access. Following the launch of this new function, there was a significant increase in both public reports and alerts issued. By the end of 2025, the app had been downloaded 1.15 million times.  
 
(4) Enhancing international collaboration: The Police have actively promoted the Cross-border Anti-Scam Collaboration Platform “FRONTIER+”. Through joint operations last year, more than 1 800 persons were arrested, and US$20 million in fraudulent funds were intercepted. By strengthening real-time intelligence analysis and sharing it with the banks, overseas victims were promptly identified and fraudulent payments were intercepted, reducing their financial losses.
 
     Looking ahead, Mr Chow firmly believed that through the partnership between the Police and the banking industry, a strong protective network could be built, reinforcing Hong Kong’s image and position as a robust international financial centre. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the HKMA, the HKAB, and the banking industry for their full support and outstanding contributions.
 
     At the ceremony, a total of 19 banks received corporate awards. In addition, 639 frontline bank staff proactively assisted customers suspected of being targeted by scams last year, successfully preventing 595 cases. Among them, the Police presented the “Spotlight Award” to 16 staff members in recognition of their exemplary performance. Awardees are listed in the Annex.
 
     The officiating guests also included the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Yip Wan-lung; the Director of Crime and Security, Mr Chan Tung; the Executive Director (Enforcement and AML) of the HKMA, Mr Raymond Chan; and the representative of the HKAB, Ms Grace Yeung.
Issued at HKT 15:40

NNNN

Immigration Department expands self-application services for Hong Kong identity cards and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports 
Application for HKICs
 
     Currently, persons aged 18 or above holding a valid locally issued smart identity card may submit the following types of identity card replacement applications at the PDSKs without the need to make an appointment:
      Starting from March 23, the services of the PDSKs will cover replacement applications for lost identity cards from eligible persons aged 18 or above. Applicants may submit their replacement applications at the PDSKs without the need to make an appointment.
 
Application for HKSAR passports
 
     Currently, holders of a valid locally issued permanent identity card or an Acknowledgement of Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card may submit the following types of HKSAR passport applications at the PDSKs without the need to make an appointment:
      Starting from March 23, eligible HKSAR passport applicants aged 18 or above may also apply at the PDSKs for passport replacement in cases of loss, damage, defacement or unavailability. Similarly, applicants may submit their replacement applications at the PDSKs without the need to make an appointment.
 
     Eligible applicants may choose to apply for an identity card and an HKSAR passport through the PDSKs in one go. The PDSKs are located at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O. For the types of applications covered by the PDSKs, as well as their locations and service hours, please refer to the Annex. The above information is also available on the ImmD website (www.immd.gov.hk 
     For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by the enquiry hotline (2824 6111), fax (2877 7711) or email (enquiry@immd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:20

Development Bureau imposes regulating action on contractor involved in fatal industrial incident at public housing construction site in Kwai Chung      
     The DEVB, being the party to procure services for public works, attaches great importance to the site safety performance of all construction sites under the purview of contractors on the List, regardless of whether the sites are public works construction sites or not. The DEVB issued notification to the contractor concerned today to suspend it from tendering for public works contracts in the buildings category with immediate effect pursuant to the regulating regime. The contractor concerned has to conduct an independent safety audit to review its safety management system. Taking cognisance of the outcome of the independent safety audit, the contractor is required to submit an improvement action plan and implement improvement measures, with a view to demonstrating that it has an effective safety management system before the lifting of the suspension from tendering can be considered. The suspension from tendering is not only confined to tender exercises within the period of suspension from tendering, but is also applicable to tender exercises with procedures initiated but not concluded.

     The Labour Department is investigating this industrial incident and will handle it in accordance with the law. Subject to the investigation findings, the DEVB may impose further regulating actions on the contractor concerned later on, including extension of the period of suspension from tendering for public works contracts and even removal from the List.
Issued at HKT 14:51

NNNN

Government announces appointments to Communications Authority 
     Commenting on the appointments, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, “I would like to welcome Ms Hsu Siu-man from the social welfare sector and Ms Miranda Kwan from the business sector as new members of the CA. Their rich experience and professional knowledge in respective fields will offer valuable insights into the CA’s work. I am also grateful that Ms Wendy Yuen has accepted the reappointment and continue to support the work of the CA.”

     Mr Yau also expressed gratitude to the outgoing members, Dr Hubert Chan Chung-yee and Ms Amy Fung Dun-mi, for their important contributions and support to the CA during the past six years, particularly their leadership and dedication while serving as chairpersons of committees under the CA. 
Ms Hsu Siu-man
——————-
     Ms Hsu is currently the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and a Hong Kong Representative to the All-China Women’s Federation. She is a member of the Commission on Poverty, the Public Libraries Advisory Committee and the Social Welfare Advisory Committee, and a panel member of the Human Organ Transplant Board. She is also an elected member of the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Council of Social Services. She has previously served as a member of the Child Fatality Review Panel and the Committee on Services for Youth at Risk.——————————————
     Ms Kwan is the Director of Business Assurance of SGS Hong Kong Limited. She is currently a member of the Business Facilitation Advisory Committee, the Consumer Council and the Enterprise Support Scheme Assessment Panel. She has formerly served as a member of the Consumer Goods Safety Appeal Board Panel, the Trade and Industry Advisory Board and the Accreditation Advisory Board.
 
     The membership of the CA from April 1, 2026, will be as follows:————
Mr Jenkin Suen——————
Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development—————————
Mr Nicholas Chan Hiu-fung
Professor Anthony Fung Ying-him
Ms Hsu Siu-man
Mr Michael Hui Wah-kit
Ms Miranda Kwan Ching-yi
Mr Patrick Law Fu-yuen
Professor Leung Siu-fai
Dr Patrick Tsie Kai-yiu
Ms Wendy Yuen Miu-ling——————–
Director-General of Communications
Issued at HKT 11:00

NNNN

Saigon Street in Yau Ma Tei to be reinstated as one-way eastbound from March 22      Motorists should pay attention to traffic signs and drive with care when passing through the road sections concerned. The Government has distributed notices to the relevant District Council members and stakeholders on the above arrangements.

     Members of the public may visit the Highways Department’s Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section) webpage (ckr-hyd.hk/traffic_diversionIssued at HKT 10:00