Month: March 2026

Hong Kong Customs special operation on Chung Ying Street combats sale of suspected counterfeit goods      ​
     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeit or illicit cigarette activities to Customs 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:24

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected controlled injections and pharmaceutical products worth about $990,000       
     In the first case, Customs officers on March 5 inspected a postal packet imported from Japan at the Surface Mail Centre. Upon inspection, Customs officers found and seized 96 anti-obesity injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons from the consignment.
      
     After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers on the same day arrested a 45-year-old female consignee suspected to be connected with the case, and further seized 888 injection vials and 27 tubes of ointment suspected to contain Part 1 poisons at the consignee’s address in North Point.
      
     In the second case, Customs officers on March 9 inspected an express parcel imported from Korea to Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Upon inspection, Customs officers found and seized 32 cosmetic injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons in the parcel.
      
     After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers on March 10 arrested a 35-year-old male consignee suspected to be connected with the case, and further seized 728 cosmetic injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons at the consignee’s address in Cheung Sha Wan.
      
     Investigations are ongoing, and the two arrested persons have been released on bail.
      
     Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person who imports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid import licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
      
     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 17:30

Construction output for fourth quarter and whole year of 2025      
     After discounting the effect of price changes, the provisional results showed that the total GVCW performed by main contractors decreased by 8.3% in real terms over the same period. GVCW in real terms is derived by deflating the corresponding nominal value with an appropriate price index to the price level in the base period of 2000. 
      
     Analysed by type of construction works, the GVCW performed at private sector sites totalled $16.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, down by 23.2% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. In real terms, it decreased by 25.1%. The GVCW performed at public sector sites increased by 2.9% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $34.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. In real terms, however, it slightly decreased by 0.4%. 
      
     The GVCW performed by main contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to $22.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, down by 3.0% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. In real terms, it decreased by 2.1%. Construction works at locations other than construction sites included minor new construction activities and decoration, repair and maintenance for buildings; and electrical equipment installation and maintenance works at locations other than construction sites. 
      
     Analysed by major end-use group, the GVCW performed at construction sites in respect of residential buildings projects amounted to $21.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, down by 3.5% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. Over the same period, the GVCW performed at construction sites in respect of transport projects down by 19.3% in nominal terms to $8.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. 
      
     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, the GVCW performed by main contractors decreased by 4.5% in nominal terms and 3.1% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the third quarter of 2025. 
      
     For 2025 as a whole, the provisional results showed that the total GVCW performed by main contractors decreased by 1.4% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier to $286.6 billion. After discounting the effect of price changes, the total GVCW performed by main contractors in 2025 decreased by 4.5% in real terms compared with a year earlier. 
      
     Analysed by type of construction works, the GVCW performed at private sector sites totalled $70.7 billion in 2025, down by 16.9% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. In real terms, it decreased by 19.2%. The GVCW performed at public sector sites amounted to $130.1 billion in 2025, up by 10.2% in nominal terms over a year earlier. In real terms, it increased by 6.2%. 
      
     The GVCW performed by main contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to $85.7 billion in 2025, down by 1.9% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. In real terms, it decreased by 3.1%. 
      
     Analysed by major end-use group, residential buildings projects accounted for the largest share in the total GVCW performed at construction sites in 2025. The GVCW performed in respect of these projects amounted to $84.9 billion in 2025, up by 1.2% in nominal terms over a year earlier. Transport projects constituted the second largest group of construction site works in 2025. The GVCW performed in respect of these projects totalled $33.3 billion in 2025, down by 21.8% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. 
      
     Tables 1 and 2 show the provisional figures on the GVCW performed by main contractors in the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2025 respectively. Table 3 shows the revised figures for the third quarter of 2025. 
      
     Owing to the widespread sub-contracting practices in the construction industry, a construction company can be a main contractor for one contract and a sub-contractor for another contract at the same time. The GVCW performed by main contractors covers only those projects in which the construction company takes the role of a main contractor, but not projects in which it takes only the role of a sub-contractor. However, sub-contractors’ contribution to projects should have been included in the GVCW performed by main contractors for whom they worked. 
      
     The classification in the construction sector follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes. 
      
     More detailed statistics are given in the Report on the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1090002&scode=330       
     For enquiries about the survey results, please contact the Construction and Miscellaneous Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 6965; email: building@censtatd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

Government announces appointments to Board of Directors of Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development InstituteMr Hendrick Sin (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Leonard Chan Tik-yuen 
Professor Guo Yike 
Professor Alan Lam Hiu-fung 
Mr Liu Lidong
Professor Ma Weiying
Professor Ma Yi
Professor Joe Qin Sizhao
Professor William Wong Kam-fai
Mr Ken Wong Kin-hang
Professor Yang Hongxia
Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry or his/her representative               
Commissioner for Digital Policy or his/her representative
Issued at HKT 15:00

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Speech by SJ at virtual signing ceremony of Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements Concerning Establishment of UNIDROIT Liaison Office for Asia-Pacific Region in HKSAR (English only)(with photo) 
Professor Tirado (Secretary-General of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), Professor Ignacio Tirado), ladies and gentlemen,
 
     It gives me great pleasure to participate in today’s virtual signing ceremony of the MAA between UNIDROIT and the Department of Justice (DoJ) of the Government of the HKSAR of the People’s Republic of China.
 
     The conclusion of the MAA would not have been possible without the staunch and unwavering support of the Central People’s Government, for which I am most sincerely grateful. This milestone builds upon the Memorandum of Understanding concluded in May 2022, which laid the groundwork for enhanced collaboration between UNIDROIT and the DoJ. Our shared vision has always been to promote the modernisation and harmonisation of law across the Asia-Pacific region through high-level capacity building and joint initiatives. This collaboration is also seen through the secondment programme of legal professionals with UNIDROIT, based upon our Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021, whereby legal professionals from both our public and private sectors are seconded to UNIDROIT, where they have gained invaluable experience and could contribute directly to UNIDROIT’s projects.   
 
     After a few years’ discussion with the secretariat of UNIDORIT, the UNIDROIT Governing Council recommended establishment of a UNIDROIT Liaison Office for the Asia-Pacific region in the HKSAR. The recommendation was approved at the 85th Session of the UNIDROIT General Assembly in December 2025. The MAA we sign today completes the next important step for this Liaison Office, and together, we look forward to the opening ceremony set for November this year, together with the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit and the Centenary Regional Event during the Hong Kong Legal Week 2026. This will be a double celebration, marking both the Liaison Office’s inauguration and UNIDROIT’s centenary. The opening of the Liaison Office will mark the first overseas presence of UNIDROIT in its 100 years’ history and will indeed be the highlight of UNIDROIT’s centenary. For the past century, UNIDROIT has been at the forefront of legal harmonisation, and the establishment of the UNIDROIT Liaison Office in the HKSAR serves as a profound testament to the Institute’s expanded presence in the Asia-Pacific region. This milestone not only honours the remarkable success of UNIDROIT’s operations over the past century but also heralds the start of an exciting new chapter of global influence, in which the HKSAR is proud to play a pivotal role.  
 
     I am confident that the establishment of the Liaison Office will further strengthen the already very strong collaborative relationship between the DoJ and UNIDROIT while fostering a deeper understanding and implementation of private law and in particular commercial law throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Indeed, the establishment of this Liaison Office represents a significant visionary step. As a central pillar of global economic activity, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than one-third of the world’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and encompasses vital trade corridors that have for centuries facilitated intercontinental commerce and cultural exchange. Opening UNIDROIT’s first liaison office in this dynamic region is a forward-looking step that recognises the evolving landscape of international commerce.
 
     It is no coincidence that the HKSAR stands as an ideal home for UNIDROIT’s first regional presence. As a leading international legal and dispute resolution hub, our city is underpinned by a robust and familiar common law system, an independent judiciary, and a world-class legal infrastructure. Our unique position as the only common law jurisdiction within China under the “one country, two systems” principle allows us to serve as a vital bridge, facilitating the convergence of diverse legal traditions, and advancing an inclusive dialogue that reflects the diverse legal and economic perspectives of the Asia-Pacific within the global legal landscape. By leveraging our professional expertise and deep-rooted rule of law, the Liaison Office is perfectly positioned to promote the global reach of unified legal standards from a stable and highly sophisticated platform.
 
     Finally, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Secretary-General for his enduring trust and support. With the signing of the MAA today, we move one step closer to the launching of UNIDROIT’s first Liaison Office in the HKSAR. I look forward to welcoming you in person to the HKSAR for the opening of the Liaison Office very soon. Thank you very much.
Issued at HKT 13:10

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Results of Pharmacist Registration Examinations held in December 2025 announced 
     The Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong announced today (March 12) the results of the Pharmacist Registration Examinations held in December 2025.
      
     There were 36, 86 and 38 candidates sitting for examinations in pharmacy legislation in Hong Kong, pharmacy practice and pharmacology respectively, with corresponding passing rates of 38.89 per cent, 12.79 per cent and 42.11 per cent.
      
     Apart from meeting other requirements prescribed by the Board, any pharmacy graduate outside Hong Kong intending to be registered as a pharmacist in Hong Kong is required to pass the above three subjects.
      
     The Board conducts its Pharmacist Registration Examinations twice a year, normally in June and December.
Issued at HKT 11:00

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