Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FSTB and HKMA to further unlock potential of distributed ledger technology in Hong Kong’s fixed income market The FSTB and the HKMA look forward to continued collaboration with various stakeholders in the next phase of the review. In considering potential legal enhancements to further facilitate the use of DLT in the fixed income market, the FSTB and the HKMA will also take reference from, and consider the relevant implications of, the Government’s broader digitalisation initiatives.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “A clear and robust regulatory framework provides a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the digital asset sector. Following the release of the Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong (Policy Statement 2.0) last June, this review represents another critical step forward in unlocking the full potential of DLT in our fixed income market. By providing clarifications on DLT record keeping requirements today and exploring further legislative enhancements in the next phase, we are keeping Hong Kong at the forefront of Web3 development and financial innovation.”Issued at HKT 19:45
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Government responds to Ombudsman’s direct investigation report on private man-made slopes
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government responds to Ombudsman’s direct investigation report on private man-made slopes
There are about 61 000 man-made slopes in Hong Kong, of which about 16 000 are private man-made slopes, and over 6 000 are slopes with mixed maintenance responsibilities (i.e., slopes managed by both the Government and private owners for their respective portions). As noted by the Ombudsman in the report, regular inspection and maintenance of private man-made slopes are the responsibility of the owners, while the Government primarily implements slope management work through three departments. First, the LandsD is responsible for determining maintenance responsibilities. Second, the CEDD conducts safety screening and identifies dangerous slopes. Third, the BD takes enforcement actions to rectify hazards, including issuing Dangerous Hillside Orders for dangerous slopes or executing default works on behalf of owners.
The three departments have taken proactive steps over the past period to execute concrete measures and have so far addressed most of the improvement recommendations in the report. The follow-up actions on the Ombudsman’s major recommendations include:
Clarifying maintenance responsibility early and informing owners proactively
To enable private owners to fulfil their slope maintenance responsibilities as early as possible, the LandsD has implemented various measures to expedite processes, including streamlining determination procedures, enhancing communication and information sharing with relevant departments, setting target processing time for cases of varying complexity, and strengthening the monitoring on consultancy firms. Since the second half of 2025, the determination of maintenance responsibility for man-made slopes newly formed or modified could generally be completed within six months, demonstrating a significant improvement in efficiency. In addition to uploading determination results to the Slope Maintenance Responsibility Information System, the LandsD will notify private owners concerned promptly. For cases already been determined, the LandsD will issue notification letters to private owners concerned by batches, with the first batch expected to be issued by phases starting from the second half of the year.
Enhancing safety screening studies and strengthening owner education and support
Starting from 2025, the CEDD is progressively increasing the number of safety screening studies for private slopes from 100 to 130 per year over a three-year period. The department will also launch the Smart Slope Catalogue within this year. This catalogue integrates records of preventive works, maintenance, rainfall, and landslides, and applies Artificial Intelligence for big data analysis to select slopes for safety screening studies with higher precision. Furthermore, the department will step up public education and technical support for owners. For example, for slopes that are not classified as dangerous after screening studies but show signs of inadequate maintenance, the CEDD will issue advisory letters to owners as appropriate, pointing out specific issues and providing advisory services, including necessary maintenance recommendations, to embody the management philosophy of prevention first.
Accelerating the issuance of repair orders and follow-up on compliance
For cases that are clear in nature and relatively simple, the BD has shortened the target time for issuing repair orders to three months. If a slope is found to pose an imminent danger, the BD will immediately arrange for government contractors to carry out emergency works. To assist owners in complying with repair orders, after issuing a repair order, the BD will proactively arrange site inspections with owners to provide explanations, attend owners’ meetings to offer technical advice, and introduce financial support schemes such as the Building Safety Loan Scheme. These measures ensure that case follow-up would not be a one-way punitive process, but rather a comprehensive approach combining guidance and assistance. For cases where compliance is overdue, the Department has, since the end of last year, used its departmental information system to automatically generate reminder and warning letters, thereby enhancing enforcement efficiency. The BD has also streamlined its prosecution procedures, with internal guidelines clearly stipulating the criteria for further prosecution and target processing time. The Development Bureau has also proposed amendments to the Buildings Ordinance to increase penalties for non-compliance, and plans to submit a bill to the Legislative Council for consideration by the end of this year.
Enhancing mechanism for effective handling of complex cases
The BD has established various committees to monitor the progress of outstanding repair orders and default works carried out on behalf of owners, as well as the performance of consultancy firms and government contractors. The BD is currently exploring ways to optimise the Building Condition Information System to enable classification of complex cases through the system, with progress monitored via regular meetings and various committees. Staff have also been reminded to deploy social worker teams in a timely manner to assist owners in need. The BD will continue to work with the CEDD and LandsD to establish a regular mechanism for information sharing and follow-up, and will discuss follow-up actions at co-ordination meetings. Furthermore, the BD will compile a list of frequently encountered issues and difficulties in complex cases to enhance communication with industry practitioners and improve the efficiency of the approval process.
Accelerating the completion of default works
For cases of non-compliance with no substantive progress, the BD will, while taking prosecution action, arrange default works for slopes with immediate safety risks. Through proactive intervention by the BD, the number of default works cases has significantly increased from 22 in 2023 to 40 in 2024 and 66 in 2025. Over the past five years, default works have been completed for more than 150 repair orders, with full cost recovery from the owners.
Streamlining permission applications for works on government land
For cases where the BD has to enter a government land to carry out default works on private man-made slopes, the LandsD has streamlined procedures by granting the Simplified Temporary Government Land Allocation to the BD by way of block approval, eliminating the need to submit individual applications for each default works project, so that the default works could be carried out as early as possible. Between May 2025 and March 2026, 18 default works projects were accelerated under this measure.
The LandsD is also liaising with the BD to optimise the handling procedures for owners and their appointed professionals to enter government land to carry out works. The LandsD plans to introduce new arrangements, such as providing the application form and guidelines to owners at the time when they have been issued with a Dangerous Hillside Order, so that the repair works on private slopes can be commenced as soon as possible.
Strengthening inter-departmental collaboration
The LandsD has joined the high-level working group and regular meeting mechanisms previously established by the CEDD and BD to strengthen tripartite collaboration, swiftly resolve complex cases and disputes over rights and responsibilities, and ensure that essential slope repairs or emergency works are not delayed by such disputes. The LandsD established a new inter-departmental online platform in December 2025, enabling departments to exchange views in real-time on the content of determination reports after these being uploaded by consultancy firms, thereby enhancing overall operational efficiency. The departments will also continue to co-operate with the property management industry. Apart from encouraging property management companies to help owners co-ordinate slope maintenance and comply with Dangerous Hillside Orders, they will organise briefing sessions on technical guidelines, seminars, and exhibitions to strengthen public education and professional support.
The LandsD, CEDD, and BD will continuously review the operation of the entire private man-made slope safety management system, from maintenance responsibility determination to risk screening, and then to enforcement and rectification, strengthening inter-departmental collaboration to elevate the safety level of private man-made slopes and safeguard public safety.
Issued at HKT 21:39
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Lands Department responds to Ombudsman’s direct investigation report on unlawful occupation of government land
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Lands Department responds to Ombudsman’s direct investigation report on unlawful occupation of government land
The LandsD is pleased to note the Ombudsman recognised the Department’s necessary adoption of a “risk-based” approach to prioritise and handle vast amount of unlawful occupation of government land cases according to their urgency. The Ombudsman also noted that the LandsD has successively introduced a series of measures in recent years, such as the incorporation of multiple data integration and analysis functions into a new database system introduced in September 2025.
The LandsD will continue to leverage the use of technology to enhance its enforcement efficiency and proactively detect irregularities, including making use of the Geographic Information System of its Survey and Mapping Office, aerial photographs taken by unmanned aerial vehicles, and robotic dogs to assist in daily inspections and monitoring, thereby enabling early identification of repeated occupation or larger scale unlawful occupation cases.
The LandsD will actively follow up on the recommendations of the Ombudsman to optimise the handling of unlawful occupation of government land and strengthen enforcement actions. These include continuously reviewing the effectiveness of existing guidelines and the database system, exploring the use of technology to improve enforcement efficiency, enhancing training for frontline staff in investigation and evidence collection, and ensuring that the staff understand and fulfil their leading role when co-ordinating departmental efforts in resolving land issues.
Issued at HKT 21:15
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Private slope safety to be enhanced
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Government announced today that the Lands Department (LandsD), the Civil Engineering & Development Department (CEDD) and the Buildings Department (BD) will strengthen safety management with regard to private man-made slopes.
This follows the publication of a report on investigations by the Office of The Ombudsman into the Government’s work in relation to slope maintenance.
In response to the Ombudsman’s observations and recommendations, the Government highlighted that the three departments have already proactively introduced and implemented a number of improvement measures.
They will now further strengthen safety management in relation to private man-made slopes through four approaches, namely determining maintenance responsibility; safety screening; enforcement and rectification; and inter-departmental collaboration.
In terms of clarifying responsibility, the Government stressed that since the second half of 2025 such determinations with regard to newly formed or modified man-made slopes can generally be completed within six months, representing a significant improvement in efficiency.
Going forward, in addition to uploading determination results to the Slope Maintenance Responsibility Information System, the LandsD will notify private owners concerned promptly.
In cases already determined, the LandsD will issue notification letters to private owners concerned in batches, with the first batch expected to be issued in phases starting from the second half of this year.
Regarding safety screening, starting from last year the CEDD has been progressively increasing the number of safety screening studies for private slopes from 100 to 130 per year over a three-year period.
The department will also launch the Smart Slope Catalogue this year. This catalogue integrates records of preventive works, maintenance, rainfall, and landslides, and applies artificial intelligence to analyse data and select slopes for safety screening studies with higher precision.
Furthermore, the department will step up public education and technical support for owners.
Additionally, it will accelerate the issuance of repair orders and follow-up on compliance. For cases that are clear in nature and relatively simple, the BD has shortened the target time for issuing repair orders to three months.
If a slope is found to pose an imminent danger, the BD will immediately arrange for government contractors to carry out emergency works.
To assist owners in complying with repair orders, after issuing a repair order the BD will arrange site inspections with owners to provide explanations, attend owners’ meetings to offer technical advice, and introduce financial support schemes such as the Building Safety Loan Scheme.
The Development Bureau has also proposed amendments to the Buildings Ordinance to increase penalties for non-compliance, and plans to submit a bill to the Legislative Council for consideration by the end of this year.
In addition, the BD is exploring ways to optimise the Building Condition Information System to enable classification of complex cases, with progress being monitored via regular meetings and various committees.
The BD will continue to work with the CEDD and LandsD to establish a regular mechanism for information sharing and follow-up, and will discuss follow-up actions at co-ordination meetings.
Furthermore, the BD will compile a list of frequently encountered issues and difficulties in complex cases to enhance communication with industry practitioners and improve the efficiency of the approval process.
For cases of non-compliance with no substantive progress, the BD will, while taking prosecution action, arrange to carry out default works at slopes which pose immediate safety risks.
Through proactive intervention by the BD, the number of default works cases increased significantly from 22 in 2023 to 40 in 2024 and 66 in 2025. Over the past five years, default works have been completed for more than 150 repair orders, with full cost recovery from the owners.
In addition, the LandsD is liaising with the BD to optimise the handling procedures for owners and their appointed professionals to enter government land to carry out works.
The LandsD plans to introduce new arrangements, such as providing the application form and guidelines to owners when they have been issued with a Dangerous Hillside Order, so that repair works on private slopes can commence as soon as possible.
In terms of strengthening inter-departmental collaboration, the LandsD has joined a high-level working group and regular meeting mechanisms previously established by the CEDD and BD to strengthen tripartite collaboration, swiftly resolve complex cases and disputes over rights and responsibilities, and ensure that essential slope repairs or emergency works are not delayed by such disputes.
The LandsD established a new inter-departmental online platform in December 2025, enabling departments to exchange views in real-time on the content of determination reports after these being uploaded by consultancy firms.
The departments will also continue to co-operate with the property management industry. Besides encouraging property management companies to help owners co-ordinate slope maintenance and comply with Dangerous Hillside Orders, they will organise briefing sessions on technical guidelines, seminars, and exhibitions to strengthen public education and professional support.
Land enforcement to be strengthened
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Lands Department has welcomed the Ombudsman’s review of enforcement actions taken by it and other departments in relation to a case of unlawful occupation of government land in Tin Shui Wai.
It also accepted the recommendations contained in the Ombudsman’s report, which was released today.
The department said it was pleased to note that the Ombudsman recognised the necessity of its adoption of a risk-based approach to prioritising and handling cases of unlawful occupation of government land according to their urgency.
The Ombudsman also noted that the department has introduced a series of measures in recent years. This includes incorporating multiple data integration and analysis functions into a new database system introduced in September last year.
The department said it will continue to leverage technology to enhance its enforcement efficiency and detect irregularities. This includes making use of its Geographic Information System, aerial photographs taken by unmanned aerial vehicles, and robotic dogs in inspections and monitoring, to enable early identification of unlawful occupation.
The department will also follow up on the Ombudsman’s recommendations to optimise its handling of unlawful occupation cases and strengthen enforcement actions.
These include continuously reviewing the effectiveness of existing guidelines and the database system, exploring the use of technology to improve enforcement efficiency, enhancing training for frontline staff in investigations and evidence collection, and ensuring that staff understand and can fulfil their leading role in resolving land issues.
Security TV show set to debut
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Security Bureau today held a launch ceremony for the new TV series “NS-files: Decoded“, which is scheduled to premiere tomorrow to mark the 6th Anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.
The five-episode documentary series will present details of key national security cases, including those involving Tong Ying-kit, the “Sheep Village” picture books, Tam Tak-chi, the “Returning Valiant” group, and the “Project 35+” subversion campaign.
It will also provide an in-depth analysis of the city’s national security laws and key points from court judgments, with a view to heightening public awareness in safeguarding national security.
The series also aims to strengthen in the community the spirit of knowing, understanding, observing and upholding the law.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said the main idea of the series is to show investigation and evidence-gathering processes and to analyse the court’s verdicts.
He added that the series showcases how anti-China and destabilising offenders were finally brought to justice by law enforcement agencies upholding the rule of law, justice and the city’s national security laws.
Mr Tang said the series will serve as a reminder to the public that national security risks still exist, and that safeguarding national security is a continuous endeavour with no end point. He urged everyone to stay vigilant at all times.
The show will be aired on HOY 78 at 8.15pm every Tuesday starting from tomorrow.
Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Ho Man Tin today
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened on a construction site in Ho Man Tin this morning (June 29), in which an excavator toppled while lifting a bundle of metal pipes, causing a male worker working nearby to be struck by the falling pipes. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.
The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the use of the excavator and lifting operations at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”
The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
To ensure the safety of lifting operations, the LD reminds employers to conduct a task-specific risk assessment to identify all potential hazards and formulate and implement the related safe lifting procedures, including selecting suitable lifting appliances for operations, assessing stability of lifting appliances during the operations, demarcating and barricading lifting zones and prohibiting any person from entering the zones during lifting operations.
The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.
Speech by SITI at 2025/26 HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony (English only)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the 2025/26 HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony today (June 29):
Ir T K Chiang (Deputy Chairperson of Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA), Mr Chiang Tung-keung), Professor Susanna Hui (Executive Committee and Council Member of HKMA), Professor Randy Lai (Deputy Chairperson of HKMA), Ir Professor Sunny Lee (Chairperson, Organising Committee of HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Award), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. I am delighted to join you all today at the Global Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony organised by the Hong Kong Management Association and sponsored by Hong Kong Telecom (HKT).
In Hong Kong and across the globe, businesses are transforming at unprecedented speed. Industries are being reshaped, business models reinvented, and technologies deployed in ways that redefine how value is created. In this fast-evolving landscape, innovation and technology (I&T) has become the lifeblood of competitiveness, resilience, and long-term success.
The launch of this Award is therefore both timely and visionary. It recognises organisations that have not only adapted to change, but have embraced it. I had the honour of attending the Kick-off Ceremony of this Award in 2022. It is a pleasure to return today and witness how it has grown from strength to strength, attracting 800 entries across its first three editions, including close to 100 non-local submissions from the Chinese Mainland and overseas economies. These achievements reflect not only the Award’s rising influence, but also the vibrant spirit of innovation that defines Hong Kong’s business community.
Hong Kong is now entering a new chapter of development under the National 15th Five Year Plan, which positions Hong Kong as an international I&T centre. Over the past few years, the Hong Kong SAR Government has been investing heavily in I&T infrastructure, talent development, cross-border collaboration, and the transformation of the industrial base. From the Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park in Hetao to the San Tin Technopole; from the Sandy Ridge Data Cluster Facility to the expansion of our InnoHK research clusters, we are building the foundations of a world-class I&T ecosystem that connects the international market with the innovation engine of the Greater Bay Area.
At the same time, we are accelerating our embrace of AI and digital transformation at full speed. The Government is moving toward full digitalisation of its services. Today, all licensing and government services involving application and approval now support submission, payment and document collection by electronic means. We have rolled out over 100 new digital government and smart city initiatives by end-2025, covering the use of AI, blockchain technology, geospatial analysis and automation. The HKGAI (Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center), one of our InnoHK centres, has launched a series of generative AI applications built on a locally developed large language model, such as HKPilot and HKChat, and has received positive feedback with more than 720 000 registered users. These initiatives, together with the collective effort of stakeholders across sectors, have propelled Hong Kong to place second globally this year in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, with particularly outstanding performance in “Government efficiency” and third in “Business efficiency”.
Let me take this opportunity to congratulate all the awardees and finalists. Your achievements are a testament to what Hong Kong’s talent and enterprises can accomplish when they innovate with ambition and purpose. As we celebrate your success, I encourage all organisations in Hong Kong to continue investing in innovation, not only as a one-off project, but a continuous journey.
I would also like to thank the HKMA, HKT and all supporting partners for launching this meaningful Award to recognise excellence and encourage innovation across sectors. Let us continue to embrace new ideas and build a Hong Kong that is not only competitive today, but ready for the opportunities of tomorrow. Thank you.
Issued at HKT 18:35
Speech by SCST at 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (English only)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the 13th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Tourism Ministerial Meeting today (June 27):
Thank you, Chair, for giving me the floor.
I’d like to begin my presentation by sharing with you how Hong Kong, China faced last year on tourism. In 2025, we welcomed nearly 50 million visitors, the majority of whom coming from the APEC family economies, representing a 12 per cent year-on-year increase. Last year alone, we hosted over 240 mega events, including many held at the Kai Tak Sports Park, our state-of-the-art and new “Home Ground”, and a game-changer in our tourism industry.
The results actually reflect our strategic vision of “+ Tourism”. At its heart, “+ Tourism” is about bringing together Hong Kong’s uniqueness, including our culture and heritage, arts and creativity, natural landscapes, sports and mega events, and weaving them into a richer, deeper journey.
Our subject today – smart technology – is an indispensable force that brings this vision vividly to life.
From digital platforms and big data to artificial intelligence, information technology has transformed travel experiences and allow visitors to travel conveniently with accessible information, change and explore destinations in-depth.
In Hong Kong, this transformation is already underway. During peak travel periods, major attractions now share live waiting times with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, to allow real-time crowd updates on our “Discover Hong Kong” digital platform. Currently, we are developing an AI-powered itinerary-planning feature and collaborating with map service providers to integrate our data into a dedicated Hong Kong travel map. This will empower visitors with tailored information on attractions, events, dining, and offers, while generating personalised itineraries that reflect their interests.
By bringing these capabilities together, visitors can plan their ideal trip in just a few clicks, enjoying an experience, an “Only in Hong Kong” experience, that is convenient and uniquely their own.
Beyond logistical convenience, smart technology multiplies the economic and social value of tourism. Across Hong Kong, destinations are embedding digital elements to create authentic, locally rooted experiences with global appeal.
For instance, our new East Kowloon Cultural Centre brings together artists and tech innovators to incubate new forms of arts tech performance, while the Hong Kong Museum of Art blends heritage with multimedia and AI. Events like Art Basel Hong Kong transforms exhibitions into immersive showcases through AI-generated avatars and interactive installations. Attractions like Hong Kong Disneyland use an animatronic robot to deepen engagement.
Through digital and intelligent technologies, visitors do not merely visit Hong Kong, they experience our city and become connected to it. They stay longer, spend more, and become storytellers who amplify our city’s cultural and creative identity.
To ensure the wider community reap the benefits of smart tourism, we are equally committed to empowering our people and strengthening their capabilities. We enable businesses to adapt, innovate, and thrive in this digital era. We have collaborated with Hong Kong’s flagship IT (information technology) hub, Cyberport, to connect technology providers with industry practitioners to solve real-world challenges through adopting digital solutions, enhancing productivity, service quality, and global competitiveness.
Let me close with this thought. Tourism does not thrive on technology alone, but also on the warmth of human connection. While AI can personalise journeys and digital tools enhance convenience, they can never replace real local stories and human interactions that truly define travel.
Let us use technology to enrich, rather than replace, the soul of our destinations. Together let us work to ensure every visitor explores our cities deeply, meaningfully, and memorably.
Thank you.
Issued at HKT 13:00
TD to review licence services
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Transport Department (TD) today welcomed suggestions from the Ombudsman’s Office on improving services relating to the issuance of driving licences.
The department remarked that a report issued by the Ombudsman’s Office mainly concerns operations prior to the full implementation of online appointments for counter services on March 16. It said that following the implementation of new measures, the situation with regard to service quotas and queuing issues has improved.
It explained that as applicants for direct issue of licences can receive a Hong Kong Full Driving Licence without taking a local driving test, rigorous checks must be conducted, including verification of original documents issued by places outside of Hong Kong and, where necessary, approaching relevant authorities to authenticate such documents.
To provide convenience to applicants and enhance processing efficiency, the department has implemented various measures. This includes full implementation of online appointments for direct issue of licences via counters, increasing appointment by 40% to 550 per working day, and extending this service to all four Licensing Offices, thereby substantially increasing overall processing capacity.
The department stressed that the enhanced online appointment system has been operating smoothly since its launch. The system features a human-machine verification mechanism, virtual queue management, verification of applicants’ identity through “iAM Smart” and artificial intelligence, and the use of a one-time password for verification. These elements have strengthened security and prevented abuse of appointments.
Stating that it will continue to monitor the new arrangements, the department added that it will also explore further uses of technology, including adopting new AI technologies in e-licensing services.
With regard to recommendations made by the Office of the Ombudsman on further improving ticketing and queuing arrangements for counter services, it said it will study feasible enhancement measures to enhance service quality and efficiency.
It will also continue to promote online licensing services and look at ways to reduce the need for members of the public to visit Licensing Offices in person.