Month: June 2026

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2026, introducing a series of reforms to the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK), was today published in the Government Gazette.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau outlined that the MCHK performs important functions. This encompasses accreditation of local medical school programmes and medical interns’ training upon their graduation, registration of medical practitioners, the Licensing Examination for non-locally trained medical practitioners, continuing medical education, the formulation of professional codes and guidelines, and handling complaints concerning the professional conduct of medical practitioners.

Prof Lo added that these responsibilities are vital components in ensuring the high quality and efficiency of Hong Kong’s healthcare system.

“To enhance the executive-led structure and promote good governance, the Health Bureau has proposed to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance (MRO) after a comprehensive review of the provisions, putting forward holistic and targeted reform measures to bring relevant legislations and the professional regulatory regime up to date, supporting the MCHK to discharge their statutory duties in a more effective manner in fulfilling its mission of ensuring justice, maintaining professionalism and protecting the public.”

The bill proposes amendments across four key areas.

Firstly, it seeks to reform the composition of the MCHK to diversify the professional views represented. This includes adding three lay members, appointed by the Chief Executive, who are registered healthcare professionals but not than medical practitioners, in order to promote multidisciplinary collaboration.

The proportion of lay members would consequently be increased to 31%.

Secondly, the bill would enhance the MCHK’s complaint handling mechanism by making it more independent, fairer, more transparent and efficient. The Preliminary Investigation Committee and the Inquiry Panel will be renamed as the Medical Investigation Committee and the Medical Tribunal Panel respectively.

Furthermore, the MCHK will be required to devise and promulgate target timeframes for various stages of complaint handling.

Thirdly, the bill strengthens public protection. This includes a mechanism to immediately suspend the rights to practise of medical practitioners convicted of serious offences.

Fourthly, it introduces other relevant amendments covering the need for medical training, continuing medical education and talent attraction.

Prof Lo stressed that handling complaints and conducting disciplinary inquiries are important functions of the MCHK.

“When the professional competence or conduct of individual medical practitioners may fail to meet the required standard, the MCHK will decide through inquiries whether to impose disciplinary sanctions in accordance with its independent quasi-judicial functions empowered by the MRO.”

In drafting the bill, the Government took into account a review carried out by the MCHK on its complaint handling mechanism, as well as the Ombudsman’s direct investigation operation report on the relevant work of the MCHK secretariat. The Government also met Legislative Council (LegCo) members during the process.

The bill will be introduced in the LegCo for a first reading on July 8.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today said the long-term housing arrangement plan applicable to other blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po will also be available to Wang Chi House (Block H), as over 75% of owners there have confirmed their intention to sell their titles to the Government.

In a statement, the Government said it had received signed Letters of Acceptance from 77.8% of Wang Chi House owners confirming their intention to sell their titles to the Government. Under arrangements agreed earlier, given the strong consensus reached among owners, the long-term plan currently applicable to Blocks A to G of Wang Fuk Court will also be formally available to Wang Chi House.

All Wang Fuk Court owners who intend to sell their titles need to return signed Letters of Acceptance on or before August 31.

The Government said feedback from Wang Chi House owners has been encouraging and positive, reflecting that the long-term housing arrangement plan is deemed attractive and can assist owners in resolving the various uncertainties and complexities they face.

These include difficulties in estimating when they can move back to their flats, a reluctance to do so, handling modifications to the land lease and deed of mutual covenant, the burden of hefty maintenance costs and a potentially sharp increase in management fees, in addition to depreciation in property values and hurdles in future property transactions.

The statement highlighted that the plan offered by the Government allows owners to rebuild their long-term homes and start new lives.

As for Blocks A to G of Wang Fuk Court, the Government has received a total of 1,361 signed Letters of Acceptance from owners as of today, representing about 78.4% of the total number of units in the seven blocks. The acquisition work has been making good progress.

After selling their titles to the Government and receiving cash payments, owners of the eight buildings can purchase a home in the market right away, or participate in the Special Sales Exercise for Wang Fuk Court owners and purchase a new subsidised sale flat (SSF) either with cash or via the “Flat-for-Flat” arrangement.

Flat selection priority under the Special Sales Exercise will be determined in batches according to the date on which the Government received owners’ signed Letters of Acceptance.

The deadline for the first batch is June 30, while that for the second batch is August 31. Flat selection priority for applicants within the same batch will be further determined by sequence, as drawn in a ballot.

The Government encouraged Wang Fuk Court owners to sign and submit their Letters of Acceptance as soon as possible to secure flat selection priority.

As the long-term plan is formally available to Wang Chi House, an extra 496 units will be added to the Special Sales Exercise, on top of the about 3,900 units currently reserved.

The additional units all come from Hong Kong Housing Society SSF projects announced under the Special Sales Exercise. Among them, the number of units at the Pak Wo Road project in Fanling will increase by 200, bringing the total from 100 to 300, while the number of units at the Anderson Road Quarry Site project in Kwun Tong will increase by 296, bringing the total from 300 to 596 units.

Currently, the Housing Bureau is assisting owners who have signed and submitted a Letter of Acceptance to complete Agreement for Sale & Purchase and the Assignment procedures.

As for Wang Chi House, the bureau will arrange for owners accepting the Government’s acquisition to sign the Agreement for Sale and Purchase on or before October 15. There will be a clause stipulating that, if fewer than three-quarters of owners ultimately sign the agreement, the Government reserves the right to discontinue the acquisition.

The statement also noted that $4 billion is earmarked in the Budget for the acquisition of Blocks A to G of Wang Fuk Court. The estimated total acquisition cost for Wang Chi House is about $1 billion. The Government will seek additional funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council.

The engagement team co-ordinated by the Housing Bureau will continue to maintain communication with Wang Fuk Court owners. Owners can contact their designated engagement team member or call the hotline at 2129 8133 for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government is helping both local and Mainland businesses to expand their global reach. In an exclusive interview with news.gov.hk, Chief Executive John Lee outlined that the establishment of the “GoGlobal Task Force” last year was aimed squarely at supporting enterprises in navigating their pathways to international markets.

Mr Lee said: “When we talk about being a ‘Super Connector’, we can of course introduce and connect – but it is more than connect – we do value-adding.”

The Chief Executive explained the Government adds value to firms’ operations. This includes sharing networks and knowledge, advising on business plans, explaining how professional services can help, offering guidance on raising money, and advising on compliance with local laws, all areas in which the Government has good experience.

He elaborated that the Hong Kong SAR Government’s networks can help to ease the path for Mainland businesses to gain a foothold in other countries.

“That is why I have done my recent visit to Central Asia, taking with me a big delegation comprising both Hong Kong and Mainland delegates, including professionals, and industries which are involved in mining, logistics, solving water problems, or new energy.”

Mr Lee explained that through hands-on partnerships, these Mainland businesses gain a deeper understanding of what Hong Kong can offer.

“Through doing it with us, they understand what Hong Kong can do for them. It is not just by reading about information. In the process, the experience has told me that they really appreciate much more what Hong Kong can do for them.”

Highlighting the potential of both traditional overseas markets and new ones, Mr Lee stressed that Hong Kong aims to engage with established markets in the US and Europe, while also exploring opportunities in the Middle East and Central Asia.

“It is important to first examine whether it would be a good idea to set up an economic and trade office in Central Asia so that they can start doing the groundwork to take things further, to build or even consolidate the path, and also to create a momentum for two-way flow.”

Looking ahead, the Chief Executive hopes to make the GoGlobal platform better understood and appreciated by enterprises so that it can serve more clients and expand its reach in terms of locations.

He said users will be asked which services they find most beneficial and helpful, and which needs remain unmet, so that the platform can function at its best. He added that the task force will continue to reflect on how support can be delivered most efficiently while producing measurable returns.  

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai presides over eighth meeting of Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee
On the afternoon of June 25, President Lai Ching-te presided over the eighth meeting of the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee. In his opening statement, President Lai stated that China’s authoritarian expansionist actions clearly demonstrate that it is the one attempting to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and undermining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The president emphasized that Taiwan’s efforts to enhance its self-defense capabilities, maintain the status quo of peace and stability, and safeguard a free and democratic way of life are absolutely not acts of provocation. The president underscored that “the more prepared we are, the safer we will be.” He noted that the government will assess Taiwan’s overall ability to respond to hybrid risks and threats through cross-ministerial and cross-disciplinary cooperation, discussion, and verification, thereby further enhancing Taiwan’s security and defense resilience. President Lai added that Taiwan will also continue to work closely with like-minded countries, standing together to demonstrate the strength of deterrence and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
A translation of President Lai’s opening statement follows:
This morning, our Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee conducted a tabletop exercise focused on gray-zone aggression and high-intensity maritime coercion. I want to thank the advisors, committee members, and colleagues from the administrative team for their hard work and contributions to our nation’s security and resilience.
In recent years, China’s gray-zone aggression, threats, and infiltration of neighboring countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines have caused unease among Indo-Pacific countries and the international community.
This is particularly evident in China’s recent maritime operations in the East and South China Seas and areas around the Taiwan Strait, ostensibly for law enforcement, patrol, or surveying purposes. These are no longer simply routine technical operations. Rather, they are acts of expansion performed under the pretext of law enforcement. Such actions undermine the status quo of security, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the rules-based international order.
The joint statement issued by the leaders of the G7 last week clearly underscored the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region based on the rule of law and reaffirmed their firm opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion.
I want to emphasize once again: These authoritarian expansionist actions clearly demonstrate that China is the one attempting to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and undermining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan’s efforts to enhance its self-defense capabilities, maintain the status quo of peace and stability, and safeguard our free and democratic way of life are absolutely not acts of provocation.
Taiwan will respond to the G7’s call and will engage in collective defense and burden-sharing. We will continue to work closely with like-minded countries, standing together to demonstrate the strength of deterrence and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In the face of China’s operations, I would like to thank our men and women in the military and coast guard for their proactive efforts on the frontline in safeguarding national security. I also want to emphasize that upholding national sovereignty and security is not simply a defense issue but a society-wide responsibility. Modern security challenges are not isolated events, but long-term, complex, and cross-disciplinary stress tests. A strongly defensive, resilient nation needs a stable administrative system and a social structure capable of maintaining order and public confidence in times of crisis.
Therefore, in promoting whole-of-society defense resilience, we constantly emphasize that “the more prepared we are, the safer we will be.” In today’s tabletop exercise, we once again assessed our overall ability to respond to hybrid risks and threats through cross-ministerial and cross-disciplinary cooperation, discussion, and verification, thereby further enhancing Taiwan’s security and defense resilience.
Today’s agenda will begin with a report from Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) on the progress of items listed in the seventh committee meeting. This will be followed by a report from Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council Wen Lii (李問) on the results of this morning’s tabletop exercise.
Next, I would like to invite all advisors and committee members to offer suggestions on items from this morning’s exercise or areas where whole-of-society defense resilience can be strengthened. Let us work together to advance steadily toward our common goal. Thank you.
Following his statement, President Lai heard a report on the progress of items listed in the seventh committee meeting by Minister Liu, who also serves as one of the committee’s executive secretaries, and a report on the tabletop exercise for conducting supply operations under conditions of high-intensity maritime coercion by NSC Deputy Secretary-General Lii. Afterward, President Lai exchanged views with the committee members regarding the content of the reports.
 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Talent engagement has been one of the core policies of the current-term Government.

In an interview with news.gov.hk marking his fourth year in office, Chief Executive John Lee highlighted Hong Kong’s strong progress in drawing global talent, noting that more than 290,000 professionals have arrived through various talent schemes, a figure that readily surpasses the Government’s targets.

In the International Institute for Management Development’s World Talent Ranking 2025, Hong Kong advanced to fourth place worldwide and ranked top in Asia.

Mr Lee described this rise in talent competitiveness as a success story under his leadership, and proof that the Government’s talent policy is working in the right direction.

“This is important because talent will be positive for us if the talent joins me, but will probably be negative to me if it goes to my competitor because he becomes more competitive and I become less competitive.”

Mr Lee also emphasised the substantial economic value the talent schemes continue to deliver for the city.

He cited studies indicating that talent is expected to contribute around 1.2% to Hong Kong’s gross domestic product, but stressed that the actual figure is likely to be higher, as individual talents bring in their family members and contribute to the broader economy.

Mr Lee singled out the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), which recruits graduates from the world’ top 100 universities, for recognition. The influx of personnel via the TTPS is boosting key sectors, including innovation and technology, finance, trading and shipping.

Looking ahead, he underscored that retaining these high-achieving individuals is just as vital as attracting them in the first place.

“That is another challenge because a talent will continuously be offered very attractive terms by other places, even though he is already in Hong Kong.”

Mr Lee expressed satisfaction that the TTPS has recorded an extension rate of at least 50%, and added that he expects that to grow towards 60%.

The Chief Executive remarked that the post-pandemic acquisition target of 35,000 professionals a year is no longer sufficient. To maintain its competitive edge, he said, Hong Kong must aim higher.

He added that the Government will continue to strive to attract more talented individuals and ensure that they become an integral part of the city’s workforce.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Plans for the Hong Kong Section of the Northern Link (NOL) Spur Line were published in the Government Gazette today.

The NOL Spur Line, an underground railway starting from San Tin Station on the NOL Main Line, will comprise a five-km long Hong Kong section and a one-km long Shenzhen section.

Three new railway stations – two in the Hong Kong section, at Chau Tau and the Loop, and one at the new Huanggang Port in the Shenzhen section – will be built.

The Government said construction works for the Hong Kong Section will commence as soon as practicable after securing authorisation for the railway plans. It aims to commission the NOL Spur Line together with the NOL Main Line by 2034 or earlier.

It is estimated that travel times between Kam Sheung Road and Kwu Tung, and between San Tin and the new Huanggang Port, will thereafter be reduced to 12 and 11 minutes respectively.

The Government stressed that the NOL Project is an important transport infrastructure project driving the development of the Northern Metropolis and facilitating Hong Kong’s integration into national development, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline.

The NOL Main Line, connecting the Tuen Ma Line and East Rail Line, will unleash the development potential of the Northern Metropolis by substantially enhancing the coverage and resilience of the railway network.

Meanwhile, the NOL Spur Line connecting the new Huanggang Port will link up the metro networks of Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Under the Railways Ordinance, members of the public can object to the plans in relation to the NOL Spur Line Hong Kong Section from today until August 25. Additionally, people who have a compensatable interest may file a claim.

Call 2762 3976 for details.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, completed his visit programme in Dalian this morning (June 25) and proceeded to Xi’an at noon for a visit.

Mr Chan called on the Secretary of the CPC Xi’an Municipal Committee, Mr Hao Huijie, and the Mayor of Xi’an, Mr Ye Niuping, for in-depth exchanges on strengthening co-operation between the two places.

Upon arriving in Xi’an, Mr Chan visited Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU). He met with the Secretary of the CPC XJTU Committee, Mr Wu Guosheng, and, accompanied by the Vice President, Professor Shan Zhiwei, held a symposium with innovation and technology enterprises in Xi’an, during which he introduced Hong Kong’s business environment, financial and innovation and technology ecosystems, and listened to their business development plans. Mr Chan said that Shaanxi has solid strengths in hard technology, with its innovation capabilities continuously improving, and possesses the capability to expand international business. He encouraged enterprises to actively consider using Hong Kong as a platform for developing international business, and to make good use of Hong Kong’s full-chain funding ecosystem and professional services to grow bigger and stronger. The Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Mr Peter Yan, and representatives of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited attended the symposium.

Mr Chan then delivered a speech to about 400 teachers, students and alumni of XJTU, focusing on how Hong Kong and Xi’an can work together to effectively transform hard technology achievements into products and services for the global market, and encouraging students and alumni to make good use of Hong Kong’s platform to seize development opportunities.

Mr Chan pointed out that Xi’an has outstanding research strengths in hard technology areas such as aerospace technology, artificial intelligence, new energy and new materials, and that cutting-edge technologies can fully unleash their value only by “identifying the right scenarios and the right applications”. For hard technology to become efficient productive forces, apart from laboratory breakthroughs, it must also rely on capital relay, market validation and internationalisation channels, and Hong Kong can provide crucial support in these areas.

He said that Xi’an’s strength lies in hard technology, while Hong Kong’s strengths lie in “one country, two systems”, internationalisation and its status as a financial centre. The country supports Hong Kong in building itself into an international financial centre, an international innovation and technology centre and a hub for talent, meaning that Hong Kong is not only a place where capital and talent converge, but also a “converter” for connecting technology with capital and helping enterprises adapt to international strategies. He pointed out that Hong Kong’s initial public offerings, secondary market financing, private equity funds, exchange-traded products and cross-boundary asset management offer market depth, breadth, innovation and flexibility. Together with a robust banking system and a sound Linked Exchange Rate System, they provide technology enterprises with multi-level fundraising and financing channels as well as risk management tools.

On technology innovation, he emphasised that Hong Kong is promoting the integration of “AI+” and “Finance+”, and has advantages in areas such as communications hub functions and computing power development. In addition, the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, as the Government’s patient capital, supports investment in small, early-stage, long-term and hard technology projects. When Xi’an’s technology seeks to go international, in addition to the technology itself, it also needs capital that understands technology, professional services, patent protection, brand building and global networks — and these are precisely the support that Hong Kong can provide.

Mr Chan encouraged young students to regard Hong Kong as one of the barometers of the global market, actively enter the intersection of “finance + technology”, and make good use of Hong Kong’s positioning as an international financial centre and an international innovation and technology centre to accumulate practical experience across markets and regions. He also encouraged them to base themselves in Hong Kong and look to the world, and welcomed them to make use of learning, internship and work opportunities in Hong Kong to build connections with international capital, markets and professional institutions.

In conclusion, he said that Hong Kong is willing to be a long-term partner of Xi’an and of the teachers, students and alumni of XJTU. With the shared goal of “Xi’an R&D, Hong Kong empowerment, global application”, Hong Kong is ready to deepen collaboration in project co-operation, capital matching and talent exchanges.

The Vice Chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr Zhang Xiaoguang, and the President of the Hong Kong China Friendship Association, Ms Cheng Cheung-ling, took part in the visit programme at XJTU.

Before leaving Dalian in the morning, Mr Chan continued to attend the Summer Davos 2026. He spoke at a session organised by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited on “Scaling Green Technology for Climate Impact: How Capital Accelerate Change”.

Speaking at the session, Mr Chan said that Hong Kong has set clear carbon reduction targets, including reducing carbon emissions by half before 2035 as compared with 2005 levels, and achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. However, Hong Kong also sets a higher goal of serving the country’s and the region’s green transition. As an international financial centre, Hong Kong continues to play its role as a green financing hub, and will further promote financial innovation, including the continued development of digital green bonds, insurance-linked securities such as catastrophe bonds, and other instruments. It will also actively align with international green and sustainable finance standards, including promoting the Sustainable Finance Action Agenda, strengthening climate-related disclosure requirements for listed companies, and enhancing the green and transition finance taxonomy framework.

On industrial development, Hong Kong is accelerating the building of a green technology ecosystem. Currently, more than 300 green technology enterprises have established a presence at Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport, and possess international competitiveness. The HKSAR Government continues to support the development of green industries of strategic significance, promoting the transformation of research outcomes and industrial upgrading.

Mr Chan will continue his visit programme in Xi’an tomorrow (June 26).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Deputy Secretary for Justice and the Chairman of the Expert Committee on Professional Services for Going Global, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, today (June 25) attended the 9th China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi, Xinjiang, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The visit aims to promote the unique advantages of Hong Kong’s professional services, and foster closer co-operation between the country and the Eurasian regions for jointly advancing the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
 
     Upon his arrival in Urumqi yesterday (June 24), Dr Cheung met with leaders of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region along with political and business representatives from various countries and regions of Asia and Europe, followed by a welcome dinner.
 
     This morning, Dr Cheung met with the Chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Mr Erkin Tuniyaz, and attended the opening ceremony of the Expo. Jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the People’s Government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Expo attracted the participation of 27 countries and regions, as well as enterprises and institutions from various places as exhibitors.
 
     Dr Cheung stated that as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong has been actively participating in the work of high-quality joint development. Earlier, he joined a business delegation comprising representatives from Hong Kong and the Mainland led by the Chief Executive on a visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, aiming to promote deep co-operation with these two major Central Asian countries participating in the joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative. He was delighted to return to Xinjiang for a major international exchange event following his previous visit in 2024.
 
     Dr Cheung said that Xinjiang is a bridgehead for China’s westward opening-up and a core zone of the Silk Road Economic Belt, with a distinct geographical advantage of bridging East-West two-way trade flows. While Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, it also serves as an international hub for finance, trade, shipping and innovative technology. Dr Cheung said he believed that the Expo would help further promote co-operation between the two places and the Eurasian region.
 
     Dr Cheung added that Hong Kong’s legal, accounting, and financial professional services have always been renowned for their high standards and alignment with international rules, providing one-stop support for enterprises along the Belt and Road in areas such as cross-border investment, risk management, and legal dispute resolution. Hong Kong is committed to transforming these advantages into a powerful force for assisting enterprises to go global and jointly develop the Belt and Road Initative. The Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform, established by the Department of Justice, will spare no effort in facilitating precise connections between enterprises with Hong Kong’s professional services.
 
     He expressed hope that more Xinjiang and Eurasia enterprises would make good use of Hong Kong’s world-leading professional services to go global, driving more high-quality development projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, and bringing mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.

     Dr Cheung concluded his visit and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following the case of a crocodile found yesterday (June 24) on the podium of a unit at Tai Po Road, Sham Shui Po, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) continued an in-depth investigation and identified a unit in the building adjacent to the podium as being involved in the case. At around 00.30am today (June 25), the HKPF, together with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), conducted a joint raid at the unit. Including the crocodile seized earlier, a total of 30 endangered reptiles were seized.
 
During the operation, AFCD officers found 63 reptiles, amphibians and arthropods inside the unit. Among them, 29 were endangered reptiles listed in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These included three rock iguanas which are listed in Appendix I to the CITES; and 10 turtles, 10 lizards and six snakes listed in Appendix II to the CITES. The species include Aldabra giant tortoises, a savannah monitor, a boa constrictor and a Burmese python, etc.
 
A 35-year-old local woman claimed to enforcement officers that she is the owner of the animals, and claimed that they were possessed for education purposes. As the woman was unable to produce any Licence to Possess or relevant proof, the AFCD has therefore arrested her on suspicion of illegal possession of endangered species listed in Appendices I and II to the CITES. A total of 30 endangered reptiles, including the crocodile found yesterday, were seized for further investigation. The crocodile has been preliminarily identified as an estuarine crocodile, which is a species listed in Appendix I to the CITES.
 
According to the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), unless exempted or otherwise stipulated, possession of Appendix I or Appendix II species requires a Licence to Possess or relevant documentary proof of the animals’ origin.
 
A spokesman for the AFCD said, “Illegal possession of endangered species is a serious offence. Any person contravening the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years and the seized specimens will also be forfeited upon conviction.”
 
To safeguard public safety, the AFCD strongly urges members of the public not to keep dangerous or aggressive animals in their homes. In addition, different animals have different specific needs, and wild animals have particular environmental requirements. From an animal welfare perspective, wild animals are not suitable for keeping in households.

The Government is committed to protecting endangered species. The AFCD will remain vigilant and continue to monitor and collect intelligence through various channels, and proactively take enforcement action to combat offences involving endangered species. Members of the public are urged to report any suspected illegal possession of endangered species to the AFCD by calling 2150 6978 or emailing to espint@afcd.gov.hk.