Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Kingsley Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):
Question:
The Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project (NSCCP) aims to provide families in need of support with flexible day child care services at the neighbourhood level through two modes, namely the home-based child care service (HCCS) provided by home-based child carers (HCCs), and centre-based care groups (CCGs). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the detailed income and expenditure of NSCCP in each of the past three years, including the total expenditure on overall services, the expenditure on the incentive payment for HCCs, and the respective income from HCCS and CCGs;
(2) of the number of HCCs and the number of children served under NSCCP in each of the past three years, with a breakdown by District Council district;
(3) of the average monthly service hours of HCCs, and the average monthly number of hours of services received by the children served, under NSCCP in 2025-2026;
(4) as there are views that even though the incentive payment for HCCs has been increased to $40 and $60 per hour depending on the child’s age and learning needs with effect from April 2024, the effectiveness in encouraging members of the public to apply to become HCCs remains insufficient, whether the authorities will consider providing an “incentive payment for proactive service” or other cash incentives to HCCs whose service hours exceed a certain number of hours per month; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(5) as there are views that the provision of adequate funding for child care services is crucial for boosting the labour force, whether the authorities will consider the introduction of professional HCCs in addition to volunteer services, with a view to helping women and the silver-haired group enter the workforce, as well as strengthening the force of HCCs to help unleash the labour force of families; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(6) as it is learnt that the residences of HCCs are required to pass a home assessment, such as being required to have soft rubber pads and safety guards installed at cabinet corners and door gaps to protect young children, whether the authorities have provided any financial assistance to HCCs for the installation of such equipment; if so, of the form and/or amount of the financial assistance; if not, whether consideration will be given to providing such financial assistance?
Reply:
President,
Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Kingsley Wong is as follows:
(1) The expenditure on the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project (NSCCP) in the past three years is tabulated as follows:
Year
Expenditure ($ million)
2023-24 (Actual)
88.0
2024-25 (Actual)(Note)
222.7
2025-26 (Revised estimate)
237.8
Note: In 2024-25, the Government increased the incentive payment for home-based child carers, the number of service places and the expenditure for home-based child carer training, hence the overall expenditure on the service increased.
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) provides subvention to non-governmental organisations under the Lump Sum Grant subvention mode to cover the required service operating costs, including staff salaries, costs for recruiting and training home-based child carers, incentive payments, service promotion costs, and subsidies for service fee waiving/reductions.
Subject to compliance with the service agreements, service operators can flexibly deploy the funding to meet the required service output and outcome standards. Moreover, parents may apply directly to service operators for service according to their needs, and the respective service operators will handle the applications and collect the fees. Therefore, the SWD does not maintain the breakdown of the amount of individual income and expenditure items as mentioned in the question.
(2) and (3) The number of home-based child carers and the number of children served in the past three years with a breakdown by District Council districts is set out at Annex. The SWD does not have information on the average monthly service hours of home-based child carers and children served.
(4) and (5) The NSCCP is a mutual help project which aims to provide parents in need with flexible day child care services at the neighbourhood level apart from the regular child care services while promoting mutual help and care within the community.
Home-based child carers provide child care services to parents in need in the spirit of caring for others. The incentive payments they receive are intended to express the Government’s appreciation and recognition of their contributions. Taking into consideration of the service nature, demand and supply situation, as well as to address the districts’ demand for day child care services, the SWD has increased the incentive payment for home-based child carers since April 2024. The rate has increased to $60 per hour for carers of infants and young children aged zero to under three or children with special educational needs, and $40 per hour for carers of other children. Increasing the incentive payment helps to attract and encourage more people to become home-based child carers. The Government welcomes women, elderly and middle-aged individuals to become home-based child carers.
To ensure service quality of the NSCCP and to balance service demand, the SWD stipulates that each home-based child carer may care for a maximum of three children aged at or below primary school level (including the home-based child carer’s own children) at any one time, as well as one child aged under three or a child with special educational needs, so as to ensure the quality of care provided to the children.
(6) The service operators will assess whether the home environment of a home-based child carer is suitable for providing care services for young children. If necessary, the operators will suggest improvements and provide the home-based child carer with relevant protective supplies to ensure a safe and suitable home environment for taking care of young children.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ18: Cases involving sexual offences Question:
Given the Government’s indication that it plans to propose legislative amendments on sexual offences within this year, there are views that society needs a more accurate understanding of the current situation regarding sexual offences in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: President,
YearTable 2: Statistics on cases of indecent assault
Year(2) and (3) As for sexual offences against children, a child is defined under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance as a person who is under 17 years of age. Statistics on cases of sexual offences against children received by the Police in the past five years are set out in Table 3.
The Police do not maintain statistics on the relationship between persons involved in cases of sexual offences against children.
YearTable 5: Statistics on cases of indecent assault involving MIPs
Year(5) and (6) Since voyeurism-related offences under the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) came into effect in October 2021, the relevant statistics up to the end of 2025 are tabulated at Table 6.
The Police have also been conducting online patrols proactively to combat various offences (including voyeurism-related offences). Where actual circumstances require, the Police will request online platforms, operators, etc, to remove contents such as images and posts. The Police do not maintain a statistical breakdown on removal of intimate images.
Year(October to December)(October to December)(October to December)(October to December)Issued at HKT 11:20
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Police conduct inter-departmental counter-terrorism and major incident exercise to prepare for major international conferences The exercise simulated a scenario prior to an international conference, as delegations from around the world arrived in Hong Kong. Armed terrorists attacked members of the public and placed suspicious objects inside a passenger terminal at the airport. Concurrently, a series of knife attacks against pedestrians and a large-scale power outage occurred at a large shopping mall in nearby Tung Chung. Various departments and organisations swiftly activated their emergency response mechanisms to address the incidents.
The exercise comprehensively tested the co-ordination capabilities of relevant stakeholders across critical areas, including immediate tactical intervention, emergency response, triage and emergency medical treatment of casualties, handling of suspicious objects, response to power failures, and management of affected persons. By refining contingency protocols, the exercise further enhanced inter-departmental counter-terrorism readiness and incident response capabilities.
The exercise mobilised over 1 400 personnel from various government departments and relevant organisations, including the HKPF, the Fire Services Department, the Hospital Authority, the Customs and Excise Department, the Immigration Department, the Civil Aviation Department, the AAHK, and the Aviation Security Company Limited. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, observed the exercise on site, and commended the professional performance and collaboration of all participating units.
As an international metropolis, Hong Kong must maintain a high state of vigilance at all times amidst the complex and volatile global terrorism landscape. Hong Kong will host three major international conferences, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers’ Meeting 2026, the 94th INTERPOL General Assembly, and the XXVIII Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly – Hong Kong, China 2026. The HKPF will continue to maintain close liaison with relevant government departments and stakeholders, robustly implement security measures and continuously review incident contingency plans, making every effort to ensure comprehensive and meticulous preparations for the smooth running of these important international conferences. Issued at HKT 10:58
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
First ever Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation hosted in Saudi Arabia, bridging two cultures and cinematic worlds Presented by the Asian Film Awards Academy, with support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai (HKETO Dubai), the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, and the Film Development Fund, the inaugural Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation – Saudi Arabia took place at a leading cinema chain in the Saudi capital. The programme featured four new films from Hong Kong filmmakers, showcasing a diverse range of genres – from action thrillers and suspenseful dramas to deeply compelling human stories.
Nearly 200 guests attended the opening reception to interact with Directors Njo Kui-ying (“Road to Vendetta”) and Chou Man-yu (“Behind the Shadows”) who traveled to Riyadh to join the landmark occasion. Other distinguished guests included the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Chang Hua; senior representatives from local government and regulatory bodies, including the Saudi Film Commission and the General Authority for Media Regulation; as well as members of the local business and cultural communities. The festival debut of opening film “Road to Vendetta”, also its Middle East premiere, was screened to a full house with enthusiastic response.
To enable better audience understanding about Hong Kong cinema, post-screening sharing sessions were held with Directors Njo and Chou, who discussed the inspirations and creative processes behind their works. Additional films featured in the festival included “Ciao UFO” and “Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert”.
Speaking at the opening reception, Director-General of HKETO Dubai, Mr Simon Chan, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s remarkable cinematic renaissance and thriving creative industries driven by Vision 2030. He further noted that as the current official representation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in the Middle East region, HKETO Dubai has been actively working to promote diverse exchanges and liaison between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia across multiple sectors, including business, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
“The Government is committed to promoting the development of arts, culture and creative industries, with over $9 billion in total injected into the CreateSmart Initiative and the Film Development Fund. The Government also actively supports the development of our local film industry through funding schemes and industry activities for deepening cultural exchange and expanding markets. We are hopeful that hosting the inaugural Hong Kong film festival in Saudi Arabia will allow more local audiences to experience Hong Kong cinema, and strengthen cultural connections between Hong Kong and Middle East audiences and filmmakers in the industry,” Mr Chan said.
HKETO Dubai will continue to support Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries by fostering cross-regional exchanges and creating new opportunities through collaboration with stakeholders in the Middle East region. Issued at HKT 4:55
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ3: A collaboration mechanism for development of Northern Metropolis Question:
There are views pointing out that the development of the Northern Metropolis (NM) involves various industrial park companies, and that several policy bureaux will also be involved in its construction. The smooth operation of the collaboration mechanism will directly affect the pace and effectiveness of the NM’s development. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the Government will establish a mechanism for the division of labour and collaboration amongst the relevant industrial park companies so as to avoid unreasonable competition between them;
(2) as the three working groups under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis focus on different areas and are led by different Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries, how will the relevant policy bureaux currently exchange views and co-ordinate with these working groups, for example, whether cross-departmental collaboration and regular meeting mechanisms have been established; if so, of the specific arrangements regarding the frequency of such meetings, the rank of participating officials and decision-making authority; and
(3) in light of the need to enhance communication and collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland on matters relating to the NM, the Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy, led by the Deputy Financial Secretary and the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, has convened eight meetings, of the current status of the collaboration between Guangdong and Hong Kong regarding the development of NM, as well as the latest outcomes of consultations?
Reply:
President,
The Northern Metropolis (NM) is Hong Kong’s major new strategic development space for the future. In addition to increasing housing supply, the NM will also provide substantial land for industry development. The planning and development of land are co-ordinated by the Development Bureau (DEVB), while policy bureaux responsible for innovation and technology (I&T), education, healthcare and other sectors promote industry development. As the NM development enters the stage of bringing in industries, the Chief Executive decided to raise the level of decision-making for the NM development. At the end of September last year, the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis (CDNM), chaired by the Chief Executive, was established to provide high-level leadership and co-ordination among the policy bureaux involved in NM development. Three workings groups, each led by a Secretary or Deputy Secretary, were set up under the CDNM. The Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office under the DEVB continues to drive the NM forward following the strategies and objectives determined at the Government’s highest level, co-ordinating and aligning the work of different bureaux and departments throughout the process, while also serving as the key channel for external liaison.
In respect of the question raised by Dr the Hon So, having consulted relevant policy bureaux, reply to each part of the question is as follows:
(1) The establishment of industry park companies to develop and operate the NM industry sites enables better integration of market forces and the application of public-private partnership approach, thereby accelerating the industry development in the NM. Each industry park has its own positioning, focusing on complementary strengths and combining efforts to build diverse and vibrant industry clusters. The division of work and collaboration among the park companies were thoroughly discussed in the Working Group on Devising Development and Operation Models (WGDDOM) chaired by the Financial Secretary. In the Budget this year, it was announced that $10 billion would be injected into each of the three companies responsible for the industry land in Hung Shui Kiu, the Hetao Hong Kong Park and the San Tin Technopole, demonstrating the Government’s commitment and leadership in mobilising market resources to expedite the development of the relevant industry sites.
Regarding the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park, the Government’s objective is to leverage the well-developed transport network of the area and its locational advantage of being adjacent to Qianhai in Shenzhen, so as to promote high value-added and smart production industries, such as pharmaceuticals, food processing and advanced construction, etc. The range of industries to be introduced can be highly diverse.
The Hetao Hong Kong Park is positioned as a world-class hub for technological innovation, focusing on upstream and midstream levels such as research and development (R&D), outcome transformation and pilot production. As the natural extension of the Hetao Hong Kong Park, the San Tin Technopole will provide space for prototyping, pilot production and mass production to support commercialisation of R&D outcomes. Together, the two areas will form an upstream-midstream-downstream synergy, building a complete I&T ecosystem.
(2) The CDNM, chaired by the Chief Executive, comprises relevant Secretaries, Permanent Secretaries and Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, etc, thereby ensuring high-level oversight and policy co-ordination. To date, the CDNM has convened three meetings, providing strategic guidance on several major NM policies such as dedicated NM legislation and the development plan for the University Town, and overseeing the work of its three working groups.
The Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, comprises relevant Secretaries and Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, etc. To date, the Working Group has convened two meetings to discuss the overall development strategy for the NM University Town. For research purposes, the Working Group has conducted visits to several cities in the Chinese Mainland and overseas earlier.
The WGDDOM, chaired by the Financial Secretary, comprises the Deputy Financial Secretary, relevant Secretaries, Permanent Secretaries and Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, etc. To date, the Working Group has convened three meetings to examine a number of NM-related projects, including the proposals to establish the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company Limited and the San Tin Technopole Company Limited, the tendering model for the Hung Shui Kiu pilot area under the large-scale land disposal approach, and the further development model for the Hetao Hong Kong Park.
Lastly, the Working Group on Planning and Development, chaired by the Deputy Financial Secretary, comprises relevant Secretaries, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, etc. To date, the Working Group has convened two meetings. In addition to providing steer for the drafting of dedicated NM legislation, the Working Group has established and oversees four dedicated project supervision offices which are responsible for expediting the approvals of NM private projects, public housing projects, railways and major road projects, as well as public works projects respectively.
(3) The Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy (Task Force) was established in February 2023 under the Guangdong-Hong Kong and Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation mechanism. The Task Force is jointly led by the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and the Deputy Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, with active participation of relevant key officials from both sides. To date, the Task Force has convened eight meetings to enhance communication and collaboration between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland on NM-related matters, covering areas such as planning alignment, industry collaboration, cross-boundary transport infrastructure, environmental protection and I&T co-operation, etc. Issued at HKT 18:22
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):
Question:
As the average temperature and rainfall in April this year were higher than those in the same period last year, creating favourable conditions for mosquito growth and breeding, the rise in gravidtrap indexes occurred earlier this year. Regarding mosquito prevention and control work, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) since the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) lowered in August last year the threshold for initiating the strengthened mosquito control work from an area gravidtrap index of 20 per cent to an index between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, of the number of areas where actions have been triggered to date and the frequency thereof, and whether it will consider further lowering the initiating threshold; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) given that the FEHD’s goal is to test by early next year at the latest the application of the “mosquito‑against‑mosquito” approach which makes use of Wolbachia-carrying male mosquitoes for prevention and control of Aedes albopictus, of the respective locations, scales and timetables of the such field trials, and the measures in place to monitor the actual impacts on the number of target mosquito species; and
(3) as it is learnt that some Mainland provinces and municipalities have introduced new technologies for purely physical mosquito control by means of simulating human breathing and body temperature, whether the Government will consider conducting local trials of the aforesaid technologies; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government attaches great importance to mosquito control in order to safeguard environmental hygiene and protect public health. The interdepartmental Pest Control Steering Committee (PCSC), chaired by the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB), has been monitoring the gravidtrap index, setting the overall direction of Government’s mosquito control work, and promoting targeted mosquito control measures jointly undertaken by departments, the community, private organisations and Care Teams. In view of the rainy season and the associated risk of mosquito-borne diseases, the EEB convened a PCSC meeting in March this year to provide steer to the strengthening of mosquito control work across departments, and met with trade representatives in April this year to appeal for their active participation in mosquito control work.
Regarding the questions from the Hon Yang Wing-kit, our reply is as follows:
(1) The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) places gravidtraps in different areas across Hong Kong to continuously monitor the activity of Aedes albopictus, and publishes the Area Gravidtrap Indices (AGI), so that different sectors can grasp the mosquito infestation situation and take timely control measures accordingly.
To step up mosquito prevention and control, since August last year, the FEHD has advanced the threshold for strengthened mosquito control work, which was originally initiated when the AGI of an area has reached 20 per cent (Level 3), to 10 per cent (Level 2). Between August last year and May this year, the AGI recorded 10 per cent or above for 128 times, covering 52 monitoring areas. Under the enhanced mechanism, the FEHD convened special meetings of the inter-departmental task forces on anti-mosquito work (Task Forces) to co-ordinate departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito control, conduct risk assessments, and identify locations with more serious mosquito infestation for targeted action. The FEHD will also notify residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, advising property management agents and residents to take mosquito control measures.
Given the recent rise in gravidtrap indices, the FEHD has strengthened mosquito control work across all districts, including those with indices below 10 per cent. District Environmental Hygiene Offices will convene monthly Task Forces meetings until the indices drop significantly. From January to May this year, the FEHD conducted over 290 000 inspections, initiated 79 prosecutions and issued 159 statutory notices requiring the removal of stagnant water or containers. In addition, the FEHD has placed more than 3 000 new mosquito trapping devices across the territory, which can simultaneously suppress larval growth and eliminate adult mosquitoes, and recommended that other government departments adopt the devices at their venues. As of early June this year, the FEHD, in collaboration with the Education Bureau, has installed over 980 new mosquito trapping devices in primary and secondary schools and special schools. The FEHD has also collaborated with the Development Bureau to issue the “Guidelines on Mosquito Prevention in Construction Sites” to construction sites and relevant personnel through the Construction Industry Council, reminding the practitioners to strengthen mosquito prevention and personal protection.
Taking into account that mosquito control work has already been strengthened across districts this year, and the effectiveness of resource deployment at different levels, the Government has no plan at this stage to further lower the threshold for strengthened mosquito control work (i.e. gravidtrap index reaching at least 10 per cent). The FEHD will closely monitor the mosquito infestation situation and the effectiveness of control measures in each district, and dynamically assess the need to adjust the activation threshold.
(2) The theory of “mosquito‑against‑mosquito” involves female Aedes albopictus mating with male mosquitoes artificially infected with Wolbachia, which would result in laying of eggs that will not survive or hatch. In this regard, releasing such male mosquitoes at specific locations should help gradually reduce the local Aedes albopictus population. As male mosquitoes do not bite humans, they do not increase the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission. The World Health Organization, having reviewed studies worldwide, stated that Wolbachia had significant public health value in combating dengue fever. Singapore and Guangdong Province have also applied this technology for mosquito control.
The FEHD has commissioned a biotechnology company to conduct laboratory tests for ensuring that Wolbachia-carrying male mosquitoes do not carry pathogens and that their offspring have no survival capability. Only upon confirmation of safety and effectiveness will the FEHD prepare for field trials. As wild Aedes albopictus may also naturally carry Wolbachia, the company must conduct baseline studies to collect data on seasonal changes in mosquito numbers and natural Wolbachia infection rates, for comparison with the conditions after releasing Wolbachia-carrying male mosquitoes, so as to evaluate the effectiveness.
Upon completion of the abovementioned laboratory tests and baseline studies, and after consulting the relevant District Council, the FEHD will determine the site, scale and timetable for field trials. Subject to the work progress, the target is to conduct field trials in early next year.
(3) The FEHD has been actively introducing suitable new technologies and products to enhance mosquito control effectiveness. Regarding the mosquito control technology mentioned in the question, the FEHD has conducted preliminary study of its principle and will procure the device for field trials to assess its effectiveness and feasibility of application in Hong Kong.
Separately, the FEHD is conducting field trials of another mosquito trapping device imported from the Mainland. This device uses special attractants and ultraviolet light to capture adult mosquitoes, and employs artificial intelligence recognition technology to automatically identify mosquito species and numbers, generating statistical data to assist the FEHD in devising more targeted control measures. The FEHD will assess its suitability for application in Hong Kong based on trial results.
Other mosquito control technologies currently applied by the FEHD include:
Mosquito control robotic dogs
Given that it is difficult for frontline staff to conduct fogging operations in densely vegetated areas, the FEHD has introduced a remotely operated robotic dog equipped with an ultra-low volume sprayer. A trial conducted at Tsing Yi Nature Trail in December last year yielded satisfactory results, and the technology is now applied at suitable locations across districts.
Drones
The FEHD deploys drones to survey complex terrain and densely vegetated areas. Through high‑resolution photographs, stagnant water and concealed mosquito breeding sites can be accurately identified, significantly reducing inspection time and manpower requirements.
Electric stairlift
To reduce physical strain and injury risks for frontline staff, the FEHD has introduced electric stairlift to transport fogging equipment and tools at suitable sites across districts.
Effective mosquito control requires joint efforts across departments, sectors and the community. The Government will continue to work closely with relevant departments, stakeholders and the community, and closely monitor the latest developments in mosquito control technologies, introduce suitable new technologies, in order to strengthen mosquito control work on multiple fronts.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Announcement of seventh batch of recognised medical qualifications under Medical Registration Ordinance(b) that is awarded by a body broadly comparable to any local university awarding medical qualifications in terms of international rankings; and (c) that is broadly comparable to the medical qualifications awarded by any local university in terms of: (ii) the medium of instruction of the programmes; and (iii) any other aspects the SRC considers appropriate. Issued at HKT 15:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Jonathan Stuart Lamport and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):
Question:
In recent years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has vigorously promoted Hong Kong as a hub to assist Mainland enterprises in joining forces to go global and expand into overseas markets such as the Belt and Road and the Global South. There are views that many local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) also wish to expand their businesses overseas; yet at present, the enterprises which have successfully gone global are mostly medium and large Mainland enterprises and leading innovation and technology enterprises, while in Hong Kong only large professional services enterprises in sectors such as financial services, legal services and accounting are able to participate therein. Due to the lack of dedicated interfacing channels, relatively high thresholds of the industry chains, restricted flow of information and the absence of a breakdown of business opportunities into micro-segments, the vast majority of local SMEs have difficulties in integrating into the “going global” industry and service chains, and are unable to benefit from the policy dividends. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it will request relevant organisations such as the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to compile market information specifically tailored for the SMEs going global and formulate strategies for the SMEs to go global, so as to assist the SMEs in grasping the opportunities to join forces to go global;
(2) whether it will, in view of the fact that local SMEs are small in scale, short of resources and weak in international networks, establish a dedicated “SME service matching” mechanism, and through measures such as segmenting the “going global” industry chains, opening up niche business opportunities, simplifying the thresholds for participation, providing one-to-one matching and offering quotas for participation in government trade delegations, enable local SMEs across various industries to integrate into the “going global” ecosystem of Mainland enterprises in a more down-to-earth manner and at lower thresholds; and
(3) whether it will enhance the existing Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales by setting up a dedicated programme to subsidise the SMEs’ participation in joining forces to go global, covering expenses on market visits, business matching, product certification, brand promotion and participation in exhibitions, so as to assist local SMEs in grasping the business opportunities of going global?
Reply:
President,
The Government is committed to assisting companies of various sizes in Hong Kong to expand overseas, including local and Mainland multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and startups. In doing so, we will develop go global services in Hong Kong into new drivers for economic growth, while fostering the robust development of Hong Kong professional and commercial services (including relevant SMEs), bringing unlimited business opportunities to the city.
Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Jonathan Stuart Lamport is provided below:
(1) and (3) To support local SMEs in developing businesses overseas, the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) has been providing funding support to the trade since its commencement in 2012 by encouraging non-listed Hong Kong enterprises to develop more diversified markets and to enhance competitiveness through branding, upgrading and restructuring, and promoting sales. Since 2018, the Government has launched several rounds of enhancements under the BUD Fund, including injections of a total of $9.38 billion. As at end-May 2026, more than 13 000 applications have been approved under the BUD Fund, demonstrating the trade’s strong demand for the BUD Fund. The funding scope of the BUD Fund is broad and covers a wide array of measures to assist enterprises in developing markets and businesses, including participation in exhibitions in economies covered by the geographical scope of the BUD Fund, placement of advertisements, application for trademarks and conduct of testing or certification, as well as production or enhancement of company websites. Moreover, the Government has further enhanced the BUD Fund on June 15, 2026, to increase the funding ceiling per “Easy BUD” application to $150,000 and to expand the geographical scope of the BUD Fund to cover a total of 48 economies (Note), including Belt and Road countries, with a view to assisting local SMEs to harness the business opportunities of going global.
Regarding dissemination of market information, the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs under the Trade and Industry Department, the SME Centre under the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the SME One under the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the TecONE under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) will continue to provide “four-in-one” integrated services and co-organise “four-in-one” seminar series, such as organising seminars on topics like exploration of emerging markets for the SMEs, to equip them to address relevant business development needs. In light of the SMEs’ general lack of overseas networks and resources to conduct in-depth research on overseas investment strategies, the HKTDC conducts economic and trade research on different regions from time to time, covering information on the business environment, policies and regulations, latest industry opportunities, economic data, and relevant practical resource links of various overseas markets. The relevant research reports are published on the HKTDC’s Research portal (research.hktdc.com) for the SMEs’ reference, enabling them to better grasp go global opportunities and formulate corresponding strategies. The HKTDC will continue to strengthen its economic and trade research efforts to better support enterprises in developing their overseas businesses.
In addition, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has set up the functional platform of Economic and Trade Express (ETE) to strengthen trio-coordination among overseas Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs), Invest Hong Kong and the HKTDC in supporting local SMEs and start-ups by proactively organising overseas business missions, assisting Hong Kong enterprises in exploring business opportunities in overseas markets, while assisting more enterprises to invest and establish operations in Hong Kong. Since the first quarter of 2026, we have organised outbound business missions for local SMEs and start-ups through the ETE. These include a mission of 60 tech companies led by the HKSTPC in collaboration with the HKTDC to participate in the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, United States, along with events under the ETE in January 2026, to facilitate exchanges and networking between Hong Kong start-ups and local companies; and a business mission organised by the HKTDC in March 2026 and comprised 18 Hong Kong service enterprises from sectors such as construction, engineering, smart city development, etc, to Bangkok, Thailand, where participants took part in the “GreenBiz HK” promotional activities organised by the ETE. We will take into account enterprises’ needs and interests, as well as other relevant factors such as target markets and appropriate timing for the missions, to continue planning overseas missions to assist Hong Kong enterprises in expanding their business abroad.
On export credit insurance, to support the SMEs in expanding new businesses, the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation will launch the “SME Protect Plus” pilot scheme in July to provide protection for the SMEs exporting to higher-risk buyers.
(2) The HKTDC officially launched the cross-sectoral professional services platform GoGlobal Connect in April this year, bringing together eight groups of Hong Kong professional service providers, including financial services; legal services; accounting, tax and business advisory services; design, marketing and brand management services; logistics and transportation services; telecommunications and information technology services; infrastructure and real estate-related services; as well as testing and certification services, thereby precisely matching the service needs of go global Mainland enterprises and providing them with professional consultation services. At present, the platform comprises more than 200 Hong Kong professional service providers, including not only large corporations, but also small and medium-sized professional service providers, offering more diversified and tailored services for enterprises seeking to go global.
The Chief Executive led a delegation comprising high-level business representatives from the Mainland and Hong Kong to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June this year, yielding fruitful results and reaching 96 co-operations, with over US$1.65 billion involved. The Belt and Road Office will invite relevant organisations to bring their signature projects to Hong Kong for roadshows, making project information more accessible to Hong Kong enterprises (including SMEs), and tapping opportunities for them to participate in the projects.
The Government will continue to assist local and Mainland enterprises in going global and to enhance relevant measures in order to meet the needs of enterprises of different types and scales. We will proactively consider the various suggestions proposed by the Hon Lamport.
Note: The 48 economies include the Mainland, 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states (comprising Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), Australia, Chile, the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Georgia, Macao, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Austria, the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Bahrain, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Brazil.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Lau Ka-keung and a reply by the Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):
Question:
It has been reported that a fatal accident involving an elderly taxi driver occurred in Ngau Tau Kok last month, raising public concerns about the driving safety of elderly professional drivers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it has been reported that the authorities will strive to present enhanced legislative proposals to this Council in the second half of this year to lower the age threshold for commercial vehicle drivers to submit medical examination certificates to the age of 65 and amend the validity period of their driving licences, which will be subject to an annual medical check-up, of the latest progress of the work concerned; whether they will study, apart from medical examinations, requiring drivers to undergo regular actual or simulated road driving assessments;
(2) whether the authorities will, by making reference to the practices of some countries and regions, study implementing tiered driving permissions for elderly drivers according to their age and medical examination results (e.g. by restricting the types of vehicles they may drive and driving periods); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) as there are views that the problem of the ageing of commercial vehicle drivers is severe and that setting a blanket mandatory retirement age will have a significant impact on the manpower in the trade, of the effectiveness of the authorities’ current measures to attract young people to join the trade; whether they will study introducing more targeted policies, such as improving salary packages and enhancing the working environment, to attract more young people to join the trade?
Reply:
President,
The Government has always attached great importance to road safety and is making sustained efforts in reviewing the arrangements related to the requirements for medical certification of commercial vehicle (CV) drivers in order to enhance the safety protection for the drivers themselves and other road users. The reply to the question raised by the Hon Lau Ka-keung is as follows:
(1) According to the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations (Cap. 374B) (the Regulations), a person aged 70 or above who applies for a full driving licence must provide a medical certificate completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner to prove that he/she is medically fit to drive. While general driving licences are valid for 10 years, persons aged 70 or above can only apply for driving licences with a validity period of one year or three years. Besides, if an applicant is suffering from a disease or physical disability specified in the First Schedule to the Regulations, such as epilepsy, the Commissioner for Transport shall refuse the application.
To further safeguard the safety of road users, the Government earlier reviewed the requirements under the Regulations, and proposed raising the medical certification requirements for drivers. The adjustments include amending the eyesight requirements to cover visual acuity and visual field, and imposing additional fitness requirements for CV drivers, such as hearing requirements. The Government also proposed lowering the age threshold for CV drivers to submit medical examination certificates from the age of 70 to 65, and shortening the validity period of their driving licences, to enable aged CV drivers to undergo medical examinations earlier and increase the frequency of such examinations to monitor their physical conditions. Meanwhile, a set of medical guidelines is being formulated for medical practitioners’ reference when conducting medical examinations for drivers.
The Government has been exchanging views with various stakeholders on the items to be covered by the medical examinations and their frequency, among others, to ensure that the legislative proposals meet the actual circumstances and needs. To assist frontline medical practitioners in fully grasping the content of the medical guidelines, and to enhance CV drivers’ understanding of the new assessment requirements, the Transport Department (TD) completed a trial health assessment in the fourth quarter of 2025 to solicit direct feedback from medical practitioners and CV drivers. The response of the trial assessment was positive. The result confirmed the feasibility and practicality of the proposed medical guidelines and medical examination certificates. With the experience gained, the TD is also further refining the content of the medical examination certificates and the assessment process to enhance the clarity of the content of the certificates while aligning with practical needs.
The Government is finalising the legislative details while proactively taking forward the law drafting and relevant preparatory work, with the target of reporting the latest progress of work in this respect to the Legislative Council Panel on Transport in July this year.
Apart from pursuing the aforesaid legislative amendments, the Government will also continue to explore ways to apply innovative technology and artificial intelligence to the assessment of the driving performance of aged drivers, drawing on the experiences across different regions. For example, we note that self-service medical examination kiosks in the Chinese Mainland provide basic physical checks for driving licence applicants, and that South Korea has launched a voluntary driving simulation test scheme for elderly drivers this year. The Government will closely monitor the development and efficacy of these technologies and explore the feasibility of introducing similar services in the future.
Meanwhile, we are maintaining close communication with the Health Bureau to explore how primary healthcare services can be leveraged to encourage CV drivers to understand and continuously monitor their own health conditions at an early stage.
(2) According to the Government’s current legislative proposal, if driving licence applicants or holders suffer from specified diseases applicable to CV drivers, they will no longer be permitted to drive a CV.
Regarding the implementation of age restrictions or tiered driving permissions for CV drivers, we understand that the circumstances of the transport industry vary across the world, with practices differ accordingly. For instance, no restrictions are imposed in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, whereas age restrictions are imposed on the types of vehicles allowed to be driven in the Chinese Mainland. Given that requiring aged drivers to undergo regular health assessments can help them gain a timely understanding of their physical conditions, thereby enabling them to prevent and seek treatment for illnesses that may affect their driving ability, and that this practice is more common in other places, we recommend first implementing the enhanced requirements for medical certification of CV drivers as soon as practicable. Building on this, the Government will comprehensively consider, on a risk-based principle, multiple factors including developments of the relevant trades, the traffic accident rates involving CVs and the latest practices in other places, while keeping an open mind in studying various suggestions and listening to public views.
(3) The Government has all along been keeping in view the manpower shortage and ageing situation of drivers in the transport industry. On general qualifications for driving, the Government has relaxed the eligibility requirements for the application of CV driving licences since October 1, 2020, shortening the minimum period required for a person to hold a valid driving licence to drive a private car or a light goods vehicle before applying for a CV driving licence from three years to one year.
The Government has also kept exploring with the trade appropriate measures to enhance service quality, and encouraging the creation of a desirable working environment. In this regard, franchised bus operators have in recent years introduced arrangements including part-time employment and flexible working hours to attract young drivers to join as employees. As for public light buses, the TD and the Employees Retraining Board launched in 2024 a placement-tied driving training scheme for the green minibus trade through training organisations to encourage locals to join the trade. In addition, the Government further enhanced the Taxi Written Test in November 2025. Following the enhancement, the average monthly number of candidates sitting the test has increased by 40 per cent, while the numbers of candidates taking and passing the test at the age of 29 or below have both recorded an increase. In recent years, the Government has also implemented a series of measures, such as introducing taxi fleets with systematic management and mandating taxi drivers to provide electronic payment methods, with a view to enhancing the service quality and overall image of the taxi trade, thereby attracting new blood to join the trade.
The Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the trade and actively review the latest manpower situation to attract more new blood to join the transport sector.