Month: June 2026

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) today laid charges against seven individuals and two companies with a total of 25 counts of offences, in relation to the Wang Fuk Court fire on November 26, 2025.

The offences include manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion.

The two cases were mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts this afternoon.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said it is highly concerned about the Wang Fuk Court fire, including the criminal investigations.

Following the disaster, Police and the ICAC swiftly set up the largest joint investigation task force in recent years to conduct comprehensive investigations in full swing within just six months into the causes of the fire, and possible corruption in the major renovation project of the residential estate. A total of 35 individuals have been arrested to date.

Today’s charges followed thorough investigations by the task force’s officers and legal advice from the Department of Justice.

Police charged three men and two companies jointly with five counts of manslaughter.

Meanwhile, the ICAC charged five men, two women and two companies, including all those charged by Police, with a total of 20 offences. The offences include conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion.

Police and the ICAC have not ruled out further law enforcement actions as their investigations are ongoing.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Vice President Hsiao inspects Malakal Island development plan and visits Palau National Aquaculture Center and giant clam conservation center  
On the morning of June 9 local time (morning of the same day Taipei time), Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao inspected the implementation of the Malakal Island development plan, after which she visited the Palau National Aquaculture Center and giant clam conservation center.
After arriving at Long Island Park, Vice President Hsiao first heard a briefing by CECI Engineering Consultants on their development plan for the park as well as their introduction to Malakal Island. Accompanied by Palau Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl and Governor of Koror State Eyos Rudimch, the vice president then toured Long Island Park to better understand how Taiwan is assisting Palau in developing recreation facilities to be used by local residents and tourists.
The vice president and her party then visited the Palau National Aquaculture Center and giant clam conservation center. At the aquaculture center, they inspected the rabbitfish seedling and fish breeding areas, as well as the sea cucumber and milkfish breeding ponds. They also listened to an explanation of the milkfish breeding program by the Taiwan Technical Mission and fed the fish in the milkfish pond. They then walked to the giant clam conservation center, where the Palau Bureau of Fisheries explained the current status of giant clam conservation efforts, and saw firsthand Palau’s achievements in aquaculture aimed at creating sustainable fisheries.
Before concluding her itinerary, the vice president also took questions from the media. She stated that one of the tasks of this visit is to understand and witness the results of past bilateral efforts and cooperation. She mentioned that during that day’s visit to Long Island Park they heard the CECI Engineering Consultants team explain the relevant plans. She added that the team will continue to communicate with local residents in the future to ensure that all construction meets the needs of the local community and expressed hope that Palau will attract tourists not only with its marine scenery, but also by constructing facilities on land to create new attractions.
The vice president also stated that the Palau National Aquaculture Center and giant clam conservation center are focal points of Taiwan-Palau cooperation. Over the past few years, she said, the Taiwan Technical Mission in Palau has been cultivating edible fish species including milkfish, benefitting local economic development. Since Palau places great importance on marine conservation, promoting the aquaculture industry remains a key developmental direction in terms of edible fish supply. The vice president also mentioned that on the previous day President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. personally explained to her his vision and plans for national development, which include promoting the aquaculture industry. She noted that President Whipps gave the example of milkfish, which he hopes can be used as bait for tuna in addition to being an edible fish species. In the future, she said, professional technical teams from Taiwan will continue to develop an industry model that balances Palau’s ecology and economic needs.
Regarding the upcoming visit to the Belau National Hospital, the vice president pointed out that medical cooperation has always been an important area of collaboration between Taiwan and Palau, especially since both countries face labor shortages. She mentioned that Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) has visited Palau many times to understand local medical needs. Over the past few years, she said, thanks to efforts by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan has continued to assist Palau in introducing new digital medical technologies, building digital infrastructure for telemedicine, and enhancing testing capacities. Whether it is a technical mission or medical team, she emphasized, it is clear that the cooperation between Taiwan and Palau has made tangible contributions to local residents, and it will continue to do so in the future.
The vice president said that she believes all Taiwanese take pride in this work, because Taiwan is a force for good in the world. She pointed out that Taiwan, in its foreign diplomacy efforts, uses soft power and technology to assist its allies in achieving sustainable development that meets the needs of local residents while developing together in mutual prosperity, which is also the focus of the Palau Prosperity Project.
Asked about the incident on June 8 in which a jeep was swept away by the rapidly rising waters of Fata’an Creek in Hualien, Taiwan, the vice president responded by stating that yesterday she had been monitoring the response to the incident. Fortunately, she said, with the full efforts of the search and rescue teams and the assistance of drones in the search, the trapped site manager has been successfully rescued, and is still receiving treatment in the hospital. She then wished him a speedy recovery.
The vice president pointed out that Taiwan has high mountains and swift rivers, and faces various disasters brought on by earthquakes and climate change. The Fata’an Creek barrier lake disaster last year highlighted the challenges posed by climate change and geography, she said, and from the perspective of whole-of-society defense resilience, Taiwan must build rapid disaster prevention, recovery, and relief capacities. The vice president said she also hopes to share the relevant experiences with our allies in the future, as island nations like Palau, she said, likewise face numerous challenges brought on by climate change.
The vice president also expressed concern over the gas explosion incident in Hsinchu and the flooding in various parts of Taiwan, stating that these accidents and disasters are heartbreaking. She also expressed gratitude to all the front-line personnel involved in rescue efforts, and emphasized that the disaster prevention capacities of Taiwanese society in dealing with various emergencies has always been an issue of great importance to President Lai Ching-te.
Palau Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment Steven Victor also attended these activities. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

According to the information of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), passenger trips at the West Kowloon Station (WEK) of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) on a single day on December 27 last year reached nearly 140 000, setting a new single-day ridership record. There are views that the demand for cross-boundary passenger traffic on the Hong Kong Section of XRL is expected to continue to grow significantly. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as set out in a paper submitted to the Panel on Transport of this Council in August 2018, the authorities provided the average daily patronage forecast for the XRL for 2018, 2021 and 2031, whether the authorities have reviewed afresh or updated the XRL’s daily patronage forecast in light of increased travel frequency between the two places; if so, of the latest estimated figures and the respective estimation methods; if not, the reasons for that, and whether there are any plans to conduct such a reassessment;

(2) given that, according to the MTRCL Annual Report 2024, the Service Quality Index of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL dropped from 88 in 2023 to 82 in 2024, whether it knows if the MTRCL has assessed if the existing station capacity and facilities at the WEK of the XRL, including the platforms, waiting halls, arrival and departure facilities, and relevant ancillary facilities, are adequate to cope with the current and future passenger demand;

(3) whether it knows if the MTRCL has formulated any standards for assessing the degree of congestion and passenger comfort at the WEK of the XRL; if so, of the relevant standards, and whether the current service level of the WEK of the XRL meets these standards; if not, the reasons for that, and how the MTRCL assesses that the ancillary facilities at the WEK can meet passenger requirements;

(4) as there are views that a persistent increase in demand for the XRL from Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is expected in the future, whether the authorities have earmarked space at the WEK of the XRL for the construction of a new rail track; if so, whether they have estimated the time required for the works to expand the WEK of the XRL or build an additional rail track (i.e. from the commencement of the planning study to the commissioning); and

(5) whether the authorities have studied the addition of a second the XRL station within Hong Kong’s territory or explored co-ordinating with the Mainland to divert some travellers to other cities in the GBA; if so, of the progress of the study and the preliminary conclusions; if not, the plans the authorities have in place to cope with the pressure on the operation of the WEK of the XRL brought about by the continuous growth in the number of travellers in the future?

Reply:

President,

The Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) was commissioned on September 23, 2018, connecting with the national high-speed rail network, which currently spans over 50 000 kilometres. Since January 2026, the number of Mainland destinations directly accessible from the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station has increased from 44 at the beginning of its operation to the current 110, with at least 212 train trips operating per day. At present, the average daily patronage of the XRL has exceeded 90 000 passenger trips. During the peak travel periods for the XRL over festive holidays and weekends, the average daily patronage generally exceeds 100 000 passenger trips. The single-day patronage hit record high with 148 700 passenger trips on April 4, 2026 (during the Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays).

In consultation with the Security Bureau and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the reply to the question raised by the Hon Lam is as follows:

(1) Prior to the commissioning of the XRL Hong Kong Section in 2018, the forecast of average daily patronage for different years was the patronage estimates derived based on the transport model adopted by the Government and the MTRCL in 2009 and 2015 when applications were made to the Legislative Council for funding for the XRL construction, inputting the data in relevant years, and taking into consideration the then latest planning data and development of Hong Kong and the Mainland as well as the demographic and socio-economic data at the time. Since the commissioning of the XRL, the Government and the MTRCL have been continuously monitoring changes in the XRL’s patronage and making timely adjustments to control point resources, facilities, and services. Regarding operations, the MTRCL has been paying close attention to the actual patronage and market demand, and liaising with Mainland authorities from time to time to make appropriate adjustments to the operating timetable or train frequencies as needed, such as operating additional short-haul train trips for popular destinations during festive holidays, so as to meet passenger demand.

(2) and (3) As the Hong Kong operator of the XRL Hong Kong Section, the MTRCL has been continuously enhancing station facilities and XRL services as necessary in light of the travel patterns and demand of passengers, with a view to providing them with a more comfortable riding experience. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been closely monitoring the operation of the XRL West Kowloon Control Point, and enhanced the clearance capacity of the said control point along various aspects, including flexible deployment of manpower, effective use of information technology, and enhancement of port facilities, with a view to bringing greater convenience to cross-boundary passengers.

Regarding station facilities and layout, apart from reconfiguring the B1 departure level in 2023, the MTRCL has been providing more seats at all levels of the West Kowloon Station progressively since August 2024. Among them, there are over 1 400 seats set up across various waiting areas at the waiting hall on level B3. Meanwhile, mobile device charging facilities with USB ports are also available thereat for use by passengers in need. To ensure that passengers can queue in a smooth and orderly manner while waiting for and boarding trains even during peak periods, the MTRCL has reserved sufficient queuing space in the waiting areas and extended the entrances of some of the boarding gates towards the centre of the hall. It has also enhanced signage and provided train information and clearance situation updates using large electronic displays to facilitate passengers’ easier access of relevant information for entry and boarding. The MTRCL and relevant authorities also deploy additional manpower to assist passengers during peak traffic periods with a view to ensuring a smooth clearance as well as a safe and comfortable XRL experience for passengers.

The MTRCL conducts regular surveys and studies to gauge passenger satisfaction with the services of the XRL Hong Kong Section. According to the MTRCL’s Annual Report 2025, the Service Quality Index for the XRL Hong Kong Section rose from 82 in 2024 to 85 in 2025, which reflects an improvement in passenger satisfaction with the services of the XRL Hong Kong Section.

The Government and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the operation and patronage of the XRL Hong Kong Section and the West Kowloon Station, and review and enhance station and control point facilities in a timely manner, including improving the layouts of the ticketing concourse and the waiting hall, as well as facilities such as shops and seats in the station, while introducing more directly connected destinations at an opportune time in line with the development of the national high-speed rail network, so as to meet passengers’ needs and the long-term development of the XRL.

(4) and (5) The National 15th Five-Year Plan proposed promoting the co-ordinated development of rail transit, strengthening regional infrastructural connectivity, supporting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a world-class city cluster, accelerating the Northern Metropolis (NM) development, and also specifically mentioned taking forward the preparatory work for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (HSWRL). The HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen authorities are taking forward at full steam the two cross-boundary railway projects, namely the HSWRL and the Northern Link Spur Line. Both projects serve the dual functions of cross-boundary travel and local commuting within Hong Kong, integrating the rail transit networks of Hong Kong and Shenzhen through convenient co-location clearance arrangements and supporting the development of the NM in Hong Kong. The West Kowloon Station has 15 platforms, 10 of which are currently in operation, fully meeting operational requirements. We have no plan to build another high-speed rail station at this stage.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected a smuggling case involving a cross-boundary goods vehicle on June 4. Large batches of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $10 million were seized. A 39-year-old male driver in involved in the case was arrested.

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, a cross-boundary goods vehicle departing from Hong Kong for Macao was selected for inspection on June 4. Upon examination, Customs officers found a large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including suspected pharmaceutical products, weight loss injection products, cosmetic injection products and fish maws. 

Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Junius Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

According to statistics from fuel price information websites, Hong Kong ranks among the places with the highest fuel prices worldwide. There are views that under the influence of geopolitical factors such as conflicts in the Middle East, fuel prices in Hong Kong have continued to rise, thereby increasing the burden on people’s livelihood and the local economy. Industries such as transport and logistics, laundry services and aviation have been the first to bear the brunt, while local oil companies’ fuel pricing lacks transparency. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that when announcing measures to cope with fuel prices on April 29, 2026, the Government indicated that it would study different measures to alleviate the impact of rising oil prices on society and people’s livelihood, whether, apart from implementing measures such as the two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme of $3 per litre, the waiver of tunnel tolls and the provision of a liquefied petroleum gas fuel subsidy, the authorities have plans to introduce other specific measures in the future to relieve the livelihood burden on the public arising from rising fuel prices through a multi-pronged approach;

(2) whether the Government has, in recent years, conducted detailed studies and analyses on the costs and profits of oil companies, so as to ascertain specifically the causes of high fuel prices in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether it will consider regulating the price of oil in accordance with section 6 of the Oil (Conservation and Control) Ordinance (Cap. 264); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Government is very concerned about the rising fuel prices due to the tense situation in the Middle East. The fuel supply and prices affect our daily lives. The Government’s work primarily focuses on several aspects. First, to ensure stable energy supply. Second, to enhance the transparency of information regarding changes in fuel prices. Third, the Government monitors price changes, carefully considers their reasonableness and necessity, and also reminds suppliers of their social responsibilities.

The Chief Executive has earlier directed the establishment of the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply (the Task Force), chaired by the Financial Secretary, to monitor and assess geopolitical changes, fuel supply and prices, to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply, and to examine the impact of oil price fluctuations on various industries.

In consultation with the Financial Secretary, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the reply to the question raised by Hon Junius Ho is as follows:

(1) The Task Force has implemented the following measures to address the fuel prices: 

First, the two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Subsidy Scheme) is effective from April 30 to June 29 of this year to support public and commercial vehicles and vessels and related industries that use diesel as fuel. Under the Subsidy Scheme, users who consume diesel locally may receive a subsidy of HK$3 per litre when they purchase diesel, thereby making the selling price of diesel decrease by HK$3 per litre. The relevant subsidy measure is estimated to cost approximately HK$1.8 billion.

Second, reduce tunnel tolls by 50 per cent for all commercial vehicles using government tolled tunnels for two months from May 17 to July 16. The temporary measure aims to alleviate the operating costs of commercial vehicles; therefore, the beneficiaries are commercial vehicle drivers and operators. We estimate that approximately 165 000 registered commercial vehicles will benefit. It is expected to result in a reduction of approximately HK$160 million in tunnel toll revenue.

Third, provide a fuel subsidy of HK$0.5 per litre of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for taxis, public light buses and school private light buses for two months from May 31 to July 30. The temporary measure aims to alleviate the operating costs of local passenger transport commercial vehicles which primarily use LPG as fuel, and reduce the pressure for fare increases. It is expected that about 16 900 LPG (including LPG-hybrid) taxis, about 3 440 LPG public light buses (including green minibuses and red minibuses), and about 170 LPG school private light buses would benefit from the fuel subsidy. 

Fourth, the Working Group on Public Transport Service Special Applications (the Working Group) is established to assist public transport operators (including public buses and ferries) in their applications relating to responding flexibly to rising fuel costs. The Working Group convened its first meeting on April 16 to listen to the franchised bus operators on their current business environment and operation situation, as well as measures they have taken to address the rising fuel costs. The Working Group will consider targeted temporary measures to help operators save energy and enhance operational efficiency in response to oil price fluctuations. 

(2) Retail prices of auto-fuel in Hong Kong are determined by oil companies having regard to market principles and operating costs, the Government is mindful of the concerns across various sectors regarding auto-fuel prices in Hong Kong and has been monitoring whether changes in local retail prices of auto-fuel are in line with the trend movements of international refined oil product price, and in contact with oil companies and urged them to promptly adjust prices in tandem with international refined oil product price movements.

To facilitate the public monitoring of retail price adjustments for auto-fuel, with effect from April 1, 2026, the Environment and Ecology Bureau releases, on a weekly basis, the seven-day moving average retail prices, after walk-in discounts, of unleaded petrol and diesel from oil companies, along with the trends in international benchmark prices of refined oil products during the same period, to enhance transparency of market and price. The Competition Commission (CompComm) has also met with oil companies, emphasising the importance of fair competition and information transparency. The CompComm will continue to closely monitor the market for any instances of price fixing or unfair competition to ensure fair market operations.

(3) With the advantage of having strong support from the motherland, Hong Kong has been able to maintain a stable energy supply amid the emergence of energy shortages in many regions and cities around the world. Nonetheless, fuel prices in Hong Kong have still been determined according to market principles. 

At present, we have no plans to regulate the prices of oil using section 6 of the Oil (Conservation and Control) Ordinance (Cap. 264). The Government will continue to conduct dynamic assessment, closely monitor the international situation and energy price movements, co-ordinate bureaux and departments to prepare contingency plans, formulate forward-looking strategies, and study different measures to alleviate the impact of rising oil prices on the society and people’s livelihood.