Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Aaron Bok and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
Question:
Since Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles was launched in July 2023, up to the present, the cumulative number of Hong Kong private cars that have participated in the scheme has exceeded 140 000. The Guangdong Provincial Government announced on May 30, 2026 that the validity period of the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles policy would be extended by five years to June 1, 2031. The Government also launched Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles in December 2025. Meanwhile, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) promulgated in May 2026 several measures of the Customs in support of the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, launching 20 specific measures, among which include the implementation of one-stop regulation for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that the GACC will implement one-stop regulation for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles, whether the authorities have conducted specific alignment on the relevant standards and put in place corresponding measures; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) as it has been reported that some drivers have made use of Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles to provide private charter car services for northbound boundary crossing, involving the illegal acts of unlawfully using motor vehicles for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward, whether the authorities have compiled statistics on the numbers of prosecutions and convictions involving such offences over the past three years, and the penalties imposed in each convicted case respectively;
(3) apart from the illegal acts mentioned in item (2) above, whether the authorities have information on the numbers of prosecutions and convictions involving other illegal acts relating to Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles, including smuggling offences in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), and the penalties imposed in each convicted case respectively; and
(4) of the numbers of enforcement operations in which personnel posed as passengers (commonly known as “decoy operations”) conducted by the authorities to combat illegal acts involving Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles over the past three years; and apart from decoy operations, what measures the authorities have in place to step up enforcement and prevent such illegal acts?
Reply:
President,
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been committed to working with the People’s Government of Guangdong Province (Guangdong Government) to take forward various cross-boundary transport initiatives, including Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (Northbound Travel Scheme) and Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Southbound Travel Scheme) implemented via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, through which realising mutual engagements between residents of the two places and fostering deeper connectivity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Regarding the Northbound Travel Scheme, it has been three years since its implementation in mid-2023. The cumulative number of Hong Kong private cars participated in the scheme is over 140 000, and the cumulative two-way traffic flow has reached around 5.2 million vehicular trips. As for the Southbound Travel Scheme which was implemented at the end of last year, it has been expanded from the initial four applicable cities to all nine Mainland cities in the GBA since mid this year.
On the other hand, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) promulgated several measures of the Customs in support of the development of the GBA in May 2026 in accordance with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to consolidate and enhance the role of the GBA as an engine for high-quality development. Twenty specific measures were proposed across five areas to inject fresh impetus to accelerate the development of the GBA. Among these, under the measure of “focusing on integrated development, strengthening closer convergence of rules and mechanisms, and striving to enhance the level of market integration in the GBA”, the GACC announced the implementation of a one-stop regulation for the Northbound Travel Scheme and the Southbound Travel Scheme to facilitate cross-boundary travel between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. To this end, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) is currently liaising with the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC on the implementation details of these specific measures.
After consulting the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the C&ED, the reply to the questions raised is as follows:
(1) Regarding the implementation of a one-stop regulation for the Northbound Travel Scheme and the Southbound Travel Scheme under the several measures of the Customs in support of the development of GBA promulgated by the GACC to facilitate cross-boundary travel between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the C&ED is engaging with the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC on the implementation details and actively liaising with the Customs administrations of Guangdong and Macao so as to better co-ordinate on the implementation of the measures. Besides, the TLB and the Transport Department will continue to maintain communication with the Guangdong Government on the Northbound Travel Scheme and the Southbound Travel Scheme.
(2) From 2023 to May 2026, a total of 19 cases involving cross-boundary vehicles were recorded during the enforcement actions taken by the HKPF against illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. The HKPF does not maintain records of other figures inquired in the question.
(3) Over the past three years (from July 2023 up to the present), the C&ED has prosecuted a total of seven cases against drivers under the Northbound Travel Scheme for breaching the laws of Hong Kong. The offences involved include failing to declare cigarettes exceeding the duty-free allowance, smuggling vehicle parts, as well as trafficking dangerous drugs etc. Among the seven cases, four cases have been convicted, while the remaining three are still undergoing court proceedings. Details of the seven cases categorised according to the relevant laws and their respective penalties are as follows:
Relevant laws
Total no. of cases (Note)
Penalties
Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109)
2
Penalties for 2 cases include fines of $1,000, as well as a term of imprisonment of a period ranging from 2 weeks (suspended for 18 months) to 5 months
Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60)
3
3 cases are still undergoing court proceedings
Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134)
2
Penalties for 2 cases include fines from $1,000 to $8,000, as well as a term of imprisonment of 10 months (suspended for 36 months)
Note: When a case involves multiple offences under different ordinances, it is categorised according to the most serious offence and the items seized.
(4) The HKPF may conduct “decoy operations” by posing as passengers at varying intervals. The relevant information, however, involve operation details and cannot be revealed. Apart from “decoy operations”, the HKPF will continue to adopt an intelligence-led approach, and depending on operational priorities, flexibly deploy resources for enforcement operations, such as conducting targeted traffic stop-and-searches at boundary control points and major roads irregularly.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Carmen Kan and a reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
Question:
Last month, the Chief Executive stated that the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT) would be developed into an integrated university town area covering 1 000 hectares or above (University Town Area). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as the Chief Executive has reportedly pointed out the five major common elements (five major elements) of a successful university town, namely “education, technology, talents, industries and urban development”, and it is proposed in the public consultation document on Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan to position NMUT as a key engine for the Northern Metropolis development, how the Government will integrate the five major elements into the relevant planning;
(2) as other government officials and experts from outside the Government can be invited, on a need basis, to participate in the relevant work of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, whether the Government has adjusted the membership list of the working group having regard to the prevailing circumstances, such as including more Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux as well as actively engaging experts in respect of the five major elements, so as to foster consensus and secure support among the stakeholders, including the education sector; and
(3) with a view to keeping abreast of achieving legal empowerment under executive-led governance, how the Government will incorporate appropriate strategic vacancy into the dedicated legislation for the Northern Metropolis with regard to the development of the University Town Area, thereby providing a certain degree of flexibility for the construction of the University Town Area?
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Siu-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
Question:
There are views that the Northern Metropolis (NM), adopting an “industry-driven and infrastructure-led” approach as its development principle, will provide over 3 000 hectares of new development land for various public and private sector construction projects, and that the corresponding dedicated legislation for NM has already undergone public consultation, the Government should make necessary preparations to ensure an adequate manpower supply in the construction sector, so as to accelerate the progress of infrastructure works and industrial development in NM. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has reviewed if the current manpower supply in the construction sector is sufficient to support the development of NM; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) given that the Development Bureau has been implementing the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (Scheme), which, on the premise of safeguarding the employment priority for local labour, allows eligible employers to import labour through the Scheme at an appropriate scale to fill vacancies in the local workforce, since the launch of the Scheme to date, of (i) the total number of quotas approved, with a breakdown by trade and discipline, and (ii) the average time taken from the submission of an application to the approval of a quota; whether the authorities can shorten the time taken for vetting and approval to expedite the provision of the construction sector manpower required for the development of NM; and
(3) given that the Scheme primarily applies to public sector construction works contracts with a contract value of no less than HK$1 billion, and in view of the need for public-private partnership in the development of NM, whether the Development Bureau will consider cutting red tape and easing restrictions to include private sector construction works related to NM within the scope of eligible works under the Scheme, so as to provide a more flexible arrangement for the importation of labour?
Reply:
President,
The Northern Metropolis (NM) is Hong Kong’s major new strategic development space for the future which will provide substantial land for industry development. As the construction volume associated with the NM development is expected to rise continuously, we must put in place relevant measures to meet the resulting manpower demands on the construction industry. To this end, the Development Bureau (DEVB) will work with the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to strengthen local training and promote technology adoption across the sector, to enhance the overall productivity of the construction industry, while adhering to the multipronged approach and the policy of ensuring employment priority for local workers. The DEVB will also continue to make effective use of the existing Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (Scheme) as a supplementary measure to respond flexibly to the industry’s manpower needs.
My reply to the questions raised by the Member is as follows:
(1) According to the Construction Expenditure Forecast and Manpower Forecast for Hong Kong Construction Industry released by the CIC in April 2026, generally speaking, taking the NM development into account, the total construction expenditure of the industry could reach $305 billion to $360 billion in 2030/31. The medium-to long-term outlook for the construction industry remains robust, and the overall construction expenditure of the industry is expected to grow steadily.
Due to the ongoing efforts by the CIC to enhance training and the increased adoption of innovation and technology across the sector, labour shortage in some trades has eased. However, with the gradual recovery of the economy including the real estate market, a gradual resurgence of the volume of private sector projects is expected. Together with the anticipated rising volume of public works, including the NM development and other public projects (such as railway and public housing projects), the manpower demand of the construction industry will remain keen in the next five years. There is a need to retain the current Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector and the quota ceiling of 12 000 under the Scheme. The Government will continue to collaborate with the CIC and industry stakeholders to address the industry’s manpower demand with the multi-pronged strategy.
(2) The Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector was launched in July 2023. Applications for labour importation quota must be submitted by the principal contractor of eligible works contracts. The DEVB is responsible for handling and approving these applications. Applicants are required to prove that there is a genuine need for importing workers based on the works progress. The personnel to be imported by applicants must be of the eligible trades/disciplines identified to be in shortage. Applicants or employers must also conduct local recruitment as required under the Scheme and demonstrate that they are unable to employ sufficient local workers to take up the relevant trades/disciplines before their applications are considered. All imported labour applications approved under the Scheme must be for skilled workers and technicians working at construction sites. The Scheme does not allow the importation of general workers nor the imported labour to be engaged in work other than the trades/disciplines specified in the applications. The Approving Authority will stringently perform its gatekeeping role, and will only decide whether to approve an application having regard to the advice of an interdepartmental committee comprising relevant Government departments.
Quota allocation is on a rolling basis, i.e. quotas will be released for new applications after completion of the relevant construction projects. The vetting and approval for the first twelve rounds of applications under the Scheme have been completed. Currently, there are 6 897 approved and valid quotas under the Scheme, including the 259 valid quotas approved before the implementation of the Scheme and counted towards it. A breakdown by trade can be found in the Annex.
The Scheme will accept applications on a quarterly basis with each application period lasting for a month. Application results will be issued to the principal contractor-applicant within two months from the relevant closing date of the application. The above is the normal cycle for the application and approval process. However, should individual construction project be identified as having high urgency, the DEVB will also consider handling its application for imported labour on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the actual circumstances of that project.
(3) Under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector, eligible works contracts primarily apply to public sector construction works with a contract value of no less than HK$1 billion. However, it also specifies that if private sector construction works contracts have special circumstances, such as the contracts involving construction personnel of special trades/disciplines the local supply of which is very limited, or the relevant works projects have exceptional circumstances warranting special consideration and of a considerable scale, the applications may also be considered.
Over the past period, applications received and approved under the Scheme were primarily for public sector projects with a contract value of no less than $1 billion. As the NM development goes into full swing, particularly with more land earmarked for industry development entering the construction phase, we will make good use of the Scheme to cater to the need for speeding up and enhancing the efficiency of industry development. Upon receiving applications from private sector projects related to industry development, we will take into account the role of such projects in driving industry growth, or the wider social benefits they bring to Hong Kong. Such applications must also be supported by the relevant policy bureaux. In other words, for private projects, if the project is purely for private residential development or ordinary commercial buildings, its application will generally not be considered.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
An owner was convicted and fined $106,000 in total, of which $6,000 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (July 7) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
The case involved a cockloft of about 44 square metres in a ground floor shop of a composite building on Wan Hon Street, Kwun Tong. As the unauthorised building work (UBW) was carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD.
A spokesman for the BD said today (July 8), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety.”
Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Tommy Chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
Question:
There are views that in recent years, the Government has been actively promoting digital transformation and encouraging small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to adopt AI technologies to optimise their operational workflows. In the face of the complexity of the external environment and competitive pressures of cross border trade, the import and export (I&E) sector can make good use of AI (e.g. intelligent customs clearance, supply chain forecasting and risk management) to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the Government has compiled, for the past year, statistics on (i) the services provided by various government departments to support SMEs in the I&E sector in adopting AI technologies (including the number of enterprises using such services, major application scenarios), and (ii) the total expenditure incurred by the Government in providing such AI support services for SMEs in the I&E sector; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) whether the Government has assessed the effectiveness of the existing measures (e.g. funding schemes, technical consultations and talent training) that support SMEs in the I&E sector in adopting AI technologies, including the coverage of these measures, the situations of applications submitted by enterprises and approvals granted, and whether it has conducted quantitative assessments of whether these measures can enhance enterprises’ operational efficiency; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) of the Government’s short-term (about one to two years) and long-term (about three to five years) targets for promoting further application of AI technologies by SMEs in the I&E sector, and whether it has drawn up corresponding policy measures and timetables (e.g. increasing funding amounts, formulating guidelines on AI applications and strengthening collaboration with technology enterprises); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government has been adopting a multipronged approach to promote diversified development, upgrading and transformation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of various sectors (including the import and export sector) through measures including funding support, capacity building, publicity and promotion, market expansion. In recent years, technologies such as AI develop rapidly. The Government encourages the trade to adopt technologies having regard to business needs, with a view to reducing operational costs, enhancing efficiency and market competitiveness.
Having consulted the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, a consolidated reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
Different government bureaux and departments have various schemes and measures to support enterprises (including SMEs) to adopt AI in different business scenarios.
As regards funding support, the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) is one of the Government’s initiatives in supporting SMEs. The BUD Fund has been providing funding support to the manufacturing or service industries (including the import and export sector), encouraging non-listed Hong Kong enterprises to develop diversified markets with a view to enhancing their competitiveness through branding, upgrading and restructuring, and promoting sales. To encourage SMEs to implement projects with AI elements, the BUD Fund has provided more targeted funding support to enterprises since mid-June 2026. The Guide to Application of the BUD Fund has explicitly stated that fundable project measures include the application of AI in eligible projects, provided that the funding criteria of the BUD Fund can be satisfied. Examples include the development of AI chatbot function in the company website, or adoption of AI to ensure that the production lines meet the regulatory requirements of target markets.
In addition, the $500 million Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme (Pilot Programme) provided funding support on a matching basis to help nearly 8 800 SMEs adopt off-the-shelf and basic digital solutions, thereby accelerating their digital transformation. The Government will allocate an additional $300 million to enhance the Pilot Programme in order to encourage SMEs to adopt AI and cybersecurity digital solutions, thereby enhancing their competitiveness and strengthening information security. The Government will also actively consider expanding the scope of the programme to cover more sectors. The Government is currently reviewing the Pilot Programme to devise the funding model, scope, funding levels, and implementation details for the new round of the Pilot Programme, with a view to better aligning the programme with enterprises’ needs. Our target is to roll out the enhanced Pilot Programme in the second half of 2026 following consultation with the Legislative Council.
On the other hand, the SME ReachOut, established by the Government and operated by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), helps SMEs identify suitable government funding schemes and provides them with capacity building services, including providing SMEs with information related to technology transformation, digitalisation and e-commerce, etc through one-on-one technology/business know-how consultation meetings, seminars, networking events and annual large-scale events. The Government has allocated $100 million to gradually enhance the services of SME ReachOut in the ensuing five years starting from 2023. The SME ReachOut also organised the two-day “E-commerce Innovation Expo 2026 – Expanding Brand Horizons” in June 2026, featuring AI-related thematic zones, namely New Retail Tech Application and Smart Operations, to help SMEs understand and identify suitable technological application solutions. The Expo attracted over 3 000 visitors and handled over 5 400 enquiries.
At the same time, the Government provides SMEs with four-in-one integrated consultation and referral services through the four SME centres (namely 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 HKPC and the TecONE under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation). The four SME centres also co-organise four-in-one seminars on themes such as technology adoption, exploration of overseas and Mainland markets, with a view to helping SMEs enhance their competitiveness. In the past year (i.e. July 2025 to June 2026), the SME ReachOut and the four SME centres organised a total of 13 seminars related to AI applications, attracting over 900 participants.
The HKTDC also works closely with leading technology enterprises through its “Transformation Sandbox” to help enterprises accelerate the automation of business processes, improve operational efficiency and expand their digital marketing footprint, while leveraging technology to gain insights into key market trends. Furthermore, the HKTDC’s Digital Academy offers a range of online courses that cover areas like AI applications, helping local SMEs enhance their digital competitiveness. In 2026-27, the Digital Academy will invite AI experts and leaders in international trade to deliver practical courses and thematic seminars with a view to assisting Hong Kong SMEs in capturing global business opportunities.
Besides, the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute (AIRDI) will strive to promote the integration of AI technology with industry, accelerate the commercialisation of research outcomes, and make it easier for SMEs to access practical AI solutions. At the same time, the AIRDI will provide security assessments and related consulting services for AI applications to lower the barriers for SMEs in terms of technology adoption and compliance.
Existing schemes and measures under different government bureaux and departments that support SMEs to adopt AI are generally applicable to different sectors. The Government does not maintain statistical breakdown and information in respect of the numbers of applications made, usage by, expenditure incurred for the import and export sector, and the related effectiveness assessment. The 2026-27 Budget promotes the industrialisation of AI and deepening of its integration across various industries while encouraging wider AI application. The Government will continue to maintain close communication with the import and export sector, with a view to understanding the development of and challenges faced by the trade under rapid technological advancement. The Government will also review and enhance relevant schemes and measures as appropriate, thereby further promoting SMEs’ adoption of AI and leveraging AI to drive industrial transformation, innovation and development.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ9: Staffing establishment and operational status of Hongkong Post
Grade In the past three financial years, adjustments to the establishment of various grades of the HKP have reflected the number of posts reduced due to various cost-saving measures, including the five-day mail delivery and the consolidation of delivery beats etc. The HKP will continue to optimise manpower allocation in accordance with the changes in mail volume and operational situations, and flexibly deploy staff to ensure effective use of resources.
Additionally, from 2023-24 to 2026-27 (up to the end-May 2026), 6 705 applicants applied and 113 of them were appointed to the Postman grade, 5 599 applicants applied and 37 of them were appointed to the Postal Officer grade, and 6 530 applicants applied and 20 of them were appointed to the Controller of Posts grade of the HKP. As the HKP has all along adjusted its manpower plan as needed, it does not set annual recruitment target for each grade.
(figure as of March 31, 2024)(figure as of March 31, 2025)(figure as of March 31, 2026)(figure as of May 31, 2026)(4) Since 2006, the HKP has started adjusting its internal staffing arrangements and, without affecting operations, arranged for staff posted to the headquarters and backend staff providing support services to adopt the work arrangement of five-day week. In 2022, the work arrangement of five-day week was extended to some frontline teams. Currently, about 70 per cent of the staff members are working under the work arrangement of five-day week. To ensure that the standard and efficiency of public services are not affected and to maintain essential postal services on Saturdays, such as counter services and hotline inquiries etc, 30 per cent of the staff members still maintain a non-five-day week arrangement. The HKP has been actively optimising staffing arrangements, including planning to further implement the work arrangement of five-day week to mainly cover some of the posts involving clerical tasks in the frontline teams. The HKP will also continue to explore the feasibility of extending the work arrangement of five-day week taking into account the needs of public postal services and operations.
(5) The information on private properties rented by the HKP for use as office premises (Note 5) from 2023-24 to 2026-27 (up to the end-May 2026) are tabulated as follows:
(as of May 31, 2026)($ million)($/square feet)(6) Due to the rapid changes in the global economic environment in recent years, the continuous escalation of geopolitical situation, the rise of protectionism, and the intense competition in the electronic commerce (e-commerce) logistics industry, the HKP’s revenue from e-commerce business in the past three years is lower than originally expected by more than 30 per cent. The actual/anticipated revenue and mail volume from the HKP’s e-commerce business in the past three financial years and the current year are tabulated as follows:
(Actual)(Actual)(Subject to audit)(Anticipated)($ million)(million items) In terms of operating costs, apart from the related conveyance costs and terminal dues, the existing manpower and facilities of the HKP have been deployed to handle e-commerce mail in additional to the universal postal services. Hence, it is difficult to quantify the operating cost of e-commerce business separately.
(7) The average utilisation rates of all iPostal Stations from 2023-24 to 2026-27 (up to the end-May 2026) are tabulated as follows:
Average utilisation rate(up to May 31, 2026) The HKP has been closely monitoring the usage of iPostal Stations as well as conducting timely promotional activities and adjusting related operational arrangements. In the past three financial years, arrangements were made to relocate three iPostal Stations and adjust the number of locker columns of 12 iPostal Stations having regard to the usage.
(8) The number of mail items not collected by recipients within the prescribed time limit at iPostal Stations from 2023 to 2026 (up to the end-May 2026) are tabulated as follows:
Year According to past statistics, about 98 per cent of the mail items were collected within the 48-hour time limit, and the proportion of overdue uncollected mail items was very low, indicating that the current collection time limit basically meets public demand. At present, the HKP has no plan to impose additional charges on recipients who collect items from iPostal Stations beyond the time limit.
(9) EC-GET is an affordable and economical local mailing solution designed to provide diversified services. The HKP launched a pilot programme for the EC-GET door-to-door pickup service in August 2024 and subsequently completed the assessment on the pilot programme. After carefully balancing cost-effectiveness, market demand, and public resource utilisation etc, the HKP currently has no plan to regularise the door-to-door pickup service for EC-GET.(1) The Postman grade includes Senior Postman and Postman. (2) The Postal Officer grade includes Superintendent of Posts, Senior Postal Officer and Postal Officer. (3) The Controller of Posts grade includes Postmaster General, Deputy Postmaster General, Assistant Postmaster General, Chief Controller of Posts, Senior Controller of Posts, Controller of Posts, Assistant Controller of Posts I, and Assistant Controller of Posts II. (4) The HKP would adjust the number of NCSC positions regularly and decide whether to renew contracts with individual NCSC staff according to operational requirements. (5) The office premises rented from private properties are mainly post offices as well as a few delivery offices, mail processing centre and office. (6) A sharp decline in mail volume recorded in 2024-25 was mainly due to external factors such as geopolitical situation and the tightening of inbound mail regulations in different places arising from the rise of protectionism. Issued at HKT 16:11
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
Question:
With the ageing population in Hong Kong, the home safety of and emergency support for singleton elderly persons have drawn considerable social attention. There are views pointing out that some advanced cities around the world have been actively making use of big data analytics from smart infrastructures (such as smart water meters or electricity meters) to monitor the daily routines of singleton elderly persons, so as to prevent cases of solitary death. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: Regarding existing buildings, as of May 2026, the WSD has replaced smart water meters for about 15 000 domestic and non-domestic consumers. About 7 000 of these are installed in private buildings, and about 8 000 are installed in three public housing estates. Subject to resource availability, the WSD plans to further replace smart water meters for another about 800 000 existing consumers from now until 2032. The WSD will consider giving priority to high water consumption users or those in remote areas to optimise water conservation and reduce manual meter-reading costs respectively. (3) & (4) The Housing Bureau stated that the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has been actively promoting smart estate management by applying technologies such as IoT sensors, AI image analysis, mobile device applications and smart access control systems, for enhancing estate management efficiency, strengthening security and optimising service quality, and creating a safer and more liveable living environment for elderly tenants in public rental housing (PRH) estates. The HA is pleased to explore with the relevant departments the feasibility of data sharing and technical interfacing, and to study the use of smart methods using abnormal data as a supplementary indicator to better identify high-risk situations concerning home safety of elderly households, subject to privacy constraints and consent of the elderly tenants. The HA will, as always, continue to pay heed to the views of the community and make good use of technology to enhance elderly services and home safety in the PRH estates. The WSD stands ready to collaborate with the HA to explore how smart water meter data can support the HA’s smart estate management, thereby assisting estate offices in following up on elderly care cases.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from July 23 to 27 A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including: (5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:00
On the afternoon of July 7, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by United States Senator Tammy Duckworth. In remarks, President Lai thanked Senator Duckworth for introducing a bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election, demonstrating the deep friendship between Taiwan and the US. The president pointed out that Taiwan and the US are key strategic and economic partners. Noting that Taiwan aims to become an Asian hub for global drone development, he expressed his belief that cooperation in the drone industry can advance the defense capabilities and the economic development of both Taiwan and the US, while also bolstering democratic and technological resilience, allowing both sides to contribute even more to global peace and prosperity.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
It is a great pleasure to receive our dear friend Senator Duckworth and her delegation in Taiwan once again. I remember last year, when we met at the Presidential Office, I invited Senator Duckworth to visit Taiwan every year. And as we meet again today, I would like to express a warm welcome and deepest thanks to all of our guests, as well as my hope that this tradition will continue.
Your visit falls on a meaningful occasion. Just a few days ago, the US celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I offer my sincerest congratulations. I also thank Senator Duckworth for introducing a bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election. This demonstrated that Taiwan and the US share the values of freedom and democracy and enjoy a deep friendship. Senator Duckworth’s tireless efforts to put forth pro-Taiwan bills over the years and to facilitate vaccine donations to Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate the high regard the US Congress and government have for Taiwan, and that support in the US for Taiwan is strong and bipartisan. For this, I express sincere gratitude on behalf of the people of Taiwan.
Senator Duckworth pays close attention to the situation across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan has always worked to maintain regional peace and stability. That is why we will continue to bolster our self-defense capabilities. Our defense spending, as defined by NATO, surpassed 3 percent of GDP this year, and we expect it to reach 5 percent by 2030.
I want to thank Senator Duckworth for facilitating Taiwan-US drone industry cooperation. We hope that with the support of Senator Duckworth, the US Congress, and government, Taiwan can become an Asian hub for global drone development. The government has allocated resources for a drone industry development project and has proposed a draft special act and special budget for the procurement of drones and unmanned surface vehicles. This will allow us to remain abreast of developments. Our goals are to strengthen national defense, maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and propel Taiwan’s economic and industrial development.
Taiwan and the US are key strategic and economic partners. We hope that Taiwan-US security cooperation will evolve beyond military procurement to a partnership that encompasses joint research and development and joint production. I believe that exchanges and cooperation in the drone industry can advance the defense capabilities and the economic development of both Taiwan and the US, while also bolstering democratic and technological resilience. This will allow us to contribute even more to global peace and prosperity.
Last year, Taiwan became the fourth largest trading partner of the US. And in the first quarter of this year, the US became Taiwan’s largest trading partner. Looking ahead, we will encourage more bilateral investment and industrial exchanges and cooperation, and we will continue deepening economic ties to make our cooperation more fruitful.
In closing, I once again welcome Senator Duckworth and the members of the delegation. I am confident that with your support, Taiwan-US cooperation across all sectors will continue steadily forward, growing stronger with time.
Senator Duckworth then delivered remarks, stating that she is proud to be the first US senator to visit Taiwan after the Trump-Xi summit to deliver a very strong message: Regardless of president or party, Congress’s commitment to Taiwan is steadfast; and that is not just talk. She asserted that Congress’s role matters to this relationship, giving the example of when, in 2021, she traveled to Taipei in the middle of the night with her colleagues, Senators Chris Coons and Dan Sullivan, to announce the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in a bipartisan message of steadfast support for Taiwan.
Senator Duckworth said that she was back in Taiwan in the same spirit of hope and commitment. She pointed out that Congress’s bipartisan commitment to Taiwan spans economics, security cooperation, and humanitarian and security assistance. Since she joined Congress, she said, she has been a leader in ensuring continued US assistance to Taiwan, including critical defense capabilities.
In this moment when some voices may try to question the commitment of the US to supporting Taiwan, Senator Duckworth reiterated that she and her bipartisan colleagues in Congress will continue to push for continued support for Taiwan and to uphold decades of US policy in support of Taiwan’s security. This, she explained, is because they know that Taiwan’s security matters for US security and the security of the rest of the world. She further pointed out that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would cost the global economy as much as US$10 trillion and put over 7 percent of the US GDP at risk, which is greater than the impact of the global financial crisis or the COVID pandemic.
Senator Duckworth stated that just as the commitment to our friendship is strong across parties in the US, she looks forward to continuing the strength of that friendship across the parties in Taiwan as well, emphasizing that our security depends on it.
The delegation also included Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and State Senator Paul Faraci and was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.
On the afternoon of July 7, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the 2026 Taiwan International Ocean Forum (TIOF). In remarks, President Lai stated that in the face of maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, deepening transnational cooperation and jointly enhancing maritime resilience mark the direction all countries must work toward together. The president said that Taiwan will continue to share experiences with other countries and establish closer and more efficient mechanisms for cooperation in areas such as maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and the protection of undersea infrastructure to jointly safeguard free, open, and secure oceans.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
The 2026 TIOF will be held tomorrow and the day after. Today, I am delighted to welcome our distinguished guests to the Presidential Office. I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone who traveled from afar to conduct exchanges addressing maritime issues together.
Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region is now facing unprecedented challenges, including the increasing frequency of gray-zone aggression, the rising number of maritime law enforcement conflicts, and the risk of damage to critical infrastructure such as undersea cables. All of these challenges indicate that maritime security is no longer just an issue for coastal states, but a critical issue closely related to global peace and prosperity. Taiwan sincerely thanks the Group of Seven for reiterating last month the importance of establishing a free and open Indo-Pacific region based on the rule of law, and opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion.
To maintain regional peace and stability, and in line with this year’s theme of “Maritime Resilience,” we firmly believe that the direction all countries must work toward is deepening transnational cooperation and jointly enhancing resilience to respond to new types of threats. Taiwan will also actively strengthen various response measures. Last month, our Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee conducted a tabletop exercise at the Presidential Office focused on gray-zone aggression and high-intensity maritime coercion to verify the emergency response capabilities of the government and the private sector. In the future, Taiwan will continue to share experiences with other countries, and work together to establish closer and more efficient mechanisms for cooperation in areas such as maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and the protection of undersea infrastructure.
Taiwan is an indispensable partner in promoting global ocean sustainability. Regarding the Our Ocean Conference held last month, Taiwan was unable to participate due to unreasonable political interference. I want to emphasize that the ocean knows no borders, and ocean governance should not be constrained by political factors. Taiwan’s determination to engage with the world will not change, and we will continue to contribute our efforts toward promoting cooperation on ocean affairs.
The TIOF is an important link between Taiwan and the world. This year, participants from 15 countries, including over 100 experts from the industrial, government, academic, and research sectors, along with international legislators, will be in attendance. This visit by our distinguished guests represents firm support for Taiwan. In addition to wishing this forum great success, I also hope that we will continue to move forward side by side with other nations, jointly safeguarding free, open, and secure oceans and promoting global peace, prosperity, and development.
Member of the Dutch House of Representatives Jan Paternotte then delivered remarks, saying that he represents not only the Netherlands, but also over 300 Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) legislators from 45 IPAC countries who, like him, are concerned with Taiwan’s security and prosperity. He indicated that this month marks 10 years since the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award, and it is therefore proper and fitting that Taiwan is the host of this week’s forum, as the Taiwan Strait is where freedom of navigation has to be reasserted continuously.
Mr. Paternotte then stated that this year, the world has experienced why freedom of navigation has not just been established as a legal right for all nations for over 100 years, but why it is pivotal to preserve that freedom for the world’s prosperity and energy security. Upholding Taiwan’s status quo, security, and freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait is a priority issue for IPAC, he said, and the delegation is pleased to discuss practical steps during the next day’s forum in line with IPAC’s Operation MIST and Initiative 2758, stressing the importance of strengthening Taiwan’s resilience through international cooperation, including that in maritime security.
Mr. Paternotte said that he is aware that for some of his colleagues, standing here in the Presidential Office carries a cost. He explained that in 2021, APT31, a hacking group associated with Chinese state security, targeted the email accounts of every European Union IPAC member. In addition, he said that Chinese diplomats have pressured legislators not to attend IPAC summits, and that delegations to Taiwan have drawn protests, threats, and sanctions. But they are here anyway, he said, and that is precisely the point.
Noting that President Lai has said that Taiwan stands on the frontlines of the democratic world and is determined to defend democracy, Mr. Paternotte added that the president has also spoken of a democratic umbrella held up together by partners who share this commitment. Mr. Paternotte said that the delegation is here because they hold that umbrella with President Lai and the people of Taiwan.