Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Judiciary today announced its plan to establish the Hong Kong International Commercial Court (HKICC), a specialist division of the High Court, to adjudicate complex, high-value international and cross-boundary commercial disputes.

Its establishment is designed to strengthen Hong Kong’s standing as both an international financial centre and a leading international dispute resolution hub, in alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan.

The Judiciary said the HKICC’s establishment marks a significant development in Hong Kong’s judicial system under the “one country, two systems” principle and comes in response to increasing demand for a specialist judicial forum dedicated to addressing the legal and factual complexities arising from the significant growth in international and cross-border commercial activities in recent years.

It said the resolution of such disputes requires specialist judicial expertise, as well as tailored court procedures and practices to enhance flexibility and efficiency. The HKICC is designed to meet these needs, while maintaining the core values and safeguards of Hong Kong’s legal system, which is firmly rooted in the common law.

The HKICC will complement Hong Kong’s existing dispute resolution framework. Besides arbitration and mediation, the HKICC will provide parties engaged in international and cross-boundary commerce with a comprehensive range of dispute resolution options.

It promises transparency, authoritative judicial determinations, a structured appellate process, and the certainty of enforceable judgments, including their recognition and enforcement on the Mainland under relevant two-way arrangements.

Local judges with substantial experience in commercial law will sit on the HKICC. Eminent senior judges or practitioners from other common law jurisdictions may also be invited to sit on an ad hoc basis in accordance with the existing legal framework. Assessors and experts may be engaged, where appropriate, to assist the judges in specialised areas. It is anticipated these arrangements will enhance the HKICC’s expertise and international standing, and promote the development of its jurisprudence in line with international best practices, while remaining solidly based on Hong Kong law.

The High Court Ordinance and the Rules of the High Court provide the necessary legal framework for the establishment of the HKICC as a division of the High Court.

A dedicated Practice Direction will be issued for the HKICC to prescribe the categories of cases within its jurisdiction and to set out detailed court procedures. These will include measures to streamline the litigation process, provide a more flexible regime for the handling of appeals, and ensure the timely disposal of cases and appeals, with reference to the best practices of other international commercial courts.

A floor in the High Court Building will be designated for use by the HKICC. In line with international practice, and reflecting the international and cross-jurisdictional nature of cases, the HKICC will make extensive use of technology in handling cases, including remote hearings, electronic filing, electronic bundles, and voice-to-text transcription.

The Judiciary stressed that the establishment of the HKICC represents its firm commitment to judicial excellence and professionalism, and to strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a highly respected forum for dispute resolution, thereby reinforcing its enduring role within the global legal and commercial community.

The Judiciary aims to establish the HKICC within the coming year. Preparatory work is already under way, and stakeholders, in particular the legal profession, will be consulted in due course.

Welcoming the Judiciary’s announcement on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Chief Executive John Lee said that the National 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly points the way to strengthening the rule of law in foreign affairs; improving mechanisms for international commercial mediation, arbitration and litigation; supporting Hong Kong to consolidate and enhance its status as an international financial, shipping, aviation and trade centre; and deepening its development as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre.

Mr Lee stated: “The Hong Kong SAR is the only common law jurisdiction in the country. Hong Kong’s commercial and trade laws based on common law are internationally compatible, and well trusted by international businesses or investors. The establishment of the HKICC fully demonstrates Hong Kong’s unique advantages under ‘one country, two systems’ of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world.

“It will contribute new and greater strength to the country’s high-level opening up, while further promoting the development of international commercial rules.

“The establishment of the HKICC will strengthen Hong Kong’s core capabilities and advantages in international litigation, complementing Hong Kong’s existing international arbitration and mediation services to provide global enterprises or investors with diversified and comprehensive options for dispute resolution.

“This will further enhance the international competitiveness of Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services, propelling Hong Kong to a higher level of development in international dispute resolution services.”

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam remarked that the HKICC will focus on handling complex and high-value international commercial disputes. He highlighted the jurists presiding over the cases will include not only judges from Hong Kong, but also judges with high prestige and experience in other common law jurisdictions. 

Mr Lam said that he Hong Kong SAR Government has the utmost confidence that the HKICC will not only deliver authoritative and convincing rulings in the cases it hears, but also make significant contributions through its jurisprudence to the development of international commercial law.

He added that this will further consolidate the international reputation and status of Hong Kong’s common law system, enabling the city to better leverage its unique advantages in this regard under “one country, two systems”.

Source: Government of Singapore

 28 May 2026 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) will introduce measures from 1 July 2027 to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment (RAC), targeting large commercial refrigeration systems, transport refrigeration, and air-conditioning for passenger cars and light goods vehicles (LGVs). These measures will help Singapore reach its climate goals of reducing emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

2.           Many air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment use hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases as refrigerants. These greenhouse gases contribute significantly to global warming, which can be hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. To reduce GHG emissions in the RAC sector, NEA introduced Global Warming Potential (GWP[1]) limits in 2022 for household air-conditioners, refrigerators and water-cooled chillers used for large building cooling systems. The latest measures, which have been developed in consultation with suppliers, users and recycling companies, will now cover centralised commercial refrigeration systems and vehicle air-conditioning.

3.           From July 2027, new refrigeration systems typically used in supermarkets must use more environmentally friendly refrigerants with GWP not exceeding 150. From July 2028, air-conditioning in new passenger cars and light goods vehicles must also comply with these requirements. This later start date gives vehicle suppliers more time to adjust, as some models using lower-GWP refrigerants are not yet widely available. The GWP limits are aligned with standards already adopted in markets such as the EU and Japan, where low-GWP alternatives are available.

4.           To minimise business disruption, these limits apply only to new equipment. Businesses can continue using existing systems until they reach the end of their service life. Furthermore, some of these measures build on existing industry practices. For example, key supermarket operators in Singapore are already using refrigeration systems with lower-GWP refrigerants. Suppliers and manufacturers are supporting the transition to lower-GWP refrigerants and offering lower-GWP refrigeration systems that are energy efficient.

5.           From July 2027, companies that dismantle the following equipment must register with NEA and follow proper disposal procedures for spent refrigerants. These requirements formalise practices that are already adopted by many companies, and there are service providers in Singapore to carry out this recovery work: 

a) Centralised Commercial Refrigeration systems typically used in supermarkets

b) Centralised Industrial Refrigeration systems for cold rooms

c) Air-conditioning for Passenger Cars & Light Goods Vehicles

d) Refrigerated Trucks

6.           The transition away from HFCs is part of a global effort to address climate change, and NEA will continue to review its measures to support this transition, taking into account industry readiness and availability of low-GWP alternatives.

[1] GWP is a measure of the warming effect of a gas relative to the warming effect of an equivalent mass of carbon dioxide, usually over a 100-year time horizon.

~~ End ~~

For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

Source: Government of Singapore

28 MAY 2026 – A driver pleaded guilty to disposing of large volume of dismantled office furniture and partitions illegally along Joo Yee Road¹ on 6 July 2025. The case was concluded in court on 26 May 2026. Mr Naidu Manish Kumar was convicted of one charge under section 20(1)(a) of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987 (EPHA) and fined $8,000.  

2.        On 24 July 2025, the National Environment Agency (NEA) received public feedback regarding illegal dumping along Joo Yee Road. NEA’s investigations revealed that the waste was from reinstatement works carried out at a vacated office in Genting Lane. Mr Naidu admitted that he had dumped the waste out of convenience, instead of sending the office furniture and partitions to a licensed general waste disposal facility for proper disposal. 

3.        The illegal disposal of waste is a serious offence as it pollutes the environment and poses a hazard to public health. NEA will not hesitate to take strict enforcement action against any person who disposes of waste illegally. A first-time offender is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both. Repeat offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and up to 12 months. 

4.        The public can assist NEA by submitting reports of suspected illegal disposal electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application. When reporting, please provide the date, time, and location of the incident, the registration number of the vehicle used to carry out the illegal disposal, as well as any supporting photos and video clips. 

¹ Photos of the waste that was disposed of at secluded spots along Joo Yee Road are appended in Annex A.

~~ End ~~

For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

Annex A

Photos of waste illegally disposed of at secluded spots along Joo Yee Road 

Photo credit: The National Environment Agency 

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

As Chief Executive John Lee prepares to lead a delegation to Central Asia in early June, a key figure in the city’s financial sector believes the region is a key market to watch.

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEX) Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Chan will join the delegation which will visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, aiming to expand Hong Kong’s economic and trade ties with Central Asia.

She remarked that last year’s dual listing of a mining company in Hong Kong and Kazakhstan shows there is room for deeper co-operation between the two markets.

Ms Chan added that she hopes the visit will create opportunities to connect with more local enterprises, and believes more Central Asian companies will look to Hong Kong as a fundraising platform.

She said HKEX has noted growing interest from Central Asian companies in tapping Hong Kong for fundraising beyond the equities market.

“There is actually a strong indication of interest in terms of these Central Asian companies issuing bonds.

“Dim sum bonds, I think, have been increasingly popular, so I think this coincides with Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing’s strategy to diversify beyond equities.”

Meanwhile, Managing Director & Head of Global Issuer Services at HKEX Johnson Chui said several successful fundraising cases involving Hong Kong last year have helped boost interest from Central Asia.

Mr Chui said a number of Kazakhstani issuers had successfully completed fundraising and listings in Hong Kong through dim sum bonds last year, drawing the attention of stakeholders in Central Asia.

He added that during a recent trip to the region, various entities had expressed interest in learning more about the Hong Kong market and how they could tap it, whether through dim sum bonds or potentially a dual listing.

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 – 4

In light of the recent outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda in Africa, the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (SCEZD) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health convened a meeting today (May 27), to review the latest epidemiological situation, recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health authorities, scientific information on the prevention and control of Ebola disease, and relevant prevention and control strategies in Hong Kong. The SCEZD noted that the Government has already implemented a comprehensive series of preventive measures to guard against the importation of Ebola disease into Hong Kong.
​
Following the meeting, the SCEZD released a consensus statement, which provides a risk assessment of the situation in Hong Kong and recommends that the Government continues to implement various current measures to mitigate the risk of imported Ebola disease cases and prevent potential local transmission.
 
Risk assessment
———————-

The WHO declared the Ebola disease epidemic in the DRC and Uganda caused by the Bundibugyo virus (one of the viruses of the Ebola virus genus) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026. 
 
This is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak in the DRC since 1976. As of May 24, 2026, the DRC has reported 105 confirmed cases and 10 confirmed deaths (confirmed case-fatality rate of around 10 per cent), as well as 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths (suspected case-fatality rate of around 25 per cent). Uganda has also reported seven confirmed cases, including one confirmed death.
 
The WHO assessed the public health risk as “very high” in the DRC, “high” at the regional level and “low” at the global level. Currently, no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment has been developed for Bundibugyo virus. Prevention and control of Bundibugyo virus therefore primarily relies on non-pharmaceutical public health measures such as case identification, isolation, contact tracing, and infection prevention and control.
 
In Hong Kong, Ebola disease is a statutorily notifiable disease under viral haemorrhagic fever. No suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola disease have been recorded in Hong Kong so far. There are currently no direct flights between the DRC or Uganda and Hong Kong, and Hong Kong has sufficient laboratory testing, isolation and treatment capacity for the rapid diagnosis, isolation and treatment of suspected cases. At present, the risk of Ebola disease is primarily confined to outbreak areas in the DRC and the immediate public health impact on Hong Kong remains low.
 
Recommended measures
——————————

The SCEZD recommended the following ongoing preventive and control measures, which the Government has already implemented:
 

• Enhanced surveillance: Close monitoring of the latest developments in the event of an ongoing Ebola disease outbreak, including maintaining close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities, as well as liaison with the Chinese Mainland health authorities through the joint prevention and control mechanism. Information on the latest Ebola disease situation and updated reporting criteria should continue to be disseminated to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong. Healthcare professionals should continue to maintain a high level of vigilance for patients presenting with clinically compatible symptoms with Ebola and who have a recent travel history to affected areas.

 

• Case investigation and control measures: Prompt epidemiological investigation and contact tracing should be conducted upon notification of suspected Ebola disease cases. Suspected or confirmed cases should be immediately transferred to a public hospital for isolation and treatment, and kept in isolation until the specimens collected test negative for the virus.

 

• Quarantine facilities: Operational readiness of quarantine facilities should continue to be maintained for immediate deployment if required. Established protocols for contact tracing and quarantine arrangements are already ready for activation upon laboratory confirmation of an Ebola disease case.

 

• Port health measures and travel advice: Temperature checks and health screenings for passengers who have visited the DRC or Uganda within the past 21 days should continue. Active medical surveillance for these passengers during their stay in Hong Kong should also continue to be conducted. Members of the public are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the affected areas. Publicity on Ebola disease for travellers and communication with stakeholders of boundary control points should continue to be strengthened.

 

• Laboratory diagnosis: Adequate laboratory capacity to perform testing for all suspected cases of Ebola disease should continue to be ensured.

 

• Prevention of nosocomial transmission: Healthcare professionals should continue to comply with the latest infection control guidelines for the prevention of Ebola disease. Regular training and drills on Ebola infection control practices should continue to be held in hospitals with acute services.

 

• Risk communication and community engagement: Public health education and risk communication through various channels should continue to be enhanced. Liaison with relevant non-governmental organisations to convey targeted health information and distribute health promotional materials to relevant communities and venues should be strengthened.

 
The SCEZD affirmed that the Government’s multipronged approach has been effective in minimising the risk of importation of Ebola disease cases to date. Sustained implementation of these preventive and control measures is crucial for minimising importation, early detection of cases and control in case of importation.
 
The consensus statement of the SCEZD has been uploaded to the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24005.html).