Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply (Task Force), which was set up in response to the conflict in the Middle East region, announced today (April 29) that it will roll out the HK$3 per litre Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Subsidy Scheme) starting from tomorrow (April 30) as approved by the Chief Executive earlier on. The Subsidy Scheme aims to support public and commercial vehicles and vessels, and related industries that use diesel as fuel, with its estimated expenditure at around HK$1.8 billion as approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council earlier.

     Furthermore, having considered the five principles announced earlier, in particular on the extent of the impact on society, whether adequate alternatives are available to the public, and whether the support was temporary and time-limited in nature, the Task Force recommended the provision of a fuel subsidy of HK$0.5 per litre of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) for taxis, public buses and school private light buses for a period of two months by end-May 2026, with the exact commencement date to be announced separately. The Chief Executive has accepted this recommendation from the Task Force. The total amount of expenditure for this initiative is approximately HK$38.4 million. The Government will redeploy internal resources to implement this measure.

     The Government spokesman said that the fuel supply in Hong Kong remains stable. The Task Force will continue to conduct dynamic assessments, 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.

The Diesel Subsidy Scheme
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     Under the Subsidy Scheme, users who consume diesel locally can receive a subsidy of HK$3 per litre of diesel when they purchase diesel to make the selling price decrease by HK$3 per litre accordingly. The Subsidy Scheme does not apply to diesel used for non-local consumption, resale, and vehicles, vessels and installations of government departments. Diesel used by the two power companies (i.e. CLP Power Hong Kong Limited and the Hongkong Electric Company Limited) and Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited are also not covered by the Subsidy Scheme. The Subsidy Scheme will last for two months, starting from midnight on April 30 (Thursday) to 11.59pm on June 29 (Monday).

Implementation mechanism
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     In Hong Kong, diesel is generally sold through oil companies and distributors. To ensure that eligible users can benefit as soon as practicable, the subsidy will lower the selling prices of diesel through the following two means:
 

1. through the sale of diesel by specified oil companies to the users at their diesel filling stations and by means of direct sales; and
2. through the sale of diesel by specified distributors to the users.

 
     The following five specified oil companies will participate in the Subsidy Scheme (listed in no particular order):
 

1. Sinopec (Hong Kong)’s affiliated companies;
2. PetroChina International (Hong Kong) Corporation Limited;
3. Chevron Hong Kong Limited;
4. ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited; and
5. Shell Hong Kong Limited.

 
     Under the Subsidy Scheme, eligible users receive a HK$3 per litre price subsidy by either purchasing diesel from diesel filling stations operated by specified oil companies or specified distributors, or purchasing diesel from specified oil companies or specified distributors delivered for local consumption.

     The specified oil companies and specified distributors must clearly indicate the subsidy arrangement and the subsidy amount of HK$3 per litre on invoices and bills issued to eligible users for their information.

     Information and contact details of each specified oil companies and registered specified distributors are at the Annex. As there may be other distributors applying to become a specified distributor, the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) will update the list of specified distributors at its dedicated webpage (www.eeb.gov.hk/en/energy/Diesel_Subsidy_Scheme.html) from time to time for public information.

Auditing arrangements
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     In order to ensure the proper use of public funds and protect the interests of eligible users, the Government has signed agreements with each specified oil companies and specified distributors, under which responsibilities and terms have been set out on the arrangements of implementing the Subsidy Scheme. These arrangements include the Government’s payment of the price difference to the specified oil companies and specified distributors; the requirement for these oil companies and distributors to maintain complete and accurate books and records; the requirement to submit reports to the Government every week, as well as the auditing arrangements upon the completion of the Subsidy Scheme. These measures are to ensure that the subsidy could lower the actual selling prices accordingly. If it is found that there is a breach to the agreement, that there are anomalies in diesel transactions, or that the subsidy may be abused, the Government has the right to refuse or withhold payment of the subsidy amount to the concerned oil company and distributor, as well as to hold them liable. Moreover, the specified oil companies and specified distributors are required to submit to the Government an Assurance Report and an Audit Report prepared by an independent auditor within three months after the end of the subsidy period.

Distributor registration arrangement
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     There are some distributors in the market who purchase diesel from the specified oil companies and then sell it to the users.  The Government has established a distributor registration arrangement under the Subsidy Scheme to allow eligible users to receive the HK$3 per litre price subsidy from the specified distributors. Under this registration arrangement, distributors are required to provide the Government with their business registration details, confirm that they procure fuel directly from specified oil companies, and comply with the above auditing arrangements, to ensure that the subsidised diesel they supply to users is of known origin and traceable.

     The specified distributors listed in the dedicated webpage of the Subsidy Scheme have provided information and been registered with the EEB, as well as entered into an agreement with the Government. For distributors who intend to sell subsidised diesel but have not yet been registered, please contact the EEB at diesel@eeb.gov.hk, or call the hotline at 3509 7600 to obtain a registration form, and submit the required information as soon as possible. Upon registration and verification, information of the distributors will be uploaded onto the registry of specified distributors on the Subsidy Scheme’s dedicated webpage. 

     The Subsidy Scheme will end after 11.59pm on June 29 (Monday). All diesel sold by the specified oil companies and specified distributors participating in the Subsidy Scheme thereafter will not receive subsidies under the Subsidy Scheme.

Supply of LPG
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     Currently, the LPG supply and stock levels remain generally normal. However, as affected by the situation in the Middle East, the international LPG prices surged in April 2026. The adjusted auto-LPG ceiling prices for Hong Kong’s 12 dedicated LPG filling stations will be adjusted upward effective May 1, with an increase of approximately HK$1.06 to HK$1.08 per litre. The adjusted auto-LPG ceiling prices for all dedicated LPG filling stations would range from HK$4.49 to HK$5.43 per litre. Details of the LPG international price and the auto-LPG ceiling price for each dedicated LPG filling station has been uploaded onto the website of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (www.emsd.gov.hk) and posted at dedicated LPG filling stations to enable the trades to monitor the price adjustment.

Provision of LPG fuel subsidy
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     To alleviate the operating costs of local passenger transport commercial vehicles which primarily use LPG as fuel (namely taxis, public light buses and school private light buses (commonly known as nanny vans)), and reduce the pressure for fare increases, the Government will provide a fuel subsidy of HK$0.5 per litre of LPG for taxis, public light buses and school private light buses for a period of two months.

     The Government expects 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. The total amount of expenditure involved is approximately HK$38.4 million. The Government will redeploy internal resources to implement this initiative.

     To provide the LPG subsidy in a simple and direct manner, the oil companies will provide a discount of HK$0.5 per litre of LPG directly at LPG filling stations for all LPG (including hybrid) taxis, public light buses and school private light buses. No registration or application is required. The Government will reimburse oil companies for the actual amount of LPG subsidies provided under this initiative. The fuel subsidy is expected to be launched within May, with the exact commencement date to be announced separately.

    The oil companies will make appropriate arrangements and display posters at filling stations to inform taxi, public light bus and school private light bus drivers of the relevant arrangements. The Transport Department will also promote the arrangements to frontline drivers through various channels (including trade circulars).

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The phased return of residents to Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po entered its tenth day today, with the opening of five low-zone floors at Wang Tai House and 10 low-zone floors at Wang Kin House. 

Both blocks are reopening for the first time. 

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing and Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today inspected the arrangements for residents returning to their units at Kwong Fuk Community Hall in Tai Po and Wang Tak House. 

A total of 395 residents from 111 households returned to their units today. The Government described the access arrangements as orderly and smooth.  

Residents spent an average of two hours and six minutes on-site, from a minimum of four minutes to a maximum of three hours and 35 minutes. Approximately 89% of residents completed their visits in under three hours, while 42% stayed for less than two hours and 12% left within an hour. 

Regarding movement, 152 individuals from 73 households made multiple trips to their units. Most made one to four additional entries, while nine individuals from different households made five to seven extra trips.

The integrated enquiry counter handled five requests for Police assistance today, involving suspected property loss such as watches, jewellery, cash and gold. Officers were immediately deployed to assist with searches, successfully recovering lost property in one case. 

 

For the remaining four cases, there were no signs of ransacking in the units, and the residents could not provide details on the property concerned. 

One case involving residents seeking help due to physical discomfort was also received.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) today announced the preparation and deployment of management work at ecotourism hotspots during the Mainland’s Labour Day Golden Week period.

High Island Reservoir East Dam
To prevent visitors from approaching dangerous areas beyond the Po Pin Chau viewing platform, the AFCD, in collaboration with the Architectural Services Department, has completed the installation of additional railings at the viewing platform.

During the Mainland’s Labour Day Golden Week, in addition to the deployment of additional staff for daily patrol and enforcement, the AFCD will use drones equipped with broadcasting functions to conduct surveillance regularly from above the Po Pin Chau viewing platform and remind visitors not to cross the railings.

Temporary crowd control measures will be implemented at the entrance of the High Island Geo Trail – Po Pin Chau Section when necessary.

Campsites at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan, and Long Ke Wan in Sai Kung
Additional AFCD staff will be deployed day and night to patrol, be stationed, enforce regulations against violations, and use drones and CCTV systems to assist in monitoring.

The AFCD will provide strainers for collecting food residue outside the Ham Tin public toilet and will, on a trial basis, lend small grill stands to campers in need at Ham Tin Wan and Sai Wan campsites.

Sharp Island and Shui Hau on Lantau Island
The coastal areas of Sharp Island and Shui Hau on Lantau Island are currently not designated as country parks, marine parks, or marine reserves. The AFCD is currently promoting environmental protection awareness among visitors through publicity and education.

It has installed footfall counters at the pier of Sharp Island and will use drones to monitor the beach and coastal areas.

Additional AFCD staff will patrol along the coastline daily, co-ordinating with the kaito ferry schedule and daytime low tide periods. Frontline staff will immediately advise and explain correct practices to visitors upon spotting any potential behaviours that could cause ecological damage.

At the beach and coastal areas, the AFCD will collaborate with the WWF-Hong Kong to set up public education booths to promote marine conservation messages. Snorkelling guides and kayaking guides will also patrol the nearshore waters to remind snorkelers to avoid trampling on corals.

The AFCD has also installed footfall counters at Shui Hau on Lantau Island to monitor visitor flow. During the holiday, the AFCD staff will patrol the Shui Hau sandflat and use drones to monitor the sandflat and nearby coastal areas.

Working in collaboration with the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, the AFCD at the Shui Hau sandflat will set up an educational booth, distribute conservation leaflets, and engage visitors with information on how to protect horseshoe crabs and the surrounding coastal environment.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

In response to conflict in the Middle East region, the Government announced today that it will implement a diesel subsidy scheme starting tomorrow. Separately, a plan on the provision of a two-month-long discount on liquified petroleum gas (LPG), expected to start at end-May, was also unveiled.

Diesel subsidy scheme

From midnight on April 30 to 11.59pm on June 29, eligible users will receive a price subsidy at $3 per litre, by either purchasing diesel from diesel filling stations operated by specified oil companies or specified distributors, or purchasing diesel from “specified oil companies or specified distributors” delivered for local consumption.

The estimated expenditure will be around $1.8 billion, as approved by the Legislative Council Finance Committee.

The scheme does not apply to diesel used for non-local consumption, resale, and vehicles, vessels and installations of government departments. Diesel used by CLP Power Hong Kong, Hongkong Electric Company and Hong Kong & China Gas Company are not covered by the scheme.

In order to ensure the proper use of public funds and protect users’ interests, the Government has signed agreements with the “specified oil companies or specified distributors”, under which responsibilities and terms have been set out. These arrangements include the Government’s payment of the price difference to the specified oil companies and specified distributors; the requirement for these oil companies and distributors to maintain complete and accurate books and records; the requirement to submit reports to the Government every week, as well as the auditing arrangements upon the completion of the subsidy scheme.

The companies and distributors are required to submit to the Government an assurance report and an audit report prepared by an independent auditor within three months after the end of the subsidy period. In case of breaches, anomalies or abuses, the Government has the right to refuse or withhold payment of the subsidy, as well as to hold the companies and distributors liable. 

LPG fuel subsidy

To alleviate the operating costs of local passenger transport commercial vehicles which primarily use LPG as fuel, and reduce the pressure for fare increases, the Government will provide a fuel subsidy of $0.5 per litre of LPG for taxis, public light buses and school private light buses, for a period of two months. The measure is expected to be implemented within May.

About 16,900 LPG (including LPG-hybrid) taxis, 3,440 LPG public light buses and 170 LPG school private light buses would benefit from the subsidy. The total amount of expenditure involved is approximately $38.4 million, to be paid by means of redeploying the Government’s internal resources.

Under the LPG scheme, oil companies will provide a discount of $0.5 per litre of LPG directly at LPG filling stations for all LPG (including hybrid) taxis, public light buses and school private light buses. No registration or application is required. The Government will reimburse oil companies for the actual amount of LPG subsidies provided under this initiative.

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 Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 29):

Question:

Under the arrangement for the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Entry into Urban Area) (STGV), approved Guangdong private cars may enter the urban areas of Hong Kong. At present, the daily quota is set at 100, and each vehicle may stay in Hong Kong for a maximum of three days. The authorities have stated that they will closely monitor its operation and may increase the quota after accumulating experience in implementation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the following information since the implementation of the STGV arrangement: (i) the number of applications; (ii) the number of applications approved; (iii) the actual number of vehicles entering Hong Kong; and (iv) the average length of stay in Hong Kong among the vehicles;

(2) whether the Government will increase in phases the daily quota for vehicles entering Hong Kong under the STGV arrangement in 2026-‍2027; if so, of the target increase, the timetable, and factors for consideration in adjusting the quota (including the clearance capacity of boundary control points, the road carrying capacity, the supply of parking spaces, the provision of charging stations for electric vehicles, insurance arrangements, and support measures for law enforcement); if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether the Government has assessed the benefits brought by the STGV arrangement to Hong Kong in terms of tourism and consumption (such as per capita spending, retail and catering receipts, and hotel occupancy rate); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

As a reciprocal arrangement for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles, Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (the Southbound Travel Scheme) is an important measure to promote the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The part concerning entry into urban area has been launched since the end of 2025, under which eligible private cars from Guangdong can apply to travel to Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) through innovative and simple procedures. Not only does the scheme facilitate mutual engagement between residents of Guangdong and Hong Kong, but it also achieves a higher level of mutual flow of people and goods and opens up a new model for Mainland residents to visit Hong Kong, which in turn brings opportunities to sectors such as tourism, retail, and catering in Hong Kong, benefitting Hong Kong residents and society as a whole.

     In response to the question raised by the Hon Bok, the reply is as follows.

(1) The Southbound Travel Scheme (entry into urban area) has been open for application from eligible Guangdong private cars since December 9, 2025. The Transport Department (TD) processes applications forwarded from the Mainland authorities and issues an electronic International Circulation Permit (Permit) to successful applicants. Guangdong vehicles that have been issued with a Permit and successfully made a travel booking can enter Hong Kong via the HZMB for a stay up to three days at a time. As of end of March 2026, the TD received a total of approximately 6 300 applications and issued over 5 000 Permits, with the remaining applications being processed; the cumulative number of travel bookings was over 3 500. According to data provided by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, approximately 90 per cent of vehicles stayed in Hong Kong for one to two days in March 2026.

(2) The Southbound Travel Scheme has been operating smoothly and efficiently since its launch, receiving positive feedback from users. The visits by Guangdong vehicles are generally welcomed by Hong Kong citizens. The Government continues to adopt the strategies of ensuring safety, effective diversion, well-equipped supporting facilities, and streamlined application, with a view to enhancing the Southbound Travel Scheme in an orderly manner. In the course of expanding the scheme, we will take the following factors into consideration:

(i) for port clearance, according to observations by the relevant departments at the port, the queuing situation of outbound private cars at the HZMB Hong Kong Port was in good order during peak hours, and there was no traffic jam affecting other port crossings or traffic near the port;

(ii) for road traffic, the TD has continued to provide information on road and driving safety and conducted promotional education through various channels for drivers of the Southbound Travel Scheme. Since the implementation of the scheme, there have been no traffic congestion issues in any district caused by Guangdong vehicles, and the majority of the Mainland drivers have complied with the Hong Kong traffic rules while driving in the territory. The isolated cases of contraventions which involved the Southbound Travel Scheme have been handled or are being followed up; and

(iii) for supporting facilities, the Government has been actively liaising with the operators of major shopping malls and private carparks near tourist attractions and shopping hotspots to encourage gradual enhancement of the parking, payment, and charging facilities. Since the implementation of the scheme, the carparks near tourist hotspots can meet the parking needs of Guangdong vehicles; and the 83 Guobiao-standard (GB-standard) chargers currently available in Hong Kong (supporting over 1 600 GB-standard electric vehicles) are sufficient to support the charging needs of GB-standard electric vehicles during their stay in Hong Kong. As for insurance, six Hong Kong insurance companies currently offer short-term insurance products to car owners entering Hong Kong under the Southbound Travel Scheme (entry into urban area), and the insurance industry will be able to meet the greater demand for insurance policies.

Building on the above foundation, the Hong Kong SAR Government is continuously reviewing and discussing with the Guangdong authorities on the increase in quotas in an orderly manner, and is planning to progressively expand the scope of the scheme from the current four cities in Guangdong Province (Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen) to other Guangdong cities after six months of implementation, with a view to taking forward the Southbound Travel Scheme in a prudent and manageable manner. We will announce the relevant arrangements in due course.

(3) The Hong Kong SAR Government has been committed to working with Guangdong to promote various cross-boundary transport measures, fostering connectivity and integrated development within the GBA. With the proactive response of the hotel and retail industries in Hong Kong, offering accommodation, retail spending and parking discounts for travellers under the scheme, we assess that the Southbound Travel Scheme (entry into urban area) provides Mainland tourists with more convenient and flexible travel options, allowing new niches of travellers, including individuals and families with higher spending power, to come to Hong Kong by self-driving for travelling, business, exhibitions or conferences, using professional services, and enjoying leisure and dining experiences. This benefits Hong Kong residents and various industries, opens up new opportunities for co-operation between enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong, strengthens bilateral trade and investment, drives Hong Kong’s economic growth, and facilitates easier access to global markets for Mainland tourists. The Government will continue to leverage on the measures benefitting Hong Kong, including the Southbound Travel Scheme, to further deepen tourism co-operation with the GBA cities, and to provide a better experience for visitors, injecting a significant impetus into the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Lau Ka-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 29):
     
Question:

     From April 1, 2026, all taxi drivers are required to provide at least two types of electronic payment (e-payment) means, including one QR code e-payment means (such as Alipay, WeChat Pay or BoC Pay) and one non-QR code e-payment means (such as Octopus, credit cards or Faster Payment System). Drivers may flexibly choose the e-payment means based on their operational needs, and stickers showing the available e-payment means should be displayed at designated positions on taxi windows for passengers’ easy identification. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:     
(1) and (7) All taxi drivers must provide at least two types of e-payment means (including one QR code e-payment means and one non-QR code e-payment means) starting from April 1, 2026. Since the implementation of the aforesaid requirement, the Transport Department (TD) has been closely monitoring the situation and has noted that the overall operation has been generally smooth. Taxi drivers and passengers generally welcomed the new requirement, and considered that the requirement can help reduce the time spent on giving changes, enhance the competitiveness of taxis, and provide greater convenience for passengers.     
(5) and (6) The TD has noted that mobile network coverage may be unstable at some boundary control points or in remote areas, rendering taxi drivers or passengers unable to use e-payment means to settle fares.
     ​
     In view of the above, the TD has contacted the relevant departments immediately to follow up on the matter. The Digital Policy Office has swiftly provided assistance to enhance the coverage and stability of the Wi-Fi network in the vicinity of the taxi drop-off area at the Shenzhen Bay Port, facilitating free access for those in need to the Government Wi-Fi service. The TD will continue to monitor whether unstable mobile network coverage occurs at specific locations and will follow up as appropriate.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 29):
 
Question:
 
     At present, the approval granted to employers for labour importation under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme will not be automatically renewed. If an employer still needs the continued employment of the imported workers concerned upon the expiry of their contracts, the employer is required to submit to the Labour Department a renewal application around eight to nine months before the expiry of their employment contracts. Some people from industries such as cleaning and security services have reflected that property management companies or property owners generally conduct a fresh tender exercise for such services only two to three months before the expiry of the relevant service contracts and decide which service provider to engage only one month before the commencement of the new contract period. If the company concerned fails to secure the renewal of the contract, its renewal applications for its imported workers may eventually have to be cancelled. In addition, some industries have reflected that the restrictions imposed by the authorities on the workplace of imported workers have affected employers’ flexibility in deploying manpower. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it will take into account the actual operational circumstances of industries such as cleaning and security services and relax the restrictions on renewal applications for imported workers as well as shorten the time required for processing such applications; whether it will allow imported workers whose renewal applications have been approved to apply for a change of the workplace specified in the contract one month in advance; 

(2) given the view that the Government’s outsourced service contracts (such as those for cleaning and security services) do not allow contractors to apply for labour importation, thus making it difficult for contractors to fill job vacancies, whether the authorities will review the relevant policy; if so, of the review progress; 

(3) as it is learnt that the authorities’ restriction on the number of workplaces for imported workers to no more than three has constrained the manpower deployment flexibility of employers with multiple operating premises, such as chain stores, whether the authorities will relax the relevant restriction; and 

(4) in view of the authorities’ reply on July 10, 2024, to my question that they would not consider changing the requirement that the wages of imported workers must not be lower than the median monthly wage (the median wage) for comparable positions in Hong Kong and had no plan to change the arrangement of requiring employers to pay the Employees Retraining Levy (ERL) totalling $9,600 for each worker for every two-year period of his contract despite the view of some industry members that the aforesaid levy, coupled with accommodation expenses and other related expenses, has substantially increased the operating costs of enterprises, whether the authorities will consider reviewing afresh the median wage requirement and abolishing the requirement to pay the ERL, so as to reduce the operating costs of enterprises in Hong Kong and enhance their competitiveness?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     To cope with the challenges brought by manpower shortage and foster Hong Kong’s economic development, the Government, on the principle of ensuring employment priority for local workers, suitably allows employers with genuine difficulty in recruiting suitable local workers to apply for importation of workers. Apart from launching sector-specific labour importation schemes for the construction sector, transport sector, and residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities, the Labour Department (LD) has implemented the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) since September 4, 2023 to allow employers with genuine needs to apply for importation of workers for posts that were generally excluded under the previous Supplementary Labour Scheme.
 
     In consultation with the Financial Services and Treasury Bureau, the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1) Under the ESLS, employers wishing to continue employing imported workers upon the expiry of their employment contracts are required to submit applications afresh to the LD (renewal applications). Employers submitting renewal applications have to fulfil the same requirements as those for new applications, which include undertaking local recruitment and according priority to employing suitable local job seekers, as well as meeting the relevant manning ratio requirements of local workers to imported workers etc, so as to assess the employers’ needs for continuing to employ imported workers and safeguard the employment priority for local workers. After an employer has completed the local recruitment, the LD will analyse each application and invite members of the Labour Advisory Board to give views. The Commissioner for Labour will thoroughly assess various factors and determine whether to approve or refuse the relevant application for importation of labour.
 
     To ensure that employers can complete the abovementioned application and relevant renewal procedures, and apply for the visas/ entry permits with the Immigration Department before the expiry of employment contracts of serving imported workers, the LD suggests employers to submit renewal applications around eight to nine months before the expiry of employment contracts of imported workers. Employers may determine the suitable timing for submitting renewal applications taking into account the situations of their business and employment contracts of imported workers, etc. While the LD will promptly process the applications, the actual time required depends on whether the employers have provided sufficient information, whether details of the renewal applications are the same as the previously approved applications, whether employers have made changes to the application information during processing, etc.
 
     As required by the ESLS, imported workers must work at the designated workplace(s) as stipulated in employment contracts and change of the workplace(s) is generally not permitted. If there are business circumstances necessitating a change of the workplace(s) of imported workers, employers may apply to the LD and state the relevant justifications. The LD will consider exercising discretion and handle the applications on their own merits.

(2) According to the 2025 Annual Earnings and Hours Survey published by the Census and Statistics Department, there were about 190 000 workers in the “Estate management, security and cleaning services” industry covering the group of elementary occupations and service workers. As at February this year, there were around 5 000 imported cleaners and security guards working in Hong Kong under the ESLS.
 
     The remuneration for non-skilled workers under government outsourced service contracts is different from that under the ESLS on various fronts, including government service contractors are required to pay non-skilled workers at a rate not lower than the “committed wage” as stipulated in service contracts, while as required under the ESLS, imported workers are paid not lower than the median monthly wages of comparable positions taken up by local workers. Besides, different requirements on other employment terms are in place under government outsourced service contracts (such as the provision of gratuity and wage arrangement for working when the typhoon signal no. 8 or above is hoisted, etc).
    
     In considering whether to allow labour importation under government outsourced service contracts, the Government needs to keep abreast of the demand and supply of the relevant non-skilled workers in the local labour market (including the situation of labour importation) and explore relevant implementation arrangements of labour importation after ascertaining the subsistence of labour shortages and under the principle of ensuring employment priority for local workers. The arrangements include addressing the discrepancy between the “committed wage” to be provided by contractors under service contracts and the wages of imported workers, as well as coordinating the monitoring mechanisms across different regimes, so as to ensure effective use of public money and proper monitoring of service contractors.

(3) and (4) The main thrust of the Government’s manpower policy all along is to uphold the priority for local employment and nurture local talents. All employers employing imported workers through labour importation schemes specified in the Employees Retraining Ordinance (Cap. 423) are required to pay a levy. Such levy is transferred to the Employees Retraining Fund administered by the Employees Retraining Board for providing training and retraining to local workers and forms an integral part of the labour importation policy. Scrapping the levy arrangement is not in line with the policy objective of launching labour importation schemes on the premise of ensuring employment priority for local workers.
 
     To ensure the employment priority for local workers, applicant employers of the ESLS must undertake local open recruitment and accord priority to employing qualified local workers to fill job vacancies at a salary not lower than the median monthly wage of a comparable position in the market. In parallel, employers approved to import workers are required to sign a Standard Employment Contract (SEC) with imported workers and shall pay a salary not lower than the median monthly wage of a comparable position to avoid undermining the employment opportunities of local workers by imported workers.
 
     Upon approval to work in Hong Kong under the ESLS, imported workers must be directly employed by the same employers and shall only work in the positions and carry out job duties at the designated workplace(s) as required by the approvals-in-principle issued by the LD and the SEC. The LD has since May 2024 relaxed the workplace requirement, allowing employers to apply, during the preliminary screening, to arrange for imported workers to work at no more than three designated locations. This enables employers to deploy manpower more flexibly, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and flexibility.
        
     The LD is reviewing the ESLS, including its coverage, operation and implementation arrangements, measures to promote and ensure employment priority for local workers, as well as measures to protect the rights and benefits of imported workers. The review is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2026. The Government will take full account of and balance the views of stakeholders during the review.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Fok and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (April 29):

Question:

Our country’s Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to accelerate the building of a leading sports nation, including promoting the safe and orderly opening up of natural resources such as water, air and mountain areas for outdoor sports. There are views that as the total area of Hong Kong’s country parks and special areas accounts for around 40 per cent of its land area, and they possess abundant resources for developing outdoor sports activities, the authorities may make good use of this advantage to promote “Sports for All”, drive the development of outdoor events and cultivate the habit of engaging in outdoor sports among people, so as to dovetail with our country’s planning. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as the holding of activities in country parks and marine parks requires the application for a permit under the Country Parks and Special Areas Regulations (Cap. ‍208A), but some organisers have relayed certain difficulties such as the involvement of multiple departments in the vetting and approval process and cumbersome procedures when applying to hold an activity, whether the Government will review the existing application mechanism, formulate clear guidelines and provide one-‍stop coordination arrangements, with a view to facilitating the holding of large-scale outdoor activities and events; if so, of the directions and timetable of the review; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether the authorities will consider adjusting the conditions for applying for such permits, so as to strengthen the responsibilities of activity organisers in protecting the ecology of venues and managing crowd safety, and establish a more stringent monitoring and penalty mechanism to enhance regulation;

(3) as the work of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) for the current year includes the implementation of the “Four Peaks” tourism project, the enhancement of the educational, recreational and sustainable eco-‍tourism functions of country parks, and the promotion of a safe and environmentally-friendly approach to their use, but there are views that the popularity of hiking in recent years has led to frequent accidents and damage to walking trails, whether the Government will cooperate with professional sports organisations in stepping up the education on safe hiking and updating the Hiking Safety Guidelines, so as to strike a balance between the development of eco-tourism and risk prevention;

(4) as the AFCD’s statistics indicate that the country parks in Hong Kong receive over 10 ‍million visitors a year, and there are views that this amount has already far exceeded the carrying capacity of country parks and resulted in serious wear and tear of popular mountain trails and facilities, whether the authorities have any plans to allocate additional resources to strengthen the management of country parks and the repair and maintenance of walking trails, so as to maintain the appeal and sustainability of mountain trails as race courses and eco-‍tourism routes; whether they will formulate an integrated management strategy in the long term that incorporates technology-‍based monitoring such as drone patrols, with a view to enhancing management efficiency; if so, of the resources required and the plan concerned; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) of the number of prosecutions over the past five years for violating the Country Parks and Special Areas Regulations and the irregularities involved (such as illegal camping activities and unlawful hawking), with a tabulated breakdown of the relevant figures and categories?

Reply:

President,

Hong Kong has rich ecological resources, with country parks and marine parks scattered across the territory, which offer beautiful scenery and are conveniently located near the bustling urban areas. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) seeks to protect the ecology and conduct site management properly, with arrangements made to complement actively to the Government’s policies and plans to promote sports in the community. In consultation with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, our reply to the questions raised by the Hon Kenneth Fok is as follows:

(1) According to the Country Parks and Special Areas Regulations (Cap. 208A) and Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation (Cap. 476A), a permit granted by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation is required for holding large-scale events, such as sporting competitions, public meetings, funding raising events, etc, in country parks or marine parks. In vetting the applications, the AFCD will mainly consider the impacts of the event on the environment and users of country parks or marine parks, as well as risks to public safety.

All applications involving country parks can be made nine months in advance of the activity at the earliest, or must reach the AFCD at least 10 working days before the activity day. The AFCD pledges to complete the assessment within three working days upon receipt of all essential information of the application. For similar events involving marine parks, applications can be made at least eight working days before the event day. To facilitate applicants, the AFCD has formulated guidelines that clearly explain the application procedures and requirements. Based on past experience, some applications of competition in country parks involve road sections that are under the purview of other government departments. Upon receipt of such applications, the AFCD will provide immediate advice and support, assisting the applicants in contacting the relevant departments as soon as possible to ensure a smooth process. The AFCD will continue to review the process from time to time to ensure all applications are handled effectively.

(2) To ensure that events would not impact on the natural ecology and public safety, organisers are required to provide detailed information of the events when submitting applications to hold activities in country parks for the AFCD to process, including route maps, layout plans of the venue, staff arrangement, crowd control, contingency plan for inclement weather, first-aid service, etc. The AFCD would consider the past records of the organisers, as well as the safety and pedestrian flow of the proposed routes, and impose appropriate requirements to ensure smooth running of the events.

The AFCD would maintain close communication with the organisers during the preparation and implementation of the events, and deploy staff to monitor the activities onsite during the events. If any non-compliance with the permit conditions is observed during the events, the AFCD would issue warning letters to the organisers. If there is any contravention of the law, the AFCD will take resolute enforcement actions. In order to establish a more stringent monitoring and penalty system, the AFCD had updated the guidelines in December 2025. If the organisers commit any non-compliant acts during the events, the bad track record will be recorded and taken into account by the AFCD when handling their future applications for holding events. If the organisers commit serious non-compliant acts, such as violations of the permit conditions, the AFCD may having regard to the circumstances impose a “suspension period” on the organisers for a certain period of time.

(3) The AFCD adopts a multi-prong approach to enhance safe hiking experiences, including placing information boards and direction signs at appropriate locations within the country parks, installing railings and warning signs at high-risk locations to prevent hikers from wandering into these locations and resulting in accidents. The department deploys additional staff to patrol, and utilises technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles in reminding hikers to pay attention to safety. On publicity and education fronts, the AFCD provides comprehensive information on various hiking trails on its “Enjoy Hiking” website (www.hiking.gov.hk), which also lists out high-risk locations with records of fatal and serious accidents, thereby enabling visitors to plan their trips properly. The AFCD has formulated country park hiking safety guidelines to remind visitors to pay attention to the weather, hike with company as far as possible, etc, and disseminates information on hiking safety through the AFCD’s website, “Enjoy Hiking” website, the thematic webpage “Hong Kong Great Outdoors” of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/outdoors.html), and the social media platforms locally, and those in the Mainland and overseas as well.

The AFCD will continue to listen to the views of different stakeholders, including sports associations and professional bodies, and consult the statutory body of the Country and Marine Parks Boards, which is boardly represented by different sectors, to review practically the country park management strategies, and update safety guidelines as needed.

(4) The level of wear and tear of hiking trail facilities is dependent on multiple factors, including visitor numbers, hiking etiquette and nearby environment conditions. Certain popular trails and attractions may experience vegetation and soil erosion due to large visitation, aggravating deterioration of the facilities. In the light of the increasingly keen public interest of visiting country parks, the AFCD is enhancing the coverage and connectivity of the trail network, as well as implementing enhancement projects in various country parks, to divert visitors with diverse needs, thereby alleviating pressure on the hotspots. The AFCD will continue to closely monitor and analyse the visitor flow, and assess the usage conditions of country park trail facilities, and undertake appropriate enhancement works subject to resource availability, including rehabilitating eroded trails, controlling soil erosion on pathways, improving vegetation, enhancing cleansing services, upgrading visitor information, and strengthening public education to foster awareness regarding the protection of country park environments. Where deemed necessary, the AFCD may restrict the frequency of organising events at certain popular sites in the country parks.

In addition, the AFCD is actively applying technology to enhance management of country parks. To facilitate more effective monitoring of visitor flow in country parks, the AFCD has launched a pilot scheme since 2022 involving the installation of automatic people counters at main entrances of Aberdeen Country Park and Tai Lam Country Park, utilising infrared sensor technology to continuously record visitor flow. The scheme will be progressively extended to other country parks. Furthermore, the AFCD is currently assessing the feasibility of utilising unmanned aerial vehicles for monitoring trail conditions.

(5) The number of prosecutions instituted by the AFCD for various offences in country parks and special areas across the territory over the past five years is tabulated below:
 

Nature of offence	Number of prosecutions
	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Unauthorised possession or driving of vehicles or bicycles	426	342	236	416	227
Illegal camping	151	364	199	214	116
Entering closed sites (Note 1)	371	297	21	0	0
Illegal lighting of fires	94	74	22	20	17
Damaging plants	40	38	29	15	20
Littering	42	14	8	7	42
Others (Note 2)	16	15	16	20	33
Total	1140	1144	531	692	455

Note 1: All designated camping sites and barbecue sites in country parks were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened on November 17, 2022. Some of the prosecutions were instituted in 2023.

Note 2: Other offences included illegal selling of objects, displaying advertisement, damaging country park facility, disturbing soil, spitting, holding of sporting competition and other commercial activities without approval, entering specified zone (i.e. the Hong Kong Wetland Park) without paying admission fee and obstructing authorised officer in discharge of duty.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region