Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Kingsley Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):
 
Question:
  
     Regarding the employment and poverty situation in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as, according to data from the Census and Statistics Department, the median monthly household income (median income) (excluding foreign domestic helpers) rose from $16,700 to $24,500 over the 10-year period between 2006 and 2015, an increase of over 45 per cent, but the median income rose only from $25,000 to $30,000 over the last decade (between 2016 and 2025), with the rate of increase falling to 20 per cent; whether the authorities have examined the reasons for this decline in the rate of increase, such as easing wage growth, loss of positions at middle and senior levels, reduction in the average household size, or decline in the labour force participation rate; if so, of the details; 

(2) as it is learnt that the number of economically inactive households with non-elderly members has more than doubled over the past 20-odd years, whether the authorities have examined the reasons for this significant increase; if so, of the details;  
President,
 
     In consultation with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the reply to the Member’s question is provided as follows: 
     The increase in the median monthly household income (excluding foreign domestic helpers) from 2016 to 2025 was lower than that in the preceding decade (2006-2015). The statistics relating to changes in demographic structure showed that during 2016 to 2025, the number of elderly households increased by 59.7 per cent from 320 000 households to 510 000 households (higher than the growth rate of 51.1 per cent in the preceding decade). Among which, the number of economically inactive elderly households also grew by 49.6 per cent from 290 000 households to 430 000 households (higher than the growth rate of 45.4 per cent in the preceding decade). In addition, the average household size (excluding foreign domestic helpers) decreased continuously in the past 20 years respectively from 2.9 persons in 2006 to 2.7 persons in 2015 and from 2.7 persons in 2016 to 2.5 persons in 2025. Generally speaking, elderly households have lower incomes than non-elderly households, and households with fewer members also tend to have lower household incomes. The growing proportion of these two types of households among all domestic households has exerted a downward pressure on the growth of the overall median household income. 
     Furthermore, the Government has been supporting lower-income working households who are not receiving CSSA through the Working Family Allowance (WFA) Scheme, with a view to promoting full-time employment and self-reliance, as well as rewarding hard work. The WFA Scheme also provides child allowance to households with eligible children. The Government reviews the WFA Scheme and enhances its support from time to time. The rates of the household and child allowances under the WFA Scheme have been increased by 15 per cent across the board with effect from April 2024 to further alleviate the burden of lower-income working families and incentivise more families to join the labour market. In addition, the 2025 Policy Address announced the provision of time-limited cash incentives for households leaving the CSSA Scheme and joining the WFA Scheme on a pilot basis, with a view to encouraging more people with working capability to leave the CSSA Scheme and promoting self-reliance through continuous employment. The Government is preparing to launch the initiative in the second half of this year. 
     In response to this situation, the Government launched the School-based After School Care Service Scheme (the Service Scheme) in the 2023/24 school year, allowing primary students in need to stay after school for care and learning support in a safe and familiar environment, thereby easing the pressure on parents/guardians in caring for and supervising their children. At the same time, it gives parents/guardians who otherwise need to look after their children in after-school hours the option of taking up employment and improving their livelihood. Both single-parent and dual-income families stand to benefit. The Government has further expanded the Service Scheme in 2025/26 school year by removing the cap on the number of places, thereby extending support to more primary students and parents in need. As at February 2026, 205 primary schools have joined the Service Scheme, providing over 10 000 service places, many of which are in Kwun Tong, Kwai Tsing and Wong Tai Sin districts.
 
     In addition, the Labour Department (LD) provides diversified employment services and implements various employment programmes to assist job seekers of different backgrounds to secure employment. The LD operates 10 job centres across the territory, providing personalised employment advisory and job referral services to job seekers, and regularly organising job fairs to help job seekers in the respective districts secure employment.
 
     To promote the employment of the middle-aged and older persons, the LD launched the three-year Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme (REA Scheme) in July 2024 to encourage persons aged 40 or above who have not been in paid work for three consecutive months or more to join the employment market. The LD also implements the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged (EPEM) to encourage employers to hire persons aged 40 or above and provide them with on-the-job training. Both the REA Scheme and EPEM cover full-time and part-time jobs. The response to the REA Scheme is very favourable, with over 72 000 participants and 43 000 placements recorded as at March 2026. Of which, about 60 per cent of participants and placements involve women, showing the REA Scheme’s effectiveness in helping women secure employment.
 
     At present, LD officers will upon invitation participate in or attend committee meetings of individual District Councils to listen to the views of local communities on labour issues. The Government will continue to review policies related to poverty alleviation and employment, collect the views from local communities and stakeholders, and adjust relevant measures in a timely manner having regard to the economic and labour market situations of Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Jonathan Leung and a reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (April 22): 

Question:

There are views that digitalisation and the development of artificial intelligence present significant opportunities for the upgrading and transformation of the food and beverage (F&B) sector. However, although the Government has successively launched the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP) and the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme (DTSPP) to assist various sectors (including the F&B sector) in adopting technology, according to the Government’s reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on February 25 this year, the F&B sector accounted for only 8 per cent and 34 per cent respectively of the approved projects under these two programmes, and the response has not been particularly enthusiastic. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the authorities have conducted any survey to find out why the F&B sector has not actively applied for the aforementioned programmes in the past; if so, of the details; if not, whether the authorities have plans to conduct such a survey;

(2) given that TVP and DTSPP have now ceased accepting applications, and the authorities have indicated that they will examine ways to enhance DTSPP, whether the authorities have any plans to introduce targeted measures during this policy gap to assist the F&B sector in enhancing the adoption of technology and artificial intelligence; and

(3) while examining ways to enhance DTSPP, whether the authorities will conduct an opinion survey on catering enterprises that have previously applied for the Programme to gauge their views on various aspects of DTSPP such as application procedures, vetting and approval time, funding amounts, scope of funding and shortcomings; if so, of the details; if not, how will the authorities ensure that the enhanced DTSPP meets the needs of enterprises?

Reply:

President,

Regarding the question from the Hon Jonathan Leung, our reply is as follows.

(1) and (2) The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) launched the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP) in November 2016 to support non-listed local enterprises/organisations in adopting technology services and solutions to enhance productivity, or upgrade or transform business processes, thereby strengthening their long-term competitiveness. The TVP has approved a total of 38 640 applications, with over 3 000 approved applications falling under the category “restaurants and hotels”, ranking second among the types of businesses supported. The ITC conducted a fundamental review on the TVP in 2024 and considered that the programme has achieved its original intent. Additionally, multiple policy bureaux and departments have introduced more targeted funding schemes dedicated to the specific conditions or operational needs of individual industries in recent years. In view of the above, the TVP ceased accepting new applications after December 31, 2024.

On the other hand, the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme (DTSPP) was launched in January 2024. Through subsidies on a one-to-one matching basis, the DTSPP assists small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in food and beverage, retail, tourism, and personal services sectors in adopting off-the-shelf and basic digital solutions in three categories (digital payment and shopfront sales, online promotion and customer management systems), with a view to accelerating their digital transformation. When the DTSPP’s application period was ended in May 2025, approximately 4 500 SMEs from the F&B sector had submitted applications, of which nearly 3 000 were approved, accounting for over 30 per cent of the total of approximately 8 800 successfully approved applications under the DTSPP.

The DTSPP offered SMEs over 1 200 off-the-shelf and basic digital solutions, including technological solution service plans covering up to 24 months for applicants to choose from. As the implementation agent for the DTSPP, Cyberport maintained close communication with SMEs, service providers, relevant industries and SME associations etc. through various channels. To enhance industry awareness and promote participation in the DTSPP, Cyberport conducted promotional training sessions for over 30 industry organisations in the F&B sector during the implementation of the programme, and organised workshops to facilitate matching between SMEs and digital solution providers, thereby accelerating the digital transformation of SMEs including those in the F&B sector.

 (3) As mentioned above, Cyberport maintained close communications with stakeholders during the implementation of the DTSPP to gain insights into market conditions. At the same time, it collected feedback on the DTSPP from various parties, through application reports submitted by SMEs receiving subsidies and questionnaires, etc., as well as analysing and monitoring the progress and effectiveness of the funded enterprises in implementing digital solutions, to ensure that the programme was run smoothly and had met the intended objectives. In light of the positive response from SMEs to the DTSPP, the Government will allocate an additional $300 million to enhance the programme, with a view to further encouraging SMEs to adopt off-the-shelf and basic digital solutions to boost their competitiveness and strengthen cybersecurity. The Government is currently reviewing the DTSPP with Cyberport. In addition to including AI and cybersecurity solutions into the programme, considerations will also be given to factors such as SMEs’ latest needs for transformation, market products offering and pricing, and operational experience, etc, in devising the funding model, scope and amount, as well as the implementation details of the new round of the programme. Our target is to roll out the enhanced DTSPP in the second half of this year following consultation with the Legislative Council.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Carmen Kan and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):

Question:whether the authorities have assessed what synergies such computing power capacity will generate with other GBA cities; and

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Elvin Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):
 
Question:
 
The Chinese Culture Promotion Office (CCPO), established in 2024, is tasked with the important mission of increasing the awareness of, and interest in, Chinese culture and history across all sectors, fostering patriotic education, and enhancing the public’s sense of national identity and cultural confidence. In order to better achieve this mission, there are views that the CCPO should adopt innovative methods to enhance the contemporary appeal and reach of Chinese culture, and collaborate extensively with different stakeholders to precisely reach different strata of society. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether, in the process of creating iconic flagship projects such as the Chinese Culture Festival, the CCPO has formulated a more comprehensive set of key performance indicators beyond attendance figures (including assessing the reach of relevant projects on social media, their role in shaping the values of young people, and their actual contribution to raising the international visibility of Hong Kong’s “cultural icons”);
 
(2) of the total number of events organised by the CCPO in various districts across the territory in the past year, as well as the number of participants and the distribution of resources; the targeted and differentiated promotion strategies adopted by the CCPO for different audience groups, such as adolescents, working people, the elderly and ethnic minorities, to ensure that the dissemination of Chinese culture combines professional depth with community inclusiveness and achieves all-round coverage; and
 
(3) how the CCPO will further deepen its strategic co-operation with the local publication sector, the cultural and creative industries, educational institutions and mainstream/emerging media platforms; in the face of new trends in digital communications, whether the CCPO will consider leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality or big data analytics to improve content presentation, and enhancing the reach and contemporary appeal of Chinese culture among the younger generation and overseas tourists through cross-sectoral collaboration (e.g. developing cultural intellectual property and promoting themed tourism in a synergistic way)?
 
Reply:
 
President,

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) established the Chinese Culture Promotion Office (CCPO) in April 2024.  By co-ordinating the LCSD resources related to Chinese culture and history, the CCPO plans and organises a wide array of activities to promote Chinese culture to various audiences, aiming to strengthen the public’s cultural confidence and foster identification with the country and national identity.
 
The CCPO is committed to developing the “Chinese Culture Festival” (CCF) into an annual signature cultural event in Hong Kong. Through a series of performing arts programmes in different forms covering Chinese opera, dance, music, films and more, held annually from June to September, the CCF enables the public to understand, embrace, experience and appreciate traditional Chinese culture, arts and history during the months-long event. Leveraging Hong Kong’s advantages of enjoying strong national support and a high degree of global connectivity, the CCF also showcases fine traditional Chinese culture elements to the international audience and helps overseas visitors better understand traditional Chinese cultural excellence.
 
 Another key initiative of the CCPO is the “General History of China Exhibition Series” launched since 2024. Through chronological exhibitions focused on significant historical periods, together with corresponding educational and outreach activities, the series enables the general public to learn about the development of Chinese history and culture in a structured way, thereby strengthening national identity and cultural confidence. The CCPO also launches roving exhibitions at parks, public libraries, sports and recreation venues, as well as government office buildings across Hong Kong, bringing interesting knowledge about Chinese history and culture into the community and broadening the audience base.
 
In response to the question raised by Dr the Hon Elvin Lee, our reply is as follows:
 
In 2025, the CCPO launched more than 200 activities to promote Chinese culture and history, with the second edition of the CCF, the exhibitions under the “General History of China Exhibition Series” and the “National Development and Achievements Series” recording a total attendance of more than 1.2 million. The second edition of CCF with over 290 programmes attracted more than 960 000 attendances, of which 17 per cent being tourists.
 
The LCSD attaches great importance to the evaluation of the overall benefits of cultural mega-events, and has established evaluation mechanisms for the CCF. Specifically, the LCSD collects data on participants’ interests, spending habits and other aspects through questionnaire surveys so as to formulate more targeted promotional strategies and enhance the programme appeal. This will help attract tourists to Hong Kong for a first-hand experience of its unique cultural charm and an appreciation of the distinctive elements of the profound traditional Chinese culture, thereby boosting local spending. According to the data collected from questionnaire surveys during two editions of the CCF, over 90 per cent of the participants rated the programmes positively, and over 85 per cent agreed that the CCF had enhanced their understanding of and interest in Chinese culture, indicating that the CCF has achieved tangible results in improving the quality of the public’s cultural life.
 
Targeting youth and student groups, the CCPO has collaborated with the Education Bureau offering professional development for teachers and experiential learning activities for students. Apart from integrating museum resources effectively into classrooms, these efforts also provide teachers with hands-on experience in museum-based teaching and learning, enabling them to make full use of LCSD’s historical and cultural resources. To give students and younger generations more opportunities to learn about and experience Chinese culture, the CCF also offers free “Outreach Programmes for Popularising Chinese Cultural Arts” and “Chinese Opera En Route to Campus”. Across the two editions, it attracted about 15 000 teachers, students and community participants, with encouraging responses.
 
In order to promote Chinese culture in a multifaceted approach, the LCSD has put in place various measures to facilitate participation and attract diverse sectors of society to its cultural programmes and exhibitions. For instance, the CCF offers various ticket concessions, including half-price discounts for senior citizens, full-time students, people with disabilities and their minders, as well as Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. In addition, the second edition of the CCF introduced the new “Generations Together 1+1” Discount. Under this offer, each purchase of a concessionary ticket for students or seniors entitles the holder to one more discounted standard ticket for the same performance, thereby encouraging intergenerational participation in Chinese cultural programmes. To engage more local non-Chinese speakers and overseas visitors to learn about and appreciate Chinese culture, in addition to the bilingual (Chinese-English) display materials provided for general programmes and exhibitions, major exhibitions also offer guided tours and/or audio guides in both Chinese and English, while selected performances include bilingual subtitles, ensuring that visitors from all backgrounds can fully enjoy the cultural events. To accommodate the needs of working people, the LCSD schedules performances during weekday evenings and weekends. Selected museums also extend their opening hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays to better serve their needs.
 
The CCPO also rolled out public activities that connect with communities including the “Chinese Culture in Hong Kong Gardens” series focusing on local parks. Through guided visits and site studies of parks with Chinese cultural features, such as Kowloon Walled City Park, Nan Lian Garden and the Lingnan Garden within Lai Chi Kok Park, the public are introduced to historical cultures and architecture from different dynasties in everyday leisure spaces, exploring the Chinese cultural meanings embedded therein.
 
In terms of promotion, the CCPO reaches different audience segments via social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Xiaohongshu, promoting exhibitions and activities related to Chinese history and culture in an interactive way. The CCPO also provides rich online resources on its website, making it easy for the public to learn about different areas of Chinese culture. Besides, the CCPO also uses conventional channels of mass media, such as newspaper, e-mail, books and magazines, television programmes and radio broadcasts, as well as collaboration with local cultural organisations to promote Chinese culture.
 
The CCPO is committed to establishing a platform for social partnership and proactively exploring collaboration with different local cultural groups and stakeholders to promote Chinese culture. Leveraging the existing social networks, district resources and professional knowledge of these organisations, a range of cultural programmes will be introduced and carried into different audience segments so that Chinese culture is more widely disseminated in the community. At the same time, the CCPO actively explores collaboration with the tourism sector to achieve the effect of “shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism”.
 
The LCSD will continue to apply innovative technological elements to museum exhibitions and will set up photo spots and immersive exhibitions to enhance visitor experience. Serving as a key base for promoting Chinese culture in the community, the CCPO is establishing the Chinese Culture Experience Centre (Experience Centre) in Kowloon Park. The Experience Centre will, making use of interactive and object-based learning approaches, present cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage, and employ new technologies and approaches to design creative and life-oriented cultural programmes to promote Chinese culture to citizens and tourists. Construction of the Experience Centre commenced in June 2025, with an expected completion in 2028 and opening to the public at the year end.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Christine Fong and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):

Question:

A number of road tunnels in Hong Kong were completed and commissioned successively between the 1970s and 1980s, including the Cross Harbour Tunnel, the Aberdeen Tunnel, the Kai Tak Tunnel and the Eastern Harbour Crossing. Among them, the Cross Harbour Tunnel has remained in use for over 50 years. Given the heavy usage of road tunnels in Hong Kong, traffic safety in tunnels has aroused public concern. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the fire service installations and equipment provided in existing road tunnels in Hong Kong (including their numbers and types) and the year when their fire alarm systems were last updated, with a tabulated breakdown by road tunnel;

(2) whether the authorities have any plan to further upgrade the ventilation systems and fire service systems of road tunnels in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) as it is learnt that wear and tear of the road surfaces in some road tunnels reappears shortly after repair, how frequently the authorities carry out repair works for various road tunnels, and whether they will step up the review of the road surfacing materials for repairing the road surfaces of tunnels to enhance the durability of their road surfaces; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether the authorities have any specific plans to undertake road re-‍surfacing works for existing road tunnels, repair tunnel walls and hard shoulders, or replace other equipment/systems; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) as the Government indicated in its reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on the Estimates of Expenditure for the 2018-2019 financial year that the Highways Department would conduct routine inspections of road tunnels once every six months, how frequently the authorities conduct routine inspections for various road tunnels at present?

Reply:

President,

The Government attaches great importance to the safety of road tunnels and ensures the normal operation of tunnel systems and facilities through regular inspections, thereby safeguarding the safety of road users. The co-ordinated reply to the question raised by Member is as follows:

(1) All government road tunnels are currently installed with fire service installations and equipment (FSIs) in accordance with the law and requirements of the Fire Services Department (FSD). The tunnel operators under the Transport Department (TD) conduct routine inspections and preventive maintenance on a regular basis, as well as corrective maintenance as necessary, while the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department exercises strict supervision on the inspections and maintenance works carried out by the tunnel operators. The tunnel operators also engage registered fire service installation contractors, in accordance with the law, to conduct annual inspections on the FSIs to ensure that they are maintained in good working order.

The TD and the tunnel operators have formulated comprehensive contingency plans for fire incidents and provide regular fire-fighting training to the tunnel operators’ staff. In the event of a fire in the tunnel, the tunnel operator will immediately take appropriate actions, including promptly reporting to government departments such as the FSD and the TD, activating the ventilation and fire services systems in the tunnel, implementing traffic management and tube closure measures, and assisting in the safe evacuation of motorists in the tunnel, etc. To enhance response efficiency, the TD and the tunnel operators, in collaboration with the FSD, jointly conduct fire drills in each tunnel every six months on average. These drills test the contingency procedures of various parties and the operation of FSIs, etc to ensure that all parties are familiar with the protocols and able to respond promptly to fire incidents. The TD and the tunnel operators will review the contingency plans from time to time and update them as necessary.

Regarding the detailed number of FSIs installed in various government tunnels and the year of the last fire services system upgrade, please refer to Annex 1. Due to variations in design, geographical environment and operational needs, the number of FSIs installed in each tunnel differs.

(2) The Government conducts reviews on the operational condition of ventilation and fire services systems at all government tunnels every year to ensure that they remain in proper and effective operation. According to the latest review of government tunnels, all ventilation and fire services systems are currently effective in meeting fire safety requirements.

The Government has also been undertaking the replacement of the ventilation and fire services systems at government tunnels whenever necessary. Over the past three years, the Government has replaced the fire services systems at Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Shing Mun Tunnels, as well as the ventilation system at Kai Tak Tunnel. Currently, the Government is replacing the ventilation and fire services systems at Aberdeen Tunnel, Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, Shing Mun Tunnels, Tate’s Cairn Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Crossing. Details of the replacement projects are set out in Annex 2. When planning for the replacement and upgrading of the ventilation and fire services systems, the Government will take into account a number of factors, including their operational condition, serviceable life, supply of spare parts and repair feasibility, and will arrange replacement in an orderly manner. The Government will seek funding approval timely for the replacement projects to ensure the safe, reliable and efficient operation of government tunnels.

(3) The HyD regularly sends staff to inspect the pavement of all road tunnels under its jurisdiction. Depending on the traffic volume and speed limits of the tunnel’s connecting road sections, routine inspections are conducted daily or weekly, while detailed inspections are conducted every six months. Based on the inspection findings, the HyD arranges maintenance work in a timely manner to ensure that the road tunnels remain in good condition.

The HyD attaches great importance to the quality of pavement works and has been continuously researching and introducing more durable and environmentally friendly bituminous materials for paving roads, with a view to enhancing pavement quality and reducing maintenance frequency. Since April 1, 2025, the HyD has fully adopted the use of “Highly Modified Stone Mastic Asphalt (HMSMA)”, a highly modified bituminous material that has better anti-deformation, anti-aging and anti-fatigue performance than the conventional bituminous materials, for road paving at suitable locations. In particular, “10mm Highly Modified Stone Mastic Asphalt (HMSMA10)”, which is commonly used on general roads, has already been adopted on certain suitable sections of tunnel carriageways. In the future, the HyD will apply this material to suitable bituminous pavements having regard to the actual site conditions and needs, with a view to continuously improving the quality of pavements in road tunnels and reducing maintenance frequency, thereby creating a better driving environment for motorists.

In addition, the HyD is exploring the introduction of new materials for repairing existing aged concrete pavements (such as High Tensile Strength repair materials). These materials are expected to enhance pavement durability while shortening the duration of construction for repair works and subsequent maintenance, thereby minimising the impact on traffic caused by repair works.

(4) The HyD continuously conducts regular inspections of road tunnels and, based on the inspection findings, arranges necessary repair works, including pavement maintenance works. Over the past few years, the HyD has completed road resurfacing or bituminous overlay works at various sections of several road tunnels (including the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Shing Mun Tunnels, and Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, etc) to improve pavement quality of road tunnels. The HyD has planned to continue carrying out road resurfacing works in 2026 on suitable sections of the Western Harbour Crossing, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Lion Rock Tunnel, and the Airport Tunnel connecting the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and the Hong Kong International Airport to optimise pavement quality and enhance driving comfort. Regarding other tunnel facilities (including tunnel walls and concrete profile barriers), the HyD will continue to arrange necessary repair works based on findings from regular inspections and the advice of professionals to maintain the road tunnels in good condition.

(5) To ensure the structural safety of tunnels, the HyD sends staff to conduct inspections every half year to identify obvious damage for further follow-up. Additionally, the HyD conducts General Inspections every two years. For older road tunnels (including the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Aberdeen Tunnel, Kai Tak Tunnel and Lion Rock Tunnel), the frequency of General Inspections is increased to once every half year to once a year. General Inspections primarily involve close-up observations to thoroughly examine the condition of tunnel structures and their ancillary components. Furthermore, the HyD also regularly engages professionals to carry out Principal Inspections for tunnels, comprehensively evaluating the structural integrity of the tunnels and making recommendations for improvement. During the inspection process, professionals carry out various types of tests on tunnel structures including hammer tapping tests and core sampling of concrete components from different sections for examination and testing, to ensure the overall structural safety of the tunnels. Corresponding repairs will be arranged in a timely manner based on the inspection findings.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Following is a question by the Hon Chan Cho-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):

Question:

While all government tunnels and major trunk roads are currently equipped with traffic control and surveillance systems (TCSSs) which operate round-the-clock, there are views that the problem of traffic congestion in these government tunnels and on such major trunk roads in Hong Kong persists, arousing public concerns about whether TCSSs can provide more comprehensive coverage of the road network in Hong Kong to identify traffic incidents or contraventions in a timely manner. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) under the framework of the Transport Strategy Blueprint, whether the Government has specific plans to expand TCSSs and further step up automatic detection and law enforcement efforts against traffic contraventions through implementation of TCSSs; if so, of the following details of the technology concerned, including the scope of application, scale of input, and estimated implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that, and whether it will consider establishing an independent review mechanism to ensure that law enforcement actions are carried out in a fair and transparent manner and to safeguard the rights of members of the public to lodge complaints;

(2) the Government conducted the trial of the Ting Kau Bridge Smart Motorway Pilot Scheme (the Pilot Scheme) at the road section of Ting Kau Bridge southbound (Tsing Yi bound) in December 2024, in which the Automatic Incident Detection System assisted in detecting and handling traffic incidents by application of AI technologies; whether the authorities will expand the Pilot Scheme to cover the other major trunk roads, tunnels or roads in the urban areas; if so, of the technical specifications concerned and the timetables involved; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) given that the Transport Department is actively building an intelligent traffic management platform by making use of AI and big data to identify traffic bottlenecks at road junctions, make forecasts on weather conditions or unexpected incidents, so as to provide updates to the public in a timely manner; whether such platform will include smart monitoring functions (such as AI-powered image analysis of real-time road conditions, automatic alert functions in case of abnormalities)?

Reply:

President,

The Government has been committed to enhancing traffic management efficiency through innovative technologies, and has formulated long-term strategies in the Transport Strategy Blueprint promulgated in February 2026 to promote the application of digital technologies and AI in the transport sector.

My reply to the questions raised by the Member is as follows:

(1) and (3) At present, all road tunnels and the Tsing Ma Control Area are equipped with comprehensive Traffic Control and Surveillance facilities including CCTV cameras, automatic incident detectors, lane control signals, variable speed limit signs and variable message signs for efficient and effective traffic and incident management.

Under the framework of the Transport Strategy Blueprint, the Government proposes to commence a study on the Traffic Management Platform within this year, which will primarily be used to assist in transport planning and traffic management. The platform will integrate various traffic and transport data, including traffic data collected from major roads after smart motorway measures have been implemented, and will use big data analytics and AI technologies to predict changes in traffic conditions, identify traffic bottlenecks, develop emergency response plans, assist with traffic management and transport planning, and disseminate relevant information to the public. The platform will apply AI-based video analytics technology to enable real-time monitoring of road conditions and automatic alerts for abnormal traffic events. The system will be capable of analysing road congestion and recommending solutions in real-time, while sharing real-time information with relevant government departments. For example, the Highways Department can leverage this capability to swiftly clear blocked roads during extreme weather, thereby maintaining smooth traffic flow. In addition, the platform will share information with public transport operators and other stakeholders to facilitate their flexible deployment of vehicles and rapid response to traffic flows brought by major events or unexpected traffic conditions, thereby enabling smoother journeys for the public.

The Transport Department (TD) will implement a regional pilot in suitable districts, with areas around Aberdeen identified as the first site to be prepared within this year. The pilot aims to test the practical applications and functions of the Traffic Management Platform in Hong Kong’s road environment.

Regarding the use of technology to support traffic enforcement, the Government will review the development and application of relevant technologies in a timely manner. It will holistically assess the necessity of automated traffic enforcement, taking into account enforcement needs, evidentiary requirements, and public acceptance. The Traffic Management Platform is intended primarily for transport planning and traffic management, and automated enforcement matters are not included during its study phase.

(2) Building on the successful experience of the Smart Motorway Pilot Scheme at Ting Kau Bridge, the Government is progressively implementing and expanding smart motorway management measures across existing major roads and those under planning, with the aim of enhancing overall transport efficiency and enabling more flexible use of road space.

With regard to major roads in the planning stage, the TD has maintained close liaison with relevant works departments to incorporate suitable smart motorway elements and requirements into their designs, such as the Tsing Lung Bridge at the southern end of Route 11, scheduled to open by 2033, and the Northern Metropolis Highway (San Tin Section), scheduled to open by 2036. Specific measures include installing an automatic incident detection system and associated equipment on the relevant road sections to detect traffic incidents swiftly by harnessing AI technology, and to promptly disseminate real-time traffic information to motorists so that they can respond appropriately.

For existing major roads, the Government will take advantage of future opportunities such as road widening or the replacement of Traffic Control and Surveillance Systems (TCSSs) to incorporate smart motorway elements into suitable projects. These include a smart motorway design to be integrated into the planned expansion of San Tin Highway by the Civil Engineering and Development Department this year; the progressive replacement of TCSSs for the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and the Western Harbour Crossing starting in 2027 by the TD, with new systems equipped with active warning functions to enable early detection of emergencies inside the tunnels; and the incorporation of smart motorway design when TCSSs at the Tsing Sha Control Area and Tai Lam Tunnel are replaced at a later stage.

The TD will adopt suitable smart motorway systems, taking into account the actual geographical environment, traffic characteristics and operational needs of each major road or tunnel. The design and operation of these systems will comply with the Government’s rigorous requirements on information security and data processing.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):
 
Question:
 
     The Government signed the 57th Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) with Barbados in March 2026 to expand Hong Kong’s tax treaty network. There are views pointing out that in the context of an evolving global taxation environment, expanding the tax treaty network is crucial to consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a leading destination for international business operations. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given that Singapore has signed over 90 CDTAs, a number far exceeds Hong Kong’s current total of 57, whether the Government will formulate a more proactive timetable to catch up with the lag, so as to narrow the gap between Hong Kong and major economies of other regions in this regard;
 
(2) apart from increasing the number of CDTAs, whether the Government has assessed if the existing CDTAs (especially those which were signed at an earlier stage) still align with the prevailing international tax standard, and ensured that these CDTAs can continue to provide Hong Kong enterprises with competitive withholding tax rates and adequate legal protection;
 
(3) whether the Government will step up efforts in negotiating and concluding CDTAs with emerging markets along the Belt and Road, as well as with countries or regions with potential for collaborating with Hong Kong in innovation and technology, so as to facilitate bilateral trade flows and reduce tax costs for enterprises;
 
(4) of the resources and staffing establishment currently dedicated by the Government to expanding the tax treaty network; whether it will consider allocating additional resources in future to expedite the progress of negotiating and concluding CDTAs; and
 
(5) whether the Government has taken the initiative to publicise and promote to local chambers of commerce and investors in jurisdictions with which CDTAs have been signed, so as to assist multinational enterprises in fully understanding and making good use of CDTAs to optimise their global tax costs when considering the setting up of regional headquarters in Hong Kong, thereby attracting quality enterprises to Hong Kong and further developing the “headquarters economy”?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government has been proactively expanding the Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) network, which will enable investors to better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities and avoid double taxation. This will foster a more attractive business environment, promoting bilateral trade and investment.
 
     Having consulted the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) and the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), my reply to Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee’s question is as follows:
 
(1), (3) and (5) Since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong has started entering into CDTAs with major trading partners. Following the conclusion of an avoidance of double taxation arrangement with the Chinese Mainland in 1998, we signed a CDTA with Belgium in 2003, which was our first CDTA with an overseas jurisdiction. As of mid-April 2026, Hong Kong has signed CDTAs with 57 tax jurisdictions, 12 of which were signed by the current-term Government. We have also commenced negotiations with 17 tax jurisdictions. Depending on the content and complexity of the CDTAs, as well as the willingness and work priority of negotiation partners, we expect that three to four CDTAs will be signed this year.
 
     According to the figures of 2025, 15 of Hong Kong’s top 20 major trading partners have signed CDTAs with us. The trade value between Hong Kong and these 15 partners amounted to over 75 per cent of Hong Kong’s total trade value. This shows that the current CDTA network suits Hong Kong’s trade needs. To attract more enterprises to Hong Kong and facilitate enterprises to “go global” through Hong Kong, the Government will continue to proactively expand our CDTA network with a focus on jurisdictions participating in the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative.
 
     Apart from continuously expanding the CDTA network, the Government has been implementing various measures aiming to deepen the economic and trade co-operation with B&R countries and regions, and assist Hong Kong enterprises and professional services in exploring new business opportunities. the CEDB and the Belt and Road Office will continue to organise the annual flagship event – Belt and Road Summit; reach out to agencies in charge of projects in B&R countries and regions; organise missions, study tours and matching activities; as well as encourage and assist external organisations to stage roadshows in Hong Kong, with a view to promoting Hong Kong’s diversified, professional and international professional services. Also, Invest Hong Kong has all along been assisting enterprises from all over the world to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong, including economies along the B&R and with potential for collaboration in the field of innovation and technology. The department will continue to organise and sponsor an array of investment promotion activities, including roadshows, seminars and roundtables, to provide overseas enterprises with the latest information on Hong Kong’s business environment, including leveraging the advantages of Hong Kong’s CDTA network, thereby attracting more inward investment.
 
     In addition, OASES is proactively engaging enterprises around the world with potential and that are technologically leading to establish a presence in Hong Kong. Apart from showcasing Hong Kong’s overall strengths in terms of institutions, finance, professional services, and international connectivity, OASES will highlight Hong Kong’s competitive tax policies and measures (including Hong Kong’s CDTA network) to help enterprises more comprehensively assess the feasibility of establishing headquarters, research and development centres, and treasury management centres in Hong Kong. Among others, to further enhance Hong Kong’s role as a key base for Corporate Treasury Centres (CTCs), the Government will provide additional tax incentives and flexibility to CTCs and their associated corporations, and at the same time strengthen promotion and communication with multinational enterprises, and enhance training for relevant practitioners, etc. The Government will announce an action plan in mid-2026, outlining the details of the aforementioned measures.
 
(2) The Government from time to time reviews and updates Hong Kong’s CDTAs to ensure that they conform to the prevailing international tax standards and provide Hong Kong enterprises with competitive arrangements and sufficient safeguards.
 
     In 2015, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) introduced the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) package with tax treaty-related measures, including prevention of treaty abuse and enhancement of the dispute resolution mechanism. The Government implemented the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (Convention) of the package through local legislation in 2022 in order to modify CDTAs signed earlier for conforming to BEPS requirements. The CDTAs signed in recent years have also incorporated provisions that meet the standards of the Convention.
 
     The prevailing withholding tax rates under Hong Kong’s CDTAs are generally on par with those under the CDTAs of our major trading partners in the region and some of ours are even more favourable. Besides, our CDTAs clearly set out the taxing rights of the governments of the two sides, residents and taxes covered, arrangements for elimination of double taxation, withholding tax rates, dispute resolution mechanism, information exchange arrangements between the tax authorities, etc, so as to provide enterprises with tax certainty and legal protection.
 
(4) The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the IRD are responsible for duties in relation to expansion of the CDTA network. The major officers involve one Principal Assistant Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, one Assistant Commissioner of Inland Revenue (directorate officer at D2 level) and seven officers from the grades of administrative officer, assessor and executive officer. To cope with the increasing workload related to CDTAs and other international tax matters, the IRD created the aforementioned post of Assistant Commissioner in June 2023 to strengthen support at the directorate level. To meet operational needs, we will arrange internal deployment or increase manpower as appropriate.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

In support of the World Health Organization’s World Immunisation Week, which takes place during the last week of April (April 24 to 30), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 22) reminded the public to get vaccinated on time to reduce the serious health threats posed by vaccine-preventable diseases. The theme this year is “For every generation, vaccines work”. Hong Kong has provided childhood vaccinations since the 1950s. Thanks to strong support from parents, schools and the healthcare sector, Hong Kong’s vaccination coverage has consistently remained at a very high level, keeping most vaccine-preventable diseases under control. Hong Kong eradicated smallpox and poliomyelitis in 1980 and 2000 respectively, and successfully eliminated measles and rubella (German measles) in 2016 and 2021 respectively.
 
“Immunisation is widely recognised as one of the most successful, safe and cost-effective public health interventions, protecting millions of lives worldwide each year from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, such as measles, hepatitis B and certain cancers (including liver and cervical cancer). In order to build on past successes and effectively control vaccine-preventable diseases, it is crucial that every generation works together to get vaccinated in a timely manner, as recommended by the CHP. However, in recent years, some voices opposing vaccination have emerged in society. They mistakenly believe that vaccine-preventable diseases are already under control and therefore vaccination is no longer necessary. Some even spread unscientific claims such as ‘vaccines are unsafe’. In recent years, low vaccination coverage has led to measles outbreaks in many parts of the world, including in some countries that had previously achieved measles elimination. This should serve as a wake-up call, reminding us that we must maintain high overall vaccination rates to ensure herd immunity,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui said.
 
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the CHP makes recommendations on vaccines for different groups (e.g. children, pregnant women, the elderly, etc) based on local epidemiology and the latest scientific evidence from a public health perspective. With reference to the recommendations of the SCVPD, the Government provides different types of vaccines and boosters for children from birth to Primary Six to protect them from 12 communicable diseases, as well as other vaccination services, such as seasonal influenza vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and the COVID-19 vaccines for people in high-risk groups to boost their immunity and reduce the risk of infection or severe complications.
 
“Delaying vaccination reduces protection against relevant communicable diseases. Parents should arrange for their children to receive immunisations on schedule to ensure comprehensive and timely protection. New immigrants to Hong Kong, as well as those coming to study or work here, should complete any necessary catch-up vaccinations before arrival if they are unsure of their immunisation status, have not completed their vaccination series, or have unclear vaccination records. Additionally, members of the public planning to travel to areas experiencing outbreaks or high incidence rates of vaccine-preventable diseases should first confirm that they have completed the relevant vaccinations. Anyone who has not completed their immunisation or with an unknown vaccination history should consult their family doctor at least two weeks before travelling. Individuals returning to Hong Kong from areas experiencing outbreaks or high incidence rates of vaccine-preventable diseases should inform healthcare personnel of their symptoms and travel history, so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities to prevent any potential transmission,” said Dr Tsui.
 
For more information on World Immunisation Week and the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, please visit the relevant DH websites.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3