Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The 2025 Maker in China SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Contest – Hong Kong Chapter (MiCHK) opens for enrolment today (July 9). Hong Kong start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are welcome to join the contest, seizing the opportunity to expand into the Mainland market. The deadline for enrolment is August 20.
 
The contest focuses on frontier innovation and technology (I&T) fields that drive the development of new quality productive forces, including fintech, AI and big data, intelligent devices and robotics, smart living and smart mobility, third generation Internet and metaverse, semiconductors and integrated circuits, biomedicine and health, low-altitude economy and aerospace, new energy and green technology, as well as new materials.
 
The contest serves as a vital bridge for Hong Kong start-ups and SMEs to tap into the Mainland market, while also allowing Mainland investors and enterprises to know more about the local industry’s I&T products and solutions. The MiCHK 2025 Final will be held on September 25 this year, during which one-on-one business matching sessions will be arranged for the top 10 finalists to meet with investors and representatives of enterprises from the Mainland to promote financing and interfacing of businesses. In addition, the contesting teams will have the opportunity to receive support to participate in various start-up programmes and exhibition activities, and to showcase their potential innovative projects to different regions through multiple platforms. The champion, first runner-up and second runner-up will represent the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to compete in the national-level Maker in China SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Contest Final to be held in Guangzhou in the fourth quarter of this year, when they will compete with the winning teams of other regional chapters for the championship and opportunities to gain multifaceted support in connecting with Mainland investors, setting up businesses in Mainland entrepreneurial parks, and receiving guidance on outcome transformation.
 
The MiCHK 2025 is jointly organised by the Digital Policy Office of the HKSAR Government, the China Centre for Promotion of SME Development of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China, the Department of Youth Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, and the China International Cooperation Association of SMEs. It is formulated by the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, the Angel Investment Foundation and the Guangzhou SME’s Promotion Association For Specialization Refinement Differentiation Innovation Development. For more details about the contest, please visit makerinchina.hk/.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Erik Yim and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (July 9):

Question:

     The 2024 Policy Address proposes to strengthen elderly services and foster an elderly-friendly building environment. There are views pointing out that the choice of Hong Kong elderly persons to spend their retirement years in the Mainland, particularly other Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), can not only improve elderly persons’ quality of life, but also free up valuable living space in Hong Kong and ease the burden of public welfare on the Government. Moreover, amid the recent significant adjustments in property prices in the Mainland, such as areas like Huidong County in Huizhou and Shaxi Town in Zhongshan, some members of the public have proposed that the SAR Government may study the construction or purchase of buildings in the Mainland with better views, affordable rents, and more spacious and brighter interiors at lower costs for use as public rental housing (PRH), so as to provide Hong Kong elderly people with new opportunities to spend their retirement years in the Mainland. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will consider acquiring vacant properties pending sale in the Mainland cities of GBA for use as PRH flats with which the elderly people can replace their existing PRH flats in Hong Kong, thereby encouraging them to spend their retirement years in the Mainland cities of GBA; if so, of the details;

(2) given that at present, under the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area, arrangements can be made for patients to be transferred directly from designated sending hospitals in Shenzhen to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong in a point-to-point mode, whether the Government will further deepen the collaboration mechanism concerned by expanding the scope of the pilot scheme this year to cover other major cities in GBA and include emergency cases, so that emergency transport to Hong Kong can be arranged when necessary for elderly patients retiring in such cities, with a view to increasing the incentive for them to go north for retirement; and

(3) whether it will strengthen collaboration with the Mainland cities of GBA, such as jointly promoting remote diagnosis and AI medical consultation, to enhance healthcare service efficiency, as well as driving the development of gerontechnology and relevant industries, thereby better supporting Hong Kong people in spending their retirement years in such Mainland cities?

Reply:

President,

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been following the principle of complementarity and mutual benefits to enhance co-operation with Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), on the premise of benefitting the development of Hong Kong and the Mainland, so as to provide more options and convenience for Hong Kong residents who choose to work, reside or retire on the Mainland.

     Having consulted the Housing Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority (HA), the reply to the question raised by the Hon Erik Yim is as follows:

(1) The Housing Bureau has all along been supporting the implementation of various strategies and policies to cope with an ageing population. In order to strengthen the support to those who choose to retire on the Mainland, the Housing Bureau makes flexible arrangement for elderly public rental housing (PRH) residents who are required to surrender their PRH flats or delete their names from the tenancies upon receiving portable cash assistance. Considering Hong Kong elderly persons may encounter adaptation issues after moving to the Mainland, the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society allow elderly persons to retain their PRH flats or their names in the tenancies for no more than six months, with the grace period starting from the date of the elderly persons’ departure from Hong Kong. The above measure could address elderly persons’ concern about moving to the Mainland and help release PRH flats for turnover.

(2) The study on the provision of land-based cross-boundary transfer for non-emergency and non-critically ill patients and the exploration of rolling out a pilot co-operation scheme for cross-boundary referral of patients between designated hospitals were put forward in the Outline Development Plan for the GBA. The Chief Executive of the HKSAR also put forward in his 2023 Policy Address the initiative to explore cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangements between hospitals in the GBA. With the support of various national ministries, the HKSAR Government, in collaboration with the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Shenzhen Municipal Government and the Macao SAR Government, officially launched the one-year Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area (Pilot Scheme) on November 30, 2024.

     The Pilot Scheme starts by arranging direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer of patients from designated sending hospitals in Shenzhen and Macao (i.e. the University of Hong Kong – Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) and the Conde S. Januario Hospital of Macao) to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong. Upon assessment and agreement by the teams of designated cross-boundary collaborating hospitals, arrangements can be made for patients with specific clinical needs and suitable clinical conditions (including that the conditions are relatively stable) to be transferred directly to Hong Kong between designated hospitals in a point-to-point mode without the handover of patients between ambulances at boundary control points, thus minimising risks posed to patients during transfer. Indeed, persons with urgent medical needs should receive treatment at the nearest medical facility. Therefore, the Pilot Scheme does not cover emergency cases.

     Subject to the effectiveness and operational experience of the Pilot Scheme, the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will consider how to extend the Pilot Scheme, such as including more designated hospitals (including those in GBA Mainland cities other than Shenzhen) and/or extending the Pilot Scheme to a two-way arrangement.

(3) As mentioned above, the HKSAR Government will follow the principle of complementarity and mutual benefits to strengthen the collaboration with Mainland cities of the GBA. Indeed, the resources, needs, relevant laws and regulations, and regulatory regimes differ between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The HKSAR Government will explore cross-boundary facilitation measures on the premise that these cross-boundary measures are feasible and mutually beneficial.

     Specifically, the Government has been implementing various measures to facilitate the retirement of Hong Kong elderly persons in Mainland cities of the GBA, including providing subsidised residential care services and portable cash assistance. Among them, the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong provides an additional choice for eligible Hong Kong elderly persons to receive subsidised residential care services. The Labour and Welfare Bureau signed a “Letter of Intent on Collaboration to Expand the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong” with the Department of Civil Affairs of Guangdong Province in November 2023 to co-operate in selecting suitable residential care homes for the elderly operated by Mainland organisations in Mainland cities of the GBA for joining the Scheme. With the assistance of the relevant authorities, the number of residential care homes for the elderly in Guangdong joining the Scheme has increased to 15, scattering in six Mainland cities within the GBA. The Government has, starting from this May, commissioned a non-governmental organisation to provide Social and Care Support Service for the elderly participants of the Scheme and their families, and will launch a two-year pilot arrangement by the end of this year to share part of the medical expenses that the elderly participants of the Scheme need to bear on their own under the National Basic Medical Insurance Policy.

     In terms of healthcare services, the public or subsidised healthcare services provided by the HKSAR Government are based on catering for the needs of local Hong Kong residents, rather than the healthcare needs of Hong Kong residents on the Mainland or overseas. Nevertheless, the Government has been actively promoting GBA healthcare collaboration in recent years to provide Hong Kong residents, who regularly travel to and from Mainland cities in the GBA for work or living, with additional choices of subsidised healthcare services comparable to those in Hong Kong at designated service points on the Mainland. Such measures, however, are not intended to fully cater for the healthcare services required by Hong Kong residents who choose to settle on the Mainland. Examples include:

(i) The Government launched the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme in 2024 to extend the coverage of the Elderly Health Care Vouchers (EHCVs) to seven integrated medical/dental institutions in Mainland cities of the GBA, offering more convenience and flexibility for eligible Hong Kong elderly persons by providing more service points in the GBA for them to better use their EHCVs on primary healthcare services to improve health conditions. The Government announced this May to extend the said Pilot Scheme and to increase 12 additional pilot medical institutions to cover all nine Mainland cities in the GBA. Among the 12 additional pilot medical institutions, four (viz. two located in Zhuhai and one each in Zhongshan and Guangzhou) launched the service on June 26 and July 9 respectively, while another two new service points in Foshan will launch the service on July 17. It is expected that the remaining six pilot medical institutions will launch the service gradually in the second half of this year. By then, together with the two existing service points operated by the HKU-SZH, eligible Hong Kong elderly persons can use the EHCVs at a total of 21 service points in Mainland cities of the GBA.

(ii) The Government announced this March the extension of the Pilot Scheme for Supporting Patients of the HA in the GBA till March 31, 2026, with a view to enabling eligible patients of the HA to choose to receive subsidised consultation services at the designated collaborating healthcare institution in the GBA. The Scheme aims to provide Hong Kong people with more choices when receiving HA’s services, and is currently applicable to the HKU-SZH. The Government and the HA will evaluate the effectiveness and the scope of services of this Pilot Scheme each year and make necessary adjustments in a timely manner.

(iii) In order to enhance the continuity of medical care for elderly persons through facilitating their secure use of electronic health records across the boundary, the Government has progressively launched the new functions of “Cross-boundary Health Record” and “Personal Folder” of the eHealth mobile application (eHealth App) at the HKU-SZH and the seven medical institutions under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme since July 2024. The two functions have will be progressively extended to the new medical institutions under the said Pilot Scheme this year. In addition, elderly persons and their carers can also use the eHealth App to check their EHCV balance and usage record, as well as access at any time important information stored in the eHealth App, such as their medications, allergies and adverse drug reactions.

     Separately, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the National Healthcare Security Administration promulgated the Interim Measures for Participation in Social Insurance by Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents on the Mainland in 2019, allowing eligible Hong Kong residents to participate in the national health insurance schemes on the Mainland.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government today (July 9) invites tenders for a short-term tenancy (STT) of one lot of government land at Po Tai Street in Ma On Shan (STT No. STTST0065) to be used for a fee-paying public car park, with the installation of an automated parking system (APS) as the sixth APS project at a government STT site so far. The tenancy is for a fixed term of seven years and renewable thereafter on a half-yearly basis.

     A spokesman for the Transport Department said that the application of APS can utilise space more effectively and increase parking efficiency, alleviating the public demand for parking spaces. The Government is actively taking forward APS projects in suitable STT car parks. The first three APS projects at Hoi Shing Road in Tsuen Wan, Pak Shek Kok in Tai Po and Tung Chau Street in Sham Shui Po have already commenced services, providing about 180 automated parking spaces in total. The APS project at the STT car park at Hoi Wang Road in Yau Ma Tei is expected to be commissioned this year. In addition, APS will also be installed at the STT car park at Lok Wah Street in Tsz Wan Shan and the above project at Po Tai Street in Ma On Shan, and tendering is under way.

     Regarding the tender for the Ma On Shan project, under the tenancy agreement, the successful tenderer is required to erect, construct and install an APS at the site within 15 months from the commencement date of the tenancy, providing not less than 104 automated parking spaces out of a total minimum of 247 parking spaces. 

     The Tender Document can be obtained from the Lands Department website (www.landsd.gov.hk) or the following offices: 

1. The Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department, 6/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point; and
2. The District Lands Office, Sha Tin, 11/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin.

     Prospective tenderers must pay attention to all the requirements set out in the tender notice and the tenancy agreement of the tender document.

     Tenders must be deposited in the Public Works Tender Box situated at Room 503, 5/F, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong, before noon on August 22 (Friday). Late tenders will not be accepted.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Korea–Hong Kong Business Luncheon held in Seoul, Korea, today (July 9): 
 
Mr Joo Yong-tae (Deputy Mayor for Economy, Seoul), Mr Kevin Lee (Director of the International Trade Division of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Annyeonghaseyo. Good afternoon. It is both a pleasure and honour to be here with you today in Seoul.
 
     Let me begin by extending my warmest greetings and heartfelt appreciation to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and our ETO (Economic and Trade Office) colleagues for organising this luncheon.
 
Hong Kong: good for business
 
     Allow me to start by offering a brief snapshot of where Hong Kong stands today.
 
     Hong Kong has been back on a path of growth following the global challenges of the pandemic.  In 2024, we recorded a GDP growth of 2.5 per cent. This year, despite continued global uncertainties from tariff war to geopolitical tensions, our economy recorded a 3.1 per cent growth in the first quarter. Our merchandise exports continued to register strong double-digit growth.
 
     Foreign businesses continue to cast a vote of confidence in our city. In 2024, the number of overseas and Mainland companies operating in Hong Kong reached an all-time high at nearly 10 000.  American and European companies rose by around 10 per cent, while Korean companies rose by 9 per cent year on year.  
 
     Hong Kong continues to shine in international rankings. We are among the world’s top three global financial centres. The latest IMD (International Institute for Management Development) World Competitiveness Ranking places us as the third most competitive economy worldwide. Last October, the Fraser Institute reaffirmed our position as the world’s freest economy. These accolades are no coincidence. They are the result of persistent hard work to drive our competitiveness forward, backed by transparent, consistent and predictable policies, market openness and global connectivity.
 
     A critical foundation of our success is a stable and secure environment. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. It restores law and order in Hong Kong and provides confidence to the international business community. Indeed, a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce (in Hong Kong) in January this year showed that (more than) 80 per cent of its members expressed confidence in Hong Kong’s rule of law.  And 70 per cent reported that the National Security Law had no impact on their business operations.
 
     Under the “one country, two systems” framework, Hong Kong continues to be an open, diverse and international city. We are a free port, uphold a freely convertible currency pegged to the US dollar, ensure the free flow of capital, goods, information and talent, and practise the common law system.
 
     President Xi Jinping and the Central Government of China have made clear that the “one country, two systems” framework is here to stay for the long term. 
 
     Investor confidence is reflected in hard data. Our stock market, for example, rose by 18 per cent last year, and has gained another 20 per cent this year. Initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange have raised about US$16 billion so far this year, making Hong Kong the top IPO venue globally to date. The total bank deposits grew by 7 per cent last year and another 7 per cent this year, now exceeding US$2.3 trillion, six times our GDP.
 
The Greater Bay Area
 
     Meanwhile, Hong Kong is the international gateway to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, or GBA, which is an economic powerhouse with 87 million people and a combined GDP of US$2 trillion. With a per capita GDP of US$23,000, or US$40,000 on a purchasing power parity basis, the GBA is not just a manufacturing base, but also a sophisticated, high-growth consumer market.
 
     The region is deeply interconnected. High-speed rail puts us just 15 minutes from Shenzhen and 45 minutes from Guangzhou. With seven international airports and a combined annual passenger throughput of over 200 million, the GBA sits within a five-hour flight radius of half the world’s population. Hong Kong International Airport, the world’s busiest cargo airport, now operates with a third runway and is gearing up to handle 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2035.
 
     The GBA is also a cradle of innovation. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster ranks second globally in innovation, and has done so for five consecutive years. Hong Kong excels in basic research, anchored by five universities ranked among the world’s top 100. Three of them are in the global top 20 for data science and AI; our two medical schools are ranked among the top 40. Meanwhile, Shenzhen and Guangzhou lead in commercialisation and advanced manufacturing. Together, the GBA is like fusing the financial power of New York with the innovation energy of Silicon Valley.
 
Opportunities for Korean businesses
 
     So, what does this mean for Korean businesses?
 
     First, Hong Kong’s financial markets offer unparalleled connectivity and liquidity. We serve as a two-way platform, connecting international capital with Mainland markets and vice versa. Through our Connect Schemes, including Stock Connect, Bond Connect, and ETF (Exchange-traded Fund) Connect, and more, Mainland investors can access Hong Kong’s markets, while global investors can access the Mainland through Hong Kong.
 
     The recent surge in our stock market reflects two important trends. First, the rebalancing act of international investors to diversify risks out of global economic uncertainty, particularly in the US; and second, optimism about China’s technology prowess demonstrated by DeepSeek and others. Korean investors have already taken note. And they are apt in taking actions. In February this year, we saw the highest level of Korean investment into our stock market in over three years.
 
     Beyond the stock market, asset and wealth management is another area where we are seeing rapid growth. Hong Kong now manages over US$4 trillion in assets. With a growing ecosystem of related financial services, we are on track to become the world’s largest cross-border wealth management hub by 2028. For Korean firms in private banking and asset management, the opportunities are significant. Indeed, many American and European asset and wealth managers have been expanding their hiring and office accommodation in the city.
 
     Hong Kong also serves as a powerful springboard for Korean goods, not just into the GBA or the Chinese Mainland, but across the entire ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region. As a duty-free port with seamless customs clearance and unmatched connectivity, Hong Kong offers Korean exporters a fast, cost-effective and reliable route to high-growth markets. From electronics and cosmetics to food products and fashion, Hong Kong is your launchpad.
 
     In innovation and technology, Hong Kong is making strategic and forward-looking moves. We are placing particular emphasis on the development of key sectors such as artificial intelligence and biotech. In addition to our world-class research capabilities, Hong Kong is where Mainland and international data converge. This is a distinct competitive advantage for data-intensive industries.  
 
     Our close collaboration with other cities in the GBA is further accelerating this momentum.  Along our boundary with neighbouring Shenzhen, we are developing a joint innovation and technology park, where we are piloting innovative policies to facilitate the seamless flow of data, talent, capital and even biosamples. We have also established joint clinical trial centres to expedite drug development and streamline cross-boundary regulatory approvals. For Korean tech and pharmaceutical firms seeking expansion and collaboration opportunities, Hong Kong is your ideal location. 
 
The pleasures of life
 
     Beyond business, Hong Kong is a city alive with culture, diversity, and global connectivity. We are a true melting pot of East and West.  Korean culture, from K-pop to kimchi, has found a warm and enthusiastic following in Hong Kong.  And we are glad that more and more Korean visitors are coming to our city to see for themselves our vibrancy. In the first half of this year, Hong Kong welcomes more than half a million of Korean visitors, a 25 per cent increase year on year.
 
     The pleasures of life are part of our fabric. With more than 200 Michelin-recognised restaurants, hiking trails minutes from the city, and a coastline that rivals the best in the region, Hong Kong offers not only opportunity, but quality of life. Above all, Hong Kong remains one of the safest cities in the world, a place you can walk freely, day or night.
 
     And we are just getting started. The newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park offers a world-class, multipurpose venue for sport and entertainment events. In January next year, we’re excited to welcome BLACKPINK to our stage. And who knows, NewJeans and aespa may not be far behind!
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, I hope I’ve been able to offer you a fresh perspective on Hong Kong, not just as a financial centre or trade hub, but as a dynamic, welcoming city filled with opportunity, energy and creativity. A city where Korean businesses, investors and talents can thrive.
 
     If I may, let me now share a short video that captures the vibrancy, openness and possibilities of Hong Kong today.
 
     That is Hong Kong – dynamic and welcoming. A city that means business, and a city that celebrates life. We look forward to welcoming you soon, to Hong Kong.
 
     Kamsahamnida. Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the Insurance Authority (IA) and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (July 9) announced the launch of the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter 3.0 (the Charter 3.0). This joint effort is fully supported by the Consumer Council, the Hong Kong Association of Banks, the Hong Kong Police Force, and the Office of the Communications Authority.

Building on the success of the Charters 1.0 and 2.0, launched in 2023 and 2024 respectively, the Charter 3.0 represents a significant step forward in anti-scam actions by establishing a collaborative framework between financial regulators and technology firms and telecommunications firms in combatting financial fraud and scams targeting the Hong Kong public. The Charter 3.0 introduces six key principles (see Annex), focusing on the reporting of suspected financial fraud and scams, checking of advertisers, internal monitoring processes, enforcement of terms of service, and collaboration on public education and awareness.

During the launch event, executives from financial regulators, technology firms and telecommunications firms engaged in productive discussions on the latest trends of financial fraud and scams as well as their collaborative efforts for the common purpose of combatting such fraud and scams. 

The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “The fight against financial fraud and scams and to protect the public requires a united front, bringing together the public and private sectors, as well as the community at large. The Charter 3.0 represents a significant milestone in this endeavour, harnessing the collective strength of the financial, technology, and telecommunications industries to better safeguard the public.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, Ms Julia Leung, added, “The Charter 3.0 is a meaningful step forward, bringing in major technology and telecommunications companies to join the fight against online scams. It is our shared responsibility to disrupt these threats at their source. This initiative not only echoes global governments and regulators’ call to action but also positions Hong Kong as a leader in safeguarding the financial world’s digital future. Together, we are building a safer, more responsible online landscape that prioritises vigilance, collaboration, and public trust.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the IA, Mr Clement Cheung, said, “The Charter 3.0 represents the outcome of collaborative efforts made by key stakeholders in forging a robust and resilient alliance to prevent financial fraud and scams. The IA will leverage on this platform to strengthen public education and empower policy holders so that they can safeguard effectively against the increasingly sophisticated plots concocted by swindlers.”

The Managing Director of the MPFA, Mr Cheng Yan-chee, said, “MPF is the valuable retirement reserve accumulated by the working population. The MPFA will not tolerate any fraudulent activities that undermine their retirement savings in MPF. We are pleased to see financial regulators, enforcement agencies and relevant organisations together with major technology and telecommunications companies under the Charter 3.0 stepping up efforts in combatting scams and enhancing anti-scam awareness in the community. We urge the working population to stay vigilant and join hands with us by proactively reporting suspected scams to safeguard their MPF interests.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Pui-leung and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (July 9):

Question:

There are views that roadside skips unlawfully occupying public roads not only affects the safety of road users, but also poses environmental hygiene problems. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the information on the enforcement actions taken by the Hong Kong Police Force and the Lands Department against roadside skips in the past five years, including the number of complaints or referrals received, the number of statutory notices posted or warnings issued to operators, as well as the number of skips removed; among them, the number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted and the number of convicted cases, as well as the relevant penalties imposed;

(2) of the current utilisation situations of the four sites made available for use by the trade for storing skips; as the Government indicated in its reply to a question raised by this Council in May 2023 that the skip storage site in Tseung Kwan O Area 137 would become part of the new community, and that the Government would make arrangements in due course, of the progress of the relevant arrangements, including whether alternative sites will be identified for the operation of the skips trade; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as there are views that the regulation of roadside skips involves a number of government departments, whether the Government will consider assigning a designated department to take full responsibility so as to improve enforcement efficiency; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

Construction waste is generated from construction sites, buildings under maintenance and shops under renovation, which is then transported to landfills or public fill banks for handling. Before skips emerged in the market, most construction waste from construction and renovation sites were piled up at roadside before it was collected for delivery. This not only affected the environmental hygiene, but also caused nuisance to residents and pedestrians, and even affected the road safety. Skips could store relatively large quantity of waste, in particular, construction waste. Using skips can avoid waste being placed everywhere and help maintain a clean and hygienic environment and road safety. It also helps the construction and renovation industry handle construction waste in a neat and orderly way.

Skips are primarily placed at site of use, such as construction sites, renovation sites, shopping malls, housing estates and designated locations nearby, to collect construction waste generated by construction or renovation works in the buildings nearby. Skips that are not being used need to be stored. According to the result of a questionnaire survey with the trade, there are about 1 500 roadside skips in Hong Kong. Among these, about half of them need to be stored while there is only storage space for 330 skips on four pieces of land provided. Under such a circumstance, some skip operators may place the skips at roadside or other improper locations.

Management of skips involves various bureaux and departments. Through the Joint Working Group on Management of Roadside Skips (Working Group), the Government coordinates the work on enhancing management of roadside skips among the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the Lands Department (LandsD), the Transport Department, the Highways Department, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and the Home Affairs Department. Since skips placed on at roadside is also a problem of district concern, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration also looks into this problem with the bureaux and departments concerned through inter-departmental meetings. 

In response to the question raised by the Hon Chan Pui-leung, in consultation with the HKPF and the LandsD, a consolidated reply is as follows:

(1) Currently, the HKPF handles complaints involving roadside skips in accordance with the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap. 228). Over the past five years, the HKPF has received a total of 5 913 complaints about skips. Police officers will, in light of the circumstances at the scene, make assessments and issue advice and/or warnings to the skip operators concerned if found. In most cases, the operators would remove the skips on their own within hours after receiving the advice and/or warning, with five cases requiring the HKPF to engage contractors to remove the skips. A total of 18 cases were prosecuted under police summons and were convicted. The convicted persons were fined between $300 and $9,000 by the court.

Over the past five years, the LandsD has received a total of 3 674 complaints concerning skips. Among these complaints, 3 per cent were referred by other departments (including the HKPF), and the other 97 per cent were lodged by the public. Within two working days upon receiving a complaint or referral, the LandsD will conduct an on-site inspection and post a notice according to Section 6 of the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 28) requiring the person concerned to remove the skip and to stop occupying the government land before the specified deadline no less than one clear day, otherwise it will be removed by the LandsD’s contractor. Over the past five years, the LandsD has removed a total of 27 skips, with the remaining removed by relevant persons on their own before the deadlines.

(2)  As mentioned above, there are about 1 500 skips in Hong Kong. Considering factors such as job rotations, the trade estimates that about 600 to 700 idling skips would require space for storage each day. At present, the Government has provided four sites to the trade for storage of idling skips through short-term tenancy mechanism. These sites are located at Pak Shing Kok, an area next to the Tseung Kwan O Area 137 (TKO 137) Fill Bank, Siu Lang Shui in Tuen Mun, and adjacent to Tsing Nam Street in Tsing Yi respectively, altogether providing storage space for a total of 330 skips. The site at Pak Shing Kok can store about 110 skips; the site next to the TKO 137 Fill Bank can store about 120 skips; the site at Siu Lang Shui in Tuen Mun can store about 80 skips; and the site at Tsing Nam Street in Tsing Yi can store about 20 skips.

To tie in with the future residential development of TKO 137, according to the current development timetable, the site leased to the trade under short-term tenancy for storing skips is expected to be returned in the second quarter of 2026 the earliest. Meanwhile, the Government has completed the open tendering process for a site at Tsing Chau Wan on Lantau Island, which is initially expected to accommodate approximately 100 skips and to be awarded within this year. To further improve the situation that some skip operators placed their skips at roadside or other improper locations, the Working Group also strives to find more suitable sites for skip storage by the trade through short-term tenancy tenders.

(3) The management of roadside skips involves works of different departments and various pieces of legislation. Hence, the Government has its reason and need to coordinate relevant departments’ work through the Working Group. The Government is adopting a multipronged approach and looking for more effective ways to improve the problem of improper placement of skips. At the current stage, the Government focuses on enhancing enforcement on illegally placed skips that pose safety risk to road users. 

Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Louis Loong and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (July 9):
 
Question:
 
     In order to help homeowners under the Mortgage Insurance Programme (MIP) meet their special needs arising from changes in personal or family circumstances, the HKMC Insurance Limited (HKMC) announced in August last year a new arrangement, in which a waiver of the owner occupancy requirement under MIP will be granted, on a case-by-case basis, to an eligible homeowner applying for renting out the property subject to the fulfilment of one of the following three conditions: (i) the homeowner’s family is expecting newborn(s) or adopting child(ren), resulting in a change in housing needs; (ii) the homeowner has become unemployed and requires more flexible housing or financial arrangements; or (iii) the homeowner has other special needs to rent out the property, and has been residing in the relevant property for not less than 12 months. In addition, homeowners whose applications are approved will be subject to undertakings that so long as the waiver is in effect, they or their spouses or cohabitants who are also obligors under the MIP should not purchase any additional residential properties in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it knows the respective numbers of applications received and approved for waiver of the owner occupancy requirement by HKMC on the basis of the conditions (i), (ii) and (iii); and
 
(2) whether consideration will be given to the enhancement of the existing arrangement to provide further assistance to homeowners under MIP who wish to seek alternative accommodation by waiving their restriction on purchasing additional residential properties in Hong Kong for a period of up to 12 months, so as to give them a window of time to dispose of their properties under MIP upon acquisition of new properties; if not, of the reason for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Mortgage Insurance Programme (MIP) is administered by the HKMC Insurance Limited (HKMCI) for promoting home ownership in Hong Kong. In August 2024, the HKMCI put in place a new arrangement under the MIP to approve on a case-by-case basis eligible homeowners’ applications for renting out their self-occupied properties, so as to help them meet their special needs arising from changes in personal or family circumstances (new arrangement).
 
     After consulting the HKMCI, our reply to the two parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) As of end-June 2025, the HKMCI has received about 1 800 applications for the new arrangement. Among them, 1 697 applications were approved, while the remaining applications were either rejected for not meeting the eligibility requirements or are under processing. The breakdowns of the applications approved are as follows:
 

Reason for application	Number
The homeowner’s family is expecting newborn(s) or adopting child(ren), resulting in a change in housing needs	336 (20%)
The homeowner has become unemployed and requires more flexible housing or financial arrangements	41 (2%)
The homeowner has other special needs to rent out his/her property, and has been residing in the relevant property for not less than 12 months	1 320 (78%)
Total	1 697 (100%)

 
(2) As the aim of the MIP is to promote home ownership, the owner occupancy requirement remains a key eligibility criterion of the MIP. The new arrangement is an exceptional measure that seeks to assist those with special needs. In fact, the MIP by nature is an insurance product, with credit risk being one of the key factors of consideration. If homeowners who have been given consent to rent out their properties under the MIP are allowed to purchase additional residential properties without having sold their existing ones, it is likely for the respective homeowners to take on extra financing liabilities on top of their current high loan-to-value ratio mortgage loans. This will bring additional credit risk to the MIP.
 
     The new arrangement has been launched for around one year and operating smoothly, offering substantial assistance to homeowners with special needs. The HKMCI has no plan to make changes to the new arrangement at the moment, and will keep the MIP under review from time to time in the light of the market circumstances.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs on June 14 seized about 6 700 suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $1.7 million at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port.
 
Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including jerseys, handbags and shoes, inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 53-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.
 
An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods would have been transhipped to overseas regions.
 
The investigation is ongoing, and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
 
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
 
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Luk Chung-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (July 9):
 
Question:
 
     According to the general requirements of the sector-specific labour importation schemes and the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS), employers shall fulfil a manning ratio of 2:1 for full-time local employees to imported workers (the manning ratio), and the ESLS also requires applicant employers to undertake a four-week local recruitment exercise and accord priority to employing suitable local workers to fill the job vacancies. However, some workers have reflected that some employers have taken advantage of the loopholes in the relevant policies to dismiss local workers or switch them from full-time to part-time after submitting their labour importation applications to the Labour Department (LD), and some employers even have no intention of recruiting local workers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given that in the reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on 18th of last month, the Government indicated that upon completion of the four-week local recruitment procedures, the LD would contact each of the local job seekers who was not employed by the employers and assess whether the employers are genuinely committed to recruiting local workers, of the number of contacts made by the LD with job seekers who were not employed since the launch of the ESLS, and the reasons for the relevant employers’ refusal to employ them; the criteria adopted by the LD for assessing the validity of the employer’s reasons for refusal to recruit;

(2) whether it has taken the initiative to investigate if employers have made “excessive demands” on local job seekers (i.e. excessively high recruitment thresholds and heavy workload but relatively low salary, etc); if so, of the number of investigations conducted by the LD and the follow-up actions taken; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) of the mechanism in place to monitor whether employers have strictly adhered to the requirement for conducing four-week local recruitment; whether employers will be required to, before applying for the ESLS, publish the job vacancies on the LD’s Interactive Employment Service website and retain for at least four weeks;

(4) since 2023, (i) of the number of labour importation applications rejected by the LD due to the failure of the information submitted by the employers to meet the manning ratio; and (ii) of the number of complaints received by the LD regarding employers allegedly failing to continuously meet the manning ratio, the follow-up actions and the corresponding penalties;

(5) since 2023, of the respective numbers of (a) surprise and (b) non-surprise inspections conducted by the LD (i) at workplaces with imported workers, and (ii) cases detected and follow-up actions taken in respect of non-compliance with the manning ratio requirement, with a breakdown as set out in the table below; and
 

Year	(a)		(b)
	(i)	(ii)	(i)	(ii)
2023
2024
Since 2025

 
(6) of the measures in place to combat the non-compliant acts under various labour importation schemes in order to prevent abuse of the labour importation policy; whether employers will be required to report to the LD the number, name, working hour, wage and so on of their local employees and imported workers on a monthly basis after their labour importation applications have been approved; if so, of the details; if not, not reasons for that?

Reply:
 
President,

     To cope with the challenges brought by manpower shortage and on the premise of ensuring employment priority for local workers, the Government has enhanced the mechanism for importation of labour. 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 suspend the general exclusion of the 26 job categories as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts from labour importation under the previous Supplementary Labour Scheme for two years.

     The reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) To safeguard the employment priority for local workers, applicant employers of the ESLS must undertake a four-week local open recruitment and accord priority to employing qualified local workers to fill the vacancies at a salary not lower than the prevailing median monthly wage of a comparable position in the market. Upon employers’ completion of the local recruitment procedures, the LD will contact each of the unsuccessful local job seekers to verify the interview details and confirm if the reasons for not employing the job seekers as reported by the employers are consistent with the facts and reasonable, so as to assess whether the employers have sincerity in recruiting local workers. The most common reason for job seekers not being employed is failing to meet the entry requirements, such as not having relevant work skills and lacking relevant experience.  Depending on the circumstances, the LD will contact each unsuccessful job seeker several times to follow up on the interview results.

(2) and (3) The LD stringently processes each application under the ESLS, and conducts initial screening for each applied post and reviews the employment terms, including the scope of duties, entry and academic requirements, work locations, monthly salary and hours of work, to ensure that the salary offered by an employer meets the median monthly wage and the recruitment terms are reasonable.

     After passing the initial screening, employers shall adopt the recruitment terms as agreed by the LD and undergo four-week local recruitment. During this period, the LD will publish the job vacancies on the Interactive Employment Service website, conduct job matching for relevant vacancies and disseminate the vacancy information to members of the Labour Advisory Board, relevant trade unions and training institutions to facilitate their referrals of suitable local job seekers for application. Employers shall in parallel place recruitment advertisements in local newspaper(s) or on other recruitment platform(s). The ESLS requires that employers taking on local job seekers through any recruitment channels during the local recruitment period must not offer employment terms less favourable than those agreed by the LD, nor can they impose on job seekers any restrictive requirements such as age or gender, or other entry requirements not approved by the LD.

    Upon completion of the local recruitment procedures, employers shall report the results and submit the recruitment advertisements to the LD for verification. The LD will contact each of the local job seekers who is not employed to verify the interview details. If there is evidence showing that an employer has violated the requirements of local recruitment or refused to employ qualified local job seekers without reasonable grounds, the LD will terminate the processing of the relevant application. The LD will also impose administrative sanction on the employer and refuse to process any other application(s) submitted by the concerned employer in the following year.

(4) The ESLS requires relevant employers to meet the manning ratio requirement of full-time local employees to imported workers of 2:1 (manning ratio requirement) on a continuous basis. Full-time employees refer to local employees who are directly employed by an employer and work not less than 35 hours per week for operating the relevant business, excluding part-time staff, staff of subcontractors or self-employed persons providing services to the employer. From September 4, 2023, to June 2025, the LD refused 29 applications for labour importation that failed to meet the manning ratio requirement. In addition, the number of imported workers approved for each application must also comply with the manning ratio mentioned above.

     From September 4, 2023, to April 2025, the LD did not receive any complaint against employers for non-compliance with the manning ratio requirement. As for the 31 related complaints received between May and June 2025, the LD is conducting investigation, including inspecting the workplaces of imported workers and verifying relevant employment records. If violation of the requirement is substantiated, the LD will impose administrative sanction and refuse to process other application(s) submitted by the employer in the following year.

(5) and (6) In 2023, 2024 and from January to May 2025, Labour Inspectors of the LD conducted 5 695, 5 417 and 2 873 inspections respectively to workplaces of imported workers and imported workers’ accommodation provided by employers in Hong Kong to protect the employment rights of imported workers. The LD will not give prior notice to the responsible persons of relevant premises before conducting workplace inspections.

    Since June 17 this year, the LD has implemented a series of new measures to strengthen the protection of the employment priority for local workers, including launching an online complaint form on the ESLS dedicated webpage to enable local employees and imported workers to lodge complaints against employers for suspected breaches of the requirements of the ESLS, displaying the names of applicant companies when publishing job vacancies on the Interactive Employment Service website, launching a special inspection campaign to check whether establishments employing imported workers have continuously met the manning ratio requirement, and requiring employers to report information on full-time local employees and imported workers as well as the relevant manning ratios based on a risk-based approach.

    To safeguard the employment priority for local workers, the ESLS requires employers not to displace local workers with imported workers and meet the manning ratio requirement on a continuous basis. In the event of redundancy, imported workers should be retrenched first. If there is evidence substantiating violation of the requirement of the ESLS, the LD will impose administrative sanction on the employers, including withdrawal of approvals for importation of labour previously granted and refusal to process other applications submitted by the employers (debarment period up to two years), etc.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region