Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

According to the information of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), passenger trips at the West Kowloon Station (WEK) of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) on a single day on December 27 last year reached nearly 140 000, setting a new single-day ridership record. There are views that the demand for cross-boundary passenger traffic on the Hong Kong Section of XRL is expected to continue to grow significantly. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as set out in a paper submitted to the Panel on Transport of this Council in August 2018, the authorities provided the average daily patronage forecast for the XRL for 2018, 2021 and 2031, whether the authorities have reviewed afresh or updated the XRL’s daily patronage forecast in light of increased travel frequency between the two places; if so, of the latest estimated figures and the respective estimation methods; if not, the reasons for that, and whether there are any plans to conduct such a reassessment;

(2) given that, according to the MTRCL Annual Report 2024, the Service Quality Index of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL dropped from 88 in 2023 to 82 in 2024, whether it knows if the MTRCL has assessed if the existing station capacity and facilities at the WEK of the XRL, including the platforms, waiting halls, arrival and departure facilities, and relevant ancillary facilities, are adequate to cope with the current and future passenger demand;

(3) whether it knows if the MTRCL has formulated any standards for assessing the degree of congestion and passenger comfort at the WEK of the XRL; if so, of the relevant standards, and whether the current service level of the WEK of the XRL meets these standards; if not, the reasons for that, and how the MTRCL assesses that the ancillary facilities at the WEK can meet passenger requirements;

(4) as there are views that a persistent increase in demand for the XRL from Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is expected in the future, whether the authorities have earmarked space at the WEK of the XRL for the construction of a new rail track; if so, whether they have estimated the time required for the works to expand the WEK of the XRL or build an additional rail track (i.e. from the commencement of the planning study to the commissioning); and

(5) whether the authorities have studied the addition of a second the XRL station within Hong Kong’s territory or explored co-ordinating with the Mainland to divert some travellers to other cities in the GBA; if so, of the progress of the study and the preliminary conclusions; if not, the plans the authorities have in place to cope with the pressure on the operation of the WEK of the XRL brought about by the continuous growth in the number of travellers in the future?

Reply:

President,

The Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) was commissioned on September 23, 2018, connecting with the national high-speed rail network, which currently spans over 50 000 kilometres. Since January 2026, the number of Mainland destinations directly accessible from the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station has increased from 44 at the beginning of its operation to the current 110, with at least 212 train trips operating per day. At present, the average daily patronage of the XRL has exceeded 90 000 passenger trips. During the peak travel periods for the XRL over festive holidays and weekends, the average daily patronage generally exceeds 100 000 passenger trips. The single-day patronage hit record high with 148 700 passenger trips on April 4, 2026 (during the Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays).

In consultation with the Security Bureau and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the reply to the question raised by the Hon Lam is as follows:

(1) Prior to the commissioning of the XRL Hong Kong Section in 2018, the forecast of average daily patronage for different years was the patronage estimates derived based on the transport model adopted by the Government and the MTRCL in 2009 and 2015 when applications were made to the Legislative Council for funding for the XRL construction, inputting the data in relevant years, and taking into consideration the then latest planning data and development of Hong Kong and the Mainland as well as the demographic and socio-economic data at the time. Since the commissioning of the XRL, the Government and the MTRCL have been continuously monitoring changes in the XRL’s patronage and making timely adjustments to control point resources, facilities, and services. Regarding operations, the MTRCL has been paying close attention to the actual patronage and market demand, and liaising with Mainland authorities from time to time to make appropriate adjustments to the operating timetable or train frequencies as needed, such as operating additional short-haul train trips for popular destinations during festive holidays, so as to meet passenger demand.

(2) and (3) As the Hong Kong operator of the XRL Hong Kong Section, the MTRCL has been continuously enhancing station facilities and XRL services as necessary in light of the travel patterns and demand of passengers, with a view to providing them with a more comfortable riding experience. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been closely monitoring the operation of the XRL West Kowloon Control Point, and enhanced the clearance capacity of the said control point along various aspects, including flexible deployment of manpower, effective use of information technology, and enhancement of port facilities, with a view to bringing greater convenience to cross-boundary passengers.

Regarding station facilities and layout, apart from reconfiguring the B1 departure level in 2023, the MTRCL has been providing more seats at all levels of the West Kowloon Station progressively since August 2024. Among them, there are over 1 400 seats set up across various waiting areas at the waiting hall on level B3. Meanwhile, mobile device charging facilities with USB ports are also available thereat for use by passengers in need. To ensure that passengers can queue in a smooth and orderly manner while waiting for and boarding trains even during peak periods, the MTRCL has reserved sufficient queuing space in the waiting areas and extended the entrances of some of the boarding gates towards the centre of the hall. It has also enhanced signage and provided train information and clearance situation updates using large electronic displays to facilitate passengers’ easier access of relevant information for entry and boarding. The MTRCL and relevant authorities also deploy additional manpower to assist passengers during peak traffic periods with a view to ensuring a smooth clearance as well as a safe and comfortable XRL experience for passengers.

The MTRCL conducts regular surveys and studies to gauge passenger satisfaction with the services of the XRL Hong Kong Section. According to the MTRCL’s Annual Report 2025, the Service Quality Index for the XRL Hong Kong Section rose from 82 in 2024 to 85 in 2025, which reflects an improvement in passenger satisfaction with the services of the XRL Hong Kong Section.

The Government and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the operation and patronage of the XRL Hong Kong Section and the West Kowloon Station, and review and enhance station and control point facilities in a timely manner, including improving the layouts of the ticketing concourse and the waiting hall, as well as facilities such as shops and seats in the station, while introducing more directly connected destinations at an opportune time in line with the development of the national high-speed rail network, so as to meet passengers’ needs and the long-term development of the XRL.

(4) and (5) The National 15th Five-Year Plan proposed promoting the co-ordinated development of rail transit, strengthening regional infrastructural connectivity, supporting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a world-class city cluster, accelerating the Northern Metropolis (NM) development, and also specifically mentioned taking forward the preparatory work for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (HSWRL). The HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen authorities are taking forward at full steam the two cross-boundary railway projects, namely the HSWRL and the Northern Link Spur Line. Both projects serve the dual functions of cross-boundary travel and local commuting within Hong Kong, integrating the rail transit networks of Hong Kong and Shenzhen through convenient co-location clearance arrangements and supporting the development of the NM in Hong Kong. The West Kowloon Station has 15 platforms, 10 of which are currently in operation, fully meeting operational requirements. We have no plan to build another high-speed rail station at this stage.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected a smuggling case involving a cross-boundary goods vehicle on June 4. Large batches of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $10 million were seized. A 39-year-old male driver in involved in the case was arrested.

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, a cross-boundary goods vehicle departing from Hong Kong for Macao was selected for inspection on June 4. Upon examination, Customs officers found a large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including suspected pharmaceutical products, weight loss injection products, cosmetic injection products and fish maws. 

Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​Following is a question by the Hon Kwok Fu-yung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

     As Tsing Ma Bridge is the only land transport link connecting Lantau Island and the urban areas, with the continuous growth of the population and traffic flow in North Lantau, the capacity of Tsing Ma Bridge and the carrying capacity of its surrounding road network have aroused concern. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Dennis Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

The Government has been implementing the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector and the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) one after the other since 2023, and has introduced lift/escalator technicians into the Technical Professionals List (TP List) under the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) with effect from June 30, 2025. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of workers in the following trades in the lift and escalator industry who were imported under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector from 2025 to March 2026: (i) lift and escalator mechanics (master), (ii) lift mechanics, (iii) escalator mechanics, and (iv) lift/escalator technicians (set out in Table 1);

Table 1

(2) given that ESLS allows employers in specified industries, including the electrical and electronics industries, to apply to import workers at technician level or below, subject to relevant requirements, of the respective numbers of the following skilled workers in the electrical and electronics industries who were imported annually under ESLS from 2023 to March 2026: (i) electricians (electrical industry), (ii) mechanical fitters (electrical industry), (iii) refrigeration/air-conditioning/ventilation technicians (electrical industry), (iv) mechanical engineering technicians (electrical industry), (v) building services mechanics (electrical industry), (vi) electrical fitters (electrical industry), (vii) electronics technicians (electrical industry), and (viii) electricians (electronics industry) (set out in Table 2);

Table 2

(3) given that while ESLS currently does not accept applications for importation of labour of industries and job categories covered by the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector, some members of the sector have relayed that some of the skilled workers in the electrical and electronics industries who were imported under ESLS have taken up posts in the lift and escalator industry, of the respective numbers of the following skilled workers who were imported annually under ESLS but were actually employed by registered lift and escalator contractors from 2023 to March 2026: (i) electricians (electrical industry), (ii) mechanical fitters (electrical industry), (iii) refrigeration/air-conditioning/ventilation technicians (electrical industry), (iv) mechanical engineering technicians (electrical industry), (v) building services mechanics (electrical industry), (vi) electrical fitters (electrical industry), (vii) electronics technicians (electrical industry), and (viii) electricians (electronics industry) (set out in Table 3); 

Table 3

(4) whether any cases of non-compliance have been identified among applicants and imported workers since 2023 (i.e. cases in which skilled workers in the electrical and electronics industries who were imported under ESLS have taken up posts in the lift and escalator industry); if so, of the penalties imposed in respect of such cases; and

(5) of the respective numbers of workers in the following trades in the lift and escalator industry who were imported via the TP List under GEP and ASMTP from 2025 to March 2026: (i) lift technicians, (ii) escalator technicians, and (iii) lift/escalator technicians (set out in Table 4)?

Table 4

Reply:

President,

To cope with the challenges brought by manpower shortage and foster Hong Kong’s economic development, the Government, on the principle of ensuring employment priority for local workers, suitably allows employers with genuine difficulty in recruiting suitable local workers to apply for importation of workers. Apart from launching sector-specific labour importation schemes for the transport sector and residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities, the Development Bureau (DEVB) has implemented the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (Construction Sector Scheme) since July 17, 2023. The Labour Department (LD) has also implemented the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) since September 4, 2023, to allow employers with genuine needs to apply for importation of workers for posts that were generally excluded under the previous Supplementary Labour Scheme.

The Government has all along adopted a multi-pronged approach to address manpower demands in the construction sector, enhancing training and promoting the use of technology to uplift productivity and mitigate labour shortage. The Construction Sector Scheme is a complementary measure whereby main contractors and subcontractor employers must conduct local recruitment as required and demonstrate that they are unable to employ sufficient local workers before their applications are considered. All imported workers must also comply with the same qualification and job requirements, median wages, etc, as local workers in similar positions. These measures safeguard the employment priority of local workers. When processing each application under the Construction Sector Scheme, the DEVB scrutinises whether the applicant has conducted local recruitment as per the requirements promulgated by the Government and failed to employ the required skilled workers, whether there is genuine need for importing skilled workers for the project taking into consideration factors including project progress, the demand for each relevant trade and its manpower situation, as well as the overall labour market situation before determining whether to approve quotas.

On the other hand, in the face of an ageing workforce and a lack of new entrants, some skilled trades that are critical to sustaining Hong Kong’s city operation are facing acute talent succession gaps. To improve the demographic structure in these skilled trades, in addition to continuing to strengthen the training for local technical professionals, the Government has introduced a new channel under the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) from June 30, 2025, to allow young and non-degree mid-level professionals with qualifications and experience as specified in the Technical Professional List to apply to come to Hong Kong, and attract them to settle in Hong Kong in the long run. The new channel covers eight specified skilled trades, including lift/escalator technicians.

In consultation with the DEVB and the Immigration Department, the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) Under the Construction Sector Scheme, for the three skilled worker trades related to the lift and escalator industry (namely (i) lift and escalator mechanic (master), (ii) lift mechanic, (iii) escalator mechanic) and one technician trade (namely (iv) lift/escalator technician), the number of skilled workers/technicians imported through the scheme from 2025 to March 2026 is set out at Annex 1.

(2) From 2023 to March 2026, a breakdown of the number of imported workers approved under the ESLS each year for the electrical and electronics sectors by job category is set out at Annex 2. 

(3) and (4) As required by the ESLS, imported workers (including those from the electrical and electronics sectors), upon arrival to work in Hong Kong under the ESLS, must be directly employed by the same employers for taking up the specified posts and performing specified duties at the designated workplace(s) in accordance with the requirements set out in the approvals-in-principle issued by the LD and the Standard Employment Contract. The LD does not maintain statistics on the number of imported workers employed by the registered lift and escalator contractors.

If employers are found to have breached the above requirements, other requirements of the ESLS or relevant labour and immigration laws, the LD will impose administrative sanctions on the employers concerned. Depending on the nature of the breaches, the LD will withdraw the approvals for importation of labour previously granted to employers, and refuse to process any subsequent applications for labour importation submitted by employers (with a debarment period of up to two years). Since the implementation of the ESLS and up to March 2026, the LD has imposed administrative sanctions on 35 employers for breaching the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, occupational safety and health legislation, Immigration Ordinance or requirements of the ESLS; none of these cases involve the electrical and electronics sectors.

(5) From June 30, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the numbers of applications approved under the Technical Professionals Stream of the GEP and the ASMTP to work under the skilled trade lift/escalator technician in Hong Kong are set out at Annex 3.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Chong Ho-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

It has been reported that at the end of April this year, the Coroner’s Court delivered its verdict on a traffic accident which occurred in December 2018. In that case, the driver concerned failed to engage the handbrake properly when parking the vehicle, causing the vehicle to lurch forward and resulting in the death of five people. As the driver was not driving the vehicle at the time of the incident, he was charged with the offence of “leaving a vehicle without a fixed parking brake”, and was eventually fined $2,000 and had his driving licence suspended for six months, without being charged with a more serious offence. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of traffic accidents caused by drivers failing to engage the handbrake properly (regardless of whether the drivers concerned were driving the vehicles at the time of the incidents) in the past five years; if the drivers concerned were convicted, of the offences involved and the penalties handed down respectively; and

(2) as that there are views that the penalties for the offence of “leaving a vehicle without a fixed parking brake” which causes casualties cannot reflect the seriousness of such incidents, and it has been reported that the Coroner, when adjudicating the aforesaid 2018 case, pointed out legislative loopholes and recommended that the authorities should discuss legislative amendments with the relevant departments expeditiously, whether the authorities will, in response to this recommendation, study amending the legislation to ensure that the penalties can reflect the seriousness of the offence, thereby increasing the deterrent effect; if so, of the details and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Government attaches great importance to road safety and continues to enhance it through legislation, law enforcement, publicity and public education. Regarding the question raised by the Hon Chong Ho-fung, having consulted the Hong Kong Police Force, our reply is as follows:

(1) Statistics on traffic accidents caused by drivers failing to properly engage the handbrake over the past five years are listed in the Annex. The Police do not maintain categorised statistics on prosecution results and penalties of relevant cases.

(2) In cases where traffic accidents are caused by failure to properly engage the handbrake, law enforcement agencies will consider the most appropriate offence for prosecution, depending on the specific circumstances, relevant evidence, and legal advice of each case.

In fact, on March 6 this year, the District Court sentenced a driver in connection with a serious traffic accident that occurred in the Soho district of Central in December 2021. In the case, a private car driver, while parking her vehicle on a slope, failed to properly engage the brakes and use the correct gear before leaving the vehicle, causing it to roll backwards, fatally crushing a pedestrian and injuring several others. The court ultimately convicted the driver of “causing death by dangerous driving” and “causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving”, sentencing her to 27 months’ imprisonment and imposing a five-year driving disqualification. The District Court held that a person can be convicted of dangerous driving if it can be proved beyond reasonable doubt that the way he or she drives falls below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and it would be obvious to a careful and competent driver that driving in that way would be dangerous. This case illustrates that even if a driver has left the vehicle, failure to properly control it during the course of driving (including the parking process) still falls within the scope of current legislation on “dangerous driving”.

Current legislation already prescribes deterrent penalties for the aforementioned offences. The maximum penalty for “dangerous driving” is a fine of HK$25,000 and imprisonment for three years. If dangerous driving causes grievous bodily harm to another person, the maximum penalty is a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for seven years; and if dangerous driving causes death to another person, the maximum penalty is a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for 10 years.

The Transport Department will continue to work with the Police and the Road Safety Council to strengthen publicity and public education through various channels, especially reminding drivers of the precautions required when driving and parking on slopes. These include engaging the handbrake when parking on slopes, using the correct gear, and turning the steering wheel in the correct direction to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards or forwards, thereby ensuring road safety.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region