Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 10) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on June 25 (Thursday) to noon on June 29 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
 
     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
 
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
 
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
 
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

     The provision under the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (the Amendment Ordinance) prohibiting the possession of specified alternative smoking products (ASPs), such as e-cigarette capsules and heat sticks, in public places took effect on April 30 this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of (i) complaints or referrals received, (ii) inspections conducted and ASPs seized in the operations, (iii) fixed penalty notices issued, and (iv) prosecutions instituted by the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health for offences related to the possession of ASPs since the Amendment Ordinance came into effect;

(2) whether any non-local visitors have been prosecuted or issued with fixed penalty notices for contravening the Amendment Ordinance; if so, of the details; and

(3) whether the authorities have assessed the effectiveness of the Amendment Ordinance in preventing members of the public from smoking and encouraging them to quit smoking; if so, of the details; if not, whether they will conduct relevant surveys?

Reply:

President,

     In consultation with the Department of Health (DH), the reply to the question raised by Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong is as follows: 

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has all along advanced tobacco control efforts in a science-based, public opinion-oriented, multipronged and progressive manner. As early as 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) invited Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to adopt regulatory measures to ban or restrict the manufacture, import, distribution, display, sale, and use of e-cigarettes. The Government’s strategy towards alternative smoking products (ASPs), including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, is to nip the problem in the bud and prevent ASPs from gaining a foothold in Hong Kong, while fundamentally combating the use of ASPs for drug consumption. To this end, the Government introduced the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which was passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo) in 2021. One of the measures was to prohibit the import, manufacture, promotion, sale and possession of ASPs for commercial purposes starting from April 30, 2022. To further strengthen the control on ASPs, the Government introduced the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (Amendment Ordinance) and was passed by the LegCo in 2025. The Amendment Ordinance includes a ban on possession of specified ASPs such as e-cigarette capsules and heat sticks in public places. Building on the four-year-old comprehensive ban on the import and sale of ASPs, this prohibition on possession in public places prevents the local circulation of ASPs, which are long banned from import and sale, and also stops the new generation from falling into an addiction.

     As the number of smokers of conventional cigarettes declines, the tobacco industry has packaged nicotine addiction products as ASPs, and is promoting them to young people and non-smokers in an attempt to expand its market in order to sustain its profits. These products are deliberately designed to be stylish, compact, and even toy-like, complemented by bright colors and tech-oriented packaging, in order to lower the guard of young people and lure them into trying ASPs or even switching to conventional cigarettes. In reality, this is a “sugar coating”. When the coating is peeled away, we discover its true nature – “poison”. The WHO has clearly stated that there is insufficient evidence to show that heated tobacco products are less harmful than conventional cigarettes, while e-cigarettes release many toxic substances that can cause cancer or damage the nervous and respiratory systems. Even more concerning is that ASPs are highly concealable. They are small in size, produce no naked flame when used, and can be easily tucked away in a pocket after use, making them hardly noticeable to others. This makes them an ideal vehicle for criminals to distribute drugs, and etomidate is the most compelling example. The use of ASPs does not help reduce the use of traditional cigarettes. Instead, it increases the likelihood that users will use multiple tobacco products simultaneously. Nevertheless, when promoting these aptly named “sugar-coated poison”, the tobacco industry markets them with selling points such as “harm reduction” and even “smoking cessation aid”. Hence we must crack down on these products across the multiple fronts from source of supply, to distribution and sale.

     Since the possession ban of ASPs in public places took effect on April 30, 2026, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH has conducted over 4 000 inspections as of May 31. During the same period, 40 related complaints and referrals were received and 51 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were issued for the said possession offence. None of these cases involved aggravating factors requiring prosecution. Among those who received FPNs, one person did not register with a Hong Kong identity card. Since whether an offender is a tourist and the purpose of his/her visit to Hong Kong are not factors for consideration during enforcement, the TACO does not keep records of the number of tourists among the offenders. Separately, the TACO seized a total of 69 ASPs during the operation, of which e-cigarettes accounted for 52 per cent, with the remainder being heat sticks. Moving forward, the TACO will continue to strengthen inspections using a risk-based strategy, with a view to cracking down on related illegal acts.

     Through the implementation of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy, we have achieved tangible results. According to the Thematic Household Survey (THS) on the pattern of smoking conducted by the Census and Statistics Department from July to October 2025, Hong Kong’s smoking prevalence dropped to 8.5 per cent in 2025, hitting a historic low. As regards ASPs, following the implementation of the import ban in 2022, among others, the proportion of persons aged 15 and above who used e-cigarettes daily dropped from 0.2 per cent in 2023 to 0.1 per cent in 2025, with the actual number falling from 11 600 to 7 900. The same proportion for heated tobacco products dropped from 0.1 per cent in 2023 to a level beyond accurate estimation. These figures were recorded prior to the implementation of the possession ban of ASPs, as well as other tobacco control measures under the Amendment Ordinance including the expansion of statutory no-smoking areas, reflecting the deepening of a smoke-free culture in society. 

     The survey results also show that smoking prevalence among young people remained at extremely low levels, indicating that the new generation no longer accepts smoking behaviour. Adolescence is a critical window for preventing smoking addiction from taking hold. Research indicates that reducing young people’s exposure to e-cigarettes in social settings can help reduce their likelihood of trying e-cigarettes and weaken the misconception that the use of e-cigarettes is normal behaviour. The possession ban is a crucial step toward denormalising ASPs. We will continue to conduct THS every two years and the impact of the possession ban and the new phase of tobacco control measures on smoking behaviour will then be reflected in the next round of THS in 2027.

     In addition to legislation, the “10 measures for tobacco control” announced by the Government also include the strengthening of smoking cessation services as well as publicity and education. The DH has been subventing a number of non-governmental organisations to provide free smoking cessation services, and educates the public on the harm caused by tobacco, so as to ensure the message reaches all segments of society. During the Quit in June campaign, the DH distributes free one-week smoking cessation drug trial packs and Chinese medicine ear points patches through more than 300 community pharmacies, smoking cessation clinics, District Health Centres (DHCs) / DHC Expresses, DH clinics, and designated Chinese medicine clinics. This year, an AI-assisted smoking cessation counselling service was also launched. Following the campaign each year, the number of calls to the smoking cessation hotline has significantly increased, indicating an uptick in smokers’ intentions to quit. The Government will continue to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of various tobacco control measures, making timely policy adjustments as we move towards the goal of a smoke-free Hong Kong.

     Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon Michael Ngai and a reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) officially granted stablecoin issuer licences to two entities in April this year. Regarding the development and regulation of stablecoins, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as it is learnt that regulated Hong Kong Dollar-referenced stablecoins will be launched progressively in mid to second half of this year, and given the keen market demand for regulated stablecoins, whether the authorities will actively co-ordinate with the licensed entities and major financial infrastructure institutions to enable the early launch of the relevant stablecoins onto the market; if so, of the specific measures and the earliest estimated time of launch; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether it knows HKMA’s progress in processing other applications for stablecoin issuer licences, as well as the long-term planning on the screening criteria and the timing for granting additional licences in the future; and

(3) how the Government will promote the interconnectivity and synergistic development among stablecoins, central bank digital currencies and tokenised assets, with a view to fully accelerating the digital transformation of Hong Kong’s financial industry?

Reply:

President,

     The Stablecoins Ordinance (Cap. 656) came into effect in August 2025 to provide for a licensing regime for issuers of fiat-referenced stablecoins in Hong Kong. Subsequently, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) received a total of 36 applications during the initial application period. Following a comprehensive review of these applications in accordance with the specific requirements set out in the Stablecoins Ordinance, the HKMA granted stablecoin issuer licences to two entities in April 2026.

     Having consulted the HKMA and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), my reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:

(1) Prior to the official business launch, the above two stablecoin issuers licensed by the HKMA (licensed issuers) must complete the testing of technology platforms and systems, implement risk management measures (including management and safekeeping of reserve assets, price stabilisation mechanisms, redemption arrangements, technology security, etc), arrange human resources, etc. The HKMA has maintained close contact with the licensed issuers to ensure that all pre-launch preparations are proceeding as planned.

     Based on the current business plans as proposed by the two licensed issuers, we expect Hong Kong-regulated stablecoin to be launched as early as the middle of this year.

(2) The HKMA has already initiated further engagement with the remaining licence applicants. On the basis that these applicants fulfil the minimum criteria under the Stablecoins Ordinance, the HKMA will assess these applications against stringent standards in a consistent manner, primarily evaluating whether applicants are able to (1) propose practical and feasible use cases that contribute to the development of the overall industry ecosystem; (2) propose a robust and sustainable business operating model (including consideration of the risk management capabilities and experience of the applicants); and (3) comply with the laws and regulations in Hong Kong and other relevant jurisdictions.

     Meanwhile, the HKMA has communicated to the relevant licence applicants that it has no definitive inclination regarding the future direction and timing of licensing at this stage. That will depend on various considerations, including whether the applications fulfil the licensing criteria, market demand for stablecoins, actual use cases and international development trends (including discussions on the regulatory aspect), as well as the operation and market reception of the licences just granted after their business launch.

     Nevertheless, it should be emphasised that given the risk associated with issuance activities, the need for user protection, as well as the capacity and sustainable development of the market, the licensing threshold will remain high. Should additional licences be granted in future, the overall number of licences will remain very limited.

(3) The Government issued the Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong in June 2025, setting out our vision for a trusted and innovative digital asset ecosystem that prioritises risk management and investor protection, while delivering concrete benefits to the real economy and financial markets. Key focuses of the Policy Statement 2.0 include expanding the suite of tokenised products, as well as advancing use cases and cross-sector collaboration, including exploring the use of stablecoins as a payment tool.

     Under the policy direction of the Policy Statement 2.0, and together with the implementation of the Stablecoins Ordinance, the Government and financial regulators are further driving the development and interaction of stablecoins, digital currencies and tokenised assets.

     In particular, the use cases of the two licensed issuers include using regulated stablecoins to enable real-time on-chain tokenised asset transactions, unlocking opportunities for the tokenised asset market and enhancing market liquidity. In addition to issuing stablecoins, both licensed issuers have participated in the HKMA’s pilot projects on central bank digital currencies and tokenised deposits. With collaboration partners comprising local telecommunications, payments, and digital asset firms, they are well positioned to achieve greater synergy in exploring the potential of and complementing the strengths of different new payment tools, as well as enhancing interoperability between these payment tools and tokenised assets. The HKMA will continue to maintain close contact with the licensed issuers to ensure the implementation of the relevant use cases as planned, while encouraging them to further explore the application of regulated stablecoins in the digital finance ecosystem, with a view to creating value for real economic and financial activities.

     In addition, with the support of the SFC as well as the financial and technology sectors, the HKMA has established the Ensemble Architecture Community. Together, they are actively taking forward work on promoting and implementing the local standards to support interoperability among central bank digital currencies, tokenised money and tokenised assets, thereby promoting the seamless movement of money and assets within the ecosystem, as well as providing the industry with clearer direction for future development. Building upon the successful outcomes of the Ensemble Sandbox, the HKMA launched EnsembleTX in November last year, enabling real-value transactions involving tokenised deposits and digital assets within a controlled pilot environment. The initial focus is on empowering market participants to utilise tokenised deposits in tokenised money market fund transactions, and to manage liquidity and treasury needs in real time.

     At the same time, the SFC has been steadily implementing the ASPIRe roadmap. This includes developing detailed and practical regulatory guidance to facilitate the application of tokenisation in assets and financial products subject to regulatory clarity and controllable risks, thereby promoting the integration of traditional finance and Web3.

     Looking ahead, the Government and financial regulators will continue to build a clear and risk-based regulatory framework as guided by the principle of “same activity, same risks, same regulation”, with a view to promoting the healthy, responsible and sustainable innovation and development of the digital asset ecosystem in Hong Kong, thereby further strengthening Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.

     Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon Alex Fan and a written reply by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):
 
Question:
 
     On March 26, 2025, the Hainan Provincial People’s Government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government signed the Hainan Provincial People’s Government and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), under which both sides agreed to deepen collaboration in five areas, namely trade and investment, finance, safe and orderly flow of data, tourism and talent exchanges. According to Article 12 of the MoC and its Annex, “List of recognised Hong Kong professional qualifications”, Hainan Province recognises the professional qualifications of Hong Kong solicitors (limited to representatives in the representative offices set up by the HKSAR law firms in Hainan), solicitors seconded by the Hong Kong side of the partnership association and Hong Kong solicitors employed by such partnership association, as well as Hong Kong solicitors and barristers working as consultants in Mainland law firms in Hainan. The MoC allows them to provide relevant professional services to enterprises and residents in Hainan Free Trade Port based on their Hong Kong professional qualifications, subject to the requirement that they “shall not undertake any Mainland legal matters”. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of (i) representative offices set up by Hong Kong law firms in Hainan, (ii) solicitors seconded by the Hong Kong side of the partnership association, and the respective numbers of (iii) Hong Kong solicitors and barristers employed as legal consultants in Mainland law firms in Hainan since the signing of the MoC; whether the Government has compiled statistics on the business areas in which Hong Kong legal professionals provide their legal services in Hainan and the revenue involved;
 
(2) given that the MoC allows Hong Kong solicitors to provide services based on their Hong Kong professional qualifications but they “shall not undertake any Mainland legal matters”, how the relevant restriction is specifically enforced; whether the HKSAR Government and the Department of Justice of Hainan Province have formulated clear practice directions or frequently asked questions in this regard; if the contract in question adopts any law other than the Mainland law (e.g. Hong Kong law) as the applicable law, whether Hong Kong solicitors providing services in Hainan based on their Hong Kong professional qualifications can take part in the drafting and review of such contracts, and whether Hong Kong solicitors can provide legal services relating to the design of the organisational structure of cross-boundary investment in Hainan; and
 
(3) given that Article 5 of the Several Provisions on the Development of International Commercial Arbitration in Hainan Free Trade Port and Article 86 of the newly revised Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China expressly allow foreign arbitration institutions to establish representative offices in Hainan Free Trade Port, whether the Government is aware if any Hong Kong arbitration institutions have applied or are applying to establish representative offices in Hainan to date; whether the Government is aware of any specific obstacles involved (such as the actual operational threshold of the registration process, restrictions on business areas, taxation arrangements and reputation requirements, etc); whether the Government will take the initiative to ascertain the willingness of Hong Kong arbitration institutions and law firms to establish a presence in Hainan and the difficulties encountered, and liaise with the Department of Justice of Hainan Province and relevant departments to assist Hong Kong arbitration institutions and law firms in implementing the specific arrangements for establishing a presence in Hainan; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In response to the questions raised by Professor the Hon Alex Fan, the reply is as follows:
 
(1) Currently, one Hong Kong law firm has established a representative office in Hainan before the Hainan Provincial People’s Government and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed. Hong Kong law firms have also established three partnership associations with Mainland law firms in Hainan, where five Hong Kong solicitors have been seconded by the Hong Kong law firms. Besides, 16 Hong Kong solicitors are employed as legal consultants by Mainland law firms in Hainan. The Government does not have statistics on the business scope and relevant income in respect of Hong Kong legal professionals’ provision of legal services in Hainan.
 
(2) Under the framework of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), Hong Kong solicitors and barristers can provide legal services on the Mainland, while the scope of legal matters that can be handled by them is subject to restrictions under the relevant laws and regulations of the Mainland. These restrictions are reflected in the references to Hong Kong solicitors and barristers providing legal services based on their Hong Kong professional qualifications in the Hainan Free Trade Port under items 44 and 45 of the Recognised Hong Kong Professional Qualifications List annexed to the MoC.
 
     According to the Measures for the Management of Hong Kong Legal Practitioners and Macao Practising Lawyers Employed by Mainland Law Firms as Legal Consultants (Measures for the Management of Legal Consultants) and the Measures for the Management of Representative Offices set up by Law Firms of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions on the Mainland (Measures for the Management of Representative Offices) promulgated by the Ministry of Justice, Hong Kong legal practitioners employed as legal consultants in Hainan, as well as representative offices of Hong Kong law firms in Hainan and their representatives, are not allowed to handle Mainland legal matters. Further, according to the Trial Measures on Hong Kong Law Firms and Macao Law Firms Operating in the Form of Partnership Association with Hainan Law Firms (Hainan Trial Measures on Partnership Association) promulgated by the Department of Justice of the Hainan Province, Hong Kong solicitors seconded to or hired by partnership associations in Hainan are not allowed to handle Mainland legal matters either. Whether Hong Kong law firms and legal practitioners can take part in the drafting and reviewing of contracts as well as provide cross-boundary investment framework planning services in Hainan as mentioned in the question would depend on the actual circumstances; provided that the above-mentioned restrictions under the laws and regulations of the Mainland are complied with, Hong Kong law firms and legal practitioners would be able to provide the relevant services.
 
     As to the actual enforcement of the above restrictions, Hong Kong law firms and legal practitioners are subject to management and supervision or annual review by the judicial administrative authorities of the Mainland in accordance with the provisions of the Measures for the Management of Legal Consultants, the Measures for the Management of Representative Offices and/or the Hainan Trial Measures on Partnership Association. In case Hong Kong law firms and legal practitioners handle Mainland legal matters in violation of the requirements under the said laws and regulations, they may be subject to sanctions by the relevant authorities of the Mainland.
 
     With a view to facilitating the legal sector’s and the public’s understanding of the initiatives under CEPA which concern legal services, relevant information, including frequently asked questions, is available on the DoJ’s website. For details, please visit www.doj.gov.hk/en/mainland_and_macao/cepa.html.
 
(3) Arbitral institutions in Hong Kong operate independently, and may develop their business of their own accord, without government intervention. If a Hong Kong arbitration institution plans to establish offices in Hainan or other regions, it is not required to report to the Government. Therefore, the Government currently has no information as to whether any Hong Kong arbitral institution has already applied, or is in the process of applying to establish offices in Hainan, or whether there are any specific obstacles in this regard.
 
     The Government has always supported and encouraged Hong Kong arbitral institutions to establish branches or offices on the Mainland to provide professional arbitration services to the country, while deepening Hong Kong’s position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. For example, when the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre established representative offices in Shanghai in 2015 and Beijing in 2024 respectively, the then- and current Secretary for Justice respectively attended the opening ceremonies and delivered speeches in Shanghai and Beijing in person.
 
     The Government has maintained close co-operation and regular communication with the Hong Kong legal and dispute resolution sector (including law firms and arbitral institutions). Should it be learnt that a Hong Kong arbitration institution or law firm encounters difficulties in establishing offices in Hainan, the Government will render suitable assistance, such as liaising with the Department of Justice of the Hainan Province and relevant authorities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region