Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Transport Department (TD) today (August 28) invited interested platform companies to apply for ride-hailing service licences. The application deadline is noon on October 30, 2026 (Friday).

Following the passage of the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Services) Ordinance 2025 by the Legislative Council in October 2025, and the completion of the scrutiny of four pieces of related subsidiary legislation in mid-July 2026, most of the legal provisions under the ride-hailing services regulatory regime came into operation on August 3, 2026. The Government has been proactively carrying out a series of preparatory work to facilitate the launch of ride-hailing services, including inviting interested platform companies to apply for ride-hailing service licences.

A Government spokesman said, “Ride-hailing service is a brand new form of personalised point-to-point public transport services. Through the introduction of the ride-hailing services regulatory regime, the platforms, vehicles as well as drivers providing such services are required to obtain the relevant licences and permits, so as to offer the public more options of safe and compliant point-to-point transport service. To ensure that ride-hailing platforms have the operational capability to provide ride-hailing platform services, we will impose certain requirements in areas such as ride-hailing booking management technology, experience in operating ride-hailing platform services, proof of financial capability and capital investment.”

Applicants for ride-hailing service licences must be companies registered in Hong Kong and must maintain a permanent establishment of executive personnel and an office in Hong Kong to facilitate the Government’s regulation of the daily operations and service performance of ride-hailing platforms. To ensure that platforms have the capability to meet local ride-hailing demand, applicant companies must demonstrate their scale of operations, including lawful operation in a city with a population comparable to that of Hong Kong (i.e. 7.5 million or above), and having processed a daily average of 100 000 or more orders for ride-hailing passenger transport services in two cities where ride-hailing services are provided.

In addition, applicant companies must demonstrate their financial capability to support stable operation of their platforms in Hong Kong and the continued provision of proper and efficient services. The Government also requires applicant companies to provide audited financial reports for the past three years, with company paid-up capital of no less than HK$50 million, and to possess bank deposits of at least HK$30 million as well as a line of credit facilities of at least HK$30 million.

To safeguard passenger safety and maintain service quality, applicant companies must submit a service proposal setting out in detail their service plans, including corporate management; implementation of due diligence to ensure that vehicle owners and drivers comply with the owner-driver binding requirement; customer service; encouraging ride-hailing driving permit holders on their platforms to provide more ride-hailing trips; providing taxi ride-hailing services; and encouraging taxi drivers to register on their platforms to provide services.

The key entry requirements and licence conditions for ride-hailing service licences are set out in the Annex.

An assessment committee comprising representatives of the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Digital Policy Office and the TD will assess the applications and make recommendations to the Commissioner for Transport on whether to issue ride-hailing service licences to the applicant companies. If an applicant company’s licence application is approved, the licence will be valid for a maximum period of five years, with an annual licence fee of HK$1.2 million.

The spokesman added, “To enable the Government to grasp and monitor the operation and compliance situation of each licensed platform, the TD is developing a ride-hailing vehicle data management system. The systems of platforms will in future be connected to the TD’s data management system and provide operational data. The TD’s ride-hailing data management system will be able to receive operational data in real time. Such data will help the Government to regulate ride-hailing services, master the actual operation of platforms, and conduct dynamic assessments of market development and changes in supply and demand for future policy reviews. In addition to monitoring the operation of platforms through mastering their operational information, the Government also attaches great importance to data security. According to statutory requirements, licensed platforms must, in the manner specified in the licence conditions, ensure that any data relating to services provided through the licensed platform is transmitted and stored securely. Without the consent of the data subjects concerned, platforms must not use such data for other purposes, or transmit such data to other persons or organisations.”

Interested companies registered in Hong Kong may request for the invitation documents through the TD’s website.

Applicants must complete and submit the form of application, service proposal and relevant supporting documents (one original and seven legible photocopies) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the invitation documents, along with a cashier’s order of HK$16,250 as payment of the application fee, in a sealed envelope with “Application for Ride-hailing Service Licence 2026” clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. Applications must be delivered to the reception counter of the TD Headquarters on 10/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, before noon on October 30, 2026 (Friday). Late applications will not be accepted.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

All Hong Kong children born on or before December 31, 2021, who have not attended any primary schools and have never been allocated a Primary One (P1) place, are eligible to join the Primary One Admission (POA) System for admission to P1 in September 2027.

In line with the Smart Government strategy, the Education Bureau (EDB) has fully digitalised POA. Parents who have registered as POA e-platform (ePOA) users and bound their account to “iAM Smart+” may submit applications and check the results for discretionary places admission and Central Allocation online via ePOA. The EDB encourages parents to register with “iAM Smart+” (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/reg.html(1) At the Discretionary Places Admission stage, parents can submit an application to any government or aided primary school, and the school choice is not restricted to the school net in which the child resides.
(2) Irrespective of whether the application is submitted via ePOA or in paper form, parents should submit only one application for each child. If parents have applied to more than one government or aided primary school, their application for a POA discretionary place will be rendered void. In addition, parents should not submit duplicate applications via ePOA and in paper form for the same child.
(3) When completing the POA Application Form, parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If a false address is given by parents to secure a P1 place for their child under the POA System, the application will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn. If a false instrument has been used or a false statutory declaration has been made in the application, the offender is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years or imprisonment for two years and to a fine respectively under the Crimes Ordinance.
(4) Parents who are unable to submit the application form in person may authorise in writing a representative to bring along the above-mentioned documents to the primary school on their behalf.
(5) Children who have accepted the offer of P1 places in Direct Subsidy Scheme primary schools will not be allocated P1 places in government or aided primary schools through POA. Even if school places have been allocated through POA, those school places will be withdrawn.
(6) Parents could check results of discretionary place admission via ePOA from 10 a.m. on November 23, 2026. Schools will also release the discretionary places admission results on the same day. For applicant children who are not allocated with discretionary places, they will participate in the Central Allocation. The School Choice-making dates for Central Allocation will be from January 18 to 24, 2027. Details will be announced later.In addition, suspected cases of using a false address for POA applications may be reported to the School Places Allocation Section by calling its hotline at 2832 7700.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     A 46-year-old Mainland female resident, charged with two counts of conspiracy to make a false instrument, was convicted and sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment by the District Court today (August 28).
 
     During a follow-up investigation into a case of suspected use of forged Hong Kong identity cards for illegal employment in Hong Kong by the Immigration Department (ImmD), it was suspected that the defendant had provided forged Hong Kong identity cards to assist Mainland residents in taking up illegal employment in Hong Kong. Through comprehensive investigation and intelligence analysis, investigators arrested the defendant and images of forged Hong Kong identity cards were found in the defendant’s mobile phone, including an image of her forged Hong Kong identity card. The defendant admitted under caution that she had obtained an image of a forged Hong Kong identity card which bore her portrait and name from an agent in order to seek employment in Hong Kong in 2024. Besides, the defendant admitted under caution that she had received $10,000 from a Mainland resident as remuneration for arranging the production of an image of a forged Hong Kong identity card and assisting the Mainland resident in seeking employment in Hong Kong.
 
     The defendant was subsequently charged with two counts of conspiracy to make a false instrument. After trial, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment today.
 
     The illegal workers in the case were previously convicted of offences including breach of condition of stay and possession of forged identity cards, and sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. Moreover, using the same tactic, the defendant provided a forged Hong Kong identity card and arranged another Mainland resident to take up illegal employment in Hong Kong earlier. In November 2024, the defendant was convicted of offences including aiding and abetting others to possess a forged identity card, and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts.
 
     The ImmD spokesman said, “under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who uses or possesses a forged identity card commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment. Any person who without lawful authority or reasonable excuse transfers to another person an identity card commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment. Furthermore, it is an offence to make, possess or use false instruments. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.”
 
     The spokesman warned, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”
 
     The spokesman stressed, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines stating that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In this connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation, with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
 
     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Twilight”, a joint operation with the Labour Department codenamed “Rainbow”, joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion” and a joint operation with Hong Kong Customs, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force from August 21 to yesterday (August 27). During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including restaurants, markets and warehouses. Thirty-one suspected illegal workers, four suspected employers and three overstayers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised 21 men and 10 women, aged 20 to 60. Among them, three men and one woman were holding recognisance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment. Four men, aged 23 to 51, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. The arrested overstayers were three women aged 32 to 58. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
 
     Alongside the enforcement actions, ImmD officers were deployed to distribute leaflets to employers participating in a large-scale job fair in Mong Kok. The officers reminded the employers to stand against employing illegal workers and promoted the dedicated hotline for reporting illegal workers 185 185.
 
     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.” 
 
     The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.”
 
     The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
 
     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the appointment of a new Postmaster General. Ex-Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene Donald Ng Man-kit will take up the post of Postmaster General on September 26, succeeding Leonia Tai Shuk-yiu, who will proceed on pre-retirement leave.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung praised Mr Ng as a seasoned Administrative Officer with proven leadership and management skills, expressing full confidence in his ability to serve with professionalism in his new role.

Mrs Yeung also thanked Miss Tai her for her 38 years of loyal and dedicated service to the community, wishing her a fulfilling and happy retirement.

“As Postmaster General, she firmly led the department to provide professional and quality postal services. She proactively addressed the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and steered the department’s adoption of technology for further enhancing service quality and operational efficiency.

“She was also committed to driving Hongkong Post’s provision of logistics services for responding to market conditions and demands,” Mrs Yeung added.