Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Additional batch of Approval Letters to be issued to successful applicants under White Form Secondary Market Scheme 2024
Following the issuance of a batch of Approval and Confirmation Letters in October 2025 to successful applicants who have passed detailed vetting of their eligibility under the White Form Secondary Market (WSM) Scheme 2024 (WSM 2024), the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) will issue an additional batch of Approval and Confirmation Letters tomorrow (December 30).
“The HA’s Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) endorsed in November 2025 a series of measures that encourage upward mobility through the housing ladder, which include, amongst others, enhancing the arrangements of the WSM. We noted that some successful applicants under the WSM 2024 awarded with a quota in October 2025 did not apply for the Certificate of Eligibility to Purchase (CEP) within the specified six-week period for purchasing a subsidised sale flats (SSF) with premium unpaid in the secondary market. To ensure full utilisation of WSM 2024 quotas, we will issue an additional batch of Approval Letters to successful applicants according to the ballot order to cover unused quotas. Moreover, any unused family quotas will be allocated to one-person applicants, which is consistent with the practice adopted for the primary SSF sale exercise,” a spokesman for the HA said.
Each successful applicant will be issued with one Approval Letter and two Confirmation Letters. The two Confirmation Letters are applicable to the HA’s Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Secondary Market and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS)’s Flat-for-Sale Scheme (FFSS) Secondary Market respectively. Within six weeks from the date of issuance, holders of Approval Letters may submit the Confirmation Letters to the HA and/or the HKHS respectively for application for the CEP to purchase a flat with the premium not yet paid in the HA’s HOS Secondary Market or the HKHS’s FFSS Secondary Market.
The CEP is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, and no extension will be granted upon its expiry. To complete the transaction, holders of the CEP need to apply for a Letter of Nomination from the HA or the HKHS after they have entered into a Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase (PASP). The applicant and the family member(s) named in the application form must meet the eligibility criteria of the WSM 2024 from the date of application submission up to the date of signing the PASP. Moreover, the SSF shall be occupied by the owner and all family members named in the Application Form for the purchase of the flat.
The list of successful applications will be uploaded tomorrow to the website for the WSM 2024 (www.housingauthority.gov.hk/wsm/2024
The SHC endorsed in January 2025 that the quota for the WSM 2024 will increase significantly by 1 500 to 6 000. All of the 1 500 additional quotas will be allocated to young applicants aged below 40 under the Youth Scheme (WSM) in order to encourage young people to move up the housing ladder. Among the applications received, over 80 per cent came from young applicants opting to join the newly implemented Youth Scheme (WSM), demonstrating that the scheme is well received by young applicants.
Issued at HKT 14:30
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Major Sports Events Committee awards “M” Mark status to Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
​The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded “M” Mark status to the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2026 to be held from January 4 to 11, 2026 at the Victoria Park Centre Court.
The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (December 29), “As the first ‘M’ Mark event in 2026, the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2026 will attract visitors from around the world, along with local fans, to gather in Hong Kong to witness world-class tennis players compete at the highest level, heralding the start of the new year of major sports event in Hong Kong.”
The “M” Mark System aims to encourage and help local National Sports Associations and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be considered for “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events. The “M” Mark System aims to promote the development of major sports events, cultivate a sustainable sporting culture, enhance Hong Kong’s image as a centre for major international sports events and bring tangible economic benefits to the community.
For details of “M” Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.
DH reminds public that new phase of tobacco control measures to take effect on January 1, 2026 (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Department of Health (DH) today (December 29) reminded the public that three amendments relating to smoking offences under the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (the Amendment Ordinance) will take effect on Thursday (January 1, 2026):
- extension of statutory No Smoking Areas (NSAs) to public places that lie within three metres outside the entrances/exits exclusively used for child care centres, residential care homes, schools, hospitals and specified clinics or health centres;
- prohibition of smoking while queuing (including queuing to board a public transport carrier at a designated boarding location, staying in the delineated area for a designated boarding location, while queuing to enter specified premises (see Annex), or while queuing within specified premises); and
- increase of the fixed penalty for smoking offences from $1,500 to $3,000.
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors of the DH will prosecute any person who does a smoking act in NSAs without prior warning. Offenders will be liable to a fixed penalty of $3,000.
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) has prepared FAQs, pamphlets and other resources to help the public comply with the new law. Members of the public may visit the TACO website for more detailed information. To ensure smooth implementation of the new measures, TACO has enhanced publicity and education efforts over the past few months, such as Announcements in the Public Interest on TV and radio; advertisements on public transport areas at bus stops and at MTR stations; enhanced social media promotion; and the production of guidelines to educate the public. For visitors, TACO has stepped up anti-smoking promotions at all boundary control points, major tourist attractions and bus stops, including distributing leaflets in major tourist spots in collaboration with district councillors and has created an infographic “Visitors’ Guide” to enhance visitors’ understanding of the new measures. TACO is also promoting to visitors through Chinese Mainland social media.
TACO has also issued implementation guidelines and enhanced interdepartmental co-ordination mechanisms for the new offences under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance to ensure smoother enforcement. Briefings have been held for venue managers to explain the details of the amendment and their enforcement. Beyond enforcement, TACO continues to promote smoking prevention and cessation services, including conducting smoke-free publicity and education in the community to raise public awareness of smoking hazards.
The new phase of tobacco control measures will be implemented in phases. Among them, the increased penalties for illicit cigarettes and the prohibition on provision of smoking products to persons under the age of 18 have already taken effect upon the gazettal of the Amendment Ordinance (September 19, 2025). The provision prohibiting the possession of alternative smoking product (ASP) substances (e.g. e-cigarette liquids/cartridges/ and heat sticks) in public places will take effect on April 30, 2026, i.e. four years after the implementation of the ban on the importation and sale of ASPs. TACO will continue to strengthen publicity, education, etc, in the future to ensure the effective implementation of the relevant tobacco control measures.
For the health of individuals, families and the community, the Government urges smokers to quit smoking as soon as possible. Members of the public may call the Department of Health Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline at 1833 183. The hotline is answered by registered nurses who provide professional counselling and referral to a wide range of free smoking cessation services.
16 local arts groups and partnered arts organisations become new round of LCSD venue partners
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
16 local arts groups and partnered arts organisations become new round of LCSD venue partners
| Venue1. 2. 4. Launched in 2009, the Venue Partnership Scheme supports arts development by promoting partnerships between LCSD performance venues and arts groups/organisations. The enhanced sixth-round Scheme seeks to nurture the artistic levels and competitiveness of venue partners, strengthen venue identities, incentivise the good use of existing facilities to present more venue-suiting programmes, and encourage the development of performing arts at the community level, thereby fostering the diversified and professional development of arts and culture. Issued at HKT 15:13 NNNN Appointments to Advisory Committee on Cruise Industry announcedSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Appointments to Advisory Committee on Cruise Industry announced NNNN Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes NNNN HKMA announces total quota allocated for RMB Business Facility and list of participating banks from Phase 2 onwardsSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region HKMA announces total quota allocated for RMB Business Facility and list of participating banks from Phase 2 onwards NNNN Views sought on trade digitalisationSource: Hong Kong Information Services The Government today published a consultation paper to gather industry views on proposed legislative amendments intended to facilitate digitalisation of “Business-to-Business” (B2B) trade documents in Hong Kong. It said that digitalisation of B2B trade documents can reduce processing time and costs, enhance transparency and integrity, and facilitate international trade. Enterprises already submit most of “Business-to-Government” trade documents – including import and export declarations, cargo manifests, and various licence and permit documentation – via the Government Electronic Trading Services and the Trade Single Window. However, transactions involving B2B trade documents such as bills of lading and bills of exchange still rely largely on paper-based submissions due to legal requirements and industry practice. In the 2025-26 Budget and the 2025 Policy Address, the Government said it would make reference to the UN Commission on International Trade Law’s Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) in formulating legislative amendments to facilitate trade document digitalisation. The consultation paper seeks views on a proposed framework to amend the Electronic Transactions Ordinance, and on legislation aimed at implementing key MLETR provisions. The amendments will provide the legal basis for the use of electronic transferable records. Suitable MLETR provisions will be codified into the ordinance as far as is practicable, in order to align with international standards and promote cross-border interoperability. Views can be submitted by email, faxed to 2147 3065, or posted to Division 4, Commerce & Economic Development Bureau, 23/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar by March 27, 2026. Smoking fine hike effective Jan 1Source: Hong Kong Information Services The Department of Health today reminded the public that the amendments relating to smoking offences under the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 will take effect on January 1, 2026, including the fixed penalty hike. The three amendments cover the extension of statutory No Smoking Areas (NSAs) to public places that lie within three metres outside the entrances/exits exclusively used for child care centres, residential care homes, schools, hospitals and specified clinics or health centres; prohibition of smoking while queuing, including queuing to board a public transport carrier at a designated boarding location, staying in the delineated area for a designated boarding location, while queuing to enter specified premises, or while queuing within specified premises; and an increase of the fixed penalty for smoking offences from $1,500 to $3,000. The department’s Tobacco & Alcohol Control Inspectors will prosecute individuals who smoke in NSAs without prior warning. Offenders will be liable to a fixed penalty of $3,000. The Tobacco & Alcohol Control Office (TACO) has also issued implementation guidelines and enhanced interdepartmental co-ordination mechanisms for the new offences under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance to ensure smoother enforcement. Briefings have been held for venue managers to explain the details of the amendment and their enforcement. Beyond enforcement, TACO continues to promote smoking prevention and cessation services, including conducting smoke-free publicity and education in the community to raise public awareness of smoking hazards. The new tobacco control measures will be implemented in phases. Among them, the increased penalties for illicit cigarettes and the prohibition on provision of smoking products to people under the age of 18 have already taken effect upon the Amendment Ordinance’s gazettal on September 19, 2025. The provision prohibiting the possession of alternative smoking product substances, such as e-cigarette liquids, cartridges and heat sticks in public places will take effect on April 30, 2026. The public can call the smoking cessation hotline at 1833 183 which is answered by registered nurses who provide professional counselling and referral to a wide range of free smoking cessation services. MOEA Holds Webinar on EU Forced Labour RegulationSource: Republic of China Taiwan Following up on its recent webinar about U.S. regulations on forced labor, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) hosted a webinar on December 17 pertaining to the EU’s Forced Labour Regulation. The initiative aims to provide Taiwanese businesses with a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory landscapes in both the U.S. and EU markets, thereby bolstering corporate compliance and enhancing the ability of Taiwan’s industries to manage sustainability. Legal experts from the EU-based law firm Van Bael & Bellis detailed the scope of coverage under the EU’s Forced Labour Regulation, its enforcement mechanisms, and its interrelation with other EU due diligence regulations to help firms reduce risks in international trade. The webinar attracted over 300 participants from government, academia, Taiwan’s main export sectors to the EU (e.g., semiconductors, electronics, machinery, etc.), as well as think tanks and human rights groups, thus demonstrating the critical importance domestic stakeholders place on labor rights and supply chain compliance. To remain competitive, Taiwanese businesses must align with global labor standards by enhancing supply chain transparency and risk management in response to stricter international regulations. |