Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Buildings Department today issued a practice note to registered contractors, setting out a new mechanism for sampling scaffold nets in Hong Kong announced last week. The new mechanism applies to scaffold nets used in repair projects, as well as to those used in new building works.

To facilitate the implementation of the new mechanism, the department announced on its website the first batch of designated laboratories and will continuously update the list.

Furthermore, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) is preparing for collective bulk procurement and co-ordinating testing services. The Hong Kong Institute of Construction San Tin Training Ground has been selected as the site for the industry to arrange off-site sampling. The Government and the CIC will work towards having the first batch of scaffold nets reinstalled within a month after procurement and testing.

Independent Committee
​The Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po convened the first meeting today. The committee has formally commenced work.

Support fund
As of noon today, donations received by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had reached about $3.5 billion. Combined with the $300 million in startup capital from the Government, this takes the fund to a total of around $3.8 billion.

Accommodation support
As of this morning, a total of 613 residents are staying in hotel rooms through the co-ordination of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, and 552 residents are staying in youth hostels/camps. Another 3,503 residents are currently living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau, units from the Housing Society or Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun.

Currently, there is still a supply of more than 1,000 units that can provide affected residents with longer-term accommodation. The transitional housing and the Housing Society projects in different districts can altogether provide around 400 units at the moment. Moreover, Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun and Runway 1331 at Kai Tak can provide a supply of around 900 units.

The Transport Department has been steering public transport operators to enhance services of franchised buses, green minibuses and residents’ services by deploying additional vehicles and manpower to support residents affected by the fire who have been admitted into transitional housing in various districts, facilitating transfers to other services to and from different districts.

Among them, an additional shuttle bus service will be launched connecting Lok Sin Village in Tai Po and Tai Po Market Station; while KMB will extend the service hours of route 75K.

Relief supplies
On the Government’s online platform for donated supplies, about 2,000 registrations have been received, with approximately 30% submitted by organisations. Over 29,000 donation items, covering various categories, have been distributed.

Building management
The Government today invoked the Building Management Ordinance and submitted an application to the Lands Tribunal for the dissolution of the existing management committee of the owners’ corporation (OC) of Wang Fuk Court. It has also proposed appointing Hop On Management Company under the Chinachem Group as the designated administrator to assist the owners of Wang Fuk Court in handling various management and follow-up matters after the fire.

If the Lands Tribunal approves the application, the Home Affairs Department will establish a dedicated team to work closely with Hop On in closely following up on various aspects of building management. This includes handling works contracts, following up on insurance claims, financial management, and offering support to residents.

Hop On has explicitly stated that it will operate on a pro bono basis for this appointment. At the same time, Nina Wang Charity Management has also expressed that if the Lands Tribunal approves the application, it will donate $5 million to the OC to cover the costs associated with employing lawyers, accountants, or other professional services.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Lands Department today published a third Extension Notice under the Extension of Government Leases Ordinance to extend the land leases of 28 lots for a term of 50 years.

The notice, covering eight located in Kowloon and 20 on Hong Kong Island, concern general purpose leases which are due to expire in 2032 and do not contain a right of renewal.

The department explained that while land leases extended under the ordinance do not require payment of additional premium, they are subject to an annual payment of government rent equivalent to 3% of the rateable value of the relevant land.

Encumbrances, interests and rights under the original lease will be carried forward to the extended lease term. Owners do not have to perform any procedures, nor are they required to execute lease extension documents with the Government or rearrange mortgages.

The Development Bureau remarked that the arrangement brings tremendous convenience to the public and businesses, effectively enhances the confidence of property owners and investors in the real estate market, and has received widespread support from various sectors of the community.

It added that the mechanism manifests solid safeguards for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under the implementation of the “one country, two systems’ principle”.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee met the visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Ho Duc Phoc today to discuss deepening the co-operation between Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Welcoming Mr Ho and his delegation to Hong Kong, Mr Lee said that Vietnam is Hong Kong’s sixth-largest trading partner with bilateral merchandise trade reaching US$49 billion in the first three quarters this year, a 67% increase compared to the same period last year.

Mr Lee led a high-level business delegation to Vietnam last year, during which both sides signed 30 memoranda of understanding and agreements covering various areas. He expressed confidence that both places will strengthen co-operation with mutual benefits.

Highlighting that the Government has relaxed immigration arrangements for Vietnamese citizens visiting, working or pursuing post-secondary studies in Hong Kong, the Chief Executive said new measures were introduced in March to give convenient immigration arrangements for those invited from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries including Vietnam.

These measures will further promote people-to-people exchanges and bilateral co-operation in trade, professional services and other sectors, he added.

Noting that Hong Kong will actively play “super connector” and “super value-adder” roles and fully leverage its unique advantages of connecting the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, Mr Lee said Hong Kong will promote collaboration with Vietnam in areas such as finance, innovation and technology, trade and the green and digital economy.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government today filed an application to dissolve the owners’ corporation management committee of Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, and to appoint Chinachem Group subsidiary Hop On Management Company as the administrator, to handle the day-to-day operations of the management committee.

Announcing the application, Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak said the Government made the move in accordance with section 31 of the Building Management Ordinance.

“This action will only help the owners of Wang Fuk Court to handle the various complicated legal procedures with expert assistance.

“And Hop On Management (Company) has already stated that it will serve the Wang Fuk Court residents on a pro bono basis, and that the Nina Wang Charity trustees have agreed to contribute $5 million for professional costs or any procurement costs related to the management of Wang Fuk Court.

“So our action is to help, we try to help the owners of Wang Fuk Court to handle all the very complicated legal procedures and accounting procedures with expert assistance.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The independent committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has formally commenced work, as committee chairman David Lok convened the first meeting with members Chan Kin-por and Rex Auyeung today.

The committee’s terms of reference have wide scope with complex and wide-ranging issues to be covered.

They include examining the causes and circumstances that led to the blaze and its rapid spread at Wang Fuk Court, construction safety and related issues concerning building maintenance and renovation works, as well as systemic problems related to the tendering process of large-scale building maintenance and renovation works.

At today’s session, the committee discussed the work priorities and work plan preparations. Mr Lok reiterated that the committee will do its utmost in discharging its duties, aiming to complete work within nine months and submit a report to the Chief Executive.

The report and recommendations will be disclosed to the public with the exception of information involving judicial proceedings, he added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Census & Statistics Department announced today that the 2026 Population Census will be conducted from January 1 to December 31, 2026.

At a press conference this afternoon, Commissioner for Census & Statistics Leo Yu introduced the new initiatives that will be implemented in the next Population Census.

Mr Yu said: “We will implement several re-engineering initiatives with a view to streamlining and improving workflows. Firstly, every five years, we will randomly select only 10% of households in Hong Kong for detailed enquiry. In addition, data collection will be conducted throughout the year, instead of concentrated within one and a half months as in the past. Sampled households are required to submit only one questionnaire within the data collection period.”

He highlighted that government administrative data will also be used more extensively to simplify the content of the questionnaire.

About 10% of households in Hong Kong, ie some 300,000 households, will be selected through random sampling to participate in the 2026 Population Census. Notification letters will be sent to the sampled households in batches starting from the end of this month.

“We will issue notification letters in purple envelopes to about 10% of households in Hong Kong. They are encouraged to complete the online questionnaire. They can also call the census hotline at 182 026 to conduct a telephone interview. Census officers will also visit households with outstanding response and assist them in completing the questionnaire. Information collected in the census will be kept in strict confidence,” Mr Yu explained.

When visiting households, census officers will wear a grey vest uniform, and carry an Enumerator Identity Card and a Census Officer Certificate of Identity issued by the department for identification purposes.

Mr Yu emphasised that the department strives to protect the data privacy of all people and households. All completed questionnaires will also be destroyed by December 31, 2027.

He reminded households to be aware of scamming activities, noting that households will not be required to provide in the census their Hong Kong identity card numbers or information about their bank accounts or credit cards.

If households have not provided the department with their contact information, the department will not initiate calls, send emails or SMS messages to them. The caller ID “18 2026” or SMS sender ID “#C&SD” will be displayed when the department calls or sends SMS messages to households in Hong Kong.

The Census Hotline will operate from 9 am to 10 pm from Monday to Friday throughout the data collection period, from January to December 2026. Citizens can call the hotline at 18 2026 if they require assistance in completing the questionnaire.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Following open and in-service recruitment exercises, the Government today announced the appointment of Chan Chak-ming as Director of Legal Aid, and the appointment of Irina Fan as Government Economist.

Mr Chan will assume office on January 1, 2026, succeeding Chris Chong who will start his pre-retirement leave on the same day. Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki thanked Mr Chong for his dedicated service and contributions over the years and sincerely wished him a happy retirement.

Ms Fan will take up the post on January 5, 2026, succeeding Adolph Leung who retired earlier. Financial Secretary Paul Chan thanked Mr Leung for his contributions over the years and sincerely wished him a happy retirement.

Commenting on the appointments, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung said: “Mr Chan has a deep understanding of the legal profession and rich public service experience both locally and internationally. With his professional competence, leadership capabilities and strategic vision, I am confident that he will lead the Legal Aid Department in delivering quality legal aid services.”

“Ms Fan has profound experience in economic analysis and proven leadership and management skills. I am confident that she will be able to lead the Office of the Government Economist to continue providing professional analyses and advice on economic matters to the Government,” she remarked.

Mrs Yeung also thanked Mr Chong and Mr Leung for their loyal and dedicated service to the community, and wished them fulfilling and happy retirements.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Home & Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) today launched a new round of the HYAB – United Nations Volunteer Internship Programme and invited local undergraduate students to apply.

The programme provides local undergraduate students with valuable six-month volunteer internships within various United Nations (UN) overseas field units.

Interns will develop their personal skills and gain insights into global issues while contributing to the international community as Chinese youth volunteers.

The new round will offer a total of 20 internship placements in different UN agencies located in the Belt & Road region, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Running from July to December 2026, the volunteer internships will cover specific areas such as health and education, environment and innovation management.

Applicants should be full-time undergraduate students at local universities.

The bureau will provide full funding, including round-trip air tickets and monthly living allowances, and offer suitable pre-departure training for participants in collaboration with the Agency for Volunteer Service.

The application deadline is noon on January 16, 2026.

Click here for details.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The public should guard against fake messages on social media claiming that Hong Kong residents can apply for valid permanent Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quotas for their vehicles by their Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong & Macao Residents, commonly known as Home Return Permits.

Issuing the advisory today, the Transport Department clarified that applicants for the regular quotas have to meet the requirements stipulated by the Mainland authority and provide it with specified documents, such as business registration documents of both Guangdong and Hong Kong, to apply for the quotas.

Upon receipt of the Mainland Approval Notice from the Mainland authority, they may apply to the Transport Department for closed road permits for the designated land-based boundary control points.

Emphasising that the arrangements of the regular quotas must be jointly deliberated by the governments of both places holistically, the department said citizens should refer to official announcements and verify messages to avoid deception.

The incident will be referred to Police for follow-up, it added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Buildings Department approved six building plans in October – two on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and one in the New Territories.

Of the approved plans, three were for apartment and apartment-commercial developments, two were for commercial development, and one was for factory and industrial development.

Consent was given for works to start on six building projects which, when completed, will provide 100,934 sq m of gross floor area for domestic use involving 2,144 units, and 5,614 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use.

Additionally, the department received notification of the commencement of superstructure works for six building projects.

It also issued 19 occupation permits – six on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and nine in the New Territories.

The buildings certified for occupation comprise 182,437 sq m of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 3,820 units, and 85,543 sq m for non-domestic use.

Meanwhile, the department received 2,636 reports about unauthorised building works in September and issued 406 removal orders. Two demolition consents were also issued.