Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Note: A local company refers to a company formed and registered under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622).
(2) to (4) Relevant bureaux and departments of the Government have been, through various funding schemes and measures, providing support to individuals interested in starting a business and promoting diversified development of Hong Kong enterprises (including one-person companies).
Support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups
The Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) under the Trade and Industry Department (TID) provides funding support for non-listed Hong Kong enterprises to develop more diversified markets and to enhance competitiveness through branding, upgrading and restructuring, and promoting sales. All non-listed enterprises (including one-person companies) registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) with substantive business operations in Hong Kong are eligible to apply for funding support. As the funding support is applicable to all enterprises meeting the funding criteria, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), the Programme Secretariat of the BUD Fund, does not maintain breakdown regarding applications made by one-person companies under the BUD Fund.
The four SME centres, namely the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs under the TID, the SME Centre under the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the SME One under the HKPC, and the TecONE under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), provide four-in-one integrated consultation services for SMEs. The SME ReachOut operated by the HKPC also helps SMEs, including one-person companies, identify suitable government funding schemes and offer capacity building services to them. As the services are applicable to all SMEs in Hong Kong, we do not maintain breakdown regarding services utilised by one-person companies.
In addition, Invest Hong Kong has been promoting policies and measures conducive to the development of start-ups to the start-up community, supporting them to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong. For example, the department organises the annual Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Festival, which brings together exhibitors as well as Mainland and international delegations and promotes the development of Hong Kong’s start-up ecosystem and entrepreneurship.
Support for youth entrepreneurs
Under the Youth Development Fund, the HYAB and the Youth Development Commission have implemented the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Entrepreneurship Scheme), which subsidises non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement youth entrepreneurship programmes for a duration of one to three years, providing entrepreneurial support and incubation services as well as start-up capital to young people intending to start their businesses locally and in Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area. Under the latest round of the Entrepreneurship Scheme, a total of 264 youth start-up teams were recruited, of which 82 teams are one-member teams. Each eligible start-up team may receive a government grant capped at $480,000, with an additional matching fund of $120,000 provided by the NGO; the start-up team may therefore receive a total funding of at most $600,000.
Support for innovation and technology enterprises
The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) under the ITIB is committed to supporting projects that could contribute to the innovation and technology (I&T) upgrading in our manufacturing and service industry through the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF). ITF funding schemes in general have not set requirements on the scale and capital of enterprise applying for funding. There are established electronic channels for applicants (including one-person companies) to submit applications, reports, change requests, etc, for all ITF funding schemes through the Innovation and Technology Commission Funding Administrative System. The ITF website also provides comprehensive information, with a one-stop enquiry hotline and email.
Furthermore, various I&T parks have been providing high-quality basic infrastructure and support services for I&T development. They offer start-ups (including one-person companies) research and development spaces and ancillary facilities, funding, technical and management guidance, investor matching, mentorship, marketing and business development support, etc. Depending on their business needs, the I&T parks also help these companies connect with service providers offering cloud computing resources, AI tools, as well as legal and accounting consultancy services, etc.
Focusing on incubation programmes, the HKSTPC offers a diverse range of support schemes for start-ups at different stages of development. Among these, HKSTPC’s Ideation Programme provides a seed funding of $100,000 to assist early-stage entrepreneurs (including one-person companies) in transforming innovative ideas into viable businesses with market potential. Over the past three years, a total of 960 one-person companies have been approved under this programme.
In addition, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) in the Loop has also launched the incubation programme in the first quarter of 2026 and held the HSITP Incubation Programme Launch Ceremony cum Technology Day Exhibition on March 30, 2026, providing incubation and acceleration support for the start-ups concerned (including one-person companies). The first incubation programme focuses on the two major industries of life and health technology, as well as AI and data science. Under the programme, more than 10 one-person companies have been approved.
Besides, Cyberport provides comprehensive start-up support to young innovators and start-ups (including one-person companies) through a series of entrepreneurial programmes, including funding, business matching, and mentorship, with a full commitment to nurturing digital technology talent. Over the past three years, more than 10 one-person companies have been approved under the Cyberport Creative Micro Fund and the Cyberport Incubation Programme. Cyberport will also launch the OPC Hub to provide dedicated workspace and other support, such as cloud services, model usage quotas and AI inference resources, to one-person companies and small teams focusing on AI, intelligent agents, blockchain or related digital technologies. This initiative aims to reduce the cost of early-stage product development and testing for AI start-ups (including one-person companies).
The Government will keep in view the implementation and effectiveness of various funding schemes and support measures, with a view to understanding the development of and challenges faced by enterprises (including one-person companies), as well as introducing enhancements/adjustments, thereby responding flexibly to the evolving operational and development needs of enterprises.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ21: Tax policy relating to e-commerce Question:
There are views suggesting that as e-commerce has become a core growth engine for the retail industry worldwide, online shopping has deeply integrated into the daily consumption patterns of local people. According to data from the Census and Statistics Department, the value of local online retail sales in 2025 was provisionally estimated at $35.7 billion, but the failure of the existing tax regime to effectively cover the economic activities arising from the provision of goods and services to local consumers by cross-boundary e-commerce platforms outside the territory has resulted in base erosion and unfair competition between local merchants and merchants outside the territory. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the authorities have conducted systematic surveys and compiled statistics on the transaction scale, product categories, major places of origin and growth trends regarding cross-boundary online shopping undertaken by local residents in recent years; if so, of the details; if not, whether the authorities will conduct the relevant survey in the future;
(2) given that under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112), profits tax shall be charged on any person carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong in respect of the profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong, and the relevant requirement is likewise applicable to transactions involving online shops, e-commerce platforms and the digital economy, whether the authorities have compiled a statistical breakdown of the amount and percentage of profits tax revenue attributable to businesses relating to e-commerce and the digital economy in the past three years of assessment; if so, of the details; if not, whether they will establish the relevant mechanism for compiling the relevant statistical breakdown in the future;
(3) whether the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has formulated dedicated procedures for verifying business registration and conducting taxation audits in respect of businesses operated through the Internet, so as to ensure that the relevant merchants comply with the requirements under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) and the Inland Revenue Ordinance to truthfully declare their income and pay the amount of tax payable; if so, set out (i) the total number of cases involving IRD’s spot checks on business registration over the past three years, and the number and proportion of cases involving online shops and e-commerce businesses, and (ii) in such spot checks, the number of cases found with breaches of business registration requirements, tax evasion or omission of any sum from a tax return, and the total amount of additional tax and penalties involved;
(4) whether the authorities have charged profits tax on cross-boundary e-commerce platforms outside the territory that do not have a physical place of business in Hong Kong but provide local consumers with goods or services; if so, set out the amount of the relevant tax revenue for the past three years; if not, of the reasons for that, and whether the authorities will review the applicability of the existing territorial source principle of taxation in the era of the digital economy; and
(5) as the Financial Secretary indicated in public earlier that the Government was conducting a study on an e-commerce sales tax, of the specific scope, current progress and expected completion time of the relevant study?
Reply:
President,
With the advancement of technology, online shopping has integrated deeply into the daily consumption patterns of citizens. E-commerce has become an indispensable part of overall business operations. Hong Kong has all along maintained a simple and low tax system and, based on the territorial source principle, only imposes taxes on business profits, property rental income, and employment income arising in or derived from Hong Kong. Our tax policy applies to all business operation models in Hong Kong, including physical business and e-commerce business.
In response to the questions raised by the Hon Andrew Fan, having consulted the Financial Secretary’s Office and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, our reply is as follows:
(1) According to the results of the Household Expenditure Survey (HES) conducted by the Census and Statistics Department in 2024/25, the average monthly household expenditure on online purchases was $1,467, representing an increase of 46.5 per cent compared with $1,002 in the previous round of survey conducted in 2019/20. The expenditure on online purchases refers to goods delivered to or services provided in Hong Kong, which are purchased from online platforms.
A non-local brand may have a “.hk” and multiple non-local domains simultaneously and companies registered in Hong Kong may also host their websites outside Hong Kong. Thus, the actual hosting location of platforms and websites cannot be determined solely from their domain names. Therefore, it is difficult for the respondents in the aforementioned HES to provide the accurate source location of their online purchases, and hence a breakdown by source locations of purchases is not available under the survey.
The average monthly household expenditures on online purchases by commodity/service section in the aforementioned two HESs are set out in the table below:
Commodity/service sectionNote 2: Figures may not add up to the respective totals due to rounding. #For example, online purchases of restaurant dine-in services and takeaway. *For example, online purchases of flight tickets. ^For example, online purchases of package holidays.
(2) The Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) (IRO) applies to all bricks-and-mortar businesses and online businesses operated in Hong Kong, including the businesses of e-commerce. Hence, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) does not require taxpayers to declare their business operation model (i.e. bricks-and-mortar or online business) for tax assessment purposes. The IRD therefore does not maintain the breakdown of the amount of tax revenue from e-commerce and digital economy. To avoid increasing the compliance burden of taxpayers, the IRD does not plan to require taxpayers to declare information on their business operation model which is not necessary for tax assessment purposes.
(3) Under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) (BRO) and the IRO (Cap.112), online businesses and brick-and-mortar businesses are subject to the same legal obligations and compliance requirements. Any person who carries on a business in Hong Kong, regardless of whether through a brick-and-mortar presence or the internet, is required to apply for business registration under BRO (Cap.310), and to file tax returns and pay tax under the IRO (Cap.112).
All local companies and non-Hong Kong companies incorporated/registered under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) are deemed to have applied for business registration simultaneously upon incorporation/registration. The IRD conducts inspections from time to time on whether persons carrying on businesses have complied with the registration requirement under the BRO (Cap.310). Where a business carried on in Hong Kong (including online activities that constitute the carrying on of a business in Hong Kong) is found not to have business registration, the IRD would require the relevant person to apply for business registration for the business concerned as soon as possible, and would initiate prosecution against the relevant person where necessary.
During the three years from 2023/24 to 2025/26, the IRD conducted inspections under the BRO for 2 287, 1 598 and 1 475 cases respectively involving transactions carried out on the internet. Among these cases, 294, 265 and 240 cases were required to apply for business registration and pay the relevant business registration fees and levies after examination. For tax investigation under the IRO (Cap.112), the IRD does not maintain a breakdown by business operation model (i.e. online or brick-and-mortar business).
(4) According to the IRO (Cap.112), profits tax shall be charged on every person carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong in respect of his assessable profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong from such trade, profession or business. This territorial source principle applies to companies incorporated in Hong Kong and those incorporated outside Hong Kong. Whether a cross-border e-commerce platform is liable to profits tax depends on the nature and extent of its activities in Hong Kong, as well as the facts of each case. Currently, the IRD does not require taxpayers to declare their business operation model (i.e. bricks-and-mortar or online business) for tax assessment purpose, and therefore does not maintain breakdown of the receipt of profits tax from cross-border e-commerce platforms.
For details about charging profits tax on e-commerce, the IRD has updated its Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 39 (Revised) “Profits Tax-Digital Economy, Electronic Commerce and Digital Assets” in March 2020 to provide guidance on the tax treatment of e-commerce transactions.
(5) Hong Kong has all along maintained a simple tax regime with low tax rates, which is one of Hong Kong’s competitive advantages. When considering measures to increase revenue, our principle is to maintain the competitive advantage of Hong Kong’s simple and low tax system, avoiding substantial increase in tax rates or introduction of new taxes as far as possible, while upholding the principles of “user pays” and “affordable users pay”. Furthermore, we must also consider the policy objectives of the measures for increasing revenue, and make an overall assessment having regard to the Government’s financial position, the overall economic environment, as well as the immediate and long-term needs of society. Issued at HKT 16:05
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Cho-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):
Question:(ii) of the number of elderly participants in the Scheme who had to return to Hong Kong for medical treatment, referral or hospitalisation due to health reasons in the past 12 months; (iii) whether the Government has reviewed the liaison and referral arrangements between the RCHs participating in the Scheme and the healthcare system in Hong Kong; if so, of the results; if not, the reasons for that;
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government welcomes passage of Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Automatic Exchange of Information) Bill 2026 Since 2018, Hong Kong has been conducting automatic exchange of financial account information in relation to tax matters with partner tax jurisdictions on an annual basis, in accordance with the Common Reporting Standard developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and on the premise of data confidentiality and security. This enables the relevant tax authorities to conduct assessments on their tax residents for detecting and combatting cross-border tax evasion.
In light of the comments made by the OECD after conducting the peer review on Hong Kong’s implementation of the AEOI regime earlier, the Government agrees that there is a need to enhance the relevant administrative framework. Starting from January 1 next year, new requirements will be implemented, including requiring reporting financial institutions to register with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for strengthening identification, enhancing the requirements on financial institutions for keeping due diligence records, and raising the penalties to increase deterrence.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “Hong Kong has all along been supporting international efforts in enhancing tax transparency and combatting cross-border tax evasion. As an international financial centre, Hong Kong has an obligation to enhance the AEOI administrative framework to address the OECD’s views. This will also help Hong Kong maintain a favourable rating in the peer review and boost the confidence of other tax jurisdictions in Hong Kong’s tax system. This will be conducive to Hong Kong’s expansion of the Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement network, which will provide Hong Kong businesses with greater tax certainty and avoidance of double taxation when expanding their businesses overseas.”
To assist the industry in adapting to the new requirements and enhance tax certainty, the IRD will issue relevant guidance and maintain communication with the industry to provide technical support and answer enquiries. Issued at HKT 16:55
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (June 17) that Siu Sai Wan Swimming Pool in Eastern District will reopen on July 27 upon completion of the annual maintenance works. During the maintenance period, members of the public may use similar facilities in the same district.
The LCSD announced on March 31 that Siu Sai Wan Swimming Pool would be temporarily closed for annual maintenance works. The closure takes longer than expected for carrying out urgent ceiling repair works.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Joint Office (JO), set up by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Buildings Department, announced today (June 17) that the new procedures for investigating water seepage in private buildings (new procedures) will be implemented from July 16 as a pilot scheme. Water seepage cases received by JO from that day onward will be handled in accordance with the new procedures.
A spokesman for JO said, “Water seepage in buildings has been an issue of concern for many members of the public. The new procedures leverage technology and streamlined procedures to enhance investigation efficiency, thereby resolving water seepage problems more expeditiously. For relatively simple and straightforward cases, a Notification Letter can be issued to the relevant owner about 14 working days upon receipt of a report, which is about 57 working days earlier as compared with the previous practice of issuing a Nuisance Notice only after completing all investigations.
“Under the new procedures, JO will recover examination costs from owners who fail to fulfil their responsibilities. This arrangement can encourage owners to proactively liaise with occupants of the affected units and promptly carry out inspection and repair works,” the spokesman added.
The Government has earlier consulted the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene and the Panel on Development of the Legislative Council on the new procedures, and has submitted papers or briefed the District Councils. JO has also introduced the new procedures to the public through the media, seminars and other means. Given the generally positive response, the Government will implement the new procedures as a pilot scheme from July 16. Under the new procedures, infrared thermography will be introduced at the Stage I investigation and be used with electronic moisture meters simultaneously to assess seepage conditions and preliminarily identify the source of the seepage. If there is reason to believe that the source of water seepage is the upper unit, JO will promptly issue a Notification Letter to the owner of the upper unit, requiring the owner to carry out inspection and repair works within 28 calendar days.
If seepage persists after the period specified in the Notification Letter, JO will conduct Stage II and Stage III investigations in parallel, and under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), issue a Nuisance Notice according to the investigation results, requiring the abatement of the seepage nuisance within a specified period. Upon expiry of the period, JO will conduct a review as well as a confirmatory test as necessary. For cases of non-compliance, JO will institute prosecution based on evidence and further apply to the court for a Nuisance Order, and recover the examination costs of not less than $17,000 from owners of upper units failing to fulfil their responsibilities.
To dovetail with the implementation of the new procedures, the Government will provide technical and financial support and assist owners of upper units in need to carry out inspection and repair works on their own. Members of the public can visit the dedicated water seepage webpage for the list of professionals and contractors interested in providing seepage investigation and repair services, a list of mediators, and information on financial assistance schemes. Moreover, the Government will also provide reference prices for seepage investigations and repairs on the thematic water seepage webpage before the implementation of the new procedures.
Moreover, the Government has been actively promoting the resolution of water seepage disputes through co-ordination and mediation. At present, property management companies of 330 housing estates have joined the Scheme of Participation by Property Management Agents in Tackling Water Seepage in Residential Building of the FEHD. Over the past three years, about 70 per cent of water seepage cases in participating estates were resolved by property management companies effectively through mediation, co-ordination, or by carrying out improvement works in common areas of the estates. The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the FEHD, together with the Department of Justice, have been implementing the Pilot Scheme on Community Mediation, offering mediation skills training free of charge to more than 200 property management personnel so far.
Water seepage cases received by JO from July 16 onward will be handled in accordance with the new procedures, while the cases received before that day will be processed under the existing procedures. Upon receipt of a water seepage complaint, JO will assign a case manager to follow up and notify the complainant. Complainants who have any questions about the handling process may contact the case manager, or JO at 2868 0000. For more information, please visit the dedicated water seepage webpage (www.waterseepage.gov.hk/en/water_seepage/pilot_scheme.html).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Chu Lap-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):
Question: # After obtaining funding approval for implementing the Bonus from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on January 19, 2024, the Government then disbursed the one-off Newborn Baby Bonus of $20,000 to eligible parents after completing the required internal procedures.
The review of the Newborn Baby Bonus Scheme is still undergoing, which involves analysing data and conducting in-depth analysis and consideration of related issues. The Government will take into account the views and suggestions of Legislative Council Members and the general public on the Scheme.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Transport Department (TD) today (June 17) said that the passenger and vehicle traffic at land-based boundary control points (BCPs) will significantly increase before and after the Tuen Ng Festival holiday, especially amid the inbound peak on Sunday (June 21) afternoon and evening, when waiting times for public transport (PT) services will be longer. Cross-boundary travellers are urged to plan their trips early and properly, allow sufficient travelling time and avoid travelling during peak hours as far as possible. They should heed the latest information broadcast at major stations and BCPs.
Enhancing services for travel convenience
The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services before and after the Tuen Ng Festival for the convenience of residents and visitors, including:
The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times from June 18 to 21 based on passenger demand;
The train service of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link between Hong Kong West Kowloon and designated Mainland stations will operate additional temporary train trips on June 19 and June 21 (see details at the 12306.cn website);
The frequencies of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) will be increased to an average of about one minute and two minutes respectively during peak hours;
The quota of cross-boundary coaches will be increased to strengthen services; and
The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased beyond the normal weekend level, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.
Travel during non-peak hours
It is anticipated that the waiting time for PT services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Travellers should avoid travelling during peak hours as far as possible. Passengers are advised to maintain order while queuing and heed the advice of on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.
HZMB users travelling to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting the HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic, and the traffic at Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads has become very busy during holiday peak periods. They should use PT services as far as possible, plan their trips early, allow sufficient travelling time and remain patient while waiting.
As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, before and after the Tuen Ng Festival to secure smooth access for PT vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.
Information dissemination
To plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD’s HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at the inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts “hzmbzhport” or “zhuhaifabu” (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.
The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance “Easy Boundary” (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or the HKeMobility for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility. PTOs and relevant departments of BCPs will also disseminate the latest information to passengers through public announcement systems or other channels at major stations and BCPs.
The TD’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and PT services across various districts, BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demand.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Maggie Chan and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):
Question:
The Government increased the Child Care Centre Parent Subsidy to a maximum of $1,000 per month in April 2024, and further expanded the School-based After School Care Service Scheme (the Scheme) in the 2025-2026 school year. As at February this year, there were already 205 primary schools participating in the Scheme, providing over 10 000 service places. Regarding the strengthening of support for working families in childbearing, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of cases that have received the Child Care Centre Parent Subsidy in full since April 2024; among them, the proportion of infants and toddlers from birth to under the age of two who have benefited;
(2) given that under the Scheme, care services on weekdays are provided until 6pm or 6.30pm, and may be extended to 7pm in individual schools, whether the Government has plans for extending the service hours of the Scheme to 7pm across the board; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and President,
To support parents in taking care of their children, the Government subsidises non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide a variety of day child care services, including the full-day Child Care Centre (CCC) service, the After School Care Programme (ASCP) and the Extended Hours Service (EHS) for school-aged children, the district-based and flexible Occasional Child Care Service (OCCS) and the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project, as well as implements the School-based After School Care Service Scheme (SBA), to meet the different needs of parents and children. The reply to the Member’s question on the three parts is as follows: Currently, there are a total of 21 aided standalone CCCs in Hong Kong, providing 1 536 service places. The SWD is setting up 15 additional aided standalone CCCs in different districts (including North District and Yuen Long) in phases. It is estimated that a total of about 1 500 additional service places will be provided progressively by the end of 2029, almost doubling the existing supply.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):
It has been reported that the smuggling of animals into Hong Kong has become an increasingly serious issue in recent years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it has been reported that there are quite a number of messages on Mainland social media and online shopping platforms advertising the cross-boundary sale of animals, using gimmicks such as the provision of “pet consignment”, “quarantine-free” and “same-day delivery” to attract customers, whether the Government has worked closely with these platforms to strengthen intelligence exchange, with a view to swiftly taking down non-compliant content, so as to combat the smuggling of animals; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) given that according to government information, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department received 377 complaints in relation to animal trading and breeding activities last year, yet there were only 26 cases of successful prosecutions for breach of licensing conditions, of the reasons for that; among these complaints, the number of cases involving animal smuggling and the number of convictions; and
(3) of the following information regarding animal smuggling cases: (i) the number of cases involving the illegal import of cats and dogs so far this year, and the number of cats and dogs involved, (ii) the average time taken from enforcement to the conclusion of court proceedings in animal smuggling cases, (iii) the number of confiscated animals that have been adopted and the relevant percentage, and (iv) the resources or funding provided by the Government to organisations responsible for offering temporary shelter for and adoption of confiscated animals?
Reply:
President,
Illegal animal smuggling and trading activities not only endanger animal health but also pose a significant risk to public health and safety in Hong Kong. To this end, the Government adopts a multipronged strategy to combat these illegal activities through legislative regulation, inspection and enforcement, intelligence sharing as well as publicity and education. We continuously review and enhance the effectiveness of these measures to tackle the ever-changing illegal smuggling and trading methods, thereby safeguarding public and animal health.
With regard to the importation of animals, under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations (Cap. 139A) and the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A), any person who imports animals without a permit is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year.
As for animal trading, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) strictly regulates the operations of physical shops, online animal sellers and dog breeding premises under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Trading and Breeding) Regulations (Cap. 139B). It requires licence holders to comply with licence conditions and codes of practice, including the proper care of animals, the administration of vaccinations, and the provision of proof of the animals’ lawful origin, to ensure the animals are in good health. Any person selling animals without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000, whilst a breach of licence or permit conditions is punishable by a maximum fine of $50,000.
In response to the question raised by the Hon Chan Hak-kan, and following consultation with the Security Bureau, my reply is as follows:
(1) To tackle illegal animal trading on online platforms, the AFCD has set up a dedicated investigation team to conduct proactive investigations, including the regular monitoring of online advertisements for the sale and breeding of animals. Upon receiving complaints or detecting suspicious cases, the dedicated team will immediately launch in-depth investigations, including deploying undercover (decoy) operations to gather evidence. At the same time, the AFCD has established a close intelligence-sharing mechanism with the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) to enhance the effectiveness of monitoring online violations and strengthen joint enforcement efforts.
Regarding claims by certain Mainland online sellers that they can deliver animals such as cats and dogs to Hong Kong “without quarantine”, we must solemnly point out that such acts constitute illegal animal smuggling, in order to set the record straight. Since last year, the AFCD has proactively requested assistance from the Mainland regulatory authorities and the heads of major Mainland social media platforms to combat such smuggling activities, and has received positive responses. Mainland regulatory authorities are actively exploring ways to strengthen supervision and enforcement against social media platforms. Meanwhile, Mainland social media platforms will strictly review suspicious accounts and remove non-compliant content at the AFCD’s request.
Furthermore, the AFCD’s quarantine detection dogs carry out detection operations daily at various locations, including the Hong Kong International Airport, the Air Mail Centre and various import and export control points; the department also conducts targeted joint enforcement operations with the C&ED at the airport and major land border control points, and it continues to deepen intelligence exchange and joint operations with Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies.
(2) The AFCD has been conducting regular inspections and surprise checks on licensed animal trading and breeding premises. Where there is evidence of non-compliance, the AFCD will initiate prosecution proceedings. In 2025, the AFCD received a total of 377 complaints concerning the illegal sale and breeding of animals. One hundred and three cases were substantiated after investigation, of which 65 resulted in successful prosecutions. These included 39 cases of selling animals without a valid licence or permit, and 26 cases of breaching licence conditions. None of the aforementioned complaint cases involved illegal animal smuggling.
(3) As of the end of May 2026, the Government had successfully detected 11 cases of illegal importation of cats and dogs, involving a total of 21 animals (comprising 18 cats and three dogs). Law enforcement agencies are currently conducting investigations and gathering evidence, and will initiate prosecutions against the persons involved once sufficient evidence is secured.
In 2025, cases involving the smuggling of animals took an average of approximately five months from the time of enforcement to the conclusion of court proceedings, a period encompassing necessary legal procedures including evidence collection and formal charges being laid by law enforcement officers, as well as court appearances and trial conclusions. Under the law, those involved may choose to transport the animals out of Hong Kong at their own expense, send the animals to a quarantine centre for quarantine, or surrender custody of them. Upon receiving animals whose custody has been surrendered, the AFCD immediately places them under quarantine, provides care and behavioural training to enhance their chances of adoption, and subsequently transfers suitable animals to the department’s partner organisations for adoption arrangements. In 2025, 12 cats and dogs (comprising seven cats and five dogs) were surrendered by the persons carrying the animals. Of these, 11 (six cats and five dogs) have been transferred to the department’s partner animal welfare organisations for public adoption, whilst the remaining one is still under observation by the AFCD.
The AFCD selects animals that are docile and in good health from among those abandoned or are unclaimed, and transfers them to partner animal welfare organisations for public adoption. Through the annual subvention scheme, the AFCD provides financial support to these animal welfare organisations to implement publicity and education, provide adoption services, and undertake animal management work.
In addition, the AFCD utilises multiple channels to step up public education and publicity to promote pet adoption, including broadcasting educational videos and Announcements in the Public Interest on various platforms; establishing a thematic website; distributing leaflets, posters and booklets; and regularly organising seminars in schools and residential estates, roving exhibitions across the 18 districts, dog training courses and pet adoption days.
Overall, to effectively combat illegal animal smuggling and trading, active co-operation from the public is crucial, in addition to rigorous enforcement by the Government. Members of the public must remain vigilant, particularly when purchasing pets via online platforms, and be aware that illegal or unscrupulous traders may provide misleading information about pets in order to entice people to buy animals of unknown origin or in poor health. Consumers not only suffer financial losses but often find it difficult to hold these traders legally accountable later on. Therefore, the Government strongly advocates the principle of “adopting rather than buying pets”, encouraging the public to prioritise adoption through legitimate channels. If choosing to purchase a pet, members of the public should buy from licensed animal traders to avoid acquiring animals of unknown origin through unofficial channels. Furthermore, the Government will continue to make good use of diverse channels, such as social media, dedicated webpages and advertisements, to conduct public education campaigns, with a view to enhancing public awareness of the relevant legislation and associated risks, thereby safeguarding public and animal health.