Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Junius Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

According to statistics from fuel price information websites, Hong Kong ranks among the places with the highest fuel prices worldwide. There are views that under the influence of geopolitical factors such as conflicts in the Middle East, fuel prices in Hong Kong have continued to rise, thereby increasing the burden on people’s livelihood and the local economy. Industries such as transport and logistics, laundry services and aviation have been the first to bear the brunt, while local oil companies’ fuel pricing lacks transparency. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that when announcing measures to cope with fuel prices on April 29, 2026, the Government indicated that it would study different measures to alleviate the impact of rising oil prices on society and people’s livelihood, whether, apart from implementing measures such as the two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme of $3 per litre, the waiver of tunnel tolls and the provision of a liquefied petroleum gas fuel subsidy, the authorities have plans to introduce other specific measures in the future to relieve the livelihood burden on the public arising from rising fuel prices through a multi-pronged approach;

(2) whether the Government has, in recent years, conducted detailed studies and analyses on the costs and profits of oil companies, so as to ascertain specifically the causes of high fuel prices in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether it will consider regulating the price of oil in accordance with section 6 of the Oil (Conservation and Control) Ordinance (Cap. 264); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Government is very concerned about the rising fuel prices due to the tense situation in the Middle East. The fuel supply and prices affect our daily lives. The Government’s work primarily focuses on several aspects. First, to ensure stable energy supply. Second, to enhance the transparency of information regarding changes in fuel prices. Third, the Government monitors price changes, carefully considers their reasonableness and necessity, and also reminds suppliers of their social responsibilities.

The Chief Executive has earlier directed the establishment of the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply (the Task Force), chaired by the Financial Secretary, to monitor and assess geopolitical changes, fuel supply and prices, to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply, and to examine the impact of oil price fluctuations on various industries.

In consultation with the Financial Secretary, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the reply to the question raised by Hon Junius Ho is as follows:

(1) The Task Force has implemented the following measures to address the fuel prices: 

First, the two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Subsidy Scheme) is effective from April 30 to June 29 of this year to support public and commercial vehicles and vessels and related industries that use diesel as fuel. Under the Subsidy Scheme, users who consume diesel locally may receive a subsidy of HK$3 per litre when they purchase diesel, thereby making the selling price of diesel decrease by HK$3 per litre. The relevant subsidy measure is estimated to cost approximately HK$1.8 billion.

Second, reduce tunnel tolls by 50 per cent for all commercial vehicles using government tolled tunnels for two months from May 17 to July 16. The temporary measure aims to alleviate the operating costs of commercial vehicles; therefore, the beneficiaries are commercial vehicle drivers and operators. We estimate that approximately 165 000 registered commercial vehicles will benefit. It is expected to result in a reduction of approximately HK$160 million in tunnel toll revenue.

Third, provide a fuel subsidy of HK$0.5 per litre of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for taxis, public light buses and school private light buses for two months from May 31 to July 30. The temporary measure aims to alleviate the operating costs of local passenger transport commercial vehicles which primarily use LPG as fuel, and reduce the pressure for fare increases. It is expected that about 16 900 LPG (including LPG-hybrid) taxis, about 3 440 LPG public light buses (including green minibuses and red minibuses), and about 170 LPG school private light buses would benefit from the fuel subsidy. 

Fourth, the Working Group on Public Transport Service Special Applications (the Working Group) is established to assist public transport operators (including public buses and ferries) in their applications relating to responding flexibly to rising fuel costs. The Working Group convened its first meeting on April 16 to listen to the franchised bus operators on their current business environment and operation situation, as well as measures they have taken to address the rising fuel costs. The Working Group will consider targeted temporary measures to help operators save energy and enhance operational efficiency in response to oil price fluctuations. 

(2) Retail prices of auto-fuel in Hong Kong are determined by oil companies having regard to market principles and operating costs, the Government is mindful of the concerns across various sectors regarding auto-fuel prices in Hong Kong and has been monitoring whether changes in local retail prices of auto-fuel are in line with the trend movements of international refined oil product price, and in contact with oil companies and urged them to promptly adjust prices in tandem with international refined oil product price movements.

To facilitate the public monitoring of retail price adjustments for auto-fuel, with effect from April 1, 2026, the Environment and Ecology Bureau releases, on a weekly basis, the seven-day moving average retail prices, after walk-in discounts, of unleaded petrol and diesel from oil companies, along with the trends in international benchmark prices of refined oil products during the same period, to enhance transparency of market and price. The Competition Commission (CompComm) has also met with oil companies, emphasising the importance of fair competition and information transparency. The CompComm will continue to closely monitor the market for any instances of price fixing or unfair competition to ensure fair market operations.

(3) With the advantage of having strong support from the motherland, Hong Kong has been able to maintain a stable energy supply amid the emergence of energy shortages in many regions and cities around the world. Nonetheless, fuel prices in Hong Kong have still been determined according to market principles. 

At present, we have no plans to regulate the prices of oil using section 6 of the Oil (Conservation and Control) Ordinance (Cap. 264). The Government will continue to conduct dynamic assessment, closely monitor the international situation and energy price movements, co-ordinate bureaux and departments to prepare contingency plans, formulate forward-looking strategies, and study different measures to alleviate the impact of rising oil prices on the society and people’s livelihood.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​Following is a question by the Hon Kwok Fu-yung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

     As Tsing Ma Bridge is the only land transport link connecting Lantau Island and the urban areas, with the continuous growth of the population and traffic flow in North Lantau, the capacity of Tsing Ma Bridge and the carrying capacity of its surrounding road network have aroused concern. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Dennis Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

The Government has been implementing the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector and the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) one after the other since 2023, and has introduced lift/escalator technicians into the Technical Professionals List (TP List) under the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) with effect from June 30, 2025. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of workers in the following trades in the lift and escalator industry who were imported under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector from 2025 to March 2026: (i) lift and escalator mechanics (master), (ii) lift mechanics, (iii) escalator mechanics, and (iv) lift/escalator technicians (set out in Table 1);

Table 1

Numbers of quotas approved in the lift and escalator industry under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector
Year	(i)	(ii)	(iii)	(iv)	Total
2025
January to March 2026
Total

(2) given that ESLS allows employers in specified industries, including the electrical and electronics industries, to apply to import workers at technician level or below, subject to relevant requirements, of the respective numbers of the following skilled workers in the electrical and electronics industries who were imported annually under ESLS from 2023 to March 2026: (i) electricians (electrical industry), (ii) mechanical fitters (electrical industry), (iii) refrigeration/air-conditioning/ventilation technicians (electrical industry), (iv) mechanical engineering technicians (electrical industry), (v) building services mechanics (electrical industry), (vi) electrical fitters (electrical industry), (vii) electronics technicians (electrical industry), and (viii) electricians (electronics industry) (set out in Table 2);

Table 2

Numbers of skilled workers in the electrical and electronics industries who were admitted under ESLS (certain posts)
Common posts (industrial category)	2023	2024	2025	January to March 2026	Total
(i)
…
(viii)
Total

(3) given that while ESLS currently does not accept applications for importation of labour of industries and job categories covered by the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector, some members of the sector have relayed that some of the skilled workers in the electrical and electronics industries who were imported under ESLS have taken up posts in the lift and escalator industry, of the respective numbers of the following skilled workers who were imported annually under ESLS but were actually employed by registered lift and escalator contractors from 2023 to March 2026: (i) electricians (electrical industry), (ii) mechanical fitters (electrical industry), (iii) refrigeration/air-conditioning/ventilation technicians (electrical industry), (iv) mechanical engineering technicians (electrical industry), (v) building services mechanics (electrical industry), (vi) electrical fitters (electrical industry), (vii) electronics technicians (electrical industry), and (viii) electricians (electronics industry) (set out in Table 3); 

Table 3

Numbers of skilled workers employed by 42 registered lift and escalator contractors under ESLS
Common posts (industrial category)	2023	2024	2025	January to March 2026	Total
(i)
…
(viii)
Total

(4) whether any cases of non-compliance have been identified among applicants and imported workers since 2023 (i.e. cases in which skilled workers in the electrical and electronics industries who were imported under ESLS have taken up posts in the lift and escalator industry); if so, of the penalties imposed in respect of such cases; and

(5) of the respective numbers of workers in the following trades in the lift and escalator industry who were imported via the TP List under GEP and ASMTP from 2025 to March 2026: (i) lift technicians, (ii) escalator technicians, and (iii) lift/escalator technicians (set out in Table 4)?

Table 4

Numbers of approvals in the lift and escalator industry under GEP and ASMTP (Technical Professionals Stream)
Year	(i)	(ii)	(iii)	Total
2025
January to March 2026
Total

Reply:

President,

To cope with the challenges brought by manpower shortage and foster Hong Kong’s economic development, the Government, on the principle of ensuring employment priority for local workers, suitably allows employers with genuine difficulty in recruiting suitable local workers to apply for importation of workers. Apart from launching sector-specific labour importation schemes for the transport sector and residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities, the Development Bureau (DEVB) has implemented the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (Construction Sector Scheme) since July 17, 2023. The Labour Department (LD) has also implemented the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) since September 4, 2023, to allow employers with genuine needs to apply for importation of workers for posts that were generally excluded under the previous Supplementary Labour Scheme.

The Government has all along adopted a multi-pronged approach to address manpower demands in the construction sector, enhancing training and promoting the use of technology to uplift productivity and mitigate labour shortage. The Construction Sector Scheme is a complementary measure whereby main contractors and subcontractor employers must conduct local recruitment as required and demonstrate that they are unable to employ sufficient local workers before their applications are considered. All imported workers must also comply with the same qualification and job requirements, median wages, etc, as local workers in similar positions. These measures safeguard the employment priority of local workers. When processing each application under the Construction Sector Scheme, the DEVB scrutinises whether the applicant has conducted local recruitment as per the requirements promulgated by the Government and failed to employ the required skilled workers, whether there is genuine need for importing skilled workers for the project taking into consideration factors including project progress, the demand for each relevant trade and its manpower situation, as well as the overall labour market situation before determining whether to approve quotas.

On the other hand, in the face of an ageing workforce and a lack of new entrants, some skilled trades that are critical to sustaining Hong Kong’s city operation are facing acute talent succession gaps. To improve the demographic structure in these skilled trades, in addition to continuing to strengthen the training for local technical professionals, the Government has introduced a new channel under the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) from June 30, 2025, to allow young and non-degree mid-level professionals with qualifications and experience as specified in the Technical Professional List to apply to come to Hong Kong, and attract them to settle in Hong Kong in the long run. The new channel covers eight specified skilled trades, including lift/escalator technicians.

In consultation with the DEVB and the Immigration Department, the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) Under the Construction Sector Scheme, for the three skilled worker trades related to the lift and escalator industry (namely (i) lift and escalator mechanic (master), (ii) lift mechanic, (iii) escalator mechanic) and one technician trade (namely (iv) lift/escalator technician), the number of skilled workers/technicians imported through the scheme from 2025 to March 2026 is set out at Annex 1.

(2) From 2023 to March 2026, a breakdown of the number of imported workers approved under the ESLS each year for the electrical and electronics sectors by job category is set out at Annex 2. 

(3) and (4) As required by the ESLS, imported workers (including those from the electrical and electronics sectors), upon arrival to work in Hong Kong under the ESLS, must be directly employed by the same employers for taking up the specified posts and performing specified duties at the designated workplace(s) in accordance with the requirements set out in the approvals-in-principle issued by the LD and the Standard Employment Contract. The LD does not maintain statistics on the number of imported workers employed by the registered lift and escalator contractors.

If employers are found to have breached the above requirements, other requirements of the ESLS or relevant labour and immigration laws, the LD will impose administrative sanctions on the employers concerned. Depending on the nature of the breaches, the LD will withdraw the approvals for importation of labour previously granted to employers, and refuse to process any subsequent applications for labour importation submitted by employers (with a debarment period of up to two years). Since the implementation of the ESLS and up to March 2026, the LD has imposed administrative sanctions on 35 employers for breaching the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, occupational safety and health legislation, Immigration Ordinance or requirements of the ESLS; none of these cases involve the electrical and electronics sectors.

(5) From June 30, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the numbers of applications approved under the Technical Professionals Stream of the GEP and the ASMTP to work under the skilled trade lift/escalator technician in Hong Kong are set out at Annex 3.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Chong Ho-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

It has been reported that at the end of April this year, the Coroner’s Court delivered its verdict on a traffic accident which occurred in December 2018. In that case, the driver concerned failed to engage the handbrake properly when parking the vehicle, causing the vehicle to lurch forward and resulting in the death of five people. As the driver was not driving the vehicle at the time of the incident, he was charged with the offence of “leaving a vehicle without a fixed parking brake”, and was eventually fined $2,000 and had his driving licence suspended for six months, without being charged with a more serious offence. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of traffic accidents caused by drivers failing to engage the handbrake properly (regardless of whether the drivers concerned were driving the vehicles at the time of the incidents) in the past five years; if the drivers concerned were convicted, of the offences involved and the penalties handed down respectively; and

(2) as that there are views that the penalties for the offence of “leaving a vehicle without a fixed parking brake” which causes casualties cannot reflect the seriousness of such incidents, and it has been reported that the Coroner, when adjudicating the aforesaid 2018 case, pointed out legislative loopholes and recommended that the authorities should discuss legislative amendments with the relevant departments expeditiously, whether the authorities will, in response to this recommendation, study amending the legislation to ensure that the penalties can reflect the seriousness of the offence, thereby increasing the deterrent effect; if so, of the details and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Government attaches great importance to road safety and continues to enhance it through legislation, law enforcement, publicity and public education. Regarding the question raised by the Hon Chong Ho-fung, having consulted the Hong Kong Police Force, our reply is as follows:

(1) Statistics on traffic accidents caused by drivers failing to properly engage the handbrake over the past five years are listed in the Annex. The Police do not maintain categorised statistics on prosecution results and penalties of relevant cases.

(2) In cases where traffic accidents are caused by failure to properly engage the handbrake, law enforcement agencies will consider the most appropriate offence for prosecution, depending on the specific circumstances, relevant evidence, and legal advice of each case.

In fact, on March 6 this year, the District Court sentenced a driver in connection with a serious traffic accident that occurred in the Soho district of Central in December 2021. In the case, a private car driver, while parking her vehicle on a slope, failed to properly engage the brakes and use the correct gear before leaving the vehicle, causing it to roll backwards, fatally crushing a pedestrian and injuring several others. The court ultimately convicted the driver of “causing death by dangerous driving” and “causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving”, sentencing her to 27 months’ imprisonment and imposing a five-year driving disqualification. The District Court held that a person can be convicted of dangerous driving if it can be proved beyond reasonable doubt that the way he or she drives falls below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and it would be obvious to a careful and competent driver that driving in that way would be dangerous. This case illustrates that even if a driver has left the vehicle, failure to properly control it during the course of driving (including the parking process) still falls within the scope of current legislation on “dangerous driving”.

Current legislation already prescribes deterrent penalties for the aforementioned offences. The maximum penalty for “dangerous driving” is a fine of HK$25,000 and imprisonment for three years. If dangerous driving causes grievous bodily harm to another person, the maximum penalty is a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for seven years; and if dangerous driving causes death to another person, the maximum penalty is a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for 10 years.

The Transport Department will continue to work with the Police and the Road Safety Council to strengthen publicity and public education through various channels, especially reminding drivers of the precautions required when driving and parking on slopes. These include engaging the handbrake when parking on slopes, using the correct gear, and turning the steering wheel in the correct direction to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards or forwards, thereby ensuring road safety.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Elaine Chik and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

     The Public Bus Services Regulations (Cap. 230) (the Regulations) regulate the conduct of bus drivers and passengers. It has been reported that in recent years, a number of incidents involving disputes among bus enthusiasts, between passengers and bus enthusiasts, and between bus enthusiasts and bus captains have occurred in succession and adversely affected the traffic safety of buses and the order inside bus compartments. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of bus drivers and passengers prosecuted for contravening the Regulations in each of the past five years; and in such prosecution cases, of the irregularities committed respectively by the bus drivers and passengers involved, and the provisions of the Regulations contravened;

(2) whether the authorities have assessed the trend of those incidents that compromise traffic safety, and whether the penalties prescribed in the Regulations are effective in dealing with common conduct that compromises traffic safety; whether the authorities will consider amending the legislation to enhance protection for bus captains and maintain order inside bus compartments; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) given that at present, the Regulations also regulate the general conduct of passengers and intending passengers in addition to the general conduct of driver, but they do not cover other persons such as those who take photographs or videos on roads and thereby obstruct or interfere with the workings of buses, whether the authorities will review the legislation to enhance the regulation of conduct that obstructs or interferes with the workings of buses; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(4) apart from taking enforcement action, what specific measures (such as publicity and education, or strengthening collaboration with bus companies) have been put in place by the authorities to prevent the recurrence of those incidents that compromise traffic safety, in particular to reduce conduct that obstructs or interferes with the workings of a bus while it is in motion, so as to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and other road users?
  
Reply:

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has always attached great importance to the operational safety of franchised buses as well as the safety of passengers and other road users. Also, it has been working with franchised bus operators (FBOs) through various measures to enhance the safety awareness of bus captains and passengers. Having consulted the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), our response to the questions raised by the Hon Chik is as follows:
 
(1) to (3) At present, the Public Bus Services Regulations (Hong Kong Legislation Cap. 230A) (the Regulations) prescribe the requirements in respect of behaviours that obstruct buses or bus captains, so as to ensure driving safety and smooth operation of franchised bus services. Regulation 13A stipulates that no passenger or intending passenger shall wilfully obstruct, impede or distract the bus captain, or improperly interfere with the bus body and its workings. Any person, who contravenes the relevant provisions without reasonable excuse, commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $3,000 and imprisonment for six months. Regulation 13 also authorises a bus captain to remove from a bus any person whom he has reasonable cause to believe has contravened the relevant regulations, to require that person to give his name and address and produce proof of identity, and where necessary, to detain such person until he can be handed over to a police officer.

     Regarding persons who take photographs or videos on roads and thereby obstruct or interfere with the operations of buses, the existing legislation also covers the misbehaviour of pedestrians on roads that endangers their own safety or that of any other person. According to section 48 of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), a pedestrian, who in using any road negligently endangers his own safety or that of any other person, commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $2,000. The HKPF does not keep the numbers of bus captains, passengers and pedestrians prosecuted for contravening the Regulations or the relevant requirements under the Road Traffic Ordinance mentioned above.

(4) The Transport Department (TD) is much concerned about the disturbance faced by franchised bus captains while on duty. The TD has all along been maintaining close communication with FBOs and provided them with training video materials for bus captains’ reference. The materials mainly cover how bus captains should respond to various possible situations on buses, including skills for handling emergencies or dealing with passenger behaviours that may endanger driving safety, as well as emotional and psychological well-being of bus captains themselves. In addition, the TD convenes regular meetings with FBOs to remind them to monitor whether frontline bus captains encounter disturbance when carrying out driving duties and, where necessary, report to the police for assistance in a timely manner. The Government also collaborates with the Road Safety Council on publicity initiatives from time to time to remind the public of road safety.

     In parallel, FBOs have adopted various measures to assist their bus captains and frontline staff (including regulators and inspectors) in enhancing their skills and capabilities to handle various situations. For instance, their training courses have placed greater emphasis on customer service and communication skills, as well as ways to handle passenger complaints. Furthermore, FBOs have stepped up public education efforts regarding passenger conduct and guidelines, including by displaying notices inside bus compartments to remind passengers not to wilfully impede captains. CCTV systems have been installed at bus termini and inside bus compartments to monitor service operations and compartment situations. When necessary, FBOs will provide the footage of the relevant CCTV systems to law enforcement departments to assist in their investigations.

     The TD will continue to maintain close communication with FBOs and relevant government departments, and to take appropriate measures to ensure safe operation of the franchised buses.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region