Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKMA demonstrates potential of tokenisation to corporate treasury community
Tokenisation holds the potential to enhance efficiency and reduce transaction cost, and is gradually gaining attention among corporate treasurers. As such, the HKMA organised this seminar to demonstrate recent use cases of the technology in corporate treasury operations with a view to enriching practitioners’ knowledge in the field and encouraging the industry to join HKMA’s initiatives, such as Project Ensemble which aims at fostering the development of Hong Kong’s tokenisation ecosystem, as well as to consider issuing tokenised bonds through leveraging HKMA’s support measures.
During the event, participants exchanged views in two lively panel conversations covering the Project Ensemble use cases for real-time treasury management, and leveraging tokenisation in bond issuance and trade finance. Panellists generally shared the view that the potential associated with tokenisation is immense, and welcomed the ongoing efforts to promote greater market adoption of the technology, thereby bringing a larger and more active ecosystem.
Following this event, the HKMA will follow up with corporate treasury centres (CTCs) which have indicated interest in the field of tokenisation with a view to exploring plans for future collaboration. In line with the Government’s Action Plan to Promote the Development of CTCs in Hong Kong announced yesterday (June 9), the HKMA will also engage CTCs on other topics of interest so as to promote their use of Hong Kong’s financial platform and obtain market feedback.
Issued at HKT 18:00
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LCQ11: Development and planning of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):
Question:
According to the information of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), passenger trips at the West Kowloon Station (WEK) of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) on a single day on December 27 last year reached nearly 140 000, setting a new single-day ridership record. There are views that the demand for cross-boundary passenger traffic on the Hong Kong Section of XRL is expected to continue to grow significantly. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as set out in a paper submitted to the Panel on Transport of this Council in August 2018, the authorities provided the average daily patronage forecast for the XRL for 2018, 2021 and 2031, whether the authorities have reviewed afresh or updated the XRL’s daily patronage forecast in light of increased travel frequency between the two places; if so, of the latest estimated figures and the respective estimation methods; if not, the reasons for that, and whether there are any plans to conduct such a reassessment;
(2) given that, according to the MTRCL Annual Report 2024, the Service Quality Index of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL dropped from 88 in 2023 to 82 in 2024, whether it knows if the MTRCL has assessed if the existing station capacity and facilities at the WEK of the XRL, including the platforms, waiting halls, arrival and departure facilities, and relevant ancillary facilities, are adequate to cope with the current and future passenger demand;
(3) whether it knows if the MTRCL has formulated any standards for assessing the degree of congestion and passenger comfort at the WEK of the XRL; if so, of the relevant standards, and whether the current service level of the WEK of the XRL meets these standards; if not, the reasons for that, and how the MTRCL assesses that the ancillary facilities at the WEK can meet passenger requirements;
(4) as there are views that a persistent increase in demand for the XRL from Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is expected in the future, whether the authorities have earmarked space at the WEK of the XRL for the construction of a new rail track; if so, whether they have estimated the time required for the works to expand the WEK of the XRL or build an additional rail track (i.e. from the commencement of the planning study to the commissioning); and
(5) whether the authorities have studied the addition of a second the XRL station within Hong Kong’s territory or explored co-ordinating with the Mainland to divert some travellers to other cities in the GBA; if so, of the progress of the study and the preliminary conclusions; if not, the plans the authorities have in place to cope with the pressure on the operation of the WEK of the XRL brought about by the continuous growth in the number of travellers in the future?
Reply:
President,
The Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) was commissioned on September 23, 2018, connecting with the national high-speed rail network, which currently spans over 50 000 kilometres. Since January 2026, the number of Mainland destinations directly accessible from the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station has increased from 44 at the beginning of its operation to the current 110, with at least 212 train trips operating per day. At present, the average daily patronage of the XRL has exceeded 90 000 passenger trips. During the peak travel periods for the XRL over festive holidays and weekends, the average daily patronage generally exceeds 100 000 passenger trips. The single-day patronage hit record high with 148 700 passenger trips on April 4, 2026 (during the Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays).
In consultation with the Security Bureau and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the reply to the question raised by the Hon Lam is as follows:
(1) Prior to the commissioning of the XRL Hong Kong Section in 2018, the forecast of average daily patronage for different years was the patronage estimates derived based on the transport model adopted by the Government and the MTRCL in 2009 and 2015 when applications were made to the Legislative Council for funding for the XRL construction, inputting the data in relevant years, and taking into consideration the then latest planning data and development of Hong Kong and the Mainland as well as the demographic and socio-economic data at the time. Since the commissioning of the XRL, the Government and the MTRCL have been continuously monitoring changes in the XRL’s patronage and making timely adjustments to control point resources, facilities, and services. Regarding operations, the MTRCL has been paying close attention to the actual patronage and market demand, and liaising with Mainland authorities from time to time to make appropriate adjustments to the operating timetable or train frequencies as needed, such as operating additional short-haul train trips for popular destinations during festive holidays, so as to meet passenger demand.
(2) and (3) As the Hong Kong operator of the XRL Hong Kong Section, the MTRCL has been continuously enhancing station facilities and XRL services as necessary in light of the travel patterns and demand of passengers, with a view to providing them with a more comfortable riding experience. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been closely monitoring the operation of the XRL West Kowloon Control Point, and enhanced the clearance capacity of the said control point along various aspects, including flexible deployment of manpower, effective use of information technology, and enhancement of port facilities, with a view to bringing greater convenience to cross-boundary passengers.
Regarding station facilities and layout, apart from reconfiguring the B1 departure level in 2023, the MTRCL has been providing more seats at all levels of the West Kowloon Station progressively since August 2024. Among them, there are over 1 400 seats set up across various waiting areas at the waiting hall on level B3. Meanwhile, mobile device charging facilities with USB ports are also available thereat for use by passengers in need. To ensure that passengers can queue in a smooth and orderly manner while waiting for and boarding trains even during peak periods, the MTRCL has reserved sufficient queuing space in the waiting areas and extended the entrances of some of the boarding gates towards the centre of the hall. It has also enhanced signage and provided train information and clearance situation updates using large electronic displays to facilitate passengers’ easier access of relevant information for entry and boarding. The MTRCL and relevant authorities also deploy additional manpower to assist passengers during peak traffic periods with a view to ensuring a smooth clearance as well as a safe and comfortable XRL experience for passengers.
The MTRCL conducts regular surveys and studies to gauge passenger satisfaction with the services of the XRL Hong Kong Section. According to the MTRCL’s Annual Report 2025, the Service Quality Index for the XRL Hong Kong Section rose from 82 in 2024 to 85 in 2025, which reflects an improvement in passenger satisfaction with the services of the XRL Hong Kong Section.
The Government and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the operation and patronage of the XRL Hong Kong Section and the West Kowloon Station, and review and enhance station and control point facilities in a timely manner, including improving the layouts of the ticketing concourse and the waiting hall, as well as facilities such as shops and seats in the station, while introducing more directly connected destinations at an opportune time in line with the development of the national high-speed rail network, so as to meet passengers’ needs and the long-term development of the XRL.
(4) and (5) The National 15th Five-Year Plan proposed promoting the co-ordinated development of rail transit, strengthening regional infrastructural connectivity, supporting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a world-class city cluster, accelerating the Northern Metropolis (NM) development, and also specifically mentioned taking forward the preparatory work for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (HSWRL). The HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen authorities are taking forward at full steam the two cross-boundary railway projects, namely the HSWRL and the Northern Link Spur Line. Both projects serve the dual functions of cross-boundary travel and local commuting within Hong Kong, integrating the rail transit networks of Hong Kong and Shenzhen through convenient co-location clearance arrangements and supporting the development of the NM in Hong Kong. The West Kowloon Station has 15 platforms, 10 of which are currently in operation, fully meeting operational requirements. We have no plan to build another high-speed rail station at this stage.
Issued at HKT 11:40
InvestHK and London ETO take centre stage at London Tech Week 2026, opening pathways for UK entrepreneurs to scale across Asia
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
InvestHK and London ETO take centre stage at London Tech Week 2026, opening pathways for UK entrepreneurs to scale across Asia
Returning as the official Founders Fuse Partners at London Tech Week, InvestHK and the London ETO hosted seven fireside chats under the theme “Hong Kong: Hubs for Founders to Scale”. Moderated by the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of the InvestHK London Office, Ms Daisy Ip, the fireside chats brought together founders and executives whose journeys highlight Hong Kong’s opportunities for growth, funding, innovation, and global partnerships. Speakers included Co-founder and Chief Operation Officer of 3AI, Mr Hassan Salamony; the Chief Executive Officer of Westwell Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, Ms Kay Yang; the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Extend Robotics, Mr Chang Liu; the Chief Financial Officer of Capricornio Capital, Mr Bruno Montez-Carpes; Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TG0, Mr Ming Kong; the Business Development and Strategic Partnerships Lead of Graymatics UK, Ms Anuradha Pullagura; and the Founder of ProMaterial, Ms Yining Shen. Their stories spanned AI, robotics, advanced manufacturing, capital markets and next-generation materials – reflecting the breadth of sectors in which UK businesses are scaling successfully through Hong Kong.
To catalyse deeper connections, InvestHK – in collaboration with the London ETO and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) under the Economic and Trade Express (ETE) initiative – hosted a series of high-profile networking receptions on June 8 and 9. The events brought together around 140 tech entrepreneurs, founders, investors, and senior representatives from the UK Government, financial institutions, and the broader business ecosystem.
The Director-General of the London ETO, Miss Fiona Chau, said, “The phenomenal turnout at London Tech Week reflects the genuine momentum behind the UK-Hong Kong tech corridor. We see immense potential to translate this high level of interest into deep, long-term commercial partnerships. Since 2022, the Hong Kong Government has earmarked HK$30 billion (approximately 2.85 billion British pounds) to champion strategic enterprises and frontier technologies – spanning life and health tech, AI, green technology, and advanced manufacturing. Backed by robust funding and capital support, world-class intellectual property protections, and a transparent legal framework, Hong Kong remains the ultimate strategic launchpad for thriving UK tech businesses looking to scale into the Chinese Mainland and broader Asian markets.”
Ms Ip said, “Hong Kong’s appeal among British entrepreneurs continues to grow, sustained by enduring cultural and economic synergies. The UK currently stands as our fourth-largest source market for overseas companies, and it remains Hong Kong’s second-largest source of international start-up founders, according to an InvestHK survey in 2025. As the central hub for attracting strategic investment and enterprise, InvestHK is fully committed to empowering British innovators and helping them leverage Hong Kong as their launchpad for global growth.”
Discussions throughout the week revealed a powerful strategic alignment between Hong Kong’s innovation priorities and the UK Government’s “Modern Industrial Strategy.” Both markets share a clear focus on high-growth sectors, including AI, fintech, healthtech, greentech, and digital transformation. UK founders demonstrated keen interest in leveraging Hong Kong’s dual strengths as a premier capital-raising hub and a seamless conduit to the GBA – a powerhouse regional market of over 88 million consumers with a combined GDP of US$2 trillion that offers unparalleled scaling opportunities.
Issued at HKT 16:10
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Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case involving cross-boundary goods vehicle with goods worth about $10 million
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected a smuggling case involving a cross-boundary goods vehicle on June 4. Large batches of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $10 million were seized. A 39-year-old male driver in involved in the case was arrested.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, a cross-boundary goods vehicle departing from Hong Kong for Macao was selected for inspection on June 4. Upon examination, Customs officers found a large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including suspected pharmaceutical products, weight loss injection products, cosmetic injection products and fish maws.
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity activities in Kwun Tong
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity activities in Kwun Tong
Customs officers patrolled the housing estates and introduced to residents Customs’ enforcement actions against illicit cigarettes and the latest amendments to illicit cigarette-related legislation, including an increase in the maximum penalty for offences related to duty-not-paid cigarettes to a $2 million fine and seven years’ imprisonment. Customs also explained to estate security personnel how to deal with suspected illicit cigarette activities.
Customs officers also introduced to the Council members, residents, newspaper stall keepers and cigarette retailers the Duty Stamp System to be implemented in Hong Kong. The three-month Pilot Run for the Duty Stamp System launched by Customs concluded early this year. The department will continue to maintain close communication with all stakeholders and optimise the design and implementation details of the system. Customs expects the Duty Stamp System to achieve the ultimate goal of effective distinguishing of duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones, and to combat “cheap whites”.
Customs will continue to strengthen publicity and education to raise public awareness of anti-illicit cigarettes. If public rental housing units are found to be involved in illicit cigarette crimes, Customs will notify the HD for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings. Customs reminds members of the public not to buy or sell illicit cigarettes or distribute illicit cigarette leaflets to avoid creating a criminal record that could affect their future.Issued at HKT 11:00
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LCQ7: Labour importation in lift and escalator industry
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.
LCQ13: Accidents caused by failing to engage fixed parking brake
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.
LCQ15: Measures to control the emission of oily fumes and odours from restaurants
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ15: Measures to control the emission of oily fumes and odours from restaurants
Question:
Some members of the public have relayed that the emission of oily fumes and cooking odours from restaurants affects the respiratory health of residents in the topside properties. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that under the existing Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) (the Ordinance), it is necessary for the owners or operators of restaurants and food businesses to take appropriate measures to ensure that no visible cooking fumes nor objectionable odours would be emitted causing air pollution, whether the authorities have instituted prosecutions against restaurants for contravening the aforesaid requirements over the past three years; if so, of the details and the number of successful prosecutions;
(2) given that under the Ordinance, appropriate air pollution control equipment has to be installed at food premises for treating oily fumes before being discharged to the outdoor environment, whether the authorities have conducted regular surprise inspections to check if food premises have installed equipment that conforms to the specification requirements and the relevant facilities are in operation during business hours; if so, of the number of inspections conducted over the past three years;
(3) of the detailed procedures followed by the authorities in handling complaints received about the emission of oily fumes or odours from restaurants over the past three years (including how they assessed if objectionable odours had been emitted from the restaurants); the numbers of cases in which the Environmental Protection Department has issued an air pollution abatement notice to restaurants over the past three years, with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory;
(4) whether the authorities will consider further specifying standards for objectionable odours (e.g. by specifying the maximum concentrations of relevant chemical components in the odours) to facilitate enforcement; if so, of the timetable for formulating such standards; and
(5) whether the Government has conducted long-term tracking surveys on the impact of oily fumes from restaurants on the respiratory systems of nearby residents; if so, of the details?
Reply:
President,
(1) If a food premises discharges visible cooking fumes and offensive odours due to the absence of appropriate air pollution control equipment or improper operation, thereby causing an air pollution nuisance, the EPD may, in accordance with the Ordinance, issue a statutory notice to the food premises concerned requiring it to take appropriate remedial measures within a specified period to abate the cooking fumes, such as installing high-efficiency pollution control facilities like electrostatic precipitators. Failure to comply with the requirements of the statutory notice constitutes an offence. On first conviction, the offender is liable to a fine of $100,000. On a second or subsequent conviction, the offender is liable to a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months. In the past three years (i.e. 2023, 2024 and 2025), the EPD initiated prosecution in 22, 13 and 12 cases respectively for failure to comply with the requirements of such statutory notices. Apart from one case which was withdrawn due to the closure of the food premises concerned, all cases resulted in successful prosecution, with an average fine of about $15,000.
(2) and (3) Upon receiving complaints about cooking fumes or odours from food premises, the EPD will deploy staff to conduct investigations. This includes entering the kitchen to inspect the operation of air pollution control equipment and carrying out odour assessments at the affected locations to determine whether the emissions constitute an air pollution nuisance. The EPD will also initiate investigations proactively. For instance, if excessive cooking fume emissions are found during routine inspections, the EPD will issue a warning to the operator. If the situation does not improve, further enforcement action will be taken in accordance with the law.
Cooking fume problems from food premises are mostly attributable to improper operation of air pollution control equipment (such as failure to switch on the equipment) and inadequate maintenance. Operators generally rectify the situation after receiving a warning from the EPD. Statutory notices are mainly issued in cases that require more substantial remedial work, such as the installation of air pollution control equipment due to inadequate design. The number of inspections of restaurants conducted by the EPD and the number of statutory notices issued from 2023 to 2025 are set out in Tables 1 and 2 respectively.
In addition, the EPD collaborates with relevant departments to organise regular seminars to promote the installation of high-efficiency cooking fume emission control equipment and good practices. The EPD has also launched the Green Restaurant website to provide practical guidelines to assist the trade in reducing cooking fume emissions.
(4) The EPD’s method for assessing cooking fume emissions and odours is similar to the odour assessment methods and standards adopted in other regions and cities internationally. It is based on on-site environmental assessments conducted by enforcement officers, taking into account factors such as the relative location of the emission source and the affected area, the timing, duration and frequency of the emissions, whether the odour is offensive, the presence of visible cooking fumes, and whether the emissions cause discomfort to the eyes, nose, skin or other senses. We will consider these factors comprehensively to determine whether the emissions constitute an air pollution nuisance. The EPD will continue to monitor the odour assessment methods and application of new technologies in the Chinese Mainland and overseas cities with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of its assessment work on cooking fume emissions.
(5) Cooking fume emission control equipment currently available in the market is generally effective in removing cooking fumes and eliminating nuisance to nearby residents, provided that the equipment is regularly cleaned and properly maintained. The EPD will continue to conduct routine inspections of restaurants and carry out surprise checks in response to complaints to ensure that such equipment is properly operated and maintained. The EPD adopts a multi-pronged strategy of prevention, collaboration, enforcement, as well as publicity and education to actively prevent cooking fume emissions from food premises. The EPD has not conducted any tracking studies on the impact of cooking fume emissions from restaurants on residents’ respiratory systems.
Issued at HKT 11:58
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LCQ17: Regulating electrical appliances purchased through cross-border e-commerce platforms
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ17: Regulating electrical appliances purchased through cross-border e-commerce platforms
Question:
It is reported that Singapore will implement new legislation starting this July to bring under regulation the direct online purchase by individuals of regulated electrical appliances (such as water heaters and clothes dryers) from overseas, making it an offence if such appliances fail to meet the country’s energy performance standards and comply with the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme. There are views that with the proliferation of cross-border e-commerce, a large volume of electrical appliances from overseas is being sold to Hong Kong, some of which fail to meet local statutory requirements in terms of plug types and safety standards, thus posing potential fire and public safety hazards. Moreover, cross-border e-commerce platforms currently circumvent the recycling levy (i.e. the regulated electrical equipment levy) that local suppliers are required to bear under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603), as well as the requirements under the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MEELS). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of accidents such as fires and electrical leakages caused by electrical appliances purchased through cross-border online shopping, as well as the number of casualties, over the past five years; in view of the grey area in the current legislation regarding the regulation of electrical appliances purchased by individuals for personal use through cross-border online shopping, whether the authorities will study ways to enhance the regulatory regime, including exploring the establishment of a compliance collaboration mechanism with cross-border e-commerce platforms to ensure that products sold to Hong Kong comply with local statutory safety standards, and requiring such platforms to fulfil the same legal obligations as local suppliers do (including paying the recycling levy and complying with MEELS), so as to safeguard public safety and ensure a level playing field in the business environment;
(2) whether the authorities will step up random inspections targeting high-risk electrical appliances at various boundary control points, and highlight through public education the risks of electrical leakage or fire possibly caused by the prolonged use of adaptors and unauthorised modification of plugs; and
(3) whether the authorities will follow Singapore’s practice by subjecting high-risk electrical appliances purchased by individuals for personal use through cross-border e-commerce platforms to MEELS and safety regulations, so as to tackle at root, from a legal perspective, the problem of non-compliant electrical appliances flowing into Hong Kong?
Reply:
President,
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is responsible for the enforcement of the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance (Cap. 598) and the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation (Cap. 406G) made under the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406), with a view to promoting the energy efficiency of prescribed products and ensuring the safety of household electrical products. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) implements the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment through the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603) to ensure the proper disposal of abandoned regulated electrical and electronic equipment (i.e. air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, stand-alone tumble dryers, dehumidifiers, computers, printers, scanners and monitors, referred hereafter as “regulated electrical equipment” (REE)).
At present, if anyone purchases household electrical products through a cross-boundary e-commerce platform, or imports them in person for personal use, these conducts are not regarded as a supply in Hong Kong. If a cross-boundary e-commerce platform only provides product price comparison or buyer-seller matching services, and the transportation is handled by a third-party logistics provider, the platform and logistics company is also not considered as a supplier or seller. Therefore, the aforementioned products do not fall within the regulatory scope of the relevant legislations, viz. the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation, the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, and the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance. In response to the question raised by the Hon Rock Chen, our reply is as follows:
(1) Generally speaking, household electrical products supplied by e-commerce platforms in the Chinese Mainland must comply with the safety requirements of the China Compulsory Certification (3C Certification) of the country. Currently, the safety testing conducted under 3C Certification is based on Guobiao (GB) standards. They are generally equivalent to IEC international standards, meaning that the requirements for the main body of these products are largely on par with those under the Regulation in Hong Kong. In the first four months of 2026 a total of 22 incidents involving household electrical products were recorded after preliminary investigation. None of them was found to involve household electrical products supplied via cross-boundary e-commerce platforms. The Government did not maintain records of whether the household electrical products involved in incidents were supplied via cross‑boundary e‑commerce platforms in and before 2025.
The EMSD has proactively established regular communication mechanism with Chinese Mainland e-commerce platforms and reminded them that household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong must comply with local legislative requirements regarding electrical safety standards, and affix energy efficiency labelling. The EPD has already contacted relevant cross-boundary e-commerce platforms, if their business models involve the distribution or sale of REE in Hong Kong, they are required to register with the EPD as registered suppliers and/or sellers, submit quarterly returns to the EPD for the assessment and payment of recycling levies in accordance with the law. They are also required to provide a statutory free removal service. As for cross-boundary e-commerce platforms that provide matching services for merchants and buyers only and without engaging in the distribution or sale of REE, the EPD has urged them to avoid unregistered merchants to distribute REE in Hong Kong through their platforms. The EPD will continue to monitor the modus operandi of cross-boundary e-commerce platforms in Hong Kong, to ensure that their business activities in Hong Kong comply with the relevant legislative requirements.
(2) Since 2019, the EMSD has been maintaining the Cross-boundary E-commerce Working Group with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China under the Cooperation Arrangement on Electrical and Mechanical Products Safety and Energy Efficiency, which focuses on controlling the risks arising from cross-boundary e-commerce platforms. The EMSD reports to the relevant Chinese Mainland authorities, through the Working Group, on household electrical products supplied through cross-boundary e-commerce platforms to Hong Kong that fail to comply with general safety standards. Upon receipt of the report, the relevant Chinese Mainland authorities will take actions based on the actual circumstances, including requesting the e-commerce platforms to intercept orders, so that users with Hong Kong IP addresses will not be able to place orders for the relevant products. In addition, after conducting a risk assessment and confirming that the product is unsafe, the relevant authorities will request the e-commerce platforms to remove the product from shelves. The EMSD will also proactively conduct sample checks on household electrical products on cross-boundary e-commerce platforms, and engaged third parties to conduct safety standard testing. If the relevant products are found to have failed to comply with the safety standards, such as posing potential risks of fire or electric shock, the relevant Chinese Mainland authorities will be informed to intercept the import of the unsafe electrical products into Hong Kong.
As for publicity and education, the EMSD has been promoting knowledge on electrical products safety and the potential risks of cross-boundary online shopping through various channels. Relevant measures include the display of promotional materials on electronic screens at boundary control points and inside MTR stations, collaboration with departments such as the Home Affairs Department and the Fire Services Department to organise community activities, as well as placement of media advertisements and publish posts on social media platforms. The EMSD will allocate more resources this year to strengthen the dissemination of household electrical products safety information to the public through mass media channels such as television drama placements, radio broadcasts and newspaper columns, especially to remind the public of the risks associated with long-term use of adaptors and not to modify plugs themselves.
(3) The issues arising from the purchase of household electrical products via cross-boundary e-commerce platforms are complex and span across different jurisdictions, which needs careful handling. The Government has been keeping in view of the regulatory frameworks in other regions, including Singapore’s Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, which will come into effect this July. We understand that the Bill will extend the regulatory scope from electrical suppliers to individual consumers. Consumers who personally import electrical products that do not meet Singapore’s minimum energy performance standards or are not affixed with energy labels, whether for personal use or not, will be subject to a fine. The Government needs to observe how the relevant bill is implemented there upon its implementation, take into account the differences between the two regions in areas such as import and export controls and the industry environment, as well as the feasibility of local enforcement, before being in a position to assess whether similar adoptions in Hong Kong would strike a balance between public convenience and protection of consumer interests. Meanwhile, the Government will continue to enforce the laws within the existing legal framework and adopt a multi-pronged approach, including strengthening interception at source, inspections, and publicity and education.
Issued at HKT 12:00
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LCQ9: Alleviating the impact of rising fuel prices
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.