Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Frankie Yick and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 15):
 
Question:
 
     The Government has devoted considerable efforts to promoting tourism, with Victoria Harbour tours being one of the most popular activities among tourists. However, it is learnt that currently Victoria Harbour tours mainly take place along the promenade of Tsim Sha Tsui East, where there is an excessive demand for the limited number of public landing steps. Some industry players have further pointed out that some vessels occupy the berths at the landing steps, forcing other vessels to wait for an extended period of time for berthing. This often leads to competition for berths and even dangerous situations, raising concerns about maritime safety. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective usage and queuing arrangements for the various public landing steps in Tsim Sha Tsui East during weekdays, weekends and Mainland public holidays (particularly during evening hours);
 
(2) whether it has compiled statistics on visitors joining Victoria Harbour tours; if so, of the respective numbers of those joining through tour groups and as individual travellers;
 
(3) what measures are in place by the authorities to optimize the use of public resources, prevent vessels from occupying the public landing steps in Tsim Sha Tsui East, and maintain order for berthing of vessels and for passengers boarding the vessels for Victoria Harbour tours; and
 
(4) as it is learnt that nowadays the number of restaurants and shops near Kowloon City Pier catering to tour groups has significantly dwindled and crowds of tourists no longer exist there, resulting in extremely low usage of the public landing steps at King Wan Street, Kowloon City, whether the authorities will consider gradually reactivating the public landing steps there under controlled circumstances, for example, by first allowing access during specified times on weekdays or weekends, or even during Mainland public holidays, so as to divert some of the visitors of Victoria Harbour tours from the promenade of Tsim Sha Tsui East; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Landing steps are public landing facilities for use by vessels for passenger embarkation and disembarkation. Regarding the Tsim Sha Tsui East area, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) currently manages Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No. 1, while the Transport Department (TD) is responsible for managing the remaining Landing No. 2 and No. 5 and monitoring their utilisation. The Civil Engineering and Development Department is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the aforementioned public landing steps. The Government will review the usage of public landing facilities and gauge the views of stakeholders from time to time to improve the design and usage arrangements of the landing facilities.
 
     In consultation with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), the TD and the Marine Department (MD), my reply to the question raised by the Hon Frankie Yick is as follows:

(1) The TD conducts utilisation surveys on the over 190 landing facilities (including public piers and landing steps) under its management about every two years. Survey findings on the utilisation of public landing steps in Tsim Sha Tsui East in year 2023-2024 are shown in the following table:
 

Landing facility	Daily utilisation of the facility (Note 1) (No. of vessels)
	Weekdays or Saturdays	Sundays or public holidays
Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No.1 (Note 2)	—	—
Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No.2	0	0
Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No.5	0	0

Note 1: The surveys were conducted between 7am and 8pm on a normal weather day.
Note 2: Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No.1 is currently managed by LCSD, which does not keep information such as its utilisation by vessels.

     According to the observations of the LCSD and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA), participation in Victoria Harbour tours using Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No.1 has been running smoothly as a whole. The queuing order at the Avenue of Stars is generally good, with no signs of chaos.
 
(2) At present, marine tourism projects and sightseeing vessels are available in the market for the general public and tourists to enjoy the scenery of the Victoria Harbour. Participants of the Victoria Harbour tours include both tour groups and individual travellers.
 
     In respect of tour groups, the TIA estimated that between July and September 2025, there were around 16 000 Mainland inbound tour groups (with around 570 000 visitors in total) registered with itineraries including taking vessels to tour the Victoria Harbour (including joining Victoria Harbour tours or taking inner harbour ferry routes). The aforementioned Mainland inbound tour groups generally embark and disembark in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Wan Chai or North Point. Nearly half of these groups will embark and disembark in the Tsim Sha Tsui area, among which around 80 per cent will embark at the Star Ferry Pier, while the remaining around 20 per cent will use Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No.1 and other landing steps for embarkation and disembarkation. In addition, tour activities using Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No.1 for embarkation and disembarkation are generally self-paid activities, which tour group members could freely choose to participate according to their preference, hence the actual number of participants may be lower than that registered with the itineraries.
 
     The CSTB does not keep figures on the number of tourists who participated in Victoria Harbour tours in the capacity of individual travellers.

(3) In terms of berthing by vessels, public landing steps are generally public facilities that are open all day and for use by all vessels provided that they comply with the relevant marine regulations to ensure safe embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. Under the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) Regulation (Cap. 548F), the purpose of berthing at public landing steps should be to enable embarkation and disembarkation of passengers on or from a vessel only. Upon completion of which, the vessel concerned must leave the public landing steps to allow berthing by other vessels. During periods of high demand for the public landing steps, vessels are required to queue up in an orderly manner so as to facilitate passenger embarkation and disembarkation. 
 
     The MD conducts daily patrols and law enforcement in various Hong Kong waters (including the Tsim Sha Tsui East area), including against unauthorised occupation of the public landing steps by vessels. The MD also conducts joint operations with the Police to combat conducts in violation of marine legislations such as illegal carriage of passengers and overloading.
 
     In terms of order of the tourists, the TIA has been closely monitoring the situation of registered Mainland inbound tour groups using Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No. 1 to participate in Victoria Harbour tours, and frequently deploying staff to monitor and inspect the operating situation on site. The Victoria Harbour operators concerned have been properly managing the order of passengers queuing for embarkation and disembarkation. The TIA also maintains close communication with members of the travel trade, districts, the Police, etc, to facilitate measures to be implemented by travel agents and Victoria Harbour tour operators to co-ordinate, adjust and stagger the itineraries of tour groups, as well as deploy additional manpower to maintain order, with a view to avoiding excessive concentration of tour groups at the same location at the same time.

(4) Kowloon City is currently one of the districts gathered with the largest number of Mainland inbound tour groups. There are multiple public landing facilities that are open all day for use by vessels for passenger embarkation and disembarkation, including the King Wan Street Landing mentioned in the question. If Victoria Harbour tour operators intend to use landing facilities along both sides of the Victoria Harbour other than the current embarkation and disembarkation points for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers from Mainland inbound tour groups participating in Victoria Harbour tours, the TIA will maintain close liaison with relevant members of the trade, districts, Government departments, etc, striving to balance the impact of tour group activities on the local communities at the locations concerned.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Yung Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (October 15):

Question:

To support the exhibition industry in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government provides funding to organisers and exhibitors through schemes such as the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions (ISRE), the ISRE 2.0 and the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the following information (i) since the launch of the ISRE, and (ii) since the introduction of special measures under the EMF on April 30, 2021: the respective numbers of applications received and approved, together with the names of the organisers of the subsidised eligible exhibitions, their exhibition content, dates, venues, amounts of funding received, numbers and proportions of local and overseas exhibitors, numbers and proportions of local and overseas visitors and the regions of origin of overseas exhibitors and visitors (set out in a table);

(2) as some members of the industry have relayed that the ISRE 2.0 launched by the Government on July 1 this year does not have a specified end date, which affects the industry’s cost budgeting for organising exhibitions, when the Government will announce the end date of the ISRE 2.0, and whether it will optimise the ISRE 2.0 by, for example, adjusting the quota for non-local participants and relaxing requirements such as the gross floor area used for demonstrating or displaying products, materials and services; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) given that the EMF will be consolidated into the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales after June 30, 2026, with adjustments to the funding ceiling, matching ratio, etc, whether the Government has assessed the impact of these adjustments on the industry (e.g. the number of applications and the scale of activities); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(4) apart from the aforementioned funding schemes, whether the Government has other policy measures to support the exhibition industry, with a view to maintaining its competitiveness and encouraging further investment; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The convention and exhibition (C&E) industry is crucial to Hong Kong as an international trade centre. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been promoting the long-term development of the C&E industry through various measures.

The HKSAR Government first launched the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions (ISRE) in July 2023, providing venue rental incentives to attract local and international exhibitions of different scales to be staged recurrently in Hong Kong. The maximum incentive for each exhibition was capped at $20 million. The ISRE ended on June 30, 2025, and was very well received, supporting around 220 eligible exhibitions with the total incentive amount exceeding $1.2 billion. The requirements for eligible exhibitions were clearly set out in the Application Guide promulgated by us, and all applications met the eligibility criteria. The exhibitions supported by the ISRE attracted numerous participants (including exhibitors and buyers), not only benefitting the C&E industry but also bringing in high-spending business travellers that drive economic activities in such related sectors as accommodation, catering, retail, entertainment, etc, thereby benefitting various industries.

To further promote the development of the C&E industry and the mega event economy, thereby generating overall economic benefits for Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government announced in the 2024 Policy Address the allocation of an additional funding of $500 million for launching the ISRE 2.0 on July 1 this year. The ISRE 2.0 focuses on supporting the venue rental expenses for new and recurrent international exhibitions of a large scale with a view to boosting the vibrancy of the C&E industry in Hong Kong. Taking into account the industry’s views and the operational experience of the original ISRE, a number of new features have been introduced under the new scheme, including:

(a) only international exhibitions attracting at least 1 500 non-local participants (including exhibitors and buyers) will be covered;
(b) the maximum venue rental incentive for each eligible exhibition is capped at $10 million; and
(c) the Central Harbourfront Event Space and relevant parts of the West Kowloon Cultural District are included as new specified venues, alongside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE).

The above arrangements aim to focus on international events, benefit more eligible exhibitions and offer more venue options to the organisers.

According to the Application Guide, organisers may submit applications within two months after completion of the eligible exhibitions. As the ISRE 2.0 is still in the inception stage, we have received and processed about 10 applications so far, involving a total incentive amount of around $40 million. As stipulated in the Application Guide and explained to the industry on various occasions earlier on, the ISRE 2.0 will end upon exhaustion of the funds. Subject to the actual utilisation of the funds, we will announce the end date of the ISRE 2.0 in good time. We will maintain close liaison with the relevant venue operators and the industry in this regard.

In addition, the HKSAR Government provides funding support through the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF) to encourage Hong Kong small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in export marketing activities and tap into non-local markets. To support enterprises to conduct more promotion during the pandemic and the post-pandemic recovery periods, special measures have been implemented under the EMF since end-April 2021 to expand the funding scope to cover exhibitions targeting the local market and online exhibitions, as well as relaxing the eligibility criteria to cover non-SMEs. Relevant special measures have been extended to end-June 2026.

From May 2021 to end-September 2025, around 42 150 applications involving exhibitions targeting the local market and online exhibitions have been received under the EMF, among which around 30 700 applications have been processed and approved. As the EMF targets at enterprises promoting their products/services, the Trade and Industry Department only collects information about applicant enterprises and their participation in exhibitions, but does not maintain other exhibition-related statistics mentioned in the question.

In March 2025, the HKSAR Government announced the implementation of various measures under the EMF and the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) with a view to providing support to SMEs in a more focused and sustainable manner. Currently, the matching ratio of the EMF has been adjusted from 1 (Government): 1 (enterprise) to 1:3 of the total approved expenditure. There is no change to the funding ceiling per application of $100,000.

As the current business environment is rife with uncertainties and challenges, it is imperative for enterprises to upgrade and diversify away from traditional markets to remain competitive. Traditional modes of business (such as mere product listing or publicity) may not suffice. To focus our limited resources to equip enterprises for upgrading and transformation, the EMF will be consolidated into the BUD Fund after June 30, 2026. Starting from July 1, 2026, enterprises may, in the context of upgrading and transformation, apply for the BUD Fund to participate in exporting marketing and promotional activities. To assist enterprises in adapting to the arrangements of the consolidation, it has been announced in the 2025 Policy Address that we will enhance promotion and facilitate the participation of companies in exhibitions and export promotion activities through “Easy BUD” under the BUD Fund, thereby developing more diversified markets.

Currently, most enterprises have not yet fully utilised the $7 million cumulative funding ceiling under the BUD Fund. We believe that enterprises can still flexibly utilise the BUD Fund after the consolidation to implement marketing activities.

To consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international C&E hub in the long run, apart from the abovementioned incentive and subsidy schemes, the HKSAR Government will continue to take forward the expansion projects of C&E facilities. The Airport Authority Hong Kong has commenced the construction works for the AWE expansion, which is expected to be completed in 2028. Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government continues to take forward the Wan Chai North Redevelopment project near the HKCEC as planned, including the redevelopment of the sites of the Wan Chai Government Offices Compound, Gloucester Road Garden and Kong Wan Fire Station into C&E facilities, hotel, etc. The AWE Phase 2 expansion project and the Wan Chai North Redevelopment project are expected to provide an additional 63 750 square metres of rentable C&E space. While implementing these two projects, the HKSAR Government will strive to flexibly utilise the existing venues and facilities for meeting the market demand.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A Government spokesman said today (October 15) that consent has been given to resume the socketed steel H-pile works of the proposed MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) Oyster Bay Station project on Lantau Island today.

The spokesman said that since the upheaving readings recorded on July 15 at five monitoring checkpoints installed on a section of the MTRCL’s Tung Chung Line (TCL) ballasted railway tracks near Siu Ho Wan Depot had exceeded the preset trigger level of 20 millimetres for works suspension, the socketed steel H-pile works of the aforementioned project were suspended on the same day. The situation occurred under the preset mechanism that aims to monitor the potential impact of construction works in the vicinity of railways under operation. Once the exceedance of the preset trigger level is observed, works will be suspended, and mitigation measures will be explored, ensuring the safety of the railway. The Government announced the situation on July 17 (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202507/17/P2025071700605.htm). In accordance with the established procedures, resumption of works will only be allowed when the Buildings Department (BD) is satisfied with the mitigation measures adopted by the project team; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is satisfied with the enhanced monitoring measures by the MTRCL; and the MTRCL has confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safety of the railway operation.

The registered building professional of the Oyster Bay Station project has earlier submitted to the BD an incident report, a proposal of mitigation measures and the associated amendment plans. After review, the BD has agreed to the mitigation measures and the amendment plans, as these measures can effectively minimise the potential risk of the upheaval and settlement of the relevant tracks beyond the preset threshold upon the resumption of works, and has accepted the enhanced monitoring measures taken by the MTRCL.

The EMSD has reviewed the monitoring data and assessment report submitted by the MTRCL in relation to the safe operation of the railway and confirmed that the condition of the railway and the MTRCL’s monitoring measures meet the operational safety requirements.

In addition, the MTRCL has confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway.

The staff of the BD and the EMSD inspected the concerned railway tracks at midnight on October 8, and reconfirmed that the maintenance works completed and the reconditioned ballast track after the incident of July had no impact on the structural safety of the railway facilities and operational safety of the railway.

The BD, the EMSD and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the situation, including the continuous monitoring of upheaval and settlement levels against the triggering limit, to ensure the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, will depart for Haikou, Hainan, this afternoon (October 15) to attend the 2025 Hainan Free Trade Port Legal Week to promote Hong Kong’s legal services and strengthen co-operation between Hainan and Hong Kong to seize the opportunities arising from the official launch of an island-wide independent customs operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port, scheduled to commence this December.

Dr Cheung will speak at the opening ceremony of the Hainan Legal Week themed “Law-based Free Trade Port‧Sharing New Opportunities”. During his visit to Haikou, Dr Cheung will also meet with leaders of the Department of Justice of Hainan Province and the High People’s Court of Hainan Province, as well as the local legal community to strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and Hainan.

​Dr Cheung will return to Hong Kong on October 17.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 15):
 
Question:
 
     It is reported that some individuals come to Hong Kong under the talent admission schemes but leave after giving birth to their children, with the sole purpose of obtaining the Hong Kong permanent resident status for their children, rather than a true intention to pursue their career in Hong Kong. There are views pointing out that such practice not only goes against the original intent of the talent policy, but also creates uncertainty to resource planning of various social services in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether there is any mechanism under the current talent policy to prevent situations where individuals come to Hong Kong under the guise of career development but actually just to give birth;
 
(2) to avoid the recurrence of a large number of doubly non-permanent resident children (i.e. children born in Hong Kong but whose parents are non-permanent residents of Hong Kong), whether the Government has considered establishing a mechanism requiring talent coming to Hong Kong and their dependants to sign a declaration confirming their intention to remain in Hong Kong for career development when making delivery bookings at public or private medical institutions in Hong Kong, or requiring them to submit supporting documents (such as proof of employment in Hong Kong or immigration records) to confirm that they have met the requirement of staying in Hong Kong for a certain number of days; and
 
(3) whether it has assessed the impact of the talent admission schemes on Hong Kong’s long-term population scale and structure, with a view to precisely controlling the allocation of resources for public services such as social welfare, housing, healthcare and education?
 
Reply:
 
President,

     As an international talent hub, Hong Kong has been welcoming outside talent to come to the city for development, thereby enriching the local talent pool. To address the challenges posed by an ageing population and manpower shortage, the current-term Government has since end-2022 implemented a series of measures to trawl for talent. These include the launch of the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) targeting talent with high income and academic qualifications, as well as enhancement of the various existing schemes. To date, more than 240 000 global elites from diverse backgrounds have been attracted to come to Hong Kong for development. Among others, the TTPS has received enthusiastic responses, with over 90 000 talents having arrived in Hong Kong. Among the first batch of TTPS entrants whose visas have expired, more than half successfully secured extension of stay. Most of them have joined key industries and earn competitive salaries, demonstrating strong market competitiveness. In the World Talent Ranking 2025 published recently by the International Institute for Management Development, Hong Kong’s ranking leapt markedly to fourth globally, marking the highest-ever ranking topping Asia. This is clear evidence that the talent attraction policies are in the right direction with effective outcomes.
 
     Nevertheless, after the talents have been successfully attracted to come to Hong Kong, the greater challenge lies in retaining them. In addition to continuing the efforts in boosting the economy and the growth of emerging industries to provide a favourable environment for the development of local and overseas talent, the Government is committed to providing the necessary support for talent, encouraging them to settle down and contribute to Hong Kong’s development.
 
     In consultation with the Health Bureau (HHB), Housing Bureau (HB), Education Bureau (EDB), Immigration Department (ImmD) and Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), my reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) As mentioned earlier, in the global competition for talent, our real challenge lies in how to retain them.
 
     The majority of talents admitted to Hong Kong under the various admission schemes are very young, with 70 per cent under the age of 40. In particular, nearly all admitted under Category C of the TTPS are aged 30 or below. They are at critical stages in their careers and also within the prime age range for starting families. The Government’s follow-up surveys have revealed that family considerations, such as arrangements for children’s education, are among the top priorities for incoming talent when making a relocation decision. This reflects that talent retention is not only driven by career opportunities but also has to take into account the overall needs of their families. More comprehensive support should be offered to strengthen the sense of belonging of talent and their families to Hong Kong.
 
     Outside talents is a vital driving force for our economic development. Taking the TTPS as an example, the entrants are estimated to contribute directly to Hong Kong’s economy by an amount of some HK$34 billion per annum, which is equivalent to about 1.2 per cent of the local Gross Domestic Product. We hope to regard these talents as part of our community, and therefore must address their family needs just as we do for other Hong Kong residents, so as to help them live and work in contentment in the city.

     The current dependant policy allows talent to bring their spouses and minor children to reside in Hong Kong. We also welcome them to start families and give birth to children in Hong Kong so as to establish roots in the city. These new additions to our population are and will continue to be an important source of the local labour force, which would help improve the demographic structure and alleviate the challenges posed by the local ageing population and the low birth rate, providing long-term manpower support for Hong Kong’s sustainable development.
 
     I must emphasise that the various talent admission schemes with different positionings all have clear eligibility criteria and vetting procedures. Under current laws, anyone who furnishes false information or makes false representation to the ImmD are liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. The ImmD has a rigorous and effective mechanism in place for assessing each application under the talent admission schemes in a rigorous manner. This is to ensure that only applicants meeting the relevant eligibility criteria and immigration policies will be admitted into Hong Kong for stay. The approved applicants are all talents with competitiveness that Hong Kong aims to attract. Based on our observations, talent who have not yet secured employment are genuinely interested in pursuing long-term development in Hong Kong. We are not aware of anyone coming to Hong Kong under the guise of career development just to give birth.
 
     The Government understands the public expectation about proper use of limited public resources. At present, the incoming talent represents only a small fraction of Hong Kong’s overall population, and have not put pressure on local resources. The HHB has no plan at the moment to impose different restrictions or requirements on maternity service bookings based on the route through which individuals obtain their Hong Kong residency. However, the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) will continue to keep in view the settlement of incoming talents in Hong Kong, including collecting data on talent’s childbirth, to facilitate better resource planning by relevant policy bureaux. If any abuse of the talent admission schemes is detected, the Government will take appropriate action.
 
(3) To provide the basis for the Government’s planning in various policy areas and resource allocation, the C&SD and the LWB regularly compile updated population and manpower projection respectively to understand the trend of change in Hong Kong’s population and manpower needs during the projection period. Currently, these two sets of projections have taken into account the impact of the major talent admission schemes. The next population census is scheduled to be conducted in 2026, and the LWB is now conducting a mid-term update on the manpower projection, with the results expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2026. 
 
     The various policy bureaux will continuously review the implementation and effectiveness of the measures under their respective purviews in response to the latest demographic and manpower trends. For instance, the HB will continue to closely monitor the supply and demand of different types of housing and adjust the corresponding policies in a timely manner where necessary. The HHB will continue to deepen the reform of the healthcare system to ensure the viability of Hong Kong’s healthcare system. The EDB will review education policies from time to time, with a view to meeting the needs of the society.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Tang Fei and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 15):
 
Question:
 
     Various sectors in the community have all along been concerned about the impact of labour importation policy on local workers’ employment opportunities and labour rights, and the Supplement to the 2025 Policy Address also states that the Government will announce the findings of the review of the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme in the second quarter of 2026, including measures to safeguard employment priority for local workers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the monthly number of applications received and approved under various labour importation schemes since 2023, with a breakdown by (i) type of industry of the applicant companies (based on the industry section defined by the Census and Statistics Department for labour statistics), (ii) classification of occupations, and (iii) the number of imported workers involved in each application (e.g. One to 10 persons, 11 to 20 persons, etc);
 
(2) as there are views pointing out that the Labour Department (LD) has closed three job centres since April last year, which has significantly reduced the network of job centres and industry-based recruitment centres and made it difficult for some local job seekers to obtain immediate and comprehensive employment support services, prompting the chances of getting on-the-spot interviews by attending job fairs to reduce correspondingly, of the reasons for making such arrangements; given that unemployment rate in Hong Kong has rebounded since the beginning of this year, and the increase was particularly notable in some industries such as construction, and on the other hand some companies have continuously applied for labour importation, indicating that there is considerable needs for employment and recruitment in Hong Kong, whether the LD will consider reinstating the number of job centres and industry-based recruitment centres (or at least maintaining the current number) and appropriately increasing the number of job fairs to enhance support for local workers in job-seeking;

(3) of the respective number of service users of LD’s job centres and industry-based recruitment centres in each year since 2023, the number of job fairs organised, the number of attendances and employers participating in the job fairs, the average number of interviews offered in each job fair, and the respective rates of change of such numbers in each year;
 
(4) as it is learnt that apart from the explicit requirement for applicant companies to arrange recruitment days under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector and the requirement for employers of the catering industry to organise job fairs at the LD’s job centres when importing workers for designated posts, there is no such mandatory requirements for other labour importation schemes/industries, of the reasons for that;
 
(5) whether it has considered requiring all employers applying for labour importation (regardless of industry, job category and number of workers applied for) to arrange recruitment days and register available jobs at the LD’s job centres and industry-based recruitment centres so as to facilitate local job seekers to apply for such vacancies and ensure fairness and sincerity in the local recruitment process, thereby eliminating “bogus recruitment”;
 
(6) of the number of complaints received by the authorities regarding the displacement of local workers with imported workers in each year since 2023 and the industries involved; of the progress and findings of the investigations into such complaints; of the authorities’ measures in place to further prevent employers from displacing local workers with imported workers; and
 
(7) given that intermediaries/organisations (including unlicensed employment agencies) in the market have claimed to assist local companies in applying for labour importation subject to a charge, whether the authorities have plans for regulation in this regard to protect the rights of local workers, imported workers and applicant employers?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     To cope with the challenges brought by manpower shortage and foster Hong Kong’s economic development, the Government, on the premise of ensuring employment priority for local workers, suitably allows employers with genuine difficulty in recruiting suitable local workers to apply for importation of workers. On June 19, 2023, the Labour and Welfare Bureau introduced the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes for the residential care home sector. On July 17, 2023, the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) respectively launched sector-specific labour importation schemes for the construction and transport sectors (including the aviation industry and the public light bus/coach trade). In addition, the Labour Department (LD) has implemented the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) since September 4, 2023, allowing employers with genuine needs to apply for importation of workers for posts that were generally excluded under the previous Supplementary Labour Scheme (including the 26 job categories as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts).
 
     In consultation with the DEVB and the TLB, the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1) As at September 2025, the numbers of applications received and approved under various labour importation schemes are at Annex 1. A breakdown of the numbers of applications received and approved by industry under the ESLS is at Annex 2. The Government does not maintain breakdowns of the numbers of applications received and approved by post and number of imported workers involved in each application.

(2) and (3) The LD provides diversified and free employment services to job seekers through its job centres and industry-based recruitment centres. In addition, LD’s Interactive Employment Service website (iES) and mobile application offer round-the-clock online employment services and employment information. Job seekers can also call the job seeker hotline of the Telephone Employment Service Centre (TESC) of the LD to obtain employment services.
 
     In view of the increasing popularity of online employment services among the general public and to utilise public resources more effectively, the LD has adjusted and enhanced its employment services since April 2024, including extending the daily service hours of job centres and industry-based recruitment centres, introducing voicemail service of the TESC outside office hours, merging certain job centres and redeploying manpower resources, to provide more costâ€�effective services to members of the public.
 
     From 2023 to September 2025, the numbers of visitors, job fairs held, participating employers, on-the-spot interviews arranged and the average number of interviews per job fair recorded by job centres and industry-based recruitment centres each year are at Annex 3. The data indicates that from 2024 onwards, job centres and industry-based recruitment centres have recorded increases in the numbers of annual visitors and on-the-spot interviews as well as the average number of interviews per job fair. In tandem, the numbers of page views and usage counts for the iES website and mobile application also recorded year-on-year increases, indicating that the job centres and online employment services continue to provide optimal services to job seekers after redeploying the resources.
 
     The LD will continue to closely monitor changes in the employment market, review the services provided in a timely manner, and make adjustments and enhancements to services in light of the service needs and market situation.
            
(4) and (5) The requirements and implementation arrangements of various labour importation schemes ensure the employment priority for local workers. Relevant measures include employers applying for importation of labour must first undertake local open recruitment according to the requirements of relevant schemes at a salary not lower than the median monthly wage of a comparable position in the market and accord priority to employing qualified local workers to fill the job vacancies. Employers must also sign a Standard Employment Contract with imported workers, and shall pay a salary not lower than the median monthly wage of a comparable position to prevent the imported workers from becoming “cheap labour” and undermining the employment opportunities of local workers. Besides, employers applying for importation of labour should meet the manning ratio requirement of local employees to imported workers.
    
     For the ESLS, employers shall adopt the recruitment terms agreed by the LD and undergo local recruitment for the applied posts. During the recruitment period, the LD will publish the job vacancies on iES, conduct job matching for relevant vacancies and disseminate the vacancy information to members of the Labour Advisory Board, relevant trade unions and training institutions to facilitate their referral of suitable local job seekers for application. Upon completion of the local recruitment procedures, employers shall report the results to the LD. If an employer is unsuccessful in employing suitable candidate(s), the LD will contact each local job seeker who is not employed to verify the interview details. If there is evidence showing that an employer has violated the requirements of local recruitment or refused to employ qualified local job seekers without reasonable grounds, the LD will terminate the processing of the relevant application. The LD will also impose administrative sanction on the employer and refuse to process any other application(s) submitted by the concerned employer, with a debarment period up to two years.
 
     The 2025 Policy Address announced that, with effect from September 18, 2025, the local recruitment period of employers applying for importing waiters/waitresses and junior cooks will be extended from four weeks to six weeks, during which an employer must attend an on-site job fair once a week at a job centre assigned by the LD. This measure takes into account changes in the labour market of individual industries and focuses on job categories with more imported workers. The Government will continue to closely monitor changes in the employment situation and adopt a flexible approach to adjust the implementation arrangements, striving to ensure the priority for local employment.

(6) Employers approved to import workers shall not displace serving local employees with imported workers. In the event of redundancy, imported workers should be retrenched first. The LD has implemented new measures since June 2025, including launching an online complaint form on the ESLS dedicated webpage to enable local employees and imported workers to lodge complaints against employers over suspected breaches of the ESLS requirements. In addition, Labour Inspectors of the LD conduct inspections of workplaces of imported workers from time to time to verify whether employers are complying with the ESLS requirements. If an employer has violated relevant requirements, the LD will impose administrative sanction on that employer, including withdrawal of approvals for importation of labour previously granted to the employer and refusal to process other subsequent applications for labour importation in the following two years.
 
     Since the implementation of the ESLS on September 4, 2023, the LD received one, 19 and 321 complaints in 2023 (from September 4 to December 31), 2024 and 2025 (as at September 30) respectively alleging that employers had displaced serving local employees with imported workers. These complaints mainly involved food and beverage services, manufacturing and cleaning services. The LD has launched investigations into all complaints received, including conducting inspections and evidence-gathering at the workplaces of imported workers, verifying with employers and employees in detail whether the numbers of local staff had decreased after the arrival of imported workers, the reasons for the decrease and whether the employers had undertaken local recruitment to fill the vacancies left by the departing local workers.
 
     Of the above complaints received, the LD completed the investigation of 68 cases, of which 67 did not have sufficient evidence to establish that the employers had violated the ESLS requirements, while the remaining cases are still under investigation. In one of the cases where a violation was found, the LD announced on August 29, 2025 the imposition of administrative sanction on that employer, and withdrew the approvals for importation of labour previously granted and refused to process its subsequent applications for labour importation in the following two years.
 
(7) Any person or institution who operates a business in Hong Kong for the purpose of obtaining employment for another person or supplying the labour of another person to an employer is regarded as an employment agency (EA) and is subject to regulation under the Employment Ordinance, the Employment Agency Regulations and the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies. All EAs operating in Hong Kong, regardless of their mode of operation or categories of jobs offered (including those involving imported workers), must first obtain an EA licence issued by the LD before commencing operation. If any person or institution is found operating an EA without a valid licence, the LD will conduct investigations seriously and take enforcement actions, and instigate prosecution where there is sufficient evidence to substantiate an offence. The LD also reminds the public on the dedicated webpage of the ESLS to stay vigilant towards advertisements or messages claiming to provide services for recruiting Mainland workers and to ascertain the capability of an enterprise to operate the business to avoid being deceived or misled, which may result in financial loss or delay in the processing of applications.
 
     Besides, to strengthen the protection for Mainland workers, the Government requires employers who are granted approval-in-principle/quotas to import workers under various labour importation schemes and intend to import workers from the Mainland must recruit the workers through enterprises which have been approved by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and granted the permission to operate business on labour service co-operation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Government has implemented a monitoring mechanism that requires employers to submit designated documents containing information about the relevant approved labour service enterprises when applying for entry permits for the Mainland workers with the Immigration Department (ImmD). Otherwise, the ImmD will not process relevant applications.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech (translated from Chinese) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, in presenting the Government Minute in response to Report No. 84 of the Public Accounts Committee in the Legislative Council today (October 15):
 
President,
 
Laid on the table today is the Government Minute (GM) responding to Report No. 84 of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) presented to the Legislative Council (LegCo) on July 23, 2025.
 
I welcome the Report of the PAC and am grateful for the devotions and contributions by the Chairman of the PAC, the Hon Shiu Ka-fai, and members of the PAC. The Government accepts PAC’s various recommendations and sets out in detail in the GM the specific responses of the relevant bureau and departments (B/Ds). The PAC conducted public hearings on the chapters on Management of Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme (MWIS) by the Buildings Department (BD) and Street cleansing services of the Director of Audit’s Report No. 84. I would like to highlight the key measures taken and progress made by the two departments in response to the recommendations.
 
Management of MWIS by the BD
 
With regard to MWIS, the BD has enhanced the mechanism for selecting target buildings based on risk-based principles, which includes re-issuance of MWIS notices to buildings involved in fallen window incidents in the preceding year with previous MWIS notices served for more than five years. The BD has also completed the analysis on the causes of the 445 fallen window incidents and identified multiple risk factors leading to such incidents. The follow-up measures include incorporating buildings identified as having a higher risk of falling windows into the criteria for selecting target buildings, strengthening the efforts in education and publicity, particularly during rainy and typhoon seasons as well as prior to the Lunar New Year so as to enhance owners’ safety awareness of the proper use, maintenance and cleaning of windows.
 
Regarding the follow-up actions on the compliance status of MWIS notices, the BD has strengthened internal supervision and monitoring by regularly reviewing the progress and promptly escalating complex cases to higher levels for handling through a three-tier structure led by directorate officers. Moreover, to ensure that the work of qualified persons (QPs) responsible for window inspection meets its requirements, the BD will raise the target number of sample checking and audit checks to be conducted by the BD staff by 20 per cent to 600 cases each year, thereby enhancing monitoring efforts.
 
The BD will continue to enhance work efficiency by leveraging technology and streamlining procedures. Upon completion of the system revamp by the end of this year, the BD’s computer system will automatically generate warning letters to non-compliant owners and provide prompt notifications to BD staff to complete work in a timely manner. The BD will also explore the development of an artificial intelligence system with a view to processing relevant forms submitted by QPs under MWIS more efficiently.
 
Finally, the Government will introduce an amendment bill to the Buildings Ordinance into the LegCo in the first half of 2026. The proposed amendments will include measures to boost the compliance rate of MWIS notices, such as increasing the fixed penalty and maximum penalty levels for non-compliance with MWIS notices, and introducing a new offence of non-compliance with MWIS notices which ended up with personal injury or property damage with a view to further enhancing deterrence. 
 
Street cleansing services
 
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is committed to providing a clean and hygienic living environment for the public. To achieve this goal, the Department has introduced various measures over the past few years to enhance and strengthen the monitoring of street cleansing services, enhance enforcement efficiency, as well as promote public education. 
 
On monitoring of the services, the FEHD has updated guidelines and workflows, and has been continuously monitoring the compliance and execution by duty officers and contractors in order to step up monitoring of the contractor’s performance in street cleansing. In addition, the FEHD is working to upgrade the electronic management systems to enable electronic submission, update and approval of work programmes and reports by duty officers of the contractors and the Department, so as to further enhance the Department’s efficiency in monitoring the street cleansing services.
 
The FEHD has set up Dedicated Enforcement Teams (DETs) since 2017 to combat litter offences so as to strengthen the effectiveness of enforcement. Since October 2023, the fixed penalty for littering and unlawful depositing of waste have been raised substantially. Comparing the 12 months before and after the raise in penalty, the number of fixed penalty notices issued by the FEHD for these two types of offences has drastically reduced by 30 per cent, reflecting an improvement in enforcement effectiveness as a whole. To further boost the operational efficiency of the DETs, the FEHD has updated the work records of the teams and relevant operational guidelines. A comprehensive review will also be conducted on the number, distribution and establishment of the teams.
 
In addition, the FEHD will continue to review the situation of illegal deposit of refuse at locations with Internet Protocol cameras installed and plans to increase the installation points from 500-odd at present to more than 1 500 within one year, in order to further expand the monitoring areas and enhance enforcement efficiency.
 
The FEHD has also been actively applying technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of street cleansing services.  Currently, the Department has widely used the mini-street washing vehicles equipped with pressure washer surface cleaners, and is testing various new equipment, including automated sweeping robots, electrically assisted trolleys and industrial grade robot dogs for transporting heavy items. Apart from enhancing work efficiency, such equipment can also help ease the physical burden on frontline staff and lower the risk of workplace injuries. The Department will proactively promote the work on this front.
 
In addition, the FEHD reviews from time to time the arrangements for outsourcing services to ensure the adoption of the most suitable mode of service delivery having regard to the operational needs, service nature and effectiveness. The Department is also reviewing the existing payment amount to be deducted in case of contractors’ default and the related tender scoring system.  Adjustments will be actively considered to encourage contractors to provide quality service. Meanwhile, the FEHD is reviewing the verification mechanism for contractor’s compliance with contract terms, especially employment-related provisions. The Department will review existing guidelines and explore the feasibility of increasing the number of meetings with non-skilled staff so as to ensure compliance with the contract terms by contractors and protection of staff rights.
 
President, I would like to thank the PAC again for its efforts and suggestions. The B/Ds concerned will strictly adhere to their responses and implement various improvement measures as set out in the GM with full efforts. 
 
Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Health Bureau (HHB) and the Operator of The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) announced today (October 15) that CMHHK will commence services in phases starting from December 11. In the first year after the service commencement, CMHHK will provide outpatient and day-patient services and fully launch six specialised Chinese medicine (CM) services, along with 12 special disease programmes.

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, “CMHHK is the first CM service-predominant hospital in Hong Kong. As a highly anticipated CM flagship project, the hospital will help further promote the high-quality and high-standard development of CM in Hong Kong on all fronts. Upon its service commencement, CMHHK will lead the way for Hong Kong’s CM services to go beyond primary healthcare and play a part in secondary and tertiary healthcare services, bringing significant breakthroughs in the development of CM in Hong Kong. I am very excited that the hospital is about to commence its service, and look forward to its development of a ‘Hong Kong model’ for pure CM services, services with CM playing the predominant role and integrated Chinese-Western medicine (ICWM) services, providing more comprehensive CM services to members of the public.

     “Meanwhile, as a flagship CM institution in Hong Kong, CMHHK will undertake five key missions of development. Apart from providing healthcare services to members of the public, its missions include training and education, research, collaboration and creating health values. CMHHK will give full play to its role as a ‘change driver’ to drive CM development in Hong Kong and in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area through close collaboration with the CM sector and stakeholders, as well as to assist CM services to go global, thereby contributing to the national development of CM.”

     CMHHK is a hospital controlled by the Health Bureau and not a public hospital managed by the Hospital Authority under the Hospital Authority Ordinance (Chapter 113). The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong Ordinance (Chapter 655), which took effect in May this year, ensures the smooth daily operation of the hospital. CMHHK will also collaborate with public and private healthcare institutions to provide quality CM services for members of the public.

Clinical services of CMHHK

     In the first year, CMHHK will provide outpatient and day-patient services and fully launch six specialised CM services, namely Internal Medicine in CM, External Medicine in CM, Gynaecology in CM, Paediatrics in CM, Orthopaedics and Traumatology in CM, and Acupuncture and Moxibustion in CM. It will also provide 12 special disease programmes including those for elderly degenerative diseases and stroke rehabilitation.

     For outpatient services, government-subsidised services cover General Clinic, Specialised Clinic and Integrated Allied Health Clinic services, while market-oriented services cover Private Clinic and Integrated Allied Health Clinic services.

     Day-patient services also cover both government-subsidised services and market-oriented services. Twenty-five beds will be provided in the first year, primarily for CM cases requiring longer treatment time or more complicated procedures, providing patients with one-stop comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment.

     Inpatient services will mainly commence from the second year, with other services expanding year by year, including the remaining 11 special disease programmes. It is expected that by the end of 2030, CMHHK will provide full inpatient services with 400 patient beds, as well as outpatient services of 400 000 annual attendance.

     CMHHK’s government-subsidised services, which are accessible to eligible Hong Kong citizens, will account for 65 per cent of the hospital’s total service volume, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to public health. The hospital will also provide market-oriented services to foster positive interaction with the private market.

Service highlights

     The services of CMHHK will feature the following highlights:

(i) Specialised CM services and special disease progarmmes: Adhering to the principle of “Pursuing speciality in specialised CM services and exceling in special disease programmes”, the hospital will pool talent, experience, knowledge and techniques to focus on the development of key areas where CM has distinct advantages, offering effective treatment outcomes for members of the public.

(ii) CM playing the predominant role and ICWM: The hospital is committed to preserving and inheriting CM theory and practice, while also developing evidence-based innovative treatment plans for pure CM services and services with CM playing the predominant role. The hospital will also actively develop an ICWM service model, combining the strengths of both Chinese and Western medicines to formulate treatment plans, supplemented by multidisciplinary healthcare teams, thereby providing comprehensive and optimal clinical support for patients.

(iii) Galaxy of talent: The hospital will bring together an elite team of Hong Kong, the Mainland, and international CM expert teams across multiple disciplines at the hospital to participate in short-term services, training, and research, leveraging their outstanding capabilities to drive the hospital’s development.

(iv) Personalised services: The hospital will uphold the traditional CM philosophy of “treatment based on pattern differentiation”. Through providing wholehearted services together with professional and precise analysis, the hospital will tailor-make personalised care services for patients to resolve their problems. 

Fee arrangements

     CMHHK will take on the role of a “change driver”, driving the development of the CM market with a primary focus on “develop and transfer”. CMHHK has fully considered factors such as market prices, public affordability and service costs when formulating its service fee models, with a view to ensuring members of the public can access the services at reasonable and affordable prices.

     The hospital adopts fee models including package charges, simplified itemised charges and combined charges to enhance fee transparency, enabling members of the public to easily understand the fee arrangements and manage their healthcare expenses. This approach also encourages members of the public to select services according to their actual needs and make optimal use of resources. A medical fee waiver mechanism will be in place in CMHHK. Specified patient groups will be eligible for a full fee waiver. Other patients facing financial hardship and cannot afford the medical expenses may also apply to the hospital for fee waiver.

     To encourage citizens in need to experience the services of the first CM hospital in Hong Kong, CMHHK will offer a special experience discount in its first year of operation. Selected designated services will be offered at a promotional rate of 10 per cent to 30 per cent off the original price.

     Fees for subsidised services and market-oriented services are listed at Annex 1 and Annex 2.
 
Information and appointment booking

     CMHHK has launched its new website (www.cmhhk.org.hk). Members of the public can make appointments via the website or the hotline (3121 3121) from November 1 onwards. Moreover, members of the public can make appointments through the hospital mobile application to be launched on December 1. In-person appointments can be made at CMHHK from December 11 onwards. In addition, members of the public are welcome to join the open day activities organised by the hospital with details to be announced in due course.

     Located at 1 Pak Shing Kok Road in Tseung Kwan O, CMHHK adopts a public-private partnership model with its construction fully funded by the Government. Hong Kong Baptist University was selected as the Contractor through tendering procedures in 2021 and it subsequently incorporated a company as the Operator responsible for the overall services of the hospital, including its management, operation, and maintenance, according to a service deed. Funding arrangements for subsidised services, education and training, and research, as well as the overall fee setting, are all executed in accordance with the service deed signed among the Government, the Contractor and the Operator.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Two incoming passengers were both sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (October 15) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
 
     Customs officers intercepted a 47-year-old incoming female passenger and a 43-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on October 13. A total of about 24 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a total estimated market value of about $98,000 and a total duty potential of about $79,000, were seized from their personal baggage. They were subsequently arrested.
 
     The passengers were both sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and fined $2,000 in contravention of the DCO today.
 
     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence imposes a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
 
     Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, will depart for Beijing tomorrow (October 16). The Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE), Mr Felix Chan, will join the visit.

     During his visit to Beijing, Mr Sun and the delegation will participate in the HICOOL 2025 Global Entrepreneurs Summit. Mr Sun will also attend the Summit’s 2025 high-calibre talent hub development forum on October 17 before returning to Hong Kong.

     In his absence, the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming, will be the Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare.