Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by Professor the Hon Priscilla Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     A research institute has recently announced that, according to the statistics of the Coroner’s Court, the suicide rate in Hong Kong was estimated at 14.1 per 100 000 people last year. This represents an increase of 0.6 from 13.5 in 2023, which exceeds international standards. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will, in light of the latest situation, strengthen mental health and emotional support services in the community, as well as step up publicity and education efforts on social media to help citizens from diverse backgrounds relieve stress, so that they will know where to seek help; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) as it has been reported that the suicide rate among males aged between 25 and 39 saw the most significant increase last year, with 28.6 per cent of male suicides attributed to financial problems such as debts, unemployment, gambling or business failures, whether the Government will consider collaborating with community organisations and professional bodies to provide targeted counselling services for male groups, assist them in channelling their emotions and formulate appropriate response plans; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as it has been reported that a Mainland university student studying in Hong Kong has recently fell to her death after allegedly falling victim to phone scams, whether the Government will consider further strengthening cooperation with tertiary institutions by not only enhancing students’ awareness of fraud prevention, but also strengthening the emotional support services for Mainland and overseas students, with a view to enabling them to focus on their studies and enjoy a simple and positive campus life in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

Factors leading to suicide are multi-faceted, including emotional issues, personal health, interpersonal relationships and financial position. Each case varies and cannot be generalised. The Government attaches great importance to suicide prevention, and has been providing multi-tiered support through multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration among various policy bureaux and departments, public organisations, and other stakeholders within the community. These efforts aim to promote public education, identify high-risk groups, intervene early, and provide appropriate counselling and support services to individuals with suicidal tendencies and their families.

In consultation with the Health Bureau (HHB), the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Security Bureau, our reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) and (2)

Public education and promotion 

In order to enhance public awareness of mental health, foster a positive mental health culture, and strengthen resilience, various departments have been implementing various public education and promotion programmes, including:

(i) The Labour and Welfare Bureau organises an annual Mental Health Month to raise public awareness of mental health through lectures, exhibitions, community activities, and workshops, etc, and convey positive messages, encouraging individuals to care for their own emotional well-being as well as that of others;

(ii) Apart from the Social Welfare Department (SWD) distributing promotional materials and broadcasting short videos, the 24 Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) under the SWD regularly organise different types of mutual support groups, as well as public education activities such as workshops and mobile exhibitions, to actively deliver positive messages, promote mental health knowledge, encourage the public to adopt a positive attitude towards seeking help and pay early attention to their mental health needs, with a view to strengthening resilience of the public. Specifically in response to the mental health challenges arising from work pressure, financial burdens and family responsibilities, faced by adults, including the middle-aged population, ICCMWs also organise mutual support groups and workshops specially for middle-aged men;

(iii) The Advisory Committee on Mental Health has launched a mental health promotion and public education initiative named “Shall We Talk” since July 2020. The initiative commits to promoting positive messages of mental health with a view to stepping up public knowledge and awareness of mental well-being and of seeking assistance from professionals when needed. The initiative delivers messages on mental health through different channels, including a one-stop website (shallwetalk.hk), a social media page, television and radio programmes, promotion posters, offline events such as road shows in tertiary education institutions, primary and secondary schools. Separately, the initiative disseminates information or knowledge and skills in suicide prevention and relevant information on ways to seek help provided in support of the World Suicide Prevention Day;

(iv) The EDB encourages schools to adopt a whole-school approach to promote students’ mental health and strengthen support for students with mental health needs at three levels, namely Universal, Selective and Indicated through curriculum, resources, activities, training, and professional support. The EDB has been implementing the 4Rs Mental Health Charter since the 2024/25 school year. With “Resilience” being the core theme of the current school year, schools are encouraged to set targets and take concrete actions to promote mental wellness in campus and strengthen resilience of students.

In order to further strengthen community engagement and public education of mental health, the Government will implement the Pilot Programme on Training for Mental Health Promotion Ambassadors to mobilise and train mental health promotion ambassadors to promote healthy lifestyles, foster resilience and establish care support networks.

Identifying high-risk groups and early intervention

Identifying high-risk groups and providing targeted support services and early intervention helps reduce potential suicide risks. To that end, relevant departments implemented the following measures:

(i) HHB launched the Healthy Mind Pilot Project in 2024 at three District Health Centre (DHC)/District Health Centre Expresses to provide free preliminary mental health assessments at the community level. The pilot project aims to achieve the primary healthcare goal of “early detection and early treatment” and strengthen support for individuals in need. The Government will extend the pilot project in 2026 to cover nine DHCs, with follow-up services to be provided by practitioners with an academic background and training in fields such as psychology or counselling. The HHB also provided mental health first aid training to members of District Services and Community Care Teams to enhance their ability to identify and assist high-risk cases within the community;

(ii) The SWD has set up Cyber Youth Support Teams (CYSTs) to reach out to emotionally unstable youth or those with suicidal thoughts via social media and other online platforms, and provide emotional support, counselling and appropriate referral services. The SWD has enhanced the services of CYSTs in June 2025. Through the online youth emotional support platform “Open Up”, CYSTs provide 24-hour real-time online counselling service for young people experiencing emotional distress and immediate crises, allowing them to receive support anytime, anywhere. The application of artificial intelligence will be strengthened for more precise identification of high-risk targets in need of support.

Crisis intervention for high-risk cases

Departments provide in-depth counselling and crisis intervention for high-risk cases with suicidal tendencies or mental health issues. Details are as follows:

(i) Currently, relevant departments and subvented organisations operate multiple hotlines to provide immediate support to individuals with suicidal tendencies or emotional distress, and encourage and refer them to relevant service units for in-depth counselling. These include the SWD Hotline (2343 2255), the crisis intervention and support hotline of the CEASE Crisis Centre under the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (18281), the Caritas Crisis Line (18288), the Hotline Service for Youth at Risk (2777 8899), and the Designated Hotline for Carer Support (182183), as well as the “18111 – Mental Health Support Hotline” which provides one-stop, round-the-clock emotional and mental health support and referral for individuals regardless of background and age;

(ii) The 24 ICCMWs under the SWD provide emotional support, case management, and counselling services to individuals with mental health needs or suicidal tendencies. They work with the Hospital Authority and other welfare service units to provide immediate support and referrals for high-risk cases;

(iii) The Samaritan befrienders Hong Kong subvented by the SWD operates the Suicide Crisis Intervention Centre which offers outreaching, crisis intervention, and in-depth counselling services for individuals troubled by suicide-related issues (including male with financial stress and suicidal tendency). Also, the SWD subsidises Caritas Hong Kong and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to provide specialised services, including counselling and advice, to enhance the resilience of persons with financial distress, as well as to refer them to receive relevant social services according to their needs, assist them in obtaining other necessary support and professional services, in order to support individuals and families suffering from emotional distress or family problems as a result of financial distress.

(iv) In order to identify students with high suicidal risk early and provide them with targeted support, the Government has implemented the Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism across all secondary schools in the territory through interdepartmental collaboration of the EDB, the HHB and the SWD starting from December 2023. This mechanism integrates in-school multidisciplinary teams, the off-campus support network, and medical services and has been enhanced in 2024. The Government announced regularising the three-tier emergency mechanism in secondary schools in the 2025/26 school year and extending it on a trial basis to Primary Four to Six students to strengthen support for those in need.

(3) The EDB and the University Grants Committee (UGC) pay close attention to the measures taken by post-secondary institutions in raising anti-scam awareness among students, and have maintained close liaison with them through the communication platform formed by university representatives. The institutions are encouraged to promote anti-scam messages to students through various channels. To raise non-local students’ anti-scam awareness and vigilance, the institutions work closely with law enforcement agencies and local banks to disseminate information on anti-scam and fraud prevention through organising seminars for parents and admission talks, and setting up dedicated information webpages and hotlines, etc.

Since the new academic year of 2025, the Police have visited various universities to carry out anti-scam publicity campaigns. Earlier on, the Commissioner of Police has also sent a letter to the newly arrived students and their parents through all tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, urging them to pay particular attention to several common fraud tactics and advising them of ways to guard against such fraud. They are also encouraged to make good use of the Police’s Anti-Scam Helpline and Scameter+. The Police have also launched an Online Learning Package. Local, Mainland and overseas students will have to learn about scam tactics and be given advice on counter measures through the tutorials in the forms of texts, images and videos. They will then have to complete the multiple choice questions provided. Those who have passed the test will receive an e-certificate. To cope with the peak of scams involving students around the new academic year of 2025, the Police have launched an updated version of the online learning questionnaire in traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese and English, covering scam tactics such as telephone deception, investment fraud and employment fraud, as well as information provided by the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre of the Police. Furthermore, the Police have organised over 30 scam prevention educational talks and seminars, and activities around the start of the new academic year, which have attracted the participation of more than 4 000 local, Mainland and overseas students. The activities included stepping up promotion of the online learning package and arranging visits to tertiary institutions by the Quby themed anti scam promotional truck to disseminate anti scam messages to students and staff.

UGC has been supporting the universities to promote mental health and positive education and strengthen various student support services, including counselling and mental health support. For the 2022/23 to 2024/25 triennium, UGC additionally allocated $30 million to establish the Whole-person Development Fund to support each UGC-funded university to organise projects that enrich students’ learning experience outside the classroom, thereby promoting whole-person development among the younger generation. The promotion of positive education and psychological well-being was one of the four key areas. Apart from deploying funds to conduct different activities and peer support programmes, the universities also made use of the funds to strengthen the manpower for counselling to meet the service demands from students. In addition, the universities are utilising the additional allocation provided by UGC under the Funding Scheme for Mainland and Global Engagement and Student Learning Experience to organise activities for a multi-cultural campus, so as to promote exchanges between students from different backgrounds and cultures to create a diversified and inclusive international learning environment.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Transport Department (TD) today (October 8) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on October 23 (Thursday) to noon on October 27 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 200 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles, and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
 
     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
 
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
 
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
 
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved the Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Ngan Man-yu and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     The 2025 Policy Address has proposed measures to ensure employment priority of local workers. On the other hand, the Government has, since June 30 this year, introduced a new channel under the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, allowing individuals meeting the qualifications under the Technical Professional List to come to Hong Kong to engage in eight skilled trades facing manpower shortage. However, there are views pointing out that the relevant arrangements may create negative impacts on the employment opportunities for local workers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the 2025 Policy Address has proposed to tighten the manning ratio requirement for waiters/waitresses and junior cooks under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) (i.e. a manning ratio of 2:1 for full-time local employees to imported workers), and change the current calculation method based on all posts being applied for by employers to the one based on individual posts being applied for, whether the Government has compiled statistics on the proportion of local workers in individual trades under the existing manning ratio requirement of ESLS; whether it has identified employers hiring local workers in different trades or on a part-time basis to meet the manning ratio requirement of ESLS; if such cases have been identified, of the Government’s existing monitoring mechanisms and improvement measures;

(2) whether it will consider extending the arrangement for tightening the manning ratio requirement mentioned in (1) to more post categories, and study prohibiting employers from hiring local workers on a part-time basis to meet the manning ratio requirement;

(3) given that the 2025 Policy Address has proposed to step up efforts to combat illegal workers, including establishing a dedicated reporting hotline and promoting more inter-departmental joint operations, of the Government’s specific plans and expected effectiveness in respect of the aforesaid measures;

(4) as it is learnt that in recent years, some lawbreakers have arranged for illegal workers to come to Hong Kong to provide services after soliciting business through social media platforms (such as Xiaohongshu), and then arranged for such illegal workers to work in concealed locations, of the total number of surprise inspections conducted by the Government to combat illegal workers in the past year and the effectiveness of such enforcement actions, including the number of illegal workers and employers arrested in such actions, as well as the number of prosecutions instituted;

(5) regarding the eight newly added skilled trades on the aforesaid Technical Professional List, of the respective numbers of applicants and approved quotas for each trade to date; whether it has plans to dynamically adjust the quotas for each trade based on the progress of local training and manpower supply; if not, whether it will consider establishing a mechanism which allows both additions and deductions to avoid excessive quotas and safeguard employment for local skilled personnel; and

(6) whether the Government has grasped Hong Kong’s employment situation in respect of dependants of individuals coming to Hong Kong under various talent admission schemes (including individuals coming to Hong Kong who meet the qualifications under the Technical Professional List), including information such as the trades in which they engaged, their income levels and educational backgrounds, and whether it has assessed the impacts of the employment situation of such dependants on the local labour market; whether the Government will compile statistics on the information of such dependants when conducting manpower projections or population censuses, so as to assess the relevant manpower supply and demand trends; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The primary objective of the Government’s manpower policy is to nurture local talent, complemented by admission of outside talent. In the face of industrial transformation and a continuously ageing population, the Government has implemented a host of measures to proactively trawl for talent since end-2022 to expand the talent pool. On the premise of ensuring employment priority for local workers, the Government also enhanced the mechanism for importation of labour in 2023 and launched sector-specific labour importation schemes for the construction sector, transport sector, and residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities, as well as the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) to suitably allow employers to apply for importation of workers when they are genuinely unable to recruit suitable local workers. According to the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) (IO), the period of stay of these imported workers in Hong Kong is not regarded as ordinarily residing in Hong Kong and hence they would not obtain the Hong Kong permanent resident status by virtue of their stay as imported workers in Hong Kong. The Government has been closely monitoring the employment market, and making timely and targeted adjustments to the implementation arrangements for labour importation as well as combating illegal workers rigorously, so as to ensure employment priority for local workers and maintain labour supply to support Hong Kong’s economic development.

     In 2025, the Government introduced a new channel under the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) targeting specified skilled trades facing acute manpower shortage to allow young and experienced non-degree professionals to come to Hong Kong to replenish the local labour force. Vocational professionals admitted to Hong Kong through these two channels may accumulate years of residence in Hong Kong and apply to become Hong Kong permanent residents in future if meeting the specified eligibility criteria under the IO. They are therefore fundamentally different from imported workers and the two should not be conflated together.

     In consultation with the Security Bureau (SB) and the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) and (2) ESLS requires employers applying for importation of labour to meet the manning ratio requirement of full-time local employees to imported workers (manning ratio requirement). In general, employers shall have employed two full-time local workers for bringing in one imported worker. Full time employees refer to local employees who are directly employed by an employer and work not less than 35 hours per week for operating the relevant business, excluding part time staff, staff of sub contractor(s) or self employed person(s) providing services to the employer.

     The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address new measures, including implementing from September 18 this year a more stringent manning ratio requirement of 2:1 when employers apply for the posts of waiter/waitress and junior cook by changing the calculation basis of applying the ratio from all posts of an applicant employer to each post under application. In other words, an employer applying to import a waiter/waitress and a junior cook must have already employed two local full-time waiters/waitresses and two local full-time junior cooks. The new measure focuses on job categories with more imported workers, responding to changes in the labour market of that industry in a targeted manner with a view to ensuring priority employment for local workers.

     Employers shall truthfully report the number of full-time local employees when submitting ESLS applications. An employer knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false or misleading during the application commits an offence and is liable to prosecution. The Labour Department (LD) rigorously processes each application to ensure compliance with ESLS requirements. During the vetting process, the LD thoroughly reviews the documents and information submitted by an employer, and takes into account factors such as the industry of the employer and business nature, company size, details of applied posts and past application records. If necessary, the LD will require an employer to provide additional information or supporting documents, or arrange Labour Inspectors to conduct inspection to an employer’s office and workplace(s) of prospective imported worker(s) to verify the application information. 

     Employers with approval to import workers shall meet the manning ratio requirement on a continuous basis. The LD launched a special inspection campaign in June this year to check whether establishments employing imported workers had continuously met the manning ratio requirement. The LD also requires employers to report information on full-time local employees and imported workers as well as the relevant manning ratios based on a risk-based approach. The LD does not tolerate any acts of non-compliance and will impose administrative sanction if there is sufficient evidence, including withdrawal of approvals for importation of workers previously granted to the employer(s) and refusal to process other subsequent applications with a debarment period up to two years.

     As at end-August this year, there were around 35 000 imported workers working in Hong Kong under ESLS, accounting for around 1 per cent of Hong Kong’s labour force. The Government does not have statistical information on the proportion of local workers in individual job categories.

     The Government will continue to closely monitor changes in the local labour market and the manpower situation of different industries, and adopt a flexible and targeted approach in making adjustments to the implementation arrangements of ESLS if necessary. 

(3) and (4) The Government is committed to combating illegal employment so as to safeguard employment opportunities of local workers. It is a serious offence to engage in illegal employment. Illegal workers, employers, as well as persons aiding and abetting illegal employment will be liable to prosecution in accordance with the IO.

     On strengthening intelligence collection and strict law enforcement, various law enforcement agencies have been proactively collecting intelligence and conducting joint operations to raid premises suspected of having illegal employment activities. According to the records of the Immigration Department (ImmD), the monthly average number of law enforcement operations against illegal workers (including joint operations with other departments including the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF)) conducted in January to August 2025 was 5.1 per cent more than that in 2024. The relevant figures are tabulated below:
 

Year	Number of operations
2024	17 906
2025 (up to August) [Compared with the monthly average of 2024]	12 543 [+5.1 per cent]

     During the same period of 2025, the monthly average numbers of illegal workers and employers arrested and prosecuted both increased compared with that in 2024. The relevant figures are tabulated below:
 

Year	Illegal workers		Employers
	Arrested	Prosecuted	Arrested	Prosecuted
2024	1 268	1 013	513	169
2025 (up to August) [Compared with the monthly average of 2024]	869 [+2.8 per cent]	756 [+11.9 per cent]	407 [+19.0 per cent]	127 [+12.7 per cent]

Remark: Persons prosecuted may not be arrested in the same year.

     Targeting lawbreakers making use of online platforms to recruit and arrange illegal workers to come to Hong Kong, the Cybercrime and Forensics Investigation Group of the ImmD conducts constant cyber patrols. It will take enforcement actions by, among others, decoy operations against any person who is found using social media platforms or instant messaging software to organise, arrange or incite the public to commit serious crimes, such as illegal employment. If the Mainland online platforms are involved, the ImmD will exchange intelligence with the Mainland authorities and urge them to arrange with the relevant platforms for taking appropriate follow-up actions, such as taking down the posts involved. For example, in late August and early September this year, the ImmD noticed through cyber patrols that some Mainland photographers and make-up artists were promoting on social media platforms, claiming that they could provide services in Hong Kong. After investigation and conducting decoy operation, the ImmD arrested a total of 10 persons, including eight Mainland illegal workers.

     Besides, on the same day of the delivery of the 2025 Policy Address (September 17), the ImmD launched the Dedicated Hotline for Reporting Illegal Workers (3861 5000) in order to encourage the public to actively report illegal employment-related acts. In the first two weeks since the launch of the reporting hotline, the ImmD had already received over 100 telephone reports. The ImmD will widely promote the reporting hotline and actively follow up on each report, including taking enforcement actions based on intelligence analysis.

     To further step up efforts in combating illegal employment, the SB established in September 2025 an Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment (Task Force), including members from the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB), the Education Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the ImmD, the HKPF, the LD and the Transport Department. The first meeting of the Task Force was convened on October 2, 2025, at which the Task Force discussed the current situation of illegal employment, and agreed to enhance inter-departmental coordination on various fronts, including formulating overall response strategies against illegal employment, enhancing intelligence collection and intelligence exchange with the Mainland, enforcing the laws rigorously, leveraging technology, and co-ordinating relevant publicity and education, so as to combat illegal employment under a multi-pronged approach. The Task Force will continue to closely monitor the situation of illegal employment and formulate overall response strategies in a timely manner to safeguard the employment of local workforce.

(5) The Government introduced the technical professionals stream under GEP and ASMTP from June 30, 2025 to allow outside individuals to apply for entry into Hong Kong to join eight skilled trades facing acute manpower shortage. Applicants are required to be non-degree professionals meeting the relevant qualifications as specified in the Technical Professional List and aged between 18 and 40. According to the prevailing requirements under GEP and ASMTP, relevant technical professionals are required to have secured an employment offer from a local enterprise before making applications, and the remuneration package should be commensurate with the market level for similar jobs. This new arrangement will be piloted for three years with an overall application quota of 10 000, and the application quota for each skilled trade is limited to 3 000 to prevent occupations with larger industry scales from quickly exhausting the quotas. The relevant quota does not represent the Government’s target number for admitting technical professionals in individual skilled trades.

     The ImmD has been receiving enquiries and is processing the applications received. The new arrangement has only been in place for three months and the Government is closely monitoring its implementation. Relevant statistics will be released later at an opportune time, and a review will be conducted after the new arrangement has been implemented for a year.

(6) When conducting population and labour force projections, the C&SD takes into account the number and demographic characteristics of approved visa holders under various talent admission schemes and their dependents in assessing the long-term development trends of the population and labour force. The household surveys (including the 2026 Population Census) conducted by the C&SD also cover the employment situation of new arrivals living in Hong Kong, including approved visa holders and their dependents. Additionally, the LWB will continue to monitor the employment situation of dependents in Hong Kong. For example, we are collecting information through online surveys on the educational background, employment status and employment intentions, etc, of dependents admitted under the Top Talent Pass Scheme. The information obtained will be considered by the projection models of the mid-term update of the manpower projection. The above information helps the Government gain a more comprehensive understanding of the status of dependents in the local labour market.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon So Cheung-wing and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     The Global Investment Promotion Conference for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Conference), jointly hosted by the governments of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao in Guangzhou last year, has become as an effective channel and important platform for cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to collaborate in investment attraction efforts. It has been reported that the Conference achieved remarkable results last year, drawing the participation of over 430 representatives from Fortune Global 500 companies and top-notch enterprises in the industries, with total investment commitments amounting to RMB2.26 trillion. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as it is reported that the Conference will be held annually as a regular event on November 8, of the city which will host the Conference this year; whether an estimate is made on the number of foreign and Hong Kong enterprises to be invited; how the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will assist Hong Kong enterprises in securing new investment and trade projects;

(2) among the 1 933 investment projects reportedly signed at last year’s Conference, of those involving the participation of Hong Kong;

(3) given that Invest Hong Kong and its Mainland counterpart have established the Pan-Greater Bay Area Inward Investment Liaison Group, of the number of promotional and other investment attraction activities organised by the Group over the past year; and

(4) whether it will consider organising overseas (such as in the Middle East and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries) investment attraction activities in collaboration with other Mainland cities in the GBA?

Reply:

President,

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) has all along been proactively working with various policy bureaux to promote business-friendly policies in its investment promotion work, including working with the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) on initiatives relating to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development. In addition, InvestHK collaborates with organisations, chambers of commerce and professional bodies, etc, to organise and sponsor an array of investment promotion activities on the Mainland and overseas, including roadshows, seminars and roundtables, to provide enterprises with the latest information on Hong Kong’s business environment, including our core advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle and opportunities arising from key national strategies such as the GBA development, thereby attracting and encouraging enterprises to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong.

     After consulting the CMAB, my consolidated response to Dr the Hon So Cheung-wing’s question is as follows:

     With the support of the CMAB, the Pan-Greater Bay Area Inward Investment Liaison Group (Liaison Group) was established in 2021 by InvestHK and relevant GBA counterparts. Through developing joint propositions and promotion materials as well as organising joint events, the Liaison Group enhances collaboration and synergy among members of the Liaison Group. Since 2022, the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have been jointly organising annually the Global Investment Promotion Conference for the GBA (Conference) in Guangzhou to showcase to global strategic enterprises the latest developments and investment potential of the GBA. The 2025 Conference will be held in Guangzhou on November 3, with participation by around 400 representatives from multinational and Hong Kong enterprises. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to proactively promote Hong Kong’s business advantages at the Conference to attract more investment projects to land in Hong Kong.

     At the past Conferences, InvestHK engaged with many Mainland and overseas enterprises which were interested in setting up or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong and provided them with one-stop customised support services based on their needs, fully leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a two-way springboard. Last year, over 1 900 investment projects were signed during the Conference. The Liaison Group, with InvestHK being one of its members, is proactively following up and assisting in the implementation of these projects. From 2024 to August this year, InvestHK assisted 983 Mainland and overseas companies in setting up or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong, including 492 overseas companies and over 120 Mainland companies from GBA cities.

     Apart from organising the Conference, the Liaison Group also hosts overseas investment promotion events annually to promote to local businesses the latest policies and development opportunities in the GBA. In 2023 and 2024, the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao jointly hosted the economic and trade co-operation conferences in Munich, Germany, and Paris, France, to promote the GBA’s investment environment and development opportunities to European enterprises. This year, the governments of the three regions again jointly held investment promotion events in Budapest, Hungary, and Cairo, Egypt, to promote to the European and African business communities the business opportunities brought by the GBA development, as well as Hong Kong’s unique roles and functions as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” under the “one country, two systems” principle. The events also encouraged businesses to establish presence in Hong Kong and tap into the vast market of the GBA.

     In addition, InvestHK has been organising investment promotion activities in various Mainland cities to proactively introduce Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities to Mainland enterprises, so as to encourage them to invest in Hong Kong and expand international businesses via the city. In 2025, the department organised multiple promotional activities in Ningbo, Jinan, Wuhan, Qingdao, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Beijing, Tianjin and Shenyang, etc.

     Looking ahead, InvestHK will continue to work with the CMAB and maintain close liaison with members of the Liaison Group to jointly take forward the investment promotion efforts related to the GBA. On the one hand, InvestHK will promote Hong Kong as a springboard for overseas businesses looking to expand into the GBA and support them to set up their operations here. On the other hand, we will also promote Hong Kong to GBA enterprises as a launchpad for going global and assist them in establishing presence in Hong Kong. The efforts will be organically integrated into the work of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global announced by the Chief Executive in his 2025 Policy Address, thereby enhancing two-way investment (viz. attracting investment inflows to Hong Kong and facilitating further investment beyond Hong Kong). Besides, the Liaison Group will also continue to proactively plan promotional and investment activities in other potential emerging markets to further highlight Hong Kong’s roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Duncan Chiu and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):
 
Question:
 
It is reported that according to the latest figures from the Police, there were 327 telephone scam cases involving Mainland students last year, resulting in an aggregate loss exceeding $230 million. On average, each student victim was defrauded of over $700,000. Furthermore, a recent case involved a Hong Kong university student from the Mainland who is suspected to have suffered a financial loss after falling victim to a telephone scam involving the impersonation of government officials, before subsequently jumping to her death. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following information regarding scam cases involving students in the first nine months of this year: (i) the number of telephone and cyber scam cases involving local, Mainland and overseas students, (ii) the total amount of money defrauded, along with the highest individual amount, and (iii) the main countries or regions of origin of the overseas students who fell victim to these scams;
 
(2) whether it has conducted an analysis of telephone and cyber scam cases involving students, including the deception tactics employed by fraudsters and the communication software or social networking platforms involved; if so, of the findings of such analysis and the countermeasures that the authorities will adopt, including whether they will work with local commercial entities, such as mobile network and social networking platform operators, to introduce enhanced measures to prevent students from falling victim to telephone and cyber scams and pitfalls; if so, the specific details;
 
(3) whether it will consult with various local universities and formulate effective measures to strengthen awareness of telephone and cyber scam prevention among local, Mainland and overseas students, including requiring students to attend designated seminars on scam prevention and pass relevant assessments upon admission; and
 
(4) whether the authorities have reviewed the current anti-scam promotional efforts and their effectiveness in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and universities, with a view to enhancing young people’s awareness of and capability in scam prevention; whether the authorities have set specific targets to determine which anti-scam initiatives require further enhancement and updating, and formulated a timetable for implementing various enhancement measures?
   
Reply:
 
President,
 
Deception is a serious crime. Any person who commits the offence of “fraud” under Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) is liable to imprisonment for up to 14 years, while any person charged with “obtaining property by deception” under Section 17 of the same Ordinance is liable to imprisonment for up to 10 years. In addition, any person charged with “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence” under Section 25 of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) for proceeds of deception is liable to maximum penalties of 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
 
In consultation with the Education Bureau (EDB), the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1) According to the latest figures from the Police, there were a total of 28 379 scam cases, involving monetary loss of $5.02 billion, in the first eight months of 2025, which represent a decrease of 1 per cent and 14.5 per cent respectively when compared with the same period last year. Among them, there were 184 and 86 telephone scam cases involving local and Mainland students of tertiary institutions. The monetary losses incurred were approximately $32 million and $75 million respectively. The Police do not maintain statistical figures on the number of cyber scam cases involving students. Furthermore, as the Police do not observe an evident trend of scams targeting overseas students at this stage, a statistical breakdown is not maintained.
 
The case with the highest amount of loss was a telephone scam in April 2025 involving impersonation of government officials, resulting in a loss of over $10 million. The victim, a 25-year-old university student from the Mainland, followed the instructions of fraudsters by making multiple deposits totalling $10.97 million into a number of designated local bank accounts during the period between April and July 2025. In July of the same year, the Police arrested two Mainland males, who were subsequently charged with three counts of money laundering.
 
(2) The Police have been analysing the latest trends and intelligence of telephone and cyber scams involving students, and have been regularly releasing the latest anti-scam messages. For example, the Police make use of press conferences, social media accounts of the Police and platforms such as the CyberDefender website to warn students and the public about the latest scam tactics.
 
It has come to the Police’s attention that recently many students have become victims of telephone scams involving fake food delivery platforms sending phishing SMS messages, instructing victims to call a fake “customer service” and then tricking them into paying “guarantee money” to cancel orders. As regards cyber scams, scam syndicates have been luring students into participating in fake “click farming” tasks through social media groups including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) of the Police has immediately stepped up dissemination of anti-scam alerts on websites and social media platforms, urging the public not to call back by clicking on the telephone numbers provided in the SMS messages. If in doubt, they should contact the official customer service centre of the food delivery platforms for verification. They are also encouraged to make good use of the Police’s “Scameter+” and “Anti-Scam Helpline”.
 
To heighten the alertness of students and the public against telephone and online scams and pitfalls, the Police have been maintaining close communication and collaboration with telecommunications service providers (TSP) and social media platform operators. In particular, anti-scam promotional leaflets are distributed through TSPs. The promotional materials are updated from time to time, so as to remind members of the public to be watchful over the latest scam tactics. Should suspected fraudulent content be found, the Police will request the social media platforms concerned to immediately remove the content and take appropriate follow-up actions. From January to August of 2025, the platforms concerned have reviewed and removed over 67 000 items of fraudulent content at the request of the Police. In addition, the Police held a joint press conference with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, in August 2025 to alert the public of the latest scam tactics involving messaging applications and social networking platforms. The public were also notified of the operators’ anti-scam countermeasures, which include the strengthened use of artificial intelligence technology for detecting and removing fraudulent content and accounts.
 
(3) The EDB and the University Grants Committee have been encouraging tertiary institutions to promote anti-scam information to students through various channels and provide students with appropriate support. To raise the anti-scam awareness and vigilance of local, Mainland and overseas students, institutions have provided them with scam prevention and anti-scam information through channels such as seminars for parents, admission briefings, dedicated webpages and dedicated hotlines.
 
Mainland students are more prone to become scam victims because they are unfamiliar with Hong Kong’s systems, fraud situation and ways of seeking help. In this connection, the Commissioner of Police has earlier on sent a letter to the newly arrived students and their parents via all tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, urging them to pay particular attention to several common scam tactics and advising them of ways to guard against scams. They are also encouraged to make good use of the Police’s “Anti-Scam Helpline” and “Scameter+”. Earlier on, in collaboration with the National Immigration Administration, the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security and the Immigration Department of Hong Kong, the Police have produced anti-scam video clips showing the modus operandi of fraudsters. Starting from June 2025, the videos are broadcast across boundary control points, exit-entry service halls in the Mainland as well as social media platforms including Xiaohongshu and Douyin. The Police also collaborated with the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange to organise sharing sessions in the Mainland, sharing anti-scam knowledge with over 11 000 students coming to Hong Kong for studies and their parents. Furthermore, the Police have disseminated anti-scam information to students through activities and seminars organised jointly with Mainland students’ groups in various institutions.
 
The Police have also launched an online learning package. Local, Mainland and overseas students will have to learn about scam tactics and be given advice on countermeasures through the tutorials in the forms of texts, images and videos. They will then have to complete the multiple choice questions provided. Those who have passed the test will receive an e-certificate. To cope with the peak of scams involving students around the new academic year of 2025, the Police have launched an updated version of the online learning questionnaire in traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese and English, covering scam tactics such as telephone deception, investment fraud and employment fraud, as well as information provided by the ADCC of the Police. A number of institutions in Hong Kong have required local, Mainland and overseas students to complete the learning package or questionnaire within specified time frames in the new academic year in order to gain access to campus facilities (such as libraries and learning commons).
 
Furthermore, the Police organised over 30 scam prevention educational seminars and activities around the start of the new academic year, which have attracted the participation of more than 4 000 local, Mainland and overseas students. The activities included stepping up promotion of the online learning package and arranging visits to tertiary institutions by the Quby themed anti-scam promotional truck to disseminate anti-scam messages to students and staff.
 
The Police have collaborated with an institution to conduct a survey on the awareness of scam among university students. Of the 3 000-odd replies collected, it was found that nearly 85 per cent of the respondents had enrolled in the anti-scam online learning package. For students who had completed the learning package, the number who fell prey to scams and suffered monetary loss were 58 percentage points lower than those who had never enrolled in the learning package. The Police will continue to encourage the participation of local, Mainland and overseas students of tertiary institutions.
 
(4) In keeping with societal changes and technology development, the EDB continues to review and optimise the school curriculum. Learning elements relating to media and information literacy education as well as anti-scam awareness have been incorporated into primary and secondary school curricula. For example, Primary Humanities, Junior Secondary Citizenship, Economics and Society, and Senior Secondary Citizenship and Social Development have all included learning contents of information literacy, prudence in analysing the authenticity of information, handling of personal data, as well as guarding against cyber pitfalls and risks. This helps students to develop critical thinking and enhance their self protection awareness. In addition, the Information Literacy for Hong Kong Students, a learning framework provided to schools by the EDB, helps enrich the information literacy-related learning elements in the school curriculum, through which students are encouraged to use the Internet in a healthy manner, safeguard their personal privacy and equip themselves with fact checking skills, thereby enhancing their anti-scam awareness and ability.
 
To deepen teachers’ knowledge of technology crime information and data security, enabling them to guide students in the safe and proper use of Internet, the EDB continuously launches professional development programmes for teachers and supports the promotion of information literacy education in schools. The EDB also organises seminars for parents, helping them nurture their children’s ethical use of innovative technology in their everyday life, such as properly protecting personal privacy and developing good habits in using information technology.
 
To raise the awareness and capability of kindergarteners and young people of primary and secondary schools in scam prevention, the EDB and the Police have jointly designed teaching materials to enhance students’ safety awareness in using new technology, which helps them avoid falling prey to scams. Among others, the Police have published the Youth Crime Prevention Booklet for four years in a row starting from 2022, offering a set of practical tools for teachers and parents to educate students about the common crimes and ways to deal with them.
 
The Police have also published the educational comic booklets titled “The Dirty Money Trap” and “Black and White” for two consecutive years, explaining the money laundering pitfalls associated with “renting, borrowing and selling of bank accounts”. A dedicated chapter titled “Tips for Teachers and Parents” is also featured, offering practical guidance to help teachers and parents identify signs of young people’s involvement in such crimes. To keep parents informed of the latest modus operandi and trends of cyber pitfalls, the Police regularly publish “Letters to Parents” on the “CyberDefender” website. Using real-life examples, these letters explain high-risk cyber pitfalls that young people and children may encounter and offer advice to parents, hence enhancing their capability in recognising and coping with cyber pitfalls.
 
In addition, the Police have introduced an anti-scam mascot “The Little Grape” since 2020 to explain the latest tactics of fraudsters and disseminate simple anti-scam messages in a friendly and interactive manner. Anti-scam information is also posted on different social media platforms using “The Little Grape” as the theme, such as “The Little Grape” Animation Picture book. Also, through offline interaction between “The Little Grape” and primary and secondary students, such as visits to primary and secondary schools by “The Little Grape” and the anti-scam promotional vehicle, anti-scam messages are conveyed to young people. A picture book named “The Little Grape and Me: Beware of fraudsters” targeting kindergarteners has also been released, with copies distributed to nearly 1 000 kindergartens across the territory with a view to cultivating anti-scam awareness in young children.
 
Going forward, the Government will continue to collaborate with kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutions and stakeholders. Stakeholders’ views are collected regularly through various channels to provide feedback on curriculum planning and implementation, with a view to strengthening students’ awareness in scam prevention. In response to the advancing technology and evolving tactics of fraudsters, the Government will analyse the latest scam landscape and intelligence in an ongoing manner, and will review and adjust our anti-scam work as necessary.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Luk Chung-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     There are views pointing out that the economic development of Hong Kong faces many challenges, including a series of business closures and frequent wage default problems in the construction, catering and retail industries which impair workers’ rights. Under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57), employers who fail to pay wages to employees within seven days after the expiry of the wage period is liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of cases of default on payment of wages to employees received by the Labour Department (LD) in each of the past three years, as well as the average amount of wages in arrears per person in each case, together with a breakdown by industry;

(2) of the number of cases in which the LD initiated prosecutions against wage default cases in each of the past three years (including the cases in which fines, imprisonment or community service orders were imposed); among the cases with fines imposed, the average amount of fine in each case;

(3) regarding wage default cases, of the criteria adopted by the LD for determining whether criminal prosecution against the relevant parties will be initiated;

(4) whether it has reviewed if the current penalties for wage defaults have sufficient deterrent effect; of the measures put in place by the authorities to further strengthen monitoring and regulation to eradicate defaults on payment of wages to employees and abuses of the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund; and

(5) of the measures in place to further strengthen publicity and education efforts to remind employers not to default on payment of wages and risk violating the law?

Reply:

President,

     The Labour Department (LD) is committed to combating wage offences through multi-pronged strategies, including proactive follow-up of reported cases, intelligence gathering, proactive inspections, in-depth investigations and prosecutions. In addition to stringent law enforcement, the LD reminds employers through various channels of their statutory obligation to pay wages, and encouraging employees to promptly pursue outstanding wages to protect their rights and interests.

     In response to the Member’s question, the reply is provided below:

(1) From 2022 to 2024, the number of cases caused by wage disputes and handled by the LD with a breakdown by industry is at Annex 1. The LD does not keep the figures on the average amount of wages in arrears per employee in each case.

(2) From 2022 to 2024, the number of summonses heard in respect of wage offences under the Employment Ordinance (EO) prosecuted by the LD each year, the number of summonses convicted and the average fine for summonses convicted each year are at Annex 2.

(3) While handling cases with suspected wages in arrears, the LD will invite the employees to provide further information if it is discovered that the employers may have violated the EO. If there is prima facie evidence of contravening the EO, the employees will be invited to act as prosecution witnesses to testify against the employers who are suspected to have contravened the law. In accordance with the Prosecution Code promulgated by the Department of Justice, the LD will assess whether there is sufficient evidence to prove that an employer has wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the wage payment requirements under the EO. If there is sufficient evidence, the LD will initiate prosecution.

(4) The Labour Relations Division of the LD has been maintaining close liaison with working partners and relevant stakeholders, gathering and assessing the intelligence from different sources on wage defaults. If the LD is aware of an individual employer with wage default, the LD will proactively reach out to the persons-in-charge of the concerned establishment, remind and urge them for settlement of employees’ wages in accordance with the EO and the terms of employment contracts; and keep track of the status of wage payment.

     According to the EO, an employer who wilfully and without reasonable excuse fails to pay wages to an employee when it becomes due is subject to a fine up to $350,000 and imprisonment for three years. If the default of wages is committed with the consent, connivance of, or negligence of body corporate’s director, manager, secretary or other similar officer, then such person shall also be guilty of the like offence and is liable to the same penalty. Upon stringent enforcement of the law over the years, employers are generally cognisant of the serious consequences of wage defaults.

     To prevent the abuse of the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund (PWIF), the Government has set up an inter-departmental task force comprising representatives from the LD, the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police) and the Official Receiver’s Office (ORO) to strengthen proactive investigation of suspicious cases. The LD rigorously verifies and closely monitors every application to the PWIF. If the company responsible persons are suspected of illegal transfer of assets, theft of company money, evasion of liabilities by deception, failure to keep proper accounting records, etc., the LD will refer such cases to the Police and/or ORO for follow-up. Besides, if any person is found to have provided false information in respect of a PWIF application, the LD would take enforcement action.

(5) The LD will continue to conduct extensive publicity, including broadcasting television and radio announcements in the public interest, placing advertisements in newspapers and publications of major employer associations, organising exhibitions, displaying posters and distributing leaflets, to remind employers to fulfil their statutory obligations to pay wages. The LD has also set up and widely publicised a complaint hotline (2815 2200) to encourage and facilitate employees to report wage default cases.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The annual “Cheers!” Series, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be held from November to February next year. Offering a variety of family entertainment programmes ranging from puppetry, acrobatics, circus, dance, music and theatre to multimedia shows and musicals, the series will showcase fabulous performances by nine visiting and local performing groups that will delight audiences during the festive season.

     This edition of the series will feature five international award-winning productions and four local programmes. Starting the series in mid-November is the puppetry musical “Jack and the Beanstalk” (dubbed in Cantonese) by the Theater Company Hikosen from Japan. With delicate masks, beautiful costumes and ingenious stage props, the troupe will bring this beloved fairy tale to life, allowing children to join Jack on a fantastical adventure in climbing the beanstalk grown from magical beans and venturing into the giant’s lair to rescue Princess Mary. This programme is also part of the third Asia+ Festival.

     Circus and acrobatic performances have always been popular among young audiences and their families. Two performers from the Australian ARC Circus Dance Theatre will present the Asian premiere of the physical theatre production “A Bee Story” in early December. This comedic show blends elements of circus, acrobatics, music and dance to tell the story of Queen Bee and Worker Bee, who work together to rebuild their hive after it is destroyed by a bushfire, conveying a message on environmental conservation. The Japanese contemporary circus company, Cirquework, will perform “YOAH” in late January next year. The story follows a girl who overcomes the magic of evil wizards and finds her way home with the moon’s guidance. A team of young acrobatic artists will skilfully integrate music, stage lighting and visual effects to redefine the concept of a circus, enabling audiences to enjoy a unique and captivating journey. 

     Many family-friendly puppet theatre works have incorporated multimedia elements to unleash imaginations and creativity in recent years. Xirriquiteula Teatre from Spain will present “Laika” in mid-January next year, employing shadow play, puppets, physical theatre, installations and film montage to tell the story of how Laika the stray puppy becomes the first space explorer to take on a thrilling adventure into the universe. The narrative encourages audiences to reflect on the human drive towards progress and the true meaning of life. A multimedia theatre show, “The Storyville Mosquito”, will be staged in the opening season of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre in February next year. Canada’s Kid Koala will film a real-time movie about a jazz-loving mosquito’s musical adventure in the city in one take by using exquisite miniature puppets, sets and props alongside a live original music score, offering audiences a multifaceted experience combining cinema, theatre and a concert setting. 

     The above programmes will be accompanied by various extension activities such as meet-the-artist sessions, backstage tours or workshops. For details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/f_entertainment/groups_1883.html.

     Local art groups will also present a rich line-up of performances, including the Hong Kong Oratorio Society’s concert “The Messiah” to commemorate the 340th anniversary of Handel, the Master of Oratorios; the multimedia children’s puppet theatre “One Lap – 16000km: The Little Penguin’s Way Home” by puppet theatre troupe Make Friends With Puppet; the non-verbal full mask theatre “Plastic Island” by Free-To-Play; and the tap theatre “The Making of the Perfect Mulan” by the professional tap dance company R&T (Rhythm & Tempo) with child performers. Details of these programmes will be announced on the above-mentioned website in due course. 

     For programme dates, venues and ticket prices of the “Cheers!” Series, please see the Annex. Tickets will be available from October 10 (Friday) onwards at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Various discount schemes, such as package discounts and family package discounts, will be offered. For programme enquiries and discount schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit the above-mentioned website.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Kingsley Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):
 
Question:
 
     I often receive complaints and requests for assistance from residents of public housing estates (PHEs) about the spalling of mosaic tiles on the external walls of buildings, and it was reported that there were occasional accidents of members of the public being injured by spalled mosaic tiles detaching from the external walls of buildings. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the list of PHEs where mosaic tiles have been used as a major building material for external walls;
 
(2) of the number of cases of mosaic tiles spalling (on external walls, walls of lift lobbies and corridors, etc) in PHEs over the past three years and, among such cases, the number of those resulting in injuries to passers-by, as well as the estates involved in such cases (including the names of blocks) and their block types (e.g. Trident, Harmony, and Concord), their years of completion, and the causes of the spalling of mosaic tiles on the external walls;
 
(3) given that the spalling of mosaic tiles will also occur at locations such as walls of lift lobbies and corridors in PHEs, whether the Government has measures in place to ensure the safe entry and exit of residents, such as arranging professionals to carry out regular checks and timely repairs;
 
(4) whether it will conduct a general survey on the conditions of mosaic tiles in older PHEs (e.g. those aged 30 years or above) to facilitate early repair works, thereby safeguarding public safety; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(5) of the main reasons for using mosaic tiles as a material for the walls of buildings (including external walls, walls of lift lobbies and corridors) in PHEs; whether it will consider reducing the use of mosaic tiles and choosing other building materials that are equally aesthetic and practical but safer?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has always placed great emphasis on building safety. Through daily inspections and various inspection and maintenance programmes, public housing estates receive timely and proper maintenance and repairs to ensure they remain in good condition.
 
     In response to the question raised by the Hon Kingsley Wong, our reply is as follows:
 
(1) Currently, there are 128 public housing estates under the HA using mosaic tiles as the exterior wall finishing materials. Please refer to Annex I.
 
(2) The Housing Department (HD) conducts daily inspections of the common areas and facilities within public housing estates, including lift lobbies and corridors, to maintain facility safety and environmental hygiene. Upon identifying facilities requiring maintenance during inspections (such as spalling of mosaic tiles) or receiving reports from tenants, the HD would promptly arrange repairs. According to our records, there were a total of 23 cases of spalling of mosaic tiles on the external walls, with three cases involving minor injuries to pedestrians from January 1, 2022 to August 31, 2025. The estate offices took immediate follow-up actions, including cordoning off the affected passageways, inspecting other sections of the external walls, and arranging repairs. All cases were fully resolved. In general, mosaic tiles on external wall may spall due to ageing or environmental factors, such as change in temperature and humidity, but this does not affect the overall structural integrity of the building. For details of the aforementioned cases involving spalling of mosaic tiles from external wall, please refer to Annex II.
 
(3) and (4) The HD has been conducting daily inspections and implementing professional maintenance and repair programmes across all public housing estates in Hong Kong. Based on factors such as the age and structural condition of buildings, timely inspections and repairs are arranged to ensure structural integrity and safety, thereby providing residents with a secure and comfortable living environment. The relevant work mainly includes the following:
 
(i) Daily Inspections: Covering all public housing estates regardless of building age, frontline staff conduct daily inspections of buildings and communal facilities, following up on items requiring repair in a timely manner;
 
(ii) Annual Technical Inspection: Each estate undergoes an annual review to establish a yearly maintenance plan, which includes inspection and upkeep of public facilities (e.g. fire doors, floor tiles, external walls, etc) and equipment (e.g. lifts, fire safety installations, pipelines, etc) to enhance efficiency and safety standards;
 
(iii) Total Maintenance Scheme: Proactive inspections are conducted for public rental housing aged 10 years or above. During these inspections, attention is also given to the condition of external walls near the flats. If external wall repairs are identified, appropriate follow-up actions will be taken. This approach not only improves tenants’ living environment, but also extends the service life of the flats;
 
(iv) External Wall Finishes Repair Programme: For older public housing estates (e.g. those aged 30 years or above), the HD arranges external wall inspections and repairs as needed to enhance the safety and durability of external walls; and
 
(v) Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme: Detailed structural safety assessments are conducted for public housing estates approaching or exceeding 40 years of age. These assessments verify the structural safety and evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of preserving these buildings for at least 15 years or more through repairs and structural strengthening works.
 
     In addition to the above inspection and survey works, the HD actively explores the application of innovative technologies to shorten inspection time and enhance effectiveness. The HD currently uses handheld infrared thermographic cameras during inspections and, when necessary, deploys small drones equipped with imaging and infrared thermographic capabilities to examine building exteriors. These drones integrate with an artificial intelligence analysis platform to automatically identify external wall defects, such as spalling of mosaic tiles, and generate risk assessment reports to prioritise items requiring attention. This approach significantly enhances the efficiency of preventive maintenance with notable overall results. Furthermore, the HD carries out comprehensive external wall inspections and repairs approximately every ten years prior to its building redecorating works.
 
(5) The HA has consistently established a set of appropriate construction standards and specifications for new public housing developments. These standards and specifications are regularly updated in response to advancement of new construction technologies, building materials, and latest codes of practice. Buildings constructed in Hong Kong during the 1970s and 1980s, including public housing estates developed by the HA at that time, were commonly constructed with mosaic tiles as finishing material. Since around 2010, the HA has adopted a cleaner design for public housing. Consequently, the external walls, corridors and lift lobby walls of residential blocks in public housing estates are mainly finished with paint, while ceramic tiles are incorporated into the lobby design. Given the diverse colours of mosaic tiles and their applicability to different patterns, mosaic tiles continue to be used occasionally for feature walls in public spaces of housing projects as a highlight.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Benson Luk and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (October 8):

Question:

     It is learnt that there are at present over 80 recognised autoimmune disorders, with as many as 30 000 patients in Hong Kong suffering from such disorders who are at greater risk of contracting herpes zoster (HZ) (commonly known as “shingles”) than average persons. While various forms of HZ vaccination plans (commonly known as “shingles vaccine”) are available at various prices in the private healthcare market, the charges are considerable, with ordinary medical groups charging no less than HK$5,000. Yet the vaccine provides effective protection for only 10 years and revaccination is necessary afterwards. Ordinary grass roots may not be able to afford the expenses. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that HZ vaccine is currently not included in the Government Vaccination Programme, and that in its reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on November 20 last year, the Government indicated that the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases considered that more local data from a cost-benefit analysis would be required for future consideration on whether to include HZ vaccine in the Government Vaccination Programme, whether relevant reviews have been conducted by the authorities; if so, of the details and the outcomes of the latest review; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) as it is learnt that it is more difficult for patients with autoimmune disorders than average persons to ascertain whether they have HZ because they may often experience unknown pain, redness and various inflammations, and as a result these patients have to spend considerable time and expenses to identify the cause of their ailments, whether the authorities have formulated any established mechanism to assist such patients in early detection and treatment of HZ; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) in the long term, whether the SAR Government will consider including HZ vaccine in its Vaccination Programme when its public financial resources return to a sufficient level, so that grass-roots patients with autoimmune disorders or other high-risk individuals can receive subsidised vaccination services?

Reply:

President,

     Herpes Zoster (also known as Shingles) is caused by varicella-zoster virus, which is also responsible for Chickenpox. The virus remains latent in the nervous system of patients recovered from Chickenpox and may reactivate in times of weakened immune system many years later, inducing Herpes Zoster. Therefore, Herpes Zoster is not a disease caused by acute infection. Patients would develop painful, belt-like skin rash with blisters. Herpes Zoster is not serious in general and the risk of serious complications or death is not high. Early treatment with antiviral medications can speed up the healing of blisters; reduce the symptoms and the risk of complications. 

     One of the preventive measures against Herpes Zoster is to receive Herpes Zoster vaccine. Currently, there is one Herpes Zoster vaccine registered in Hong Kong. According to international literature available so far, the effective protection period of Herpes Zoster vaccines is around ten years generally.

     The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) regularly reviews the epidemiological situation of local vaccine-preventable diseases, the latest recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), scientific developments and evidence on vaccines, updates on vaccine components, cost-effectiveness studies, as well as actual experiences of other health authorities, and provides relevant vaccination recommendations to the DH from a public health perspective. The Government will make reference to the recommendations of the SCVPD and carefully consider various factors, including the overall medical burden of a disease on the community, vaccine availability, cost-effectiveness of large-scale vaccination, public acceptability, and other public health factors, in formulating various government subsidised immunisation programmes.

     For vaccines not included in the government’s subsidised immunisation programmes, individuals can consult their family doctor for professional advice to understand the benefits, risks and necessity of vaccination. Based on the doctor’s assessment of health status, medical history, and other factors, individuals can make informed decisions on whether to proceed with vaccination under informed consent.

     In response to the Hon Benson Luk’s question, Health Bureau’s reply after consultation with the DH and the Hospital Authority is as follows:

(1) and (3) The SCVPD discussed the topic of Herpes Zoster vaccines in September 2023. It considered that more local data from a cost-benefit analysis perspective would be essential for future consideration on the inclusion of Herpes Zoster vaccine into the government’s vaccination programme. The SCVPD was of the view that Herpes Zoster vaccines available in Hong Kong were safe and effective. Individual older adults and adults with immunocompromised conditions may consider receiving Herpes Zoster vaccine after consulting their doctors to protect themselves against Herpes Zoster and its complications.

     The Health Bureau has commissioned The University of Hong Kong to conduct an analysis on the cost-benefit of the Herpes Zoster vaccine. Upon completion of the cost-benefit analysis, the SCVPD is expected to discuss the vaccination for Herpes Zoster based on the relevant analysis results in 2026.

     The Government will continue to closely monitor relevant factors, including the latest recommendations of the WHO, the views of the SCVPD, the development and change in costs of vaccines, and the overall medical burden of the disease to consider whether to implement a government-subsidised Herpes Zoster vaccination programme. The subsidy level targeting different groups will also need to be considered if it is necessary to implement the programme.

     Moreover, at the primary healthcare level, family doctors and primary healthcare professionals will closely collaborate to provide information and education on vaccinations (including Herpes Zoster vaccine), to enhance public awareness of the Herpes Zoster vaccine and preventive consciousness.

(2) As mentioned above, Herpes Zoster is not serious in general and the risk of serious complications or death is not high.    

     Patients with Herpes Zoster first experience itch or slight pain with burning sensation in the affected area, with rash appearing one to three days later. The rash then develops into blisters, which further spread in a belt-like pattern and can last from one to 14 days, during which pustules or trickle of blood may appear. This will be followed by bursting, collapse and drying up of the fluid-filled blisters and crusting over two to three weeks. Antiviral drug can shorten the recovery time of Herpes Zoster patients and it is optimal to take it within three to five days of the onset of the disease.  

     The Government encourages the public, especially immunocompromised individuals to remain vigilant. Members of the public, who experience symptoms, should seek medical advice early and take medications according to doctors’ instructions. At the same time, the Government is committed to enhancing district-based primary healthcare services to shift the emphasis of the present healthcare system and mindset from treatment-oriented to prevention-oriented. Initiatives include promoting the Life Course Preventive Care Plan through District Health Centres to formulate personalised health management plans that address the health needs of citizens across different life stages, based on personal factors such as their gender, age and family history. The Government provides chronic disease and cancer screening, as well as advice and education on healthy lifestyle through family doctors and primary healthcare professionals, with a view to improving the overall health conditions of the citizens. The Government also takes this opportunity to remind the public that maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, can help strengthen immunity and prevent Herpes Zoster.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (October 8) that two pre-sale consents for residential developments involving 1 851 residential units were issued in the third quarter of 2025.

     Details of the above residential developments with pre-sale consents issued are as follows:
 

Expected year of completion	Developments
2025	One development in Sai Kung (51 units)
2028	One development in Kai Tak (1 800 units)

 
     The LandsD also issued two consents to assign in the third quarter, involving a total of 87 residential units in two phases of a development in Kowloon Tong.

     As at September 30, 2025, 29 applications for pre-sale consent for residential developments involving 8 902 residential units were being processed. Details are as follows:
 

Expected year of completion	No. of applications	No. of residential units involved
2026	10	2 832
2027	13	3 563
2028	6	2 507

 
     In addition, 10 applications for consent to assign involving 3 666 residential units and four non-residential units respectively as well as three applications for pre-sale consent for non-residential developments were being processed.

     Members of the public can obtain up-to-date information on consents issued for the past quarter and cases pending approval by visiting the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk).

     Intending purchasers are advised to study carefully the details of the development and the sale procedures, through information available from public advertisements, sales brochures and price lists released by the developer, before making a deposit for purchase. The sales brochure for a development also contains a summary of the provisions of the Deed of Mutual Covenant, including information on the common parts, the number of undivided shares assigned to each unit, the term of years for which the manager is appointed, the basis on which the management expenses are shared among the owners of the units, as well as a summary of the provisions of the government land grant, which intending purchasers are recommended to read carefully.