The enquiry hotline for Wang Fuk Court’s long-term housing arrangements commenced operation today. Members of the public may call 2129 8133 for information regarding the plan announced on February 21, under which affected owners may choose from several options.
These include the Government acquiring titles from flat owners for cash, a “flat-for-flat” arrangement, and the reservation of units under the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS), the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme, or Housing Society projects. Owners who have sold their titles will be given priority to purchase these reserved flats.
The plan also involves the construction of new HOS flats at Chung Nga Road West in Tai Po to provide additional options for those affected.
To assist Wang Fuk Court owners in understanding the specific options available under the housing plan, the Government has established a cross-departmental engagement team co-ordinated by the Housing Bureau.
Beginning this week, the team will contact owners through the “one social worker per household” service. Owners may also contact the specific team members assigned to their household via the same mechanism.
For easy identification, engagement team members will wear light blue vests and carry identification cards. Owners are advised not to disclose personal information to strangers without a referral made under the “one social worker per household” service.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Determined to tackle issue of substandard subdivided units with Basic Housing Unit regime opens for registration today Under the Basic Housing Units Ordinance (Cap. 658), a new regime (i.e. the BHU regime) for the letting of SDUs in residential buildings is rolled out in phases starting from today. From today onwards, the Dedicated Team on Subdivided Units of the Housing Bureau (HB) begins to accept applications for registration of pre-existing SDUs, as well as applications for BHU recognition of SDUs complying with minimum standards of living conditions. The 48-month transitional arrangements (i.e. until February 28, 2030) under the BHU regime allow reasonable time for SDU owners/operators to gradually adapt to the statutory requirements. Meanwhile, the criminal offence of illegal letting of SDUs with no registration and no recognition will only come into effect 12 months after the commencement of the Ordinance (i.e. March 1, 2027).
A Government spokesman stressed that with accumulation of the issue of substandard SDUs over the years, it had come to a critical point and there had been undisputed consensus in the community that grass-root SDU tenants should have a safe, hygienic and reasonable living environment. The Government has always accorded top priority to the well-being of SDU tenants and will implement the BHU regime in an orderly and steady manner, focusing on registration in the first year and commencing enforcement in the second year, instead of taking immediate enforcement action in one go.
During the first year of the implementation of the new regime (i.e. from today until February 28, 2027), the HB primarily motivates owners of pre-existing SDUs to submit their registration applications as soon as possible in order to obtain a 36-month grace period (i.e. from March 1, 2027, to February 28, 2030) for more time in arranging their tenancies and alteration works in a flexible and people-oriented manner. The application procedure for grace-period registration is simple and no application fee will be charged. Such 48-month arrangements of registration and grace-period provide owners/operators with reasonable time to carry out necessary alteration works and submit recognition applications. Pre-existing SDUs, regardless of whether they comply with the minimum standards of living conditions or not, are welcome to apply for registration for free to obtain the grace period.
Starting from the second year of the implementation of the new regime (i.e. upon the expiry of the registration period, from March 1, 2027, onwards), the HB will adopt a pragmatic, people-oriented and risk-based approach when taking enforcement actions in a reasonable, compassionate and orderly manner against illegal letting of SDUs with no registration and no recognition, so as to ensure that SDU households will not be displaced due to relevant enforcement actions.
The HB, through its six District Service Teams (DSTs) covering various regions of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, will assist affected households in need in finding alternative accommodations (including SDUs that have obtained BHU recognition) in the private market for relocation, and flexibly co-ordinate other housing resources (such as transitional housing (TH), Hostels for Single Persons, interim housing and transit centres) to provide temporary shelters for them. Contact details of these six DSTs are at Note 1. The HB will continue to closely monitor the SDU rental market. For those potential situations where SDU owners and tenants may need to discuss their rental arrangements for various reasons, the six DSTs under HB have geared up to render immediate assistance to affected tenants. At the same time, the DSTs will continue to reach out to SDU households through street counters, home visits, seminars, briefing sessions, etc, providing them with comprehensive and suitable support, such as handling enquiries, referring suspected cases of contravening the SDU tenancy control to the Rating and Valuation Department, assisting SDU households in need to apply for traditional public rental housing (PRH), Light Public Housing, TH, or find other accommodations, etc. On the road to eradicating substandard SDUs, the HB will make utmost efforts to support affected grassroots tenants in improving their living conditions.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 1) investigated a suspected norovirus outbreak on the cruise ship MS Westerdam, which is making a brief stop at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal during daytime today. The CHP is actively following up on the incident in collaboration with relevant departments.
“On Friday evening (February 27), the CHP’s Port Health Division received notification from a cruise operator indicating that certain passengers and crew members aboard a vessel en route to Hong Kong were suspected of having contracted norovirus. The CHP immediately requested additional information from the cruise operator and the ship’s medical personnel. Upon receiving the information yesterday, the CHP promptly convened a meeting with the relevant government departments and organisations to comprehensively assess the risks and make thorough arrangements to protect the health of those on board,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
The Housing Bureau’s Dedicated Team on Subdivided Units today began accepting applications for registrations of pre-existing substandard subdivided units (SDUs), as well as applications for Basic Housing Unit (BHU) recognition of SDUs that comply with minimum living condition standards.
Under the Basic Housing Units Ordinance, which took effect today, the BHU regime for the letting of SDUs in residential buildings is being rolled out in phases.
The criminal offence of illegal letting of SDUs with no registration and no recognition will only come into effect in a year’s time, on March 1, 2027.
During the first year of the new regime, the bureau is primarily concerned with motivating owners of pre-existing SDUs to submit their registration applications as soon as possible. This means they will be granted a 36-month grace period to get their tenancies and alteration works in order.
The application procedure for grace-period registration is simple and no application fees will be charged.
Under the regime, transitional arrangements will be in force until February 28, 2030. The Government highlighted that the registration and grace-period arrangements will give owners and operators reasonable time to carry out necessary alteration works and submit recognition applications.
Pre-existing SDUs, regardless of whether they comply with minimum living condition standards or not, can apply for registration and obtain the grace period at no cost.
Starting from the second year of the new regime’s implementation, from March 1 next year, the bureau said that to ensure SDU households are not displaced due to enforcement actions, it will adopt a pragmatic, people-oriented and risk-based approach to enforcement against illegal letting of SDUs with no registration and no recognition.
In terms of relocations, the bureau, through its sixDistrict Service Teams(DSTs), covering various regions of the city, will assist affected households that need to find alternative accommodation on the private market, and co-ordinate the use of other housing resources such as transitional housing (TH), Hostels for Single Persons, interim housing and transit centres as required.
To encourage SDU owners and operators to submit applications for registration and recognition as early as possible, the Government is offering an “early-bird” reduction/waiver on recognition application fees.
In addition, in accordance with the ordinance, the Chief Executive appointed hasmembersto an appeals panel for a period of three years starting from today.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3
From the 2017/18 academic year, the Government provides a non-means-tested annual subsidy for eligible students pursuing full-time locally accredited local and non-local self-financing undergraduate (including top-up degree) programmes in Hong Kong (save for those enrolling in places already supported under the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors) offered by eligible institutions.
The non-means-tested annual subsidy is up to $35,120 in the 2026/27 academic year. The subsidy will apply to both new and continuing eligible students, and is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Eligible students enrolling in the relevant programmes will pay a tuition fee after subsidy. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.
To understand the eligibility, participating institutions and programmes of the scheme, please visit www.cspe.edu.hk/en/nmtfor details.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3
The Gifted Education Fund supports various organisations to provide “Off-school Advanced Learning Programmes (OSALPs)” for primary and secondary school students. In the current school year, eight new programmes have been rolled out, covering themes such as artificial intelligence, aerospace and STEAM, and are open to student members of Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE). For details, please visit the following website of HKAGE:https://www.hkage.edu.hk/en-us/articles/osalpAdmission fee: Free of charge
In addition, parents are encouraged to actively nominate exceptionally gifted students to enroll to become student members of HKAGE through different admission channels (including through recognised competitions), allowing them to receive systematic training through HKAGE and further stretching their potential.
For information on the HKAGE admission channels, please visit:
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is the speech by the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum, at the opening ceremony of “No Limits” 2026 today (February 28):
“No Limits” provides a stage for artists with different abilities to showcase their creativity and talents, fostering an inclusive community. It bridges people with different origins, backgrounds and abilities, which on the one hand enriches our arts and cultural offerings, and on the other, showcases the role of creativity as a continuous driver of societal development. I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for the dedicated efforts in organising “No Limits”; as well as the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong for providing arts accessibility services. I wish this year’s “No Limits” resounding success, and every audience find inspiration and enlightenment through the programmes.
Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKETO Berlin welcomes Year of Horse The reception brought together esteemed guests from various sectors, including government officials, ambassadors to Germany, business leaders, and media representatives, to celebrate the Year of the Horse. In his welcome remarks, the Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong, highlighted Hong Kong’s robust economic growth and strong performance in the capital market over the past year.
“In 2025, Hong Kong’s GDP grew by 3.5 per cent. Our city also regained its position as the world’s leading initial public offering fundraising hub, raising more than EUR 30 billion from over 110 new listings. Building on this success, Hong Kong will continue to advance with vitality and strength in the year ahead.”
Mr Wong also introduced the innovative measures highlighted in the 2026-27 Budget delivered on February 25 (Hong Kong time). These measures aim to promote diversified development and international co-operation, particularly by leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths in innovation and technology and finance. Various preferential policies, including land grant arrangements, financial subsidies and tax incentives, will facilitate the development of overseas and Mainland enterprises in Hong Kong. As an international trade centre with a strategic geographical location, comprehensive infrastructure and a full range of professional services, Hong Kong will continue to play an important role in global trade.
Mr Wong also highlighted that a record-high number of 11 000 overseas companies were located in Hong Kong in 2025, representing an increase of 11 per cent over the previous year. The “Go Global” initiative, in which Hong Kong serves as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, will continue to support Chinese Mainland enterprise in expanding globally and closely connecting with the rest of the world.
Mr Wong also further took the opportunity to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, and Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for cultural exchange and innovation and technology collaboration. The reception featured an energetic freestyle football performance by two young artists from Hong Kong, which captivated the local guests.
About HKETO Berlin
HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland. Issued at HKT 21:45
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government announces 2026-27 Land Sale List Apart from sites rolled out by the Government, for railway development and transit-oriented development, projects expected to launch/complete tender in 2026-27 include MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)’s Tuen Mun A16 Station (Package 2) development project and the residential site earmarked for transit-oriented development for the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak. These two projects are expected to provide a total of about 6 810 flats. In addition, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) plans to take forward its projects at To Kwa Wan Road/Wing Kwong Street and Bailey Street, Kowloon City, providing about 2 120 flats in total. As for private development/redevelopment projects, with reference to the figures in the past decade, the supply in the next financial year is estimated to be 7 000 flats. For the first quarter of 2026-27, i.e. April to June 2026, the Government will put up for tender a residential site in Tung Chung, which is capable of producing about 990 flats. Ms Linn said that the site sits on a harbourfront location and will be served by the future Tung Chung East Station, which would be attractive to the market. The MTRCL is also considering to put up for tender its development project at Tuen Mun A16 Station (Package 2) during the quarter, providing about 5 510 flats. In addition, for private development/redevelopment projects, one lease modification case is expected to be executed in the first quarter, capable of providing about 175 flats. Assuming the above project from the MTRCL will be rolled out in the first quarter, total supply from various sources is expected to be about 6 675 flats.Issued at HKT 21:21
Chief Executive John Lee held engagement sessions yesterday and today to exchange views with over 30 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and nearly 90 Hong Kong SAR members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), respectively, before they attend the fourth session of the 14th NPC and the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee to be held in Beijing in early March.
Noting that these individuals serve as a crucial bridge connecting the Mainland and Hong Kong, Mr Lee said the current-term Hong Kong SAR Government has established a regular exchange mechanism with them to pool their strengths in contributing to Hong Kong’s further integration into and service of national development.
Mr Lee thanked the deputies and members for their insights and suggestions, and for engaging in in-depth discussions on Hong Kong’s development opportunities during the National 15th Five-Year Plan period.
He stressed that the Hong Kong SAR Government will lead Hong Kong in proactively aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, and making every effort to develop the city into an international innovation and technology centre as well as an international hub for high-calibre talent.
The Hong Kong SAR Government will work hand in hand with the deputies and members to contribute to Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, the Chief Executive added.