Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Nixie Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):

Question:

     It has been reported that the illegal sale of drugs commonly known as “slimming injections” (glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class injectable prescription drugs) has recently persisted on social media platforms, online shopping channels and messaging application groups. It is learnt that many members of the public have purchased the relevant unregistered drugs or parallel-imported drugs through illegal channels without undergoing professional assessment by a doctor or without a valid doctor’s prescription, posing significant risks to their health. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of reports received, arrests made and prosecutions instituted by the authorities in relation to the illegal online sale or supply of weight-loss injection-type prescription drugs in the past 12 months; and of the respective numbers of enforcement operations launched by the Department of Health, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police against such illegal acts, the quantities of illegal drugs seized, the number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted and the penalties imposed in convicted cases;

(2) whether the Government has conducted interdepartmental joint monitoring and enforcement in respect of the current circulation modes, cross-boundary transportation channels and major sales platforms for the illegal online sale of weight-loss injection-type prescription drugs, including conducting comprehensive inspections and intercepting illegal sales activities on social media platforms and the Internet, as well as combating the cross-boundary illegal importation of the relevant drugs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) whether the authorities will review the existing legislation relating to drug regulation to strengthen the penalties for the illegal sale and supply of prescription drugs so as to enhance the deterrent effect, as well as to step up the relevant law enforcement work; if so, of the details and the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and

(4) whether the authorities will step up publicity to members of the public on the health risks of the unauthorised use of weight-loss injection-type drugs which are unregistered or purchased through illegal channels, and appeal to members of the public not to purchase and use prescription drugs through illegal channels; if so, of the details?

Reply:

President,

     Having consulted the Department of Health (DH), the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and the Hong Kong Police Force, the consolidated reply to the Hon Nixie Lam’s question is as follows:

     In Hong Kong, almost all anti-obesity medicines are prescription drugs, and should only be used under close supervision of doctors.

Drug regulation and import and export control

     Currently, injectable medicines registered in Hong Kong for the treatment of obesity include liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are all Part 1 poisons and prescription drugs (i.e. Schedule 3 Poisons) under the the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (the Ordinance). According to the Ordinance, pharmaceutical products must meet the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality and be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold in the market.
     
     As Part 1 poisons-containing pharmaceutical products and prescription drugs, injectable medicines for the treatment of obesity could only be sold at the registered premises of an authorised seller of poisons (commonly referred as pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor’s prescription, and should be used under a doctor’s direction. Any person who illegally sells (through any channel, including the Internet) or possesses unregistered pharmaceutical products, Part 1 poisons, or sells prescription drugs without the authority of a prescription commits an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and two-years’ imprisonment. Any person who is not a registered medical practitioner or registered dentist could not perform medicine injection procedures; otherwise, the person may be charged for violating the Medical Registration Ordinance (Cap. 161) or the Dentists Registration Ordinance (Cap. 156).

     Furthermore, import and export of pharmaceutical products are controlled under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60). Any person who imports or exports pharmaceutical product without relevant licence commits an offence, and shall be liable, upon conviction, to a maximum penalty of a fine of $500,000 and two-years’ imprisonment.

Law enforcement

     In response to the illegal sale of controlled anti-obesity injectable medicines in the market, the Drug Office of the DH has in particular stepped up inspection and enforcement across Hong Kong from January to April 2026, as well as maintained close communication with other law enforcement agencies regarding the suspected cases, the nature of the medicines and relevant regulatory matters:

(a) The Drug Office of the DH conducted six joint enforcement actions with the Hong Kong Police Force or the C&ED, arrested several persons for suspected contravention of drug related legislations which included persons involved in illegal possession or sale of Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products, and seized a total of 47 boxes of anti-obesity injections. The DH will continue to work with relevant enforcement agencies to crack down on such illegal activities.

(b) In response to the illegal import and export of controlled injections and drugs, the C&ED conducted multiple special operations during the same period, detected 15 major smuggling cases and seized over five million suspected pharmaceutical products and approximately 150 000 controlled injections suspected of containing Part 1 poisons (including approximately 130 000 anti-obesity injection vials and approximately 20 000 cosmetic injection vials), with an estimated market value of approximately $220 million.

     The DH has an established mechanism to monitor the sale of medicines in the market (including the Internet) through unannounced inspections, market surveillance and control buy to surveil the sale of medicines including the Internet. If the DH detects any persons suspected of illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons, sale of prescription drugs without the authority of a prescription, and more, it will promptly investigate, and, depending on actual needs, refer the case to other law enforcement agencies such as the Hong Kong Police Force and the C&ED to follow up, or conduct joint operations with them, to crack down unlawful acts.

     Overall speaking, over the past 12 months (from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026), enforcement actions taken by the Drug Office of the DH and the C&ED regarding the sale of medicines include:

(a) The Drug Office of the DH conducted around 1 189 unannounced inspections against pharmacies in Hong Kong. During the same period, it handled 41 conviction cases involving illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons (including but not limited to the so-called “Anti-obesity injectable” medicines) with two cases involving Internet sellers. Among these 41 cases, the cases with the highest penalties were sentenced to two months’ imprisonment (suspended for three years) or imposed with a $87,000 fine.

(b) During the same period, the DH handled six conviction cases involving illegal sale of prescription drugs by pharmacies. The case with the highest fine imposed was $87,000.

(c) The C&ED received a total of 54 reports involving illegal import and export of injectable medicines (including but not limited to the so-called “Anti-obesity injectable” medicines). The number of cases involving illegal import and export of injectable medicines detected by the C&ED, number of seizures, number of prosecutions, number of persons prosecuted and penalties imposed are tabulated below:
 

	From April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026
Number of cases detected (Note 1 and 5)	45
Number of seizures (Note 1 and 2)	Approximately 96 000 nos., 185 000 mL, and 160 mg respectively
Number of prosecutions (Note 3)	6
Number of persons prosecuted (Note 3)	7
Penalties (Note 4)	Fine of $20,000 and imprisonment of two to six months

Note 1: This refers to cases involving illegal import or export of injectable medicines in violation of the Import and Export Ordinance and the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, including drugs commonly known as “Anti-obesity injectable” medicines. The C&ED does not maintain a breakdown of statistics for drugs commonly known as “Anti-obesity injectable” medicines.

Note 2: As the packaging of the seized injectable medicines varies, they cannot be presented in a uniform unit.

Note 3: Cases with prosecutions instituted during the year.

Note 4: Cases with trial concluded during the year.

Note 5: As some cases are under the legal proceedings, the outcomes conviction/sentencing results have not yet been determined.

Publicity and education

     The DH has been providing drug safety information to the public through different channels, urging members of the public not to purchase and use prescription drugs through illegal channels. The DH has also advised the public that the relevant drugs may not be properly stored during transportation (especially for drugs requiring cold-chain storage), which may result in adverse effect to the drug safety and create health risks. The DH has also reminded the public that selling medicines controlled under the Ordinance illegally, regardless of the sales channel (including online sales platforms, instant messaging applications or social media), carries criminal liabilities.

     The DH has prepared safety information for consumers regarding the purchase and use of medicines, including online information of “General Knowledge on the Use of Medicines”, “Be Cautious when Buying Medicines on Internet”, “Health message on overweight problem and slimming products” and “Slimming Products with Undeclared Western Drug Ingredients”, to remind the public to refrain from purchasing or using products of doubtful composition or from dubious sources, with a view to safeguarding public health. 

     At the same time, the Government has always been concerned about the adverse health effects of obesity on members of the public. In March this year, the Government launched Hong Kong’s inaugural Action Plan on Weight Management, adopting a life-course approach and whole-of-society participation as its strategic framework. Through cross-departmental and multi-disciplinary effort, the Government encourages members of the public to adopt healthy lifestyle. To manage weight effectively, members of the public should maintain a balanced diet and engage in appropriate amounts of physical activity. Members of the public should consult a doctor or pharmacist before using any anti-obesity medication, and strictly adhere to the treatment plans prescribed by doctors.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Dominic Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):

Question:

     It is learnt that in recent years, many Hong Kong people travel to and from the Mainland with their pets. There are views suggesting that although the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has shortened the quarantine period for cats and dogs upon their arrival in Hong Kong from the previous 120 days to 30 days since June 3 last year, the procedures remain cumbersome with a relatively long waiting time. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will further enhance the current procedures for applying for a Special/Import Permit for animals, for example, by streamlining the application process and introducing an electronic payment function, so as to shorten the time for vetting and approval; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether it has compiled any statistics on the respective numbers of applications and approvals for Import Permits required for Hong Kong people to bring cats and dogs back to Hong Kong after travelling to the Mainland with them in each of the past five years and the average number of days taken for vetting and approval; and

(3) whether AFCD has any plans to introduce targeted measures, such as setting up a “fast-track quarantine channel for the entry of pets brought by Hong Kong people” at designated boundary control points, so as to facilitate the quarantine procedures for pets brought back to Hong Kong by Hong Kong people after travelling to the Mainland with them; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:      

President,

     Rabies is a contagious disease that causes fatality to mammals (including humans) and no specific treatment is available at present, patients generally die once clinical signs appear, and nearly 60 000 people die of rabies globally every year. To protect public health, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) regulates the import of live animals under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations (Cap. 139A) and the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A). Under effective control measures, Hong Kong has long been widely recognised as a rabies-free place by other places.

     The reply to the question from the Hon Dominic Lee is as follows:

(1) To import dogs and cats from the Mainland into Hong Kong, an Import Permit must be applied from the AFCD, and the animals must undergo quarantine upon arrival. Applicants may submit their permit applications online, by email, by post or in person, and may choose to apply to either the AFCD or the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for the use of quarantine facilities. From June 2025, the AFCD has enhanced quarantine arrangements for dogs and cats imported from the Mainland, significantly reducing the quarantine period from 120 days to 30 days. The AFCD and the SPCA have also increased the number of quarantine facilities for dogs and cats to reduce waiting times.

Once the AFCD has verified the required application documents and confirmed the applicant has reserved quarantine facilities, an Import Permit will be issued within five working days free of charge. Quarantine fees are payable only after the dogs and cats have arrived in Hong Kong from the Mainland, and can be settled via Faster Payment System (FPS) and other electronic payment methods, by cheque or in cash. 

(2) The number of Import Permits issued for dogs and cats imported into Hong Kong from the Mainland over the past five years is set out at Annex. The AFCD does not maintain the breakdown of Hong Kong residents who applied for Import Permit to Hong Kong after bringing dogs and cats to the Mainland.

(3) As dogs and cats may come into contact with animals infected with rabies whilst staying in the Mainland or overseas places, they must be imported in accordance with the quarantine requirements specified for the risk level of that region upon return to Hong Kong. As the incubation period for rabies can last up to several months, to ensure public health and safety, it is not appropriate to replace quarantine with “fast-track quarantine”. The AFCD will continue to liaise with the Mainland authorities and, taking into account actual operational situations, risk assessment and stakeholder opinion, timely review whether the quarantine arrangements for imported cats and dogs could be further optimised.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) today (May 13) announced the results of the HA Outstanding Staff and Teams Award for 2026. This year, seven outstanding staff, eight outstanding teams and 12 young achievers have been awarded. Five new awards were introduced this year, including Outstanding Award in Patient Service, Outstanding Award in Safety Enhancement, Outstanding Award in Creativity, Outstanding Award in Research, and Outstanding Award in Operation Support, each recognising one group/individual staff member who has demonstrated an exceptional performance in the respective area (the list of awardees is appended).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​Following is a question by Professor the Hon Priscilla Leung and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):

Question: 
(2) and (3) Through the triennial Planning Exercise, the eight University Grants Committee-funded universities will review and launch new programmes. In the 2025-28 triennium, in response to the government’s policy steer, as well as market demand and industry trends, the universities will introduce 30 new programmes to meet Hong Kong’s developmental needs. These programmes cover emerging sectors which have developed rapidly in recent years and are widely popular among young people, such as AI, cybersecurity, creative industries, sustainable development and data science. This can bolster Hong Kong’s development in innovation and technology as well as the “eight centres”, while creating opportunities for young people to develop their strengths.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Pok-chi and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):
  
Question:

     Given that some local fishermen have relayed that some people have been engaging in illegal fishing within Hong Kong waters from time to time by using means forbidden by the law, and there have been repeated incidents of near-collisions involving fishing vessels. Such activities not only affect maritime safety, but also damage Hong Kong’s fisheries resources and marine ecosystem, and affect the livelihood of local fishermen in the long run. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Following is a question by the Hon Yiu Pak-leung and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):
 
Question:
 
The Kai Tak Development Area has all along adhered to the concept of sustainable development. The Kai Tak Sports Park therein has received a green building award, while the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak will soon commence construction. However, there are views that the pace of taking forward the construction of onshore power facilities at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) has lagged behind. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as some members of the industry have pointed out that with the persistent tightening of carbon emissions standards by the International Maritime Organization, the use of onshore power while berthing will become an inevitable trend and a mandatory requirement for international cruise ships to meet the emission-‍reduction requirements, whether the Government has compiled statistics on the number of cruise ships already equipped for the use of onshore power that have called at or planned to call at Hong Kong and have used Hong Kong as their homeport between 2024 and 2026;
 
(2) whether it has grasped the data on the development of onshore power at major cruise terminals in the Asia-Pacific region and the Mainland, including but not limited to the number of terminals already fully equipped with and using onshore power systems, the coverage rate of berths with onshore power facilities, and the years in which the relevant facilities were commissioned; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) whether it has formulated measures for the expeditious installation of onshore power facilities at the KTCT to meet the future needs of the cruise industry, thereby avoiding declines in the desire of international cruise ships to call at Hong Kong due to the lack of onshore power facilities in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
In respect of the question raised by the Hon Yiu Pak-leung, having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the reply is as follows:
 
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a reduction target, striving to reach net-zero carbon emissions from international shipping by or around 2050. The use of green energy is a major trend in the international shipping industry. Hong Kong, China, as an associate member of the IMO, has long been supporting its emission reduction target.
 
Installing onshore power supply facilities at cruise terminals allows cruise ships to connect to the onshore power grid while at berth, helping to reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption from marine auxiliary engines, while also reducing local air pollutant emissions, in particular nitrogen oxides. The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) had reserved space for setting up onshore power supply facilities during its construction. In response to the trend of adopting onshore power in the international cruise industry in recent years, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, in collaboration with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), has commissioned a consultancy to conduct a study on the installation of onshore power supply facilities at the KTCT. This includes reviewing the trend of developing onshore power supply facilities in major ports around the world, analysing the installation of onboard systems for onshore power connection and their use by cruise ships in various places, and studying the technical requirements and development costs for installing onshore power supply facilities at the KTCT. The Government is reviewing the study report submitted by the consultancy and considering whether onshore power supply facilities should be installed at the KTCT. 
 
The use of onshore power is one of many feasible decarbonisation measures and is not a mandatory requirement of the IMO. Its decarbonisation effectiveness depends on fuel mix of local power generation. If the power source is mainly renewable or low-carbon energy, onshore power can effectively reduce overall carbon emissions; on the contrary, if the grid is dominated by high-carbon energy, the emission reduction effectiveness will be relatively limited. The international shipping industry is also actively exploring the use of green maritime fuels, such as liquefied natural gas, green methanol, green ammonia and hydrogen, to accommodate different routes and infrastructure conditions.
 
The reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) According to the cruise ship berthing records of the KTCT from 2024 to 2025 and the berthing schedule for 2026 (as of April), a total of 37 cruise ships belonging to different cruise lines have called or planned to call at the terminal, 286 ship calls in total over the 3 years; the Government’s survey showed that 33 of these cruise ships, about 89 per cent are equipped with the conditions to use onshore power.
 
(2) According to data published by the Cruise Lines International Association, as of October 2025, a total of 38 ports worldwide that accommodate cruise ships are equipped with onshore power supply facilities for cruise ship use while at berth, accounting for about 3 per cent of the world’s cruise ports, while another 20 ports secured funding to develop onshore power supply facilities, and 30 ports were planning to implement onshore power. The development of onshore power is concentrated in the United States, the European Union and China. Some major cruise terminals in the Chinese Mainland, such as Tianjin, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, are equipped with onshore power.
 
(3) Whether international cruise ships choose to visit Hong Kong hinges on comprehensive considerations involving multiple factors, including the attractiveness of the entire region and itineraries, the uniqueness of onshore excursions, visitors’ experience, transport connectivity with other places, such as aviation and railway, as well as cost-effectiveness. As for the compliance with emission reduction, as mentioned above, the use of onshore power is only one of the feasible options. Even if onshore power is available, the choice of cruise lines to use onshore power or other green maritime fuels involves various factors, including cost-effectiveness, technical compatibility, and berthing time. Given the Government’s policy direction on encouraging the use of green maritime fuels by ocean-going vessels, we will take into account cost-effectiveness when considering whether onshore power supply facilities should be installed at the KTCT, so as to provide cruise ships with an additional option for emission reduction when calling at Hong Kong.

In fact, Hong Kong’s cruise tourism is sustaining momentum, with 189 ship calls in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 26 per cent, covering 22 different international cruise brands, and the cruise passenger throughput in Hong Kong was 631 000, representing a year-on-year increase of 22 per cent.

The CSTB and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) have been taking a multi-pronged approach to attract more international cruise ships to deploy to Hong Kong. Specific measures include the Government having earmarked in the 2023-24 Budget funding for the HKTB for four financial years to attract more cruise ships to Hong Kong. In addition, the Government reserved in the 2025-26 Budget new funding of $46 million to continue to provide support to the cruise industry until 2028-29, with priorities on encouraging cruise lines to increase their number of ship calls to Hong Kong, make overnight calls and use Hong Kong as the homeport; and provide cruise lines making ship calls at the KTCT during the summer low season with concessions on the cruise ships’ dockage fees and passenger fees from 2025/26 to 2027/28, with a view to attracting more cruise ships to berth at the KTCT during the summer low season.

In addition, the HKTB is actively participating in regional and global cruise industry events to raise Hong Kong’s profile as a cruise tourism destination; strengthening strategic partnerships with global cruise lines and encouraging them to prioritise the inclusion of Hong Kong as a port of call in their Asian itineraries; and advancing collaboration to foster co-ordinated itinerary planning and joint promotion, strengthening regional co-operation. The CSTB, in collaboration with the HKTB, is also promoting and developing diversified and distinctive onshore excursions to showcase Hong Kong’s unique culture and enhance Hong Kong’s in-destination experience of cruise tourists. 
 
Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Jimmy Ng and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):

Question:

The Government’s Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots announced in May 2025 nine tourism hotspot projects, among which the Hong Kong Industrial Brand Tourism Scheme (the Scheme) aims to showcase to visitors through tour groups formed by the tourism industry Hong Kong’s industrial story and the “Lion Rock spirit” to rise above the odds. Both the public and the industry have expressed concerns about the Scheme’s effectiveness. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) since the launch of the Scheme, how many applications from travel agents have been received; among them, how many visit sessions are involved;

(2) as the Government has previously stated that the implementation agent for the Scheme is currently discussing the details with brands interested in participating in the Scheme, of the relevant details and time of launch; whether the Government will introduce more measures to encourage industrial brands to participate in the Scheme; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether the Government will draw on the successful experience of the Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme to launch an “industrial tourism incentive scheme” to provide cash incentives for travel agents based on the number of participants in order to enhance the industry’s incentives to promote such projects; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The tourism industry in 2026 is showing strong momentum. In the first four months of this year, the number of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong reached approximately 18.5 million, representing a year-on-year increase of about 15 per cent. During the Chinese New Year Golden Week and the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, the number of Mainland visitors to Hong Kong was approximately 1.5 million and 1.01 million respectively, representing increases of 14 per cent and 10 per cent compared to the same periods last year. The results are very encouraging. We expect total visitor arrivals for the whole year to reach 53.8 million, an increase of about 8 per cent over last year.

The travel patterns of visitors have changed significantly after the pandemic. Hong Kong’s tourism industry needs to transform and adapt to better meet the needs of global travellers. The Government has been proactively seizing opportunities and has put forward the “+Tourism” development strategy under the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 to deeply integrate Hong Kong’s rich cultural heritage, unique urban and natural landscapes, and various large-scale cultural and sports events with tourism, thereby providing visitors with distinctive travel experiences. 

Our consolidated reply to Hon Jimmy Ng’s question is as follows:

The 2024 Policy Address announced the establishment of the Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots (Working Group) to identify and develop popular and attractive tourist hotspots across districts. On May 20, 2025, the Working Group announced the implementation of nine projects, including the launching of the Hong Kong Industrial Brand Tourism Scheme (the Scheme), which seeks to align with the development trend of in-depth travel and to develop “Made in Hong Kong” industrial tourist hotspots that visitors can visit, experience, and make purchases. Under the premise of complying with relevant land lease/tenancy conditions and other regulatory requirements, without affecting the daily production operations, staffing arrangements of the industrial brands, while remaining commercially viable, the Scheme integrates Hong Kong’s industrial brands with tourism to provide visitors with diversified local tourism product options and novel experiences.  

The Scheme has been open for applications from travel agents since November 2025. The pilot phase covers the factories of Lee Kum Kee, Kee Wah Bakery, and Yakult located in the Tai Po Innopark. Through a “group-in, group-out” mode, visitors can tour the factories, participate in product making, purchase souvenirs and cultural and creative products, and take photos with brand mascots to experience the “Made in Hong Kong” unique culture. The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) organised a trade familiarisation visit to these factories on November 6, 2025. The travel trade responded very positively and recognised the potential of industrial tourism, especially for student groups, business travellers and visitors seeking unique travel experiences.

The Government has commissioned the TIC as the implementing agent of the Scheme to assist participating brands in planning itineraries and co-ordinating the details of tour group visits. Travel agents may submit applications to the TIC through the booking system to arrange visits for inbound tour groups. At this stage, the visiting hours offered by brands are limited to weekdays. Travel agents will co-ordinate closely with the TIC and the brands, taking into account the tour group’s needs, specific visit dates, and available booking slots offered by factories, to ensure suitable guided tours are arranged without disrupting factory operations.

Since the factories of the participating industrial brands are still engaged in manufacturing activities, the TIC needs to negotiate individually with each brand regarding their capacity, available opening hours (including the possibility of weekend openings) and visit arrangements. For brands, industrial production remains their core business, and they need to ensure that they can receive visitors without affecting their production processes. Since “Industry+Tourism” helps enhance brand value and awareness, and the number of visitors that can be accommodated depends primarily on the brand’s reception capacity, as well as constraints such as factory space and opening hours, we do not consider that providing financial incentives would effectively benefit more visitors.

The Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme was a special support measure introduced by the Government during the pandemic to support the hard-hit tourism industry. With the tourism sector currently experiencing a strong recovery and industrial brands themselves being highly appealing, though each has its own limitations in terms of capacity, we believe resources should be concentrated on providing appropriate administrative and co-ordination support to the participating industrial brands and travel agents, such as establishing a booking system and assisting with itinerary planning, thereby enhancing the industry’s incentive to promote the project and ensuring the quality of visits.

The Tourism Commission is actively preparing for the next phase of the Scheme and has made initial contact with around 10 industrial brands that have expressed interest in joining. The aim is to include more industrial brands into the Scheme, subject to compliance with land lease/tenancy conditions and other regulatory requirements, and to continuously optimise and enhance the Scheme’s content to ensure its steady development. Depending on the preparation progress of each industrial brand, we will make announcements as appropriate.

The Scheme has successfully highlighted the unique “Made in Hong Kong” travel experience. We are pleased to see more and more Hong Kong industrial brands participating in the Scheme and launching their own exhibitions, displays and souvenirs related to their brand history and products, thereby introducing the “Made in Hong Kong” culture to locals and visitors. The Government will continue to support and promote the development of industrial tourism, offering visitors more “Only in Hong Kong” unique travel experiences.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Sunny Tan and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):

Question:

     It has been reported that there are over 50 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Mainland. There are views pointing out that, given the opportunities presented by the 15th Five-Year Plan, many Mainland SMEs require support from Hong Kong in serving as a platform for them to go global. These Mainland SMEs also hope that they can send their staff to Hong Kong for training. However, under the existing visa arrangements for entry into Hong Kong for training, the Administration will only consider applications from Mainland residents who are employees and business associates of well-established and multinational companies based in Hong Kong. In addition, there are views pointing out that, while quite a number of the organisations in Hong Kong offer global internship opportunities or internship opportunities open for application by non-local university students, the existing mechanism for entry visas lacks a dedicated channel for Mainland students from leading Mainland universities to apply for visas to undertake internships in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will strengthen communications and collaborations with the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global to expeditiously review and relax the eligibility criteria for entry visas for undergoing training in Hong Kong, so as to include Mainland residents who are employees and business associates of Mainland SMEs, thereby providing a more convenient visa application mechanism for them to undergo training in Hong Kong; and

(2) whether the Immigration Department will strengthen communications and collaborations with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau to study the establishment of a visa mechanism for internships in a wider range of industries targeting Mainland students from leading Mainland universities, by drawing on experience from the implementation of the GBA Fintech Two-way Internship Scheme for Post-secondary Students, with a view to effectively expanding the pool of high-calibre talents in Hong Kong?

Reply:

President,

     The Government is committed to building Hong Kong into an international hub for high calibre talents, with a view to fully leveraging Hong Kong’s strategic role in “connecting with both the Mainland and the world”, contributing to our country’s high‑standard opening up, and better integrating into and serving the overall national development. While maintaining effective immigration control, the Government continues to enhance visa arrangements for entry, so as to facilitate the convergence of talents for exchanges in Hong Kong.

     In consultation with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) and the Immigration Department (ImmD), my reply to the question raised by the Hon Tan is as follows:

(1) According to the prevailing entry policy for training, non-local persons may apply to enter Hong Kong for training for a limited period (not more than 12 months) to undergo employment-related activities such as on-the-job training, secondment or internship, with a view to acquiring special skills and knowledge not available in their country/territory of domicile. For Mainland residents, if they are Mainland employees and business associates of well-established and multinational companies based in Hong Kong, or if their applications are sponsored by bureaux/departments (B/Ds) or statutory bodies, they may also apply to enter Hong Kong for training.

     The entry arrangement for training aims at facilitating persons with genuine needs to enter Hong Kong for training, enabling them to acquire local knowledge, experience or skills. It also helps promote and consolidate Hong Kong’s role in assisting Mainland enterprises in going global. This arrangement plays a vital role in consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s competitive advantages and in developing the city into an international hub for high calibre talents.

     In 2025, a total of 6 938 applications for training visa/entry permit were approved by the ImmD, of which about 32 per cent (2 244 cases) were from Mainland residents. In the first quarter of 2026, a total of 1 582 applications for training visa/entry permit were approved by the ImmD, of which about 34 per cent (538 cases) were from Mainland residents.

     The Government reviews the entry arrangement for training from time to time, to ensure that the arrangement keeps pace with the times and meets the development needs of Hong Kong, while ensuring that the risks are manageable. In considering whether to further relax the entry arrangement, the Government will take into account the impact on the local workforce and training opportunities for local talents, as well as the risk of abuse (including illegal employment or exploitation of those coming for training in Hong Kong as cheap labour).

     The Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (Task Force) mentioned in the question was established in October 2025. The Task Force is steered by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development to co-ordinate efforts across relevant bureaux, departments and agencies, and work together to provide one-stop support for Mainland enterprises to go global through Hong Kong. As a member of the Task Force, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) supports Mainland enterprises in establishing presence in Hong Kong through assisting them in applying to relevant departments for the required documents, such as visas/entry permits for staff. In addition, InvestHK stays attuned to the challenges and difficulties faced by those enterprises when setting up businesses in Hong Kong, in order to timely reflect the issues to relevant departments for exploring suitable solutions as appropriate. The ImmD has been in communication with InvestHK and provided assistance to staff of Mainland enterprises in applying for visas/entry permits.

     The Government will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the entry arrangement for training, as well as the views of the relevant departments and sectors concerned, and timely review the entry arrangement for training to strike an appropriate balance between immigration control and facilitation.

(2) The GBA Fintech Two-way Internship Scheme for Post-secondary Students mentioned in the question was launched in 2023 by the FSTB through the existing entry arrangement for training. The internship programme subsidises, inter alia, Mainland students studying fintech-related subjects in post-secondary institutions in Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to undertake internships at fintech companies in Hong Kong. Apart from this internship programme, the ImmD also actively collaborates with various B/Ds or their statutory bodies to enable Mainland students or youths to participate in internship programmes in relevant sectors through the entry arrangement for training, thereby expanding the talent pool of Hong Kong. These internship programmes include:

(a) The InnoTalent Programme launched by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) in 2020. Under this programme, university students from renowned Mainland and overseas institutions can participate in work shadowing at the HKPC, engaging in practical research and development (R&D) and project management work, as well as conducting field studies at factories and enterprises in the GBA. The programme covers cutting-edge fields such as new industrialisation, artificial intelligence (AI), green technology and smart cities;

(b) The STEM Internship Scheme launched by the ITC in 2020. The internship programme subsidises university students taking STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programmes in designated local universities to undertake short-term internships, thereby letting them to gain innovation and technology (I&T)-related work experience, including AI, biotechnology, fintech and other I&T areas, and fostering their interest in pursuing a career in I&T after graduation. In June 2023, the scheme was expanded to cover government-funded R&D centres and the HKPC, providing internship opportunities in Hong Kong for STEM students from both local and overseas universities (including GBA campuses established by designated local universities); and

(c) The GBA Youth Aviation Industry Internship Programme launched by the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (established and managed by the Airport Authority Hong Kong) in 2023. The internship programme paves the way for Mainland youths aspiring to pursue careers in the aviation industry within the GBA to undertake internships at the Hong Kong International Airport.

     The Government will continue to review various visa policies in a timely manner and, subject to the premise of ensuring effective immigration control, help facilitate more non-local talents in visiting Hong Kong for exchanges, thereby expanding the local pool of high-calibre talents and consolidating Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Transport Department (TD) today (May 13) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on May 28 (Thursday) to noon on June 1 (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 220 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 an 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 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 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