Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3
LCQ19: Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates Question:
At present, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) adopt a “2+3+3” year mode of stay. It is learnt that earlier this year, some of those who were admitted to Hong Kong for employment through IANG (e.g. those whose employment contracts were about to expire) were unable to obtain three-year visa renewals smoothly when extending their stay. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
Type of ApplicationsNote: Applications approved/refused in a year may not all be received in the same year.
(2) At present, over 90 per cent of those coming to or staying in Hong Kong under the IANG are fresh graduates. They are not required to have secured offers of employment in Hong Kong upon application. However, when applying for an extension of stay, they are required to have taken up employment in Hong Kong that are at the levels commonly taken up by degree holders and the remuneration packages are on par with the market level. For those who have established or joined in business in Hong Kong, they are required to produce proof of their business upon application for an extension of stay.
Industry/sectorThe Immigration Department does not maintain other breakdowns of statistics mentioned in the question.
(3) Since its launch in 2008, the IANG has received positive response and helped Hong Kong attract and retain talent as well as expanding the talent pool. As at the end of April 2025, a total of 177 567 applications have been received. Among them, 172 043 applications have been approved, with over 90 per cent being recent non-local graduates and 2 825 applications coming from the graduates of the GBA campuses of Hong Kong universities. The statistics on entrants admitted to Hong Kong under the IANG who eventually acquired the right of abode in the past five years are tabulated as follows:
Admission policy/schemeNote: The figures are based on the applicants’ status in Hong Kong at the time of application for the right of abode.
With the development of the GBA, it has become a trend for Hong Kong universities to set up campuses in Mainland cities of the GBA through joint ventures, and their graduates will become an important source of talent in the GBA. Starting from the end of 2022, the Government has extended the IANG on a pilot basis to cover graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification from Hong Kong universities’ campuses in Mainland cities of the GBA, so as to attract outstanding talent from these institutions to come to Hong Kong for employment and further boost Hong Kong’s human resources and competitiveness. The Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address 2024 to extend the pilot arrangement for two years. This measure not only fosters the exchange of talents in the GBA, but also meets the needs of economic development in the GBA. We will continue to monitor the implementation of the IANG, particularly the response to the inclusion of graduates of Hong Kong universities’ GBA campuses under the IANG, and review its effectiveness in due course.Issued at HKT 16:05
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation from June 26 to yesterday (June 29) to combat unfair trade practices at phone repair shops. During the operation, Customs detected four related cases and arrested seven persons, who are suspected of applying a false trade description to the phone repair services supplied and possessing for sale goods with a forged trademark, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs noticed that some phone repair shops made false claims to customers that the screens used in their phone repair services were new and original products. An investigation was then launched. With the assistance of the trademark owner, Customs officers conducted test-buy operations in Mong Kok, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, arresting seven local salesmen aged between 23 and 53. A batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phone components was seized.
Investigations are ongoing. All arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Traders should also be cautious in merchandising, since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions. Consumers should procure services or goods from reputable shops and check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.
Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied or offered to be supplied to a consumer, or any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP investigates two cases of severe paediatric influenza A infection The first case involves a 12-year-old boy with underlying illness. He presented with a fever, cough and shortness of breath on June 27. He was brought to the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital for medical attention on the same day and was subsequently admitted to its paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). His respiratory specimen collected on June 29 tested positive for the influenza A virus. His clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with septic shock. He remains hospitalised in serious condition.
Another case involves a 6-year-old boy with good past health. He presented with a fever on June 27, and attended a private hospital the next day (June 28). Due to persistent seizure, he was transferred to the PICU of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for treatment. His respiratory specimen collected on June 29 tested positive for influenza A virus and Haemophilus influenzae. His clinical diagnosis was a co-infection of influenza A and Haemophilus influenzae complicated with severe pneumonia and septic shock. He remains hospitalised in critical condition.
The CHP’s preliminary investigation revealed that both boys had received the 2025/26 seasonal influenza vaccination. They had no travel history during the incubation period. There have been no recent influenza outbreaks at their schools. One of the household contacts of each boy developed upper respiratory symptoms and fever respectively but their conditions were mild and required no hospitalisation. The CHP will continue to investigate the cases.
According to the surveillance data, seasonal influenza activity has been increasing over the past few weeks. Although it still remains slightly below the baseline levels at present, based on past experience, Hong Kong typically experiences a flu season between July and August. Hence, the CHP anticipates a further rise in influenza activity with arrival of an influenza season shortly.
The CHP reminded members of the public, especially children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, to seek medical advice promptly for early treatment if they present with fever and respiratory symptoms. As the health condition of children with influenza can deteriorate rapidly, parents must pay close attention to their condition, and visit an accident and emergency department immediately if the child’s condition deteriorates with symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, blue lips, chest pain, confusion, a persistent fever or convulsions.
Separately, the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent contracting influenza and other respiratory illnesses. High-risk individuals should wear surgical masks when staying in crowded places. People with respiratory symptoms, even if mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly. They should also consider whether to attend work or school.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3
The results of the Central Allocation for Primary One Admission (POA) 2025 will be mailed to parents on Wednesday and Thursday (June 4 and 5).(ii) Parents who have provided a mobile phone number on the Choice of Schools Form and indicated their consent to receive the allocation results via the mobile phone number will also receive the Central Allocation results via SMS on June 4; and (iii) Parents will also receive the Primary One Registration Form with the Central Allocation results, which will be delivered on June 4 and 5 through the Local CourierPost service provided by Hongkong Post. If door delivery by Hongkong Post fails, a Mail Collection Notification Card will be left for parents to collect it from the designated post office starting from the afternoon of the following working day. If parents have not received the mail concerned or the Mail Collection Notification Card issued by Hongkong Post by June 6, they could collect the Primary One Registration Form at the designated collection centre on June 7 or 8. Please refer to the EDB’s POA System webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/index.html) for details then.
Parents are required to register their child with the school allocated on June 10 (Tuesday) or June 11 (Wednesday) during school hours.
Parents who cannot register their child with the school on the above dates due to matters of grave importance should notify the person in charge of registration of the school allocated in advance to make alternative arrangements. Otherwise, they would be deemed to have given up the school place allocated.
Arrangements for special circumstances
Should parents decide to give up the place allocated because of special circumstances, such as moving to another district far from the school allocated, they should not register their child with the school allocated. Under such circumstances, they are advised to go to the EDB’s School Places Allocation Section, Podium Floor, West Block, Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, to make necessary arrangements for transfer. They should bring along the Primary One Registration Form, the original and copies of documents showing proof of the new address (such as a rental contract, rates demand notes, or water or electricity bills bearing the name of the parent or the guardian of the child).
Any parent who finds it necessary to transfer his/her child to another school after registration is strongly advised to obtain an assurance of acceptance from that school before retrieving the Primary One Registration Form from the original school because retrieval of the registration form means cancellation of the allocated school place.
In case of inclement weather or other special circumstances during the period for the announcement of results or on any day(s) designated for registration, parents should pay attention to announcements on radio and television for special arrangements for the Central Allocation or registration.
Enquiries
Parents wishing to obtain general information regarding the POA procedures can call the EDB’s 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry service at 2891 0088. Further enquiries can be made to the School Places Allocation Section at 2832 7610 (for Hong Kong Island and Islands), 2832 7620 (for Kowloon), 2832 7635 (for New Territories West), 2832 7659 (for New Territories East) and 2832 7700/2832 7740 (for general enquiries) during office hours, as well as from 9am to 4.30pm on June 7 (Saturday) and June 8 (Sunday).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Scam alert related to banks
Bank The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. Issued at HKT 17:38
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for May 2026.
The number of mortgage applications in May increased month-on-month by 12.8 per cent to 10 767.
Mortgage loans approved in May increased by 10.1 per cent compared with April to HK$40.2 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions increased by 9.4 per cent to HK$11.7 billion and those financing secondary market transactions increased by 9.1 per cent to HK$23.8 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing increased by 17.7 per cent to HK$4.7 billion.
Mortgage loans drawn down during May increased by 4.3 per cent compared with April to HK$23.6 billion.
The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR decreased from 77.8 per cent in April to 73.8 per cent in May. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates decreased from 1.3 per cent in April to 1.2 per cent in May.
The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.4 per cent to HK$1,946.9 billion at end-May.
The mortgage delinquency ratio stood at a low level of 0.11 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio was unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) today (June 30) alerted members of the public to two fraudulent emails purportedly issued by the IRD.
The first email, purported to be sent by an Assistant Commissioner of Inland Revenue, seeks to obtain recipients’ email account passwords; asking them to provide property tax information by inputting their email account passwords via a hyperlink provided.
The other email, also purported to be sent by the IRD, seeks to trick recipients into installing an unknown software by asking the recipients to submit documents within 24 hours via a hyperlink provided to fulfil compliance requirements.
The IRD has no connection with the emails, and has reported the case to the Police for further investigation.
The IRD reminded members of the public not to open suspicious emails or visit hyperlinks provided in such emails.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
According to statistics published today (June 30) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions increased by 2.3 per cent in May 2026. Among the total, Hong Kong dollar deposits and foreign currency deposits increased by 1.2 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively in May, mainly reflecting fund flows of corporates. In the year to end-May, total deposits and Hong Kong dollar deposits increased by 4.8 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong increased by 5.3 per cent in May to RMB1,134.7 billion at the end of May, mainly reflecting fund flows of corporates. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB1,129.6 billion in May, compared with RMB1,214.6 billion in April. It should be noted that changes in deposits are affected by a wide range of factors, such as interest rate movements and fund-raising activities. It is therefore more appropriate to observe the longer-term trends, and not to over-generalise fluctuations in a single month.
Total loans and advances increased by 1.4 per cent in May, and increased by 5.0 per cent in the year to end-May. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) and loans for use outside Hong Kong both increased by 1.4 per cent in May. The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio decreased to 71.0 per cent at the end of May from 71.6 per cent at the end of April, as Hong Kong dollar deposits increased at a faster pace than Hong Kong dollar loans.
Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both increased by 1.1 per cent in May, and increased by 1.1 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively when compared to a year ago. The seasonally-adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 decreased by 0.6 per cent in May, while increased by 2.0 per cent compared to a year ago, reflecting in part investment-related activities. Total M2 and total M3 both increased by 2.4 per cent in May. Compared to a year earlier, total M2 and total M3 increased by 9.9 per cent and 9.8 per cent respectively.
As monthly monetary statistics are subject to volatilities due to a wide range of transient factors, such as seasonal funding demand as well as business and investment-related activities, caution is required when interpreting the statistics.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-lowering ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 6pm today (June 30) will be cancelled.
If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and weather conditions permit by then, the flag-lowering ceremony may be resumed without further notice.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government’s financial results for two months ended May 31, 2026
May 31, 2026 HK$ millionMay 31, 2026 HK$ millionand repayment of Government Bondsissuance of Government BondsGovernment Bonds*and repayment of Government BondsGovernment Debts as at May 31, 2026 (Note 3) HK$446,559 million Debts Guaranteed by Government as at May 31, 2026 (Note 4) HK$108,634 million
TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES
May 31, 2026 HK$ millionMay 31, 2026 HK$ millionissuance and repayment of Government Bonds(Note 5)Notes:
1. This Account consolidates the General Revenue Account and the following eight Funds: Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Civil Service Pension Reserve Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund, Land Fund, Loan Fund and Lotteries Fund. It excludes the Bond Fund, the balance of which is not part of the fiscal reserves. The Bond Fund balance as at May 31, 2026, was HK$153,188 million.Issued at HKT 16:30