Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (October 27) reminded candidates and those interested in sitting the Taxi Written Test that the Test has been further enhanced, and will be applicable from November 3, encouraging newcomers to join the taxi industry.

     The new Written Test (for fresh candidates or repeaters) comprises Part A “Taxi Operation” and Part B “Road Users’ Code”. Part A “Taxi Operation” will include new questions relating to the series of new measures introduced for enhancing taxi service quality (e.g. taxi fleet regime and the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system). The questions on prominent locations and route identification have been substantially reduced and simplified in consideration of the development of navigation technology. Part B “Road Users’ Code” will include knowledge on road traffic regulations and safe driving. The Written Test is conducted in the form of multiple-choice questions, and the total number of questions has been adjusted from 90 to 75, while the passing criteria and time allowed for each part remain unchanged. To score an overall pass result, a candidate must meet the passing criteria in both Parts A and B.

     A spokesman for the TD said, “The further enhanced Taxi Written Test will better align with the practical needs of the taxi trade while maintaining the level of assessment, ensuring that taxi drivers possess the necessary professional knowledge and qualities. We hope that more newcomers will be attracted to join the taxi industry to foster the healthy development of the taxi trade in the long run. Furthermore, following the passage of the bill on ride-hailing service, taxi driving licence holders can apply for a ride-hailing vehicle driving permit in future without having to sit an additional test.”

     The TD has issued letters to the taxi trade introducing the scope of the new Written Test, and distributed the updated Guide to Taxi Written Test and Taxi Operation Booklet to candidates concerned. Candidates can refer to the TD’s website and book a Taxi Written Test online via GovHK.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (October 27) that new licence fee payment arrangements for a Temporary Food Factory Licence will be implemented from November 1. The arrangements aim to further streamline the application process and expedite the issuance of licences, in order to provide convenience to food business operators participating in public functions of a short duration.

In accordance with the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X), any person who intends to prepare and/or manufacture food for sale for human consumption off the premises must obtain a food factory licence issued by the FEHD before commencement of such a business. For a food business which involves the operation of a stall/kiosk of a temporary nature for sale of heating up/warming precooked food and/or cooking of preprepared, ready-to-cook food for human consumption off the premises in conjunction with a public function (e.g. exhibition, show, concert, sporting contest) of a short duration, a temporary food factory licence must be obtained. The validity period of a temporary food factory licence shall not exceed seven days, and the licence fee is $220.

In order to streamline the application process and shorten the time for applicants to obtain a licence, the FEHD is enhancing the payment arrangements for licence fees. Upon submission of a temporary food factory licence application, the applicant will have to enclose the fee payment for the granting of a licence. The FEHD will process the application as usual. Upon the approval of an application, the FEHD will issue the notification letter and relevant licence to the applicant.

Applicants may submit their applications, pay the licence fees, and collect the licences via electronic means, in person or by authorising another person to visit the Licence Issuing Office on their behalf, or by post.

If a licence application is eventually not approved or cancelled by the applicant, he or she may apply to the FEHD for a refund.

For details about the new arrangements, please visit the FEHD’s website or contact the relevant Licence Issuing Office.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will depart for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the afternoon today (October 27) to begin an official visit. The visit aims to promote collaboration between Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland enterprises in going global and seizing new business opportunities together. It also seeks to strengthen Hong Kong’s ties with the Middle East in areas such as trade, finance, and innovation and technology, while promoting Hong Kong’s unique advantages and telling the good stories of Hong Kong and China.

Mr Chan will lead a delegation of around 40 members, comprising representatives from financial institutions, as well as founders and executives of enterprises engaged in artificial intelligence, biomedical technology, e-commerce, green energy, construction technology and other sectors, from both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Members of the delegation also include representatives from the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is assisting in organising the programme.

During the visit, the delegation will attend the ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative, where Mr Chan will take part in a panel discussion and deliver speeches at various luncheons and dinners to update participants on Hong Kong’s latest developments and emerging opportunities. He will also meet with local government officials, public institutions, business leaders and corporate and financial executives. Delegation members will participate in business matching activities with local enterprises.

Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong at noon on October 31. During his absence, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will act as Financial Secretary.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (October 27) that the auction for stalls at the 2026 Fong Ma Po (FMP) New Year Fair at Lam Tsuen in Tai Po will be put up for open auction on November 10 (Monday).

     An FEHD spokesman said that the annual FMP New Year Fair will be held for 15 consecutive days from February 17 to March 3 next year. A total of 21 dry goods stalls and six wet goods stalls will be put up for auction, with upset prices of $780 and $770 respectively.
 
     The open auction will be held at the Assembly Hall, 2/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, 19 Lai Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, on November 10 (Monday), from 2pm until the completion of the auction.
 
     Bidders for FMP New Year Fair stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. Anyone can bid for more than one stall. A bidder must pay the bid price and register in person with his or her own name as the licensee of the stall immediately after successfully bidding for a stall. The bidder is also required to sign at once a licence agreement with the FEHD, or he/she will forfeit the rights to operate the stall.
 
     The FMP New Year Fair will be made available to the licensees three days in advance of the fair (from February 14 to 16, 2026) for the setting up of stalls. In the event of any unforeseeable incident that will cause a reduction of the whole licence period (including the duration for setting up stalls and the business period of the fair), the Government has the right to postpone the commencement date and shorten the duration of the period. The bidding price (licence fee) paid will be refunded to the successful bidder on a pro-rata basis without interest.
 
     The FEHD reminded licensees that the stalls are solely for the purpose of selling and promoting the sale of the permitted commodities, and no other activities are allowed in the licensed area. If the FEHD considers that any activity conducted by the licensee to publicise, promote, display, show, sell or gift any permitted commodities in the venue is unlawful, contrary to the interest of national security, immoral or incompatible with the object of the FMP New Year fair, the FEHD is entitled to direct the licensee to stop conducting such activity and the licensee must immediately comply with such direction.
 
     Stall licensees should not destroy, damage or abandon any unsold commodities at or in the vicinity of the stall. They must completely remove the stall structure and all paraphernalia, together with all refuse, debris and unsold commodities (whether damaged or not) before 6pm on March 3, 2026.
 
     According to the licence agreement, except inside designated stalls, licensees must not keep, store or use any compressed helium cylinders in the licenced area. Whereas licensees of the designated stalls may keep, store or use helium cylinders in the licenced area, the quantity of helium should be such that a licence is not required pursuant to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulation 2012 (Cap. 295E), i.e. equivalent to 150 litres of helium. Sales of floating LED glowing balloons and aquarium fish by stall licensees are prohibited at the FMP Fair.
 
     In addition, as stated in the licence agreement, the height of dry goods stalls must not exceed three metres from ground level. The height of wet goods stalls must not exceed 4.5m from ground level. For wet goods stalls with a height of more than 3m from ground level, the licensee must, at their own cost, provide the FEHD with the original certificate issued by an authorised person, a registered structural engineer, or a competent person under the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations (Cap. 59I) to certify the structural safety of the structure in the licensed area before the fair is opened to the public. The licensee must also affix a copy of the aforesaid certificate on the structure of the stall. Also, each corner and anchor point of the marquee (if any) shall be securely fastened using appropriate ballast weights, such as sandbags or purpose-designed marquee water weights. During the period when the Strong Monsoon Signal is in force or is to be issued, the licensee shall immediately inspect the stall and adopt reinforcement measures as necessary.
 
     Successful bidders shall comply with all the stipulations and provisions set out in the licence agreement. Otherwise, the department is entitled to terminate the agreement and the licensee shall immediately vacate the stall.
 
     Details of the 2026 FMP New Year Fair, such as the public notice, the location and layout of the fair venue, commodities allowed for sale at the fair stalls, open auction arrangements and relevant rules, and a sample of the licence agreement, are available on the FEHD’s website (www.fehd.gov.hk). Interested bidders may visit the website or contact the FEHD’s Tai Po District Environmental Hygiene Office (3183 9162 or 2657 1137) for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Communications Authority (CA) today (October 27) launched the new Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) (Private) Licence in support of the development of low-altitude economy (LAE).  
 
     A spokesperson for CA said, “As announced in the 2025 Policy Address, the Government will enhance core infrastructure facilities, including by designating spectrum, to advance Hong Kong as a major hub for low-altitude innovative applications. Under the UAS (Private) Licence regime, licensees will be assigned with the 1430 – 1444 MHz band (1.4 GHz band) as the dedicated spectrum for establishing, maintaining and operating radiocommunications installation for UAS operations. It offers an additional communications solution to UAS operators beyond the current use of wireless local area networks and 4G or 5G mobile network for data transmission and control, enhancing support for the safe and efficient operation of UAS and fully supporting the development of the LAE ecosystem in terms of communications networks.”
 
     The UAS (Private) Licence is now open for application to organisations participating in the LAE Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects. Interested parties can submit their application together with the relevant information to CA, including information of the UAS they operate, the approval from the Civil Aviation Department on specific flight paths and details of the radio base stations anticipated to be installed. CA will rigorously review the applications based on the submitted information and closely monitor the use of the dedicated UAS spectrum to ensure compliance with licence conditions and effective utilisation of spectrum resources.
 
     For details of the UAS (Private) Licence, including application eligibility, procedures and technical requirements, please refer to the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA)’s thematic webpage. For enquiries, please contact OFCA at 2961 6333.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will depart for Beijing this evening to attend a session on the rule of law in finance at the “Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2025” tomorrow.

Mr Lam will deliver a keynote speech on innovation, transformation, and the restructuring of financial development within the framework of the rule of law. He will share his views on the advantages of Hong Kong’s legal and financial systems, and ways to deepen Hong Kong-Beijing co-operation, with a view to enhancing foreign-related rule of law.

Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon. During his absence, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be Acting Secretary.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Police announced today (October 27) that in order to facilitate the holding of the Link Hong Kong Open 2025 from October 30 to November 2 at the Fanling Golf Course, crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements will be implemented in the North District during the event.
 
A. Crowd safety management measures
  
    In anticipation of a large number of spectators at the event, the Police will implement crowd safety management measures in the Fanling Golf Course area depending on the prevailing situation, to maintain public order and safety.
   
    Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience, follow the instructions given by police officers on site, and pay attention to directional signs and announcements.

B. Special traffic arrangements
 
Traffic diversions
———————
 
    Depending on prevailing traffic conditions, the following arrangements may be implemented in the mornings during the event, except for public service vehicles:
 
– Traffic along westbound Fanling Highway cannot enter Sheung Shui roundabout via the Route 9 exit;
– Traffic along southbound Po Shek Wu Road turning to Sheung Shui roundabout cannot enter southbound Fan Kam Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Castle Peak Road – Kwu Tung section cannot turn right to southbound Fan Kam Road;
– Traffic along westbound Po Kin Road cannot turn left to southbound Fan Kam Road; and
– Traffic along northbound Fan Kam Road cannot turn right to the public car park at the Old Course of the Fanling Golf Course and Po Kin Road.
 
    All vehicles will be diverted to westbound Fanling Highway via Sheung Shui roundabout and make a U-turn at Pak Shek Au, then travel along eastbound Fanling Highway heading to Sheung Shui roundabout, and will be instructed to enter Sheung Shui roundabout for southbound Fan Kam Road via the Route 9 exit.
 
    Depending on prevailing traffic conditions, the following diversions may be implemented in the afternoons during the event, except for public service vehicles:
 
– Traffic along northbound Fan Kam Road must turn right to Po Kin Road.
 
Prohibition on parking and pick-up/drop-off
———————————–
 
Given that double yellow lines have been put in place at the entrances and exits of the Fanling Golf Course and its car park, and taking into account the narrow road conditions, it will be prohibited to park, pick up or drop off on Fan Kam Road near the golf course and its vicinity to ensure smooth traffic flow. Passengers travelling to the event venue are required to alight on Po Kin Road.
 
    Shuttle bus services and temporary pick-up/drop-off points will be provided by the event organiser. Please visit the event website (www.thehongkongopen.com) for details.
 
    Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.
 
     Members of the public are advised to make use of public transport or shuttle bus services to access the aforementioned areas during the event. Motorists are advised to avoid using Fan Kam Road near the golf course to ensure smooth vehicular traffic movements. The Police will implement the special arrangements subject to the prevailing traffic and crowd conditions.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department said today it has enhanced the Taxi Written Test, effective from November 3, to encourage newcomers to join the taxi industry.

The new written test comprises Part A, on taxi operations, and Part B, on the Road Users’ Code.

Part A will include new questions relating to new measures introduced to enhance service quality, such as the taxi fleet regime and the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system.

The questions on prominent locations and route identification have been substantially reduced and simplified in consideration of the development of navigation technology, the department said.

Part B will test knowledge of road traffic regulations and safe driving.

The test is conducted in the form of multiple-choice questions, and the total number of questions has been adjusted from 90 to 75, while the passing criteria and time allowed for each part remain unchanged.

To score an overall pass result, a candidate must meet the passing criteria in both Parts A and B.

The department said the enhanced test will better align with the practical needs of the taxi trade while maintaining a high level of assessment, ensuring that taxi drivers possess the necessary professional knowledge and qualities.

It added that it hopes more newcomers will be attracted to join the taxi industry in order to foster the trade’s healthy development in the long run.

Furthermore, following the passage of a bill on ride-hailing services, taxi driving licence holders can apply for a ride-hailing vehicle driving permit in future without having to sit an additional test.

The department has issued letters to the taxi trade introducing the scope of the new test, and distributed the updated “Guide to Taxi Written Test” and “Taxi Operation Booklet” to candidates concerned.

Candidates can refer to the department’s website and book a Taxi Written Test online via GovHK.