Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

　　The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, Mr Sun Chanthol, today (September 10) to exchange views on further strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations. Also attending the meeting was the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong.
 
　　Mr Lee welcomed Mr Sun and his delegation to Hong Kong to attend the 10th Belt and Road Summit and to serve as a keynote speaker. Noting that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is actively exploring emerging markets in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Belt and Road countries, Mr Lee said that Cambodia, with its rapid market development and vast economic potential, offers broad opportunities for co-operation between the two places. Hong Kong and Cambodia reached 13 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) last year, covering areas such as economics and trade, aviation, and financial services. Mr Lee said he was pleased to witness more MOUs between government departments of the two places at today’s Summit, which will further enhance bilateral exchanges and co-operation.
 
　　Mr Lee said that Cambodia is a strategic partner in the country’s promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative, while Hong Kong possesses a highly internationalised, market-oriented and business-friendly environment with strengths in capital, technology and market resources that enable it to fully serve as a functional platform to help both places seize the opportunities from the Belt and Road Initiative, fostering economic and trade development and achieving mutual benefits and win-win outcomes. He welcomed enterprises from Cambodia to leverage Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to explore overseas and Mainland markets.
 
　　Mr Lee thanked Cambodia for its support in establishing the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed). He said that the establishment of the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong demonstrates the city’s unique advantages and strengths in international mediation to further promote international exchanges and co-operation. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, thereby contributing to the promotion of the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (Sep 10):

Question:

     As reported, the problem of illegal workers has emerged in many industries in Hong Kong, including illegal employment involving visitors holding an “endorsement for business visit” in Hong Kong, and enterprises’ solicitation of business by offering a low price through channels such as cross-border e-‍commerce platforms and their subsequent arrangement for the provision of services in Hong Kong by holders of an “endorsement for individual visit” that allows multiple entries. The situation concerned has affected the livelihood of local workers and caused unfair competition to local enterprises. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the monthly number of holders of an “endorsement for individual visit” with unusually frequent visits to Hong Kong (such as travelling to Hong Kong for four to five weekdays a week) since December last year; whether the authorities have taken the initiative to ascertain their purpose of visiting Hong Kong; of the number of visitors holding an “endorsement for business visit” who have been arrested for illegal employment in each month of the past two years, with a tabulated breakdown by type of employment;

(2) whether it will consider the introduction of new measures to combat illegal workers, such as implementing a reward system for reporting illegal workers, and enhancing publicity for the general public that if a service provider employs illegal workers, the customer may also have to bear criminal liability and offer compensation in case of accidents or incidents; and
 
(3) whether it will strengthen co-operation with the Mainland authorities in combating illegal workers, including eliminating information involving travelling to Hong Kong and providing services against the law from online platforms on the Mainland, removing non-compliant accounts, stepping up the penalty for offences involving illegal workers, and reminding Mainland residents of the criminal liability for engaging in illegal employment in Hong Kong, so as to prevent them from mistakenly believing in erroneous information?

Reply:

President,

     The Government is committed to combating illegal employment so as to protect job opportunities for the local workforce. It is a serious offence to engage in illegal employment. Illegal workers, employers, as well as aiders and abettors of illegal employment will be liable to prosecution in accordance with the Immigration Ordinance.

     According the record of the Immigration Department (ImmD), of the illegal workers arrested from 2023 up to August this year, around half of them were from Mainland, while the remaining included non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants or overstayers, and foreign domestic helpers, etc. During the said period, about two in a hundred thousand of all Mainland visitors entering Hong Kong with business visit endorsements were arrested for illegal employment while the relevant figure for Mainland visitors with multiple-entry individual visit endorsements was about one in a hundred thousand.

     In consultation with the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police) and the Labour Department (LD), the reply to the question raised by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai is as follows:

(1) Mainland travellers entering Hong Kong with business visit endorsements or multiple-entry individual visit endorsements are regarded as visitors in Hong Kong. In general, visitors shall not take up any employment, whether paid or unpaid, in Hong Kong.

     From 2023 to August this year, the monthly average number of persons entering Hong Kong with business visit endorsements who were arrested for illegal employment was 0.7. Since the resumption and expansion of multiple-entry individual visit endorsements for Shenzhen in December last year to August this year, the monthly average number of persons entering Hong Kong with such endorsements who were arrested for illegal employment was 4.1. These arrested persons were primarily engaged in work relating to the construction, catering and retail/wholesale sectors.

     The ImmD has all along been performing its gatekeeping role diligently. During immigration examination, the ImmD will conduct individual assessment on visitors with unusually frequent visits to Hong Kong in order to identify persons with doubtful purpose of visit. Depending on circumstances, the ImmD will refuse their entry or shorten their stay in Hong Kong. Where necessary, the ImmD will step up spot checks at control points targeting specific groups based on intelligence. The ImmD does not maintain other breakdown figures requested in the question.

(2) and (3) The Government has been adopting a multi-pronged strategy to combat illegal employment, including stepping up intelligence collection and strict law enforcement, increase in penalty, collaboration with Mainland authorities, as well as publicity and education.

(i) Stepping up intelligence collection and strict law enforcement

     Various law enforcement agencies have been proactively collecting intelligence and conducting joint operations to raid premises suspected of having illegal employment activities. Since the third quarter this year and up till now, the ImmD has carried out 3 500 enforcement actions for combating illegal employment, the monthly average increased by around 18 per cent over that of the second quarter. In August alone, the ImmD, in collaboration with relevant departments, mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations during which over 1 800 locations were inspected, and a total of 173 illegal workers and 67 employers were arrested. These operations were also widely publicised to achieve a deterrent effect.

     In addition, the ImmD conducts constant cyber patrols. It will take enforcement action by decoy operation against any person who is found using social media platforms, etc to arrange for illegal workers to work in Hong Kong. For example, the ImmD recently noticed through cyber patrols that some Mainland photographers and make-up artists were promoting on social media platforms that they could provide services in Hong Kong. After investigation, the ImmD conducted enforcement actions and arrested a total of 10 persons, including eight Mainland illegal workers.

     Meanwhile, during the enforcement actions against illegal hire car services taken by the Police since early this year, a total of eight illegal workers were arrested, and 11 persons alleged to have assisted illegal workers to engage in illegal employment in Hong Kong through online car hailing platforms were arrested for offences such as conspiracy to defraud.

     Besides, the labour inspectors of the LD will, under the power conferred by the Immigration Ordinance, continue to check the proof of identity of employees on site and records of employees kept by employers during regular workplace inspections. Suspected cases of illegal employment will be referred to law enforcement agencies for follow-up.

(ii) Increase in penalty

     The Government amended the Immigration Ordinance in 2021 by increasing the penalty on employing prohibited employees. The maximum penalty was significantly increased from the original fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and ten years’ imprisonment. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. The ImmD will pay close attention to sentences imposed by the courts, and where necessary, seek legal advice in considering whether to apply for a sentence review based on the case.

(iii) Collaboration with Mainland authorities

     The Police and the ImmD have established a reciprocal notification mechanism with the relevant Mainland authorities, and have always maintained liaison and intelligence exchange with them.

     Under the existing notification mechanism, the ImmD will regularly pass information on Mainland residents who have been convicted of criminal offences in Hong Kong, including those engaging in illegal employment, to relevant Mainland authorities. Depending on the circumstances, the Mainland authorities will not issue exit endorsements to such persons for a period of two to five years in general, in order to prevent them from revisiting Hong Kong for illegal activities. In addition, if anyone is found to have allegedly arranged for illegal workers to work in Hong Kong using Mainland online platforms, the ImmD will exchange intelligence with the Mainland authorities and urge them to arrange with the relevant platforms for taking appropriate follow-up actions, such as taking down the posts involved.

(iv) Publicity and education

     The Government has been actively conducting publicity and education through various channels, including press conferences, social media, promotional leaflets, etc, to enable the public to understand the criminal liability for employing illegal workers. Besides, in case of accidents involving any illegal workers, the validity of the relevant insurance policy may be affected. The ImmD also proactively reminds members of the public that customers may also be held criminally liable if they knowingly employ illegal workers via any service providers to offer services for them.

     Meanwhile, the ImmD actively disseminates information on the effectiveness of the latest enforcement operations against illegal employment and the message of “Employing Illegal Workers is an Offence” through its official accounts of social media platforms frequently used by Hong Kong and Mainland residents such as Xiaohongshu, Weibo and Instagram. This can facilitate easier access to the relevant information by local residents and Mainland visitors.

     Illegal employment is an issue of public concern. Members of the public have been actively making such reports to the authorities. Currently, the ImmD provides dedicated reporting hotline and online reporting platform. The ImmD will explore more channels (such as WeChat and “iAM Smart” application) so as to further enhance the reporting mechanism for illegal workers, and will review the effectiveness from time to time.

     The Government will continue to adopt a wider range of measures to step up efforts in combating illegal workers with a view to protecting the local workforce.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the keynote speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the Forum on Sustainability Disclosures today (September 10):
  
Kelvin (Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), Dr Kelvin Wong), Julia (Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ms Julia Leung), Emmanuel (Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Mr Emmanuel Givanakis), Mark (Chief Executive of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, Mr Mark Steward), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to join you all at the Forum on Sustainability Disclosures today to exchange views on this topic with growing importance globally. First of all, I would like to thank the Securities and Futures Commission, our co-organiser of today’s event, and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), our event partner, for joining hands with our bureau (Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau) to promote the development of a comprehensive sustainability disclosure ecosystem in Hong Kong. Today’s Forum is one of the fruits of our joint effort, providing a platform for vibrant exchanges of expertise, ideas and global collaboration to foster sustainability disclosures in the global capital market. Also, amid the current complicated geopolitical environment, we are also here to reaffirm our commitment in driving the sustainability agenda together with our partners.
 
     Having accurate, comparable and consistent information on sustainability-related topics, as highlighted by Kelvin just now, is vital for making informed decisions, evaluating climate-related risks, and fostering innovation in sustainable financing. This is why sustainability disclosures are attracting fast-growing global awareness. Today we will explore together the path ahead for the global and local adoption of the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards). We will also discuss how disclosures can drive significant progress in sustainability development and facilitating financing and investments for real economy transition, climate adaption and mitigation in Hong Kong, the region, and beyond.  
 
     Hong Kong is a leading international financial centre and a hub for green and sustainable finance. Last year, the volume of green and sustainable bonds arranged in Hong Kong amounted to around US$43 billion, capturing around 45 per cent of the regional total and ranking first in the Asian market for seven consecutive years since 2018. Besides, as of June 2025, the number of environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds authorised by the SFC was over 200 with assets under management reaching HK$1.1 trillion and more. The number of ESG funds and assets under management recorded an increase of 51 per cent and 18 per cent respectively from three years ago. At the same time, we are committed to enhancing our competitiveness by adhering to the international standards and best practices, and have taken big steps in achieving this goal.
 
Sustainability disclosures
 
     Following the release of the first set of the ISSB Standards back in 2023, the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government published a vision statement in March last year, outlining our vision and approach in building a comprehensive ecosystem for sustainability disclosure in Hong Kong. Since then, listed companies, financial institutions, investors and industry organisations have been engaged in the consultation to identify Hong Kong-specific circumstances that should be taken into account when developing the Hong Kong Sustainability Disclosure Standards (Hong Kong Standards) which is in full alignment with the ISSB Standards. We are happy that the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), as the sustainability reporting standard setter in Hong Kong, published last December the Hong Kong Standards, which are fully aligned with the ISSB Standards. 
 
     After the release of our vision statement, we continued to work closely with financial regulators and stakeholders in ironing out the steps and timeline for Hong Kong’s full adoption of the ISSB Standards. We launched in December last year the Roadmap on Sustainability Disclosure in Hong Kong, detailing the approach to require publicly accountable entities (PAEs) to adopt the ISSB Standards. This roadmap provides a clear pathway for large PAEs to adopt fully the ISSB Standards no later than 2028.
 
     Since the launch of the Roadmap, we have made progressive moves towards our target. For listed issuers, the HKEX has implemented in phases since January this year new climate-related disclosures requirements under its Listing Rules (New Climate Requirements), which are developed based on IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures. The New Climate Requirements aim to prepare companies to start climate reporting early in accordance with provisions of the ISSB Standards. The HKEX will consult the market in 2027 on mandating sustainability reporting against the Hong Kong Standards for listed PAEs, with an expected effective date of January 2028 under a proportionate approach. For the financial industry, our financial regulators will conduct sector-specific engagements to determine the approach and timing of adopting the Hong Kong Standards for different financial sectors. Subject to stakeholders’ comments and feedback, relevant financial regulators will require non-listed financial institutions carrying a significant weight (i.e. non-listed PAEs) to apply the Hong Kong Standards no later than 2028.
 
     We are proud that the IFRS Foundation, in its publication of the jurisdictional profiles on adoption of the ISSB Standards this June, confirms Hong Kong as among the initial set of jurisdictions having set a target of fully adopting the ISSB Standards. This underscores our commitment to enhancing the transparency of information on sustainable development in the capital markets, enabling investors to make informed investment decisions and promoting global capital flows. 
 
     I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ISSB for its support and continuous engagements with relevant stakeholders in Hong Kong during our journey on the full adoption of ISSB Standards. 
 
Sustainability assurance
 
     To support smooth and practical implementation of sustainability disclosure requirements, a comprehensive and robust ecosystem encompassing aspects such as sustainability assurance, data and technology, as well as skills and competencies is vital. For sustainability assurance, the HKICPA issued in March this year the Hong Kong Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000 which fully converges with the International Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000 published by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. It will develop the local ethics standards for sustainability assurance, which will be on a full convergence basis with the International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance published by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, for publication within this year. The Accounting and Financial Reporting Council is also working with relevant financial regulators and stakeholders with a view to releasing a proposed local regulatory framework for sustainability assurance for public consultation within this year.
 
Data and technology
 
     Promoting data and technology is one of our key priorities to promote the availability and accessibility of sustainability-related information. We have launched a number of tools to support enterprises, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in sustainability reporting. For example, a Climate and Environmental Risk Questionnaire for non-listed companies/SMEs was launched three years ago to provide a free and easy-to-use sustainability reporting template to corporates in need, facilitating their understanding of their sustainability performance and raising their sustainability profiles to lenders, investors and supply chain clients. We are now enhancing the Questionnaire to make it more accessible and inclusive.
 
     Another example is the greenhouse gas emissions calculation and estimation tools we launched in February last year. The tools are free for public use and aim to help corporations manage their environmental footprint while encouraging market participants to improve their sustainable development practices. The tools also clearly disclose the methodology and data sources, and incorporate Hong Kong and Mainland elements into the calculation and estimation models. Going forward, we will continue to enhance the tools and collaborate with different stakeholders to facilitating better sustainability disclosures with the use of these tools.
 
Skills and competencies
 
     Last but not least, we are committed to strengthening capacity building to assist the industry and companies in their journey towards sustainability disclosures. The HKSAR Government will continue to support industry capacity building through our Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme launched three years ago, and the Scheme will be extended to 2028. Besides, financial regulators, the HKEX and the HKICPA, have been organising conferences, seminars and other stakeholder exchange activities to promote alignment with the ISSB Standards and support capacity building efforts locally, regionally and internationally. These engagement activities and relevant training programmes help to nurture skilled sustainable finance professionals including preparers, reporting and assurance professionals, and sustainability-related service providers. 
 
     By collaborating and working together, we can definitely build a sustainable and resilient future. Before I wish all of you a fruitful day, normally these days, forums can’t finish without mentioning AI. Just before I came to this stage, I checked on my app in terms of what word it would use to describe Hong Kong and also sustainability disclosure. There are a number of choices, of course it depends on which app you use and also what time of the day that you use it. One of the key words is actually “ecosystem”.
 
     I think the app describes what I just described, basically it’s about who to provide, what to provide and how to provide the information. I’m sure in the coming days and also this forum, you will be having a lot of insightful discussions and exchanges, in particular how Hong Kong can be a better ecosystem on sustainability disclosures for not just Hong Kong but also for the region and the world. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Tony Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (September 10):

Question:

With the endeavours made by me and the industry, the Government launched a subsidy scheme in 2020 (2020 Scheme) as a means of encouraging and supporting private organisations to employ graduates and assistant professionals of the engineering, architectural, surveying, town planning and landscape (EASTL) sectors, so as to enable them to acquire necessary work experience in order to obtain professional qualifications and to alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry. As the impacts of the pandemic on the job market remained, the Development Bureau further launched in 2021 an initiative called Support for Engineering, Architectural, Surveying, Town Planning and Landscape Sectors 2.0 (2021 Scheme) to assist the industry in tiding over the difficult times and reducing its manpower drain. In view of the recent downturn in the construction industry, the Government announced in the Budget of this year that the Construction Industry Council (CIC) would allocate around $150 million to subsidise the construction industry to provide on-the-job training for about 2 500 graduates of the EASTL degree programmes (2025 Scheme) and provide a monthly subsidy of $5,000 to each eligible/approved young talent for a period of 12 months. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the following details about the 2020 Scheme and the 2021 Scheme: (i) the number of applications for subsidy places, (ii) the number of approved subsidy places, (iii) the number of employees to whom salary subsidies were actually disbursed, and (iv) the total amount of salary subsidies eventually disbursed, with a breakdown by professional sector;

(2) of the following details about the 2025 Scheme: (i) the number of applications for subsidy places, and (ii) the number of approved subsidy places, with a breakdown by professional sector;

(3) as some members of the industry have expressed that with the severe downturn in the construction industry, it is expected that many companies will be unable to increase their employment of graduates, whether the Government and the CIC will take account of the actual circumstances and, without the need for additional resources, appropriately increase the monthly subsidy amount under the 2025 Scheme, so as to enhance the industry’s motivation to employ more graduates; and

(4) as there are views suggesting that the downturn in the construction industry is expected to persist for quite some time, and massive development projects (including the Northern Metropolis) will require a substantial amount of related professional talents in the future, whether the Government will consider the provision of additional subsidies and an extension of the relevant subsidy scheme?

Reply:

President,

The Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) have been closely monitoring the situation of the construction industry. We have introduced suitable schemes, including the funding schemes mentioned in the subject question launched under the Anti-epidemic Fund during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 (i.e. 2020 Scheme and 2021 Scheme), and the Construction Industry Professional Degree Graduate On-the-Job Training Subsidy Scheme (2025 Scheme) launched through the CIC’s allocation of $150 million this year, to support the industry in overcoming prevailing difficulties and to nurture and retain talent for the industry.

In response to the various parts of the LegCo question, the DEVB’s corresponding replies are as follows:

(1) The details of the 2020 Scheme are as follows:
 

Professional discipline	Number of applications for subsidy places	Number of approved subsidy places	Number of employees to whom salary subsidies were disbursed	Total subsidy disbursed
Architecture	601	601	601	About $54 million
Engineering	1 487	1 487	1 477	About $126 million
Surveying	755	755	747	About $67 million
Planning	20	20	20	About $2 million
Landscape Architecture	52	52	52	About $5 million
Total	2 915	2 915	2 897	About $254 million

​The details of the 2021 Scheme are as follows:
 

Professional discipline	Number of applications for subsidy places	Number of approved subsidy places	Number of employees to whom salary subsidies were disbursed	Total subsidy disbursed
Architecture	685	570	563	About $49 million
Engineering	1 012	964	907	About $90 million
Surveying	655	547	537	About $44 million
Planning	26	17	16	About $2 million
Landscape Architecture	40	28	28	About $2 million
Total	2 418	2 126	2 051	About $187 million

(2) The application period for the 2025 Scheme was from March 17 to April 16, 2025. The CIC completed the processing of applications and notified all successful applicants in May 2025. The details of the 2025 Scheme are as follows:
 

Professional discipline	Number of applications for subsidy places	Number of approved subsidy places
Architecture	706	600
Engineering	5 422	1 300
Surveying	1 188	500
Planning	88	50
Landscape Architecture	100	50
Total	7 504	2 500

(3) As all the 2 500 quotas under the 2025 Scheme have already been allocated, thereby using up all its allocation of $150 million, the CIC is unable to further increase the monthly subsidy amount.

Furthermore, with the support of the DEVB, the CIC allocated an additional $24 million in March 2025 to subsidise the construction industry to provide on-the-job training for 400 higher diploma graduates in engineering, architecture, surveying, town planning, and landscape architecture. Successful applicants for this funding scheme will receive a monthly subsidy of $5,000 for each approved higher diploma graduate for a period of 12 months, amounting to $60,000 in total. The application period for this scheme was the same as the aforementioned 2025 Scheme. The CIC has already completed the application processing and notified all successful applicants in May 2025.

For the above two schemes, the CIC has allocated a total of $174 million to subsidise the construction industry to provide on-the-job training for a total of 2 900 graduates.

(4) The construction industry generally welcomed and supported the above two subsidy schemes launched in 2025, acknowledging that they are helpful to the current situation of the industry. The DEVB, in collaboration with the CIC, will continue to maintain close communication with the industry, to keep in view the implementation of the schemes, the overall situation of the industry, the needs of different stakeholders and the CIC’s budget for the coming years, and to consider the future arrangement for the schemes.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (September 10) that as the first phase of redevelopment works for Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool has been completed, its indoor main pool will reopen tomorrow (September 11). The reopening date for the second phase project, including the outdoor training pool and leisure pool, will be announced later on the website.
 
     For enquiries, please call the venue staff at 2336 5817, or visit the LCSD website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swimlocation.html).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (September 10):

Question:

     It is learnt that the Hospital Authority (HA) is developing the Rare Diseases Database by referencing the Mainland’s National Lists of Rare Diseases which contains 207 rare disease entries, with a view to facilitating the identification of the relevant patients and retrieval of their clinical records. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it knows, according to the definitions under HA’s Rare Diseases Database, the number of cases in which rare disease patients attend the accident and emergency (A&E) departments of public hospitals for treatment in each of the past five years, and among those cases, the number involving relapses or deterioration of the diseases and the number of patients concerned, as well as the top five rare diseases with the highest number of attendances; whether it has compiled statistics on the longest and median time taken from patients arriving at the A&E departments to receiving treatment;

(2) whether it knows how HA’s healthcare staff make use of the Rare Diseases Database to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of rare disease patients in terms of clinical applications, in particular those patients seeking treatment without scheduled appointments due to relapses or deterioration of the diseases; and

(3) given that irreversible damage could be caused to patients suffering from certain rare diseases with high relapse rates (such as neuromyelitis optica) if timely medical treatment is not administered, whether the Government knows if HA will set up a multi-specialty expert panel in respect of such rare diseases to regularly review treatment protocols and the procedures for handling the patients concerned by the A&E departments, as well as to formulate the relevant clinical guidelines and define the golden hours for treatment so as to expedite diagnosis and treatment for such patients?

Reply:

President,

     In consultation with the Hospital Authority (HA), the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan is as follows:

     The HA attaches high importance to providing optimal care for all patients, including those with rare diseases.

     There is no common definition of rare diseases worldwide. To enhance clinical support for patients with rare diseases and improve diagnostic and treatment capabilities, the HA has developed the Rare Diseases Database by referencing the National Lists of Rare Diseases which contains 207 rare disease entities. The HA’s Clinical Management System (CMS) maintains clinical data for all patients, including those with rare diseases, alongside information on various disease categories. When providing treatment for patients with rare diseases covered under the lists, doctors will input the relevant diagnosis codes in the consultation records in the HA’s CMS to identify patients with rare diseases and provide appropriate care accordingly. As the HA accumulates more local experience in treating rare diseases and clinical data, the database of rare disease patients in the CMS will become more extensive, providing important reference for healthcare service planning as well as clinical diagnosis and treatment. As at June 30 this year, the HA’s CMS has recorded all 207 diseases listed in the National Lists of Rare Diseases, with a total of about 63 600 cases.

     According to statistics from the HA, the five types of rare diseases that are relatively less uncommon in Hong Kong are, in order of prevalence: gastrointestinal stromal tumor, generalised myasthenia gravis, retinopathy of prematurity, hereditary hypomagnesemia, and polycythemia vera. After diagnosis, most of these rare disease patients can be managed through out-patient follow-ups, with only a small number requiring hospitalisation for treatment. Where patients are required to attend the accident and emergency (A&E) department due to medical needs, healthcare staff will provide appropriate treatment based on their clinical conditions.

     The primary challenge in dealing with rare diseases lies in the small number of cases, resulting in difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms of rare diseases are often atypical and non-specific, frequently resembling common ailments. Additionally, these symptoms may affect multiple organ systems, leading patients to consult various medical specialties without obtaining a comprehensive understanding of their condition. Apart from clinical examinations, diagnosis may also require some high technology testings, such as genetic testings, thereby prolonging the diagnostic process.

     For hereditary rare diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta and X-linked hypophosphataemia, the clinical genetics service of the HA provides one-stop cross-disciplinary support for patients with genetic disorders (including rare diseases) and their families, in line with the latest developments in genomic medicine in Hong Kong. Patients who are affected or suspected to be affected by various genetic diseases and other rare diseases as well as their families will be referred to the Department of Clinical Genetics of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital for one-stop services, including assessment, testing, diagnosis, treatment, counselling and prevention services. Adhering to the principle of “providing holistic care for patients”, the HA adopts an integrated service model in providing holistic medical and rehabilitation services to patients with rare diseases through multi-disciplinary and inter-departmental teams, comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, clinical psychologists, rehabilitation specialty nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, speech therapists, prosthetist-orthotists, medical social workers, etc.

     In addition, the Hong Kong Genome Institute launched the Hong Kong Genome Project since 2021, covering rare diseases associated with genomics and precision medicine, such as mucopolysaccharidosis and Marfan syndrome. Eligible patients and their family members are recruited through public hospitals to undergo whole genome sequencing on a voluntary basis. The sequencing results assist precise diagnoses and provide key basis for prognosis assessment and treatment decisions. The Government will continue to advance the implementation of the initiative under the 2024 Policy Address in developing precision medicine.

     Regarding Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) as mentioned in the question, it is an extremely rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system of the patient attacks his/her own optic nerves and spinal cord, causing damages to optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. As a result, patients are typically managed by ophthalmologists or neurologists. Joint consultations will be arranged as needed, along with relevant investigations.

     In cases where these patients need to attend the A&E department due to relapses and presentation of symptoms, they will undergo assessment and triage by nurses under the prevailing triage system at the A&E department. The treatment priority is determined based on the severity of their condition. The HA’s service targets stipulate that all critical patients (Triage 1) are to receive immediate treatment (i.e. 100 per cent immediate treatment), while emergency (Triage 2) patients and urgent (Triage 3) patients will be prioritised for treatment upon arrival at the A&E department, the targets being that most of the emergency and urgent patients are to be treated within 15 minutes and 30 minutes respectively. Generally speaking, patients experiencing symptoms such as acute vision loss or focal neurological deficits will be triaged as urgent cases (i.e. Triage 3). The A&E department aims to arrange these urgent patients for treatment within 30 minutes. In case the patient concerned has clinical needs, the A&E department will refer him/her to the Department of Ophthalmology for follow-up. The ophthalmology specialist will forthwith assess the condition of the patient and conduct clinical examinations, blood tests and computerised tomography (CT) scans etc, to rule out other conditions that may cause the relevant symptoms. After assessment, patients may be arranged for hospitalisation or referred to the relevant specialist out-patient clinics for treatment and follow-up subject to their conditions. Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Wendy Hong and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (September 10):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that in recent years, the Government has actively promoted urban renewal, replacing large-scale redevelopment with a “rehabilitation first” strategy to improve building structural safety and prolong their lifespan. Members of the public have recently relayed to me that, even when rehabilitation works have been completed for the buildings and safety standards met to prolong their service life, banks still adopt the “75 minus building age” calculation method (i.e. residential properties over 55 years old can only be granted a maximum mortgage term of 20 years) when assessing mortgage applications. This not only adds to the burden of down payments and monthly mortgage payments on members of the public, but also reduces the liquidity of old buildings. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as it is learnt that the Government is vigorously promoting building rehabilitation as an alternative to redevelopment, whether the authorities have discussed with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority the possibility of appropriately extending the mortgage term for buildings that have completed rehabilitation and passed safety inspections; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) whether the Government will consider establishing a certification mechanism for buildings that have completed prescribed inspections and prescribed repairs, so that banks may consider extending the mortgage term when approving mortgages for such buildings; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) whether it has compiled statistics on the following information of residential properties currently aged 50 years or above: (i) the total number, (ii) the number of households having mortgages among them, and (iii) their median monthly mortgage payments and loan repayments; if it has not compiled statistics, of the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     After consulting the Development Bureau and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), our reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) & (2) The Government’s strategy for building renewal emphasises both rehabilitation and redevelopment. The Buildings Department (BD) annually selects about 600 private buildings (Note 1) aged 30 years or above on a risk basis and the owners of such building served with statutory mandatory building inspection notices (MBI notices) are required to carry out inspections and repairs for the common parts of their buildings and the projections of the individual units. Among the 8 364 buildings served with MBI notices so far, about 70 per cent of them aged 50 years or above. Proper maintenance and repair of properties are owners’ primary responsibility. It not only protects the safety of residents, buildings and the public, but also extends the buildings’ lifespan, which has a positive impact on the property values.
 
     If the owners have complied with the requirements of the MBI notices, the BD will issue compliance letters to the owners. Besides, the public can enquire and view the service and compliance status of the statutory notices of the private buildings via the BD’s website. Where owners have voluntarily arranged and carried out building inspection and repair in accordance with the requirements and procedures under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme, the BD will also issue acknowledgement letters to the owners.
 
     The HKMA does not set a specific mortgage term limit based on the age of a property. The approval of loans is a commercial decision made by banks. When processing mortgage applications, banks take into account a host of factors, including the borrower’s repayment capacity and the condition of the building. The age of the property is only one of the factors of consideration. When considering whether to approve mortgage applications for a residential property, the abovementioned information issued by the BD regarding the completion of inspection and repair of the building may assist banks in evaluating the condition of the building.
 
(3) According to the BD’s record, as at the end of 2024, there were 8 977 private residential buildings aged 50 years or above (excluding New Territories Exempted Houses). As regards whether the units in those private residential buildings have a mortgage and the specific details about the mortgage loan payments and repayments, they are agreements reached between the property owners and the banks. The Government does not maintain relevant commercial data for statistical purposes.
 
Note 1: Except domestic buildings not exceeding three storeys.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Leung and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (September 10):
 
Question:

     According to the statistics of mid-year population for 2025 released by the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong’s overall population has shown slight growth, benefiting from various measures on talent attraction. On the other hand, society is also concerned about the integration of immigrants and the related issues of social resource allocation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of persons who came to Hong Kong as dependants under various talent admission schemes in each of the past three years and this year to date; whether the authorities have projected the potential increase in population in the coming years as a result of such schemes;

(2) as it is learnt that in recent years, hundreds of thousands of immigrants have come to Hong Kong through various talent admission schemes, of the measures put in place by the authorities to co-ordinate policies and supporting arrangements in areas such as education, healthcare, housing and employment to meet the needs of both the local and immigrant populations; whether tracking surveys and studies and analysis of admitted talents will be strengthened so as to optimise the effectiveness of various talent admission schemes; and

(3) when formulating the indicators for the new round of talent admission policies, whether the Government will simultaneously consider the overall impact of the relevant talent admission schemes on the population structure, and formulate policy planning and allocate public resources from a high-level and macro perspective; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) compiles new population projection every five years to understand the trend of change in Hong Kong’s population during the projection period so as to provide the basis for the Government’s planning in various policy areas and resource allocation. 

     To address the challenges in manpower demand brought by an ageing population, the Government implemented in end-2022 a package of measures to proactively trawl for talents from around the world. In recent years, outside talents gradually arrived in Hong Kong, with some bringing along their families to settle in Hong Kong. This has offset the impact of natural population decrease and effectively alleviating the challenges caused by the persistently low local birth rate and the ageing of the population. The overall population in mid-2025 has increased by over 180 000 compared to mid-2022. In addition, the arrival of these incoming talents has reversed the decline in the local labour force during the pandemic, and the majority of them are in the prime years of their careers. This further enriches the local talent pool and enhances Hong Kong’s overall competitiveness. Hong Kong ranked first in Asia in the World Talent Ranking 2025 published yesterday by the International Institute for Management Development, leaping markedly to fourth globally from ninth last year and marking the highest-ever ranking. This is clear evidence that the series of talent attraction measures implemented by the current-term Government are in the right direction and yielding significant results.

     In consultation with the Education Bureau, the Health Bureau, the Housing Bureau, the C&SD, and the Immigration Department (ImmD), my reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) As at end-August 2025, the various talent admission schemes have attracted over 230 000 talents arriving in Hong Kong. Some brought along to Hong Kong their spouses and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18. Nearly 220 000 individuals have arrived in Hong Kong as dependants under the various talent admission schemes since 2023. A breakdown of the relevant statistics by talent admission scheme is at Annex.

     The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) and the C&SD published the latest manpower projection and population projection in 2024 and 2023 respectively. These projections have taken into account the impact of the major talent admission schemes. The LWB is now conducting a mid-term update of the manpower projection, which will comprehensively assess the implications of the latest global and local developments (including the Government’s latest manpower policies and measures) on the manpower situation in 2028. The results are expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2026. On the other hand, the C&SD will conduct a population census in 2026 to obtain up-to-date benchmark information of the Hong Kong population. When the census results become available, the C&SD will update the population projection upon integrating the available data then about fertility, mortality and population movement with the prevailing policy factors.

(2) and (3) Currently, population policy measures have been subsumed under the portfolios of various bureaux as part of the ongoing efforts. The relevant policy bureaux are regularly reviewing the implementation and effectiveness of the measures under their purviews, performing their respective duties with cross-bureau collaboration so as to formulate and implement various policy measures in response to the latest social, demographic and manpower conditions. For instance, the Education Bureau will review education policies from time to time, with a view to meeting the needs of society. The Health Bureau will continue to deepen the reform of the healthcare system, including strengthening health promotion and disease prevention in primary healthcare; implementing reform on fees and charges for public healthcare; as well as enhancing the price transparency of private healthcare services, and encouraging better use of medical insurance to ensure the viability of Hong Kong’s healthcare system. The Housing Bureau will continue to closely monitor the supply and demand of different types of housing and adjust the corresponding policies in a timely manner. The Chief Executive, and Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of Departments are providing high-level steer as necessary through various channels, such as committees, working groups and inter-departmental meetings, to co-ordinate relevant inter-departmental work in light of changes in the local demography and manpower situation in various industries, continuously review the implementation and effectiveness of relevant measures and make timely adjustments, so as to meet Hong Kong’s economic and social development needs. 

     As regards human resources planning, the Government will enhance the measures on local training, talent attraction and retention, in response to the trends of social development and manpower demand, and set corresponding key performance indicators as appropriate. In fact, the Government has been consistently collecting information on the employment situation of talents approved for admission upon their first entries and at the time of their applications for extension of stay. The Hong Kong Talent Engage under the LWB also maintains close contact with incoming talents to understand and keep track of their development and needs in Hong Kong through both online and offline channels, and provide support services. In respect of the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) newly launched by the current-term Government, the LWB will further invite applicants to participate in follow-up surveys when the ImmD issues their visas for extension of stay, in order to gather information on such areas as housing and education for dependent children of the TTPS talents approved for extension of stay. The first round of findings of the follow-up surveys and the situation of the extension of stay were released last month. The LWB will continue to keep in view the settlement of incoming talents in Hong Kong through various channels, and use the information as reference for the ongoing enhancement of talent admission policies and support services.

     Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government will launch the 2025-26 joint recruitment exercise for Administrative Officer (AO), Executive Officer II, Assistant Labour Officer II, Assistant Trade Officer II and Management Services Officer II this Saturday (September 13). Applicants must submit their applications through the online application system on the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) website. The deadline for application is 11.59pm on October 3 (Hong Kong time). 

     The recruitment is open to all permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region who meet the relevant entry requirements. Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and graduating in the years of 2025-26 or 2026-27 academic years may also apply. The respective recruitment targets are set out below:
 

Posts	Recruitment target
Administrative Officer	40
Executive Officer II	100
Assistant Labour Officer II	10
Assistant Trade Officer II	8
Management Services Officer II	10

     Arrangements will be made for eligible applicants to take the Joint Recruitment Examination (JRE) scheduled to be held on November 29 in Hong Kong.  

     In addition to taking the JRE, applicants for these posts will need to have obtained:
 
(a) Level 2 in the two language papers (Use of Chinese and Use of English) in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE), or other results which are accepted as equivalent (details are set out on the CSB’s CRE website at www.csb.gov.hk/eng/cre.html);

(b) a pass result in the Aptitude Test paper in the CRE; and 

(c) a pass result in the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree/Professional Grades) (BLNST). 

Applicants who have not attained the requisite CRE results may also apply. Arrangements will be made for them to take a designated CRE on November 29 in Hong Kong. Local applicants who have not attained a pass result in the BLNST must separately apply for Digitalised BLNST (application details available at www.csb.gov.hk/eng/dblnst.html) and obtain a pass result before November 29 in order to be considered for appointment. Applicants must obtain the requisite CRE and BLNST results for their JRE answers to be processed. 

Applicants may also choose to attend the JRE on November 29 in one of the seven cities outside Hong Kong (i.e. Beijing, Shanghai, London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney). In addition, the CRE and paper-based BLNST will also be held on the same day in these seven cities. The application period for the CRE and BLNST outside Hong Kong is the same as that of the joint recruitment exercise. Applicants may apply for the CRE and BLNST online from September 13 to October 3 (Hong Kong time). Similarly, applicants who will take the CRE and BLNST outside Hong Kong have to obtain the requisite results for their JRE answers to be processed.
 
    Details of the joint recruitment exercise and the online application system will be available on the CSB website (www.csb.gov.hk) from this Saturday.  For the recruitment of AO, relevant information will also be available on a dedicated website at www.ao-recruitment.gov.hk. Applicants must apply online through the CSB website and may visit the relevant webpage for any updates on the examination arrangements.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Dennis Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (September 10):
 
Question:
 
     There are views pointing out that the demand for cross-boundary remittances between Hong Kong and the Mainland is increasing, yet restrictions on remittance limits and channel regulation remain imperfect. Regarding the enhancement of cross-boundary remittance arrangements, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on (i) the number of agencies providing cross-boundary remittance services between Hong Kong and the Mainland, (ii) the total amount of remittance involved, and (iii) the total amount of banks’ revenue from the provision of the relevant cross-boundary remittance services under the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) scheme in each of the years between January 2016 and June 2025 (set out in Table 1‍);
 
Table 1

Year	(i)	(ii)	(iii)
2016
……
2025 (January to June)

 
(2) whether it has compiled statistics on the respective numbers of (a) ‍transactions and (b) remittances in total (including telegraphic transfers) from Hong Kong to the Mainland (northbound) through banks by (i) individuals and (ii) ‍institutions in each year from January 2019 to June 2025 (set out in Table 2);
 
Table 2

Year	(i)		(ii)
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
2019
……
2025 (January to June)

 
(3) whether the Government has requested that remittance agencies compile statistics on the use of remittances by individuals/institutions; if so, of the details (including a breakdown of the data on the use of remittances); if not, whether it will request that remittance agencies compile the relevant data and standardise the category of the relevant uses;
 
(4) whether it has compiled statistics on the remittance handling fee structure (including the actual fee charged for each remittance) of the various legal and authorised remittance agencies (such as banks) providing northbound cross-boundary remittance services in Hong Kong and the Mainland to individuals from January 2019 to June 2025, as well as the total amount of proceeds earned from remittance services provided by such agencies;
 
(5) as there are views that the Mainland’s facilitative foreign exchange arrangement subject to an annual quota of US$50,000 per person has not been adjusted in light of market developments, whether the Government has plans to discuss with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange the adjustment of this quota against the background of the ongoing deepening of the financial co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland as well as the joint promotion of cross-boundary financial interconnection and mutual access in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area;
 
(6) whether the Government will consider encouraging banks to adjust their fees and charges for cross-boundary remittances and stepping up public education and publicity to encourage members of the public to remit money through legal and compliant channels; if not, of the reasons for that; and
 
(7) whether it will consider further regulating the operations of non-‍banking agencies involved in cross-boundary remittance services (e.g. money changers, etc), including requiring such agencies to transfer fund through legal and compliant channels, and setting up mechanisms on minimum capital requirements, risk reserve standards and daily operational monitoring; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), my reply to the seven parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors are foreign institutional investors approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission to use funds from outside mainland China to invest in domestic securities and futures. We do not maintain relevant data of the number of agencies, the total amount of remittance, and the total amount of banks’ revenue from the provision of the relevant cross-boundary remittance services.
 
(2) The figures of Renminbi (RMB) cross-boundary remittance transactions from Hong Kong to the Mainland (including individual and non-individual remitters) are as follows:
 

	RMB cross-boundary remittance transactions from Hong Kong to the Mainland (including individual and non-individual remitters)
Year	Number of counts (thousand)	Transaction value (RMB trillion)
2019	923	18.4
2020	1 054	22.3
2021	1 336	29.9
2022	1 597	35.5
2023	2 488	53.6
2024	3 299	100.7
2025 (January to June)	1 883	42.6

 
(3) As the regulator of banks in Hong Kong, the HKMA has been collecting different scope of data from banks, for the purpose of conducting risk assessments and continuous monitoring on banks’ business.
 
     In respect of RMB remittance business of banks in Hong Kong, besides the statistics on cross-boundary remittance transactions set out above, the HKMA also regularly releases banks’ RMB remittance for trade settlement business, with relevant data as below:
 

Year	Total remittances for RMB cross-border trade settlement (RMB billion)
2019	5,376.4
2020	6,324.1
2021	7,083.6
2022	9,337.9
2023	11,676.1
2024	15,184.6
2025 (January to June)	7,334.7

 
(4) There are different scales and operational models of the cross-boundary payment services across banks. Individual banks would set their fee structure and level for the services according to the bank’s own circumstances as a commercial decision of the banks. Nonetheless, banks should comply with the relevant requirements of the Code of Banking Practice when providing cross-boundary payment services. These include, among other things, providing for customers details of the services they offer, such as a basic description of the service; the basis on which exchange rates will be applied; details of any commission or charges payable by customers to the bank; and other commission or charges levied by correspondent banks outside Hong Kong (if available). By maintaining transparency of the fees charged by banks in providing cross-boundary payment services, the HKMA hopes to enhance competition in this market segment.
 
     As for money service operators, since their business models and operational circumstances vary, there is no uniform fee structure for remittance services across the industry.
 
(5) According to the prevailing Mainland regulations, Hong Kong residents can in general remit funds to the Mainland through banks for spending or expenses related to travel, business trips, study abroad, daily life, and family support, etc. Within this scope, if the remittances are made in RMB, Hong Kong residents can transfer funds to their same-name bank accounts on the Mainland, subject to a daily limit of RMB80,000, under the existing arrangements. If the remittances are made in non-RMB currencies (including HKD), there is a facilitative arrangement available for individual recipients, subject to an annual quota equivalent to USD50,000. If the recipients can provide supporting documents to confirm genuineness of the remittances, the policy also allows Hong Kong residents to make cross-boundary remittances to the Mainland without utilising the aforementioned limits.
 
     With the efforts of financial regulators and the industry in Hong Kong and the Mainland in recent years, we have introduced various facilitative arrangements on personal cross-boundary remittance. In early 2024, facilitation arrangements for remittances were introduced to facilitate Hong Kong residents purchasing properties in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to remit funds related to property purchases to the Mainland through the banking system. The HKMA and the People’s Bank of China launched Payment Connect on June 22 this year. Hong Kong residents can make real-time and small-value cross-boundary remittances at participating institutions in Hong Kong via Faster Payment System.
 
     We notice that some citizens wish for further enhancement to cross-boundary remittance arrangements to facilitate cross-boundary transactions relating to their everyday life on the Mainland, for example, transportation and living, medical services, retirement and elderly care, etc. We are engaging with Mainland authorities to explore further facilitative measures under different scenarios.
 
(6) In respect of public education, the HKMA released a set of FAQs on the website at the beginning of this year, explaining the current Mainland policy arrangements under different scenarios on cross-boundary remittance, and introducing the remittance and payment products provided by banks and stored value payment facilities in Hong Kong and the Mainland. Subsequently the HKMA held an industry briefing with banks to discuss the implementation arrangements, and reminded banks to ensure that frontline staff are aware of the relevant policy arrangements and handle clients’ inquiries accordingly.
 
     The C&ED places great importance on safeguarding consumer rights. It regularly promotes legally compliant money changing and remittance services through various channels, such as press releases and social media, and reminds consumers to consider a range of factors (including the delivery channels and reputation of the money service operators (MSOs)) in a comprehensive manner when choosing remittance services, as well as to be aware of the risks associated with remittance. The C&ED also actively provides promotional and educational talks to different communities. For example, between 2024 and June 2025, the C&ED conducted over 160 talks for over 21 000 workers newly arrived in Hong Kong under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme, educating them on points to note when using remittance services.
 
(7) The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615) (AMLO) provides for a licensing regime for MSOs, empowering the C&ED to supervise their compliance.
 
     Under the current licensing system, when applying for a licence or licence renewal, MSOs must meet the “fit and proper” test, and submit a business plan to the C&ED. This plan must explain their operating model and its rationale, clearly disclose the flow of funds and delivery channels, and demonstrate the existence of effective and appropriate anti-money laundering and terrorist financing measures and a daily operational monitoring mechanism. Through these licensing requirements, the C&ED can effectively assess and monitor the risks associated with MSOs of different operating models and sizes.
 
     The C&ED attaches great importance to the compliance of the money service industry in providing remittance services and has consistently taken various measures to ensure that MSOs handle customer funds and complete relevant transactions in an appropriate manner. Among these, the C&ED has formulated the “Money Service Operators Licensing Guide” and the “Guideline on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism” to ensure licensed MSOs comply with customer due diligence, record-keeping, proper handling of customer funds, and other licensing requirements. For MSOs with higher risk profiles (due to factors such as customer nature, products, services, transactions, or delivery channels), the C&ED may also impose specific licence conditions to strengthen supervision. The C&ED will continue to monitor market developments and review the requirements of the relevant regulatory mechanisms for the money service industry.