Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Government today (May 27) announced that the Chief Executive has appointed Ms Cordelia Chung as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) for two years starting from July 1, 2026, succeeding the incumbent HKSTPC Chairman, Dr Sunny Chai, whose term of appointment will end on June 30, 2026.
Ms Chung possesses extensive experience in managing multinational enterprises in the information technology sector. She actively participated in public service, and was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the HKSTPC from 2017 to 2023.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, welcomed the appointment of Ms Chung as the new Chairman of the HKSTPC. He said, “Ms Chung has rich experience in the field of innovation and technology (I&T). Under her leadership, the HKSTPC will continue to support the development of local I&T enterprises, cultivating a more vibrant I&T ecosystem.”
Professor Sun also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Dr Chai, for his significant contributions to the work of the HKSTPC over the years. “Under Dr Chai’s sterling leadership, the HKSTPC has continuously enhanced existing I&T infrastructure and various measures to support I&T enterprises, nurtured I&T talents and promoted Hong Kong’s I&T and the development of new industrialisation, so as to strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international I&T hub. In addition, under his outstanding leadership, the HKSTPC has conducted planning studies for San Tin Technopole as requested by the Government. Under the leadership of the new Chairman, the Government anticipates that the HKSTPC would continue to provide full support and cooperation for the development of the San Tin Technopole and work closely with the soon established San Tin Technopole Company Limited to jointly strengthen the I&T ecosystem and attract enterprises and international talent,” said Professor Sun.
The Government also announced the appointment of two new members and re-appointment of seven serving members by the Financial Secretary for a period of two years from July 1, 2026.
Professor Philip Chiu and Professor Helen Meng are appointed as new Board members of the HKSTPC.
Mr Conrad Chan, Ms Dilys Chau, Ms Susanna Hui, Mr Timothy Leung, Dr Samson Tam, Ms Phoebe Tse and Ms Eunice Yung are re-appointed as Board members of the HKSTPC.
Professor Sun said, “I am confident that with their extensive experience and professional knowledge in various fields, members of the Board will continue to guide the HKSTPC to fulfil its public mission effectively and propel the I&T development in Hong Kong.”
The tenure of two incumbent Board members, Professor Stephanie Ma and Mr Daryl Ng, will expire on June 30 this year. Professor Sun also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Board members for their valuable advice on the HKSTPC and strong support for the I&T development in Hong Kong over the past six years.
Established in 2001, the HKSTPC is a statutory body wholly owned by the Government. It provides quality infrastructure facilities and support services for the I&T development in Hong Kong. The HKSTPC is responsible for managing and operating the Hong Kong Science Park, three InnoParks and the InnoCentre.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Joephy Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Question:
It has been reported that after reviewing the patronage and demand of its existing services, the Park Island Transport Company Limited (PITCL) has implemented temporary arrangements with effect from April 8 this year, including the cancellation of two ferry trips between Park Island and Tsuen Wan, as well as four weekday ferry trips between Park Island and Central, and replacing the relevant services by residents’ bus services instead. There are views pointing out that residents’ bus services do not allow the carriage of bicycles and pets, and are susceptible to road traffic conditions, which have in effect weakened the commuting choices of Park Island residents. Moreover, the PITCL has in the past resorted to substituting ferry services with bus services temporarily by reasons such as the pandemic and crew shortage. There are concerns that the PITCL may regularise the temporary arrangements in the long run, and it is considered that the Government should strengthen its regulatory efforts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the Transport Department (TD) is aware that, apart from the reason of crew shortage which the PITCL claims, the recent surge in diesel prices leading to increased operating costs is also one of the reasons for the PITCL’s current reduction of ferry trips;
(2) since 2019, (i) of the respective frequencies and average daily patronage of the ferry routes and residents’ bus services operated by the PITCL; (ii) the changes (whether temporary or permanent) in frequencies of those ferry routes and residents’ bus service routes, and whether the TD has ever rejected any applications from the PITCL for changes in frequencies; (iii) the numbers of complaints received by the TD each year about the PITCL’s services (including frequency arrangements) and the number of follow-up actions taken;
(3) of the regulatory mechanism put in place by the TD regarding the temporary changes to service arrangements by non-franchised bus and ferry companies such as the PITCL; the measures put in place by the TD to ensure that applications for frequency changes will not be abused while safeguarding the commuting convenience of residents;
(4) of the respective amounts of (i) subsidies provided under the Anti-epidemic Fund, (ii) reimbursement of differential fares under the $2 Scheme and (iii) other subsidies received by the PITCL from the Government each year since 2019; the criteria for calculating or disbursing the aforesaid subsidy amounts (e.g. number of trips operated, a certain percentage of operating expenses on an accountable basis or a one-off subsidy); and
(5) whether the authorities have entered into any agreements or other legally binding documents with the PITCL, stipulating the minimum service levels for the various ferry routes and residents’ bus service routes it operates as a pre-condition for receiving the subsidies mentioned in (4); if so, of the details; whether the PITCL has ever had its subsidies reduced or subject to any fines for breaching such agreements; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Transport Department (TD) has been closely monitoring Ma Wan ferry services and actively following up on issues such as staff shortage and suspension of sailings of the operator (i.e. Park Island Transport Company Limited (PITCL)). The TD has also maintained close communication with local residents’ representatives and District Council Members, and required the operator to expedite recruitment with a view to resuming normal ferry services as soon as possible and strengthen non-franchised public bus services (i.e. Residents’ Services (RS)) during peak hours so as to minimise the impact on residents. The reply to the question raised by the Hon Joephy Chan is as follows:
(1) The PITCL advised that it could not maintain normal ferry services due to staff shortage. Since April 8, 2026, a total of six weekday sailings of the two “Ma Wan – Central” and “Ma Wan – Tsuen Wan” licensed ferry routes have been temporarily suspended. Upon noting the situation, the TD immediately issued a written request to the PITCL on the same day, requesting a detailed explanation for the suspension of sailings; subsequently the TD met with the PITCL multiple times to closely monitor the situation. The TD has required the PITCL to expedite recruitment with a view to resuming normal ferry services as soon as possible. To minimise the impact on residents’ commute, the TD required the PITCL to provide corresponding RS. According to the TD’s observations, the strengthened RS were sufficient to meet passenger demand.
In addition, the PITCL also indicated that the sharp rise in fuel costs in recent months has put pressure on the operation of ferry services. To alleviate the impact of surging oil prices driven up by conflicts in the Middle East on the relevant trades, the Government provides public or commercial vessels and vehicles that use diesel as fuel (including ferries and non-franchised public buses of the PITCL) with diesel price subsidy for two months starting from April 30. In addition, the Government has established the Working Group on Public Transport Service Special Applications to assist, in an expedited manner, public transport operators in their applications to respond flexibly to rising fuel costs.
(2) At present, the PITCL operates two licensed ferry routes plying between Park Island and Central and Tsuen Wan respectively, and five RS routes plying between Park Island and Tsing Yi, Kwai Fong, the Airport and Central respectively. In addition, Park Island residents may also take the two RS routes plying between Ma Wan and Tsuen Wan and Tsuen Wan West respectively operated by Sun Bus Limited, or urban taxis to travel to various districts.
In 2025, the PITCL’s licensed ferry services and RS carried a daily average of about 17 000 passenger trips, representing a drop of over 10 per cent as compared with the daily average of about 20 000 passenger trips in 2019. Among these, licensed ferry services of the PITCL saw a more significant decline in daily patronage by over 40 per cent as compared with 2019. With regard to the services provided by the PITCL, only approximately 10 per cent of passenger trips on weekdays are made on licensed ferry services, with the demand concentrated on the morning and evening peak of the “Ma Wan – Central” route. According to information provided by the PITCL, for the “Ma Wan – Central” route, the average patronage and occupancy of sailings during the morning and evening peak were approximately 131 passengers and 33 per cent (7am to 9am Central bound) and 82 passengers and 20 per cent (5.30pm to 8.30pm Ma Wan bound) respectively, while the average patronage of sailings during off-peak hours was only about 31 passengers. As for the “Ma Wan – Tsuen Wan” route, the average patronage of sailings was approximately 13 passengers.
Since 2019, the PITCL had applied to the TD for adjustments to the schedules of licensed ferry services for six times, of which four were approved (including two temporary service adjustments lasting about 14 months and two months respectively during the COVID-19 pandemic), while the remaining applications were not approved. Also, the PITCL had, after direct negotiations with passenger representatives (i.e. the management company of Park Island), submitted five applications to the TD for adjustments to RS, all of which were approved.
The TD has all along followed up with all complaints received. Depending on the particulars of the case, the TD will follow up with the operator, including arranging for on-site inspections as necessary to verify service situations, and requesting the operator to provide information and responses.
The schedule arrangements, average daily patronage and complaint figures of the PITCL’s licensed ferry services and RS between 2019 and 2025 are provided in Annex.
(3) For licensed ferry services, according to the Ferry Services Ordinance (Cap. 104), unless with a reasonable excuse, a licensee must maintain proper and efficient services, including providing services in accordance with the schedule and capacity set out in the Schedule of Services attached to the licence. Otherwise, the Commissioner for Transport (the Commissioner) may revoke the ferry service licence pursuant to Cap. 104. Generally speaking, if licensed ferry operators (including the PITCL) intend to adjust the schedules, they must submit service adjustment applications to the TD. The TD will handle applications received in accordance with established procedures and, depending on the application details, arrange for local consultation to collect views from residents and local stakeholders to consider whether to approve the applications.
For RS, under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) and relevant subsidiary legislation, an operator must provide services in accordance with its Passenger Service Licence, including the routeings and schedule, etc, as specified in the Schedule of Services. If RS operators (including the PITCL) plan to adjust service details of RS (such as routeings, operating hours and fares, etc), they must obtain the consent of passenger representatives before submitting applications to the TD. If operators breach the aforementioned conditions, the Commissioner may issue warning letters, hold inquiries, or even suspend, cancel, or amend the relevant Passenger Service Licences.
Overall speaking, when considering applications for service adjustments, the TD will examine whether the proposed service adjustments can appropriately meet the changing transport demands of the district, and arrange for local consultations depending on the details of the applications. The TD will also take a holistic view of the operator’s operating conditions, including whether the proposed adjustments would facilitate the operator in making better use of resources, as well as enhancing its overall operational efficiency while safeguarding its financial sustainability, with a view to ensuring that the service remains stable.
(4) & (5) To maintain stable ferry services to meet the transport needs of outlying island residents, the Government provides Special Helping Measures for outlying island ferry routes, reimbursing outlying island ferry operators (including the PITCL) for specific operating expenses on an accountable basis, with a view to relieving the pressure of fare increases on passengers. The support provided by the Government to ferry and RS operators also includes waiving vessel licence fees, reimbursing pier rentals, waiving vehicle licence and inspection fees for registered commercial vehicles. From 2019 to 2025, the PITCL received approximately $18 million in subsidies each year on average for the aforementioned measures.
Besides, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government provided the local public transport operators with various financial support through several rounds of the Anti-epidemic Fund mainly on an accountable basis, thereby helping them cope with the challenging operating environment.
As for the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities (the $2 Scheme), it aims to enable the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on designated public transport services at a concessionary fare. The Government will reimburse participating operators on an accountable basis for the fare revenue forgone as a result of the implementation of the $2 Scheme. Under the $2 Scheme, the PITCL was reimbursed about $6.14 million every year on average between 2019 and 2025 for the difference in bus/ ferry fare.
Before disbursing the subsidies, the Government would comprehensively consider the operators’ situations, including verifying their eligibility and the operational information submitted.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ10: Effectiveness and regulation of Kai Tak Sports Park in promoting sports development Question:
In December 2018, the Government awarded a 25-year contract (the Contract) for the operation of the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) to Kai Tak Sports Park Limited (the operator). The Contract sets out a number of requirements, including key performance indicators (KPIs). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the details of sporting events held at (i) the Kai Tak Stadium, (ii) the Kai Tak Arena and (iii) the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground over the past year (set out in Table 1); whether the Government has assessed if the number of sporting events held at these venues meets the requirements of KPIs (e.g. the number of events held, the number of event days and the number of participants, etc);
Table 1
Name of venue(2) given that, as stipulated in the Contract, the operator is required to ensure that the venue hiring charges for public bookings and the holding of sporting events are comparable to those charged by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for similar facilities, yet the industry has relayed that hiring KTSP venues involves a large number of supplementary service charges (such as cleaning, security and technical support fees), resulting in the overall charges being on the high side, whether the Government has established a mechanism to review the reasonableness of overall charging levels set by the operator and to require the operator to publish a schedule of fees for the various supplementary services so as to enhance transparency; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) given that, as stipulated in the Contract, the operator has committed to implementing the Raising the Game Scheme (formerly known as the Sports Events Support Scheme) with a total commitment of $1.583 billion to support major sporting events, of the details of the operator’s sponsorship of sporting events in the first operating year (set out in Table 2); and
Table 2
Name of project supported by the Raising the Game Scheme(4) given that the Contract stipulates that if the operator fails to fully realise the commitment for the relevant operating year, the outstanding commitment shall be paid to the entities nominated by the authorities (such as national sports associations), how the Government will specifically handle such funds, and how it will ensure that, under the existing vetting and approval mechanism, the subsidies allocated to nominated entities will precisely deliver on the five major policy objectives of promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports, maintaining Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism and developing sports as an industry;
(5) given that the Government has undertaken to establish a Joint Review Committee (the Committee) with the operator to review the operational effectiveness of KTSP and the operator’s performance in fulfilling its contractual obligations, and that the Committee is to meet on a quarterly basis, with its subordinate monitoring subcommittee(s) meeting on a monthly basis, in respect of the aforementioned structure over the past year, of its (i) actual operation; (ii) progress of agenda items; (iii) accountability functions; and (iv) future plans; and
(6) as the industry has relayed that the operator’s charging lacks transparency and that the priority accorded to sporting events in venue scheduling has been squeezed, in the event that conflicts arise in the venue booking schedules between cultural and entertainment performances (such as concerts) and sporting events, what mechanism the authorities have in place to effect a rational allocation, so as to ensure that KTSP does not deviate from its role and positioning as Hong Kong’s landmark sports venue?
Reply:
President,
Since its official commissioning in March last year, the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), has successfully hosted numerous mega events and its promising achievements in advancing sports development and mega-event economy have been evident to all. The Kai Tak Stadium, in merely nine months after its opening, achieved the third-highest ticket sales and the fifth-largest gross revenue among major global venues in 2025. It was also ranked eighth globally and first in Asia out of 28 shortlisted venues in the Stadium of the Year 2025 awards organised by StadiumDB.com, an authoritative international stadium database. Furthermore, the KTSP was named by Time magazine as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2026, the only attraction in Hong Kong on the list. These accomplishments clearly demonstrate the complementary effect generated by hosting both sports events and mega entertainment events at the KTSP in the past year. Through their synergistic effect, the KTSP has successfully established itself as a new hub for sports, leisure and entertainment. Building on the strong momentum since its opening, the Government will continue to work closely with the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited (the Operator) to maintain Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, promote sports in the community, support elite sports, develop sports as an industry, and enhance professionalism in sports, with a view to fostering the holistic development of sports on all fronts. Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Kenneth Fok is as follows:
(1) The KTSP is a world-class integrated sports, leisure and entertainment landmark. It also serves as a key platform for promoting the market-oriented development of sports infrastructure project and advancing the development of sports activities in Hong Kong into mega sports events while promoting sports in the community.
Since the opening of the KTSP on March 1, 2025 and up to April 30, 2026, the Kai Tak Stadium staged a number of international, regional and national sports competitions. They included two editions of the Hong Kong Sevens, three qualifying matches for the Asian Cup featuring the Hong Kong, China football team on home turf, three exhibition matches by world-class football powerhouses, and the rugby sevens competition of the 15th National Games, representing a total of 19 sports event days (excluding the time required for venue setup and dismantling), with a cumulative attendance of over 583 000.
During the same period, the Kai Tak Arena (Grand Hall and Sports Hall) also hosted numerous sports competitions ranging from local to international levels, as well as community sports events. They included two stagings of the World Grand Prix (snooker), the Hong Kong leg of Volleyball Nations League, the semi-finals and grand final of the top global esports event – the League of Legends Champions Korea Cup, the men’s handball and fencing competitions of the 15th National Games, and five home games of Hong Kong’s professional basketball team in the National Basketball League, etc, representing a total of 96 sports event days (excluding the time required for venue setup and dismantling), with a cumulative attendance of over 262 000.
The Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground and other indoor and outdoor spaces within the precinct also accommodated a large number of football and rugby matches, athletics meets and bowling tournaments during the same period. They included competitions organised by various National Sports Associations (NSAs), such as the rugby championship match between Hong Kong, China and Sri Lanka, the international friendly match between the women’s football teams of Hong Kong, China and Malaysia, and the HKGX 2025 IBF World Championships (bowling), etc, representing a total of 138 sports event days (excluding time required for venue setup and dismantling), with a cumulative attendance of over 126 000.
In addition to hosting major sports events, the three aforementioned major venues, together with a variety of other venues and spaces (e.g. the bowling centre, outdoor sports facilities and open spaces), are open to the public for hire or for organising community sports activities at affordable prices when no event or group booking is scheduled. In the past year, a series of All Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying Tournaments, as well as a range of flagship community sports competitions and activities (such as the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026 Youth Run, Kai Tak Run, and Kai Tak Get Set Go!) were held at various venues and spaces within the precinct. From March last year to the end of April this year, the total number of days on which sports events were held across the entire KTSP exceeded 250 days (excluding time required for venue setup and dismantling), with a cumulative attendance of over 970 000, demonstrating the Operator’s effective utilisation of the venues.
As highlighted by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) at this year’s Budget press conference as well as the special meeting of the Legislative Council Finance Committee, the Operator is required to operate the KTSP in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the contract signed with the Government, and its performance is evaluated periodically against a set of key performance indicators (KPIs). The first year of the KTSP’s operation marked the initial stage of its business development. When drawing up the contract, the Government included a ramping up arrangement, under which certain KPIs relating to venue utilisation (including the number of days on which sports events are held at each venue and the total attendance at such events) only took effect from the second operating year (i.e. the year ending March 31, 2027).
According to the contract signed between the Government and the Operator, the Kai Tak Stadium, the Kai Tak Arena (Grand Hall), and the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground together with other venues within the precinct are required to accommodate 40, 76 and 69 sports event days respectively in the year ending March 31,2027, with a total annual attendance of 600 000 at sports events. These indicators were set before the construction of the KTSP (i.e. in 2018), and are no longer fully suited to the current operational realities of the venues. For example, only the event day of competitions is currently counted towards sports event days while pre-event preparation works, such as turf conversion taking around two to three weeks as well as venue setup and dismantling taking around five to ten days, are not taken into account. Moreover, the indicators do not factor in the importance of events to sports development, their economic impact and benefits, etc. Given that the relevant indicators are currently unable to fully reflect the changes in the operational model of the KTSP, and as mentioned by the CSTB at the said press conference and the special meeting of the Finance Committee, we are reviewing the relevant indicators to ensure that the assessment mechanism can keep pace with the times and remain practical. This ensures that the Operator, with the enhanced performance indicators, meets the performance standards while maintaining operational efficiency and supporting the development of sports as an industry and the host city economy.
(2) The Government adopts a “Design, Build and Operate” model to take forward the KTSP project, with the aim of enabling the KTSP to operate on a market-oriented and self-financing basis. As such, the positioning and operational model of the KTSP cannot and should not be compared with government venues. Taking the 50 000-seat Kai Tak Stadium as an example, the stadium is equipped with a retractable roof and a flexible, modern pitch system. In addition, air-conditioning vents are installed beneath each seat and alongside the pitch to ensure an all-weather comfortable experience for spectators, athletes and performers. Each facility at the KTSP, being Hong Kong’s landmark flagship venue, is of world-class standard and therefore entails higher requirements for operation, security and technical support as well as certain supplementary service charges. As a key base for the sports events industry, the KTSP has since its opening attracted multiple commercially viable large-scale sports events as well as cultural and entertainment events, bringing in substantial ticket revenues from organising mega events. Running the KTSP in a market-oriented model facilitates the establishment of a comprehensive ecosystem for developing sports as an industry. Regarding the requirements for supplementary services (including security and cleaning), the Operator and event organisers will discuss and agree on the required level of such services and the associated charges which may vary depending on the scale and nature of each event. Drawing on the experience gained over the past year, the KTSP will further streamline the required level of supplementary services and manpower to an optimal level, thereby enhancing the cost-effectiveness of these services.
In addition to hosting major sports events, the Operator continuously opens the KTSP’s indoor and outdoor sports and recreational facilities for public booking. Under the contract, the charging standards for these facilities, apart from making reference to the rates of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, also comprehensively consider the charges of similar facilities provided by educational institutions and other non-profit making organisations, with a view to setting reasonable fees that are acceptable to the public. For example, the current hourly charges for community casual hire are $75 for an indoor badminton court, $50 for an indoor table tennis studio, and $160 for an outdoor tennis court during peak hours. These rates are broadly comparable to those charged by other non-profit making organisations in the community.
Over the past year or so, more than 68 000 people made bookings and used the facilities at the KTSP. The pickleball courts, in particular, have been extremely popular with the public, with utilisation rate peaked. In addition, various sports programmes have together recorded over 190 000 community sports hours. These figures demonstrate that the charging levels of the KTSP are in line with public expectations and its infrastructure has been effective in promoting sports in the community.
(3) and (4) The Operator has been implementing the Sports Events Support Scheme (now known as the Raising the Game Scheme) to support major sports events and provide funding for sports and related projects with potentials. Its total financial commitment under the Raising the Game Scheme (the Scheme) is $1.583 billion, spreading across approximately 20 years. From the commencement of operation of the KTSP to the end of its first operating year (i.e. from March 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026), the Operator’s contractual commitment under the Scheme is $44 million.
According to the information provided by the Operator, during the above period, a total of 46 sports events were supported by the Scheme, involving an estimated total funding amount of nearly $52 million. The events supported by the Scheme covered a wide range of sports, such as various competitions hosted by different NSAs (including three Asian Cup qualifying matches organised by the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, featuring the Hong Kong, China team on home turf, and a friendly match of the Hong Kong China Men’s XVs against an Asian team organised by the Hong Kong China Rugby); multiple All Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying Tournaments aimed at identifying young athletes with potential (covering sports such as handball, athletics, basketball and football); as well as community sports activities open to the public free of charge (such as the Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2025). Through various forms of support, including priority venue booking, rental concessions, event collaboration and promotion, the Scheme significantly promotes the five key policy objectives of sports development.
As the spending of the Operator under the Scheme has already exceeded its contractual commitment, there is currently no need to address any shortfall. In the second operating year, the Operator contractual commitment is $50 million. The Operator will continue to consider each application having regard to factors such as diversity and experiential value of the event as well as the organiser’s financial plan, with a view to attracting more major local and international sports events to the KTSP.
(5) As the largest sports infrastructure and first integrated sports, leisure and entertainment landmark in Hong Kong’s history, the KTSP holds an important strategic position. To monitor the Operator’s performance and ensure the smooth daily operation of the KTSP, the Government and the Operator convene meetings of the Joint Review Committee on a regular basis. In addition to providing steer on the Sports Park’s efforts in promoting sports development, these meetings offer advice on fostering the synergistic development of major sports events, innovative entertainment, dining, conventions and exhibitions, as well as tourism activities. Meanwhile, the Committee also draws up thorough plans for daily operations and major events on security deployment, crowd management, emergency response and other areas. A total of 19 meetings have been conducted since the commissioning of the KTSP 15 months ago. For each major event, the CSTB and relevant government departments together with the Operator and event organisers convene at least two to three working-level co-ordination meetings to ensure smooth operation.
The Government will continue to closely monitor the actual operation of the KTSP, taking into consideration factors such as market demand for sports events, cultural and performing arts activities, development trends of sports activities, and the KTSP’s business model and daily operation, while providing the Operator with enhancement recommendations as appropriate to meet the long-term development needs of the precinct.
(6) Pursuant to the contract signed between the Operator and the Government, organisers of sports events may book venues at any time, whereas reservations for non-sports events (such as cultural and entertainment activities) can only be made up to no more than 24 months ahead of the event dates. In other words, organisers of sports events enjoy priority in venue booking. This arrangement enables sports event organisers to secure timeslots well in advance, thereby providing them with greater flexibility in bidding to host major international or regional sports events as well as accommodating the need to confirm competition schedules for large-scale tour events at an earlier stage.
In addition, the contract stipulates a set of KPIs that are related to areas pivotal to the promotion of sports development, including the opening of facilities to the public for sports use, facility utilisation rates, number of sports event days and attendance at those sports events, and sports programme enrolment hours, etc. The contractual and institutional design incentivises the Operator to allocate sufficient venues for sports use. This ensures that the operation of the KTSP remains centred on sports activities, thereby achieving its objective of promoting sports development. Issued at HKT 12:40
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH announces latest smoking situation in Hong Kong and “Quit in June” campaign Survey results —————- The Census and Statistics Department published the latest Thematic Household Survey Report today. According to the Thematic Household Survey on smoking habits conducted from July to October last year, around 540 000 Hong Kong citizens had a daily habit of smoking conventional cigarettes at the time of the survey, accounting for 8.5 per cent of all persons aged 15 and above. The relevant rate was 9.1 per cent in 2023.
Regarding alternative smoking products, the proportion of persons aged 15 and above who habitually used e-cigarettes daily in 2025 was 0.1 per cent of the population, while the relevant rate was 0.2 per cent in 2023. Meanwhile, the proportion of daily users of heated tobacco products dropped from 0.1 per cent in 2023 to a level beyond accurate estimation.
The Head of the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH, Dr Manny Lam, said, “The decline of Hong Kong’s smoking rate to a record low is the result of years of concerted efforts by various sectors of the community and members of the public, making Hong Kong an international role model for successful tobacco control. Furthermore, since the ban on alternative smoking products took effect in April 2022, the number of users has continued to fall, demonstrating the effectiveness and importance of implementing the ban. The DH will continue to closely monitor smoking trends and guard against the prevalence of new smoking products in Hong Kong.”
Following the gazettal of the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 last year, the Government is progressively implementing the next phase of tobacco control measures. Measures that have already taken effect include strengthening the legal framework for combating illicit cigarettes, expanding the statutory no-smoking areas, further imposing a comprehensive ban on the possession of alternative smoking products in public places, alongside the sustained enhancement of public education and smoking cessation services. The Government plans to fully implement the plain packaging requirement for conventional smoking products and the duty stamp system by December next year to further reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products and strengthen efforts in combating illicit cigarettes.
Dr Lam added that one of the core tenets of the Government’s “10 Tobacco Control Measures” is to reduce the appeal of smoking products, including alternative smoking products and various flavoured cigarettes, thereby preventing the new generation from becoming addicted to tobacco. The latest survey results also show that smoking rates among younger age groups remain at very low levels, reflecting that the younger generation no longer accepts smoking behaviour, which is highly aligned with the Government’s goals and societal expectations.
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, Mr Henry Tong, said that the Council endeavours to fully support the Government in implementing the next phase of tobacco control measures. He pointed out that implementing plain packaging for conventional smoking products and banning flavoured cigarettes would effectively reduce the promotional effect and appeal of tobacco products, serving as important measures to counter tobacco companies’ marketing to the public, especially the younger generation.
“Quit in June” campaign —————————— Dr Lam said, “The Government has always adopted a multipronged and gradual approach to reduce the harm caused by smoking products to the public and society. In addition to legislation, taxation, publicity, education and enforcement, providing comprehensive smoking cessation services is also an indispensable part of this. To help smokers successfully quit, the DH has been subventing a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide diverse and free smoking cessation services and support. In support of the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31 each year, the DH launched the ‘Quit in June’ campaign in 2021 to encourage smokers to try to quit smoking, thereby reducing the risk of smoking-related diseases and death. Over the past few years, the campaign has achieved encouraging results, with an increasing number of participants.”
This year, the DH will continue to distribute free one-week smoking cessation drug trial packs through over 300 community pharmacies, smoking cessation clinics, District Health Centres (DHCs)/DHC Expresses, and DH clinics, as well as free Chinese medicine ear points patches through designated Chinese medicine clinics to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms in smokers who wish to quit.
In response to the Government’s implementation of a smoking ban on all construction sites, Dr Lam said that the DH has stepped up smoking cessation publicity and support for the construction industry. The NGOs subvented by the DH will proactively provide free smoking cessation drug trial packs and Chinese medicine ear points patches to the construction industry through outreach activities.
In addition, the DH has collaborated with the School of Nursing of the University of Hong Kong to launch a pilot AI-assisted smoking cessation counselling service – “Chat to Quit” this year. The AI provides accurate and appropriate smoking cessation information instantly, and offers personalised smoking cessation counselling according to users’ smoking history and quitting preferences. It can also provide emotional support and help users practise skills in refusing cigarettes. Smokers who wish to quit can scan the QR code (see annex) to access the service anytime, anywhere, free of charge. For users who require real-person counselling, smoking cessation medication support or Chinese Medicine acupuncture smoking cessation service, “Chat to Quit” will also make referrals accordingly.
The DH has started broadcasting the “We are all in this together. Quit Now” television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest, and has stepped up promotional advertisements on public transport networks and social media to encourage smokers to quit and accompany them through the tobacco-free month.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Hung Kam-in and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Question:
In recent years, some local institutions have collaborated with universities in the Mainland and overseas to introduce “2+2 degree programmes” or “joint degree programmes”, allowing students to complete their studies in different regions and obtain qualifications recognised by institutions in multiple regions concurrently. There are views that while current institutional collaborations are concentrated in the Greater Bay Area or the Mainland, there is also potential to further expand them to overseas to establish a transnational and cross-boundary institutional network, so as to nurture talent who can connect Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the institutions in Hong Kong which are currently collaborating with Mainland and overseas institutions to offer cross-boundary programmes, and the academic disciplines covered by such programmes; of the respective numbers of local and non-local students enrolled in such programmes in the past three years; whether the Government knows if any institutions in Hong Kong are exploring the implemetation of “multilateral joint programme” mode in collaboration with institutions in Southeast Asia or other overseas regions; if so, of the details;
(2) whether it knows the employment situations of and degree recognition for graduates upon completion of “multilateral joint programmes”; whether graduates who have completed such programmes currently meet the requirements of the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates; if not, whether the Government will study the provision of relevant arrangements so as to attract such graduates to work in Hong Kong;
(3) apart from mutual recognition of programmes, whether the Government has studied or promoted multilateral recognition of vocational and professional education and training programmes, or other more attractive arrangements, such as encouraging institutions to collaborate with enterprises in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas in designing programmes, so as to enhance the competitiveness of graduates and make it easier for them to be employed in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas; and
(4) whether the Government has plans in the next three to five years to encourage more institutions to participate in transnational and cross-boundary joint programmes and set a specific timetable, so as to strengthen the role of Hong Kong’s institutions in international education collaboration and enhance Hong Kong’s strengths in nurturing and retaining talent as well as building international interpersonal networks?
Reply:
President,
The Government actively encourages local universities to collaborate with the Chinese Mainland and overseas institutions in offering dual/joint-degree programmes to expand the pool of high-calibre talent across various fields and propel Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub. Regarding the question asked by the Hon Hung Kam-in, the reply is as follows.
(1) and (2) Over the past three academic years (AYs), six University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities, namely City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the University of Hong Kong, have partnered with Chinese Mainland and overseas institutions to offer undergraduate dual/joint-degree programmes including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan, as well as Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Over the past three AYs, around 60 undergraduate dual/joint-degree programmes were offered annually, spanning fields such as STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), social sciences, humanities, law, economics and business administration, admitting approximately 4 000 to 5 500 local and non-local undergraduate students. The total number of students enrolled in these programmes is as follows:
Number of enrolment of undergraduate dual/joint-degree programmes from the 2023/24 to 2025/26 AYs
AY
Number of enrolment
Local
Non-local
Total
2023/24
14 066
3 932
17 998
2024/25
15 530
4 700
20 230
2025/26
(Provisional figures)
16 751
5 911
22 662
In the 2023/24 and 2024/25 AYs, these programmes recorded over 4 800 graduates annually, with non-local students accounting for approximately 20 per cent of the total. The Government does not keep the information on the pathways of the graduates concerned. Under the prevailing Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, non-local graduates who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time locally accredited programme in Hong Kong may apply to stay in/return to Hong Kong for 24 months without other conditions of stay. They do not need a job offer to be eligible for the arrangement if they apply within six months after graduation. Further details on the eligibility criteria can be found on the Immigration Department’s website.
As for local students, the Government has launched the Hong Kong Future Talents Scholarship Scheme for Advanced Studies starting from the 2025/26 AY to encourage local students to pursue designated taught postgraduate programmes and nurture high-calibre talent needed for Hong Kong’s future. Awardees are required to sign an undertaking that he/she would contribute towards relevant industries/sectors either through relevant full-time employment or entrepreneurial activities in Hong Kong or within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, upon graduation, in support of the Government’s policy objective of attracting, nurturing and retaining talent.
As regards self-financing non-local post-secondary programmes, over the past three AYs, post-secondary institutions operating full-time locally accredited self-financing non-local post-secondary programmes in collaboration with overseas institutions include the Hong Kong Institute of Technology, UOW College Hong Kong, the School of Continuing and Professional Education of the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Art School, the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong, the College of International Education of the Hong Kong Baptist University and the School for Higher and Professional Education under the Vocational Training Council (VTC). These programmes mainly cover the field of business and management studies, computer science and information technology, social sciences, media, journalism and communications, arts, design and performing arts, architecture and town planning, biological sciences, education as well as engineering and technology. The total number of students enrolled in these programmes is as follows:
Number of enrolment of full-time locally accredited self-financing non-local post-secondary programmes from the 2023/24 to 2025/26 AYs
AY
Number of enrolment
Local
Non-local
Total
2023/24
2 096
20
2 116
2024/25
1 943
19
1 962
2025/26
(Provisional figures)
1 833
3
1 836
The Government does not keep information on the annual number of graduates and their pathways.
The Government will continue to encourage institutions to explore innovative models for dual/joint-degree programmes and endeavour to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, with a view to nurturing versatile talent with both specialised academic knowledge and global vision to meet Hong Kong’s long-term development needs.
(3) The Government endeavours to promote the development of vocational and professional education and training (VPET), and supports institutions in strengthening collaboration with the Chinese Mainland and overseas enterprises and education institutions to enhance students’ competitiveness in employability.
Among others, as the largest VPET provider in Hong Kong, the VTC has been proactively promoting collaboration with the Chinese Mainland in areas including student admission and employment, education and training, as well as teacher and student exchanges, and has established partnerships with over 110 Chinese Mainland Government departments, education institutions and organisations. To facilitate cross‑boundary learning and development, the VTC also encourages students to pursue dual award collaborative programmes in the Chinese Mainland and at the same time provides a comprehensive articulation pathway to attract Chinese Mainland students to enrol in VTC’s programmes in Hong Kong. In addition, the VTC has established the Vocational and Professional Education Services (Shenzhen) Company Limited in Shenzhen to strengthen institution‑enterprise collaboration, promote student internships and innovation and technology training, and support teachers and students in participating in study tours, exchange programmes and skills competitions, with a view to further enhancing connection with the Chinese Mainland industries. In addition, the VTC has established collaboration with various overseas VPET organisations and institutions to promote students’ participation in diversified outbound activities. These include student exchange programmes, semester-based overseas studies and industrial attachments across a wide range of overseas destinations, such as Austria, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
To further enrich students’ learning experience, the VTC has also invited scholars and industry practitioners from the Chinese Mainland and overseas to visit Hong Kong to share the latest industry developments, including emerging trends, practical insights and professional expertise through thematic seminars and interactive workshops, thereby enhancing students’ employability in the Chinese Mainland and overseas.
(4) The Education Bureau (EDB) has always attached importance to promoting co-operation between local post-secondary institutions and institutions from the Chinese Mainland and overseas. The EDB encourages institutions to establish partnerships with high-quality post-secondary education institutions around the world on a mutually beneficial basis, including the joint delivery of cross-border programmes, with a view to facilitating student exchanges and enhancing the quality of teaching. Post-secondary institutions in Hong Kong will negotiate and agree on specific programme arrangements with overseas institutions in accordance with their academic development strategies and curriculum design through establishing various forms of co-operation including student exchange programmes and operating dual-degree programmes, providing students with diverse learning opportunities. The EDB will continue to maintain communication with relevant Government departments and organisations from the Chinese Mainland and overseas and provide support measures (e.g. the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong and the UGC’s funding in the 2022-25 triennium for the Heads of Universities Committee’s Standing Committee on Internationalisation jointly set up by the eight UGC-funded universities), with a view to supporting institutions in expanding their international networks to promote Hong Kong’s strengths as an international post-secondary education hub to their partners from the Chinese Mainland and abroad, and to jointly exploring models for cross-regional co-operation and areas for exchange, thereby laying a solid foundation for continuously enhancing international collaboration and promoting broader academic co-operation among institutions.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Under the existing Nutrition Labelling Scheme (the Scheme), prepackaged food products are required to label the energy and seven core nutrients (i.e. total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sugars, sodium, protein and carbohydrates) “per package” or “per serving”. It has been more than 15 years since the Scheme was fully implemented in 2010. In recent years, there have been notable changes in the dietary pattern of the public and the types of prepackaged food products, and cases of discrepancies between nutrition labels and actual ingredients have aroused public concern about the effectiveness of the Scheme and the monitoring work. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ8: Building Hong Kong into international gold trading centre Question:
The Government is committed to establishing Hong Kong as an international centre for gold trading, storage, clearing and risk management, and has already made substantive progress. According to statistics from the World Gold Council, central banks worldwide purchased a total of 863 tonnes of gold last year, with the People’s Bank of China being one of the world’s leading buyers. There are views that, as an international financial centre, Hong Kong is an ideal place for developing an international gold trading centre. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that the Hong Kong central clearing system for gold which is managed by the Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company Limited wholly owned by the Government is scheduled to commence its trial operation within this year, of the current development of the system (including whether a systematic mode of operation, regulatory framework, risk management arrangements and interface mechanisms with existing financial market infrastructure have been established); whether the authorities will conduct industry consultations prior to the trial operation to ensure the robustness of the system and its broad connectivity with market participants;
(2) given that the Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Shenzhen Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau to jointly build a regional gold ecosystem and lay a foundation for further co-operation in processing trade between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, whether the authorities have set specific phased targets for building the ecosystem, such as gold trading volume, storage utilisation rates and the value of processing trade;
(3) regarding the promotion of the mutual access with the Mainland’s gold market, apart from Shenzhen and Shanghai, whether the Government will consider establishing similar collaboration mechanisms with other major gold producers or consumers and strengthening efforts through the Mainland Offices of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to promote Hong Kong’s gold storage, clearing and risk management services to relevant enterprises; and
(4) whether it will actively explore with Mainland Customs and tax authorities, with the aim of achieving a storage capacity of 2 000 tonnes within three years, suitably relaxing the declaration limits for Mainland visitors bringing gold products for personal use into Hong Kong, for example, by raising the current 50-gram limit or simplifying the tax collection process for amounts exceeding the limit, so as to promote the development of Hong Kong’s gold retail market?
Reply:
President,
Against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical uncertainties, persistent inflationary pressures and restructuring of the international monetary system, the Government is actively promoting the development of Hong Kong as an international gold trading centre to attract the storage, clearing and delivery of gold in Hong Kong and drive the development of relevant industry chain including investment trading, derivatives, insurance, storage, trade and logistics services, with a view to diversifying international financial business and further consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.
In consultation with the Security Bureau, the reply to the four parts of the question is as follows:
(1) The Hong Kong central clearing system for gold (the Clearing System) being established by the Government aims to provide efficient and reliable clearing services for gold transactions that meet international standards, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of gold trading and physical delivery in Hong Kong. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) has established the Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company Limited (PMCC), a wholly government-owned company, to serve as the governance body of the Clearing System. The Board of the PMCC comprises representatives from the Shanghai Gold Exchange, regulators and 11 banks to fully incorporate the feedback from various segments of the market. Members of the Board possess profound knowledge of international financial markets and extensive experience in the financial industry, providing valuable insights in areas such as system operation, regulation and risk management when jointly formulating the governance framework and rules of the Clearing System. Apart from the Board, the FSTB has also consulted industry stakeholders on system operation when establishing the Clearing System.
Preparation for the operation of the Clearing System has entered its final stage. We plan to commence trial operation within this year to further understand and analyse the actual operation in the industry to ensure that the services of the Clearing System remain attractive and are operationally stable, thereby attracting more Mainland and international investors and users to choose Hong Kong as the preferred hub for clearing and delivery.
(2) and (3) To attract more gold to be stored, cleared and delivered in Hong Kong and to build a comprehensive gold trading ecosystem, the Government has set a clear target for expansion of storage capacity. By encouraging the Airport Authority Hong Kong and financial institutions to expand gold storage capacity in Hong Kong, we have set a target of achieving over 2 000 tonnes within three years to propel Hong Kong into a regional gold reserve hub. The Government is also actively encouraging gold traders to establish or expand refineries in Hong Kong. Invest Hong Kong and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises have been working with relevant bureaux and departments to provide appropriate support to these enterprises, including assistance in identifying suitable factory and storage sites as well as providing relevant information and guidance. Several enterprises that are qualified to refine gold to international standards have already expressed interest in expanding into the Hong Kong market.
The outline of the National 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Hong Kong in developing a commodity trading ecosystem. Under the national strategic direction of accelerating the development of a financial powerhouse, the Government is actively leveraging the unique advantages of “one country, two systems” to contribute to the national strategic development, using the gold market as an entry point. The FSTB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Shenzhen Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau and a co-operation agreement with the Shanghai Gold Exchange respectively to prepare for future mutual market access with the Chinese Mainland to build an integrated gold ecosystem, thereby enhancing the international influence of Renminbi in gold pricing and trading. The MOU signed with Shenzhen covers support for collaboration between Hong Kong gold traders and qualified refining enterprises in Shenzhen on processing trade, with a view to leveraging Shenzhen’s refining capacity of international standard to refine gold for export to Hong Kong for trading and delivery purposes to expand the scale of Hong Kong’s gold market. The FSTB is working with the relevant Mainland authorities to finalise the implementation details. Specific measures will be announced in due course.
At the same time, the Government is also committed to deepening co-operation with Belt and Road countries and other international market participants, promoting Hong Kong’s gold storage, clearing and risk management services through overseas visits, organising events, and exploring the signing of co-operation agreements. For instance, during his earlier attendance to the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank in Uzbekistan, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury took the opportunity to introduce the latest developments and opportunities in Hong Kong’s gold market to participating finance ministers and central bank representatives. We will also make good use of the network of our Economic and Trade Offices in the Mainland and overseas to promote Hong Kong’s direction and specific measures for gold market development.
(4) At present, Hong Kong does not impose any customs duty or import/export control on passengers bringing gold products into/out of Hong Kong. The Government will, in response to market demand and when necessary, explore with the relevant Mainland authorities the feasibility of providing more convenient arrangements for passengers, with a view to promoting the development of Hong Kong’s retail gold market. Issued at HKT 11:45
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Junius Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Question:(2) of the measures adopted by the Government for the railway works projects mentioned in part (1) to control works costs and enhance the efficiency of railway construction; and
(3) how the Government will communicate and coordinate with Mainland departments in respect of railway works projects connecting with the Mainland (particularly the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (Hung Shui Kiu-Qianhai) and the Northern Link Spur Line projects), so as to foster cost reduction and efficiency enhancement in local railway works?
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Jonathan Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Chun-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Question:
It is learnt that the demand for pet hospice services is growing day by day. Given that the Government currently has no plans to establish a licensing regime for operators of pet hospice services, nor does it provide pet cremation services, most pet owners choose to entrust private organisations with the handling of their pets’ after-death arrangements, resulting in the rapid development of the relevant industry. As the cremation of animals in ordinary industrial buildings (IBs) constitutes breaches of land leases, owners intending to set up cremation facilities and provide pet funeral services in ordinary IB units must apply to the Lands Department for an amendment to lease conditions or exemption from the relevant use restrictions, which may require applying to the Town Planning Board for a change of statutory planning use or planning permission. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of applications received, approved and rejected by the relevant departments in each of the past three years concerning the amendment to lease conditions or exemption from restrictions for the setting up of pet cremation facilities in IBs;
(2) regarding the setting up of cremation facilities in IBs to provide pet funeral services, whether the relevant departments have considered streamlining the application procedures for amending lease conditions or exempting from restrictions, and providing guidelines on the application procedures; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) regarding operators of pet hospice services who have not applied for the setting up of pet cremation facilities in IBs, whether the authorities have grasped the numbers of their companies or facilities, as well as the locations thereof (e.g. IBs, brownfield sites, shopping centres and commercial buildings); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Currently, various government departments regulate pet cremation operating premises in accordance with applicable legislations or the terms of the land leases. For example, upon receipt of complaints about these premises causing sanitary nuisance, environmental pollution, fire hazard or breach of terms of the land lease, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Environmental Protection Department, the Fire Services Department or the Lands Department (LandsD) will carry out inspections and take enforcement actions as necessary.
Having consulted the Development Bureau and the Security Bureau, the reply to the question from the Hon Chan Chun-ying is as follows:
(1) and (2) Generally, the leases of industrial buildings specify that the lot shall be used only for industrial and/or godown purposes. If an owner intends to install a cremation facility in an industrial building unit to provide pet cremation services, the owner must apply to the LandsD to modify the lease terms or waive the relevant user restrictions. In the past three years, the LandsD received only one waiver application in 2023 for the installation of pet cremation facility in an industrial building. As the application failed to meet the statutory land use zoning requirement, the LandsD rejected the application in 2024.
“Pet cremation facilities” is currently not under any existing categories of use in statutory town plans. Interested operators may submit an application to the Town Planning Board in accordance with section 12A of the Town Planning Ordinance to rezone a certain statutory planning use to a designated use for “pet cremation facilities”, or submit an application for planning approval in accordance with section 16 under appropriate circumstances if said “pet cremation facilities” are for temporary use only. If any person applies to the LandsD for modifying lease terms or waivers to install cremation facilities in industrial buildings to provide pet cremation services, upon receiving the application, the LandsD will examine whether the application meets the statutory land use zoning requirement, and will consult the relevant policy bureaux and/or departments to ascertain whether it receives policy support and complies with other laws and regulations, before considering whether to approve the application. Details can be found on the LandsD’s website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/land-disposal-transaction/land-transaction.html) or by contacting the District Lands Offices.
(3) Upon receipt of complaints regarding pet cremation operating premises or applications from operators on specific facilities and land leases, various government departments will follow up in accordance with their respective areas of responsibility. The Government does not maintain statistical data on the total number or locations of such facilities.