Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
A spokesman for the Buildings Department (BD) said today (November 29) that the BD has issued orders under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) requiring the immediate temporary suspension of works on 28 private building projects with Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, Limited (PC&E) as the registered contractor, as well as on two other private building maintenance projects in which plastic sheeting were found to be used. The BD has also ordered at once the two registered contractors concerned (Fulam Construction Engineering Company Limited and Yuen Fat Construction Engineering Limited) to remove the plastic sheeting, and will seek legal advice for considering legal penalties. Contractors responsible for the above-mentioned 30 projects are required to conduct an independent safety audit for the projects and submit to the BD an improvement plan and implement improvement measures before considering if and when the works could be resumed.
The BD’s decision to temporarily suspend the works on the 28 projects managed by PC&E was due to a lack of confidence in its ability to ensure site safety. The No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po exposed serious deficiencies of PC&E in site safety management, including the extensive use of foam boards to block up windows during building repairs. Given the concerns about PC&E’s capabilities and awareness on site safety, the BD has issued orders under Section 23(1)(b)(iii) of the BO to suspend the works projects with PC&E as the main contractor with immediate effect. Of these projects where PC&E is the registered contractor, 11 involve repairs of private buildings and 17 involve additions and alterations works.
During the special inspection operation, the BD found two building maintenance projects where windows were covered up by plastic sheeting. These included one at Fortress Garden in North Point (the registered contractor for this project is Yuen Fat Construction Engineering Limited, with PC&E as project manager) and another one at China Travel Building in Central (the registered contractor for this project is Fulam Construction Engineering Company Limited). The BD has already asked the registered contractors of the two projects to remove the plastic sheeting, and will seek legal advice for considering legal penalties. For the sake of prudence, the BD has also ordered a temporary suspension of the two projects.
Apart from issuing orders for temporary suspension, the BD has already required the relevant contractors to conduct an independent safety audit to review their safety management system. Taking cognisance of the outcome of the safety audit, the contractors are required to submit an improvement plan and implement improvement measures, with a view to demonstrating that they have an effective safety management system before the resumption of works can be considered.
The temporary suspension of works is to better safeguard the safety of both workers and users. As for the impact on the progress of the relevant projects, it will depend on whether the contractors can promptly implement a site safety plan that the BD will accept.
Furthermore, the BD will continue its special inspection operation. As of November 29, 250 buildings have been inspected and samples have been taken for testing from buildings installed with scaffold nets. If further buildings are found to be using foam or plastic sheeting to block up windows, or if sampling results indicate that the scaffold nets fail to meet fire-retardant standards, follow-up actions will be promptly announced.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Fire Services Department (FSD) announced today (November 29) that the government yesterday established an Inter-departmental Fire Investigation Task Force regarding the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Led by the FSD, the task force members comprise of representatives from the Police, the Buildings Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Independent Checking Unit under the Housing Bureau, Labour Department and the Government Laboratory, as well as fire engineering professionals.
The task force held its first meeting yesterday, with two main objectives: first, to investigate the cause of the fire and how it spread; second, to determine the factors that led to heavy casualties. After the meeting, task force members also visited the fire scene at Wang Fuk Court for a site inspection.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Police today (November 29) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tin Shui Wai.
Lai Sun, aged 88, went missing after he left his residence in Shek Po Tsuen yesterday (November 28) afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.
He is about 1.4 metres tall, 68 kilograms in weight and of fat build. He has a square face with yellow complexion, bald with short grey hair on two sides. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved jacket, dark-coloured trousers, grey sneakers and a brown cap.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9689 6212 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (November 29) mourned the victims of fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and expressed profound condolences.
At 8am, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, together with principal officials, Non-official Members of the Executive Council and civil servants, observed a three-minute silence at the forecourt of the East Wing of the Central Government Offices (CGO) to pay solemn tribute to those who tragically lost their lives in the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.
The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, who came to Hong Kong to assist in the disaster relief works, Mr Xu Qifang; the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, the Deputy Director of the HKMAO of the State Council and the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zhou Ji; and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the HKMAO of the State Council, Mr Nong Rong, also observed the silence.
Subsequently, Mr Lee, Mr Xu, Mr Zhou, Mr Nong and principal officials signed the book of condolence at the CGO to pay tribute to the victims.
From today until December 1, the Home Affairs Department will set up condolence points in all 18 districts for the public to sign condolence books to mourn for the victims. The condolence books will be available for signing from 9am to 9pm.
During the mourning period, national flags and regional flags displayed at all government buildings (including offices of the HKSAR Government outside Hong Kong) will be flown at half staff. All celebration activities organised by the Government will be cancelled or postponed as appropriate. Government officials will reduce their attendance at non-essential public activities.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced today (November 29) that, in order to alleviate the mortgage repayment burden of affected owners at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the HA has immediately relaxed the provisions regarding mortgage repayment periods and repayment amounts under the Deed of Guarantee. Such relaxation allows banks and financial institutions participating in the provision of mortgage loans for subsidised sale flats (participating financial institutions) to offer special mortgage arrangements to the mortgagors of subsidised sale flats with premium unpaid at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, including deferred repayment of mortgage instalments or principal. The HA has informed participating financial institutions and will issue letters to them confirming the arrangements.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
A man who went missing in Tsing Yi has been located.
Li Kwong-tsan, aged 18, went missing after he left his residence in Cheung Hang Estate on November 25 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on November 26.
The man turned up at police station to cancel the missing person report last night (November 28). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Leasing arrangements announced for public market stalls in December The date of the auctions and the number of stalls are as follows:————– Auction date: December 9 (Tuesday) (am) Number of stalls: 86————– Auction date: December 9 (Tuesday) (pm) Number of stalls: 106————————————————– Auction date: December 10 (Wednesday) (pm) Number of stalls: 119————————————————– Auction date: December 11 (Thursday) (am) Number of stalls: 60——————- Auction date: December 11 (Thursday) (pm) Number of stalls: 15——————— Auction date: December 12 (Friday) (am) Number of stalls: 56——————— Auction date: December 12 (Friday) (pm) Number of stalls: 93
Districts in which the market stalls are located8/F, Lockhart Road Municipal Services Building, 225 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong KongRoom 301-302, 3/F, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Nam Cheong Offices and Vehicle Depot, 87 Yen Chow Street West, Kowloon9/F, Kwai Hing Government Offices, 166-174 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories4/F, Shek Wu Hui Municipal Services Building, 13 Chi Cheong Road, Sheung Shui, New Territories7/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Tseung Kwan O, New TerritoriesUnits 1201-1207 and 1220-1221, 12/F, Tower 1, Grand Central Plaza, 138 Sha Tin Rural Committee Road, Sha Tin, New Territories3/F, Tai Po Complex, 8 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po, New Territories3/F, Yeung Uk Road Municipal Services Building, 45 Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories1/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices Building, 1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories2/F, Yuen Long Government Offices, 2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, New Territories A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Bidders or applicants for the market stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. To allow more people to bid for or select the stalls and increase customer choices by enhancing the diversity in terms of the variety of stalls, there will be a restriction on the number of stalls to be rented in the same market by a single tenant. Any person who is currently a stall tenant is not allowed to bid in the first round of the auction for any stall in the same market, and will only be allowed to bid for one stall in the second round of the auction or to select one stall in the same market on a first-come, first-served basis. The existing tenants under the new three-year fixed-term tenancy scheme (i.e. those persons who became stall tenants through the market open auctions after August 2022) are allowed to bid for a stall in the auction or select a stall on a first-come, first-served basis in the same market, but shall vacate the current stall and return it to the FEHD before the effective date of commencement of the new tenancy agreement.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (December 1).
The value of total retail sales in October 2025, provisionally estimated at $35.2 billion, increased by 6.9% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in September 2025 increased by 6.0% compared with a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales remained at a similar level when compared with a year earlier.
Of the total retail sales value in October 2025, online sales accounted for 14.6%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $5.2 billion, increased by 27.2% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of online retail sales in September 2025 increased by 27.2% compared with a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales increased by 9.5% compared with the same period in 2024.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in October 2025 increased by 5.3% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in September 2025 increased by 4.8% compared with a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2025 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales decreased by 1.5% in volume compared with the same period in 2024.
Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing October 2025 with October 2024, the value of sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified increased by 24.6%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (+9.5% in value); other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (+9.7%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+6.0%); commodities in department stores (+5.8%); wearing apparel (+0.9%); medicines and cosmetics (+3.8%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+1.1%); and optical shops (+4.4%).
On the other hand, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased by 1.8% in October 2025 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of motor vehicles and parts (-20.1% in value); fuels (-8.7%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-0.6%); furniture and fixtures (-2.3%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-6.6%).
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 3.0% in the three months ending October 2025 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 1.4%.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that the recovery in retail sales gathered strength in October. The value of total retail sales rose by 6.9% over a year earlier, picking up further from the increase in the preceding month. Sales of most broad retail outlet types continued to grow.
Looking ahead, ongoing improvement in local consumer sentiment and sustained notable growth in visitor arrivals should continue to render support to retail businesses.
Further information
Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for September 2025 as well as the provisional figures for October 2025. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the first 10 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for September 2025 as well as the provisional figures for October 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 10 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
Table 3 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for September 2025 as well as the provisional figures for October 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 10 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
Table 4 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.
The classification of retail companies follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail companies and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. Data on retail sales are collected from local retail companies through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail companies with and without physical shops are covered in MRS and their sales, both through conventional shops and online channels, are included in the retail sales statistics.
The retail sales statistics cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.
Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication “Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component” for more details.
Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; email: mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Fire Services Department (FSD) today (December 1) appealed to members of the public to stay alert to a video of unknown origin on the Internet, carrying a fraudulent fundraising message in the name of a family member of the deceased fireman, Mr Ho Wai-ho. In an attempt to deceive, the fraudulent message included a bank account under a name highly similar to that of the family member. The FSD has immediately referred the case to the Police for follow-up.
Should members of the public wish to express their support for the family of the deceased member by making donations, the donation arrangements are as follows:
1. Deposit into the bank account of Mr Ho Shing, Mr Ho Wai-ho’s father
Account Name: HO SHING
Account Number: 039-744-1-039365-9 (Chiyu Banking Corporation Ltd)
Or
2. Issue a cheque and send it to the FSD via mail or in person for forwarding
Payable to “何å‹�” or “HO SHING”
Address:
Welfare and Building Management
Fire Services Department
11/F, South Wing, Fire Services Headquarters Building
1 Hong Chong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon
(Attn: Mr Wong Hon-kiu)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit 2025 – Judicial Conference under Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 today (December 1):
The Honourable Chief Justice Mr Andrew Cheung (Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal), Ms Anna Joubin-Bret (Secretary of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Professor Teresa Cheng (Secretary-General of International Organization for Mediation), your excellencies, Consuls General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
As we gather today for the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit, we also kick-start the Hong Kong Legal Week 2025.
The Hong Kong Legal Week is an annual major event of the Department of Justice which serves as a dynamic platform for the legal and dispute resolution sector, legal scholars, judges and experts to discuss key topical legal issues in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Under the theme of “Linking Laws, Bridging Worlds”, Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 aims at highlighting Hong Kong’s role in connecting different economies and legal systems through collaboration, understanding and global legal exchange. Under the fundamental principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China. With our strong legal foundation and international connectivity, Hong Kong is dedicated to serve as a super connector and capacity building hub, in order to facilitate the legal and economic collaboration across the region and beyond.
The 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit is co-oragnised by UNCITRAL and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice, under the theme “The Future is Now: Legally Enabling Digitalization of International Trade”. Today, we have more than 50 judges from over 25 jurisdictions attending in person, with numerous other jurisdictions joining virtually, including those from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Central Asia, and Pacific Islands, reflecting the global reach and importance of the Summit. To facilitate the participation of Russian-speaking judges from Central Asia, we are grateful for the support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) of providing simultaneous interpretation from English into Russian.
In fact, it is not the first time we work with the ADB and UNCITRAL on capacity building. This Judicial Summit actually marks the third event that we have co-organised with UNCITRAL this year. Since the Department of Justice launched the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy during the Hong Kong Legal Week last year, the Academy and UNCITRAL have co-organised capacity building programmes including the Conference on Climate Change and International Trade Law this March in Hong Kong and the Workshop on Use of International Instruments to Legally Enable End-to-End Digitalization of Trade under the Economic Committee of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) in Incheon, Korea, in August this year. These collaborations have not only contributed to capacity building for stakeholders in the region but also the further development of international trade law.
In addition to co-organising events with UNCITRAL, we worked with UNCITRAL to set up the Inclusive Global Legal Innovation Platform on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) which will hold its fifth expert meeting tomorrow to discuss international development and potential issues relating to ODR. Besides, we are delighted to see UNCITRAL’s strong support for the secondment programme with the Department of Justice, which enables Hong Kong legal practitioners to actively take part in UNCITRAL’s work and enhance their knowledge of international legal matters, thereby contributing to the capacity building of our local legal practitioners as well. I note that a number of our colleagues who have been seconded to the UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific are also with us today.
Apart from the objective of capacity building, the Judicial Conference which will centre on the theme “Building Towards End-to-End Trade Digitalization” provides a platform to share experience and exchange views on critical issues in facilitating digitalisation of the entire trade process, digitalisation of trade finance and digital assets, paperless trade systems, digital transformation in transport, as well as emerging trends in dispute resolution within the rapidly evolving digital economy, with reference to the application of UNCITRAL texts.
In fact, UNCITRAL texts have been proven to be very useful tool for creating a harmonised and enabling legal environment. We have applied and implemented quite a number of UNCITRAL texts, ranging from conventions to model rule in various areas. Very soon, as announced in the Chief Executive’s Hong Kong Policy Address this year, Hong Kong would introduce legislative amendments in 2026 for digitalisation of business-to-business trade documents with reference to the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records adopted by UNCITRAL.
Complementing the Judicial Conference today, the Judicial Roundtable to be held tomorrow will explore “Recent Trends in Dispute Resolution”, in order to facilitate interactive and in-depth dialogues among judges and judicial officers in the region on innovative judicial approaches for handling disputes involving artificial intelligence, as well as the dynamic interaction between alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and formal court proceedings. Let us seize the opportunity to actively engage in the exchanges, whether in person or online.
Before I conclude, may I express my appreciation to UNCITRAL again for their partnership, the Asian Development Bank for their support, and my heartfelt gratitude to all moderators and speakers, some of them have come from afar, as well as the Secretary General of the International Organization for Mediation and our Chief Justice who will give special remarks and a keynote speech in a moment. On this note, I announce the official opening of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2025. Thank you.