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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     A Government spokesman said yesterday (November 30) that the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements, led respectively by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, and the Deputy Financial Secretary, are making every effort to press ahead with the support and relief work and investigations on the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

     The Government has been offering an emergency cash subsidy of $10,000 per affected household since November 27 evening to provide immediate relief for affected residents. As at 1pm yesterday, the Government has registered more than 1 900 households for the subsidy and disbursed the emergency cash subsidies to 1 420 households. In addition, the Government will provide a token of solidarity of $200,000 to the family members of each deceased victim, and a living allowance of $50,000 will be provided to each affected household starting this week.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     In view of the residents affected by the fire incident at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po gradually relocating to various communities from temporary shelters, the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) announced today (November 30) that it will leverage the District Health Centres (DHCs)/DHC Expresses (DHCEs) as hubs to provide personalised case management services to residents affected by the incident, free of charge, offering comprehensive support to meet their primary healthcare needs. The PHC Commission will also co-ordinate healthcare professionals from various disciplines to provide support to affected residents referred by the DHCs/DHCEs, including specialised medical, nursing and medication services, as well as psychological support.

     Affected residents can register via hotline or online without having to visit the centres in person. Operators of emergency transitional housing and social workers from the Social Welfare Department can also assist in referring residents in need to the DHCs/DHCEs to receive services.

     Hotlines will be set up for DHCs/DHCEs across all 18 districts, with details to be announced on the websites of the PHC Commission and the DHCs/DHCEs.

     In addition, those affected may visit any of the Hospital Authority (HA)’s Family Medicine Clinics, where consultation, treatment, drug dispensing and other services will be provided. The PHC Commission is working with the HA to update the relevant systems so that affected residents can later make priority booking for Family Medicine Out-patient Services.

     The medical stations currently set up at temporary shelters will remain in operation until closure of the shelters.

     The PHC Commission expressed gratitude to the private medical sector for its enthusiastic response in offering to provide free medical services to residents affected by the fire incident. The free services will be co-ordinated and arranged through DHCs/DHCEs, with relevant details to be announced shortly.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Transport Department (TD) said tonight (November 30) that, as the slip road of Tolo Highway (Kowloon bound) to Tai Po Market has been reopened, motorists may use this road to Tai Po; while those on Tolo Highway (Sheung Shui bound) may use Tat Wan Road, Tai Po Tai Wo Road or Yuen Shin Road to Tai Po.

     The TD has strengthened the message displayed at the variable message signs along both bounds of Tolo Highway, and has also temporarily modified road markings at certain sections of Tat Wan Road and the Tolo Highway slip road to ease traffic. Motorists should heed traffic lights, traffic signs and road markings on site and drive carefully.

     The traffic on Tai Po Road, Tolo Highway and roads in Tai Po town centre are expected to be busier during morning and evening peak hours tomorrow (December 1) and the public should avoid driving to affected areas. Members of the public should plan ahead their journeys and reserve sufficient travelling time.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (November 30) said that a number of road sections remain closed amid the follow-up work of the Tai Po fire. The TD has steered the franchised bus operator (FBO) to optimise its diversion plan to ease commuters’ inconvenience in going to work or school tomorrow (December 1). Members of the public should plan ahead their journeys and reserve sufficient time.

Public transport

     As sections of Tai Po Road – Yuen Chau Tsai between Nam Wan Road and Tolo Highway (Kowloon bound) and between Kwong Fuk Park and Marvelous Villa (both bounds) remain closed, upon the TD’s co-ordination with KMB, starting from their first departures tomorrow, route Nos. 72, 72A, 73A and 74A will be diverted to Tai Po Road – Tai Po Kau via Yau King Lane to take passengers from the affected areas in Tai Po to Sha Tin and urban areas, reducing disruption to commute especially during peak hours.

     The Highways Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department have completed the trimming of branches protruding over the carriageway at some locations along Yau King Lane, without compromising the main body of trees. The FBO has also completed the road trial to ensure driving and road safety. The public should refer to the FBOs’ website or mobile application for the latest information on their routes.

     The MTR will continue to enhance the frequency of the East Rail Line trains on relevant sections and the service of MTR Buses in Tai Po as needed, while FBOs will reserve standby vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.

Traffic

     All lanes of the section of Yuen Shin Road between Tolo Highway and Tai Po Tai Wo Road (Ting Kok Road bound) and the slip road from Tolo Highway (Kowloon bound) to Tai Po Road – Yuen Chau Tsai previously closed have been reopened on the evening of November 28 and this morning respectively. Motorists may use road sections concerned to Tai Po InnoPark/Tai Po North and Nam Wan Road respectively.

     Of note, before the reopening of the remaining closed road sections, the traffic on Tai Po Road, Tolo Highway, Fanling Highway and roads in Tai Po town centre are expected to be busier and the public should avoid driving to these areas. The TD has stepped up the message displayed at variable message signs at relevant locations to alert motorists travelling to Tai Po to use Tat Wan Road, Tai Po Tai Wo Road or Yuen Shin Road. Some road markings have been temporarily modified to ease traffic. Motorists should heed traffic lights, traffic signs and road markings on site and drive carefully.

     The public should heed the latest traffic news through radio and TV broadcasts, the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility mobile application before their journeys, plan ahead and reserve sufficient time.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government mourned the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and expressed profound condolences at the Central Government Offices yesterday morning (November 29), with national and regional flags at all government buildings flying at half-mast. Members of the public also visited condolence points in various districts to sign condolence books and mourn the victims. 

     Meanwhile, multiple government departments under the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements, led respectively by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, and the Deputy Financial Secretary; continue to work tirelessly, pushing forward follow-up support and relief efforts on all fronts. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and all relevant departments of Guangdong Province for their staunch support and prompt assistance, including the provision of numerous pieces of necessary equipment to the HKSAR, such as drones, exoskeleton devices, protective gear, and medical supplies. This significantly assisted the relevant departments in their emergency response and the follow-up efforts.     
     On emergency accommodation support for residents affected by the fire, as of this afternoon, around 517 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels/camps or hotel rooms. Another 1 038 residents have moved into transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or the Housing Society. Furthermore, two shelters remain open for residents in need.  
      The ICU has continued to deploy manpower to conduct on-site sampling at Wang Fuk Court and four other Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) courts that have been issued notices under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme, including Sui Wo Court in Sha Tin, Ching Lai Court in Sham Shui Po, Yee Kok Court in Sham Shui Po, and On Kay Court in Kwun Tong. Samples collected from different positions of the protective nets have been sent to the Government Laboratory for testing yesterday. In the four HOS courts other than Wang Fuk Court, in case any flammable material is identified on the external walls, the ICU would instruct the contractors to remove it immediately.     
     The Labour Department (LD) launched a territory-wide special enforcement operation since November 28, targeting the fire protection facilities and fire emergency preparedness of building maintenance work sites with large-scale scaffolding erected. This includes checking if protective screens (also known as scaffold nets) on scaffolds are in compliance with recognised standards for fire-retardant materials to ensure occupational safety of workers. As of November 29, the LD inspected 46 work sites, with a total of 39 written warnings and two improvement notices issued.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following are the closing remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit 2025 – Judicial Conference under Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 today (December 1):

Your excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     The conclusion of today’s conference jointly organised by the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, marks a major milestone in advancing global legal co-operation and the exchange of expertise in the realm of digitalisation of trade. The insightful discussions throughout the day have offered meaningful perspectives, and set the stage for continuous engagement among members of the judiciary, government officials, legal specialists, practitioners, and stakeholders. These positive outcomes will foster continued professional interaction and constructive dialogues in the times ahead.

     Centred on the theme “Building Towards End-to-End Digitalisation”, today’s sessions have demonstrated our collective dedication to facilitating and harmonising the seamless digitalisation of trade transactions.

Digitalisation of trade finance and digital assets

     Our first panel today explored the intersection between virtual assets and existing commercial and financial legal frameworks, with a particular focus on how virtual assets intersect with existing legal systems. The discussion highlighted evolving legislative frameworks from different jurisdictions designed to address the unique characteristics and challenges posed by these assets. Several legal instruments including the UNCITRAL, UNIDROIT (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law) Model Law on Warehouse Receipts and key initiatives of the Hague Conference on Private International Law supporting digitalisation were explored, with the aim to ensure that digital assets are governed by predictable and interoperable conflict-of-laws rules worldwide. 

     The panel devoted particular attention to enforcement aspects, emphasising how courts and regulatory bodies are adapting to the complexities posed by digital asset transactions and related disputes. Financial implications also formed an important part of the dialogue, highlighting the increasing prominence of virtual assets in the broader financial ecosystem. 

     These legislative framework, enforcement, and financial initiatives signify a concerted move towards a harmonised, innovation-friendly legal environment that supports the seamless digitalisation of trade and finance, ensuring these emerging assets are effectively incorporated into the global legal and economic landscape.

Enabling paperless trade – The UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records 

     Panel 2 provided a detailed overview of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR), highlighting its crucial role in enabling the transition to paperless trade. The MLETR has garnered attention across the region, where an increasing number of jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, are actively exploring legislative amendments to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law. 

     This panel discussed how this legislative advancement supports the broader trade digitalisation agenda, particularly benefiting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises by simplifying cross-border transactions and reducing reliance on cumbersome physical documentation. The panel also examined key provisions of the MLETR and implementation challenges, noting its interaction with foundational UNCITRAL instruments such as the Model Law on Electronic Commerce to create a cohesive legal framework for electronic transactions.

     Additionally, the emerging case law interpreting UNCITRAL texts was reviewed, illustrating how judicial approaches increasingly integrate both legal reasoning and technological understanding. This evolving jurisprudence reflects a judicial readiness to oversee complex digital transactions, balancing legal certainty with technological innovation. 

     As outlined in the Chief Executive’s Policy Address this year, legislative proposal will be introduced in 2026 in Hong Kong to provide legal basis for the digitalisation of business-to-business trade documents with reference to the MLETR and experiences from other common law jurisdictions. Hong Kong, as an international trade centre and an international innovation and technology centre, is developing a more streamlined, paperless trading environment. This advancement will enhance the validity of digital trade flows, mitigate risks, and accelerate cross-border transactions. Hong Kong’s dedication to embracing the MLETR highlights our determination to remain at the forefront of global trade innovation, and to support businesses in seizing new opportunities in the digital age.

Digital transformation in transport – the Draft United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents

     Panel 3 examined the recently approved draft United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, which has been recommended for adoption by the United Nations General Assembly. This groundbreaking convention fills a crucial legal gap in international trade by creating a harmonised legal framework for negotiable documents of title applicable across all modes of transport – air, road, rail, and sea – regardless of the multimodal journey involved. 

     This panel provided an overview of how this harmonised framework addresses inconsistencies and legal voids in various domestic laws, fostering greater certainty and uniformity in the recognition and transfer of negotiable cargo documents. This panel also discussed how the draft Convention interacts with the existing international treaties, ensuring it complements rather than conflicts with current legal regimes. 

     A significant portion of the dialogue focused on the practical opportunities and challenges this draft Convention presents for the domestic implementation. Panelists discussed pilot projects testing the draft Convention’s provisions in real-world scenarios, highlighting potential legal issues such as transport operator liability, interoperability of electronic negotiable documents, and the need for clear regulations on electronic document issuance and transfer. 

     The draft Convention stands to transform and modernise international trade by unlocking trade finance, enhancing supply chain efficiency, and enabling seamless door-to-door logistics. It represents a landmark step towards fully digitised, integrated global trade supported by robust, harmonised legal foundations. 

Current trends of dispute resolution in the digital economy

     Our final panel today focused on the ongoing exploratory work under UNCITRAL’s Dispute Resolution in the Digital Economy project, which addresses the impact of emerging technologies on dispute resolution mechanisms. This includes an in-depth examination of how artificial intelligence (AI) and lawtech are reshaping the landscape of dispute resolution.

     This panel explored the latest capabilities of AI technology in supporting arbitration, mediation, and other dispute resolution processes, highlighting both its transformative potential and current technical limitations. The discussion emphasised how AI can augment, rather than replace, human judgment, enhancing case management, predicting outcomes, and improving access to justice, while recognising that responsible use requires robust safeguards.

     A key focus was the development of procedural guidelines for remote hearings in arbitration and mediation, an area of growing importance given the increased reliance on digital platforms. Panelists evaluated platform-based dispute resolution mechanisms, which leverage technology to facilitate cost-effective and timely resolution of disputes, particularly in cross-border and e-commerce contexts.

     The responsible deployment of AI technology for dispute resolution was extensively discussed, including how existing regulatory regimes are adapting to monitor and mitigate risks such as data security, and ethical concerns. 

     This panel serves as a vital starting point, opening the door for the insightful discussions of the Judicial Roundtable tomorrow, as well as Day 5 of the Hong Kong Legal Week under the theme “The AI Era: Shaping the Legal Landscape in the 21st Century”. It sets the stage for a more in-depth exploration of how AI and related technologies will continue to transform the legal profession, dispute resolution processes, and the broader justice ecosystem in the years to come.

Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy

     Before closing, I would like to commend the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy for their collaboration with UNCITRAL. Since its launch last November during the Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, the Academy has organised numerous training programmes in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and abroad, covering a diverse range of topics and targeting a wide spectrum of participants. Through collaboration with international organisations and governmental bodies, the Academy plays a vital role in fostering the exchanges of international legal talents through capacity building programmes, strengthening Hong Kong’s strategic position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, establishing Hong Kong as a capacity-building hub, and actively participating in the next decade of the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing to our country’s efforts to promote the construction of the rule of law. I wish to express my gratitude to UNICITRAL for the support to the Academy so far, and the ongoing engagement and continue collaboration with the Academy in the years to come.  

     Ladies and gentlemen, as it comes to the conclusion of the Judicial Conference of the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit 2025. We must thank colleagues of UNICITRAL, our colleagues at the Department of Justice, and all the distinguished judges, speakers, moderators, and participants who have joined us from across the globe. While the Judicial Conference wrapped up and so the first day of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2025, there is a diverse range of events that we have arranged for the remainder of this week. To our esteemed judges, we will see you at the Judicial Roundtable tomorrow morning for continued dialogues and meaningful exchanges. For all other participants, we also anticipate your presence at the Third Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development tomorrow afternoon, as well as many other enriching sessions that await us throughout this week.

     Thank you once again for your participation and contribution today. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Fire Services Department (FSD) today appealed to 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, 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 department has immediately referred the case to Police for follow-up.

Should people wish to express their support for the family of the deceased fireman by making donations, they may do so via either of the following:

1. Deposit into the bank account of Ho Shing, Ho Wai-ho’s father
Account Name: HO SHING
Account Number: 039-744-1-039365-9 (Chiyu Banking Corporation Ltd)

2. Issue a cheque and send it to the FSD via mail or in person for forwarding, payable to “何勝” or “HO SHING”
Address: Welfare & 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)