MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Stable energy supply is crucial to Hong Kong’s economic and social operations. Public transportation, air passenger and cargo services, and electricity supply are directly related to energy supply. The situation in the Middle East is affecting global oil supply, with the impact on Asia being particularly pronounced. The top priority of the Government is to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply.

     Currently, around 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s oil products come from the Chinese Mainland. Hong Kong has weathered several global energy crises in the past, including those triggered by the Gulf War and the Ukrainian conflict. With the advantage of having strong support from the motherland, Hong Kong has been able to maintain a stable energy supply amid energy shortages in many regions and cities around the world.

     In view of the latest situation in the Middle East, the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) reiterated to local major oil companies the importance of energy for Hong Kong’s economic and social operations, and urged them to ensure a stable supply of local auto-fuel. All oil companies have indicated that the supply of local auto-fuel remains at a normal level, and that they will continue to strive to maintain a stable supply.

     To facilitate public monitoring of retail price adjustments for auto-fuel, the EEB will, starting from today (April 1) and on a weekly basis, release the seven-day moving average retail prices, after walk-in discounts, of unleaded petrol and diesel from local oil companies, along with the trends in international benchmark prices of refined oil products during the same period. The relevant information has been uploaded to the EEB website: www.eeb.gov.hk/en/energy/financial_monitoring.html.

     Crude oil and refined oil products are different products. Therefore, changes in the international prices of crude oil (e.g. London Brent crude) may not necessarily correspond to adjustments in retail prices for auto-fuel. The EEB compares the international benchmark prices of refined oil products with retail prices for auto-fuel in these charts to facilitate the public in monitoring trends of local retail prices for auto-fuel among local oil companies, as well as international prices for refined oil products, and to assess whether these prices are moving in tandem and the extent of such changes.

     While local oil companies have set pump prices for auto-fuel, they offer various discounts for actual transactions. As a result, pump prices do not reflect the actual retail prices. In addition to showing pump prices, the charts also show the retail prices, net of walk-in discounts, offered by each oil company. This allows the public to compare the average prices across different oil companies and choose the ones offering more competitive prices. Nonetheless, it should be noted that these charts do not take into account other discounts available only to specific customers, such as credit card discounts and membership card discounts from the oil companies.

     The EEB will release the charts for the previous week every Wednesday afternoon. If Wednesday falls on a general holiday, the charts will be released on the next working day.

     The Government will continue to closely monitor geopolitical developments, international energy price trends, and the local fuel supply situation to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (April 1) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on April 16 (Thursday) to noon on April 20 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”

     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:

(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.

(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.

(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.

     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (April 1):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that there are notable discrepancies between Hong Kong’s import and export data for certain species regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), such as Podocnemis unifilis (yellow-spotted river turtle) and Anguilla anguilla (European eel), and there are views that there may be loopholes in the transparency and regulatory regimes governing trade in endangered species. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given that, according to the data from the CITES Trade Database, Hong Kong imported nearly 3 million yellow-spotted river turtles but re-exported only around 5 000 between 2015 and 2023, and that this species is not commonly found in local pet shops, whether the authorities are aware of the whereabouts of those yellow-spotted river turtles that were not exported;
 
(2) according to data from the CITES Trade Database, Morocco exported 4 500 kilograms of captive European eel to Hong Kong in 2021, but the figure shown in Hong Kong’s import records was 4 750 kilograms, representing a discrepancy of 250 kilograms; given that Hong Kong has no eel farms, whether the authorities have a clear understanding of the flows and uses of these European eels;
 
(3) regarding the discrepancies between import and export data for the species involved in (1) and (2) above, whether the authorities will conduct a follow-up investigation to ascertain the reasons;
 
(4) given views that the data search function of the CITES Trade Database is not easy to use, whether the authorities will consider providing a platform or search engine that is simpler and easier to use than the CITES Trade Database for members of the public to access data on the trade flows of endangered species via Hong Kong;
 
(5) under sections 18 and 21 of the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) (the Ordinance), a person may import or have in his possession or under his control a specimen of an Appendix II species if he can prove that the species is “not” a live animal or plant “of wild origin”; how the authorities define a live animal that is “not of wild origin” (for example, whether endangered wild species that have been taken from the wild and reared in captivity are included); whether the Government will consider amending the Ordinance to prevent lawbreakers from engaging in illegal trade while exploiting the “not of wild origin” provision to circumvent the Ordinance; and
 
(6) whether the authorities will consider amending the Ordinance to include species that are “not of wild origin” into the possession permit system and introduce unique identifiers (such as microchips or labels) to track the origins and flows of endangered species, thereby ensuring that Hong Kong fulfils its conservation obligations as a CITES contracting party?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) establishes regulatory principles for international trade in endangered species. According to the degree of endangered status, CITES classifies and lists species in Appendices I, II and III. The Government has been implementing CITES through the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) (the Ordinance). The Ordinance stipulates the requirements for Licence to Import and Licence to Possess administered by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to strengthen the regulation of trade in endangered species. In response to the questions raised by Hon Elizabeth Quat, we reply as follows.
 
(1), (2) and (3) The Yellow-spotted River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) and the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) are Appendix II species listed to CITES. According to the Ordinance, their export must be accompanied by an export permit issued by the place of export, which should specify the source of the specimens. If the specimens are taken from the wild, a Licence to Import issued by the AFCD is also required for their import. In addition, any person who possesses such specimens for commercial purposes is required to hold a Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD. According to records of the AFCD, there were approximately 2.88 million Yellow-spotted River Turtles imported into Hong Kong between 2015 and 2023, and about 85 000 individuals re-exported during the same period. In 2021, Hong Kong imported a total of 4 750 kilograms of European Eels from Morocco. All the specimens mentioned above were captive animals as indicated on the export permits, and thus no Licence to Import or Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD was required. Nevertheless, AFCD officers conduct inspections of these imported Yellow-spotted River Turtles and European Eels to ensure that they were consistent with the information stated in the export permits (such as quantities and species) issued by the place of export before allowing their legal import and re-export.
 
     The above-mentioned Yellow-spotted River Turtles and European Eels were all legally imported into Hong Kong. Concerning legally imported CITES specimens, CITES does not require tracking of their subsequent movement. Since the above imported specimens were all captive animals, the importers were not required to obtain Licence to Import or Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD, and thus the AFCD does not keep records on their subsequent movement. Notwithstanding this, the AFCD and the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department maintain high vigilance and work closely together, conducting joint operations at various control points to strengthen cargo inspections, including using technology, to combat the smuggling of endangered species. Regarding the discrepancies of trade data on European Eels recorded in the CITES Trade Database, the AFCD had consulted the CITES Management Authority of Morocco and the CITES Secretariat, and was informed that Morocco had submitted erroneous trade records. The CITES Secretariat has then rectified the relevant record.
 
(4) The CITES Trade Database is the most comprehensive global repository of data on international trade in flora and fauna species. Established in 1975, the database contains official trade records submitted by the Parties in their annual reports made in accordance with the requirements of the CITES. It fully provides an overview of international trade in species conducted within the framework of CITES. The CITES Trade Database also provides detailed user guidelines for users’ reference, which are available at trade.cites.org/cites_trade_guidelines/en-CITES_Trade_Database_Guide.pdf. Currently, the Government has no plan to develop another platform or search engine for trade data of endangered species outside the CITES Trade Database. Members of the public who wish to obtain trade data on the import and export of endangered species in Hong Kong may contact the AFCD directly for information.
 
(5) The Ordinance only requires Licence to Import or Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD for all Appendix I species (regardless of whether they are taken from wild or captive), and for wild specimens of Appendix II species (excluding those captive) for commercial purposes. That said, sections 18 and 21 of the Ordinance also stipulate that any person who imports or possesses live specimens of Appendix II species, even if claimed to be captive, must provide documentary proof, such as an export permit issued by the place of export, to substantiate that the specimens are not taken from the wild, hence exempted from the requirements for obtaining Licence to Import or Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD. Otherwise, the person concerned would commit an offence. In this regard, the AFCD conducts inspections and requests those persons possessing captive Appendix II specimens to provide proof. There were successful prosecutions against offenders in the past. Therefore, unscrupulous traders cannot evade regulation by falsely claiming wild-caught specimens as captive ones under the existing control regime.
 
(6) Under the Ordinance, any person who possesses live specimens of Appendix I species or Appendix II species of wild origin for commercial purposes must obtain a Licence to Possess issued by the AFCD. The existing licensing requirement under the Ordinance strikes a balance between species conservation and operational needs of the trade. The Government has no plan to extend the licensing requirement to other live animal or plant species at this stage. As regards the implantation of unique identification tagging in live animals, it is generally required to be carried out during the captive-breeding process in the place of export in order to enable effective traceability of origin. For instance, CITES stipulated that specimens of Appendix I species bred in registered captive-breeding facilities must bear unique identifiers before they can be traded internationally. The AFCD has been strictly enforcing the relevant provisions of CITES. All Appendix I animals imported into Hong Kong (for example Asian Arowanas and Radiated Tortoises) must be implanted with tagging in their place of export, and all tag numbers must be submitted to the AFCD when applying for Licence to Import and Licence to Possess. AFCD officers will scrutinize the tags upon importation to verify the origin of the animals.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Jody Kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (April 1):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that amid the rising international oil prices and varying fuel duties, illegal mobile refuelling activities in Hong Kong have increased significantly and become more covert in terms of the locations of these activities. According to the information from the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD), 221 complaints about illicit fuelling were received in the first two months of this year, representing an increase of 42 per cent as compared with the monthly average last year, while the number of prosecutions rose by 85 per cent over last year’s monthly average. Also, locations of illegal refuelling stations have shifted from remote areas or outdoor car parks to places near the urban areas, where operations are carried out in a more mobile manner. Some operators even make use of modified goods vehicles to provide “on-the-spot” refuelling services on the roadside, posing significant threats to public safety. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of reports and complaints received by various law enforcement agencies concerning illegal refuelling stations since 2025, the number of inspections conducted, quantity of illegal fuel seized, number of refuelling vehicles confiscated, number of individuals convicted and the corresponding penalties imposed; whether the authorities will consider increasing the corresponding penalties given that the problem of illicit fuelling is becoming more serious;
 
(2) as it has been reported that given the more “fragmented” and “concealed” mode of operations of mobile illegal refuelling stations, such as converting ordinary light goods vehicles into “illegal refuelling vehicles” for conducting mobile transactions, of the effectiveness of the FSD’s measures to deploy drones for patrolling so as to strengthen law enforcement efforts; whether the FSD has applied alternative technologies for law enforcement or formulated targeted measures in response to the increasing difficulties in detection of illicit fuelling activities; and
 
(3) as it has been reported that illegal fuel is primarily smuggled into Hong Kong by cross-boundary goods vehicles with modified fuel tanks, of the targeted measures currently put in place by the authorities against such illegal acts, including whether technology, big data, etc have been used to analyse the border-crossing patterns, driving records, fuel transaction records of and other information about suspicious vehicles, and whether studies will be conducted regarding the establishment of a notification mechanism with the law enforcement departments in the Mainland to share cross-boundary data and jointly and precisely intercept fuel smuggling at source?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government attaches great importance to combating illicit fuelling activities. In response to the evolving scale and modus operandi of these activities, the Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy. The strategy includes intelligence-led targeted deployments, the application of innovative technologies, facilitation of public reporting, enhanced inter-departmental and industry collaboration, review of relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks, and close co-operation with mainland law enforcement agencies. These measures aim to curb illicit fuel activities and protect public safety.
 
     Regarding the question from the Hon Jody Kwok, our reply is as follows:
 
(1) The numbers of complaints received by the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) about illicit fuelling activities and relevant enforcement figures are as follows:
 

	FSD		C&ED
	2025	2026 (as at February)	2025	2026 (as at February)
Complaints about illicit fuelling activities (Note 1)	931	221	662 (Note 5)	157 (Note 5)
Inspections and blitz operations (Note 2)	2 067	349	(Note 6)
Quantity of illicit fuel seized (Litres)	538 703	193 217	96 211	16 339
Number of vehicles seized	Not Applicable (Note 3)	Not Applicable (Note 3)	15	12
Number of prosecutions instituted	239	73	14	3
Number of persons convicted (Note 4)	89	9	15	5
Penalties (Note 4)	A fine of $1,000 to $25,000 and an imprisonment of 14 days to one month	A fine of $2,000 to $8,000	A fine of $1,500 to $15,000 and an imprisonment of 14 days to six months	A fine of $3,000 to $15,000 and an imprisonment of seven days to six months

Note 1: The figures include complaints referred by the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police) or other government departments.
Note 2: The FSD and the C&ED conducted 25 and seven joint inspection operations in 2025 and 2026 (as at February) respectively, which are included in the above table. In addition, if intelligence indicates any involvement of other criminal acts, the Police will also participate in the joint operations as necessary.
Note 3: According to existing legislation, the FSD can stop, board, and search vehicles involved in a case at the scene, but does not have the authority to seize the vehicles. The Government is currently actively reviewing the FSD’s enforcement powers as detailed below.
Note 4: Cases convicted during the year.
Note 5: Complaints received about illicit fuel activities, including smuggling, dealing with, possession of, and selling or buying illicit fuel, etc.
Note 6: Apart from officers dedicated to handling complaints about illicit fuel activities, frontline officers deployed at various boundary control points also carry out enforcement actions against illicit fuel during their routine inspections. As such, the C&ED does not maintain statistics on the number of inspections and enforcement actions targeting illicit fuel activities.
 
     In view of the increasingly serious risks that illicit fuelling activities pose to public safety, the Government is actively reviewing relevant fire safety legislation with a view to comprehensively strengthening the regulatory regime. The review includes exploring the possibility of increasing penalties for related offenses, enhancing the enforcement powers of the FSD in areas such as arresting individuals and seizing vehicles involved in such activities, as well as examining the legal liability of purchasing illegal fuel, all in an effort to more effectively combat illicit fuelling activities.
 
(2) Based on the aforementioned multi-pronged strategy, the FSD has strengthened its investigation and enforcement efforts in the following four areas to tackle the increasing fragmentation and concealment of illicit fuelling activities:
 
     First, to adopt an intelligence-led enforcement strategy. The FSD systematically integrates and analyses intelligence from various sources, including public complaints and referrals from other departments, suspicious equipment and installations identified during inspections, and past prosecution records, to build a comprehensive picture regarding illicit fuelling activities. By analysing the temporal and spatial patterns of such activities through a data system, the FSD continuously identifies new black spots and shifting trend of operational patterns, thereby enabling targeted deployment of patrols and strategic timed surprise operations to ensure enforcement resources are focused where they are the most effective.
 
     Second, on the basis of intelligence-led operations, the FSD proactively introduces innovative technological equipment to enhance frontline investigation capabilities. The FSD has deployed unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for routine patrols, particularly in remote and secluded locations, to strengthen surveillance and facilitate the early detection of suspicious activities. Unlike traditional intelligence-gathering methods, the UAS can conduct wide-area aerial surveillance from strategic positions. When suspicious activities are detected, the ground-based anti-illicit fuelling activities task force can be immediately notified for enforcement action. Since their introduction in October 2025, the UAS have conducted 76 missions, successfully assisting in the detection of six cases and the initiation of 20 prosecutions. Aerial surveillance intelligence gathered is also fed back into the aforementioned data analysis system to enrich the intelligence database.
 
     Third, to facilitate public reporting and strengthen community surveillance networks. In October 2025, the FSD launched the Illicit Fuelling Activities on the Fire Hazard Electronic Complaint Portal and a 24-hour “Oil Strike” reporting hotline (5577 9666) to make it convenient for members of the public to report suspected illicit fuelling activities at any time. The platform allows users to submit videos and photos, providing precise information for intelligence analysis and follow-up enforcement. From October 2025 to February 2026, the FSD received 134 pieces of intelligence through these channels, which assisted in identifying 18 new black spots. In the first two months of this year, a total of 221 reports were received, representing a 42 per cent increase over the previous monthly average. This surge in reporting reflects increased public awareness, while the straightforward reporting process also helps translate vigilance into concrete action, providing first-hand leads for intelligence-led enforcement.
 
     Fourth, to promote inter-departmental and industry collaboration to achieve comprehensive and precise enforcement. The FSD has been working closely with the C&ED and the Police, combining the enforcement powers and intelligence resources of different departments to conduct regular joint operations. In addition, in October 2025, the FSD established the Anti-Illicit Fuelling Activities Strategy Group, with membership covering multiple government departments and oil-related businesses. By gathering professional views and intelligence from different stakeholders through the Strategy Group, the FSD can more effectively identify higher-risk black spots for illicit fuelling activities across the territory, enabling precise enforcement.
 
(3) The C&ED has been closely monitoring the smuggling of illicit fuel at various boundary control points. In addition to risk management facilitated by data analytics, the C&ED deploys advanced inspection equipment, such as the Gantry Type X-Ray Vehicle Inspection Systems, Mobile X-Ray Vehicle Scanning Systems, Smart Under Vehicle Robots, etc, to enhance its detection capabilities in combating illicit fuel smuggling. Among these, the Smart Under Vehicle Robots are equipped with an AI-enabled image comparison function, which can scan vehicle licence plates and compare vehicles with their past image records to assist in detecting vehicle modifications, such as additional fuel tanks, as well as dutiable goods or contraband hidden beneath the vehicles.
 
     Besides, the C&ED has maintained close contact and intelligence exchange with the Chinese Mainland law enforcement agencies. Both sides discuss co-operation and exchange intelligence through meetings to combat revenue crimes, and take intelligence-led actions against fuel smuggling and local illicit fuel activities. The most recent meeting was held in February 2026. Since the beginning of 2026, a total of 12 cases involving illicit fuel were detected in joint operations mounted by the C&ED with the FSD and the Police. These joint operations include the territory-wide joint operation of the C&ED with the FSD codenamed “Knockout” from January 5 to 18, 2026 targeting illicit fuel activities, and the joint operation of the FSD with the C&ED and the Police codenamed “Flow Stopper” on February 13, 2026 targeting illicit fuelling activities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (April 1) that, starting from today, it will collaborate with relevant departments to implement a new “joint-vetting” mechanism and streamline procedures for processing applications for outside seating accommodation (OSA) of restaurants, with the aim of facilitating business operations.

A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Previously, the median processing time for OSA applications was 12 months from receipt of application to approval. Under the new arrangements, applications which are simple and straightforward are expected to be approved in principle within about one month, with applicants informed of the detailed licensing requirements.”

The spokesman added, “Application requirements have also been suitably relaxed. For example, eligible restaurants will not be required to increase food room areas and sanitary fitments for the OSA. Applications involving walkways with a remaining width of 3 metres or more after the provision of OSA will generally be considered as meeting the traffic requirements. Each relevant department will also assign a dedicated case manager to handle applicant’s enquiries.”

Under the new arrangements, the application form has been enhanced to ensure that each relevant department receives necessary information upfront, expediting the approval process. District Offices will conduct local consultations in parallel. If no objections are raised, applications will be approved in principle; formal approval will be granted once applicants comply with licensing requirements and inspections are completed by the FEHD and relevant departments. For complex cases arising during the “joint-vetting”, the relevant Permanent Secretaries and even the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration will step in to resolve issues. After approval of OSA, the departments will conduct audit checking as necessary to ensure that there are no violations.

​The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address that the FEHD and relevant departments would expedite OSA applications of restaurants and streamline procedures. Under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, the FEHD and relevant departments had earlier streamlined procedures, formulated internal guidelines, and briefed the trade on the new arrangements. Details of the new application arrangements and forms are available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/guide.html#OutsideSeatingAccommodation). The application forms also provide enquiry hotlines for each relevant department.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Lam Chun-sing and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 1):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that so far this year, there have been three fatal industrial accidents relating to lifting operations in the construction industry, including the collapse of a tower crane (commonly known as a sky crane) at a construction site in Kwai Chung on the 19th of last month, which resulted in the death of a worker. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of prosecutions instituted by the Government in each of the past two years and so far this year against owners of lifting appliances or lifting gear for contravening the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear) Regulations, and the number of successful convictions among such cases and the average amount of fines imposed; 

(2) as Hong Kong has recorded two serious fatal incidents involving the collapse of sky cranes at construction sites in less than four years, whether the Government will comprehensively review and enhance the inspection and regulatory mechanisms to ensure the structural and operational safety of sky cranes, so as to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and 

(3) whether it will consider requiring that personnel engaged as “slingers” and “signallers” in lifting appliances operations must undergo professional training and possess recognised qualifications; if so, of the details and the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that? 

Reply:
 
President,

     The Government is highly concerned about an accident that happened at a construction site in Kwai Chung on March 19 this year, in which a tower crane collapsed suddenly during its operation. The Government is saddened by the death of the crane operator and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family. 
 
     The Labour Department (LD) is conducting the investigation at full speed to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. The LD will take strict actions pursuant to the law if any breach of legislation is identified during the investigation.
 
     Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Lam Chun-sing is as follows:

(1) The LD initiated 388 and 281 prosecutions against owners of lifting appliances or lifting gear for breaches of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear) Regulations in 2024 and 2025 respectively. As at February this year, a total of 28 prosecutions have been initiated. The numbers of convicted summonses and the average fines for the same period are set out in Annex.

(2) The Government attaches great importance to workers’ occupational safety and health (OSH). The construction industry has the highest number of fatal industrial accidents and the highest accident rate per 1 000 workers. The LD pays particular attention to the safety level of the construction industry and the changes in the OSH risk of construction workers. Pursuant to the risk-based principle, the LD formulates and adjusts relevant strategies on the inspection and enforcement, education and training as well as technology application, etc, to enhance the effectiveness.

     As far as inspection and enforcement are concerned, territory-wide special inspection exercises have been launched from March 30 (Monday), targeting construction sites involving tower crane lifting operations. The LD is also making use of technologies to enhance the enforcement efficiency of frontline officers, including the use of small unmanned aircraft for aerial photography and videography to remotely monitor tower crane operations, and assist frontline officers in inspecting the high‑up positions of tower cranes that are normally difficult to reach, thereby curbing unsafe lifting operations and strengthening the monitoring of the structural safety of tower cranes.

     Besides, the LD will continue to conduct special enforcement operations on the construction sites using lifting appliances, including the erection, inspection, and lifting operations of tower cranes, and will also carry out comprehensive and in‑depth surprise inspections on the construction sites involving unsafe lifting operation or poor safety performance. If breaches of the requirements under the OSH legislation, including the use of unsafe machinery in workplace, are identified during inspection, actions will be taken pursuant to the law.

     The “Code of Practice for Safe Use of Tower Cranes” (CoP) has been issued by the LD on the safe and correct use of tower cranes, providing practical guidance on the safe use and operation of tower cranes to ensure the safety of personnel working on and near the cranes. The LD is revising the said CoP, the main revisions of which include enhancing the requirements and inspections for tower crane installation, welding processes, anchorages and foundations safety.  The industry will also be required to install video devices and install and use the Tower Crane Alert System. Inspection checklist templates for inspection, testing and thorough examination of tower cranes will also be included in the CoP for reference by relevant inspection personnel so as to further enhance the safety level of tower crane operations.

     On the other hand, the LD is working with the Development Bureau and the Building Technology Research Institute to provide advice on the relevant OSH legislation for the newly developed Remote-Control Tower Crane System. This remote-control system enables tower crane operators to operate the crane in a cabin on the ground, and identify safety risks with the use of artificial intelligence technology, thereby enhancing lifting safety and improving the working environment for crane operators.

(3) The existing CoP of the LD provides practical guidance on the safe and correct use of tower cranes, specifying the requirements for riggers and signallers as well as the knowledge required for their duties. 

     The LD, in revising the CoP, will consider enhancing the safety training requirements for riggers and signallers, e.g. requiring them to hold a valid certificate of the Safety Training Course for Construction Workers (Silver Card Course) – Rigger and Signaller issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Construction before they are allowed to perform the related work.  

     The LD strives to publish the newly revised CoP within this year to further enhance the safety level of tower cranes. In the subsequent inspections at the construction sites equipped with tower cranes, the LD will pay particular attention to whether the relevant riggers and signallers meet the training and technical requirements set out in the new CoP.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Government announced today (April 1) that the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs had respectively appointed 1 918 persons, 553 persons and 530 persons as members of the Area Committees, the District Fight Crime Committees and the District Fire Safety Committees (collectively referred to as “the three committees”) for a new term of office of two years starting from April 1, 2026.

The Government identifies suitable persons who aspire to serve the community via various channels to join “the three committees” on the basis of the merit of the individuals concerned, taking into account various factors, including a candidate’s ability, expertise, experience, integrity, commitment to serving the community, as well as with due regard to the functions of “the three committees”.

The membership lists of “the three committees” in 18 districts have been uploaded to the Home Affairs Department’s website (www.had.gov.hk/en/18_districts/my_map.htm).

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets delegation from European Parliament Committee on Security and Defence
On the morning of March 31, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE). In remarks, President Lai thanked the European Parliament for its longstanding, staunch support for Taiwan. He emphasized that in the face of growing authoritarian expansion, Taiwan understands the need to steadily bolster its self-defense capabilities, overall societal resilience, and collaboration with like-minded partners, as only through strength can peace and stability in the region be ensured. President Lai expressed hope that Taiwan and the European Union will continue expanding cooperation in key strategic industries and join hands to safeguard our cherished universal values such as democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights.
I would first like to warmly welcome our esteemed guests from the European Parliament. This is the first official delegation from the SEDE to visit Taiwan since it was upgraded to a full standing committee last year, making your trip all the more meaningful. I thank you all for the great importance you attach to Taiwan and for your support.
I also wish to extend appreciation to the European Parliament for its strong backing of Taiwan. In January, resolutions on the annual implementation reports for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy were adopted. They reaffirmed the EU’s opposition to China’s distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and to the use of force or coercion to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Moreover, the European Parliament supports the continued deepening of Taiwan-EU cooperation and exchanges across various domains. This demonstrates the EU’s commitment to upholding democratic values and underscores that Taiwan is one of its key partners in the Indo-Pacific.
In the face of growing authoritarian expansion, Taiwan understands the need to steadily bolster our self-defense capabilities, overall societal resilience, and collaboration with like-minded partners. Only through strength can we ensure peace and stability in the region. Therefore, in recent years, Taiwan has actively advanced the domestic development of aircraft, naval vessels, and unmanned vehicles. The government has also proposed a US$40 billion special defense budget spanning eight years. It aims to boost national defense and build more resilient defense systems. Defense spending, as it is defined by NATO, will be 3.32 percent of GDP this year, and we expect it to reach 5 percent of GDP by 2030.
After my inauguration, I established the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee under the Presidential Office. Integrating the strengths of the central government, local governments, and the private sector, it aims to comprehensively expand Taiwan’s risk management and crisis response capabilities. By strengthening civilian force training, strategic material preparation, the healthcare system, and critical infrastructure, Taiwan is creating a solid foundation of societal resilience for national security.
Taiwan has long stood on the frontline against authoritarian expansion and hybrid threats. We are glad to share the experience we have gained with the EU and other friends and allies in the international community. By joining hands, we can safeguard regional peace and the democratic way of life we hold dear. Looking ahead, I hope that with the support of our guests here today and the European Parliament, Taiwan and the EU will be able to form mechanisms for even closer cooperation in key strategic industries including drones, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and aerospace. Together, we can create safe, trusted, and resilient democratic supply chains to maintain the security and autonomy of key sectors.
I would like to emphasize that democratic cooperation is not about opposing anyone else, but rather about protecting our cherished universal values such as democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. In closing, I would like to once again thank our guests for visiting Taiwan at a time of such intense geopolitical shifts, expressing their support through concrete action. I hope that this visit will further deepen mutual understanding and trust between Taiwan and the EU and lay an even more solid foundation for future collaboration. I wish you all a pleasant and productive stay.
SEDE Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann then delivered remarks, stating that although the members of the delegation come from different member states and political groups, they are united in a common purpose, which is to deepen their understanding, listen carefully, and strengthen their cooperation with Taiwan. She continued on to say that their visit has particular importance for them, as it is the first mission of the SEDE to Taiwan since it became a full standing committee, and that it takes place at a very serious moment. Europe is waking up to new security realities, she said, first triggered by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. In addition, she continued, war in the Middle East is now drawing much of the international community’s attention, and there is also growing instability in the broader strategic environment, with many asking whether this could create new risks for Taiwan.
Chair Strack-Zimmermann stated that for this reason, it is important for Europe to be present, attentive, and clear. From Russia to the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, she said, war and threats of war make it difficult not to see the situation as one increasingly unstable security complex. The chair continued on to say that the delegation is here because Taiwan matters to Europe, and that Taiwan matters as a democracy, as an economic and technological partner, and as an important actor in the global trading system. Taiwan also matters because peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are directly relevant not only for this region, but also for European security and prosperity, she said.
The chair indicated that Europe is also going through an important change; in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, it is strengthening its approach to security and defense. She noted that Europe is investing more, is thinking more seriously about preparedness and resilience, and is paying closer attention to the protection of critical technologies and supply chains, and that in this respect, Europe and Taiwan face different situations but understand and are affected by many of the same challenges. She then stated that their message is clear and balanced: They support stability, support dialogue, and oppose coercion and any unilateral change to the status quo by force, while also remaining committed to a responsible and pragmatic European approach.
Chair Strack-Zimmermann said that they also believe cooperation between Europe and Taiwan should continue to grow in practical ways, including areas such as secure supply chains, semiconductors, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and defense industrial resilience. These are not only economic issues, she said, but also security issues. She closed her remarks by saying that the delegation has come with a genuine wish to deepen practical cooperation with Taiwan.
The delegation also included Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Nicolás Pascual De La Parte of the European People’s Party, Vice-chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Countries of Central America José Cepeda, and Vice-chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet, as well as MEPs Mārtiņš Staķis andNikolas Farantouris. They were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Head of the European Economic and Trade Office Lutz Güllner. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Starting today, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will collaborate with relevant departments to implement a new joint-vetting mechanism to streamline the procedures for processing applications for outside seating accommodation (OSA) of restaurants.

Previously, the median processing time for OSA applications was 12 months from receipt of an application to approval.

Under the new arrangements which aim to facilitate business operations, applicants of simple and straightforward cases can expect to get an approval in principle within about one month, with information of detailed licensing requirements.

In addition, application requirements have also been suitably relaxed, e.g. eligible restaurants will not be required to increase food room areas and sanitary fitments for the OSA.

Also, applications involving walkways with a remaining width of three metres or more after the OSA provision, will generally be considered meeting the traffic requirements.

Each relevant department will also assign a dedicated case manager to handle applicants’ enquiries.

Under the new arrangements, the application form has been enhanced to ensure that each department involved receives necessary information upfront, therefore expediting the approval process.

District Offices will conduct local consultations in parallel. If no objections are raised, applications will be approved in principle. Formal approval will be granted once applicants comply with licensing requirements, and inspections are completed by the FEHD and other departments.

For complex cases arising during the joint-vetting, the relevant Permanent Secretaries and even the Deputy Chief Secretary will step in to resolve issues.

After the approval of OSA, the departments will conduct audit checking as necessary to ensure that there are no violations.

The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address that the FEHD and relevant departments would expedite OSA applications of restaurants and streamline procedures.

The trade has been briefed on the new arrangements. Click here for details and application forms.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced adjusted income and asset limits for the Working Family Allowance (WFA) Scheme, effective from this month.

The new limits will apply to all claim months from April 2026 to March 2027.

While income limits for households with six or more persons will remain at the 2025-26 level, those for five-person households will be aligned with four-person household limits.

Limits for other household sizes will be increased according to the established mechanism.

The Government explained that under the mechanism, and based on 2025 data, income limits for households with six or more persons would typically be tightened, while the limit for five-person households would be lower than those for four-person households. A number of existing WFA households would thus become ineligible for, or receive less, WFA.

Meanwhile, asset limits for all household sizes will be increased according to the same mechanism.

Additionally, if the Appropriation Bill 2026 is passed by the Legislative Council, the Government will, as proposed in the 2026-27 Budget, disburse a one-off extra allowance to WFA households.

It expects to distribute the one-off grant a month after the bill’s passage at the earliest.

The WFA scheme aims to support lower-income working families that are not on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance.

Call 2558 3000 for details.