MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

In light of the recent outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda in Africa, the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (SCEZD) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health convened a meeting today (May 27), to review the latest epidemiological situation, recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health authorities, scientific information on the prevention and control of Ebola disease, and relevant prevention and control strategies in Hong Kong. The SCEZD noted that the Government has already implemented a comprehensive series of preventive measures to guard against the importation of Ebola disease into Hong Kong.
​
Following the meeting, the SCEZD released a consensus statement, which provides a risk assessment of the situation in Hong Kong and recommends that the Government continues to implement various current measures to mitigate the risk of imported Ebola disease cases and prevent potential local transmission.
 
Risk assessment
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The WHO declared the Ebola disease epidemic in the DRC and Uganda caused by the Bundibugyo virus (one of the viruses of the Ebola virus genus) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026. 
 
This is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak in the DRC since 1976. As of May 24, 2026, the DRC has reported 105 confirmed cases and 10 confirmed deaths (confirmed case-fatality rate of around 10 per cent), as well as 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths (suspected case-fatality rate of around 25 per cent). Uganda has also reported seven confirmed cases, including one confirmed death.
 
The WHO assessed the public health risk as “very high” in the DRC, “high” at the regional level and “low” at the global level. Currently, no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment has been developed for Bundibugyo virus. Prevention and control of Bundibugyo virus therefore primarily relies on non-pharmaceutical public health measures such as case identification, isolation, contact tracing, and infection prevention and control.
 
In Hong Kong, Ebola disease is a statutorily notifiable disease under viral haemorrhagic fever. No suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola disease have been recorded in Hong Kong so far. There are currently no direct flights between the DRC or Uganda and Hong Kong, and Hong Kong has sufficient laboratory testing, isolation and treatment capacity for the rapid diagnosis, isolation and treatment of suspected cases. At present, the risk of Ebola disease is primarily confined to outbreak areas in the DRC and the immediate public health impact on Hong Kong remains low.
 
Recommended measures
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The SCEZD recommended the following ongoing preventive and control measures, which the Government has already implemented:
 

• Enhanced surveillance: Close monitoring of the latest developments in the event of an ongoing Ebola disease outbreak, including maintaining close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities, as well as liaison with the Chinese Mainland health authorities through the joint prevention and control mechanism. Information on the latest Ebola disease situation and updated reporting criteria should continue to be disseminated to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong. Healthcare professionals should continue to maintain a high level of vigilance for patients presenting with clinically compatible symptoms with Ebola and who have a recent travel history to affected areas.

 

• Case investigation and control measures: Prompt epidemiological investigation and contact tracing should be conducted upon notification of suspected Ebola disease cases. Suspected or confirmed cases should be immediately transferred to a public hospital for isolation and treatment, and kept in isolation until the specimens collected test negative for the virus.

 

• Quarantine facilities: Operational readiness of quarantine facilities should continue to be maintained for immediate deployment if required. Established protocols for contact tracing and quarantine arrangements are already ready for activation upon laboratory confirmation of an Ebola disease case.

 

• Port health measures and travel advice: Temperature checks and health screenings for passengers who have visited the DRC or Uganda within the past 21 days should continue. Active medical surveillance for these passengers during their stay in Hong Kong should also continue to be conducted. Members of the public are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the affected areas. Publicity on Ebola disease for travellers and communication with stakeholders of boundary control points should continue to be strengthened.

 

• Laboratory diagnosis: Adequate laboratory capacity to perform testing for all suspected cases of Ebola disease should continue to be ensured.

 

• Prevention of nosocomial transmission: Healthcare professionals should continue to comply with the latest infection control guidelines for the prevention of Ebola disease. Regular training and drills on Ebola infection control practices should continue to be held in hospitals with acute services.

 

• Risk communication and community engagement: Public health education and risk communication through various channels should continue to be enhanced. Liaison with relevant non-governmental organisations to convey targeted health information and distribute health promotional materials to relevant communities and venues should be strengthened.

 
The SCEZD affirmed that the Government’s multipronged approach has been effective in minimising the risk of importation of Ebola disease cases to date. Sustained implementation of these preventive and control measures is crucial for minimising importation, early detection of cases and control in case of importation.
 
The consensus statement of the SCEZD has been uploaded to the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24005.html).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):

Questions:

There are views that Chinese calligraphy is an effective means of developing students’ writing and aesthetic abilities, cultural accomplishment and patriotic sentiment. However, primary and secondary schools currently lack a comprehensive calligraphy education system. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the specific measures currently put in place by the Government to promote calligraphy education at primary and secondary school levels, including relevant guidelines, resource support and activity programmes; how the Government assesses the effectiveness of such measures, for example, in terms of the level of student participation and the enhancement of their writing ability and cultural accomplishment;

(2) as it is learnt that the Mainland has progressively made calligraphy a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools, whether the Government has, by drawing on the Mainland’s experience, studied the systematisation of calligraphy education and its integration into academic disciplines such as Chinese Language, Civic Education or Art, and its designation as a compulsory component with mandatory assessment and grading; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether it has compiled statistics on the current number and proportion of primary and secondary school teachers who have received professional calligraphy training or possess relevant qualifications, and how the authorities determine the criteria for qualified calligraphy teachers; whether it will consider collaborating with higher education institutions in the Mainland, educational institutions, or calligraphy groups to establish a support system to promote the development and popularisation of calligraphy education?

Reply:

President,

Calligraphy encapsulates our rich cultural heritage and serves as an essential pathway for fostering students’ writing skills, aesthetic sense, cultural confidence, and patriotic sentiments. The Education Bureau (EDB) attaches great importance to calligraphy education. Throughout the primary and secondary schooling stages, the EDB systematically and progressively promotes calligraphy education through curriculum planning, development of learning and teaching resources, the organisation of diversified activities, and the provision of teacher training. These initiatives aim to cultivate students’ writing skills, enhance their Chinese character writing proficiency, and elevate their appreciation for the art of calligraphy.

Thank you for the Hon Stanley Ng’s attention to calligraphy education. The consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng is as follows:

I. Existing measures and effectiveness assessment

In terms of the curriculum, the Chinese Language Education Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide explicitly requires the arrangement of handwriting exercises at each key learning stage, coupled with diversified and appropriate handwriting activities with the use of hard pens and Chinese brushes. This aims to cultivate handwriting skills and habits from a young age, develop students’ proper handwriting posture and habits, enabling them to learn the structure, basic strokes and stroke sequence of the characters. Furthermore, through diversified teaching approaches and the integration of learning activities within and beyond campus, students are guided to learn and practise calligraphy in everyday life, putting calligraphy education into practice. In addition, the Visual Arts Curriculum Guide encourages schools to adopt a flexible curriculum framework to strengthen the learning and appreciation of Chinese calligraphy. Meanwhile, the Values Education Curriculum Framework (2026) emphasises the learning of Chinese culture, utilising calligraphy as an effective vehicle for fostering proper values and national identity.

     To assist teachers in providing effective guidance for students in writing Chinese characters while nurturing their sense of appreciation for the art of calligraphy, the EDB has developed a series of resources related to the learning and teaching of Chinese characters and calligraphy (please see the Annex for details).

     Regarding activity support, the EDB actively organises and supports different sectors in holding calligraphy events, such as supporting the Hong Kong Students Calligraphy Competition, which has attracted tens of thousands of entries over the years across the Chinese brush and hard pen categories for the primary and secondary divisions. Furthermore, the EDB participates in the national-level National Painting and Calligraphy Competition for Primary and Secondary School Students to enhance students’ cultural confidence. It also fully supports the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Students Calligraphy and Master Painting Joint Exhibition to showcase students’ artworks and promote cultural exchanges within the Greater Bay Area. In addition, aligned with festive occasions, the EDB organises calligraphy events such as the Calligraphy 1000 – Celebrating the Founding of the People’s Republic of China event, the Blessing Hong Kong activity and the Chinese Classic Sayings: Selected Famous Couplets Calligraphy Collection Activity. Moreover, a Chinese Calligraphy Grand Prize is featured in the Exhibition of Student Visual Arts Work organised annually to promote calligraphy education in a lively and diversified manner. In 2025, primary and secondary school students of Hong Kong successfully challenged the Guinness World Record for the Largest Pen Calligraphy Lesson, reflecting the positive outcomes of calligraphy education.

     Furthermore, the EDB has provided a One-off Grant for Promotion of Chinese Culture Immersion Activities of $300,000 for each public sector school and school under the Direct Subsidy Scheme to help them further strengthen Chinese culture education. As shown in the questionnaire survey, schools have made flexible use of the grant to organise various activities on Chinese culture, including calligraphy learning and immersion activities.

     As for the assessment of the effectiveness of calligraphy education, the EDB makes continuous evaluation with reference to the participation rates in competitions, school-based questionnaires, lesson observations, and students’ writing performance in the Territory-wide System Assessment. According to observations, schools in Hong Kong generally attach high importance to calligraphy education. They offer calligraphy lessons, and organise interest groups, competitions and exhibitions, cultural festivals, etc, as part of their school curriculum and activities to create an atmosphere conducive to calligraphy learning and actively promote calligraphy education.

II. Learning from the Mainland’s experience

In fact, there are regular exchanges and collaborations between the Mainland and Hong Kong in education, allowing both sides to learn from each other. We note that on the Mainland, a one-hour calligraphy lesson per week is allocated in the subject Chinese Language from Primary 3 to 6, and this is integrated into the arts curriculum standards. When learning from the Mainland’s experience, we carefully consider the differences in curriculum systems, lesson hours, and teacher qualifications.

     Currently, primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong primarily integrate calligraphy education into the existing curriculum framework. Specific learning objectives for writing and calligraphy are delineated within the subjects of Chinese Language and Visual Arts. Schools implement and assess students’ calligraphy learning through diversified modes. Furthermore, being pragmatic and keeping pace with the times, we continuously deepen calligraphy education within the existing subject frameworks and encourage schools to promote calligraphy learning through formative assessments, including the application of artificial intelligence and the use of virtual museum collections to guide students in appreciating classical masterpieces, thereby elevating their aesthetic capabilities.

III. Teacher professional training, statistics on qualifications and co-operation with Mainland institutions

Currently, we do not maintain independent statistics on the number and proportion of primary and secondary school teachers possessing professional training or relevant qualifications in calligraphy. Teachers come from diverse professional backgrounds, and the enhancement of their calligraphy attainment is primarily achieved through personal professional development and in-service training. The EDB will continue to provide teachers with diversified training opportunities and encourage them to make good use of various community resources to master calligraphy.

     We have been collaborating with educational institutions and organisations to promote professional exchanges among teachers and to arrange systematic learning of calligraphy education philosophies and methodologies for primary and secondary school teachers in Hong Kong. Notably, with the consent of Dr Sze Chi-ching, President of the China Calligraphers Association-Hong Kong Branch, we have uploaded the electronic version of “Shufa Xuexi Kecheng” (calligraphy learning programme) to the EDB intranet for teachers’ reference and use. Furthermore, the EDB has distributed physical copies of the book set, printed and donated by the Hong Kong Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (Provincial) Members Association, to all primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong to promote calligraphy learning. We also support the Integrated Development of Five Disciplines campaign to enrich students’ learning experiences. Looking ahead, the EDB will continue to deepen its collaboration with units such as the Institute of Curriculum and Textbook Research of the Ministry of Education and Capital Normal University to conduct training for calligraphy teachers. We will also capitalise on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area platform to organise cross-boundary exhibitions, competitions, and teacher workshops to advance calligraphy education.

Conclusion

     President, the EDB continuously promotes the popularisation and deepening of calligraphy education through multi-pronged approaches, including curriculum guidelines, resource support, extra-curricular activities, and teacher training. We will continue to listen to views from various sectors, optimise our measures in a timely manner according to the actual circumstances of Hong Kong while drawing on the Mainland’s experience, and further enhance students’ writing proficiency, Chinese cultural literacy, and patriotic sentiments.

     Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong is the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre, according to the Global Wealth Report 2026 published by Boston Consulting Group today.

Moreover, the report projected that from 2025 to 2030, cross-boundary wealth managed by Hong Kong will grow 9% on average annually and maintain first place globally, fully affirming the city’s position as a world-leading cross-boundary wealth management centre.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong in strengthening its functions as an international asset and wealth management centre, which is also a key component of Hong Kong’s “Finance+” development strategy.

He highlighted that as global investors are actively seeking diversified asset allocation, Hong Kong, leveraging its advantages of “one country, two systems” whilst complemented by transparent economic policies, secure investment environment and cross-market connectivity, is attracting more and more ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices to establish a presence and invest in the city.

Mr Chan added: “Benefiting from the wealth generated by technological innovation and the rapid development of industries related to artificial intelligence, demand for asset and wealth management in the Mainland and the Asian region is set to grow at an accelerated pace. This is expected to open up greater room for development for Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management sector.

“The Government will continue to grasp and propel this wave of development to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status and function as an international financial centre.”

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the current-term Government strives to reinforce Hong Kong’s competitive advantages as a leading asset and wealth management centre.

“The Government will introduce legislative proposals into the Legislative Council next month to further enhance the preferential tax regimes for funds, single family offices and carried interest, so as to further enhance the competitiveness of the tax regimes, and attract more funds and family offices to set up and operate in Hong Kong.”

Mr Hui remarked that as global economic gravity shifts eastward, geopolitical tensions further highlight Hong Kong’s role as a safe harbour and reflect Hong Kong’s appeal as an international financial centre.

“Amid the global environment of heightened geopolitical risks, we will work concertedly with the industry to continue driving the growth momentum of Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management industry,” he stressed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government today (May 27) announced that the Chief Executive has appointed Ms Cordelia Chung as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) for two years starting from July 1, 2026, succeeding the incumbent HKSTPC Chairman, Dr Sunny Chai, whose term of appointment will end on June 30, 2026.
 
Ms Chung possesses extensive experience in managing multinational enterprises in the information technology sector. She actively participated in public service, and was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the HKSTPC from 2017 to 2023.
 
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, welcomed the appointment of Ms Chung as the new Chairman of the HKSTPC. He said, “Ms Chung has rich experience in the field of innovation and technology (I&T). Under her leadership, the HKSTPC will continue to support the development of local I&T enterprises, cultivating a more vibrant I&T ecosystem.”
 
Professor Sun also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Dr Chai, for his significant contributions to the work of the HKSTPC over the years. “Under Dr Chai’s sterling leadership, the HKSTPC has continuously enhanced existing I&T infrastructure and various measures to support I&T enterprises, nurtured I&T talents and promoted Hong Kong’s I&T and the development of new industrialisation, so as to strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international I&T hub. In addition, under his outstanding leadership, the HKSTPC has conducted planning studies for San Tin Technopole as requested by the Government. Under the leadership of the new Chairman, the Government anticipates that the HKSTPC would continue to provide full support and cooperation for the development of the San Tin Technopole and work closely with the soon established San Tin Technopole Company Limited to jointly strengthen the I&T ecosystem and attract enterprises and international talent,” said Professor Sun.
 
The Government also announced the appointment of two new members and re-appointment of seven serving members by the Financial Secretary for a period of two years from July 1, 2026.
 
Professor Philip Chiu and Professor Helen Meng are appointed as new Board members of the HKSTPC.
 
Mr Conrad Chan, Ms Dilys Chau, Ms Susanna Hui, Mr Timothy Leung, Dr Samson Tam, Ms Phoebe Tse and Ms Eunice Yung are re-appointed as Board members of the HKSTPC.
 
Professor Sun said, “I am confident that with their extensive experience and professional knowledge in various fields, members of the Board will continue to guide the HKSTPC to fulfil its public mission effectively and propel the I&T development in Hong Kong.”
 
The tenure of two incumbent Board members, Professor Stephanie Ma and Mr Daryl Ng, will expire on June 30 this year. Professor Sun also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Board members for their valuable advice on the HKSTPC and strong support for the I&T development in Hong Kong over the past six years.
 
Established in 2001, the HKSTPC is a statutory body wholly owned by the Government. It provides quality infrastructure facilities and support services for the I&T development in Hong Kong. The HKSTPC is responsible for managing and operating the Hong Kong Science Park, three InnoParks and the InnoCentre.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Following is a question by the Hon Joephy Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):

Question:

It has been reported that after reviewing the patronage and demand of its existing services, the Park Island Transport Company Limited (PITCL) has implemented temporary arrangements with effect from April 8 this year, including the cancellation of two ferry trips between Park Island and Tsuen Wan, as well as four weekday ferry trips between Park Island and Central, and replacing the relevant services by residents’ bus services instead. There are views pointing out that residents’ bus services do not allow the carriage of bicycles and pets, and are susceptible to road traffic conditions, which have in effect weakened the commuting choices of Park Island residents. Moreover, the PITCL has in the past resorted to substituting ferry services with bus services temporarily by reasons such as the pandemic and crew shortage. There are concerns that the PITCL may regularise the temporary arrangements in the long run, and it is considered that the Government should strengthen its regulatory efforts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the Transport Department (TD) is aware that, apart from the reason of crew shortage which the PITCL claims, the recent surge in diesel prices leading to increased operating costs is also one of the reasons for the PITCL’s current reduction of ferry trips;

(2) since 2019, (i) of the respective frequencies and average daily patronage of the ferry routes and residents’ bus services operated by the PITCL; (ii) the changes (whether temporary or permanent) in frequencies of those ferry routes and residents’ bus service routes, and whether the TD has ever rejected any applications from the PITCL for changes in frequencies; (iii) the numbers of complaints received by the TD each year about the PITCL’s services (including frequency arrangements) and the number of follow-up actions taken;

(3) of the regulatory mechanism put in place by the TD regarding the temporary changes to service arrangements by non-franchised bus and ferry companies such as the PITCL; the measures put in place by the TD to ensure that applications for frequency changes will not be abused while safeguarding the commuting convenience of residents;

(4) of the respective amounts of (i) subsidies provided under the Anti-epidemic Fund, (ii) reimbursement of differential fares under the $2 Scheme and (iii) other subsidies received by the PITCL from the Government each year since 2019; the criteria for calculating or disbursing the aforesaid subsidy amounts (e.g. number of trips operated, a certain percentage of operating expenses on an accountable basis or a one-off subsidy); and

(5) whether the authorities have entered into any agreements or other legally binding documents with the PITCL, stipulating the minimum service levels for the various ferry routes and residents’ bus service routes it operates as a pre-condition for receiving the subsidies mentioned in (4); if so, of the details; whether the PITCL has ever had its subsidies reduced or subject to any fines for breaching such agreements; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Transport Department (TD) has been closely monitoring Ma Wan ferry services and actively following up on issues such as staff shortage and suspension of sailings of the operator (i.e. Park Island Transport Company Limited (PITCL)). The TD has also maintained close communication with local residents’ representatives and District Council Members, and required the operator to expedite recruitment with a view to resuming normal ferry services as soon as possible and strengthen non-franchised public bus services (i.e. Residents’ Services (RS)) during peak hours so as to minimise the impact on residents. The reply to the question raised by the Hon Joephy Chan is as follows:

(1) The PITCL advised that it could not maintain normal ferry services due to staff shortage. Since April 8, 2026, a total of six weekday sailings of the two “Ma Wan – Central” and “Ma Wan – Tsuen Wan” licensed ferry routes have been temporarily suspended. Upon noting the situation, the TD immediately issued a written request to the PITCL on the same day, requesting a detailed explanation for the suspension of sailings; subsequently the TD met with the PITCL multiple times to closely monitor the situation. The TD has required the PITCL to expedite recruitment with a view to resuming normal ferry services as soon as possible. To minimise the impact on residents’ commute, the TD required the PITCL to provide corresponding RS. According to the TD’s observations, the strengthened RS were sufficient to meet passenger demand.

In addition, the PITCL also indicated that the sharp rise in fuel costs in recent months has put pressure on the operation of ferry services. To alleviate the impact of surging oil prices driven up by conflicts in the Middle East on the relevant trades, the Government provides public or commercial vessels and vehicles that use diesel as fuel (including ferries and non-franchised public buses of the PITCL) with diesel price subsidy for two months starting from April 30. In addition, the Government has established the Working Group on Public Transport Service Special Applications to assist, in an expedited manner, public transport operators in their applications to respond flexibly to rising fuel costs.

(2) At present, the PITCL operates two licensed ferry routes plying between Park Island and Central and Tsuen Wan respectively, and five RS routes plying between Park Island and Tsing Yi, Kwai Fong, the Airport and Central respectively. In addition, Park Island residents may also take the two RS routes plying between Ma Wan and Tsuen Wan and Tsuen Wan West respectively operated by Sun Bus Limited, or urban taxis to travel to various districts. 

In 2025, the PITCL’s licensed ferry services and RS carried a daily average of about 17 000 passenger trips, representing a drop of over 10 per cent as compared with the daily average of about 20 000 passenger trips in 2019. Among these, licensed ferry services of the PITCL saw a more significant decline in daily patronage by over 40 per cent as compared with 2019. With regard to the services provided by the PITCL, only approximately 10 per cent of passenger trips on weekdays are made on licensed ferry services, with the demand concentrated on the morning and evening peak of the “Ma Wan – Central” route. According to information provided by the PITCL, for the “Ma Wan – Central” route, the average patronage and occupancy of sailings during the morning and evening peak were approximately 131 passengers and 33 per cent (7am to 9am Central bound) and 82 passengers and 20 per cent (5.30pm to 8.30pm Ma Wan bound) respectively, while the average patronage of sailings during off-peak hours was only about 31 passengers. As for the “Ma Wan – Tsuen Wan” route, the average patronage of sailings was approximately 13 passengers.

Since 2019, the PITCL had applied to the TD for adjustments to the schedules of licensed ferry services for six times, of which four were approved (including two temporary service adjustments lasting about 14 months and two months respectively during the COVID-19 pandemic), while the remaining applications were not approved. Also, the PITCL had, after direct negotiations with passenger representatives (i.e. the management company of Park Island), submitted five applications to the TD for adjustments to RS, all of which were approved.

The TD has all along followed up with all complaints received. Depending on the particulars of the case, the TD will follow up with the operator, including arranging for on-site inspections as necessary to verify service situations, and requesting the operator to provide information and responses. 

The schedule arrangements, average daily patronage and complaint figures of the PITCL’s licensed ferry services and RS between 2019 and 2025 are provided in Annex.

(3) For licensed ferry services, according to the Ferry Services Ordinance (Cap. 104), unless with a reasonable excuse, a licensee must maintain proper and efficient services, including providing services in accordance with the schedule and capacity set out in the Schedule of Services attached to the licence. Otherwise, the Commissioner for Transport (the Commissioner) may revoke the ferry service licence pursuant to Cap. 104. Generally speaking, if licensed ferry operators (including the PITCL) intend to adjust the schedules, they must submit service adjustment applications to the TD. The TD will handle applications received in accordance with established procedures and, depending on the application details, arrange for local consultation to collect views from residents and local stakeholders to consider whether to approve the applications.

For RS, under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) and relevant subsidiary legislation, an operator must provide services in accordance with its Passenger Service Licence, including the routeings and schedule, etc, as specified in the Schedule of Services. If RS operators (including the PITCL) plan to adjust service details of RS (such as routeings, operating hours and fares, etc), they must obtain the consent of passenger representatives before submitting applications to the TD. If operators breach the aforementioned conditions, the Commissioner may issue warning letters, hold inquiries, or even suspend, cancel, or amend the relevant Passenger Service Licences.

Overall speaking, when considering applications for service adjustments, the TD will examine whether the proposed service adjustments can appropriately meet the changing transport demands of the district, and arrange for local consultations depending on the details of the applications. The TD will also take a holistic view of the operator’s operating conditions, including whether the proposed adjustments would facilitate the operator in making better use of resources, as well as enhancing its overall operational efficiency while safeguarding its financial sustainability, with a view to ensuring that the service remains stable.

(4) & (5) To maintain stable ferry services to meet the transport needs of outlying island residents, the Government provides Special Helping Measures for outlying island ferry routes, reimbursing outlying island ferry operators (including the PITCL) for specific operating expenses on an accountable basis, with a view to relieving the pressure of fare increases on passengers. The support provided by the Government to ferry and RS operators also includes waiving vessel licence fees, reimbursing pier rentals, waiving vehicle licence and inspection fees for registered commercial vehicles. From 2019 to 2025, the PITCL received approximately $18 million in subsidies each year on average for the aforementioned measures. 

Besides, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government provided the local public transport operators with various financial support through several rounds of the Anti-epidemic Fund mainly on an accountable basis, thereby helping them cope with the challenging operating environment.

As for the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities (the $2 Scheme), it aims to enable the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on designated public transport services at a concessionary fare. The Government will reimburse participating operators on an accountable basis for the fare revenue forgone as a result of the implementation of the $2 Scheme. Under the $2 Scheme, the PITCL was reimbursed about $6.14 million every year on average between 2019 and 2025 for the difference in bus/ ferry fare.

Before disbursing the subsidies, the Government would comprehensively consider the operators’ situations, including verifying their eligibility and the operational information submitted.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region