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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department announced that, from August 1, three more columbaria will be included in monthly niche allocations, in addition to the Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun.

The three additional columbaria are Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Chai Wan.

Under the new arrangement, the four columbaria will provide not less than 1,600 extendable niches each month.

The department emphasised that every applicant will be allocated a niche under the new arrangement.

If the number of applications for a particular columbarium exceeds the niches available, the department will automatically allocate a niche at Tsang Tsui Columbarium.

Applicants can then decide whether to accept the niche automatically assigned to them at Tsang Tsui Columbarium. If they choose to decline it, they can re-submit their application the following month.

However, if a successful applicant declines an allocated niche at their selected columbarium, the department will not accept any further applications for the same deceased person at the same columbarium for a period of six months. 

The department said about 18,000 niches had been allocated annually in the past two years.

It added that the monthly supply of not less than 1,600 extendable niches, adding up to a total supply of not less than 19,000 niches in a year, is sufficient to meet public demand. 

Once the new arrangement takes effect, the department will no longer conduct annual allocations. 

To facilitate implementation of the new arrangement, the department will conduct an annual allocation exercise next month to address the demand for niches that has arisen since last year’s annual allocation.

There will be a total of 12,150 extendable public niches in this exercise, comprising 4,000 standard niches and 50 large niches at each of Shek Mun Columbarium, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium.

The department is planning to organise a public drawing of lots and random computer balloting in late July to determine the allocation of niches to successful applicants.

In addition, Wo Hop Shek Garden at Forever Love Phase II, which provides abortus-keeping services, will be open for public applications from April 1. The columbarium’s first water-soluble commemorative facility, “The Spring of Love”, will open for public use on the same day.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Development Bureau today launched a two-month public consultation on legislative proposals to accelerate the Northern Metropolis (NM) development.

The bureau earlier issued a Legislative Council paper proposing dedicated legislation to streamline planning and land procedures, expedite construction works and facilitate industry operations within the NM.

The proposed legal framework consists of a primary ordinance supported by subsidiary legislation. It suggests granting the Chief Executive in Council the power to enact regulations across six specified areas, as needed.

The six proposed areas for subsidiary legislation include: (i) streamlining town planning procedures; (ii) expediting compensation for resumed land; (iii) adopting innovative construction technology; (iv) simplifying construction noise permit applications; (v) regulating cross-boundary flows of resources; and (vi) establishing statutory corporations for designated areas.

The Government aims to introduce the primary bill to LegCo by mid-2026, alongside a draft of the first batch of subsidiary legislation for preview.

The bureau will strive to secure passage of the primary legislation within this year. Once passed, the first batch of subsidiary legislation will be formally submitted to LegCo for vetting.

The public and all community sectors are welcome to provide comments on the proposed dedicated legislation via email or post on or before May 22.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today met Mainland officials in Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Mr Lam and his delegation, comprising about 40 representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Bar Association, and local and international law firms, visited Shanghai yesterday and today before travelling onwards to Hangzhou.

This morning, Mr Lam met Vice President of the Shanghai High People’s Court Wang Guangxian. They discussed their respective experiences of judicial practice and ways to strengthen talent training.

He then met Shanghai Vice Mayor Lu Shan to learn about developments in the city and to highlight the unique advantages stemming from Hong Kong’s robust common-law system and its being connected both to the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle. He said this can provide Shanghai enterprises with support, through legal and other professional services, in their overseas expansion.

Arriving in Hangzhou this afternoon, Mr Lam met Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province Yang Qingjiu to discuss strengthening co-operation and exchanges between Zhejiang and Hong Kong.

Mr Lam’s itinerary in Shanghai began yesterday with a visit to the headquarters of an Internet and technology company. He then visited the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice to meet Secretary of the CPC and Director-General of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice Gu Quan. They exchanged views on strengthening professional co-operation in the legal, arbitration and mediation sectors, and on training for foreign-related legal professionals.

Together with his delegation, the justice chief also attended a roundtable meeting and networking dinner for Shanghai and Hong Kong lawyers and enterprises. He promoted Hong Kong’s strengths as an international financial centre and international legal hub in being able to leverage its common law system and legal and dispute resolution services to assist Mainland enterprises in “going global”.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the appointment of four new members to the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers. Their term will run from April 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

Chief Executive John Lee said the council has provided him with valuable and constructive advice regarding Hong Kong’s strategic development since its establishment in 2023.

“The newly appointed members are industry leaders in frontier fields such as hard and core technology and biotechnology,” he added. “Their participation will further expand the professional scope of the council.”

Mr Lee stressed that he looks forward to council members giving their advice on issues relating to Hong Kong’s proactive alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, with a view to forging a new phase of high-quality development for the city.

He said key issues include how Hong Kong can consolidate and enhance its international competitiveness, better integrate into and serve national development overall, and deepen international exchanges and co-operation.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today announced that the GREEN$ Electronic Participation Incentive Scheme (GREEN$ ePIS) will be linked with the electronic payment platform AlipayHK starting May 4.

Together with the existing platforms Carbon Wallet and MoneyBack, GREEN$ points can be used at more than 150,000 merchants across the city, covering online shopping, bill payments, transportation, retail and dining.

Users may also choose to redeem $50 physical supermarket cash vouchers with their GREEN$ points at all GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities.

The EPD noted that the number of GREEN$ ePIS registered users has exceeded over 1.2 million, with approximately 90% of them already using the mobile application.

As part of its efforts to promote digital transformation, from May 4, one GREEN@COMMUNITY physical gift redemption point will be retained in each of the 18 districts.

Residents of Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and Lamma Island can continue to redeem physical gifts at the respective recycling spots.

From the same day, unregistered GREEN$ physical cards will no longer be able to earn new points. Holders of existing physical cards must complete real-name registration by August 31, 2027 if they wish to retain the point-earning function.

Dedicated staff from the EPD will provide on-site registration and demonstration of mobile applications for the elderly and the needy at major public rental housing estates. Similar assistance will also be rendered at GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Census & Statistics Department announced today the relocation of its headquarters to the Tseung Kwan O Government Offices, effective March 30.

The new office is located at 9/F-16/F, South Tower, 30 Tong Yin Street, Tseung Kwan O. Service hours at the headquarters office will remain unchanged, 8.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

To facilitate the move, the current headquarters office at 16/F-22/F and 25/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, will close after service hours on March 27.

Call 3863 2828, fax at 2802 4000 or send an email for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department today urged members of the public not to be misled by messages on social media claiming that Hong Kong residents can apply directly for permanent “Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quotas” for their vehicles.

The messages are being referred to law enforcement agencies for follow-up.

The department clarified that applicants must first meet the application requirements stipulated by the competent Mainland authority, and submit to it documents such as business registrations for both Guangdong and Hong Kong. Upon receipt of Mainland Approval Notice, applicants can then apply to the department for a Closed Road Permit for designated land-based boundary control points.

Highlighting that the arrangements involve both Hong Kong and Guangdong authorities, the Transport Department advised applicants to refer to official announcements, verify messages carefully and stay alert against deception, in order to avoid disruption to their travel plans.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-Hsin chaired a meeting on March 23 regarding “Impacts of the Middle East Conflict on Domestic Petrochemical Raw Materials and Downstream Products.” The meeting convened relevant agencies, including the Administration for Industrial Development, the Energy Administration, the Department of Commerce, and the CPC Corporation, to discuss countermeasures. Minister Kung noted that recent instability in the Middle East has raised concerns among Taiwan’s industries regarding the supply and price volatility of helium – essential for semiconductor manufacturing – as well as petrochemical raw materials and downstream products. Consequently, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has launched monitoring and response mechanisms for supplies of essential products. At this stage, the core objectives are to “prioritize the stabilization of domestic supplies and mitigate impacts on industries.” The Minister urged the public and businesses to remain confident.

Regarding helium supplies, imports previously relied heavily on Qatar as the source due to price factors. Following confirmation with Taiwan’s three major gas suppliers, alternative imports from the United States are currently available, thus ensuring a sufficient supply overall. Furthermore, drawing on the experience of the helium shortage in 2021, major domestic semiconductor manufacturers had already established recycling systems, which has helped to enhance supply resilience.

Regarding petrochemical raw materials (e.g., methanol, polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP)) that are primarily imported from the Middle East, the MOEA is actively assisting industries in expanding alternative sources of imports to diversify risks. Additionally, the MOEA will conduct an inventory of the surplus stocks of domestic manufacturers and coordinate inter-enterprise assistance as needed. As for downstream consumer plastic products, the current inventory of retail channels is sufficient and supplies remain normal.

For certain plastic packaging manufacturers (such as those producing plastic bags, films, and containers) that had previously reduced production due to market factors, the MOEA has confirmed that their production capacity is intact and will assist in resuming production at any time based on market demand to ensure supply chain stability for consumers.

The MOEA is prioritizing the basic operations of domestic supply chains by coordinating across agencies, cooperating with industries, and imposing real-time response measures to ensure stable supplies and reasonable pricing of key raw materials. The following measures will continue to be implemented to mitigate impacts on the petrochemical and downstream industries:
1. Coordinating with Major Petrochemical Plants to Prioritize Domestic Demand: This coordination is to prioritize the domestic market and strive to meet the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and downstream consumer demand, thereby reducing the impact of international supply fluctuations on domestic supply chains.
2. Urging Enterprises to Reasonably Reflect Costs: For products manufactured using existing contract prices or existing raw material inventories, enterprises are urged to supply markets at reasonable prices and refrain from raising prices due to speculations in order to maintain the stability of domestic prices.
3. Strictly Preventing Malicious Hoarding and Price Gouging: Upstream manufacturers are urged to supervise their downstream wholesalers to ensure there are no abnormal procurements, hoarding, or shipping delays. The MOEA calls on enterprises to practice rational procurements to maintain market order and stabilize consumer prices.
4. Tracking the Situation and Coordinating Supplies of Materials: The MOEA will continue to maintain close contact with industry stakeholders. Manufacturers who face shortages despite previously having stable sources of petrochemical raw materials can seek assistance through the MOEA’s dedicated matchmaking hotline (02-2701-1669, ext.105~107).

Spokesperson: Mr. Yu-Hsin Chou, Deputy Director General, Industrial Development Administration
Tel: 886-2-27541255 ext.2902/886-910-316969
Email: ystzou3@ida.gov.tw

Contact Organization: Consumer Chemical Industries Division, Industrial Development Administration, (MOEA)

Contact Person: Mr. Ku-Sung Weng, Director
Tel: +886-2-27541255 ext.2301
Email: ksweng@ida.gov.tw